Sian's Shenanigans (Page 2)

We are on the verge of a new era for our church! It’s very exciting. The new sanctuary is almost ready for us, with just the normal snafus of unanticipated inspector issues to get through. But what does this new era mean for our church? Most people want to see the church grow – and we certainly will have enough room for it! But growth brings its own challenges. New people to integrate and feel welcome into our community; new…

It seems the world is spinning faster these days. The news is relentless. Our calendars are full. The needs are urgent—from the cries for justice in our communities to the relentless tasks in our own households. We feel the pressure to do more, give more, be more. And yet, amid this whirlwind, I want to remind you of something both simple and profound: Rest is not a luxury. It is a sacred act. In times of turmoil, rest becomes not…

There is an old saying, “if you love someone, let them go.” Wendy, our Intern Minister, is leaving us this month, spreading her wings to pursue her vocation in ministry. It’s hard to let go of someone you care about, to let them pursue the next phase of their life. Our life is filled with many “letting gos.” We do it with our children as they graduate and go off to pursue their careers or college; we do it when…

Do you ever talk to your pets or plants as if they could understand you? Name your cars? Blame Gremlins for losing your keys or stealing your socks from the dryer? We humans are odd and whimsical creatures. We imagine all sorts of strange things and it’s that wonderful? And there are lots of reasons for it. For one, humans are storytelling creatures. We see faces in clouds, patterns in stars, and personalities in pets and objects. This isn’t just…

Did you know that “Joy” is my favorite word? Years ago, I read in Marianne Williamson’s book “A Woman’s Worth” a definition of joy that resonated: “”Joy is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognize how good things really are.” About this same time, a friend of mine told me she was pregnant and a wonderful feeling overcame me – a feeling that all was right with the world, because I knew she and her spouse would…

Can you believe that I’ve been with this congregation for over 11 years? I can still remember meeting the search committee, the congregation and my first day I preached (with the youth!). I admit, the first few years were tough. I had big expectations of myself, and the congregation and I were getting to know one another. It can be a tender time: it takes time to build trust. Trust that we won’t hurt each other; trust that we will…

One of my favorite poems is called “The Guest House” by Jalaluddin Rumi (12th C. Sufi Poet). It speaks to the wisdom that each of us have different “parts” – (“a joy, a depression, a meanness…”) and to welcome them all (“Welcome and entertain them all!”). That is, include them in who you are because each of these “parts” has something to teach you (“each has been sent as a guide from beyond”). But we often want to exclude these…

I love stories. Some of my earliest memories are of my father reading Winnie the Pooh and the Madeline books to me. These stories made me laugh, gave me hope, and taught me how to have courage and the joys of friendships. Stories also opened my mind to new ideas. I remember a children’s book about how the number 13 was a lucky number, not a bad one. And that witches were good, not bad. It made me think about…

As many of you know, I was up last week helping celebrate my sister’s 70th birthday. A milestone for sure! When I asked her what she would like for her big birthday, she said: “Just your presence.” It got me thinking about how many people in my life are my “present;” that is, a gift to me. I thought of my twin and her husband, my niece, my dogs, my friends, my colleagues, and, of course, my wonderful congregation. But…

If you’ve ever owned a house, you know that it’s kind of a pain. There are always repairs to be done – the roof leaks, the dryer quits on you, the dog chews up the linoleum floor… (yah, that really happened!). At OCUUC, we have a wonderful team of people who repair that which is broken. Led by Jennifer Thomas of the Buildings and Grounds Committee, they do everything from fixing gas leaks, plumbing issues, painting the building, and making…

We’ve all been told that listening and hearing are two different things; that hearing is passive, whereas listening is active. So, we can hear what someone is saying, but we might not be listening, which involves not just the words, but the emotions and ideas being expressed both verbally and physically. Listening is quite hard, actually. It requires us to pay attention to the entire person. As we take in the information from the other person, it is very natural…

The monthly theme this month is “invitation” which is, for me, at the heart of Unitarian Universalist worship. We don’t have creeds or dogmas that “tell” people what to believe. We have people sitting in our pews that have all kinds of different beliefs – theists to atheists and everything in between. So it’s important that we respect the pluralism of our faith by making everything inviting. You might have noticed that I always “invite” people to meditation or to…