Category: Personal & Spiritual Development
Words on the Wind – Blessings
In Unitarian Universalism, we understand each person is born an original blessing. At the First Unitarian Church of Oakland, when I served as Assistant to the Director of Religious Education, every Sunday the children… Read More >
Stewardship Moment: Time, Talent, and Treasure
By Tony Panciera, Stewardship Council Chair December always brings familiar memories – snow, holidays, family, food, and gifts to name a few. During the past month, I have been reflecting a lot on my… Read More >
Sara’s Good Tidings: the Season of Hope
By the Rev. Sara Goodman In this season of hope and expectation, we wait for the light to return, for the new year to begin. We hope all our experience and growth will lead… Read More >
Membership Musings: Act in Hopeful Ways
By Lynne Jacoby, Membership Development Coordinator “’Hope’ is the thing with feathers – That perches in the soul – And sings the tune without the words – And never stops – at all –… Read More >
Holiday Giving Tree & Winter Clothing Drive Begin Nov. 26
Holiday Giving Tree: This holiday season the Children’s Religious Education program leaders will once again be teaming up with a local organization to provide gifts for families in need. In the past, we have… Read More >
Blessings before a Meal – Ideas for UUs and Others
Grace for Unitarian Universalists. By Beryl Aschenberg, Director of Religious Education. As Thanksgiving approaches, UU families often consider blessings that might be said before a meal. Here are a few of my favorites, including… Read More >
When I Think of Abundance . . .
(Post by Lynne Jacoby, Membership Development Coordinator.) When I think of abundance I think of humbleness, generosity, joy, and Joe. Joe was a housemate of mine who would often ask the question, “We’re… Read More >
REflections for November – Beryl Aschenberg
REflections. By Beryl Aschenberg, Director of Religious Education. “If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.” – Meister Eckhart Several years ago, following advice… Read More >
Words on the Wind: Abundance
By the Rev. Jennifer Nordstrom. In our Worship Associate conversation about abundance, our November theme, Robert Szymanski asked the provocative question, “What is ‘enough’?” Since then, I have been thinking about abundance and scarcity,… Read More >
RE-Flections
By Beryl Aschenberg, Director of Religious Education I remember my first visit to a Unitarian Universalist church. Just taking the step to walk into a “church” felt courageous to me. I had grown up… Read More >
Membership Musings: Let Them Be Awkward!
By Lynne Jacoby, Membership Development Coordinator I didn’t have much to say about courage until I remembered an essay by Marilynne Robinson where she noted that for a culture that reveres physical courage, we… Read More >
Sharing a Part of Yourself
By the Rev. Sara Goodman When I was small my parents divorced, and I learned that it was easier on my family if I was easygoing and agreeable, and I learned that I was… Read More >
Special Welcome Mats
By Lynne Jacoby, Membership Development Coordinator Years ago when my parent’s little Congregational church in Vermont was struggling to become a ‘Welcoming and Affirming Congregation’ my parents came down on different sides of the… Read More >
Meaningful Connections: Literacy Services of Wisconsin
By Cheryl Butterfield Two days a week I tutor English as a second language to immigrants at Literacy Services of Wisconsin. It has possibly been the most rewarding experience of my life. The students… Read More >
I am Here
I am here because as climate change effects roll out, they are going to hit the most vulnerable among us first and they already are. I am here because we know that 2016 was… Read More >
Prophesy is Our January theme – Well what does that mean?
By Julie Bock, President of the Congregation So as a Humanist, the sheer mention of ‘prophesy’ makes me uncomfortable. Is this a sci-fi novel? Is clairvoyance involved? Do I have to buy into a… Read More >