Latin@s in the United States

Through a series of thought experiments and real-life examples, the presentation will examine the notion of race and ethnicity as applied to Latin@s in the United Sates. We will review the historical formation of said group, its relations to Latin America, and present examples of its cultural and political expressions. Gustavo Fares, a native of […]

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Hope is the thing with feathers

This line from Emily Dickinson, reflects the motivation behind restoration ecology. We are in the midst of what some call Earth’s sixth mass extinction. On the one hand Homo sapiens is the problem. On the other… we are also the solution. This is a huge opportunity for positive change. Just as depleted prairies and forests […]

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Truth and Lies: Reflections on Honesty

Honesty is the foundation of all human connection. But there are times when (particularly living in a small community) many of us temper our honesty in the service of tact for others or the protection of our own boundaries. How important is honesty in the stories we tell to one another, here in a small […]

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The Blessing of Uncertainty

Uncertainty and anxiety are not the same thing. Anxiety is a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome. Though we may conflate uncertainty and anxiety, anxiety is only one response to uncertainty. It may not be the best one. We cannot avoid uncertainty in life, […]

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The Gift of our Christmas Stories

“Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.” – Calvin Coolidge This season of celebration offers many gifts. One such gift is our narratives. The spirit of Christmas is found in them. […]

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Since the mid 90’s Edward John DiMaio has been working with the Aramaic translations of Neil Douglas–Klotz. DiMaio found that most English translations of the wisdom Jesus, had been deeply colored by the Latin language. Edward will be delving into the differences between these very different palettes of meaning. DiMaio will be hanging these differences […]

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The Rebirth of Hope

The qualities of Advent are faith, hope, love and joy, the indispensable elements of a meaningful existence. Hope may be the least understood of the four. Hope rises and falls any number of times during the course of a single day. The Oxford English Dictionary has 60 different examples of hope, but all with a […]

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Community and Ministry

What is the purpose of ordination? What is the meaning of community ministry? What is the relationship between an ordained community minister and a lay led fellowship of shared values who serve the same community? On the surface, these questions can be answered with covenants and words of mutual support. Deeper down there are undertones […]

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Pulling Out of the Mud

If you have ever had your car well and truly stuck in the mud, you know how hard it can be to pull yourself out. Sometimes just walking through the world feels like your feet are stuck in the mud. On any network newscast there will be at least 5 things that will make you […]

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Religion Trigger Words for UUs

Do words like faith, worship, pray, church, God, Lord, and other religion-related words make you uncomfortable? Alan will explore the disconnects between how some people use these words and how some people hear these words (and in some cases the origins of these words). Before our “Moment of Quiet” we are often encouraged to embrace […]

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