Our acknowledgment practice each Sunday is an opportunity to pause, breathe, and honor the ancestors of this land — the Kaw, the Osage, the Pawnee, their descendants in diaspora, and our own ancestors, wherever they may have lived. We acknowledge, too, our own future as ancestors. We, ancestors and descendants, love to be free. We thrive in the freedom to live peacefully with the … Continue reading Note from Pastor Isa – June 2025
Joy in the mess Do you remember the tale of the banquet, when the guests are given spoons with handles much too long to get the food into their own mouths? I like this version, from the book by Rodaan Al Galidi and illustrated with delicious cut paper by Geertje Aalders. In Al Galidi’s telling, an … Continue reading Note from Pastor Isa – April 2025
Leadership through Trusting the Trustworthy Community organizers are taught that power is the ability to get what you ask for. Power is generated by organizing money or organizing people, often both. Power in itself is morally neutral; but what we’re asking for — how we use our power — is morally weighty. As Dr. King … Continue reading Note from Pastor Isa – March 2025
Note from Pastor Isa Circle ‘round for challenging conversations Circle ‘round for freedom, circle ‘round for peace, for all of us imprisoned, circle for release, circle for the planet, circle for each soul, for the children of our children, keep the circle whole. At times like these, when our values are under attack and some of our so-called … Continue reading Note from Pastor Isa – February 2025
Over the holidays, I received a loaf of homemade gluten-free bread as a gift. Taped to the bag was the note, “You are loved and appreciated.” I’m gonna hang onto the note to help me remember not just the tasty bread, but also the connection I have with the baker. But it means even more … Continue reading Note from Pastor Isa – January 2025
I will never forget the moment. It was the third and final Wednesday Vespers for Peace and Justice service, crafted to support the UUFM community through the election. The previous vespers service, just the day after the election, had been essential for those who came, reeling from the news. But this third service: would it … Continue reading Note from Pastor Isa – December 2024
The mutuality of deep listening Most mornings, I spend about 15 minutes on the phone with my Seattle friend Erin. This rhythm of mutual listening gives us compassionate accountability for setting intentions each day – and keeping them. Over the past few months, Erin has been intentional about swimming in the lake near her home, … Continue reading Note from Pastor Isa – October 2024
“meet them at the door laughing, and invite them in” As I sat down to reflect on our monthly theme of Invitation, I immediately thought of the poem Guest House. Coleman Barks wrote the poem in the 1960s, inspired by a much longer text by the 13th century jurist, Islamic scholar, theologian, and Sufi mystic … Continue reading Note from Pastor Isa – September 2024
I emailed the following letter out on July 4th and received beautiful responses. I share people’s response below. Dear hearts, I’ve heard from several of you that the state of our nation and the world weighs heavily on you. I’ve heard the word despair. I feel it in my friend, collegial, and support circles as … Continue reading A Note from Pastor Isa – bonus July 2024
All Kinds of Justice The 18th century Rabbi Elijah of Vilna wrote that “What we create becomes meaningful to us only once we stop creating it and start to think about why we did so.” In addition to thinking, let’s also feel the impact of our creative actions. In order to engage this practice, I’ll … Continue reading A Note from Pastor Isa – July 2024
