Archives: Services

Stories and Carols

Presenter: Rev. Matt Alspaugh Service Associate: Annie Morris For our Christmas Eve service, we’ll have a variation of the traditional “Lessons and Carols” service, with some stories that might be a little, um, atypical, and a lesson certainly different from the familiar mashup of the two versions of Jesus’ birth (in the gospels of Matthew … Continue reading Stories and Carols

“Let the Mystery Be”

Presenter: Rev. Matt AlspaughService Associate: June Wilson This time of year, with its increasing darkness and cooler days (at least in the northern hemisphere) plus the numerous holidays, invites us to ponder mystery. What are the deep questions for which we don’t have answers, some for which we may never find answers? What is the … Continue reading “Let the Mystery Be”

Gratitude

Presenter: Jud Dolphin Service Associate: Dee Dee Camhi The holiday season is upon us. It’s time for giving. Mother Teressa reminds us, “It’s not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving.” Simple words open deeper reflections for more thoughtful kindness. It’s not what we do for holiday spirit, but more … Continue reading Gratitude

Mind/Body/Universe Connection

Presenter: Cat Barnett Service Associate: Robert Barnett Your brain can’t tell the difference between reality and imagination. The chemicals released by your brain when you are happy or stressed are the same whether you are experiencing or just thinking about the experiences. This means you should consider your habitual ways of thinking and change them … Continue reading Mind/Body/Universe Connection

“Giving Thanks and the Path to Generosity”

Presenter: Rev. Matt Alspaugh Service Associate: D’Vorah Kelley Generosity, giving thanks, and gratitude are closely related qualities. Generous people tend to be grateful people, and grateful people tend to be more generous. Perhaps these qualities are a trait of human nature, or perhaps they can be learned – or unlearned. We’ll explore the nature of … Continue reading “Giving Thanks and the Path to Generosity”

“A Unique Faith, Open to All, Exclusive to None”

Presenter: Cate Howell Service Associate: Michael Swords Western history has a long and harsh tradition of different religions laying claim to an exclusive truth and restricting membership and participation to a chosen few, who then must participate in a designated ritual to certify their acceptance into that community. Unitarian Universalism is the only religious faith … Continue reading “A Unique Faith, Open to All, Exclusive to None”

Into the Neutral Zone

Rev. Matt Alspaugh, PresenterTim Boeve, Service Associate

“Building The Beloved Community”

Presenter: Al Castleman Service Associate: Lynn Cleek The term “beloved community” was popularized by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., in the context of the civil rights movement.  It describes a community characterized by love, compassion, justice, and mutual support among its members, and emphasizes the importance of empathy, understanding, and a commitment to the well-being of … Continue reading “Building The Beloved Community”

Loss and Lonliness

Presenters: Bob Koches and Rev. Matt Alspaugh Service Associates: Jane Castleman and Christy Caldwell How to handle loss, loneliness and grief with the celebration of the day of the dead., and what we can learn from our Mexican neighbors.

“Who are We? Our Unitarian Universalist Heritage”

Rev. Matt Alspaugh, PresenterJune Wilson and Susie Lindeman, Service Associates Who are we, as Unitarian Universalists? What do you say when someone says “You are a Unitarian Universalist? What is that?” Some folks assume we’re some new-age religion, founded in the 1960’s. Others think we’re really some kind of leftist political party disguised as a … Continue reading “Who are We? Our Unitarian Universalist Heritage”