Topic: Faith

“Animal Blessings”

Presenter: Barley Donahue Service Associate: Jane Castleman We will focus on our connections with beloved pets, with animals in nature around us, with all the animals of the interdependent web and join in blessing their lives. Reverend Matt Alspaugh will offer blessing words to members of our fellowship and their loved their animal companions as … Continue reading “Animal Blessings”

“Dear One”

Presenter: Michael Swords Service Associate: D’Vorah Kelley Michael will be sharing an experience he had of the Divine while hiking many years ago. The words of “Dear One” have been a lifeline that continues to inspire him. This is Michael’s story of his search for truth and meaning, an exploration and celebration of a theology … Continue reading “Dear One”

“Back to the Roots”

Rev. Matt Alspaugh, PresenterCatherine Luria, Service Associate Many Christians talk about getting back to ‘the religion of Jesus’ (which would really be Judaism) or at least the religion of the early church. We’ll examine what early Christianity might have looked like (warning: it’s more radical than you’d expect!) Why did Christianity change? How might those … Continue reading “Back to the Roots”

“BRAVADOS” – Book Launch

Prepare to be captivated by candid and deeply personal readings by four members of the Lake Chapala Unitarian Universalist Fellowship community who have contributed to the anticipated publication of BRAVADOS, an anthology of narratives by 21 authors, all of whom live in the Lake Chapala area. Their stories should open your eyes to the benefits … Continue reading “BRAVADOS” – Book Launch

“Flashes of Delight”

Rev. Matt AlspaughMichael Swords, Service Associate Oftentimes life offers up little gifts of joy and delight, sometimes unexpected, even intense, oftentimes brief, though the warm memory of such gifts lingers. Like a gemstone we hold up to sunlight, the delight sparkles in unexpected patterns. Delight is rarely something that we can make happen, beyond our … Continue reading “Flashes of Delight”

“Creative Genius”

Rev. Matt Alspaugh Deb Gang, Service Associate In ancient Rome, genius was the deity associated with a person. A particularly strong genius could give a person great powers for achievement, hence they too, were called geniuses. We continue to think of genius as an individual trait, but it seems creative ideas often emerge from community … Continue reading “Creative Genius”

“Where Will We Experience the Divine in Our Time?”

David Rosh: Presenter Jane Castleman: Service Associate Creation spirituality, the deep awe and wonder we experience in nature, is the oldest spiritual tradition in our world. How then can it be that the ecological balance of our planet is so out of balance, its health in such jeopardy? How did creation spirituality lose its centrality? … Continue reading “Where Will We Experience the Divine in Our Time?”

Getting Out of Our Heads

Writer and contemplative Richard Rohr has said “the key to a healthy spiritual life is getting out of the top three inches of our body.” This is the essence of embodied spirituality. In this service, we explore finding balance by getting out of our heads and into our bodies, all the while not leaving our … Continue reading Getting Out of Our Heads

Cathedral of the World

The Cathedral of the World is a metaphor for the religions of the world, a great hall with numerous rooms and chapels, created by the various religions and faiths of the world. How might we wander through such an edifice, and engage with what we find within? Rev. Matt Alspaugh is the speaker and Annie … Continue reading Cathedral of the World