Service video Gratitude is about a Gift, and a Response. Real gratitude begins with a gift freely given. To know the mystery of life is to be grateful in all things. Today we reflect on how we can we freely choose to live a life of thankfulness in response to all the gifts we have … Continue reading “Gratitude: Gift and Response” by Rev. Margaret A. Beckman
Today we celebrate Indigenous People’s Day as we explore how we can heal historical wounds that inhibit us from using the power of active imagination to co-create our future. The great Mvskoke/Shawnee leader Tecumseh words resonate with us today: “So live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart. Trouble no … Continue reading “Healing the Past to Imagine the Future,” by Rev. Dr. Victoria Bomberry
Summer Solstice is a time to give homage to the sun and its energy. It’s the longest day and the shortest night in the Northern Hemisphere. It’s also the official start of summer! Summer is the season of growth and abundance; we can see it all around us in the ripe fruits and colorful flowers in our gardens, we … Continue reading “Here Comes the Sun,” by Sonya Murray
Memorial Day is a time for honoring the men and women of our Armed Forces who gave the ultimate sacrifice–their lives. Is there someone in your family who died serving our country? How do we honor them? What is the history of Memorial Day? Today, Nick Williams, an Army Veteran during Vietnam, will share his … Continue reading “They Died So We Could Live,” by Nick Williams
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
Today is Mother’s Day, a celebration honoring all mother figures of the family or individual, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. The tradition of Mother’s Day endures and evolves. Just as Mother’s Day was the creation of multiple women,out of appreciation for the support and sacrifices of their … Continue reading “Mother’s Day,” by Tinka Friend
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
Easter Sunday is revered by Christians as the day when the miracle of resurection occurred, cementing Jesus as the Messiah. How can we as UUs understand such a miracle? How do we hold space for our wisdom gained from personal experience and the teachings of science alongside possibility (and perhaps the inevitability) that we have … Continue reading Earth Teach Us Resurrection
Yule is an ancient pagan holiday that celebrates the winter solstice and the return of light and warmth. The word “Yule” comes from the old Norse word for “wheel”, which symbolizes fresh starts and the cyclical nature of the planet. It’s a perfect time for reflection as we look forward to the new year.
A practice is something you commit to doing on a regular basis. If you practice something with intention and commitment, it eventually becomes “second nature,” an intrinsic part of who you are. Today we will examine a way we can cultivate and practice gratitude in a manner that will enrich not only our lives, but … Continue reading “Practicing Gratitude,” by
