Previous Service Themes adapted from Soul Matters …
This month’s Soul Matters theme explores Opening to Joy …
It’s easy to get tricked,
taken for a ride,
convinced that joy
is a possession.
Something to be opened
just by us.
As if it’s a holiday special delivery,
waiting for us to unwrap it
and keep forever.
And who can blame us,
with pain … read more.
This month’s Soul Matters theme explores Holding History …
Let’s start with the words of Parker Palmer,
“Jewish teaching includes frequent reminders of the importance of a broken-open heart, as in this Hasidic tale: A disciple asks the rebbe: “Why does Torah tell us to ‘place … read more.
This month’s Soul Matters theme explores Cultivating Relationship …
Pandemic time is teaching us so many things about relationships.
It’s undone our assumptions about work, calling into question the worth of “going into the office” and exposing how we pass most of the economic pain down … read more.
What does it mean to be a people of Play?
We all are playing.
Playing it up, playing it down, trying to play fair.
Playing for keeps, playing favorites, playing it safe,
sometimes too safe.
He plays hardball; They’re playing house; I’m playing it by ear,
or at least learning to … read more.
What does it mean to be a people of Story?
Stories don’t just embellish our lives; they make and even dictate our lives. This might be the most important reminder of this month. Indeed, who of us hasn’t felt controlled by a story? Stuck in a … read more.
What does it mean to be a people of Becoming?
It’s become popular in our society to talk about spiritual journeys as a process of living into your full or true self, of letting the authentic seed inside you unfold. We UU’s agree. We even enshrined … read more.
What does it mean to be a people of Commitment?
There’s a natural, and important, go-getter quality to this month. After all, huge payoffs come when we keep our commitments. Maintaining loyalty to healthy habits not only lengthens our lives but enriches them. Faithfully following through … read more.
What does it mean to be a people of Beloved Community?
Henri Nouwen, the treasured Catholic teacher, activist and pastor, once described beloved community as “the place where the person you least want to live with always lives.”
On its surface it seems to be a straightforward … read more.
What does it mean to be a people of Imagination?
Maybe our most important work is to re-imagine imagination.
Imagination’s great gift is improvement. At least that is what we’re usually taught. The deep magic lies in the way it can reshape our reality. We are urged … read more.
What does it mean to be a people of Stillness?
Don’t tell me to be calm
when there are so many reasons
to be angry …
I didn’t say to be calm, said the wind,
I said to breathe.
We’re going to need a lot of air … read more.
