Messages

Message: “Exploring the Power of Passover for All of Us” from Rabbi Laura Geller

A message from the monthly “Interdependence.” This special guest service will explore some of the key themes of Passover, focusing on how Passover touches the historical, the political, the spiritual and the emotional dimensions of what it means to come out of a narrow place and how it challenges us to to ask what it means to say dayenu, I have enough. Rabbi Gellar will offer a special workshop after the service on “Getting Good at Getting Older” and she will have copies of her latest book available.

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Message: “Stewardship Sunday” from Rev. Jeremiah Lal Shahbaz Kalendae

A message from the monthly “Interdependence.” The springtime brings bright new blossoms, heavy stormclouds, cleansing rains, and our annual stewardship campaign to support the life of our beloved community. Thank you for all that you give–time, talents, heart, and financial gifts–to sustain our liberal religious community and its mission in the world in the good times and the difficult times. Our stewardship team has been working diligently and we will recieve some of the many exciting opportunities of their work this month as we also plan carefully for the future and the positive difference we can make in our world in the year before us. Rev. Jeremiah Kalendae, preaching. Sue Bickford, worship associate.

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Message: “Easter Celebration” from Rev. Jeremiah Lal Shahbaz Kalendae

A message from the monthly “Transformation.” Who is Jesus of Nazareth? For two millennia scholars, theologians, religious leaders, and the faithful in many different religious traditions have struggled to answer this question. Let us listen to his own words in the light of our own tradition and come to our own conclusions this Easter morning. Order of Service available at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uhEfvpv9BmJM87oK853p9bnuc-9zcT03rg37hWWJjJM/edit?usp=sharing

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Message: “At The Threshold of Change” from Dr. Chris Hoff

A message from the monthly “Transformation.” All journeys into liminal space begin somewhere. Most at a threshold. Acknowledging a threshold is an important step in transformation. In this talk Chris will detail what skills, knowledge and wisdom can be drawn upon as we embark on journeys of transformation. Dr. Chris Hoff, preaching. Chela Metzger, worship associate. Order of Service available at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1z-YoeZ_1ZTsVh8KFMDImSBYtgc0ACrmw1T-PClQAkLE/edit?usp=sharing

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Message: “Communion: the Transformative Power of Breaking Bread” from Rev. Amelia Mu’mina Marie

A message from the monthly “Transformation.” At the heart of Christianity is the call to share a meal with one another and to invite ourselves to be transformed by the experience of Oneness that follows. Join us as we explore the roots of communion and the practice of breaking bread as a path to wholeness and liberation. Rev. Amelia Mu’mina Marie, preaching. Sue Bickford, worship associate. Order of Service available at https://docs.google.com/document/d/16rjI3tZgvMkREgaOIvtm2BF1mpGUmBUzN5vP2PYZBGI/edit?usp=sharing

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Message: “The Luminous Quran” from Rev. Jeremiah Lal Shahbaz Kalendae

A message from the monthly “Transformation.” The Islamic Holy Month of Ramazan arrives with the setting of the Sun this evening. Muslims all around the globe will begin the spiritual exercise of reading the entire Quran over the next lunar month. Join us as we introduce and explore this luminous scripture in preparation for the arrival of the Queen of Months. Rev. Jeremiah, preaching. Karen Hsu Patterson, worship associate. Order of Service available at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sVdIgt40yxy8-NKsJ1GMgdBIg6gSHn9WXTohQGUnrGQ/edit?usp=sharing

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Message: “Shivaratri: The Radiance Within the Darkness ” from Rev. Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati

A message from the monthly “Transformation.” Celebrating the Hindu festival of Shivaratri (the Night of Shiva), as we contemplate Shiva, the “Auspicious One”, who shines beyond the limitations of human thought, structure, and prejudice, inviting us to search for the Divine in the darkness of the unknown. Rev. Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati is a sannyasi (monk), pujari (priest), writer, and teacher living and serving at Kali Mandir in Laguna Beach. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati is our 2023-2024 Honored Guest Teacher. Each church year, we have selected one special teacher who helps to widen our multireligious embrace and/or deeepen our commitments to anti-racism/anti-oppressionn to lead worship. We are thrilled to have “Swami B” with us this year. Order of Service available at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RVA05xCT1CioNY0i4N8CBbP4b1Dfq5puqVAef30s_h0/edit?usp=sharing

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Message: “Our Unitarian Universalist Association” from Rev. Jeremiah Lal Shahbaz Kalendae

A message from the monthly “Justice + Equity.” We are one lighthouse for the liberal religious spirit among over a thousand Unitarian Universalist congregations! We covenant to work together through the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations (UUA) to promote our 7 Principles and advance the religious, educational, and humanitarian causes of our unique religious tradition. Join us this morning to learn more about our national movement and the interdependent web of transformative change of which we are a part! Order of Service available at https://docs.google.com/document/d/10SZ0xzBIsISM7tAVmDdUXCk67jd_FS1MpS6Kppziqpw/edit?usp=sharing

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Message: “The Love-Dependent Web” from Joshua Lewis Berg

A message from the monthly “Justice + Equity.” “Unitarian Universalists are in discernment about the newly proposed revision of our Principles and Purposes that are the foundation of work and our covenant with each other. We’ll examine how our current principles are not abandoned but rather folded into the new Article II of our bylaws by considering one of our core principles, interdependence. It is articulated in our seventh principle, “Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part” and it is indeed anchored by love. Let us worship together calling up the sacred and the spiritual in the question, “”How do we spin, strengthen, and upkeep the love-dependent web of all existence?”” Rev. Joshua Berg, preaching. Patrick Meighan, worship associate. Order of Service is available at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RH0Z-9c7Zwj5eX4AR5AsRhnR7uojjApx6B_4uHDmhdk/edit?usp=sharing

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