Today we invite you to embrace joy as an act of defiance against the challenges and injustices that seek to diminish our spirit. In the face of adversity, experiencing and sharing joy as a community strengthens our resilience and reminds us of our shared humanity. As we close our pledge drive, we honor the power of collective joy in building a better, more compassionate world. Join us for a celebratory lunch after service.
Join us for a very special service dedicated to celebrating and uplifting our transgender community during this Week of Trans Visibility. Together, we’ll honor the courage of those who live their truth and advocate for a world where everyone can be seen and valued for who they are. Let’s unite in solidarity and celebration, empowering each other to shine brightly in our authenticity.
Today we reflect on what it means to be the light—for ourselves, for each other, and for the world. As a community, we ask: What does it mean to be a beacon? To shine not only in times of ease but in times of challenge? How do we ensure that this light—our Chalice community—burns brightly for all who seek its warmth?
In a world that teaches us to guard our hearts, what happens when we choose trust instead? By practicing Lectio Divina with Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer’s poem Growing Trust, we will explore the courage to release our armor and say yes to life. Together, we’ll reflect on how we trust, inviting us to unfold like a sunflower turning toward the sun.
Popular guest speaker, and UCLA oncology chaplain, Michael Eselun will explore the dance we do between acceptance and self-compassion. If we reach for acceptance of our circumstances as a pathway to inner peace, what part does self-compassion play?
When the world around us is devolving into chaos, what can we trust? Trusting ourselves can feel impossible when we are overwhelmed by uncertainty, grief, or fear, yet deep within us lies a wisdom that has guided us through every challenge. This service explores how we can cultivate trust, not through control or certainty, but through deep presence, self-compassion, and an openness to life as it unfolds. Grounded in Unitarian Universalist values and the world’s wisdom traditions, we will reflect on how we can trust both ourselves and our community, moving beyond fear into a place of quiet confidence, resilience, and love.
When I think of inclusion I can’t help but think of its polar opposite—exclusion, and its many costs, spiritually, materially, and culturally. We are so much better off, and deeply enriched, when we welcome diversity into our experience. We’ll take a glimpse at western society’s evolving relationship with otherness, some of our failings and successes, and what it means today to celebrate the full spectrum of humanity’s rainbow.
Inclusion begins within. This service invites us to explore what it means to embrace the shadowed parts of ourselves—the fears, flaws, and complexities we often hide. Through love and self-compassion, we’ll discover how honoring our whole selves deepens our capacity to accept and include others, creating a more authentic and connected community.
At Many Mansions we envision a vibrant, inclusive community where everyone has access to affordable housing and the support needed to thrive. How does shifting our perspective to housing as a human right break down divides and build up community and belonging? The Rev. Laurel Johnston serves as Director of Individual Giving for Many Mansions and is an ordained Priest in the Episcopal Church.
Unitarian Universalism celebrates diversity as a cornerstone of our shared faith. Today, we will explore how our inclusive principles and values invite us to honor every person’s worth and dignity, build bridges across difference, and create a spiritual home for all. Together, we’ll reflect on the transformative power of truly embracing one another and welcoming all.
