Our Path Forward
Call to Worship Our call to worship this morning comes from Frederick Buechner, writer and theologian who died this past week at the age of 96: “Listen to your life. … Continue reading Our Path Forward
Speaker: Rev. Thomas Disrud
Beginnings and Endings
What a blessing it was to have some of our graduating seniors up front this morning. What a blessing it was to be in this space, in person, and have … Continue reading Beginnings and Endings
Thresholds
Threshold is our spiritual theme for this new month of May. Threshold. We cross over thresholds all the time. Those of us here in person did to get into this … Continue reading Thresholds
The Liberating Work of Love
Later this month around Passover Seder tables, the story of the liberation of the Hebrew people will once again be told. It is a familiar story—and one that deserves retelling. … Continue reading The Liberating Work of Love
The Virtues of Humility
When our Eliot Chapel was being designed and built almost 100 years ago, one of the scripture passages that was chosen to be inscribed on the building, there on the … Continue reading The Virtues of Humility
The Holy Work of Showing Up
There’s something, something, inside of meScreaming, let me live out loudLet me live, let me live Let me live out loud. Afraid to be strongAnd too strong to be afraid … Continue reading The Holy Work of Showing Up
Essential Gratitude
In our reading the morning, the poet Joy Harjo says: “Let’s remember to thank the grower of food The picker, the driver, The sun and the rain. Let’s remember to … Continue reading Essential Gratitude
All Souls Litany and Requiem
We will remember those in our community who have died in the last year and be graced with Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem in D minor.
The Covenant of Ministry
I learned early on in ministry that the covenant between minister and congregation can be mysterious and complex. It was early in my time here in Portland. I was certainly … Continue reading The Covenant of Ministry
On the Journey Together
One day this summer, on a warm Friday afternoon, a dog named Tillie showed up on our front porch. Tillie was a shepherd and collie mix with a beautiful thick … Continue reading On the Journey Together