It’s tempting to think of this month’s theme as one of our lighter, more pleasant ones. After all, compassion sounds…well, nice. It conjures warm feelings and tender thoughts. Images come to mind of people telling each other they are holding them in their hearts. It would seem to be all about emotional connection and empathetic … Continue reading Cultivating Compassion (October 2025)
From our friends at Soul Matters: When the cracks come, who doesn’t desire – even demand – to restore what once was? Nothing is more human. We all long to reverse the damage. We all hold tight to the humpty dumpty hope that everything can be put back together again. But, as our faith teaches … Continue reading The Practice of Repair (November 2024)
From our friends at Soul Matters: “Talk of interdependence immediately calls up the work of saving the planet, rightly so. But what if the first step toward saving the planet is learning to speak to it? And hear it? Could our collective failure to confront the climate crisis be rooted in our lost ability to … Continue reading The Gift of Interdependence (April 2024)
Dear Beloved UUFM Community, October has been a productive month on the organizational side of things. The Community Team met for the first time this month on October 12th, 2023. The Board met this month on October 15th, 2023. The Minister and Board Chair are members of both of these teams under our new, evolving … Continue reading November Board and Community Team Update
From our friends at Soul Matters: “It seems to go without saying. To be welcoming, we’ve got to think big.Notice how often we speak about “widening the circle” and “making more room.” We place a priority on expanding our minds by welcoming new experiences and new ideas. Those that help usher in love are “big-hearted.” … Continue reading The Gift of Welcome (September 2023)
What an amazing event! Lots accomplished: Tree maintenance Parking lot trimming Weeding Alsop Fellowship Hall floor maintenance Massive clean-out of storage Medicine Wheel weeded and cared for What else? Email pastor@uufm.net with more accomplishments and photos!
I hate that I’m writing this. I hate that I feel like I have to. The unthinkable has become routine. Mass shootings occur so frequently that we hardly even let them into our consciousness. Which is tragic. We have witnessed too many family members and friends crying at the site of deadly mayhem. We have … Continue reading Lament on the Mass Shooting at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, TX
My favorite Christmas song is an obscure one – “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote the words. The narrator tells of hearing the bells ringing on Christmas Day, repeating the refrain of “Peace on Earth, Goodwill to All” (yes, yes, the original says “men,” so I update the language). The … Continue reading Peace on Earth?
I hesitate to join the moaning and groaning over the Presidential campaign. However, the trends concern me deeply. Like Pope Francis, I won’t name names as I critique the tone and content of some of the Presidential candidates’ statements and the news coverage. I wonder what it would be like if the media covered the … Continue reading Campaign Commentary
There are so many things I want to share with you! I struggled to come up with what my first newsletter column should address. We have much to share to really get to know one another and to find the ways to work best together. Upon reflection, it seems fitting to start with the Top … Continue reading Top Ten Reasons I Came to UUFM