Philosopher and novelist Iris Murdoch contends that morality is not about abstract principles or big dramatic decisions, but rather about day to day actions of casting “just and loving attention” on other people. How do we get there, and what stands in the way?
When storms come and upend our lives, there are three questions we are called upon to ask ourselves, according to the writer and spiritual teacher Mark Nepo: What needs to be repaired? What needs to be reimagined? And what needs to be dismantled? Sometimes, when … read more.
We celebrate Halloween in a couple of days. It’s one of many celebrations around the world at this time of the year. In the past we’ve learned about some of these. Mexico celebrates the Day of the Dead this week too. This morning we’ll learn … read more.
We often forget that the UUA was formed by two coequal liberal religious faiths—Unitarians and Universalists. I feel that we tend to think of Unitarians as the large U in the name of our faith and the Universalists as the small U. The Unitarian message … read more.
Recently there was a news story about a stray dog who adopted a nursing home. Touching stories like these lead us to struggle to recognize that dogs have their own thoughts and motivations, without anthropomorphizing their behaviors. Join us as we think about why dogs … read more.
One of our culture’s foundational myths is about ownership, security, and permanence. In the natural world and indigenous cultures, these are aberrations! In this service, we dig deep into what ownership means, and how it plays out in the natural world and throughout history. Can … read more.
Today, we welcome back Cheryl Meinschein, who describes herself as “a retired Lutheran pastor with a Jewish mother and a Lutheran father, a Jersey girl married to a Pennsylvania Dutchman.” Her academic background includes a BA in Biology/Secondary Education, a Master’s of Divinity, and most … read more.
In Jewish tradition, there’s a phrase in the Rosh Hashanah liturgy: “who shall live and who shall die?” This question reflects the uncertainty of life. One of the many paradoxes of our human lives is the juxtaposition of the uncertainty of life alongside the opportunity … read more.
We all hate change. Change is hard. Change is also constant. Something in our lives changes every day. We just don’t notice those little changes. It’s the big ones that drive us nuts! Today’s service is about change in its various iterations — probably some … read more.
Henry David Thoreau said, “We need the tonic of the wilderness.” Our 7th principle calls us to respect the interdependent web of which we are a part, however our daily lives are often constructed as if we are separate. Join us as we think about … read more.
