Compassion is lifted up as a virtue in most of the world’s religions, with good reason. In Western culture though, we tend to think of compassion as a two-party interaction – compassion flows from one person to another. We also tend to think of relationships that way, as happening between two people. We are in … Continue reading Cultivating Self-Compassion
Join us this Sunday as we explore what it means to cultivate a “practice of presence.” Often, we wonder what are the “right words” to comfort someone who is struggling. Often, as our pet companions demonstrate to us, words are not needed, our mere presence is enough. This service is also our annual “Animal Blessing” … Continue reading A Practice of Presence
Community is a term and an idea that we often take for granted. We all “know what it means” when we talk about community and the importance of community. Do we all have the same understanding of what it means to be in community? And are we even in “real” community together most of the … Continue reading How Do We Be Real?
Self-reflection and self-awareness are key ingredients towards living a life that involves growth, evolution, and wholeness, and yet they are not widely embraced practices within American culture. Self-reflection and self-awareness are powerful tools that can transform how we experience ourselves, our lives, and the world around us. We’ll look at how these spiritual practices can … Continue reading Looking Within
Many of us long to belong – some greater philosophers and mystics say it is a core part of our how we are wired as human beings, to yearn for connection and belonging. Yet many of us feel like we don’t belong, sometimes in many places in our lives. We’ll explore what it means to … Continue reading Building Belonging
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 Communion: Coming Together
It is easy to say we embrace difference, as we Unitarian Universalists often do, and it’s harder sometimes to put that into practice, especially when our differences make us feel uncomfortable. We’ll explore what it looks like to make space for difference this Sunday, and why it’s such an important spiritual practice. It’s also our … Continue reading Making Space for Difference – Flower Communion
We tend to think of the spiritual journey as more of a solitary one in Unitarian Universalism, wondering: “What do I think?,” “What do I believe?”. Indeed, the level of individual choice we offer in Unitarian Universalism is uncommon in a religious tradition. What if we need more though? What if the perspectives and thoughts … Continue reading Who Packs Your Parachute?
In our culture we tend to think of creativity as something “for artistic types,” and when people display creativity and imagination, they are sometimes mocked or made fun of. What if creativity were for all of us? What if, in fact, practicing creativity was an essential spiritual practice? Join us as we explore what it … Continue reading Cultivating Creativity
This Easter Sunday we will be exploring the Easter Story and looking at how we respond to the surprising and the unexpected in our lives, especially those surprises that are challenging or difficult. Do we push back? Ignore them? Embrace them? Join us as we explore these questions and more. And don’t forget the Easter … Continue reading Easter Sunday: Embracing the Unexpected
