Our congregation spent a significant amount of time last year creating a congregational covenant. How do we now live into the words and agreements we made? Making intentional choices about how we are in relationship is one place to start. And this extends beyond just the walls of our congregation. While hopeful in terms of … Continue reading Choosing Kindness

We gather this Sunday for our annual “Remembrance” service, where we honor and reflect on those in our lives who have died. If you wish to have a loved one who has died named in the sung litany ritual, please make sure to email their name to our Music Director, John Kramer, ASAP at john.kramer@winchesteruu.org. … Continue reading Remembrance

The apple has a long and rich history in American culture and tradition, from Johnny Appleseed to apple pie on Thanksgiving to the moniker of one of our biggest technology companies. Join us this Sunday as we reflect on the nature of the apple, and the spiritual implications of its place in our cultural heritage. … Continue reading Apple of My Eye

As Indigenous People’s Day comes upon us on Monday, we pause this week to reflect on the many ways governments and nations abuse power. There are so many horrific abuses of power in the past, including what white Europeans did to the native people’s of this country. And it’s not just historical – the Palestinian … Continue reading Abuse of Power

Paying attention is a common thing we need to do in our lives – to a teacher, to a conversation partner, to our children. What does it mean to pay attention in a spiritual sense? To look more deeply at what is going on around us, within us, and beyond us? Animals, and our pets … Continue reading Paying Attention – Animal Blessing (All Ages)

There is so much sound in our lives, so much noise. Often we generate it ourselves, in our homes. The old saying goes “silence is golden” – but have we lost track of the value of quiet and silence in our culture? Join us as we reflect on the power and spiritual importance of silence … Continue reading Silence Is Golden

What does it mean to actually take responsibility for ourselves? We generally in our indvidualistic culture support the ideas of self-determintion and self-resposniblity, and yet in practice, it can be easy to avoid taking responsibility – for ourselves, our feelings, and our actions. We see this challenge writ large in our country, our culture, and … Continue reading Beginning To Take Responsibility

It is our annual tradition to begin the program year with a ritual, Water Communion, a pooling of the waters symbolic of places we have been during the slow Summer season. Water Communion represents not only coming together after a time apart but coming together in a new way, renewed in our connections with one … Continue reading Water Us