Pluralism is one of the core values of our UU tradition. And it is part of the motto of the United States, “e pluribus unum”—out of many, one. Sociologist of religion Robert Bellah states, “Not only is there such a thing [as institutionalized civil religion in America], …this religious dimension has its own seriousness and … Continue reading The Dance of Pluralism in UU and in the U.S.
UUs have long advocated to protect Earth’s ecosystems, struggling with the United States’ culture of independence, individualism, and capitalist freedoms to exploit people and the planet. What if the urgency of the climate crisis, paradoxically, calls for an end to protest and a deepening of acceptance? As human beings, we live with great dependence and … Continue reading The Middle Way of Interdependence
Have you ever received secondhand advice? How do you know if you’re actually being helpful when you’re trying to help someone by talking it over with someone else? The service adapts the story of Motke, the fish peddler, who is helped a little too much by his friends. This Jewish folk tale will lead us … Continue reading The Transformative Impact of Direct Communication
Stewardship is about more than money. It’s about our relationships. Relationships give us audacious hope, and ways of being generous, just and equitable in our communities. Today we’ll learn about the audacious hopes of UU ancestor and Civil Rights advocate Whitney Young, and of Seattle and Tacoma community organizers. And we’ll ask ourselves where VIUUs great … Continue reading Who Do We Need to Find a Way?
Come celebrate a Unitarian Christmas with carols and stories from our history and a candlelight ceremony to mark the return of light to our world in the Northern hemisphere. A recording of this service is not available.
According to Bill Plotkin, author of Nature and the Human Soul, Mystery is the undifferentiated realm of spirit and soul. While spirit permeates, animates, and transcends everything, soul calls us to our unique, individual, and communal relationship to the whole. Today we’ll be tracking the Mystery, the transcendent and the imminent, from the mystery of dark matter … Continue reading Tracking the Mystery
When was the last time you gave in a way that changed your heart? Or a relationship? Or a circumstance? Join us for a telling of the Stone Soup story and an invitation to consider how generosity might change us, no matter how little or how much we have to add to the pot. Bonus … Continue reading Reminding Ourselves That We Live in a Generous World
Our October study theme is Heritage. We’ll be reflecting on what we’ve received from our UU heritage and on what it could mean for us to be good UU ancestors.
Welcome back to VIUU! Our theme for the month of September is Welcome. In the Babylonian Talmud it is written that Hospitality is a form of worship. Let’s offer one another joyful hospitality as we re-connect for Sunday worship and begin a new congregational year. If you can, please bring a treat to share. Please … Continue reading Widening the Circle of Hospitality
The UU tradition of the Flower Ceremony began in 1923 with Norbert Fabian Čapek (CHA-pek), the Czech founder of the Prague Unitarian congregation, which at that time was becoming the largest Unitarian church in the world. The ritual symbolized the people’s unity by gathering many flowers together in one vase or basket. The ceremony emphasized … Continue reading Flower Ceremony Centennial Service
