The familiar phrase is "guilt by association", but today we take a look at what it means to be part of the UU Association of congregations and how that relates to interdependence. (Worship participants will also share experiences from Camp de Benneville Pines.)By Gina Whitaker

The familiar phrase is "guilt by association", but today we take a look at what it means to be part of the UU Association of congregations and how that relates to interdependence. (Worship participants will also share experiences from Camp de Benneville Pines.)By Gina Whitaker

Transformation sounds like it involves changing into something new. It may be the process of revealing what is already true.By Rev. Rod Richards

Members sharing transformation stories - Jamie Woolf, Steve Kadin, Dorothy Pitkin with Gina Whitaker as worship associate.By Gina Whitaker

Members sharing transformation stories - Jamie Woolf, Steve Kadin, Dorothy Pitkin with Gina Whitaker as worship associate.By Gina Whitaker

Miraculous stories surround the lives of great prophets, teachers, and figures of religious importance. What do these stories tell us about these people? And what do they tell us about ourselves?By Rev. Rod Richards

We live in a society where (it is said) "Money talks." However, the transformative piece of this is that we have the power to tell it what to say.By Rev. Rod Richards

Inform. Conform. Reform. Perform. Transform. All of our lives, we are forming and being formed by our experiences, our relationships, our realizations and reflections. With every breath, we are in formation.By Rev. Rod Richards

What in the world does death have to do with justice and equity? And how might fully acknowledging our own mortality empower us to work for those things?By Rev. Rod Richards

Both science and religion have played pivotal roles in the work toward justice and equity...and both have been used in ways that thwart that work. How can we be sensitive to this history and challenge those tendencies in the present time?By Rev. Rod Richards

The Pagan holiday, Imbolc, falls exactly halfway between Yule (Winter Solstice) and Ostara (Spring Equinox). It strikes me as important that we develop ways to celebrate "partway" points, especially in relationship to our ongoing struggles for justice and equity.By Rev. Rod Richards

We recognize that there are many kinds of beautiful lives if we step outside the self and walk beside it with humble nonjudgmental curiosity about the many other selves on their own paths.By Alison Rittger

Freedom has traditionally been identified (along with reason and tolerance) as central characteristics of Unitarianism. But...does that sufficiently capture our most deeply-held values? Is freedom the same as liberation? And how does it relate to love? The lyrics to the song Rev. Rod refers to at the beginning are here.…

Though freedom is generally understood to be something that people embrace, psychologist, Erich Fromm pointed out that there is also a basic human urge to "escape from freedom."By Rev. Rod Richards

Each Sunday we welcome you in and...about an hour later, send you forth. Which mirrors the way we welcome new members. Enter, rejoice, and come in! we say. Make yourself at home...Now, come and go with me to that land where we're bound!By Rev. Rod Richards

"Life is a riddle and a mystery..." So says our hymn. And ain't it the truth?By Rev. Rod Richards

"Bless you," can often be heard post-sneeze. In some parts of the country, they "bless your heart." Rebecca Parker encourages us to choose to bless the world. What is a blessing and how do we bless one another?By Rev. Rod Richards

How do the very words we use display generosity? What does it mean to learn a vocabulary of kindness and inclusion?By Rev. Rod Richards

No, I mean it…all of us. I’m not talking right now about our congregation or a particular activity or a community organization, I’m talking about us—all of us.By Rev. Rod Richards

Listening is a profound expression of generosity.By Rev. Rod Richards

Remembering those we love who have died. Recommitting ourselves to engaging the truly awesome power of love within ourselves, our community, and our world.By Rev. Rod Richards

“If asked when and where Unitarianism was first organized the average person would be likely to answer that it was in America, or perhaps in England, about the beginning of the 19th century,” writes Unitarian historian Earl Morse Wilbur. I think he’s wrong. If asked when and where Unitarianism was first organized, the average person would not have …

It has been pointed out by countless coaches that "there is no 'i' in 'team.'" Alas, there is an 'i' in 'community' (and in 'congregation,' for that matter). Which leads me to wonder about how we balance the individual and the community.By Rev. Rod Richards

It is something of a leap to think of myself as an "ancestor," but we will all fall into that category at some point in the future. What do we wish to be our legacy?By Rev. Rod Richards

The Water Ceremony reminds us of our connection to--and complete dependence upon--this most precious of earthly resources: water.By Rev. Rod Richards

We pledge to replace barriers with ever-widening circles of solidarity and mutual respect. We strive to truly welcome all persons and commit to structuring congregational and associational life in ways that empower and enhance everyone’s participation.-- Words from the Article II ProposalBy Rev. Rod Richards

“Let’s be the welcomewe crave—enriching,understanding.Let us embodythe communitywe crave…”— Rev Dr. David BreedenBy Rev. Rod Richards

On this Labor Day weekend, we will take a look at ways we approach the work of the congregation.By Rev. Rod Richards

We’ll take a look at why the word “just” appears in that common phrase.By Rev. Rod Richards

Most of us, consciously or subconsciously, avoid thinking of our mortality, but are we missing out on a fuller life when we do that? Can embracing our mortality lead to a richer, Less anxious experience of life at any age?By Ingrid Pires

What can we trust in recreating a future that serves us all? Can we trust that a future with love and creativity at the center is even possible? Individuals and institutions are guiding the way, including Unitarian Universalism.By Ken Hill

Recreation — in both of its meanings — provides opportunities to “begin again.”By Rev. Rod Richards

Winston S. Churchill is said to have said, “Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.” If his words are true, the success of my spiritual venturing is guaranteed. Let’s explore what pluses can be taken away from our minuses and miscues.By Alison Rittger

Loyalty is generally considered a virtue. Does it depend on the subject of one’s loyalty? The manner in which one displays loyalty? Can one ever be loyal to a fault?By Rev. Rod Richards

Many are saying that “we are more divided” in this country than we have ever been. Is that true? What are the implications of this statement? And what is to be done?By Rev. Rod Richards

Though it may sound, at first, like an easy question to answer, we will take a little time to explore what it means to ‘be with’.By Rev. Rod Richards

“Pledge” has a specific meaning in the congregational context, but what is it that inspires pledges? And, as July 4 approaches, it’s worth asking what it means to “pledge allegiance.”By Rev. Rod Richards

“Every night and every morn, some to misery are born. Every morn and every night, some are born to sweet delight.” Familiar lines of poetry from William Blake…Is it true?By Rev. Rod Richards

What a bouquet of people we are!By Rev. Rod Richards

What is it that causes me to sometimes hide my delight? What are the accepted ways to show delight? And who taught us those?By Rev. Rod Richards

What is it about music that speaks to us in such a unique and profound manner? What can we learn about ourselves as we learn about our responses to the artistry of composers and musicians?By Rev. Rod Richards

In shaping our own lives, we look back on those who helped to shape us, especially those who gave of themselves with generosity and compassion.By Rev. Rod Richards

Creativity, we may think, is about producing a work of art–composing a piece of music; painting a landscape; writing a story. But there’s a story being told with every moment and we all participate in its creation.By Rev. Rod Richards

“Resistance is futile,” says the Borg in Star Trek. Taken out of its science fictional context, the phrase sometimes seems disturbingly relevant to our times. But what if we viewed resistance through a different lens?By Rev. Rod Richards

Rev. Rod Richards gives a talk about the meaning of the upcoming bridging ceremony for three youths at the Pacific SW Service Area Assembly.By Rev. Rod Richards

To resist is to tense up, harden our resolve, strain against the forces we reject. How do we maintain that over time? How do we avoid exhaustion? Can resistance also provide a soft place for our spirits to land? Can it provide restoration?By Rev. Rod Richards

From Beloved by Toni Morrison:Then she did the magic: lifted Sethe’s feet and legs and massaged them until she cried salt tears. “It’s gonna hurt now,” said Amy.“Anything dead coming back to life hurts.”A truth for all times, thought DenverBy Rev. Rod Richards

It’s a little hard to welcome our monthly theme–The Path of Resistance–when many of us are used to searching out the path of least resistance.By Rev. Rod Richards

Humility is not mentioned explicitly in the eight principles of Unitarian Universalism. Yet, humility is central to many faith traditions in which we are grounded, as well as the faith traditions some of us continue to practice in addition to Unitarian Universalism. Cultural humility, in particular, is essential to our commitment to becoming a more…

As we have come together this weekend to dream, plan, and engage with our vision(s) for the current and future vitality of our congregation, there is an understandable urge to “get it right.” What does that mean? How does it relate to engaging our mission?By Rev. Rod Richards