Whatever the result of Tuesday’s election (and even if we don’t know it!), we know that to have real democracy — deliberative democracy rather than competitive democracy — we need to reweave the threads of civic engagement. How do we bring our UU values to the table as we strive to deepen democracy in our … Continue reading “It Ain’t Over: The Practices of Deepening Democracy”
On Sunday, November 3, we will reflect on the power of memory to shape our lives and guide us forward. How do we honor the wisdom of those who came before us? What role does memory play in helping us face the challenges of today with courage and hope? Drawing inspiration from figures like Norbert Čapek, … Continue reading “Seeds of Memory, Acts of Hope”
Once again, this service will feature a water ceremony. In this ceremony, everyone brings a small container of water that represents a journey (real or symbolic) they’ve taken over the summer. It might be water from a trip to the ocean, or from a favorite fishing hole. It might be rainwater collected after a storm, … Continue reading “Ingathering and Water Ceremony” Celebrating the Beginning of the New Church Year!
Not the monarch kind of King, bare with me…. We are in a struggle for saving Democracy from its possible post-modern growing pains. David Brooks writes in the Opinion Section of the New York Times, “The task… is to build a new cultural consensus that is democratic but also morally coherent. My guess, and it … Continue reading “We Need a New King”
The last several years of pandemic and social polarization have exposed frayed places and holes in the fabric of church-business-as-usual. This is true across congregations and faith traditions. Though shared ministry existed before these times, it has emerged as a powerful antidote to congregational and denominational splintering. However, our cultural norms (Western and UU) and … Continue reading “When Hope is Hard to Find, We Take Care of Us: Shared Ministry as Mutual Aid”
Rev. Sue’s sermon lifts up the idea of families as systems, and how they shape our relationships, including those within the church. She’ll share a few stories of how Family Systems Theory has informed her own life and ministry, and discuss the implications for congregational life here at First Unitarian. (Please note: This will be … Continue reading “Knowing Our Families, Knowing Our Church”
It’s said that work for social and climate justice is “not a sprint, but a marathon.” How do we pace ourselves for sustained struggle, and what do we do when we start feeling tapped out? Today, let’s explore the interplay between joy and the urgent work of building beloved community. Direct Link to Service here.
How do we become who we are? Not in a vacuum. We are not self-made despite our commitment to making informed choices for ourselves. Rather we grow in the soil of community and through the sense of connection that is relational power. Explore with Frederick Douglass, Starhawk, Saul Alinski and the Velveteen Rabbit the significance … Continue reading Becoming in Community: Claiming Relational Power
Direct link to YouTube stream HERE. What is the role of the voluntary association and the small community (like a congregation) in resisting the forces of tyranny?
Direct link to YouTube stream HERE. In our country, we are facing an epidemic of loneliness. What role can a congregation play in countering this trend and nurturing a spirit of community?
