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.
Our modern celebration of Mother’s Day started as a call by Unitarian Julia Ward Howe in 1870 for Mother’s Peace Day. On this day of honoring all mothers as well as anyone who nurtured us, let us remember to promote peace around the world for the future of our children for generations to come.
Are there places in your life where “old maps” — that is, traditional habits, perhaps some which you’ve held for a long time — are no longer serving you? How can you know when an old map has led you to a dead end? What would it be like to travel through life without a … Continue reading Old Maps No Longer Work
The science behind our climate changes continues to grow more overt, robust and concerning, if not alarming. The service, in shared ministry between UUFD’s Environmental Justice Team and worship ministry, will offer reflections on the most recent report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report and what it means for our spiritual path.
