Rev. Jim Magaw

What Is Unitarian Universalism?

Unitarian Universalism is sometimes wrongly described as not having its own theology. Although it’s true that there is a great deal of theological diversity within our congregations, we do have our own unique theology—both historically and contemporarily. This service will provide an overview of Unitarian Universalist theology and why it is important to us and … Continued

Going for Bronze

There’s something about winning third-place in a race or other competition that feels better than coming in second-place. As might have been noticed during this summer’s Olympics, bronze medal-winners are almost always happier than silver medal-winners. This service will explore this phenomenon as it relates to the concept of grace and how it plays out … Continued

Parenting in the Apocalypse

Parenting is a challenging undertaking even in the best of times, but the pandemic has turned parenting into an even more arduous and impossibly demanding task. What are the lessons learned from the last year for parents and everyone else?  [This service will take place live on the Sunnyhill grounds and will also be livestreamed … Continued

Hope, Not Hell

250 years ago, John Murray, considered the founder of Universalism in America, extolled preaching “hope, not hell.” What does it mean to lean into hope amid the challenges facing our country today?  [This service will take place live on the Sunnyhill grounds and will also be livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube.]

F-Words (Faith, Forbearance, etc.)

[This service will take place live on the Sunnyhill grounds and will also be livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube.] Faith and forbearance are words that tend not to be used much these days or are used only in very limited and narrow ways. What do these concepts mean to us as Unitarian Universalists, and how … Continued

Let America Be America

Langston Hughes wrote a poem with this title in 1935 as a rallying cry for greater inclusion. 86 years later it has lost none of its power in calling for an as-yet unborn America that makes real the dream of justice and liberty for all. How can we help make this dream a reality in … Continued

Pride!

Being a “welcoming congregation” is not merely an academic exercise or just a nice thing to do. Welcoming our LGBTQIA+ siblings is a life-affirming and potentially life-saving act. In this service we will examine what we can do to work for justice for LGBTQ people while becoming a more fully inclusive and welcoming congregation. [This … Continued

Bridging Service

Rev. Jim Magaw and Director of Religious Education Jennifer McGlothin are joined by members of the Sunnyhill High School Youth Group for our annual Bridging Service. “Bridging” honors and celebrates the transition from youth to adults of our high school seniors. Join us to mark this important time for these students and their families.

Mercy and Moral Injury

The concept of moral injury has been described as “the damage done to one’s conscience or moral compass when that person perpetrates, witnesses, or fails to prevent acts that transgress their own moral and ethical values or codes of conduct.” How are we seeing this concept play out in our world and what can we … Continued

The Story of Your Life

Often the stories of our lives are not told until after our deaths in the form of eulogies and obituaries. What is the story of your life, and why might it be important to embrace and tell the story now rather than later?