Messages

A message from the monthly “Invitation.” Love is the heart of our faith. Our newly adopted Unitarian Universalist Values put Love into action. Join us as we explore ancient and contemporary wisdom on love in religious life and on the spiritual quest. The Rev. Jeremiah Lal Shahbaz Kalendae, preaching. The Rev. Dr. Kikanza Nuri-Robins, worship associate. Online Order of Service for September 15, 2024

A message from the monthly “Invitation.” We regather in our historic sanctuary after a summer of spaciousness and restoration to celebrate our annual Water Communion Ceremony. We will pour libations with our hopes and prayers for this new congregational year. If you have water from your travels this summer or a local sacred space, please bring a small container of it with you this morning for this multigenerational service. The Rev. Jeremiah Lal Shahbaz Kalendae, preaching. Dr. Susan Hendricks, worship associate. Order of Service: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LA8NgfOoqLdhASRcJtR59gMszJ-iB3jt7oRgB9jAEfM/edit?usp=sharing

A message from the monthly “Invitation.” When you get sick, do you blame yourself for it? Do you feel you somehow deserve it or feel ashamed? Do you have a close friend or family member suffering from a serious illness who feels ashamed to be so sick? Today, Bronwen Jones will share her perspective on the deep culture of shame that surrounds those who are seriously ill. She has worked as the lead oncology chaplain at Cedars Sinai Cancer for ten years. Chaplain Bronwen Jones, guest speaker. Chela Metzger, worship associate. Order of Service: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NhU4A5wkYwhxnNp_dj4rt6AGoXPTvsrv/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=111189506671589526801&rtpof=true&sd=true

A message from the monthly “Hospitality.” Change is hard. Transformation is even more difficult. How might the butterfly’s cycle of life offer us a pathway toward transforming the world through courageous love? The Rev. Liz Murphy, guest minister. Chela Metzger, worship associate. Order of Service: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rrGWg5SFtQd_d8-CgzOtT0rzgYsX_aBCVWcgBSkuqp4/edit?usp=drive_link

A message from the monthly “Hospitality.” A child of missionaries, her own spiritual odyssey would transform liberal religious education from rote study into an experience-centered search for truth and meaning. Her lifelong dedication to children’s learning, and to the quest for knowledge from all sources, helped usher an era of rapid and unprecedented growth that was dubbed “The Unitarian Renaissance.” Even today, we at UUSM remain part of the revolution of ideas that Sophia Lyon Fahs instigated—and she still has much to teach us. James Witker, guest speaker. Dr. Susan Hendricks, worship associate. Order of Service: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1J1vVY8AUKnU-GIAofWotVXwFXvdzlwX0LkJ7rBaqAMI/edit?usp=sharing

A message from the monthly “Hospitality.” How can you communicate without words that you care? What are the small gestures that make the biggest difference to you? What do you know that makes a difference for others? The Rev. Dr. Kikanza Nuri-Robins, preaching. Cassie Winters, worship associate. Order of Service: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1AID7FK3YbRbAQfqssNfe0HVqTJOe_2-gl5xBMvVHEIU/edit?usp=drive_link

A message from the monthly “Hospitality.” What does a spiritual life look like over the long haul? Today UUSM friend and occasional speaker Rev. James Ishmael Ford will share a story that explores what that might look like. Rev. James Ishmael Ford, preaching. Karen Hsu Patterson, worship associate. Order of Service: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1P08TqrgbBrZVjy0MekgfYytLGkwUvheozWz7cK3fjv0/edit?usp=drive_link

A message from the monthly “Grace.” When the sound system isn’t working, or the Zoom audio needs adjustment, we get feedback: annoying, irritating noise that tells us that something must be adjusted. Feedback from people is often subtle and easy to ignore, and sometimes it is missing altogether. This morning we are going to talk about feedback and what it sounds like in a Beloved Community. The Rev. Dr. Kikanza Nuri-Robins, preaching. Cassie Winters, worship associate. Order of Service: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hIjLgJS0Cr1XRvb5N-lgn57USulKW1jLN850ly8LLKk/edit?usp=sharing

A message from the monthly “Grace.” Surprises are part of everyone’s life. Often major life transitions offer a new perspective or an unexpected shift. Poems about surprising moments of joy or sorrow will be shared this morning. Rima Snyder, guest speaker. Karen Hsu Patterson, worship associate. Order of Service: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1H73bTGP59pqkxM77W8zGxzK3BNPFNnDV5h2O-rMkVRc/edit?usp=sharing

A message from the monthly “Grace.” When a system is destabilized, overcommunication is necessary, and we tend to do the opposite. When there is a conflict in expectations or a clash of values, we tend to rely on rules and policies, rather than leaning into the values that undergird our relationship. When the environment is uncomfortable, we often flee to the margins, or grab our toys and leave for good. Come. Let’s talk about it. Let’s explore the challenging and the uncomfortable to find the spaces where we can learn and grow. What are the non-negotiable rules that frame your life? The Rev. Dr. Kikanza Nuri-Robins, preaching. Chela Metzger, worship associate. Order of Service: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vzdNk-YP5yXbEo5EzZ9VFnNOnR_3hnpIaJZ27IG0arc/edit?usp=sharing