Rev. Leuchtenberger is our senior minister. Read more.
Letting go can be liberating and joyful yet when it is forced upon us by others or circumstances it can be stressful, frightening, and sad. Religion is designed to help us navigate our losses through ritual, music, story, community and more. Religion is designed to reconnect us with hope.
Our lives are full of great expectations – of the stuff we should acquire, the schedules we could keep, and the things we ought to accomplish. The list of “shoulds” is long and powerful. What if we removed the “shoulds” from our lists and focused on what we “must do” and “want to do” instead? … Continue reading “Great? Expectations!”
“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.” Reinhold Niebuhr’s prayer reminds us of the limits of our own agency as we try to control the outcomes of our lives and the lives of those around us – … Continue reading The Myth of Control
As religious liberals, UUs want to be explicitly welcoming to other faith traditions, and especially Islam, during this time of cultural Islamophobia. Yet UUs are also a part of the general culture and need to honestly name and address their own discomfort where it exists. This service will help us face and explore our personal … Continue reading Discomfort with Islam
As the waves of culture and belief systems threaten to submerge each other they encounter the corresponding waves of fear about loss of identity and tradition. And they generate distress about the loss of progress made on the path toward justice. All cultural/faith corners of our country and globe seem to see themselves under attack … Continue reading In Search of the Golden Age
Throughout November we will explore and learn about Islam and our relationship with Islam. During this service Whitney Howarth and Michael Leuchtenberger will share what aspects and practices of the Islamic faith tradition they find particularly inspiring. Our first Sunday drop-in covenant group will focus on our monthly theme of “Islam”. All are invited to participate. Rev. … Continue reading Loving Islam
Since our first White Supremacy Teach-In in May, the importance of talking about race and making visible the impacts of white supremacy culture on People of Color has remained as urgent as ever. As in May, we will join a large number of UU congregations as we create space for White people to face and … Continue reading UU White Supremacy Teach-In 2
Music has a remarkable power to acknowledge our deepest agonies, to carry us through our grief, and to connect us viscerally to the hope we need to carry on. Come be surrounded and filled by music intended to heal your soul and expand your heart as we collectively witness to the sorrows of this world. … Continue reading The Healing Power of Music
Our theme this month is healing – as individuals, as a community, and as a nation/world. We all experience hurt and suffering throughout our lives yet asking for help can be difficult. The church is here to support the healing we long for and deserve. So, how do we actually care for one another? What … Continue reading Preparing for Healing
There is a story of two ex-prisoners of war meeting for the first time after many years. When one asks the other whether he had forgiven his captors yet, the second one is clear: “No, never.” “Well then,” the first prisoner replies, “they still have you in prison.” The practice of forgiveness can be a … Continue reading Forgiveness – Escaping Our Prisons
