It is a day for questions at People’s Church (but isn’t every day a day for questions?) Bring your questions about meaning, ethics, People’s Church, Unitarian Universalism and more (but please no math problems). Rev. Rachel will do her best to answer as many of them as she can during the service – and all … Continue reading Living the Questions
We will kick off stewardship season (our annual pledge campaign to raise money for the church the coming year) with Rev. Rachel’s annual ‘sermon on the amount’ and an invitation to participate in grateful gatherings – small groups that will have a facilitated conversation about the role People’s Church plays in our lives, church finances … Continue reading Gathering in Gratitude and Generosity
Our Unitarian Universalist Association is in the process of revising Article II of the bylaws, which includes the principles and sources. In this service, Rev. Rachel will explore the proposed changes, which will be voted on at the General Assembly this June. If you want to learn more about this process than will be included … Continue reading Love at the Center
Following up on the previous Sunday’s celebration of Charles Darwin and evolution, we will grapple with how the scientific ideas Darwin developed have been misused in racist, ableist, and imperialist ways. The modern eugenics movement (founded by Charles Darwin’s cousin) promoted social policies designed to “improve” human populations. Many of the early proponents were Unitarians. … Continue reading The Misuse of Science
On the weekend marking the 215th anniversary of the birth of naturalist Charles Darwin, who developed the theory of evolution and who was raised as a Unitarian. We will celebrate his life and legacy of inquiry, science, and trying to make sense of the world around us. You can access the order of service HERE!
One of the oldest and most important practices in the Unitarian Universalist tradition is congregational self-governance. This practice requires us to call out from among our congregation leaders who serve for a period of time on our nominating committee, our board, and in other leadership roles, serving the mission of the church and helping us … Continue reading Lessons in Leadership
UNFORTUNATELY, THERE IS NO RECORDING OF THIS SERVICE AVAILABLE. On Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, we will remember civil rights leader and Unitarian Universalist Whitney Young. As President of the National Urban League (one of the ‘Big Five’ organizations of the Civil Rights Movement) from 1961-1971, he cultivated relationships within white power structures in ways … Continue reading Remembering Whitney Young
The new year is a time that many focus on changing the shape of our bodies. What if we focused on changing the world so all people of all body sizes can flourish instead? When Rev. Rachel had a daughter, she realized she wanted to raise a child more at home in her body and … Continue reading A Year for Befriending our Bodies
In this service, we will mark the end of 2023 with rituals to let go of what we do not want to take with us into the coming year (by dramatically burning it up using magicians’ flash paper!) and to set our intentions for the year ahead. You can access the order of service HERE.
Join us to retell the Christmas story and hope for the rebirth of love and peace in our world with music, poetry, and candlelight. You can access the order of service HERE.
What if you opened a Christmas present and what you found inside was a hymn, a story, or a joys and sorrows ritual? That will happen this Sunday when we share some new and old favorite Christmas music, including the stories behind some beloved Christmas carols. You can access the order of service HERE!
Do you have a baked good that is special to you? Perhaps it is something passed down for generations or a recipe that you’ve worked hard to perfect or the item you always order at your favorite bakery. This is the Sunday to bring that item to church to share, as we reflect together on … Continue reading Bread for the Journey: An All Ages Service
As our Jewish friends and neighbors celebrate Hanukkah, let us remember the story of the story of the Maccabee uprising of 164BCE. In a time when the Jews near Jerusalem were ruled by a foreign power and faced pressure not to practice their faith, a group rebelled – and triumphed. This service will include a … Continue reading Don’t Let the Light Go Out: A Hanukkah Service
This Sunday we are going back to basics. What is Unitarian Universalism anyway? This is a great Sunday for inviting someone that you think might be interested in our church. It will also be a great reminder and refresher for all of us. What do we value? What are our sources of truth? You can … Continue reading Unitarian Universalism 101 / Bring a Friend Sunday
At a memorial service last summer, several hundred people in The Commons recited together ‘Our Father Who Art in Heaven, Hallowed by Thy Name…’ It was a powerful moment – and led Rev. Rachel to wonder what the words of that prayer Jesus taught meant in their original context – and what they might mean … Continue reading Reflecting on the Lord’s Prayer
Harm reduction is a set of practices and policies in public health to reduce the negative consequences of human behavior, recognizing that you can’t force someone to make different choices, but you can work to make the consequences of their choices less catastrophic. (Needle exchange programs for IV drug users is an example of harm … Continue reading Harm Reduction as an Ethical Guide
In the summer of 1816, a group of young adults started telling each other scary stories. Mary Shelley was one of those young adults – and the story she created was later published as Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus, one of the first science fiction novels. In the spirit of Halloween, Rev. Rachel will look … Continue reading Frankenstein, Artificial Intelligence, and Other Monsters
Last spring, the members of People’s Church passed a budget with a supplementary stewardship campaign. The time has come to make good on that past commitment, live into our integrity, and keep the flame of People’s Church growing. The service will be followed by a s’mores party at the fire pit, weather permitting. You can … Continue reading S’More
On this first Sunday of our religious education program for children and youth, Rev. Rachel will remind us that religious growth and learning does not end when adulthood begins. This service will also include the commissioning of our religious education teachers and invitations to some of the programs for spiritual growth for adults in our … Continue reading Coming of Age Again… and Again… and Again
In this service, we will celebrate the joy that animals bring to our lives. We will bless our animal companions, remember our beloved pets who have died, and repent the ways our actions hurt animals and the natural world. Please bring your beloved stuffed animals, well-behaved pets, or pictures of the animals in your life. … Continue reading Animal Blessing Service
