Our spiritual theme of
“humility” is already prompting important reflection, at least based on
questions I am receiving and conversations I’m having. Humility, if taken to
extreme, can seem to ask that we pretend we have no talent or power.

The belief that we have
power to impact our … read more.

In a meeting with a group
of congregants last week, I decided to share a poem about America for our
centering. The past week I had blogged about the separation of church and
state, and the dangers of our church becoming a political club. Yet our
ministry together needs … read more.

Meet Delia, My Great Grandmother

In this photo, taken about 1885, my great-grandmother,
Delia Penland sits surrounded by her family. Her husband sits to her right, her
eldest daughter, my grandmother, sits to her left.

Delia was born a slave, owned by Robert Penland, who gave
his name and his … read more.

Unitarian Universalism
knows the importance of the separation of church and state. Thomas Jefferson, who
declared himself a Unitarian, articulated the original language of separation
that we still draw on. The UUA has been clear in its support for that
separation from its earliest days. We are founding members … read more.

Many of you spoke or wrote to me about the prayer I
offered in worship last Sunday, just days before the turning of the year. As it
spoke to those who spoke to me, I hope that it may speak to others as well.

     – Bill

Will … read more.

Cornbread was on the menu
last night at my evening meeting. The host had made the cornbread the “right
way,” the cast iron skillet heated in the oven first so that the batter sizzled
as it was spooned in. Baked in the skillet. Served with butter.

The soup … read more.

Many of you know that I
have been thinking about my retirement for some time.

When the congregation
called me in 2010, there was honest conversation about how long my ministry
might last. I was 64 then and we all knew that a 20-
or 30-year ministry was not in … read more.

This Thanksgiving I find myself reflecting on the absence
of perfection. You have heard me preach about the problems of perfection as a
standard, the way it encourages all of us to embrace definitions of the good
that are culturally determined…and leaves us all perpetually unsatisfied with
our performance … read more.

In his concluding statement
during the Democratic Candidates Debate last night, Senator Corey Booker
pointed out Rep. John Lewis sitting in the audience and began with the famous
words of gratitude from Deuteronomy: “We drink from wells we did not dig.”

He began with gratitude and
the recognition that … read more.