To love is an essential part of what makes us human. We first learn about love from our family of origin. Some of us are lucky to be enveloped in unconditional love from the moment we arrive. Others of us may only receive carefully dished out portions of love that carry expectations and limitations. Others […]
The Unitarian Universalist Fourth Principle says that UUs believe in “a free and responsible search for truth and meaning.” The Unison Affirmation says, “we gather together to celebrate within a caring community those truths which give meaning and direction to our lives.” But, what does it mean to say that something is true? And, how […]
What is a miracle? It is a word we use frequently to describe all sorts of situations. But what about “authentic” miracles? Can we know—really know—whether they are real or some sort of delusion? Are miracles essential to the truth of any religion? What does the absence or lack of miracles say? These are questions […]
In our most clear moments, our heart speaks of its desire. We long for meaning, connection, hope, adventure, and peace. But what gets in the way? And how might we overcome those barriers? The Rev. Dr. Matthew Johnson is the Senior Minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church, Rockford, IL. He has served there since 2008, […]
As a retiree, Dottie is spending most of her volunteer hours working for immigrant justice locally at her home in Central Missouri and across the nation—specifically in finding sponsors for asylum seekers as they are released from detention. She is often asked “What can we do? What can we claim as our own role in […]
We have never before lived through a time when we are brought so thoroughly and relentlessly face to face with the enormity and inexhaustibility of the cruelty and suffering of our world. What a time to be alive! In this message, Dottie will discuss the strategies needed to continue to “show up” with an open […]
How does one find ‘their place?’ How do we belong to our communities, cities, and congregations, even amidst transition and change? Through many changes in my life, I have realized it is a rather simple thing that helps me find my place, and I look forward to exploring this theme with you. Marie Luna is […]
You know that old expression, “You can’t get there from here?” Well, Tony’s sermon this Sunday will suggest that maybe you can’t even get HERE from here! That is, it is necessary to journey somewhere else before you can know where you already are. Rev. Dr. Tony Larsen has recently retired from being the minister […]
Tony will speak about what he has learned about the ups and downs of parenthood from his own dad—including not just what to do, but what not to do. “In the beginning,” he says, “I thought I had been short-changed in the dad department. Now I’ve come to see that some of the burdens may […]
What does our Unitarian Universalist tradition have to tell us about the tension between the individual and the community? How do we decide how to act and how to be together? Rev. Mary Gear is serving as the Acting Assistant Minister at First Unitarian Church in Portland, OR, through this month and will begin as […]