Why do we gather in religious community every week? What inspires us and keeps us coming here again and again? Religious community, among its many benefits, is said to increase longevity! Discover other reasons why gathering is important, especially now.
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream was that we would live as a ‘Beloved Community’, with everyone committed to justice, equal opportunity and love of one’s fellow human being. Beloved Community is also an aspirational term frequently used in UU congregations. Today we explore what it will take in 2017 to pursue our dreams of Beloved Community within and beyond our walls?
It is time for us, as Unitarian Universalists, to connect deeply with our interdependent world community. During this service, we will reflect on what sometimes seems an impossibly daunting task and recommit to engagement and action in the global struggle against institutionalized inequalities and discrimination. Allison Hess grew up in Thousand Oaks, CA attending the Conejo Valley UU Fellowship. After working in Africa, Allison joined the Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office as Envoy Coordinator at the beginning of 2015, connecting UU congregations across the US and Canada to the work of the United Nations. As of July 2016, Allison serves as International Engagement Associate at the Unitarian Universalist Association.
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote: “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” As we welcome the New Year, join us in welcoming infinite hope into our hearts. Erik Halseth is a ministerial student and member of CVUUF.
Merry Christmas!
We’re not having a Christmas Day service this year. People who are looking for community this day are encouraged to reach out to their small groups for fellowship and open houses.
Our festive Intergenerational Christmas Eve service will revel in the Spirit of Christmas. What does celebrating Christmas as Unitarian Universalists involve? How can we honor our past as a Christian faith and stay true to the inclusive, pluralistic faith we are now?
As we approach the Winter Solstice and the darkest time of year, a time that can be difficult for many as they mourn losses or remember brighter days, we find what might nourish our spirits. Where can we find light in the midst of darkness? Where can we find joy for the season, when our spirits are heavy? Join us in community to find light in the dark.
Where does the spirit of Buddhism lie? Is it something we can define or just feel? Visiting Buddhist monk, Kusala Bhikshu, will explore these questions and more in defining the spirit of Buddhism.
Have you ever felt like the outsider, a stranger in a new place or community? What helps you feel welcome and at home? As Unitarian Universalists we aspire to radical hospitality towards strangers and outsiders. As we welcome new members to our congregation today, we look at the spirit of welcoming and what it takes to be a truly inclusive congregation that embraces the strangers in our midst.
Sometimes we miss the greatest beauty because we are looking in the wrong places. Our attention is too easily distracted by the noise and flashing images of our media-drenched culture. We are swamped and a little brain-washed by the ideals Madison Avenue uses to sell, sell, sell. But then certain people and experiences cut through the din. They can show us what true beauty is and how to create a beautiful life that affects all who come near its orbit. Merlin Snider will talk about such moments and lives, and one life in particular that has deeply touched him.
