National holidays in America have largely become occasions for shopping mall sales, sporting events and backyard barbecues. Many of these holidays have also become celebrations of materialism and militarism–and a good bit of narrow moralizing around these themes. How might we honor these holidays while resisting their less savory aspects?

Curiosity and wonder can be much-needed antidotes to feeling overwhelmed and stuck. Instead of remaining mired in frustration and anger, how might we cultivate a sense of curiosity and a sense of wonder, even in the most challenging of times?

Drawn from ideas in Mark Nepo’s book of the same name, this service will explore, in Nepo’s words “our ongoing need to stay vital and in love with this life, no matter the hardships we encounter.” How might we go about cultivating this love for life, even when the going is rough?“

The sci-fi/fantasy television series “Stranger Things,” set in the 1980s, explores a number of themes relevant to our own times and the challenges we are facing. What might it say to us about countering authoritarianism with radical solidarity?

One of the central themes of Easter is the ultimate triumph of life over death. Even when everything around us seems dry as dead bones and dark as the tomb, the potential of resurrection of various kinds still exists for us as individuals and for us as a society. How do we prepare to “rise … Continued

On Palm Sunday, Jesus’ Passover pilgrimage brought him to Jerusalem. What does it mean to go on a pilgrimage? How do our own individual journeys (as well as our collective journey) relate to the pilgrimages and the stories of Passover?

As UUs, we honor any and all beliefs that respect the inherent worth of every individual while recognizing that we are in an interdependent relationship with one another and with the earth. But beneath and beyond any and all beliefs there is a more important commitment to a love that transcends belief.

The biblical story of Ruth and Naomi offers a compelling example of true solidarity and what it means to be committed to being on the side of others who come from backgrounds different from our own but with whom our ultimate destiny is intertwined. This service will examine the meaning of this story for us … Continued

Some of the best music you will ever hear has emerged from a place of persecution and oppression, and, rather than dwelling in hopelessness and despair, has proclaimed through its very existence and through its great beauty that there is something more.  This service will explore theology as a genre of the blues.

The Jewish holiday of Purim is centered around the Book of Esther. How does this story of heroism in the face of vulnerability relate to our own time? What can we learn about Esther that might help us face our own personal and collective challenges?