“Later that night, still turning the parable over in his head, the rich man returned to the place where the disciples slept. He found Jesus at the fire and sat down with him. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I think understand who my neighbor is. But . . . how shall I love myself?’” 

For all our talk of connection, it is also true that there are times when we must disconnect to protect ourselves from harm. How do we maintain healthy boundaries while still upholding our sense of interconnection?

“Integrity is doing the right thing when no one is looking.” How do we stay true to our deepest sense of self in a world that demands so much compromise on our parts?

January 6 is Epiphany, the day legend says the Magi arrived at the cradle of the infant Jesus, having followed a star to Bethelehem. What meanings might we draw from these mysterious travelers? And what about our own epiphanies and guiding stars? The Dolejsi family joins us as storytellers and Yelena Mealy offers music.

Today we’ll be exploring the idea of Janus, the Roman god of doorways and transitions.

Rev. John tells a story or two about the spirit of the season

This week, we’ll gather together to tell one another the story of the rebirth of the Sun King.

(Be sure to join us on Saturday the 14th for a mask-making workshop for this year’s Yule pageant.)

This week, we’ll gather together to tell one another the story of the rebirth of the Sun King.

(Be sure to join us on Saturday the 14th for a mask-making workshop for this year’s Yule pageant.)

As we enter into the fullness of the Holiday season, let us take some time to explore what it means to be a people of Awe.

As we enter into the fullness of the Holiday season, let us take some time to explore what it means to be a people of Awe.

The Buddha once addressed his monks, saying: “Monks, all is burning. What is burning? The eye is burning, forms are burning. Burning with what? Burning with the fire of lust, with the fire of hate, with the fire of delusion.” Called “The Fire Sermon”, it is one of the Buddha’s most famous discourses, and considered one of the most important. An allusion to the Fire Sermon appears in T.S. Eliot’s “The Waste Land” with a footnote stating that it “corresponds in importance to the ‘Sermon on the Mount’.” In our sermon we will talk about how the Fire Sermon is a keystone to understanding the Buddha’s remarkable discovery, 2500 years ago, about the essential nature of suffering, its cause, and its remedy.

John Ambrosiano is a retired physicist and dharma student who teaches meditation and dharma at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Los Alamos. He has been a student of the Vipassana teacher Matthew Flickstein for 12 years.

Come share a meal with your church family, along with stories of how we use food to show love, concern, and hospitality.

Social scientists say that only 10% of us (at least here in the USA) are truly effective listeners – people who listen to others in order to understand and grow. The rest of us, so they tell us, are simply listening to reply, to make the conversation as much about ourselves as possible (it’s comfortable territory, after all). As we continue to explore the theme of ATTENTION this week, some thoughts on how to be a better listener, to be in relationships with others that are not merely transactional, but transformative.

An exploration of diversity of belief in America with pulpit guest the Rev. Munro Sickafoose, a consulting minister at the Unitarian Congregation of Taos and a community minister at the UU Congregation of Santa Fe. Munro is a graduate of Starr King School for the Ministry and focuses much of his work on healing our human relationship with the earth.

My seminary friend, Tim, was once the religion page editor for the Toledo Blade newspaper. As such, he came into contact with just about every faith community in the Toledo area. Once, he shared one of his experiences with us.

“Here’s the best ‘welcome’ message in town,” he said:

We extend a special welcome to those who are single, married, divorced, gay, filthy rich, dirt poor, y no habla ingles. We extend a special welcome to those who are crying newborns, skinny as a rail, or could afford to lose a few pounds. We welcome you if you sing like Pavarotti or can’t carry a note in a bucket. You’re welcome here if you’re just browsing, just woke up, or just got out of jail. We don’t care if you’re more Catholic than the Pope, or haven’t been in church since little Joey’s baptism. We welcome our disabled worshipers who have brought their service dogs with them. We welcome Muslims, Jews, politicians, and sinners like us. We extend a special welcome to those who are over 60 but not grown up yet, and to teenagers who are growing up too fast. We welcome soccer moms, NASCAR dads, starving artists, tree-huggers, latte-sippers, vegetarians, junk-food eaters. We welcome those who are in recovery or still addicted. We welcome you if you’re having problems, or you’re down in the dumps, or you don’t like “organized religion;” we’ve been there too. If you blew all your offering money at the casino, you’re welcome here. We offer a special welcome to those who think the earth is flat, who work hard, don’t work, can’t spell, or come because grandma is in town and wanted to go to church. We welcome those who are inked, pierced, or both. We offer a special welcome to those who could use a prayer right now, had religion shoved down your throat as a kid, or got lost in traffic and wound up here by mistake. We welcome tourists, seekers, doubters, bleeding hearts . . . and you!

Talk about leaving no doubt as to how open their church’s doors are! And here, friends, is the kicker. What church do you think offers this message of welcome to all who walk through those open doors? If you guessed a Unitarian Universalist church . . . you would be wrong. The above is the welcome message of Toledo’s First Seventh-Day Adventist Church. Remarkable, no?

Each week, we open our service by telling those gathered, “Whoever you are, wherever you are on your life’s journey, you are welcome here.” I wonder, though, how many people hearing this message for the first time think to themselves, Even me? Just as I am? Maybe the laundry list of just who’s included in the “whoever, wherever” might help to answer those questions and allay those fears.

Then again, it might make the greeting message longer than the sermon.

In truth, it’s what happens after that initial welcome that truly matters. Beyond that welcome message, the Adventists have a pretty strict view of sin and salvation that might very well leave some first-timers feeling cold, oppressed, even wounded. The open door is wonderful, but not if one is left to wonder whether or not there’s a seat at the table after they enter.

The same is true for us. The “whoever, wherever” message is welcoming enough, the laundry list implicit. The answer to those questions — Even me? Just as I am? — come in those ever-important moments that follow the welcome, inside the open door. How do we make room in the sanctuary? At the table? How do we lay aside our own needs and expectations about who the person at the door should be so that we might accept them as they are?

True welcome is a continual practice. We must open our hearts as well as our doors for our invitation to be more than just words.

Speaking of welcome, our Thanksgiving service this year will focus on the ways we show care, attention, and hospitality with food. We’ll be trying something a little different with a potluck worship on November 24 titled, “Sacred Tables,” where we’ll share dishes we serve to visitors, extended family, and even strangers, with stories about how food and hospitality strengthen connections. Watch your email and our Facebook page for more details.

Rev. John Cullinan

Our expectations — our prayers —  as a community often have vague and fuzzy ends. We think we know what we need, what we want, but we often wind up with something completely different: a different thing we didn’t know we needed. Sometimes, the answer to our prayers is not what we thought we hoped for, but is exactly what we need. How do we learn to embrace the unexpected answer?

We’re approaching our annual Ingathering celebration once again, and I’m looking forward to sharing a new year of worship, learning, and growth with all of you. There are some changes ahead, and I want to make sure you’re fully aware of the shape of things to come here at the Unitarian Church of Los Alamos.

First and foremost, we’ll begin a new worship and RE schedule on September 8 when we celebrate our Ingathering. The worship service will remain at 10:00 am (the same time as our summer schedule). Religious Education for children and adults will now follow the service at 11:15 am (allowing 15 minutes to move from worship to classes). Coffee and fellowship will be available both before and after the service, parallel to the RE hour. This change allows us to have an earlier start time to worship without pushing RE back too early. In addition, it relieves some of the time and traffic conflicts that can arise with RE and worship preparation happening concurrently. And, it will allow us to free up the sanctuary for some larger adult RE programming as needed.

Secondly, we will continue with the weekly all ages worship that we kicked off in August. The intention table will remain in the sanctuary, along with the young worshippers space and the quiet space in the library.

Next, you’ll notice some variations in our order of service and worship content from week-to-week. This year, we’re engaging more of the congregation through our new Worship Arts Teams to create worship that engages people across multiple senses and ways of knowing. We hope that together we are presenting worship that is even more meaningful and memorable to our church family.

Finally, we’ll be continuing our monthly themed ministry explorations with our Soul Matters program. This year, our children’s RE will integrate with the Soul Matters themes more directly, so that between worship and RE we will be sharing subject matter across all ages, creating opportunities for cross-generational learning and connection.

Now . . .

I know change can be uncomfortable, but don’t let these program adjustments scare you off. Some of what we’re doing you’ve already experienced (10:00 am service, all ages worship). Some of it is just leaning more into programming we’ve already dipped our toes into (Soul Matters). All of it, we’re sure, will only serve to strengthen our connections as a faithful people and as members of a community.

I look forward to being with you and leading you into this new church year. I can’t wait to see what we discover together.

~~~~~

At our Ingathering, you’ll also have a chance to say “Bon Voyage” to our Partner Church delegation. Seven of us, including Jess and myself, will travel to Romania on September 10 on a Transylvanian pilgrimage. We’ll be touring from Bucharest to Cluj/Kolosvar, visiting sites of significance to our Unitarian history in that country, and spending 4 days with our partner church in Fenyokut as they celebrate the 450th (!) anniversary of their congregation. We’re excited for the journey, and I can’t wait to tell you all about our adventures when we return.

Rev. Christine Robinson and Dan Lillie will return to the pulpit in my absence to lead worship. Please give them a warm, returning welcome.

~~~~~

I mentioned our Worship Arts Teams above. If you’d like to learn more about those teams, or about any of our other committees and opportunities for service, be sure to join us after worship on September 29 for our annual Committee Fair.

See you in church!

Rev. John Cullinan

[Multi-generational service] Join us for this beloved annual tradition, as we close out the regular year with gratitude and celebration.

[Our annual business takes place in the Fellowship Hall immediately after the service.]

A service for Easter. What were Jesus’ final wishes for his loved ones?

Rev. John will lead a brief communion service in the Sanctuary at the conclusion of worship.

April’s theme is “Wholeness” – This Sunday, Rev. John takes a look at what it means to be whole as a person, a community, and a human family.

Please join us after the service in the Fellowship Hall for the dedication of our Memorial Garden.

[Multi-Generational Service] Crow is back with another question.

Sometimes, our lives take a such a turn that we need to know there’s someone who’s there for us, no matter what. Sometimes, it’s hard to know when to reach out. Sometimes, you might not be sure who to reach out to. A minister comes into a church community, in part, to be just that person to reach out to. It’s certainly one of the reasons I entered the ministry. Now, there are many things that I’m not — a therapist, a lawyer, or a doctor, for example. But, what the minister is, what I am, is a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on, a hand to hold — someone who can be with you when most needed.

But, when is that time? That’s often a tricky question. The answer is: whenever you need me. Here’s another tricky question: Who was the first president of the UUA? Send your answer to me by email and one of you with the correct answer gets a prize. But back to the first question — it doesn’t seem much of an answer, I know, but it’s the short and sweet answer. Perhaps it’s never crossed your mind before to call the minister when you’re in need — but you should. It’s why I’m here. Perhaps you’re worried I may be too busy for you — but I’m never too busy to be your minister. It’s why I’m here. Perhaps you think that what’s on your mind isn’t important enough — but you’re important to me. Don’t ever hesitate to pick up the phone, or send me an e-mail, or leave me a message on the whiteboard on my office door. I’m the minister, and I’m here for you.

Still unsure when to call? Let me share with you a wonderful list, adapted (with some personalization) from an essay written by a UU minister, the Rev. Peter Lee Scott, over fifty years ago (times may change, but the role of the minister remains, largely, the same).

When to Call the Minister:

• When you haven’t met me yet, but would like to.
• When you have problems you’d like to discuss, concerning your children, your job, your marriage, or anything else where a sympathetic ear might be of help.
• When you’re going in the hospital or know someone else in the congregation who is.
• When someone close to you has died or is critically ill.
• When you or someone you love is in trouble or in jail.
• When you’re planning to be married, or wish you could be.
• When you have a child to be dedicated.
• When you’re pregnant but wish you weren’t.
• When you, or a friend or neighbor would like more information about the Unitarian Universalist faith.
• When you’re considering joining the congregation.
• When the Red Sox are losing, and you want to commiserate with him.
• When you have suggestions to make about programs for the Fellowship.
• When you’d like help with committee work or with other congregational activities.
• When there are community issues you’d like to discuss or would like me to be involved with.
• When you’re mad at me.
• When you appreciate something I’ve said or done.
• When you’d like to talk religion with me.
• When you’d like to talk parenting with me — as a parent, or as a child.
• When you’ve had good news and want to share it.
• When you’ve had bad news.
• When you’re feeling overwhelmed.
• When you want to tell me your history with the Fellowship.
• When you want to spend more time with the children and youth.
• When you’ve heard a great joke and want to share it, or you want to talk comic books, or you want to chat over a cup of coffee . . .

. . . and, well, I think you get the picture. This is, of course, not a comprehensive list. The rule of thumb is, if you think you might need to talk to me, then you probably need to talk to me. Pick up the phone. Send the e-mail. I won’t know you need me until you let me know that you do. But, I’m here when you do.

Rev. John Cullinan

Many of us tend to rely (and rightly so!) on what is provable to provide us with our sense of what is true and correct; however, there are some truths that are beyond the realm of provability. How can we acknowledge other ways of knowing? When truth speaks in a language other than science and reason, sometimes we have a harder time hearing it, but that doesn’t mean we should discount the voice of inner truth and wisdom.

Dan Lillie serves as the Ministerial Resident at the First Unitarian Church of Albuquerque. He enjoys spending his free time with his partner Emily and their two dogs, Max and Bella.

Reflections on our journeys through grief and loss, with music by the Adult Choir.

(Note: We are sad to report that the husband of our scheduled guest speaker, the Rev. Sue Redfern-Campbell, died suddenly, so of course Sue cannot be with us. We hold her and her family in our hearts.)

A sermon on March’s theme of “Journey.”

[Multi-Generational Service] Join us for Won’t You Be My Neighbor? on March 1st, then hear Rev. John’s reflections this morning.

At last month’s meeting, the Board approved a sabbatical for me in 2020. I’ll be taking four months of sabbatical, most likely beginning mid-April of next year. This time is meant to be a period of renewal both for myself and for the congregation. There will be much planning to do, and the first step is to put together the sabbatical team for the congregation. The team will be responsible for planning out the various ways in which my ministerial functions will be filled over those four months, including worship, pastoral care, and other administrative duties. The team will also be putting some thought into how the congregation might engage in some renewal activities during this time. We have a few members set in place already, but we need several more to build a functioning team. We’re especially in need of someone with some grant-writing skills, as we’ll be applying for a Clergy Renewal Grant from the Eli Lilly Foundation to help fund the sabbatical period for myself and the congregation. Please get in touch with me if you’re interested in taking part in this planning process.

~ ~~ ~ ~

A few months back, we sent an email out to you to encourage those of you participating in LANL’s giving program to consider once again making your contribution to the church through the program. In years past, we have benefited greatly from the matching funds we’ve received from LANL through the program. Unfortunately, not long after the enrollment period ended, we received word from the new management at the laboratory that churches would no longer be eligible for these matching funds. This is disappointing, of course, and a cause for some concern for our finances moving forward. I don’t begrudge the lab’s decision, and I even understand it to some extent. But I am disappointed in the timing of and the way in which the decision was announced. Those of you who have been giving to the church through the lab over the years, with the expectation that you’ll be stretching that gift a little further, may now be wondering what to do. Please be on the lookout for a mailing from myself and the steward on your options going forward regarding LANL giving and the church. In the meantime, my fellow clergy in Los Alamos and I are working on a public statement regarding this change.

Rev. John Cullinan

Possibility has its shadow side, too. Being a people of possibility means recognizing where we’ve taken a wrong turn.

On MLK’s birthday, reflections on how far we’ve come and how far we have still to go.

The story of Unitarian Universalism is the story of reaching towards what seems impossible – an experiment in diversity seeking unity. What does it mean to be a people of possibility?

Tina DeYoe brings us New Year’s reflections on January’s theme of “Possibility.”

The marking of time is an ultimately arbitrary endeavor. The first of January is the name we give to the beginning of another orbit around the sun, the point we’ve chosen to count up from zero yet again. It doesn’t need to be January 1st. It could be at some other point in our orbit, and indeed it is in the estimation of other cultures. But, arbitrary as it is, there is something about the turning to a new calendar that puts us in the mindset of renewal and of taking first steps onto new paths in our life’s journey. Every January teems with possibility.

It’s no accident, then, that “Possibility” is our theme for the month. Unitarian Universalism is a religion that swims in the deep end of what might be possible for humanity — in spite of our baser instincts: the possibility that a people of great diversity might still build a community with a sense of wholeness; the possibility that we can find deep peace despite our differences; the possibility that we can move from aggression to compassion.

This month, we’ll delve into Unitarian Universalism’s great experiment in possibility. And, we’ll explore our roles and responsibilities in that experiment.

Whatever possibilities you may be looking towards, I wish you the happiest of New Years. May our time together during this next orbit be fruitful and faithful.

See you in church!

Rev. John Cullinan

A look back. A look ahead. Happy New Year!

Join us as we tell the Christmas story, and celebrate 200 years of the beloved hymn, “Silent Night.”

A short concert of Christmas music, led by Nylea Butler-Moore and featuring members and friends of the congregation, precedes the service at 6:30 PM.

There’s never enough time to sing all the carols. Nylea Butler-Moore leads us in a program of holiday favorites and your requests. What would you like to sing?

[a service for all ages] Come help us tell the Christmas story in this no-rehearsal, cast-on-the-spot pageant. (And why not wear your favorite animal costume, if you have one?)

They say the waiting is the hardest part . . . but what are we waiting for?

We begin this month’s theme of “Mystery” with reflections on growing comfortable with not knowing.

December is, among many other things, Self Help month at the church. Self Help, Inc. was founded in 1969 by Bethlehem Lutheran Church, along with several other churches in town including our own. It was founded as a means to pool charitable resources and use them for assistance and outreach in our northern New Mexico communities. For many years, the first Sunday in December at the Unitarian Church was designated as “Self Help Sunday,” with a special collection taken up that day to fund our commitment to one of our oldest charitable partners. Over the years, as need has increased and we moved to a model of giving away the entirety of our collection each month, “Self Help Sunday” has transformed into “Self Help Month.”

The monies we collect and give to Self Help, Inc. assist in their vital work in the wider community on our behalf. Currently, Self Help manages an emergency relief fund for one-time assistance needs such as rent, utilities, or medical bills; self-reliance grants used to assist those in need with small business start-up costs, job training, or other projects that will lead to individual self-reliance (Crowfeather Cleaning, our current janitor service, was started with the help of one of these grants); the 2-1-1 resource referral line serving Rio Arriba, Taos, Mora, San Miguel, Santa Fe and Los Alamos Counties; and the Los Alamos Mental Health Access Project, connecting people to much needed mental health services.

Earlier this year, Maura Taylor began her tenure as executive director of Self Help. Maura grew up in Los Alamos, and in our church, and has returned to serve our community. She’ll join us later this month to talk about the organization and her work. During December, all cash and undesignated funds will be given to Self Help, Inc. We’ll also put out a free-will donation basket during our holiday potluck.

I personally consider Self Help, Inc. to be our most important charitable and outreach partner in the community. I know that this time of year brings many appeals for support, and I hope you will consider a generous gift to Self Help along with your other charitable gifts this year.

~ ~~ ~ ~

Please join me in welcoming Yelena Mealy as our new staff accompanist. Yelena will be assisting Nylea with choir rehearsals and accompaniment, as well as filling in for Nylea on Sundays when she’s leading her ensemble at Bethlehem Lutheran. If you were with us in church on November 11, you’ll know that Yelena is an excellent pianist. She comes to us most recently from Florida with a great deal of church music experience, and is already in high demand as an accompanist and teacher in Los Alamos. We’re incredibly lucky to be welcoming her to the staff team. Yelena will play for us next on December 9. Join us in church, and come say hello.

~ ~~ ~ ~

Don’t miss out on our December traditions here at the Unitarian Church. The Do-It-Yourself Christmas Pageant returns this year on Sunday, December 16. Our Solstice Celebration takes place on Friday, December 21 at 7:00 pm. And, Christmas Eve by Candlelight will take place Monday, December 24 at 7:00 pm, with a special concert of Christmas music preceding the service at 6:30 pm. Join us as we tell the Christmas story through the lens of the beloved hymn, “Silent Night,” which celebrates its 200th birthday this Christmas Eve. A special collection will be taken up for the minister’s discretionary fund, which allows me to provide emergency assistance to the congregation and the wider community.

Rev. John Cullinan

Join us for this multi-generational service of gratitude and stories about the breads of our families.

Every soul needs a reminder list. What’s on yours?

We begin November’s theme of “Memory” with an exploration and celebration of our ancestors and our history.

We begin November’s theme of “Memory” with an exploration and celebration of our ancestors and our history.

Rev. John returns to Terry Pratchett’s Discworld for a new lesson on truth-telling — the world may be make-believe, but the news is 100% NOT fake.

Africa feels to me like a sanctuary, sacred and safe, perhaps because I was raised by Cecelia, a Zulu woman, and I played with Nellie, a quiet and gentle elephant. Africa is not one place, it is a brocade, rich with diversity. It showed me a wealth of perspectives; it taught me to embrace diversity; and it taught me to accept what I don’t understand.

Crow is back, and she’s worried about her new friend’s safety. 

We begin October’s theme of sanctuary with reflections on how we find places of inner peace.

Who we were. Who we are. Who we want to be – Vision cannot be fulfilled without trusting in the unknowns of its outcome. What gives us courage to take a leap of faith?

“The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” – William Faulkner

“Objects in mirror are closer than they appear”

To become who we choose to be, we must understand who we were – at our best AND at our worst – and know that we have not left those moments very far behind.