RICH PEOPLE A meditation on wealth. With a first career in investments and finance and a second career in ministry, Joan has known rich people from many walks of life. Music: Gerri Friedberg Service Leader: Toby Mason

SYNCHRONICITY IN OUR DAILY LIVES: DO THINGS REALLY HAPPEN FOR A REASON? We have all experienced events that appear to have miraculously coincided at meaningful times in our lives. While many attribute these experiences to random chance or mere coincidence, it has been argued that synchronized occurrences may be forms...

REVERENCE FOR LIFE Twentieth century humanitarian, medical doctor and minister Albert Schweitzer described the cornerstone of his ethical system with the phrase, “Reverence for Life,” which he said calls us into spiritual relationship with the universe. What might “Reverence for Life” mean today and how can we awaken it and...

WHAT IF CITIZENSHIP WERE VOLUNTARY? A thought experiment/fantasy: no taxes, no services. There is still a government of the people, by the people and for those people who opt-in. What will be the role of religious and charitable organizations? Will self-reliance and human decency prevail? Rev. Paul Beckel has served...

ETHICAL COMMUNICATION Most of us spend very little time thinking about the way in which we communicate.  We speak to convey our thoughts and to get our needs met.  We act based on our understanding of our obligations and to demonstrate our feelings.  The manner in which we speak and...

The word Easter is derived from Eostre, the name of a goddess whose festival was held at the vernal equinox, although it is now better known as a festival that celebrates the resurrection of Christ, or The Passover, or a time to give gifts of eggs to our friends and...

LANGUAGE LESSONS FOR THE JOURNEY How fluent are you in the language and images of your individual spiritual journey?  This will be a reflection on how well the Fellowship is doing to embody the fourth Principle in Unitarian Universalism: “Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations.”...

TWO EXTRAORDINARY AMERICAN “ENVIRONMENTALISTS” One was a woman – the other a man One was born to modest means – the other to wealth and privilege Both died tragically young Both left us an imperishable legacy Dick Smythe is an entomologist retired from the research division of the US Forest...

THE SACRED POWER OF MUSIC Around the globe and in every culture sacred observance is closely tied to music.  Brian Pertl will lead us on an exploration of both familiar and non-familiar sacred music traditions. During this journey we will be asking the question of why music is such a...

THE ART OF HERESY The word heretic comes from the Greek root ‘hairetikos’ and originally meant the state or condition of an individual who had the ability or freedom to choose or make up his mind. Only later was it a description of a person who dissented from accepted belief...