Last week, with Bruce Haulman, we talked about what’s in a name. This week the Transcending Mystery and Wonder team will consider the importance of ritual—its purpose, its power, and some ways it can be misused. This is an opportunity to reflect on our own uses of ritual both in VIUF and in our private … Continue reading What’s in a Ritual?
The first name most of us uttered was that of a caregiver. This name was usually shared with those within our family, community and culture. For some it was a moment of awareness when other people in our community and culture called their caregivers by very different names..Dada..Far.…Madre…Papa..Momma..Aunt Mushy…Al…Mommy..Otets…Anne…and so on. But, even if the … Continue reading What’s in a name?
The most masterful element of resistance is water. This Easter Sunday we’ll explore the water’s way of bringing about a resurrection of new life from decay. We’ll travel through lava fields, visiting the magnificent destructive and creative power of volcanos, and arrive at the passionate mystery story of the founding figure of Christianity, Jesus of … Continue reading Resistance, Creation, and the Easter Passion
Curiosity has a bit of a bad rap as nosiness, or the thing that killed the cat. But what if curiosity is the one thing, in our deeply divided world, that might be able to save us? Rev. Dr. Lynn Ungar is a UU minister, a poet, a dog trainer, and a moderator of the … Continue reading Curiosity Cured the Cat
Vulnerability weaves itself in our personal, physical and spiritual lives. Let us explore how embracing vulnerability might be a strength, in spite of its being easy to malign. While vulnerability often invites fear and anxiety, there are times we have no choice but to address the challenges it offers. It is part of our humanity. … Continue reading Vulnerability as a Strength?
We know that Unitarianism and Universalism consolidated into Unitarian Universalism in 1961, but the youth of each faith came together in 1953, and the religious educators in 1949, what took so long for the rest of us? Come hear about some of the exciting twists and turns on the way to consolidation and why it … Continue reading We Would be One: there’s more to the story about the Unitarian and Universalist Consolidation
March’s Theme: The Path of Vulnerability Leaning on what we have learned about the complexities of love, this month we embrace Vulnerability. We will be given the opportunity to hear speakers who themselves have faced physical vulnerability, economic vulnerability, social vulnerability and/or environmental vulnerability. From them we can begin to glean how opening ourselves to … Continue reading This I Believe
In the song “Lean on Me,” we sing, “If you have a load you have to bear, that you can’t carry…I’ll share your load, if you just call me.” But sometimes, sharing your load just feels too vulnerable, and you hold it all in or hold it all together. When someone shows up with empathy, … Continue reading A Vulnerable Faith
Our speaker this Sunday, John Doherty is going to make reference to Roy Scranton’s book, Learning to Die in the Anthropocene. The reading is stark – and the reality is that our future is stark, and we need to recognize that. John states “…beyond that we need hope – a way forward.” He will support us … Continue reading Bringing Loving Kindness to Climate Change
An invitation to re-tune our moral radios to catch the broadcasts of hope and good news — messages that are all too often drowned out, but are operating quietly under the static. The Rev. Amanda Aikman is a retired UU minister who served congregations in Ohio, Washington, and British Columbia for 25 years. She lives … Continue reading Parallels of Disaster, Parallels of Hope
