“What Now?” — Rev. Jill McAllister, minister emerita It seems like this question keeps coming and coming — perhaps that has always been true. Certainly we face it on an almost daily basis, if we keep tuning in to what is assumed to be “the news.” And, many humans in many places have been faced … Continue reading What Now?
At the 2026 General Assembly, Rt. Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, the Episcopal Bishop of Washington DC. described being first as ‘the special vocation of Unitarian Universalists.’ Unitarian Universalists have been first in many areas of American religious life – the first tradition to ordain women through regularly processes (1863), the first predominantly straight religious tradition … Continue reading The Burden of Being First
Frances Ellen Watkins Harper (1825-1911) was a an abolitionist, feminist, lecturer, author (the first Black American woman to publish a short story) and a Unitarian. If the way we are all taught American history was just, her story would be well-known. Since it isn’t we’ll spend one Sunday with the inspiring story of this religious … Continue reading Remembering Frances Ellen Watkins Harper
As Unitarian Universalists, we hold love as a central value. But what are we supposed to do about [insert your least favorite politician, billionaire, and/or oligarch here]? Are we supposed to love them too? In this service, Rev. Rachel will explore what loves requires of us when faced with people we might call our enemies. … Continue reading How to Love an Enemy
This Sunday, we will begin our religious education program for children and youth. Many of our children will be learning stories and teachings from the Bible this church year. This inspires Rev. Rachel to reflect on Unitarian Universalist approaches to the Bible. What do we do with the Bible, especially now in this time of … Continue reading Verses and Curses: What Should We Do with the Bible?”
At People’s Church, we work hard to practice hospitality, generosity, and inclusion to all sorts of people – and this is always a work in progress. In this service for all ages, we will explore how we are already living out these values – and recommit to even broader visions of welcome, in this time … Continue reading “All of Who You Are is Welcome Here: An Intergenerational Service”
All Aboard! Everyone is welcome on the next sailing of People’s Church, as we begin our new church year. For this intergenerational service, all are encouraged to bring water from a place that is meaningful to them (home is perfect!) to comingle in our common bowls. Everyone is invited to wear blue to this service! … Continue reading “Our Blue Boat Home: Water Service”
What the world needs now is love, sweet love, as Hal David wrote. It’s an easy thing to believe, but often harder to put into practice. Do I actually have to love everybody? Even people I don’t like? If I do, what does that even mean? You can access the order of service HERE. From … Continue reading Summer Service: “How Should I Love People I Don’t Like? ”
What are the factors that influence our perspective on the world? Some are easy to name—the way we were raised; a college degree; the news we follow; the culture we live in; the books we read. But knowledge—even what we think of as hard facts bolstering what we know—can be surprisingly subjective. Humans are remarkably … Continue reading Summer Service: “But How Do You KNOW That?”
“Conversations on the Wind”, including a play and subsequent discussion will follow. “Sisters of the Wind” a play written and directed by Gordon Bolar will be read at this Sunday’s Service. In the play, three women discover whether phone calls to the deceased can be made on a “Wind Phone” not connected either electronically or … Continue reading Summer Service: “Conversations on the Wind”
From June 21 through September 6, we will have summer services on Sunday morning. These services have lower production values, usually, but greater intimacy. Most weeks, People’s people will share reflections on things that matter to them and there will be time for small group conversations. The speakers’ schedule is not available as the newsletter … Continue reading Summer Service: “Wayfinding in a Time of Climate Crisis”
Rev. Olympia Brown was the first modern woman ordained through a full denominational process in 1863. She grew up in Kalamazoo County and she was a Universalist. Rev. Rachel will share part of her story and reflect on how her persistence, passion, and stubbornness might inspire us now. From June 21 through September 6, we … Continue reading Summer Service: “Remembering Olympia Brown”
Each summer we have a service celebrating books and reading. This summer we’re asking which book you’ve read recently that served as a source of inspiration or meaning. On Sunday, please come prepared to share your book recommendation in small groups – and bring a book to share for the Book Exchange at the end … Continue reading Summer Service: “Book Service”
Poet and Essayist Ross Gay writes about our current reality, ‘[The wreckage] commands our attention, and for good reason. We have to survive it. But even if we understand the wreckage to survive it, it needn’t be the primary object of our study. The survival need be.’ The world is an often heartbreaking place. In … Continue reading Summer Service: “Paying Attention to Attention”
In this week’s sermon, our own Mac Armstrong asks, what if sensitivity is only part of what is needed to facilitate growth? After introducing the concept of an emotional dialectic, he identifies vulnerability as a counter-force to sensitivity and argues that through emotional cycling between sensitivity and vulnerability, we can balance the dialectic and break … Continue reading Summer Service: “Applying Emotional Dialectics to the Politics of Sensitivity”
Michigan is home to more than 1,000 environmental and conservation organizations. The vast majority of Michiganders care about protecting our environment, communities and people. Imagine the force for change that would be possible if their collective concerns could be harnessed and leveraged. That’s a new focus for the Michigan Environmental Council (MEC). Chief Operating Office, Joe … Continue reading Summer Service: “Building Unity: Michigan’s Environmental Movement”
Laura Bultman and John MacLellan will lead us in this year’s Hymn Sing Service! Join us for a collection of People’s peoples’ favorite hymns, led by Tim Kieffer, Bridget and Michelle Nickerson, Holly Hunter, Karen Tinklenberg, and Amy Meyer! From June 21 through September 6, we will have summer services on Sunday morning. These services … Continue reading Summer Service: “Hymn Sing Service”
The reflection will be given by Don Miller, a poet, family psychologist, long time member of People’s Church and an adult leader of our high school youth. I am pleased to announce that the talented Rachel Bair will be singing 3 songs and leading 3 hymns! From June 21 through September 6, we will have summer … Continue reading Summer Service: “I’d Like to Love More Than 75%”
At a time in our national life when so many conversations rapidly devolve into us vs. them, let’s take a look at how our choices of words affects what others truly hear when we talk. Likewise, what do we hear when others talk to us? What do we all expect, need, feel? With his nonviolent … Continue reading Summer Service: How Will We Ever Learn to Talk to Each Other?
We will close our church year with our annual flower service. This ritual at the core of this service was created by Rev. Norbert Čapek, a Czech Unitarian, in the 1920s as a celebration of community and diversity. In the years since, especially after Čapek was killed by the Nazis, it has become our anti-fascist … Continue reading Flower Service
