Archives: Services

“All Creatures – Blessings the Animals”

On Wednesday (10/4), some of our Christian siblings celebrate the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi. St Francis was an 11th century mystic and friar known for his patronage of animals and nature. Many congregations celebrate by ritually blessing the animals in our lives. The Following Monday (10/9) we honor Indigenous People’s Day, which also … Continue reading “All Creatures – Blessings the Animals”

“Ownership”

For our Jewish siblings in the midst of the Days of Awe, this is a time of profound introspection and accounting for all of the ways in which we are human and make mistakes. It is a time when we are called to take responsibility for our own actions. Not a time of blame but … Continue reading “Ownership”

“Yet To Be”

Grow old along with me,” Robert Browing wrote. “The best is yet to be.” But we do not have the infrastructure of community care to help our elders to make their older years the best of their lives. In a culture obsessed with youth, how are we addressing the needs of our elders? In a … Continue reading “Yet To Be”

“Underwater”

Each year our community marks the start of a new church year in a celebration of water. The way water nourishes us to new growth and cleanses us after our labors. And we know that the waters are rising. That living in this world can feel sometimes like the water might take us under. Or … Continue reading “Underwater”

“Bread and Roses”

Labor unions have long fought for not just survival of all of us, but also the conditions to thrive and be joyful. We need beauty, wonder and connection to live full lives. Join us for a song-filled celebration of coming together to fight for each other. And for all of the roses we find in … Continue reading “Bread and Roses”

“The Great Dechurching”

Who’s Leaving, Why Are They Going, and What Will It Take to Bring Them Back? A homily in conversation with a new book of that nameForty million Americans who previously were members of a congregation stopped attending in the last 25 years. Why? It isn’t all attributable to loss of faith or broken relationships due … Continue reading “The Great Dechurching”

“The Nature We Make”

Courtney shares her recent essay in the Boston Globe about cities as nature; she reflects on the mental divisions we create between people and nature and asks what would happen if we included ourselves in the natural world. She invites us to reflect on the nature we create through our buildings, infrastructure, and other activities, … Continue reading “The Nature We Make”

“Not Your Mascot”

How many of you remember your school’s or your child’s school mascot? Mine were Knights, a Husky, Tigers and a Shark. Some schools and sports teams have mascots that are Native American in nature and are very offensive. The subject of this homily is racist Indigenous mascots, what do they mean to actual Indigenous people … Continue reading “Not Your Mascot”