Archives: Services

Awe (Soul Matters)

Have you noticed the gift of it all? Have you noticed the miracle that is you?

Children’s Program
This week, we are exploring the goose bumps found in generosity. As we do that, we will have the chance to lift up that December is the season of gift-giving, thinking of others, serving needs greater than our own. Along the way, we will highlight how generosity and kindness are central to all the major religions (Judaism, Christianity, Earth-centered) and cultural traditions (Kwanza) that have a holiday this month. The Living Our Values activity will lift up our shared value of Generosity, which calls us to “freely and compassionately share our faith, presence, and resources”.

Save Our Songs

Our songs define who we are as a culture. They bring us together literally, and spiritually.
Our shared body of song is endangered, because we are not singing them and passing them along to the next generation. If we don’t tend to them, they will disappear

Children’s program
All month long, we are talking about the experience of awe (i.e. goose bumps) and where we find it. This week, we are exploring the goose bumps found in having faith. As we do that, we will have the chance to learn about the Jewish story and holiday of Hanukkah. The Living Our Values activity will lift up the Inspiration section of our UU Shared Values Statement, which names “mystery and wonder” as a primary source of inspiration that “opens our hearts, renews our spirit, and transforms our lives.”

What Saturday teaches me about Sunday (Part 1)

What Saturday teaches me about Sunday (Part 1)

Children’s Program
This week we close our theme by looking at the ways we can heal by practicing self-care, not as something selfish, but as a way of tending to our bodies and giving ourselves the same kindness and compassion we offer to others. As we do that, we will have the chance to lift up our UU shared value of Love, and its invitation to let love guide how we care for and offer healing to ourselves.

Love Within Me (UUA Common Read, Love at the Center)

“Love calls forth our best selves and invites us back, again and again, to attend to our personal pain. In this Love, we find a sanctuary where our armor can be pierced by our pain, allowing the softness of the heart to heal us.” – “Love as a Call to Action,” Rev. Abhi Janamanchi, Love at the Center

Children’s program:
All month long, we are exploring the theme of Healing. This week, we are looking at the hurt that arises from seeing your life as “a glass half empty,” and how we can heal this through gratitude. As we do that, we will have the chance to focus on Thanksgiving, and its invitation to pause and give thanks. The Living Our Values activity will lift up our UU Value of Generosity, and its call to “cultivate a spirit of gratitude.”

Building Bridges

​​​ After growing up in a liberal community, I grew outside of my comfort zone by having conservative allies in challenging life situations. My own biases were changed, and as a result, my beliefs altered. I will share life-changing moments that have opened my heart and mind.  

Children’s program:
All month long, we are exploring the theme of Healing. This week, we are looking at the hurt that arises from exclusion (including the many forms of bullying) and how we can heal the hurt from that through acts of inclusion. As we do that, we will have the chance to talk about the Transgender Day of Remembrance, which honors transgender and gender-expansive people whose lives have been lost to violence and hatred. The Living Our Values activity will lift up our UU Value of Justice

Things people taught me (when they weren’t trying)

We all learn by watching. Some lessons stick, while others have to be learned by doing

Children’s program:All month long, we are exploring the theme of Healing. This week, we are looking at the hurt that arises from cruelty and indifference and how we can heal that through acts of kindness. As we do that, we will have the chance to learn about the Hindu holiday, Diwali, and its call to bring light into the darkness. The Living Our Values activity will lift up our UU Value of Transformation.

Healing (Soul Matters)

How do we heal together? How do we heal the past?

Children’s program:
All month long, we are exploring the theme of Healing. This week, we are looking at the hurt that arises from seeing your life as “a glass half empty,” and how we can heal this through gratitude. As we do that, we will have the chance to focus on Thanksgiving, and its invitation to pause and give thanks. The Living Our Values activity will lift up our UU Value of Generosity, and its call to “cultivate a spirit of gratitude.”

“Exploring the Rings of Love (UUA Common Read, Love at the Center)”

This year’s UUA Common Read is Love at the Center: Unitarian Universalist Theologies, edited by the Unitarian Universalist Association president Rev. Dr. Sofia Betancourt. Instead of an adult Spiritual Exploration book discussion this year, we’ll have an interactive sermon series to explore the many facets of love.
The Rings of Love model offers five lenses for noticing how Love moves in our lives: the Love within me of inner spiritual life, the Love between us of close relationships, the Love among us of congregational life, the Love beyond us of our public presence and justice work, and the Love holding all that is ground of our being. All are happening at once, and experience travels inward and outward like a spiral, so that what happens in one sphere continually shapes and is shaped by the others.