Centering and Prayer | Rev. Elaine Aron-Tenbrink | January 10, 2021
January 11, 2021
Rev. Elaine offers a meditation and prayer to remind us that our deepest allegiance is to Love, to each other, and to the earth.
Homily Part 3: The Tiny Revolutions of Your Life | Rev. Gretchen Haley | January 10, 2021
January 11, 2021
Rev. Gretchen reminds us that nothing is settled - not even ourselves - and explores how darkness signals great possibility. Drawing on the work of James Clear, Rev. Gretchen teaches how we can persist through the darkness of uncertainty by focusing on the value of small, everyday acts.
Homily Part 2: Tiny Acts of Riots and Revolutions | Rev. Sean Neil-Barron | January 10, 2021
January 11, 2021
Rev. Sean grounds us in the core tenant of our Unitarian Universalist faith that “we are not isolated individuals but rather an interdependent ecosystem of beings.” He discusses the role of ‘the crowd’ in the context of the Capitol Hill riots last week and within the framework of social psychology research.
Homily Part 1: The Tiny Ways Revolutions Begin | Rev. Gretchen Haley | January 10, 2021
January 11, 2021
Rev. Gretchen discusses the attack on the Capitol and explores how the roots of revolution lie in the accumulation of tiny shifts.
Homily: Why You Should Lose the Suffering Olympics | Rev. Sean Neil-Barron | January 3, 2021
January 4, 2021
Rev. Sean untangles the question: “Am I worthy of suffering?” He discusses the ways in which we bury our own struggles because we tell ourselves others have it worse. Drawing from the work of Brené Brown, Rev. Sean explores how to overcome comparative suffering and view compassion as a renewable resource.
Homily: The Battle for Christmas | Rev. Sean Neil-Barron | December 20, 2020
December 21, 2020
Rev. Sean discusses the contentious origins of Christmas in America and explores how cultural context affects the changing role of Christmas.
Cereal: From this American Rice | Rev. Sean Neil-Barron | December 20, 2020
December 21, 2020
Rev. Sean shares an unexpected place he’s been finding holiday magic this year.
Reading | The Miraculous Everlasting Hanukkah Buffet by Jason Cook | December 13, 2020
December 14, 2020
Rev. Sean Neil-Barron reads The Miraculous Everlasting Hanukkah Buffet by Rev. Jason Cook.
Prayer & Meditation: Re-Casting Life | Rev. Sean Neil-Barron | December 13, 2020
December 14, 2020
Rev. Sean Neil-Barron offers a prayer and meditation to empower us to re-tell old narratives in truer ways.
The Stories of Hanukkah | Rev. Gretchen Haley | December 13, 2020
December 14, 2020
Rev. Gretchen tells the Hanukkah story in three different ways.
Homily: How We Tell the Story | Rev. Gretchen Haley | December 13, 2020
December 14, 2020
Rev. Gretchen Haley explores how the way we tell a story shapes the meaning we make from it, and, in turn, how we come to understand ourselves and life.
Additional Resources:
From the BBC: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190523-the-way-you-tell-your-life-story-shapes-your-personality
Reform Judaism article on Hanukkah: https://reformjudaism.org/jewish-holidays/hanukkah/history-hanukkah-story
NPR interview about Hanukkah: https://www.npr.org/2020/12/12/945788794/celebrating-hanukkah-during-the-covid-19-pandemic
Inspiration: Rev. Gretchen drew inspiration for this homily from Long conversations with Professors Pam Eisenbaum and Mark George at the Iliff School of Theology, as well as with Rabbi Shoshana Leis formerly of Congregation Har Shalom in Fort Collins.
Rev. Gretchen's notes and memory of the awesome book, From the Maccabees to the Mishnah by Shaya Cohen, also shaped this Homily. Find "From the Maccabees to the Mishnah" here: https://www.betterworldbooks.com/product/detail/From-the-Maccabees-to-the-Mishnah-9780664227432
Guided Meditation & Prayer | Rev. Sean Neil-Barron | December 6, 2020
December 7, 2020
Rev. Sean offers a guided meditation to help us practice moving our bodies through the cycle of emotions and stress.
