Chalice Unitarian Universalist Inspiration

Recent events have reminded us how important Unitarian Universalism’s voice is in our world and raised a deeper question: Why do we gather? This Sunday, as we celebrate our newest members, we’ll explore how spiritual community offers belonging, wisdom, hope, and joy, while helping us become a force for love and light in challenging times.

The phrase "Be Gay, Do Crime" became popular after the discovery of some graffiti in Marseilles, France in 2016. Embraced by the queer anarchist movement, the phrase is now a rallying cry for the LGBTQ+ community, whose very existence has been (and still is) seen by some as deviant and even criminal. How do queer folk continue to wake up every morning embracing their true selves and finding joy in life?

What if life is not a race to be won, or a destination to arrive at, but a pilgrimage to be walked with presence, courage, and wonder? Drawing on stories and insights from her sabbatical travels to pilgrimage sites across Europe, Rev. Nica explores what it means to live life as a pilgrimage, and how we might be transformed when we learn to walk through life with openness, intention, and awe.

Today, Rev. Nica returns to Chalice from her sabbatical. Please join us in welcoming her back and beginning to get a sense of her adventures.

Guest Speaker Rev. Kikanza Nuri-Robins will discuss how Yeshua (Jesus) distilled the 613 laws of Israel to 2: Love your God and Love your Neighbor. What does it mean today for UUs to Lead with Love?

The language we use has a much larger impact on the people around us than we realize. Today we'll talk about small steps we can take to change our defaults and be more inclusive in everyday life - and why it matters.

Strong and bold, or quiet and kind, every one of us is unique and filled with possibilities. Our service today is based in part on Fred Small's iconic folk song that became an anthem for generations. Everything Possible celebrates love and friendship, encouraging us to dream our own dream, choose our own path, and embrace our possibilities, wherever they may take us.

As we recognize Earth Day, and with the words of John O'Donohue, Celtic philosopher, poet, and nature lover guiding us, we will explore our relationship with rivers and our interdependence, focusing on the integral role they play in our spiritual journeys. We recognize the flow of these rivers of life as a metaphor for the flow of our own lives, and we honor the ecosystem of wisdom they offer; one that holds life lessons for each of our journeys. "I'd love to live my life like a river flows, carried by the surprise of its own unfolding." ~John O'Donahue

As Earth Day approaches, we orient ourselves toward the interdependent web of all creation. As UU’s, we recycle, we compost, we drive EVs. But what if we re-conceive our relationship to the natural world and see how it takes care of us?  How might that shift our perspective on… everything?  This morning Sam Thomas, CLU professor of Religion & Environmental Studies, will explore themes of reciprocity, gift economy, and land ethics in conversation with Indigenous writers and other deep ecology voices.

During this time of Passover and Easter, we celebrate our Unitarian Universalist tradition of the flower ceremony. As we gather to honor the beauty of nature, let us also be reminded of the seeds of hope planted with our community. Please bring a flower for this treasured ritual of connection and renewal.

Long-time member and democracy activist Pamela Lopez reflects on the challenging times we find ourselves in today and explores the possibility of creating a path to a hopeful, inclusive and sustainable future.

The Sabbath is Spirit in the form of time. Sabbath rest is allowing Spirit to rest within us and connect with God. What happens when you lean into something that is always there? What do you notice when something that's always been there goes missing? What can you learn about yourself and your world during this season of fasting and reflection?

Popular guest speaker and UCLA oncology chaplain, Michael Eselun will reflect and explore the idea of a single thread that may run through our entire lives - what it takes to find it, what is our relationship to it, and how it just might help us make sense of the whole journey thus far.

Although 3500 plus years old, these ten imperatives—examining God, Sabbath, family-life, adultery, killing, robbery, lying, and greed—furnish a lodestar for the moral agenda and spiritual life of 21st century progressives. The Rev. Dr. Tom Owen-Towle is grateful to be preaching again at Chalice and will have his latest book, Living with Purpose and Integrity: A Fresh Perspective on the Ten Commandments.

"Do I Belong Here?" This is a question many of us carry—sometimes quietly, sometimes without words. This Sunday, Grenda David, invites us into a month-long celebration of Chalice as we launch our annual pledge season. Through music, personal story, and reflections on the spirit of the 1960s, the service explores belonging, courage, and the power of community to heal.

Rev. Benefiel Bijur will be exploring the theme of “The Generous Heart,” anchored in the guiding idea of a critical mind and a generous heart. This service invites us to reflect on how intellect and rational thinking can coexist with openness of heart—how we can hold both at once. Rev. Benefiel Bijur will also speak to the mutuality of generosity and interdependence, as reflected in our Time for All Ages story, "A Special Trade." Then lead us into deeper reflection with several essential questions: Is there a conflict between critical thinking and generosity—and if so, how might we resolve it? And what does generosity truly mean when we think in terms of treasure?

Do you have a book that has informed your life? A long-time favorite of Rev. Maddie’s is Parker Palmer’s “Let Your Life Speak: Listening to the Voice of Vocation.” Is how we live our lives congruent with our deepest sense of self and meaning? How does our life speak to us in these times?