universalist

On this Ingathering Sunday, we will come together as one community, formed from all the living generations, to bless each other through our water communion. As we begin our series “Let Justice Roll Down,” we will consider how the justice-making that we do collectively ought to begin with blessing, forgiveness, commitment, and love. Children and youth are invited to bring their backpacks to be blessed as they head into a new school year. All are invited to bring some water from a favorite local swimming hole, a kitchen faucet, or somewhere they've been this summer. Featuring Rev. Anastassia and the All Souls Choir.

Ralph Waldo Emerson recognized that the world is meant to be savored and we are designed to savor it. Why is the act of savoring essential for our spiritual lives?

No amount of teaching can parallel the assurance we get from first-hand experience. To see really is to believe, but what are we seeing in the world today?

In the second book of the Harry Potter series, Harry and his companions are faced with an ancient deadly secret, discover prejudice amongst their fellow witches and wizards, and are threatened by dark magic. It is only when they learn to share, be vulnerable, and lean on the help of their community that Harry and his friends are able to survive. Our high school youth reflect on this theme in this service with sermonettes.

Let’s explore what the next stage is beyond polarizing identity politics. This is a stage where one has claimed a particular identity, as well as identifying as anti-racist. What does this look like?

This week, Gillespie and Riley read from William Barclay's spiritual biography, whether all people go to heaven. 

Our Text: William Barclay - “I am a Convinced Universalist”, from William Barclay: A Spiritual Autobiography, pg 65-67, William B Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, 1977.

Show Notes: 

• William Barclay Biography
• Transcendence
• Ex Machina
• Black Mirror
• Now... okay, so, angels as people, tell me about that. Walk me through it. Origen, Commentary on John, Book II, section 25.
• Righteousness - Thinking Fellows

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The path of life is rarely clear or straight-forward. We find ourselves lost in a Dark Wood, unclear which direction to go, perhaps having strayed from the path we thought we were on. It is at these times that the gift of getting lost is that we begin to pay more attention than we usually do. Perhaps we are looking for blatant signs when the subtle nudges from the Universe are already right there.

The idea of temptation may conjure remembrances of small or significant longings. But instead, this week we will explore the temptation we face to live by the “shoulds” dictated only by logic, outside expectations, or shiny “rewards” instead of follow-ing the path our intuition and imagination suggest is right for us—the path that helps us bring the best of our energy and joy to the world.

When we allow ourselves to accept the journey within the Dark Woods, the resiliency of the human spirit tends to shake things up a bit as we begin to awaken to nudgings toward a fuller life. But life is messy. Life is uncertain. Rather than a problem to be solved, what if we saw uncertainty as a gift helping us let go of all we cannot know so that we can live more wholeheartedly? Rev. Anastassia preaching; Greg Sanders on piano.

We hear music that lifts our spirits and enhances the messages we hear from the pulpit every week, but why do we rarely see dance in church, or associate it with being spiritual? Sandy Reiberg (pictured), former dancer with the Ballet Theater of the Virgin Islands and local dance teacher, describes the historical connections between dance and religion and how it can enhance what we do to enrich our own spirits.

Cultures around the world are marked and differentiated by different dances, which help us to remember our traditions, culture, and our duties to ourselves and others. We can sometimes see this more clearly when we explore beyond our original culture, as Wole Soyinka's "Death and the King's Huntmen" allows us to do.

The theme of our sabbatical period with Rev. Anastassia was "Dance,” and its purpose was to allow us mutually, as minister and congregation, to discover and practice a new “dance” together. In this three-week worship series we will explore how congregational life and shared ministry is a dance.  What are its patterns and rhythms? How do we partner, leading and taking cues? What emotions do we experience? What accompaniment do we need? How can we learn to move nimbly or quickly when needed, and ultimately ensure that we are enjoying the dance in the process?

Rev. Anastassia Zinke returns!

Let's celebrate our natural religious curiosity by answering questions given by the congregation!

The first step is usually the hardest one to take. The issues closest to us are usually the most challenging to address. How can we start close in and grow out in our own lives? In our lives together as a community? Why is this our best path to growth and wholeness?

This Sunday, we welcome our incoming Minister of Congregational Life, Rev. Kayla Parker. Kayla will be providing pastoral care, directing adult programming within the congregation, and growing our engagement outside the congregation.

On this Easter Sunday, we recognize the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. We know that human beings both require and desire connection with one another, yet our cultures, our fears, even our laws sometimes insist on dividing us.  This Easter Sunday, we will remember human examples of people who transgress false boundaries to establish relationship. During the service, we will enact our Flower Communion ritual.  We invite each person to bring a flower to contribute. Rev. Anastassia preaching, with Alex Mulligan, guest musicians, and the All Souls Choir performing music from Glory and Hamilton

Let's go to the heart of honesty by exploring where we are honest with ourselves and where we are truthful in relationships.  We will explore ways to develop honesty authentically within ourselves.  How do we honor our inner truth?  And there are times when being honest with others can feel like a risk.  How do we discern where to be honest and where to keep out thoughts to ourselves? Rev. Lane Campbell, Minister of Religious Education, First Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbus, Ohio preaching, with the All Souls Choir.