Sanctuary
It seems very timely that the October worship theme is Sanctuary! For here we are holding a capital campaign for building a new sanctuary. This theme, however, really doesn’t have anything to do with building a building… Or does it? A sanctuary is a place of refuge and safety. I believe whole heartedly that this is what we are building. We are building a place where you are free to hold the hand of the one you love, a place…
UU Musicians Network Conference 2018
I am so grateful that OCUUC gives me enough Professional Development funds each year so that I can attend the annual UU Musicians Network Conference. This year it was held August 1-5 at the big UU church headed by Rev. Bill Sinkford (former President of the UUA) in Portland, Oregon. Here is a brief summary of what I took away from the conference, which I lovingly refer to as “Music Camp for Grown-Ups.” The members of UUMN voted to change our name…
Vision in Worship
Every week I have a personal “to-do” that pops up on Mondays, my day off: “Do some visioning.” It’s a reminder to me to not lose sight of where I want to go in life and what I want for this church. I admit, there are some Mondays that I don’t get to it. But it’s a reminder. I sit down and think about who I want to be, as a person and as a minister, and then I try…
With Time and Nurturing All Things Can Grow
“Away, away, from men and towns, To the wild wood and the downs, — To the silent wilderness, Where the soul need not repress its music.” —Percy Bysshe Shelley I am out exploring parts of the wild woods and downs this month and writing this column on the shores of the Oregon coast. Audrey and I are traveling in our RV up the California, Oregon and Washington coasts. We had planned to travel inland as well, but drought and lightning storms…
Taking Care of Our Souls
There is an island near Seattle that has a kind of magical effect on me. Whenever I go there, I find that as soon as I touch the ground, a feeling of calm comes over me: my whole body relaxes and I feel grounded. The place is called “Whidbey Island” and somehow, someway it feeds my soul. Have you ever felt that sense of calm? Maybe when you went away on a vacation and looked out over the ocean? Or…
A Sense of Belonging
“We all want to feel a sense of belonging. This isn’t a character flaw. It’s fundamental to the human experience. Our finest achievements are possible when people come together to work for a common cause.” Rosalind Wiseman I came upon OCUUC about four and a half years ago. I remember the first Sunday service I attended, I thought, “Oh my gosh, I love this place!” The inspirational and thought provoking sermon I heard from Reverend Sian that Sunday was so exciting…
People are Good
“We gather together for peace, love and justice for everyone” are the words we sing each week at our service. I am inspired by these words and proud to serve as OCUUC’s new Board President. Thank you for nominating and electing me to this important position within our church. I will work hard with the OCUUC board and with all of you to make this next year one we can all be proud of due to our accomplishments and love for…
Leap and the Net Will Appear
“Leap and the net will appear.” ~ John Burroughs, American naturalist and nature essayist. Recently my best friend made a huge leap of faith. She left her career of 30 years, as it was just too stressful and harming her health. For someone like her, this lack of security, assurance and sense of foundation, was extremely difficult. Every day she deals with constant questions, “What’s next? What do I do? Who am I? How will my spouse and I be…
Birds
Be as a bird perched on a frail branch that she feels bending beneath her, still she sings away all the same, knowing she has wings. – Victor Hugo God loved the birds and invented trees. Man loved the birds and invented cages. – Jacques Deval Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best. – Henry Van Dyke My theme this month is birds for several reasons.…
Can We Fail?
“You can’t fail if you don’t quit. You can’t succeed if you don’t start.” – Michael Hyatt “When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hang on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.” –Harriet Beecher Stowe “The best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do something. Don’t wait for good…
With Deep Gratitude
With deep gratitude to Rev. Sian, the Board, and all the volunteers who will help make this happen, I will be taking a medical leave through mid-June. I’ve been struggling with pericarditis (inflammation of the lining of my heart) for over a month, and I’m still not feeling better. I suspect the doctors haven’t unlocked the true diagnosis yet. So I’m taking a break from all of my jobs (church, lessons, college jobs) to focus on getting healthy again. In…
Random Kindness
“a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…” begins the movie Star Wars. This summer, children will be welcomed as padawans—new initiates—into Jedi Master training in the Jedi Temple. They will learn, as Master Obiwan Kenobi once said that, “The Force is what gives a Jedi his (her) power. It’s an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together.” Our multi-age summer Jedi Temple school will teach children…