Rev. Leuchtenberger is our senior minister. Read more.
The impulse to be helpful when someone is facing or experiencing homelessness is strong in many of us. Nine year old Hewie, who inspired this sermon, talks about a “deep feeling in his gut” that makes him want to be useful when he passes a person on the street asking for support. How do we … Continue reading Feeling Useful, Feeling Used
The stories we tell – about ourselves, our communities, and our culture – can be inspiring and liberating or hold us back and keep us stuck. As we welcome a cohort of new members, what are the stories we choose to share? Michael will recount and reframe some of our old stories and offer some … Continue reading We Are Our Stories
An “Enter in Silence” Sunday | The calling to cultivate awareness, resonance, compassion and awakened activism feels ever more pressing, knowing the challenges we face in these times. This service, which is the culmination of our 10th Annual Mindfulness Meditation Weekend Retreat, will encourage each of us in developing steadiness of mind and heart, a … Continue reading Mindfulness for Our Times
We all expect someone who has experienced the death of a close friend or relative to grieve, and we send cards, make casseroles, and participate in rituals to acknowledge their loss. We may be less sure how to respond when someone’s cat dies, or they tell us they are separating from a partner, or they … Continue reading Grief is Grief
It’s delightful to be surrounded by “saints” who do the right thing, say the right thing, and generally model a way of being that is healthy and inspiring to others. “Saints” value community and communities love and welcome “saints.” And then there are those who don’t always do the right thing, say the right thing, … Continue reading Communities of Saints and Sinners
Our mission statement concludes with the aspirational words: “Transforming ourselves and the world.” The choir just sang “Now is the time for change.” And across the political spectrum, the status quo is seen as something that needs molding, revolutionizing, or reforming. So how does it work? What theories of social and cultural change seem most … Continue reading Everybody Want to Change the World
“Radiate boundless love towards the entire world,” the Buddha is quoted. A worthy goal, yet potentially overwhelming and vague in its application and scope. Jesus taught that “faith the size of a mustard seed could move mountains” (Matthew 17:20-21). Perhaps, then, mustard seeds of love, is all we need to reach the larger world as … Continue reading Mustard Seeds of Love
On Nov 17, 1957, Martin Luther King delivered his famous “Love Your Enemies” sermon. We will listen to parts of the sermon and reflect on the timeless relevance of what MLK shared that Sunday, and why he claims we must start with a look at ourselves if we want to understand the hate we perceive … Continue reading Love Your Enemies
Three ways we will embrace the dark: First, a celebration of the darkness so helpful for regeneration, for slowing down, for fallow time, sleep, sabbatical, and rebirth. Then a heeding of the darker sides in all of us, so valuable for accepting ourselves and others more fully. And a nudge to the darkness of grief, … Continue reading Embracing the Dark
“Awe is the emotion we experience when we encounter vast mysteries that we don’t understand,” writes Dacher Keltner in his book, Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life. We can find awe anywhere. It requires no money or the burning of fossil fuels. All of us can find … Continue reading Awe, Yes Please
