The state of gratitude results from demonstrating compassion for one another: being connected to others, we respond with gratitude for this process of being alive and being connected with other humans. Being grateful is a process of showing ourselves — letting ourselves be known to others — as we realize the meaning of relationships. To … Continue reading Gratitude: The Easiest Way to be Happy
The recent survey from the Ministerial Search Committee included conversations about “shared ministry.” How do you understand this concept? Even if UUs haven’t always labeled laity and professional staff working together with “Shared ministry,” our ancestors in liberal faith have been practicing such collaboration for a long time. Sharing the ministry is an integral part … Continue reading Our Liberal Heritage of Shared Ministry
During this month focused on “the gift of heritage,” let’s consider how “heritage” differs from “history.” We choose what we regard as our heritage by the activities, social groups, and congregations we voluntarily associate through common values. Because heritage can be a matter of choice, we also come by the “ancestors” in that heritage by … Continue reading You Can’t Choose Your Relatives, But You Can Choose Your Ancestors
The High Holy Days on the Jewish calendar, between Rosh Hashana (this year on September 15) and Yom Kippur (September 24), are a perfect time to begin UUFD’s participation in the current UUA Common Read, a new book by Danya Ruttenberg, Repentance and Repair. Ruttenberg brings us lessons from an ancient philosopher, Maimonides, to illustrate … Continue reading Welcoming Repentance
Let’s reflect on one of the surest gestures of “welcome,” that of covenant. Covenants are promises for how we live together, how we walk together sharing common values on this path called Life. Living well in covenant is core to belonging to this free faith of Unitarian Universalism. As Unitarian Universalists, we are connected through … Continue reading Welcoming Covenant
The worship theme for September is “Welcome.” Gestures of Welcome signal belonging, as to a community, to activities, to common values. We reach out our hands to offer welcome to others, just as we accept their welcoming of us. This is In-Gathering Sunday, the traditional start of a new church year to welcome the return … Continue reading Welcoming Joy
This is our retreat sermon. Please note that there will be no services on Zoom this week. Let’s express our joy and delight in being together as a covenanted community, represented by our connections through poetry, art, stories, and sharing the calm and quiet of mediation. As we near the conclusion of this retreat weekend, … Continue reading Joy and Delight in Covenanted Community
Several years ago the comedian Colbert coined the term “truthiness:” that is, truth which is determined by intuition and perception without regard to evidence, facts, or logic. In contrast, how might we practice and promote conversation grounded in substance and reliability? What might we learn from a teenage “busy-body,” a character in Ian McEwan’s novel … Continue reading Truthiness and Atonement
I wonder if anyone has heard stories about Unitarian Universalism being an “anything goes” sort of religion, or that Unitarian Universalists don’t need to believe in anything. Let’s reframe those “anything goes” stories, to consider a constructive framework which defines free religion and membership in Unitarian Universalism. We’ll tell the positive story of why membership … Continue reading The Story of Membership
Today we recognize the many volunteers who have participated in shared ministry to UUCM this year: leadership of committees, groups, and projects, and the all-important Religious Education teachers and students. Our congregation is a Voluntary Association, in the words of James Luther Adams. Volunteering is essential to the stewardship of this congregation.
