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Or how does a UU church deal with members who choose not to get vaccinated?
This is Ostara, the Spring Equinox, a time of planting. And we are looking ahead to a new future, hopefully a post-pandemic future. What do we want to plant?
I’m a foster parent and I’ve noticed there are very few UU foster parents compared to other local churches and their involvement in foster care. My minister explained it to me that UUs are more focused on tackling the systematic problems that cause foster care to be necessary, rather than the end result of children needing safe homes to live in.
I’m wondering if there are any UU foster parents here, or if you know of any UU Foster Care groups or ministries? It’s starting to feel pretty lonely over here.
I tried making a foster care Ministry in my own church, but there just wasn’t any interest from other congregants, and there’s been little practical support from my local congregation.
When I read about the support foster parents get in other local churches (meal trains, babysitting, baby showers, mentoring, tutoring, driving, help around the house, etc) I admit to feeling jealous or wistful. But I’m not interested in joining a Christian church, and I actively want the kids in our care to experience my congregations RE and Owl programs.
I’d really just love to talk some foster parents who are UU. I don’t know anyone else who’s a foster parent, and it would be nice to talk to other people who have similar interests, struggles, and life experiences.
"Rites of Passage Service: Big Life Questions"
Sunday, March 13, 10:50 am, Worship Service Livestream
We are excited to welcome our 4th and 5th graders for this year's Rites of Passage Service. The service will include wonderful music, performed by our bell and church choir, we'll have special songs, and a few surprises. And of course, the Big Life Questions! Our eight young people have waited an extra year for this service so we want to make this one extra special. And wait till you hear their questions! Join us for this special celebration.
Rev. Alyson Jacks, Associate Minister; Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Marigold Birch, 4th-5th Grade Lead Teacher; Dennielle Kronenberg, Canvass Testimony; Reiko Oda Lane, Organist & Bell Choir Director; UUSF Choir; Mark Sumner, Music Director; Jon Silk, Drummer; Nancy Munn, Soloist; Wm. García Ganz, Pianist
Eric Shackelford, Camera; Shulee Ong, Camera; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Joe Chapot, Live Chat Moderator; Remigio Flood, Sexton; Athena Papadakos, Flowers; Alex Darr, Les James, Tom Brookshire, Zoom Coffee Hour
As you can see, I wrote about my experiences within Islam as a convert in my history. I still believe in One God. I still think Muhammad was a Prophet and that Jesus was the Messiah. I just don't think Islam itself is good for my future. Do I have a place within UU?
"The Ecology of Generosity"
Sunday, March 6, 10:50 am, Worship Service Livestream
Our preacher this week, The Rev. Vail Weller, has served congregations as parish minister in West Virginia, Michigan, and most recently San Mateo, California, where she still resides. She is also the Congregational Giving Director at the Unitarian Universalist Association and we are so grateful to have her with us on this Sunday when we kick off our 2022-23 annual giving/pledge drive for this community. This week's sermon "The Ecology of Generosity" draws deeply on the thoughts of Robin Wall Kimmerer and her book “Braiding Sweetgrass” and explores the cycles of nature and the cycles of generosity.
Rev. Vail Weller, Guest Minister; Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Sam King & “Wonder Dave” Crady, Canvass Co-Chairs; Reiko Oda Lane, Organist; UUSF Choir led by Mark Sumner, Music Director
Eric Shackelford, Camera; Shulee Ong, Camera; Donald Shearer, Camera; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Joe Chapot, Live Chat Moderator; Remigio Flood, Sexton; Judy Payne, Flowers; Alex Darr, Les James, Tom Brookshire, Zoom Coffee Hour
The world right now looks scary and its easy to imagine enemies around us. But the math says otherwise.
Are there any online UU different religions discussion groups? I'm not entirely sure if this even is a thing, but the congregation where I'm at in the world isn't very interested in the discussion of it very much and focuses way more on secular humanism (which is great for sure). I just want to talk with others more about our spiritual journeys, topics in different religions, etc. Is this something that exists?
What is the ministry we do in the wider community? Join Live Oak members Joel Bercu, Audrey McCann, Chris Milhealsick, and Judy Reynolds, as they discuss taking action with school board issues, reproductive justice and anti-racism, voting, and climate justice.
"To Change the World, with Love" Sunday, February 27, 10:50 am, Worship Service
In her book "Pleasure Activism" author adrienne maree brown questions whether activism needs to look like suffering and opens up the invitation for this piece of what we do to be not just more sustainable but life-giving, pleasurable!! What does she mean by "pleasure activism" and how can it change more than just our social justice work but our lives?
Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Carmen Barsody, Worship Associate; Reiko Oda Lane, Organist & Bell Choir Director; Richard Fey, Baritone; Brielle Marina Neilson, Songleader; Ben Rudiak-Gould, Songleader; Michele Kennedy, Soprano; Allen Biggs, Percussionist; Mark Sumner, Pianist & Music Director
Eric Shackelford, Camera; Shulee Ong, Camera; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Joe Chapot, Live Chat Moderator; Remigio Flood, Sexton; Judy Payne, Flowers; Alex Darr, Les James, Tom Brookshire, Zoom Coffee Hour
Hello all! I have been greatly heartened by the last time I posted here regarding spiritual issues. When I post on Christian subs, it is kind of...conservative most of the time. God is big!
To clarify, I identify as UU and believe all Gods are one. However, my therapist is Christian and so when I speak to her, I use God for the ease of communication. I learned about the Christian idea of discernment from a Christian minister with UU experience - essentially if you feel calm and at peace, that would be discernment. Unease = not.
(I understand that all these are big ideas, I am simplifying so I don't write an entire novel here. I have been UU for about 15 years now.)
I am at an in-between space in my life where I need to make clear choices about certain things, including careers and choice of residence. Understandably these are not easy to make! I have done some good work with a UU spiritual director - in our conversations, a certain career choice felt "right" and gave me great peace of mind.
While working on this with my therapist before (this was before the UU director) she once asked me "what does God want you to do?" While God has occasionally answered with thunder and trumpets before (most of my many spiritual experiences have been numinous in nature) I felt peace in contemplation.
Putting the two and two together, I was wondering if God was answering because discernment = peace with a certain decision?
I am well aware that the spirit cannot be fully comprehended with the mind, yet we all have minds, which is how I am writing this. Since I am not part of any congregation at the moment, I thought I would ask here. I am continuing to pray on it.
Helping others often brings to mind feeding the homeless or digging a well in another country. But there are different needs right in our own neighborhood.
"To Sondheim, with Love" Sunday, February 20, 2022 Livestream Worship Service
This morning we celebrate the great composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim who recently passed away at the age of 91. His cool cleverness and skeptical, often ironic, intellectual character have long been commented on. It is not hard to find articles with titles like "The Case for Sondheim as Existentialist," or an obituary describing him as a "philosopher of music." A number of philosophers have taken it hard over the loss of so marvelous and so philosophical an artist. Cornel West: "His genius shall live forever! He was profound in content, subversive in form and always beautifully lyrical."
To honor his passing, and too feast on what he has "served up," we have chosen a couple of his beloved, familiar songs and, for some, adding a few more new favorites to cement and enlarge his fanbase. No matter how many times you listen to Sondheim, you find yourself taken to new places emotionally. Because of his singular command of music and lyrics, the second you absorb any of what is there, what was first intellectual immediately cuts straight to the heart.
Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Dr. Mark Sumner; Music Director; Carmen Barsody, Worship Associate; Daniel Jackoway, Worship Associate; UUSF Choir; Nancy Munn, Soloist; Richard Fey, Soloist; Brielle Marina Neilson, Soloist; Leandra Ramm, Soloist; Asher Davison, Soloist; Ben Rudiak-Gould, Soloist; Gilead Wurman, Soloist; Wm. Garcia Ganz, Pianist
Eric Shackelford, Camera; Shulee Ong, Camera; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Joe Chapot, Live Chat Moderator; Remigio Flood, Sexton; Amy Kelly & Athena Papadakos, Flowers; Alex Darr, Les James, Tom Brookshire, Zoom Coffee Hour