Our favorite songs, whoever the artist or whatever the style, were created in a strange alchemy of study and inspiration, of strict practice and of letting go.
Spiritual Practice is a similar combination of dedication, muscle memory, and perhaps a little divine inspiration. Join us for a musical exploration of learning to risk, building the muscle memory of courage, and the spiritual practice of relationship when things around us are changing fast.
Matt Meyer is a musician and worship leader who has led hundreds of services for UU congregations across the country. He has a degree in hand drumming and serves as Director of Community Life for Sanctuary Boston.
Sunday, June 20 | 10:00am
"Somewhere Over the Rainbow"
Liz Murphy
As we celebrate LGBTQIA+ Pride Month, how might recommit to the spiritual practice of radical inclusion and welcome? Drawing inspiration from the symbol of the rainbow across culture and context, we’ll delve into the ways we, as a people of faith, can lead the charge toward collective liberation and communal joy.
Liz Murphy (she/her) recently completed her intern ministry at Throop Unitarian Universalist Church in Pasadena, CA. She will be ordained as a Unitarian Universalist minister this August, and she is looking forward to what ministry will hold in the future. She previously served as the Interfaith Programs Assistant at the University of Southern California's Office of Religious and Spiritual Life, as well as a chaplain intern at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Liz graduated from the Claremont School of Theology with a Master of Divinity in 2020. Originally from Pittsburgh, she lives in Los Angeles with her wife, Hilary.
Read MoreJune is the month for celebrating Juneteenth and Pride Month – two representations of freedom movements in the United States. But what is authentic freedom? Is freedom a feeling, a state of mind, a state of being? What is the evidence of freedom? Join Taquiena Boston, UUA's Special Advisor to the President for Inclusion, Equity, and Change; Rev. John Crestwell, is a called/settled minister at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis; Rev. Dr. Terasa Cooley, Interim Senior Minister, Neighborhood Church; and members of Neighborhood People of Color. As they help us reflect on these questions together.
Read MoreIn this special live service that is a prelude to the annual meeting, Mimi and Rev. Terasa will offer their reflections on this past church year and what they suggest about our future.
Read MoreWe take inspiration from many sources. Scripture, songs, poetry, and stories give us glimpses into the world and our place in it and share about the rich realities of our neighbors' lives. Join us as we share the Bantu tale "The Name of the Tree" and explore what it tells us about commitment, history, and the spiritual quest.
Read MoreAs we begin to recover from this pandemic, how do we rebuild and reconnect in ways that are healthy for us, for our community, for our world? What spiritual wisdom can we draw from the ecosystems that surround us as we create, and re-create, sustainable and life-giving relationships and ways of being? Join us for a reflection that is relevant to what we are doing at Neighborhood during this time of COVID and Interim Ministry, as well as relevant to our own disrupted lives.
Read MoreMany religions tell a story that has a beginning, a middle and an end. They ask people to join into a story that has already been told. Unitarian Universalism, on the other hand, asks you to participate in the story as it unfolds, making it your story as much as our story. How does that change the way in which we experience religious community?
Read MoreMatt talked last Sunday of our UU values and whether “love” should be more explicitly named. I think sometimes we don’t quite know what love, the agape sort, really means. What would it mean to offer unconditional love to the world?
Read MoreJoin Director of Religious Education Matt Vasko as he takes us on a journey through the Unitarian Universalist Principles and Sources to unearth the values at the heart of Unitarian Universalism. Matt will talk about those aspects of our faith that our friends and family members might relate to, which call us to work for immigrant rights, environmental health, LGBTQ rights, and racial and economic justice. We'll also take a look at a few values that aren't explicit in our faith that are worth exploring and reflecting upon.
Read MoreGiven the traumatic events of this week, this service will focus on what we need to do to heal the wounds of racism - in our own bodies, in our congregation, in our larger culture. Drawing from the wisdom of Resmaa Menakem in his book My Grandmother’s Hands, we will offer a reflective space that will include exercises to help us move into commitments for the future.
Read MoreThe UN briefing on climate change states: "As the infinite cost of climate change reaches irreversible highs, now is the time for bold collective action.”
Our Earth Day service considers actions we can take with members of the Green Council, which has returned to its earlier name: the 7th Principle Committee. They are joined by Representative Judy Chu, a UU and our local member of Congress.
I believe we have learned some important lessons in the past year about what is truly important, about what is truly worthy of our giving of ourselves. How can we deepen the connection between what we value most and where we find the well of our generosity?
Read MoreThe Easter story is sometimes told as a magical resurrection. What if we instead thought of it as a meditation on the promise of emptiness?
Read MoreOur high school-aged youth will be exploring the themes of connection, community, and separation. Please join us for a mindful reflection on how we all have learned and grown during these difficult times, which have changed us in ways we never could have imagined.
Read MorePlease join us as the NUUC CUUPS Chapter explores the process of metamorphosis and we celebrate the coming of the Spring Equinox! So much has changed in the past year, and the changes continue. Like the caterpillar, we have been in a state of chrysalis and at this service we explore the processes we have been going through. We will set our vision for the future, continually adapting and growing with the changes. How do we step into spring? How do we grow into this new season?
Read MoreWhen the Universalists merged with the Unitarians in 1961, their greatest
concern was that their unique history and message would be lost. Unfortunately that has been the case to some extent. So I like to remind us why Universalism was the 5th largest religion in America in the 1890s!
As we begin to thankfully contemplate what it will be like to gather again in person in the future, we can also reflect on what this time ‘apart’ has meant to us as a community, and what we are learning about new ways of being together. Our need for community has become all the more apparent to us and this service will reflect upon the importance of Neighborhood in our lives and in the community.
Read MoreUnitarian Universalists have always been at the forefront of civil rights movements throughout history. But today, our work requires us to do more than showing up at rallies and demanding change. It requires that we do the deeper examination of our own UU practices, principles, and patterns of behavior which can unwittingly perpetuate the dominance of white people. On this Social Justice Sunday we welcome Paula Cole Jones, founder of the 8th Principle movement in Unitarian Universalism. Joined by Dr. Rev. Terasa Cooley in a live discussion as they explore the 8th Principle as a step towards truly building a beloved community.
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