Our greatest gift is just to love and to be loved in return. We seek to build a beloved community where to love is to care for our souls. May we learn together the beauty that lives with loving kindness. The transmutation of suffering into understanding love. The caring which bless the world. John A. … Continue reading “Caring,” by Avery Burrows
In these times of both challenge and possibility, Congressman Mark Takano will share his vision and priorities for this congressional term, offering insight into how we can collectively shape a more just, compassionate, and inclusive society. Grounded in our shared values of Love, Justice, Equity, and Interdependence, this service invites us to reflect on the … Continue reading “Faithful Action,” by Rep. Mark Takano
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
The world has celebrated the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights — a document that is much more than a cornerstone of international law: it is a guide to navigate a deeply divided world, a set of values that everyone can live by, and ultimately a force for good. And yet, we … Continue reading “International day against Queer Oppression,” by Wren Monsour
May 1st (or May Day) was Beltane, a Celtic celebration which says goodbye to Darkness and Winter and hello to Light and Spring. We’ll learn a little about this day and how pagans honor it. Flowers are an important symbol of Spring, which bring us to the third part of our service—The Flower Ceremony, or … Continue reading “Beltane & Flower Communion,” by Wren Monsour & Tinka Friend
Art, music, and song generally accompany the culture of any society. Sometimes songs can lead to a revolt against that society. We will explore examples by singing songs of peace and rebellion against war, oppression and exploitation from our world today.
In this talk, I share my journey from Afghanistan to Riverside and how my experiences as a mother, educator, and advocate shaped my mission to support girls’ education. I discuss the impact of the current crisis on Afghan girls and introduce Success Journey Academy, an online school that brings learning to those who are now … Continue reading “A Seed of Hope: Educating Afghan Girls for a Brighter Future,” by Friba Dawar
Harriet Tubman (1822-1913) is a celebrated figure in American history. She was an abolitionist, social activist, and Union spy during the American Civil War. Living through the slavery era, Harriet Tubman faced three major challenges: She was black, she was a woman, and she had a disability. She also had three support systems: family, faith … Continue reading “The Life & Times of Harriet Tubman,” by Lauren Young
Love comes with responsibilities. It doesn’t matter which kind of Love it is: romantic love, sibling love, friendship, love for the stranger, etc. The biblical mandate to “love your neighbor as yourself” is frequently held up in Jewish sources as “the great principle of the Torah.” and Jesus said that to love Gold and to … Continue reading “Love’s Charge,” by Tinka Friend
Love is like a box of chocolates. Both can involve some choice and some risk. Love and chocolate can bring you joy but can also be kind of messy. We all have different tastes and different desires. We all have different expectations and different needs. There are many varieties of love, just as there are … Continue reading “Chocolate Communion Ritual,” by Rev. Sarah Movius Schurr
