The Rev. James Ishmael Ford - August 9, 2026
The Spirit Rests Where it Will: A Small Meditation on What Universalism Might Mean
Our friend Reverend James Ford has been revisiting some Christian stories through his Zen Buddhist lens. Today he has some thoughts about those Pentecost tongues of fire and what they might mean for contemporary Unitarian Universalists. The Reverend James Ishmael Ford has been a UU minister for more than thirty-five years, twenty-five of them as a parish minister. He has also been authorized as a Zen teacher in a traditional lineage. The author of seven books, his eighth, a novel, The Priest’s Tale: A Fantasy of the Spiritual Life is due from Monkfish Books this coming February. Rev. James Ishmael Ford, guest speaker; Chela Metzger, Worship Associate Order of Service: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aFiOOO7KUATinYURTzRUCb1nJviwUsMOEFEQ6MVmVXE/edit?tab=t.0
From Monthly: "Creativity and Connection"
Our congregation this month is joined by our new minister, the Rev. Diana Smith! And our theme for August is Creativity and Connection. In the Northern Hemisphere it's summertime, with that illusion of "the living' is easy," but millions of people continue struggling for rights and freedoms, for economic justice, for basic safety, food, and shelter for all. Here's a few ideas about keeping on with this work while taking care of ourselves and each other.