Salvation
Salvation is not a word I like, I have to admit. I generally don’t mind Christian theological concepts, but this one makes me twitch. It’s the worship theme this month and so I’m squirming a bit. Salvation, from a liberal theological standpoint, is often described as “wholeness.” But I think that’s a bit of a stretch. The original Greek word for salvation is Soteria. Soteria means protection from harm, often then translated into “salvation.” The world “Salvation” is the Latin…
Where Are We Going?
“Men have never done much when the heart has been cold; and what have they not done, what have they not subdued, when the heart has been quickened to generous emotions?” William Ellery Channing “We are often called to do the difficult, if not the seemingly impossible, and it is vital to our spiritual growth that we not ignore these challenges.” Janice Marie Johnson “To attain happiness in another world we need only to believe something, while to secure it…
Dreaming Big Dreams
What will you do with your one wild and precious life? ~ Mary Oliver Our congregation is in the middle of dreaming big dreams! What will we do with this one wild and precious church? What a fun question to ponder. There is such wonderful energy on Sunday mornings – our “pews” are packed with so many new people coming to join us. It’s very exciting and we have the wonderful problem of trying to figure out how to accommodate…
Conversations About Our Future
As many of you are aware, your President, Don Martin, and I have started a series of conversations to look at our future, in particular the future of our church campus. Not only are we busting at the seams on Sunday morning, but we also don’t want to rest on our laurels. We’ve accomplished a lot together the last few years! In January we just did some dreaming – what might we do to address the increase of attendance? How…
A Long Journey
“We build on foundations we did not lay We warm ourselves by fires we did not light We sit in the shade of trees we did not plant We drink from wells we did not dig We profit from persons we did not know This is as it should be. Together we are more than any one person could be. Together we can build across the generations. Together we can renew our hope and faith in the life that is…
Gratefulness and New Beginnings
“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson I assume that you are grateful, as am I, for all the goodness that the winter season brings to us from religious renewal rituals to material presents to a realization that the coldest of seasons is limited and we will…
Looking Forward
As many of you know, I’ll be going on a short sabbatical this coming summer, June through August. I thought I’d give you an update. First know that the Committee on Ministry is working with me to make sure the church functions smoothly while I’m gone. We’ve started planning the services for the summer and Rev. Lee Marie Sanchez will be coming to preach 3-4 times. We know she is a church favorite! There are other wonderful, creative services we…
Home for the Holidays
“He drew a circle that shut me out — Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout. But love and I had the wit to win: We drew a circle that took him in.” – Edwin Markham I trust that all have had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Now we prepare for the next holiday, whatever you call it – Christmas, Kwanzaa, Chanukah, Maulid al-Nabi, Bodhi Day, Winter Solstice, Melissa’s birthday. We must continue to be a haven, as we have been, for those…
Peace
December always reminds me of Jesus because of Christmas, but it doesn’t remind me of Peace (our theme of worship this month). Peace always seems such an elusive thing this time of year what with hectic schedules and family gatherings. And now it feels even more so since the election. It’s hard not to get discouraged. But then I think of that Jesus guy again. No, not the one he got made in to – not the one about sin…
Minister’s Sabbatical Leave
The sabbatical leave is a tradition for Unitarian Universalist clergy, as it is for the university. It offers an extended time for study, reflection, rest, and renewal – all ingredients for effective ministry. A sabbatical leave is part of the congregation’s covenant agreement with our minister. Just as importantly, the congregation will benefit as [our minister] returns refreshed, filled with new ideas and with rekindled energy. Further, it offers the staff and congregation the opportunity to step up to fill…
Gratitude
November always invokes for me the theme of gratitude with Thanksgiving in the midst of it. And I love that we have a national holiday dedicated to this spiritual practice. Take a moment, if you can, to think about all the ways you are grateful… Go ahead. I’ll wait. Sometimes it seems a bit trite to say the words – “I’m grateful for my health” or “I’m grateful for my family,” or my friends, etc. But I think it’s really…
Kicking Off Our New Church Year
On October 16th we kicked off our new church year with new curricula! Our PreK-2nd graders are exploring World of Wonder, a program that delves deep into our Unitarian Universalist seventh Principle. It instills respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part and appreciation of its beauty, excitement, and mystery. It is founded on the premise that direct experience in nature is essential to children’s physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual development. Our 3rd-6th graders…