We explore the intersections of the Buddhist idea of attachment and the Christian concept of idolatry in order to gather the spiritual resources necessary for embracing an unknown future with courage and creativity. Susan Ritchie (she, her, hers) is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: NUUC VIRTUAL WORSHIP AND SUNDAY PROGRAMMINGTime: Sundays 10:30 … Continue reading Clingy, Much?
Who are Unitarian Universalists? We bring ourselves to this faith with many different experiences. So, we interpret Unitarian Universalism through a variety of lenses. The symbols we use, the stories we tell, the information we gather from various sources, and the narratives about our faith ancestors as well as theologians convey meanings about our identity … Continue reading Who Are UUs? Remembering, Identity and Community
Historically, utopian communities arise after major, disruptive events such as wars and pandemics, that challenge established ways of living. In this worship, we’ll look at what lessons we can learn from failures and successes of utopian communities of the past and present about how to live better as we intentionally recreate our lives. Spoiler: It … Continue reading Utopias, Practically Speaking
Today’s message is an extended response to a congregant’s question, “what does ‘queer’ mean?” Once a slur, “queer” has been reclaimed by activists to celebrate the power of people and ideas and even religious beliefs that don’t fit easily into established categories. We’ll explore how this perspective is revolutionizing the way we think about religion. … Continue reading Queer(ing) Religion 101: It Is All True
This question gets to the heart of the distinctive Unitarian Universalist teachings about the [super]natural. We find most of our answer in ee cummings: “Miracles are to come. With you I leave a remembrance of miracles: they are by somebody who can love and who shall be continually reborn, a human being.” Rev. Susan Ritchie … Continue reading Do You Believe in Miracles?
In the fifteenth century Christian Europe asserted the right to conquer and subjugate the non-Christian peoples of Africa and the Americas. The result was enslavement and genocide of many peoples. How can we re-discover an America of peace and justice? Our Guest Preacher today is the Rev. Clyde Grubbs. Rev. Clyde Grubbs is a Unitarian … Continue reading Discovering America Again
An annual NUUC tradition. What’s on your heart and mind? Rev. Susan Ritchie will take your questions, personal, theological, practical–ask anything you like! She will answer a few select questions during service and then use the others to form topics for future sermons. While in the past we have collected questions live on the day … Continue reading Question Box Sermon
Why put down spiritual roots if you are open to the wisdom of other traditions? Is it possible to claim any one faith tradition, and remain fully open to the truth beyond? What does it look like to put down roots and lean into expansiveness and mystery? In this sermon, we’ll consider these questions and … Continue reading Christian+: The Practice of Putting Down Roots and Making Space for More
For this 4th of July Day service, Rev. Susan reveals some of the surprising ways that pirates, influenced by progressive religious ideas, broke open the rigidity of New England Puritanism. While this historical story is old, the questions it raises are still with us. Why is religious and cultural diversity important to democracy? How is … Continue reading Rev. Cotton Mather versus The Pirates: The Battle for the Soul of America
We’ll gather as usual as a worshipping community at our usual time of 10:30 AM, using our usual Zoom link, but after a few introductory remarks, we’ll settle in to watch together the Sunday morning worship connected to this week’s (virtual) General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association. We’ll keep the chat function on in … Continue reading Until Love Wins
