I have always greatly admired people who have an unquenchable zest for life. They are the much-needed spice in what can be the bland humdrum of the day in and day out. Who pops into your mind when you think of someone who embodies this trait (apart from Rev. Kelly)? Mine would be a … Continued
Mother’s day is just around the corner, a day when we honor all of the women who have blessed our lives. This is good, but I can’t help but think that the world owes more to mothers, more to women, than thank you. Women have had more to offer throughout history than we’ve been allowed … Continued
As Unitarian Universalist we are in the business of transformation. When I first joined the church I was impressed that the mission of the UUA is to transform people who will transform the world. The word “transformation” carries the prefix “trans” which means “beyond,” so to transform is literally to go beyond our … Continued
I can’t speak of risk without being in awe of so many people who risk personal safety for justice and the greater good. When my family watched the movie Selma about the civil rights movement and Martin Luther King Jr. I remember the comment that my daughter made as the credits rolled. She said, … Continued
One of the first and most important ways that we connect to another person or thing is through learning their name. Each of us is identified by our personal names and by the names we call ourselves like, in my case, mother, sister, wife, friend, director and Unitarian Universalist. Some people would even say that … Continued
We start out the New Year with a theme word that is not so obvious to our faith. The word is prophecy and we will undoubtedly all understand it better after delving into it more this month in our services and mindful meetings. In the meantime I did some searching on my own –first in … Continued
I was recently struck by the words of Charles Dickens, the Unitarian who brought back Christmas when it was going out of style by writing A Christmas Carol. In it he says “Christmas is a good time, a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time, the only time I know of in the long calendar year when … Continued
I have always been fascinated with how the brain latches on to stories more than anything else to make sense of the world. Anthony de Mello put it well when he said, “you have to understand that the shortest distance between a human being and the truth is a story.” Before science or psychology or … Continued
October’s theme is healing. What a beautiful concept and something that is needed in all of our lives. I have been a reluctant student of grief lately, and though I realize that I am barely skimming the surface of the full depths of human suffering, I am ready to be done with this course (find … Continued
If you watched the Olympics, I dare say, you are familiar with these words – played in prime time coverage of the games. What beautiful words and why is this news to us? Of course we are more alike, right? We are all human. One has to sit back and wonder why we build these … Continued
Every now and then, you hear or read something that makes a piece of life’s great puzzle fall into place. Mindset- the New Psychology of Success was such a book for me. In it Carol Dweck talks about an experiment she did with kindergarteners where she brought in a series of actual puzzles for each … Continued
I got to help plant trees this week, along with a dozen kids, as I assisted Amy with her Sing the World Green camp. As I dug holes and packed soil in around plants I recalled the first poem I ever memorized. It is by Joyce Kilmer. It starts with I think that I shall … Continued
“Come Summer” Diane Loomans If I had my child to raise all over again, I’d finger paint more, and point the finger less. I’d do less correcting, and more connecting. I’d take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes. I would care to know less, and know to care more. I’d take … Continued
These words by one of my favorite authors, Rachel Remen, hang on the wall by my desk at home. “Blessing life may be more about learning how to celebrate life than learning how to fix life. It may be developing and eye for joy. Blessing life is about filling yourself up so that your blessings overflow onto others.” … Continued
Dear UUCBers, Summer is just around the corner and starting in June we will dive into our Share Your Passion program. Please look at your calendars and sign up for a date to come into the R.E. wing and share any one of your passions with our kids and youth. In the past we have … Continued
Faith Formation Focus by Janen Wright It is time to create a new Religious Education Teaching Ministry Team for next Fall and to give our teachers, new and returning, space to create community for our kids. I love these words spoken by Thoreau on the topic of creation. “It is something to be able to … Continued
Our theme for March is Liberation. What a powerful word and sought for state! Being a woman, I glory in the liberation of my half of the population and often marvel at how recently these things have come about in our society. Of course we have much farther to go, but as a culture we … Continued
This month our church theme is desire. When I read this poem by Howard Thurman it resonated with me although some of the ways that I would wish to be better are different than the ones he lays out here. I Want to be Better The concern which I lay bare before God today is … Continued
Our theme to start out this new year is Resistance. It’s a big one. The image of resistance that pops into my mind is that of trying to push open a door that says pull. (How many of us get through this life without attempting that one?) I think we’ve all had situations where resistance … Continued
As winter sets in and the days grow shorter and colder it isn’t hard to imagine how fervently our ancient ancestors harbored the expectation of the sun’s return. December has long been the month of expectation. Think of all the expectations of salvation and eternal life that are laid at the feet of Jesus whose … Continued
