Archives: Services

Becoming Whole People

Presenter: Rev. Matt Alspaugh; Service Associate: Michael Swords Walt Whitman once said, “Do I contradict myself? Very well, then I contradict myself, I am large, I contain multitudes.” The Internal Family Systems model suggests that we all contain multitudes of personalities, parts, in our psyches, and further, that some parts may be suppressed or exiled … Continue reading Becoming Whole People

Embracing Joy

Joy shows up most often when we are present and open to the uncontrollable beauty of life. Joy recedes when we lose touch with the present, when we are so preoccupied with the future, with trying to control where things are going, that we can’t see what delights might be popping up right in front … Continue reading Embracing Joy

Flower Communion

Marsha Buly, Service Assoicate; Adele St. Pierre, Reader The Flower Communion is an annual springtime celebration in most Unitarian Universalist congregations, celebrating the beauty of diversity. Traditionally each person brings a flower, preferably found in their own garden or by the roadside, and each person leaves with a different flower. We’ll redesign that ritual for … Continue reading Flower Communion

Quantum Universe – Part 2

Presenter: Rev. Matt Alspaugh – Service Associate: Jane Castleman We live in an enigmatic world, one that deep down, doesn’t make ‘common sense’ at all. Yet the physical evidence is sound – the world is ‘quantum’ in nature. It’s hard to make sense of, hard to describe (without advanced mathematics). But we can try. Starting … Continue reading Quantum Universe – Part 2

Quantum Universe – Part 1

Presenter: Rev. Matt Alspaugh – Service Associate: Jane Castleman We live in an enigmatic world, one that deep down, doesn’t make ‘common sense’ at all. Yet the physical evidence is sound – the world is ‘quantum’ in nature. It’s hard to make sense of, hard to describe (without advanced mathematics). But we can try. Starting … Continue reading Quantum Universe – Part 1

Celebrating the Summer Solstice

Presenter: Dee Dee Camhi – Service Associate: Priscilla Taylor The Summer Solstice is that time of year when the sun is at its furthest point from the equator.  It has been marked as the high point of summer–or midsummer–since the Neolithic time.  At the same time, the Southern Hemisphere points away from the sun, creating … Continue reading Celebrating the Summer Solstice

Dear One: The Journey Continues

Presenter: Michael Swords Service Associate: Larry Pihl Michael Swords will share his thoughts on the impact a poem  called “Dear One” found many years ago on Mount Shasta, has had on his life, with quotes from many spiritual leaders.

In Search of Awe

Presenter: Rev. Matt Alspaugh Service Associate: Annie Morris I’ve realized that I’ve lived my life, in part, to search for awe. My interest in science, nature, music, art, and in spiritual things may be driven by a yearning for awe. What is this emotion of awe about? It seems so fundamental to our nature. Why … Continue reading In Search of Awe

Earth Heal Us

Presenter: Rev. Matt Alsbaugh Service Associate: June Wilson We live in a time of existential despair over climate change and other harms to the earth. We are saddened that so many deny the existence of these harms and even double down on increasing such harms. We can easily get frozen in such despair. How do … Continue reading Earth Heal Us