“The Politics of Grief”
When is it acceptable to cry in public? What national tragedies merit the flag being flown at half-staff? Who has access to bereavement leave when a loved one dies? Although … Continue reading “The Politics of Grief”
Speaker: Danielle Garrett-Assistant Minister
Becoming Both/And People
Poet Maggie Smith begins her poem “Threshold” with the line, “You want a door you can be on both sides of at once.” But our society often prioritizes either/or thinking, … Continue reading Becoming Both/And People
The Blessings of Thin Places
In Celtic spirituality, thresholds, both literal and metaphorical, are associated with “thin places” where the distance between heaven and earth shrinks. Although not always comfortable places to remain, there is … Continue reading The Blessings of Thin Places
How Do You Measure a Year?
Our spiritual ancestor Henry David Thoreau once said, “Time measures nothing but itself.” Do you agree? For some people, Jan 1st is a chance to reflect on what’s happened the … Continue reading How Do You Measure a Year?
Let the Mystery Be
We are entering a season that asks us to set aside our logical and scientific tendencies. We share stories of virgin births and magical stars, of one day’s worth of … Continue reading Let the Mystery Be
Sacred “Space”
As we kick off our summer theme of “Rest, Reflect, Renew,” we will spend some time exploring how we can resist our culture’s emphasis on urgency and productivity in order … Continue reading Sacred “Space”
Holy, Gratuitous Beauty
The writer Annie Dillard tells us that beauty is a kind of grace, wholly unmerited, and the least we can do is try to be there to witness it. How … Continue reading Holy, Gratuitous Beauty
Of Which We are a Part
The beauty of our seventh principle is the way in which it recognizes that we as humans are deeply embedded in the web of existence. We called to protect the … Continue reading Of Which We are a Part
Embracing Pluralism, Deepening Democracy
Religious scholar Diana Eck differentiates between diversity and pluralism, noting that “pluralism is the engagement that creates a common society” out of diversity. Yet in recent years, it feels like … Continue reading Embracing Pluralism, Deepening Democracy
What Does Solidarity Smell Like?
I was recently in an organizing meeting where the facilitator opened with an unexpected icebreaker question: “What does solidarity smell like?” When talking about concepts like justice, equity, or solidarity, … Continue reading What Does Solidarity Smell Like?