I write this on the day of the only scheduled Presidential Debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. It is five weeks until ballots in Washington state will be mailed to all voters. I don’t know how you’re feeling about the election, but I’m counting the days until it’s over. I … Continue reading The Heart of Democracy
The approach of fall always feels like a new year. School starts up again, the lazy – or busy – days of summer begin to fade, the sun sets before 8:00. We talk about the second Sunday in September as “opening” Sunday even though we have services all through the summer. Over the last year, … Continue reading Change Happens
For several years when I served the Tahoma UU Congregation, we practiced thematic ministry. It’s a common practice among congregations of all sorts where the worship, small groups, and children and youth programing share a common monthly focus. Many UU congregations use Soul Matters, a thematic ministry subscription service that provides packets of materials that … Continue reading Soul Matters
Ken Burns, the historian and filmmaker, gave the commencement address for Brandeis University this spring. It is a remarkable address and offers warnings to us about our increasingly divided country and world. I was especially struck when he quoted I.F. Stone who suggested that “history is tragedy, not melodrama.” Burns then elaborates: “In melodrama all … Continue reading Kindness
In March, the Adult Growth and Learning task force began to meet to plan how to move forward with what was next. Having launched an interim semester of classes in January, it was time to get to work. Paul Loubere brought the team together: Dean Carr, Mary Tucker, Kathryn Wadsworth, David Deardorf, Henry Amick, … Continue reading ALSO
Last Friday at the end of Emma’s Revolution’s concert, I was lingering in the sanctuary, chatting with a few people who had been sitting with me. After introducing the duo at the beginning of the concert, Peter and I had sat near the front, and as we got ready to leave a woman approached me. … Continue reading Thankful
The State of the Fellowship and business meeting to pass the revised by-laws meeting was filled with cookies and snacks, some lovely beverages, and a buzz of community. And that was before we did anything other than arrive. The evening unfolded thoughtfully thanks to the guidance of our President, Sarah Walker with the support and … Continue reading Building a New Way (and a getaway)
At the two meetings about our new Adult Growth and Learning Program, I shared a list of characteristics of mature spirituality that were compiled by the Rev. Dr. Kendyl Gibbons, senior minister of All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church in Kansas City MO. The short list was drawn from these remarks offered by Rev. Gibbons when … Continue reading Characteristics of Mature Spirituality
Did you know that there’s a Unitarian Universalist congregation that consists entirely of incarcerated people? Could you imagine that there are nearly 2,000 Unitarian Universalists in prisons across the country? If you’re not surprised, then you already know about the prison outreach, Worthy Now, that the Church of the Larger Fellowship (CLF) has been … Continue reading Strengthening Each Other
On November 26, I talked about what it means to be part of our community. Just days later, my colleague Kimberly Debus wrote a bit more about it. You can see what she had to say here. I also stumbled on a bit of writing I did some years ago that resonates with that same … Continue reading Doing Church
