In this evening filled with candlelight, story and song, we touch an ancient mystery: the humble birth of new hope, new love, and new light into the world. All are welcome: friends, neighbors and family are invited as we bring the Christmas spirit into our … read more.
Join us for this year’s all-ages Christmas pageant, as Westminster children and youth bring to life a unique retelling of the Christmas story entitled “The Last Straw”. A reluctant camel is tasked with bringing gifts to the newborn Jesus, but can he make the long … read more.
The idea of awe is amazing – it implies that which is astounding, beautiful, breathtaking. Yet, much as we might want to feel more of it, awe can be elusive. How might we bring more wonder, apprecia-tion, and awe into our everyday lives?
Two Services at … read more.
Historically, awe has been a feeling reserved for the gods. Yet, our UU theology tells us there is a spark of divinity, a spark of God, in every human. What does awe, or reverence, look like in our everyday relationships? What could it look like?
Two … read more.
https://www.westminsteruu.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Room-at-the-Table-11-24-2019.mp3
Story: In God’s Hands by Larry Kushner and Gary Schmidt
https://books.google.com/books?id=X99bPugixuEC
Homily:
It might have kept going that way indefinitely, the story tells us. Jacob, the rich man, coming to synagogue, falling asleep, waking up and walking home. And David, the poor man, coming and cleaning … read more.
“You have built castles in the air. Now build foundations under them.” What we pay attention to has an impact. What we notice, where we look, who we see all affects what we end up doing. How might focusing our attention help us bring our loftiest intentions to life? How might we bring all of our dreams a little closer to reality?
Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21, Christian Bible. We pay attention to money: our bank accounts, our retirement funds, whether we have enough for a vacation or that smartphone. And we pay attention to our hearts: whether we are sad or happy, frustrated or serene. But what might we learn when we focus not just on one or the other, but on the relationship between the two? How are our “treasure” and our hearts connected? And what might that show us about how to live our lives?
So many people report feeling out of place in the world, without a sense of deep belonging. As we approach the end of the Jewish High Holy Days, let’s take inspiration from this time of turning and returning to find our way back. How might this holiday help us reconnect to our sense of belonging to ourselves, to each other and to the world?
https://www.westminsteruu.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/20190929-trimmed.mp3
Introductory Reflection by Rev. Ellen Quaadgras
In part 1 of this sermon I preached about some of the challenges that face us. Like, climate change. That’s a big one. Even if we ourselves do not feel it, other people do – people in power who … read more.
As we begin our new congregational year, what are our expectations of this faith? Of ourselves? Sometimes, we don’t even notice we’ve gotten stuck in a limited view of what’s possible. What if we expected our participation in life to actually change things, or change us? What might happen then?
