In her poem, entitled “Otherwise,” the poet Jane Kenyon reflects on her blessings: “I got out of bed on two strong legs. It might have been otherwise. I ate cereal, sweet milk, ripe, flawless peach. It might have been otherwise. I took the dog uphill to the birch wood. All morning I did the work … Continue reading Otherwise: A Sermon Towards Gratitude
We don’t know what consciousness is, but we have plenty of theories. What we believe about consciousness informs our understanding of what it means to be human, and it influences how we behave toward others. We’ll look at some ways to understand consciousness and consider what understanding best serves our Unitarian Universalist values. Rev. Barbara … Continue reading Consciousness and Behavior
This service will enable a space for processing our emotions and reckoning with the outcome of the November 5th election. How does this outcome bode for America? Are we moving towards a Civil War or the unleashing of vigilante MAGA militias? How can we acknowledge our fears while retaining and strengthening our resolve as Unitarian … Continue reading Requiem and Reckoning
With an enormously consequential election two days away, we’ll examine the rise in conspiracy theories (some downright bizarre) that used to reside at the fringes of society, but have moved into the mainstream. One journalist calls this the “crank realignment.” How do these beliefs take hold, what is the impact on society, and how can … Continue reading Debunkbot and the Crank Realignment
Watch the service HERE. The famed poet, Rabindranath Tagore reminds us, “You can’t cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.” In this sermon of reflective vignettes about her time in community in Jabalpur, India in 2018, Rev. Robin will share her journey of heart, spirit, service, and discovery. We’ll also celebrate … Continue reading Passage From India – A Special Sunday with Kirtan Chant Singing
Conflict is among our most basic human experiences. The ability to engage in conflict without violence requires compassion, vulnerability, patience, intelligence and emotional grit. Storyteller Will Hornyak shares traditional myths, tales and poems that demonstrate the art and practice of creative conflict. The fruits of such conflicts can lead to deeper understanding, healing and shared bonds … Continue reading Rituals of Conflict, Paths of Peace
Watch the service HERE. The Day of Atonement is the most sacred holy day in Judaism and the culmination of the Days of Awe. It takes places on October 12th this year. As we meet the day after, which is also the day before Indigenous People’s Day, we’ll explore the complex question: Who Will Atone? … Continue reading Yom Kippur: Who Will Atone?
Watch the service HERE. Nobel Prize winner Albert Schweitzer has famously remarked that, “Until he extends the circle of his compassion to all living things, man will not himself find peace.” When it comes to our relationship with animals, how do we balance our seventh principle about interconnectedness with social norms that typically uphold the … Continue reading Inhabiting a Peaceable Kingdom: Our Relationship With Our Plate
This weekend is Side with Love’s first ever Climate Justice Revival, with the theme Reimaging Together, From an Extractive Age to a New Era. Most area congregations, including Eastrose, are acknowledging this day, and expect to follow up with a variety of trainings and actions over the coming months. Watch the service HERE. At this week’s Service, … Continue reading Sweat Equity: Service In An Era of Extreme Climate Events
Watch the service HERE. How are we made whole? The “1/2” in this sermon stands as a symbol of our incomplete natures, and the need for our human bodies to be made whole in relation to something beyond the physical. This may be something deep and meaningful, or something rational or something mystical involving a … Continue reading The Path, Part III: The ½ That Makes Us Whole
