According to Chaucer in The Parson’s Tale, “Envy is the gravest sin there is. For truly all other sins are against a single virtue, but certainly envy is against all virtue and all goodness.” Rev. John Fisher speaks to us on the subject of misogyny, how it can be understood as a projection of unconscious … Continue reading Misogyny and Envy
We welcome Terry Diggory to the pulpit for a timely and important conversation about immigration in America. He reflects on what it means—ethically, spiritually, and practically—to “welcome the stranger.” Drawing on his leadership in interfaith efforts since 2017, Diggory explores the sacred obligation of hospitality in an era of contested borders and rising fear. Diggory’s … Continue reading Leading in the Spirit of Welcome
This sermon invites us to examine our relationship with animals through the lens of Unitarian Universalism’s 7th Principle—honoring the interdependent web of all existence. Drawing from Indigenous wisdom and scientific knowledge, it challenges the dominant worldview that treats animals as property. Themes from anthropology, evolutionary biology and psychology support the idea that our bond with … Continue reading What Do Animals Ask of Us? The Blessing of the Animals
As we approach Independence Day, Beau Breslin offers a compelling presentation focused on the power of our Constitution and the importance of renewing it. He believes it’s time for a new constitutional convention to make America’s founding document work for the myriad challenges our nation faces today. Breslin proposes we convene this convention in 2037 … Continue reading The Earth Belongs to the Living
This morning we celebrate our annual Flower Communion and honor its creator, Norbert Čapek, a Prague Unitarian minister killed in the Dachau concentration camp in 1942. We also explore the relationship between the polarities of life – creation and destruction, freedom and oppression, and beauty and ugliness – and affirm that creation, freedom and beauty are … Continue reading More Than a Beautiful Bouquet: A Flower Communion Celebration
Rev. Ashley invites us to honor Juneteenth not only as a historic moment of emancipation, but as a living reminder that the work of freedom is never finished. A lifelong Unitarian Universalist, the Rev. Dr. Lynn Ashley has served UU congregations in Fredonia, Barneveld, and Glens Falls. Most recently she served as interim minister at … Continue reading Freedom’s Ongoing Call: A Juneteenth Reflection
There are two types of freedom—external and internal. External freedom is the freedom to accomplish my personal agenda; internal freedom is the freedom to let go of my personal agenda. Let’s talk about why and how to let go of personal agendas when they don’t serve us well. Further Reading: Everyday Spiritual Practice: Simple Pathways … Continue reading Personal Freedom
Rev. Chulak offers a reflection on the meaning of freedom within the Unitarian Universalist tradition. His message explores freedom in its many expressions—freedom of belief, freedom in congregational polity, freedom rooted in love, truth, democracy, justice, and freedom from fear. Freedom is not only a core value of Unitarian Universalism; it is a defining feature … Continue reading Our Unique Way with Freedom
UUCSS member Eric Lawson takes us on a light-hearted, whimsical journey through the challenge of writing our own obituary. Does accuracy matter, or is this more akin to a creative endeavor? How would we like to be remembered in what, for most of us, is our final biography?
Through story, song and insight, Dan Berggren invites us into the creative process behind his songwriting, revealing how language and memory work together to honor the people who’ve helped hold us up—our “big beams.” Drawing from his deep roots in the Adirondacks and his decades as an educator and performer, he explores how imagination becomes … Continue reading Building Big Beams