Among the multitude of Hindu deities, there is a goddess named “Akhilandeshvari” – the “Never Not Broken Goddess.” She is anything but frail, though – she carries a trident and rides on a crocodile! As humans, we are also “never-not-broken,” yet how do you relate to our brokenness? Do we despise it? Embrace it? Feel … Continue reading Patching Chindis: On Brokenness
Myths, Poems and Stories on the Role of Elders in Times of Radical Change Times of great transformation call for the presence of those who know the territory of darkness, difficulty, change and renewal through hard-won experience and understanding. Storyteller Will Hornyak shares traditional stories that reveal how challenging times call forth the elders within … Continue reading Wisdom Keepers
How does a world in turmoil cope with fear, embrace uncertainty, and grow wings of hope and courage? As one psychologist noted: “A nation that is terrified of uncertainty is in big trouble. We can’t be terrified.” Some say we should “keep busy,” but I tend to agree with Buddhist nun Pema Chodron, who counsels … Continue reading Learning to Fly, Learning to Fall
Three days after International Worker’s Day, we’ll explore the current reality of the workplace. Back in 1884, in his essay entitled “Estranged Labor,” Karl Marx argued that workers are objectified and made into miserable shells. Whether or not you agree with this assessment, in our current world of work, too many people who strive for success … Continue reading A Profession Is Not a Personality
In honor of Earth Day, Jon Biemer will share Three C’s of Sustainability – and how we can make use of them. He draws stories and insights from his books Our Journey to Sustainability: How Everyday Heroes Make a Difference (2024) and Our Environmental Handprints: Recover the Land, Reverse Global Warming, Reclaim the Future (2021). Jon is a founding … Continue reading Three C’s of Sustainability
Blind faith? Leap of faith? Free faith? How does the word “faith” strike you? For some, it is a poke in the eye, an uncomfortable vestige of a rigid religious past. For others, it remains a positive, re-imagined resource for moving through the joys and sorrows of life. What does it mean to be “faithful?” … Continue reading Easter – Faithful over a Few Things
How do we move from scarcity thinking to abundance thinking when our lives feel stuck, we are ill or under duress, when we’re alarmed by the present, or the future looks murky? In this sermon during the blossoming of Spring, the celebration of Passover and the observance of Palm Sunday (and during the week of … Continue reading Palm Sunday/Passover – The Answer is “Everything”
Singer and Songwriter Bob Dylan, born as Robert Allen Zimmerman in Minnesota, continues to intrigue and arouse the public imagination. The Oscar-nominated movie, “A Complete Unknown,” about the beginning of his career was recently in theaters, and he is still actively touring today at age 83. Throughout his 60+ year career, Dylan has let his music … Continue reading Bob Dylan: Minstrel and Messenger
In this sermon to conclude our Stewardship month, we’ll explore the lifeblood, the sinew, muscle and breath that animates this congregation. What can we learn from the fantastical tale of the Prophet Ezekiel in the valley of dry bones? How might we rise to meet our mission with confidence and fresh ideas? What are our … Continue reading Living Congregations
Gloria Holland from the UU Congregation of Salem shares her own experiences in the arts and discusses how the arts and creativity enhance our spiritual journey. Gloria joined her congregation in 2007 and is a member of the Worship Team and also serves on the Homilist Storytelling Team. She is active with the American Association … Continue reading Why We Create
