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”
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”
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”
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
On the weekend of the Kalamazoo Pride festival, we will bring the party celebrating LGBTQIA+ folks to church, with joy, music, and blessings. If you are a LGBTQIA+ People’s person and would like to participate in ritual leadership (there are both speaking and non-speaking ways to lead), please reach out to Rev. Rachel. We would … Continue reading Pride Service
Several months ago, Rev. Rachel led the People’s Church board through a process of asset mapping – recognizing all of the resources (human, physical, spiritual, programmatic, and more) that we have here at the church. The process was inspiring and the board suggested that everyone at the church have achance to take part. This service … Continue reading We Have Everything We Need
In this service we will honor those who have died in war in military service to our country, remember the people we love who have died in the last year, and recognize all of the grief we are holding in our hearts. If you have a photo of someone you love who has died in … Continue reading Memorial Day Service
As the program year draws to a close, we will celebrate all of the wonderful People’s people who gave their time this year to keep the religious education program thriving. We will also reflect on the importance of religious community for children – and people of all ages. For this service, Rev. Rachel wants to … Continue reading Religious Education Service
It is a hard moment to feel hopeful. This service will include small stories about ways people are caring for the planet in Southwest Michigan as well as group art projects that might just bring us hope ‘when hope is hard to find.’ Please join us on Zoom or in person! Services are normally held in … Continue reading Seeds of Hope: An Earth Day All Ages Service
At a recent gathering of interfaith clergy in Kalamazoo, an idea emerged. What if the message that can inspire the work of love and justice in this moment is as simple as ‘We are good neighbors?’ Thissimple commitment to care for those nearby is a vital way to live our values in this moment.In honor … Continue reading We Are Good Neighbors
On Easter, we celebrate that stories don’t always end when we think they do. Sometimes, the tomb is empty. Sometimes, resurrections happen. In this service we will explore how we might practice resurrection and we will celebrate the unlikely resurrections as we tell and re-tell stories of Jesus, spring, and a woman named Gussie who … Continue reading To Be Continued: An Easter Service
Inspired by the words submitted by auction winners, this service will focus on wonder and curiosity. How might the practice of paying attention and being curious — about the natural world and other humans — help us to live with more joy, more meaning, and a greater sense of connection? You can access the order … Continue reading Turn to Wonder
In the Buddhist tradition, there is a teaching that truth is the moon and teachings are the fingers pointing at the moon. One must not mistake the fingers for the moon, the teachings for the truth they are gesturing toward. Rev. Rachel originally preached on this concept in the fall 2017. You can access the … Continue reading Fingers Pointing at the Moon
In trauma theory, there is the concept of ‘the assumptive world’ – the things we assume can count on without having to think about them. When we experience a significant loss, change, or trauma, our assumptive world disintegrates and we need to rebuild something in its place. Rev. Rachel will explore these ideas further in … Continue reading When the Ground Beneath Us Falters
People’s people are generous people and have a long tradition of caring for one another and the wider community. As we kick off our stewardship season and ask People’s people to make their financial commitments for the coming year, we will celebrate how we have done the work of love within our building and beyond … Continue reading The Works of Love: A Stewardship Service
