Lutheran theologian, Reinhold Niebuhr, wrote the now famous Serenity Prayer. The first two verses are widely used on posters and in meetings, and have been adopted by some Twelve Step programs as a mantra: “…[G]rant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, / Courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”  In this sermon, we will use the whole prayer as a starting point to discuss approaches to less-than-serene events in recent weeks, in this, our new post-election America.

Biography: Mike Walker moved to Sequim in July 2023 for family reasons, although he has lived in the PNW before.  He was introduced to UUism in the mid-90s, and is also involved in Pagan/Earth-Centered Spirituality, with inspirations and practices from Zen Buddhism. Mike attended seminary and was ordained as a UU minister in 2010. He has served as an Interim Minister at churches all over the country. He went on hiatus from parish ministry to complete a PhD in Clinical Psychology, and he is currently engaged in dissertation research about religious trauma. Mike joined this congregation as a regular member last November.