Rev. Rachel’s children recently observed, ‘the days you are sad are the days we dance in the living room.’ What does it mean to practice joy, now, given everything unfolding in the world? Inspired by the line from poet Wendell Berry that gives this service its title, Rev. Rachel will explore how simple, joyfulpractices might … Continue reading Be Joyful (though you have considered all the facts)
Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III has said: “When the people sing together something happens that can’t be replicated by singing alone…” We invite you to our hymn sing service; People’s people will reflect onhymns and songs that have had special meaning to them over the years and then we will sing a few verses from … Continue reading Hymn Sing
The creations of Jim Henson—including Sesame Street, The Muppets, and more—hold so many lessons about how to create community across difference. This service will feature some iconic music from The Muppets and Sesame Street. This service will be most meaningful if you have a basic knowledge of The Muppets and Sesame Street characters. There are … Continue reading (Almost) Everything I Need to Know about Beloved Community I Learned from The Muppets
Theodore Parker was a Unitarian minister and a leading theologian and abolitionist in the middle of the 19th century. In this moment when our values are calling us to act in new and different ways, Rev. Rachel invites us to take a moment to learn (or re-learn) some of the stories of this good ancestor … Continue reading Remembering Theodore Parker
This service will feature a (probably) brief congregational meeting about the proposal to purchase the solar panels on the roof of the church building (for more information on this proposal, CLICK HERE), as well as music, meditation, reflection and (most) everything else you expect from a Sunday service at People’s Church. You can access the … Continue reading A Question of Solar Power
Nov 2 is the “Day of the Dead” in Italy, a festivity concomitant with Halloween and yet very different from its American equivalent. Thanks to the guidance of Rev. Rachel Lonberg and her Writing Sermon Class, I am glad to share my experience with you. There will be a ritual at the end. Please bring … Continue reading The Day of the Dead
On the Sunday before Halloween, we continue our occasional series on the meaning of monsters. In Bram Stoker’s Dracula, a small team is trying to make sense of mysterious deaths. A vampire doesn’t initially seem like a reasonable explanation to our heroes, as they are steeped in science. Can they trust their experience over their … Continue reading Dracula, Epistemology, and the Search for Truth
The story goes that when physicist Albert Einstein was asked if he believed in God, he responded, “First tell me what you mean by God, and then I’ll tell you if I believe in him.” This Sunday, Rev. Rachel will echothis approach, exploring ideas of God that aren’t in alignment with Unitarian Universalist theologies, in … Continue reading The Gods I Don’t Believe In
It has been a special opportunity for me to participate in Pastor Rachel’s sermon writing group. I chose to focus on a metaphor that came to me in the form of a song. The metaphor has helped me clarify the basis for the strong faith I have had since my youth. I will share the … Continue reading A Metaphor that Moves Me
The Unitarian Universalist Association statement of values states ‘We declare that every person is inherently worthy and has the right to flourish with dignity, love, and compassion.’ Yet, this world is brimming with examples of dehumanization and disregard. How can we live our values in this moment of genocide, political polarization, and rising fascism? You … Continue reading Who Gets to Be a Person?
One of Rev. Rachel’s minister mentors often repeated ‘there are no other people’s children’ as a reminder that we all have obligations and connections to the youngest generations. On this kick-off Sunday for religious education, we will commission our religious education leaders who are taking on the sacred task of leading our children in religious … Continue reading There are No Other People’s Children
It’s our annual animal blessing service. We will celebrate the gifts animals bring to our lives, honor beloved animals who have died and recognize our place in the interconnected web of all existence. All are invited to bring their (well-behaved, comfortable in groups) pets and companion animals with them to church for a blessing. Pictures … Continue reading Animal Blessing Service
This summer, the People’s Church board identified justice as a special focus for our community this year. In this service for all ages, we will explore all of the ways we can do the work of justice – as warriors, as wonderers, worriers, wanderers, and more through multisensory worship stations. (With full credit to the … Continue reading Social Justice Warriors, Social Justice Wonderers, Social Justice Worriers, Social Justice Wanderers
We will celebrate the beginning of our church year with our water ritual, a symbolic re-forming of our church community. For this all ages service, everyone will gather in The Commons. If you are attending the service in-person, please bring water from somewhere important to you (home is fine!) and a dish to share for … Continue reading Joining of Waters
Summer services will once again be reflections from People’s People. Each service will include a ten-minute reflection from a speaker followed by discussion in small groups. Summer services will be multiplatform, taking place both in the Commons and over Zoom. Services begin at 10:45. You can access the order of service HERE. Please join us … Continue reading Benefits of Mindful Meditation
Traditional Chinese Medicine flows largely from the traditions of Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. It is rooted in the notion that all things are interconnected, and that the flow of the body is a microcosm of the outer world. At its root is the concept of yin and yang—the two opposing forces from which all life … Continue reading Observing Interconnection Through the Practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine
This service will feature a reading of the Ten-Minute Play: “Mokie’s Dark Ride” by Gordon Bolar. Actors include Julie Schneeberger and Matthew Morris McCormick. The play examines the role of a mother and motherhood itself in an unconventional way. Summer services will once again be reflections from People’s People. Each service will include a ten-minute … Continue reading “Mokie’s Dark Ride”: Motherhood and Forgiveness
Summer services will once again be reflections from People’s People. Each service will include a ten-minute reflection from a speaker followed by discussion in small groups. Summer services will be multiplatform, taking place both in the Commons and over Zoom. Services begin at 10:45. Please join us on Zoom or in person! Services are normally held … Continue reading The Power of Pets: A Dog’s Tale
In June 2024, the Seven Principles were replaced with language describing Unitarian Universalism through a set of shared values, all centered around love. The UU value, Interdependence, states: We honor the interdependent web of all existence. With reverence for the great web of life and with humility, we acknowledge our place in it. My reflection … Continue reading This Interdependent Life: Rituals for Resilience
During this service we will explore the seven directions to honor the time and place we find ourselves in. The Seven Directions are East, South, West, North, Above, Below, and Center. Using the directions to orient to our environment is a practical skill we have used since the very beginning of humanity. The directions have … Continue reading Orienting to the Sacred With the Seven Directions
