SPIRIT OF LIFE
SPIRIT OF LIFE – Rev. Nikki Williams “Spirit of Life” is a favorite UU hymn. How might we define this Spirit of Life? Can we access it? Let’s explore what famous thinkers have to say.
Topic: Ancestors
Katrina Trask and Social Justice
Following the deaths of her four children, eminent Saratogian Katrina Trask (1852–1922) devoted several decades to activism in various causes. A particular focus was addressing the vast divide between Gilded Age high society, and the servants and laborers who made the upper class lifestyles possible. In 2014 local visual artist Rumara Jewett researched sculptor Daniel … Continue reading Katrina Trask and Social Justice
The Radical Love of Dr. King
“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” —Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. We gather to remember not only the movement Dr. King helped lead, but the soul from which it sprang. He was a dreamer, yes, but also a preacher, a father, a theologian. Today we listen not … Continue reading The Radical Love of Dr. King
A Broken Angel
As we recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day at a time when the Federal Government is erasing most reminders of the roles of “others” in forming and maintaining our nation, our service concentrates on the effects of the reservation program. Jim Caverly brings a story of his adopted daughter to our congregation—a Lakota girl from the Rosebud … Continue reading A Broken Angel
The Earth Belongs to the Living
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
Freedom’s Ongoing Call: A Juneteenth Reflection
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
The Easter Curmudgeon
Many UUs—probably most—struggle with what to make of Easter, with its talk of resurrection and redemption. Many of us, including me, would just as soon ignore it. But it’s here, and it’s tremendously important for millions. Does the Easter story offer anything to those who don’t resonate with the story of crucifixion and resurrection? Or … Continue reading The Easter Curmudgeon
Faith in the Shadow: Wrestling with God After the Holocaust
Wayne leads a deeply reflective service for Holocaust Remembrance, not by recounting history but by grappling with the searing spiritual aftermath it left behind. Drawing on the wisdom of thinkers like Elie Wiesel, Viktor Frankl, and Wendell Berry, we explore how faith is tested—and sometimes lost—by unbearable suffering. What does it mean to believe in … Continue reading Faith in the Shadow: Wrestling with God After the Holocaust
Honoring Our Ancestors, Voting as Ancestors
Voting Ancestors Rev. Joe Cleveland November 3, 2024 Today is the last day of early voting. The early voting sites that are open right now in Saratoga County will close today at 5:00. Just out of curiosity, how many of you have voted already? Wow! That’s a lot! I’ve put in a bunch … Continue reading Honoring Our Ancestors, Voting as Ancestors
What If Heritage
It is important for us to recognize and honor our heritage. However, sometimes we can wish our heritage was a little different than it was. We can wish that at certain moments our ancestors had made different decisions than they did. We can often wish this of ourselves. To live with a sense of wholeness, … Continue reading What If Heritage