What if faith need not be tethered to certainty, doctrine, or proof? In this service, we explore the liberating possibility that faith might arise not from belief, but from deep imaginative engagement—with mystery, with myth, and with meaning inside the “imaginal” realm: that rich space between the literal and the fictional, where inner truths and … Continue reading Faith Beyond Belief: Embracing the Imaginal
In the flickering candlelight of 19th-century parlors, Universalists gathered not only to preach the gospel of boundless love—but to listen for the voices of the departed. Spiritualism, with its séances and spirit circles, was more than a cultural curiosity; it was a theological experiment born of grief, hope, and radical openness. In this service we’ll … Continue reading The Veil Lifted: Universalism and the Legacy of Spiritualism
Fear can seem like an especially irrational emotion. Surely, there is nothing to be afraid of in the drafty basement or the dark path through the woods. Indeed, over 300 biblical verses exhort us not to fear. Should we fear not? In this spine-tingling service, Director of Religious Exploration Morgan Patten will explore what fear … Continue reading Fear Not? What Horror Movies and the Bible Teach Us about Terror
Today we’ll ask: What does it mean to do spirituality without the constraints of respectability politics? How might we become more honest, more liberating, and more faithful to the messy beauty of real life? Join us at 10:30AM at our newly renovated and expanded church home at 1574 Franklin Street, Lewis Center, Ohio, or, attend … Continue reading Indecent Theologies
In a world of constant connectivity, we pause to rediscover the richness of the slow and the tangible. This service advocates for unhurried thought, and spiritual presence in an age of digital overwhelm. Come wade into quieter waters: there’s plenty of room. Join us at 10:30AM at our newly renovated and expanded church home at … Continue reading Swimming in the Analog Sea
Inspired by the Jewish High Holy Days and Rabbi Jack Riemer’s reflections, we explore turning—not just as repentance, but as rebirth. Rosh Hashanah awakens us to life’s beauty; Yom Kippur invites us to shed the ego and return renewed by grace, understood not as a divine gift but a spiritual practice. Join us at 10:30AM … Continue reading (Re)creating a New Day
Drawing on the intimate personal narratives from Isabel Wilkerson’s The Warmth of Other Suns, Rev. Ritchie traces the “Great Migration” of millions of African Americans from the American South to the North and West throughout the twentieth century—a movement driven by hope, resistance, and the search for dignity. Alongside these and other experiences of human … Continue reading Great Migrations
In our tradition of free association, we gather each Sunday, called not by creed but by conscience, creating fertile ground for truth-telling, accountability, and spiritual growth. Today we celebrate Ingathering—the official start of our church year with a dedication of our sanctuary and an exploration of what it means to worship UU style. Join us … Continue reading Wherever Two Or More: A Celebration of Ingathering
Humanism is a worldview that emphasizes human reason and the potential to improve human (and the planet’s) welfare without relying on divine forces. Dick Leavy will explore the links between humanism and UU. UU humanism can be a guide to both individual development and ethical living in community. Dick Leavy is an atheist, a retired … Continue reading Godless Religion
This summer we revive an old NUUC tradition–the blessing of the animals. Bring your beloved creatures to church this Sunday for a blessing and for a brief worship (geared to animal attention spans) on the theme of how animals reflect the holy. We’ll be welcoming the beasts inside unless you are bringing a really, really … Continue reading A Blessing of the Animals
