Alec has been a practicing UU for 23 years, raised in a UU church chosen by his father, raised Quaker, and his mother, raised Jewish (though both Humanist in practice). Alec has studied natural science at Creighton University, a Jesuit institution, and is now completing his Ph.D. at UC Riverside, while serving as chair of the Worship Committee here at UUCR.
“Seize the day, for this moment will never come again.” This age-old wisdom is hard enough to internalize, and yet we must also seize this week, this year, this life. It is every person’s birthright to live with dignity in a life that fulfills them. … read more.
We generally think of our personal choices as be either aesthetic or moral choices: Do I wear blue or green today? Do I donate my dollar to the children’s hospital or the homeless shelter? We think of the appeals to what is “good” … read more.
According to Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Beloved Community happens when everyone is cared for, absent of poverty, hunger, and hate. To feel accepted is not only for our uniqueness to be respected by those around us; it is also feeling that it is good … read more.
The author of today’s reading writes: “We all share the need to feel we exist, and that we are safe—we need to feel both present and secure. I am convinced that these very basic emotional needs lie at the heart of all kinds of behaviors.” … read more.
Where did we all come from? What does it mean to be human, and what is the human place in the universe? How does our perception of The Divine impact the practical life of people in our society? What’s up with all the snakes? These … read more.
The Flower Ceremony, sometimes referred to as Flower Communion or Flower Festival, is an annual ritual that celebrates beauty, human uniqueness, diversity, and community.
Originally created in 1923 by Unitarian minister Norbert Capek of Prague, Czechoslovakia, the Flower Ceremony was introduced to the United States by … read more.
The Passover Seder is one of the most important celebrations on the Jewish calendar. Even Jews that are not religious the rest of the year will attend a Seder. Seders also have a universal appeal because of the values being celebrated: freedom, striving against oppression, … read more.
Unitarian Universalism is currently taking a profoundly important step in committing to work as an entire body, a Beloved Community, against white supremacy. In order to make this commitment as effective as possible, it is important to reflect on the internal struggle that we who … read more.
UUs all believe in different Gods, and sometimes no Gods at all. UUs aren’t required to do certain rituals or practices, except the ones which speak to their spirit. UUs demand we take personal and communal responsibility for spiritual growth, not look to a church … read more.
Life, even in 2022, can often be difficult. The spiritual journey is one built on the pain of confronting difficult challenges. In short, discipline is the practice of confronting spiritual challenges. But what exactly is self-discipline, and how can we actually apply it? M. Scott … read more.
