Over Christmas, I saw the new movie The Color Purple, which addresses themes about racial marginalization also included in another block-buster of a decade ago, Twelve Years a Slave. The earlier chronicles a free black man from up-state New York caught in slavery on southern plantations. Coincidentally, Twelve Years a Slave is also the title … Continue reading Twelve Years a Slave:’ Not Just a Movie
Much in our UU heritage promotes endless human advancement, onward and upward forever. This optimistic modernist view has recently been challenged by Rev. Nancy McDonald Ladd, who “calls religious progressives to greater authenticity and truth-telling rather than blind optimism.” How might greater truth-telling make religious liberals more resilient, open to new perspectives. How might UUs … Continue reading After the Good News: Is Liberal Faith at a Crossroads?
Unitarian Universalism’s greatest diversity challenge may be about class. While the values of this liberal faith promote equity, equality, and diversity, congregations tend to be populated by educated professionals. How does social class influence congregational life, here at UUFD and denominationally. What does class have to do with the theologies we promote, the ministries we … Continue reading Is This a Faith for the Few?
What do you think of when you think of home? The words from UUFD Affirmation, “To serve human need,” calls us to respond to the need for a safe space to live, to be who we are, yet income disparity has led to a housing shortage in our region. How can we embrace the workforce … Continue reading There’s No Place Like Home
Modern UU identity owes much to historical Universalism, established in the late eighteenth century. Core to this popular American denomination, Universalism was a heretical theology defined by an all-encompassing love which leaves no one out, a stark counter to prevailing Calvinism. In the 21st century, new strains of Universalism promote universal love as one of … Continue reading Many Faces of Universalism’s Liberating Love
Every day the news of the world can break our hearts. Though our Unitarian and Universalist forebears were optimistic about humans’ capacity for working together to enact goodness in the world, some days we wonder if the Calvinists had a point when they said humanity was “utterly depraved.” We have such high ideals yet we … Continue reading Deeply Worthy, Deeply Fallible
What seeds are you planting for the new year? How are you weaving your magic into your relationships with others? How can you center beauty and goodness and love, as UUFD looks ahead to new professional ministry? In this pre-recorded service, we have the opportunity to hear a Time for all Ages and Sermon, prepared … Continue reading Seeds for the New Year
“Article II,” the new values statement for Unitarian Universalism, is up for final approval at the 2024 General Assembly. Liberating Love is the central value in this statement, around which six other values — pluralism, interdependence, equity, generosity, justice, evolution — revolve. Last fall many at UUFD explored a new model for advancing liberating love … Continue reading Finding Liberating Love in Repentance and Repair
Guest speaker Judith Reynolds, with assistance from other congregational members, will explore the history of New Year’s Resolutions, why we so often fail to keep them, and how they could be made more valuable and meaningful.
Come, join this holiday tradition. Bring friends and family to this multi-generational service of Lessons and Carols of the season. Music and readings will be offered by UUFD’s members and friends of all ages, followed by the traditional candlelighting ceremony. Bring holiday treats for a reception after the service. The offering at this service supports … Continue reading Christmas Eve Candlelighting Service: 4 pm
