by Rev Michelle Scott-Huffman In the coming week, many Americans will celebrate Thanksgiving, albeit much differently than in “normal” years. This holiday provides an opportunity for us to practice gratitude. It also offers opportunity for reflection on our history, our commitment to healing for everyone, and the actions that lead Read more
As part of the morning message, Board of Trustees President Colleen Appel will present a video of the church using your best gifts to meet our group goals. The video celebrates the work of staff and committees and sets the background for the congregational meeting which follows the service. Four Read more
by Rev Michelle Scott-Huffman A pastoral message responding to the election and moving forward. Our opening words this morning are “This Place is Sanctuary,” by Kathleen McTigue You who are broken-hearted,who woke today with the winds of despairwhistling through your mind,come in. You who are brave but wounded,limping through life Read more
by Rev Michelle Scott-Huffman The months since we first became aware of a global pandemic have been hard on us. Many of us have faced great loss in the absence of the usual markers, rituals, and spaces that help us to process grief and loss. As we look ahead with Read more
It happens fairly often that when I arrive at a patient’s home, I have to raise my voice over the din of the TV blaring away in the background to ask, “Is it alright if we turn the TV off while we visit?” My patients will often look startled and reply, “Oh, of course. I didn’t even realize it was on.” How is that possible? When we are surrounded by constant noise, we tend to forget it’s even there.
Monica McNeal and Rev Michelle engage in conversation about racial justice and the ways that deep listening can help with much needed culture shifts, both in our church and society. Using role play and honest dialogue, they will explore common micro-aggressions and imagine the ways that deep listening can lead Read more
The First UU Welcoming Congregation Committee is encouraging all members and friends to complete the “Trans Inclusion in Congregations” course offered by the UUA Transforming Hearts Collective. In doing this work we will develop meaningful connections and awareness of issues faced by LGBT+ individuals. Ultimately, it is in our hands Read more
Don Miguel Ruiz has written that “We only see what we want to see; we only hear what we want to hear.” This reality can keep us stuck in unhealthy patterns of behavior and unaware of transformation that is both necessary and possible. How might we move beyond our confirmation bias and the boundaries of our associations to engage in deep listening that has the potential to move and change us?
by Susanne Bounds As we light the chalice today, we invoke the power of the four directions that represent the cycles that govern our lives:the east, the first light and breath of the daythe south, the growing light and passion of the daythe west, the waning light and evaluation of Read more
by Rev Michelle Scott-Huffman A promise made is a promise ____? Kept? Broken? Renegotiated? Discarded? Renewed? As humans living in a world in relationship with other humans, we spend a lot of time negotiating relationships. One of our tools of negotiation is the promise. Another word for those promises, particularly when Read more