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 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.
UUs believe in a fluid faith, that we must embrace change and growth and not etch our answers in stone. UUism is unique because we value the beliefs and shared hunanity of all people and because we believe we do not have the once-and-for-all answers. We must respond to the real demands of our world; … Continue reading A Living Tradition
After the spur of the #metoo movement in 2018, Rev. Debus was inspired to rewrite this sermon to reflect on systemic sexism and gender inequality. Women’s personal freedoms are under even more threat now, and we must reflect deeply, confront discomfort, and work towards a beloved community of justice, dignity, and interdependence. We must validate … Continue reading Reclaiming My Time, by Rev. Kimberley Debus
Video recording We will explore two of the six UU sources — Jewish and Christian teachings and Earth-centered traditions — and their relationship to each other. Today, looking at the Old Testament, it’s hard to understand the cruel behavior of Yahweh, and we might not expect insight from pagan readings of these Judeo-Christian myths. What … Continue reading “Yahweh and The Goddess Earth,” by Alec Peck
Last week, we celebrated America’s most iconic black leftist, Martin Luther King Jr. Most people now don’t think of this Southern Baptist preacher as being particularly liberal, much less a leftist, and don’t know about the radical social philosophies that inspired him.
We seek to nourish our spirit with awe and wonder. We want to re-experience the sense of mystery and amazement we felt as children, surprised by each new experience. Our amazement fades with our naivety, and so many people expect that their awe and reverence for the Gods might fade as they learn to understand … Continue reading “Mysteries of Science & the God of the Gaps,” by Alec Peck
“Be the change you want to see in the world.” This age-old wisdom is hard enough to internalize, and yet we must also live the changes we want for our friends, our community. It is every person’s inherent right to live with dignity in a beloved community. Life on Earth and our being together is … Continue reading “What We Want and What We Need,” by Alec Peck
UUism is a faith bound by covenant. This agreement we make for what kind of church we want — what kind of community we want — has power only because we all agree with it and believe in its realization. This agreement with our neighbors and with the Gods is one we make for ourselves. … Continue reading “The Courage To Covenant,” by Rev. Kimberley Debus”
The Giving Tree is a popular but divisive children’s book from 1964, written by Shel Silverstein. Although the book was written and illustrated for children, the story isn’t just for children. Each person seems to have their own interpretation and feel a little differently about the story, and we can broaden our soul by exploring … Continue reading “The Giving Tree,” by Alec Peck
Excerpts from M. Scott Peck’s book, “The Road Less Traveled” from the second chapter, titled “love.” Dr. Morgan Scott Peck was born in New York, 1936. He attended Phillips Exeter Academy but was expelled ]for refusing to attend mandatory R.O.T.C. sessions. He transferred to Harvard, where he received a bachelor’s degree in 1958, and he … Continue reading “The Road Less Traveled: Love,” by M. Scott Peck
Service Video. The Flower Ceremony, or Flower Communion, is an annual ritual that celebrates beauty, human uniqueness, diversity, and community. In this ceremony, everyone brings a flower to place in a shared vase. The congregation blesses the flowers, and then given back out, with each person bringing home a different flower than the one they … Continue reading “Flower Communion,” by Alec Peck
