Letters from a Glass House

Fair wages, safe working conditions, and solidarity with labor unions and worker movements, these are what truly make America great. Let's talk about economic justice as a spiritual practice on the Labor Day weekend

Unitarian Universalism values a free democratic process and the independence that it grants congregations. Still, we recognize the value that strong, competent, and accountable leaders bring to organization. How, then, do we navigate the change that comes when we lose leaders to illness, or by accident, or by simply growing apart? How do we lead together with inspiration, skill, and love? 

 Last August, youth protestors began flying the flag of the Straw Hat Pirates, from the manga and anime One Piece, in Indonesia, Nepal, and eventually all over the globe. In Kathmandu, the Lion’s Palace burned in the background while in the foreground a young man scaled the fence to tie up a cartoony pirate flag. Why? Why, in a crowd of thousands, does this symbol stand out? And what can a story of the adventures of a teenage pirate made out of rubber teach us about inspiring and sustaining revolution? 

When we allow ourselves to be pushed to emotional extremes on a daily basis, we lose the ability to direct those emotions towards what really matters. If we burn up all of our anger at someone cutting us off in traffic, we have none left to forge into the outrage that drives us to march in the streets. If we drain ourselves weeping every minute of the day, the sorrow we feel at the death of a loved one rings hollow. What we need, then, is to learn how to regulate and channel those emotions into those areas that can have a tangible impact on the world 

The world as it stands is designed to crush us, and in particular to crush us under the weight of those we hold dear. We must not allow this to happen: to allow our loved ones to be that which buries us. But the answer is not to shirk those ties that bind: rather, we must join ourselves to as many of those inter-linked chains as possible, so that the weight of the world may be bourne by each of us, and none alone.

Why is some art labeled sacred and some profane? Can art really be a profanity? What is "art" anyway? Join us for a provocative look at the world of creativity!

ADA compliant? Handicapped friendly? Full access? What do we really mean when we say thiese things, and how are we doing at them?

For All that we hear about ICE, are they really that bad? Let's explore the legal immigration process and its ethical concerns.

If nothing has inherent meaning, why and how do we create our own moral and ethical frameworks. Let's explore nihilism as a life-shaping constract

“Pride” is a loaded word to a modern audience, but is still a very real human emotion. How do we honor those parts of ourselves that we take pride in, while still allowing others to take pride in themselves? Join us Sunday to explore pride through the lens of poetry. Guest minister Will Esty preaching.

The Seven Deadly Sins have become a cultural trope, used in countless stories and media analysis ranging from Metropolis to Spongebob. But a less-often talked about counterpart to the Seven Deadly Sins are the Seven Heavenly Virtues, and today we're going to talk about the virtues of, well, virtue. 

“When we face what feels like a mountain of work, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. How, then, can we think about the work, the growing, and the nurturing we need to do in such a way that we can move that mountain, one stone at a time?”

What is the "ministry of all" and how do we understand our role as ministers? Let's explore the idea!

Joy doesn't have to be quiet. Let's talk about making noise, at home, in church, or wherever you are!

What is the Practice of Loving Kindness—a topic supported by all religions and religious sects- and how can we practice it?

What do you hold so important that you would make the ultimate sacrifice to defend it? Today we honor those who died serving our nation, and we are going to explore what it means to make that kind of sacrifice

Why are Pride events so important? It's not for the people marching as much as it is for those too aftaid to even take a step.

A mother's greatest wish is often that her chilldren grow up safely. A deep wish for peace lies behind the celebration of Mother's Day.

We've heard that some day of the week is a sabbath and that means day of rest, but is that really essential? Let's talk about why you need a break.

Today we celebrate Earth Day, and we remember that the planet we stand on is a part of our web of all existence. 

Community is one of the most important things about UUCOV. We come here and we know that we have found our people. Join us this week for a Flower Communion. Please bring a small potted flower or plant- we will put them all together, and each person will choose a new plant or flower to take home. This service reminds us that, like our flowers, we all bring something different, and we take from here what we need. 

The criminal's death on the cross was mean to destroy, and yet over 2,000 years later, the story of Jesus goes on. Come and explore the meaning of Easter and join us for this traditional Easter Service, complete with an Easter Parade!All are invited to wear your bonnet and join the parade.

John 15:13 says "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends". If that is the greatest love a human can show, how great was the love for all of humanity which lead a carpenter's son down the Via Dalorosa?

The liberation feast of Passover has been celebrated for thousands of years. What does it mean to us today?

How did 12 year old Maryam become the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus and Intercessor with God? And why is there a crescent moon and roses in art depicting her? Let's examine how a human being becomes a goddess.

Humility is a virtue, but why? How humble is too humble? How proud is too proud? Let's talk about humility, pride and the culture of today.

The holy month of Ramadan is the 9th month in the Islamic lunar calendar. It is a month of fasting, worship, service, communal gathering, and spiritual development. Fasting in Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam.The values and practices of Ramadan can lead to a deepening of spiritual life, so lets learn about them together

The Jurassic Park books and movies provide a frightening view of what happens when cloning goes wrong. Cloning of mammals from adult body cells has been possible for 30 years, and amphibians were first cloned over 65 years ago. Can cloning really cause disasters like Jurassic Park? Is it legal? Ethical? Moral? Let's talk about this branch of scientific enquiry and it's implications.

A single song can change the world. Let's talk about the power of musicians, and the ways in which music can reshape the politico-social landscape.

It's a week until Valentines Day, so let's talk about love as the cord which binds our lives and pulls us forward into growth and change.

Christian Nationalism is not Christianity, and today we're going to talk about why you cannot be both a Christian and a Nationalist!

Names in multiple parenthases? 14/88? What's wrong with writing 13/52 or 13/90? Don't we want the "sun to rise again"? Wouldn't everyone love "6 million cookies"?Well, no.These phrases and others are used by hate groups , and today we're going to talk about the use of coded language and symbols used by white nationalists and other hate groups in the United States

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream of peace and equality for all people. What would that dream look like if we created it today?

Does a computer construct have a soul? What exactly is AI? What can it do and not do, and, more importantly, what can we do with it. Let's explore artificial intelligence and it's ethical, moral, and spiritual implications for all of us.

What would you look and act like if you were inventing yourself today? What's keeping you from being the you you imagine? Let's talk, as Jimmy Buffet says, about "changes in attitude, changes in latitude" and changes in the life you want to live in this new year.

We all celebrated the immigrants story, politicians would brag about their family immigration story, but now there seems to be dishonor to those stories.  What happened?  The immigrant has become the scapegoat for this nation's ills. I want to celebrate again. As Walt Whitman said,  These States are the amplest poem,  Here is not merely a nation but a teeming Nation of nations.

Joy to the world as hope and love are born anew. All are welcome for this traditional Christmas Eve service. 

The wheel of the year turns, and we turn with it. Welcome to the return of the light!

We stand at the end of the year and we hold onto the fire of the now and the not yet. Join us for this service which explores Hanukkah and the light which refuses to die.

Join us for this service that explores Jung, shadows, and goodness of direction. With examples by Terry Pratchett. What does it mean to be unafraid of the darkness, and how do we live faithfully?

In a world where we are always building bridges, beliefs, identities, and sometimes walls, we pause to examine what our creations mean. Through the chancel drama The Wall Between Us, we’ll explore how fear can divide us and how courage can draw us back together. Join us as we reflect on the structures that shape our lives and the spiritual work of choosing connection over separation. This episode features the chancel drama "The Wall Between Us" (presented by Marianne Koerner, narrator, Nancy Menaldi Scanlon, Thom, and Rev. Dr. Amy Petrie Shaw, Geoffrey) and the sermon, "The Things We Build"

Maintaining an attitude of gratitude can be challenging, but it is well worth the work. Join us for this warm Thanksgiving service and let's discuss why it's important to find things to be grateful for!

Grow up. Act your age. Stop playing around. So many times we get told that playfulness is only for children, but today we are going to talk about play as a spiritual practice!

A veteran is someone who wrote a blank check made payable to “The United States of America” for an amount up to and including their life. Today we honor those who have served our country, and we'll explore what it means to join something greater than ourselves.

Halloween has just passed and this is still the time of year where the veil between the living and the dead id thin. What better time to talk about monsters, or at least monster movies and their theological implications!

Whatever happened to tell the truth?  One only has to listen to the news today, to know that honesty is sadly lacking in our society.  Notable people who have been recorded or videoed violating the law or a regulation simply say, I didn’t do it!” And half the viewers seem to agree with them.  A young man is caught on video gunning down an executive and enters a plea of “not guilty.”  How does honesty fit into our world? How does honesty fit into your world?

Good always wins in the end. If good didn't win, it's not the end yet! Join us for the celebration of Diwali! If possible, please bring a small amount of sweets (candy, confectionary, cookies, whatever!) to share; the sharing of sweets is a sacred part of this Hindu holiday!

Words like grace and faith can get lost in the UU vocabulary. What, exactly, is grace, and what does it have to do with faith? 

Life is change; nothing alive is fixed, but in today's world, changes can come faster than we can tolerate. How do we find a sense of peace and security when nothing is certain except for death and maybe taxes?

What's the difference between an amend and an apology, and, honestly, why should we care? Let's talk about it!