Note from Pastor Isa
To transform and to be transformed What is the difference between a human being and a flower being? Flowers are born, blossom, and fade just like us. Like us, they influence the world around them and live on in the ecosystem even after they die. But we have a different kind of consciousness and agency. … Continue reading A Note from Pastor Isa – March 2024
In many UU congregations, ministers of color can preach about racism no more than twice a year before they are criticized for being “hyperfocused on race.” When I heard this in seminary, I resolved to mention racism in every single sermon. It was a way to use my white privilege to change the norm — … Continue reading A Note from Pastor Isa – February 2024
The longer I live, the more deeply I learn that love — whether we call it friendship or family or romance — is the work of mirroring and magnifying each other’s light. Gentle work. Steadfast work. Life-saving work in those moments when life and shame and sorrow occlude our own light from our view but … Continue reading A Note from Pastor Isa – January 2024
On the mystery of who we are We are the holy troublemakers…We embody the eternal unknown, the stubborn mysteries, the uncontrollable forces of nature.…We are the mischievous seekers who demand to know “Why?” “How come?” and “What’s the point?” Our only doctrine is that no truth is the whole truth, no way is the one … Continue reading A Note from Pastor Isa – December 2023
On the theme of generosity, and thoughts of Gaza In order to practice generosity – our theme this month – we have to feel abundant. As with most feelings, we don’t have 100% control. But I invite you in this moment to choose to direct your attention to what is abundant. Find abundance in your … Continue reading A Note From Pastor Isa – November 2023
This month we reflect on where we have come from as individuals, as a Fellowship, and as a community of communities. Heritage is more nuanced than history: it is the story we weave when choosing ancestors and claiming their legacies — both beautiful and vexing — as our responsibility. As said so well by atheist … Continue reading A Note from Pastor Isa – October 2023
The Gift of Welcome Wherever you have come from, whoever you are, whomever you love, whatever your journey has been, it has led you here. Welcome. Thus speaketh every Convener on Sunday mornings at UUFM, in their own language. But what do we really mean by welcome? According to this month’s Chalice Circle packet, Welcome … Continue reading A Note from Pastor Isa – September 2023
Pausing at the Threshold Aaah, summer. We’ve been told it’s the time of the year to catch up on fun, reconnect, put our feet up, cool down. We can finally get out on the water, take that trip, update the landscaping, read that stack of novels, finish the to-do list, do nothing. As a kid, … Continue reading A note from Pastor Isa — August 2023
Delight despite it all It is a delight to serve as the called minister here at UUFM. Thank you to all the members who participated in the May 7th Congregational Meeting to vote on the call. It was a momentous decision for the Fellowship, which has never had this kind of relationship with a minister … Continue reading A note from Pastor Isa June 2023
Creativity beyond the secular “All that you touchYou Change. All that you ChangeChanges you. The only lasting truthis Change. Godis Change.” ― Octavia E. Butler, Black feminist science fiction writer Immersing in our monthly theme of Creativity, I’ve been thinking of the theologian Henry Nelson Wieman. He wrote extensively of the “Creative Good,” a process … Continue reading A note from Pastor Isa May 2023
