UUSLO

Busy intersections caused some amount of anxiety when I was a child, if not for me, certainly for my parents. They warned me to be careful. As we consider "intersectionality" in a wider context, that may still be good advice.

Earth Day Service The 2nd century bishop, Iranaeus, said, "the glory of God is the human being fully alive." In this sermon, I will be looking at how, from a Christian perspective, the human being fully alive is the whole planet (cosmos?) fully alive. Reverend Caroline "Caro" Hall ...has lived in Los Osos for over 30 years with her wife, Jill, whom she first met at Findhorn, a spiritual community in Scotland. She has been an Episcopal priest for 20 years, during which time she worked for full LGBTQ inclusion in the international church, locally helped to found and lead People of Faith for Justice, and has worked for environmental justice. Caro seeks to live lightly on the planet in harmony with all beings who are working for the highest good.

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.)

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.)

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

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

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

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.

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?

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.

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?

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?

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.

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.

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."

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!

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

"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?

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

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.

Listening is a profound expression of generosity.

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

“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 a clue.

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.

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?

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

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 Proposal

“Let’s be the welcome we crave— enriching, understanding. Let us embody the community we crave…” — Rev Dr. David Breeden

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

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

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?

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.

Recreation — in both of its meanings — provides opportunities to “begin again.”

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.

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?

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?

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’.

“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.”

“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?

What a bouquet of people we are!

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

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?

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.

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.

“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?

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

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?

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 Denver

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.

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 diverse and inclusive community. But it asks us to be vulnerable, and to apologize often and sincerely. So, how can practicing cultural humility also be powerful? Lata addresses this question, drawing from her own experiences as a Hindu-Unitarian Universalist.

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?

Part of my resistance to becoming part of a group, gathering, or community is that it can make me feel…yes, vulnerable. Join with us in celebrating the people who have become members of this community in the past two years as we welcome them into our mission of deepening connections.

There is a surprisingly powerful metaphor in Herman Melville’s whale of a novel, Moby Dick, which has something to say about vulnerability, interdependence, and community.

The Golden Rule – love thy neighbor as thyself – appears in some form in just about every religion. Jesus took it a step farther and said we should love our enemies, which our culture particularly struggles with in these fractious times. So maybe our best bet is to start with our neighbors.

Ok, it’s the anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birthday, but what does the theory of evolution have to do with love?

A song that lends itself toward joining together in friendship and peace has become little more than a joke in our current times. Does that say something about this song? Or about these times?

“At the root of it all…” “At the heart of this matter…” Such phrases seem to suggest that if we trace something to its source or its center that we will find a singular clarity. Is that true?

This is the age of “multi-tasking.” Can’t we just add enlightenment, awareness, spiritual growth to the task list?

in preparation for the January 8 service: read this brief, fascinating piece “About Article II: The Principles and Purposes of the UUA.” In 1919, poet William Butler Yeats wrote: Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world… Surely some revelation is at hand We, Unitarian Universalists, have often wondered what holds us together, with no creed, no single sacred scripture, no central governing authority. What is at our center? We (all UUs) are presently looking at possible revisions to a piece of Unitarian Universalist Association bylaws that attempts to answer this question.

What makes something “new”? Come celebrate the first day of 2023 in community and welcome in the “new” year!

In the Christian calendar, we are in the season of Advent. In a more general context, advent refers to an arrival, a beginning, a new thing entering our lives. What do you see on your personal advent calendar?

Awesome! The word is ubiquitous in today’s culture. It is used to respond to everything from the mysterious qualities of a black hole to the sensory rewards of a black coffee. Which makes me wonder: what qualities make something truly awesome?

Friday was the 201st anniversary of the birth of Russian novelist, Fyodor Dostoevsky. Inspired by the title of one of his most famous works, we will take some time to reflect on what leads humans to cause harm and, more importantly, what inspires us to take responsibility for our actions, make amends, and seek restoration. How do we truly change?

Today is the Transgender Day of Remembrance, mourning those who have died in acts of violence this past year and celebrating the strength of the transgender community. What changes are we called to make to put an end to the violence and help realize a beloved community of inclusion?

One of the most popular political promises on the campaign trail is “change!” (even if it is sometimes expressed as changing what has changed so that we can go back to a time that we presumably enjoyed before everything changed!) The truth is: change happens. The question is: how do we direct change toward those things that speak to our highest aspirations and our deepest values.

As we celebrate the memories of loved ones who have died, we also celebrate that which allows us to continue living and experiencing joy, even amid the losses.

Wendy Lucas, vice-president of the yak tityu tityu yak tiłhini Northern Chumash Tribe of San Luis Obispo County and Region describes how her life has been shaped by Divine Guidance, Paying Attention, and Hope - the gift of her tribal roots and the ancestors' voices.

Saying hello and goodbye are such fundamental practices for humans that you might think we would be a little better at it than we are. This Sunday, we get to practice by giving an enthusiastic welcome to our new Music Director, John Knutson, and saying a deeply grateful goodbye to our previous Music Director, Alba Franco Cancel.

It's Father's Day and Juneteenth. What is an appropriate response to being responsible not just to and for our own family but to and for others who are not "in our group" YET?

"Your gifts--whatever you discover them to be--can be used to bless or curse the world...You must answer the question: what will you do with your gifts?" - Rev. Dr. Rebecca Ann Parker

"What to do with beauty? or joy, for that matter — in the midst of tragedy, of violence, of cruelty?" Rev. Karen G. Johnston

Anais Nin wrote, "We don't see things as they are. We see them as we are." What does that mean for how we define, recognize, and nurture beauty?

Many famous stories, songs, poems through the ages have paired physical attractiveness with inner beauty. How does that show up in our culture?

One of the earliest Easter messages to the women who came to Jesus's tomb was simply this: he is not here.

As I understand it, there is some debate among the many Buddhist paths about just how awakening happens. Is there a flash of enlightenment or does it occur over time?

We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote: journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community by our actions that accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.

Some have suggested that we should understand faith, not as a noun, but as a verb. How would that change our understanding?

My mother was passionate about rummage/garage sales and visiting thrift shops and secondhand stores. I began to wonder if there may be a message about renewal for me in (the name, I remember, of one of her favorite stores) the "nearly new."

Do you ever see that message for a book you've checked out from the library? More importantly, do you ever feel that way when we're talking about physical, emotional, spiritual renewal?

How has the congregation used this time to deepen connections and widen our circle of concern?

It is all well and good to widen the circle, but a circle is still--geometrically speaking--closed. How do we go about opening it so that people may enter?

What lessons has a virus taught us about creating beloved community? Presented at the UU Community of Cambria

When we set goals, the future is always the focus. Is it the same or different with our intentions?

Does life have meaning? Does my life have a purpose? These are the questions that often draw people into religious community...and what do we find?

Parker Palmer defines the tragic gap as "the gap between the hard realities around us and what we know is possible — not because we wish it were so, but because we’ve seen it with our own eyes."

More and more, we are becoming aware that there can be a distance between intention and impact. How do we bring those closer together, as we move into this new year with the best intentions?

There is a saying: “After ecstasy, the laundry.” After those peak experiences, those moments of joy…then what? How do we carry enlightenment into the everyday?

For some, this is the season of 3G: the glad, the good, and the great. What do these phrases mean? And what form might they take in our individual and communal lives?

It’s right there in our mission statement: we will deepen connections by (among other things) inspiring joy. So how, exactly, do we do that?

Happiness, I have heard, is a choice. If we assume that is so, does that apply also to joy? And, if not, what is the difference?

We are living through a time that history--whatever forms it may take in the future--will record. What will you remember about this time? What stories and reflections will we pass along to future generations?

It's the phrase--the practice--many of us learned as children. As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving, this is an opportunity to look at the first word in that phrase: please.

George Santayana is purported to have said something like: "Those who do not remember the past are doomed to repeat it." But is the problem that we don't remember? Or is it how we remember?

The poet Seamus Heaney once wrote: “History says / Don’t hope on this side of the grave / But then, once in a lifetime / The longed-for tidal wave / Of justice can rise up / And hope and history rhyme.”

Halloween is all about scary. But today, we will hear a variety of ways to finish this thought: "You know what's really scary?....

It is a program sponsored by the UU Service Committee each year for as long as I can remember. More than that, it is a practice of cultivating relationships. More than that, it is a practice of unleashing the power of kindness and compassion.

Good friendship, in Buddhism, means considerably more than associating with people that one finds amenable and who share one's interests.

"...find out what it means to me." We all may think we know what respect means. But it may serve us to be more curious. What are the expectations about respect across generations, across racial/gender/sexual identities and cultures, among the disabled community...A big piece of respect means finding out what it means to the person or people with whom we are in relationship.