Rev. Leuchtenberger is our senior minister. Read more.
The Board of Trustees recently voted to adopt a new ends statement (what impact we want to have and on whom) to make an explicit commitment to “work to recognize, understand, and dismantle systems of bias, oppression, and privilege within ourselves, our congregation, our community, and the larger world.” Trustees will share the journey and … Continue reading Widening our Circle of Concern
“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” These words attributed to Victor Frankl assume there is such a thing as free will. Whether we share this assumption or not, it is critical that we pretend … Continue reading Free Will as Moral Obligation
A life of meaning involves a sense that our life matters – from a eulogy perspective rather than a resume perspective, and that we are immersed in things we both love doing and admire. David Brooks points to three projects as essential to a worthy life: (1) Be in internal harmony with ourselves, (2) Be … Continue reading A Life of Meaning
The meaning of life is to be good at soccer or choral singing. For those who don’t find this obvious, the sermon will unpack these claims by looking at how great thinkers have framed the questions that matter as we search for life’s meaning and how it relates to a life full of meaning. Our … Continue reading The Meaning of Life
‘Tis a gift to be simple. So true. So often ignored. It is a gift because simplicity opens space in the webs of our inner and outer worlds. Space for wonder, for pleasure, for amusement, for contentment, for relief, for gratitude and all the other feelings that make up the emotional expanse of joy. Slowing … Continue reading The Joy of Simplicity
“Joy is a way of approaching the world.” says Archbishop Desmond Tutu in his dialog with the Dalai Lama. Joy is a way of being, not a temporary feeling. Joy can become tangible and real even in times of struggle, anxiety, and despair. What are the pre-conditions of joy? How do we create space to … Continue reading Opening to Joy
The monuments we erect and venerate, the symbols we treasure or despise, and the texts, art and music that capture and embody our history all offer opportunities for holding up a mirror, for learning about ourselves, and for atoning for our past. Join Michael and Joanna as we explore the impact of local and national … Continue reading The Containers of Our History
We arrive in each moment loaded with gifts – earned and unearned, desired and disdained, enduring and short-lived. How do we honor these gifts (and liabilities) while also creating space for new narratives to emerge that are less burdened and defined by the baggage we carry? We will look at the traditions, rituals, and … Continue reading The Baggage We Carry
History is the narrative that allows us to make sense of the past, that throws a shadow on the now, and that restrains our imagination going forward. History matters because it frames our perception of the truth. And our understanding of truth depends on who writes our history – with great consequences for those featured … Continue reading Truth & Consequences
There is something about family that feels essential. Something we all need in one form or another. Yet many families are broken. Many families are emotionally and physically dispersed. Many families exist in name only. Chosen families to the rescue. What can they be like? What can they offer? What does it take?
