We chose Sweet Thursday by John Steinbeck as our next book. I was particularly intrigued because I had never heard of the title before, despite knowing most of Steinbeck’s other titles. One of our group members read it as a young person and liked it very much! Here’s the Amazon blurb. “A postwar continuation of Cannery … Continue reading UUFM Book Discussion Group ~ Wednesday, March 25, 2026 5:45 PM
I’ve been both deeply disturbed and profoundly inspired by what we have been continually witnessing here in our state. How timely it seems that our monthly theme of January has been Practicing Resistance when that currently is being called forth in a significant way, and in February we are reminded that we are invited to also consider … Continue reading Director of Lifespan Faith Formation 1.28.26
“Knowledge is not merely knowing facts, but the humility to acknowledge the vastness of what we don’t yet understand.” ― Aloo Denish Obiero I only gain focus when I begin by noticing how my attention is scattered. I only deepen awareness when I begin by acknowledging what is unconscious in me. I only grow kinder … Continue reading Director of Lifespan Faith Formation 1.21.26
“Change is only possible, & all the greater, When the labour & bitter anger of our neighbors Is moved by the love & better angels of our nature.” – an excerpt from “For Renee Nicole Good” by Amanda Gorman It goes without saying: It has been a long and heavy week. The collective trauma we … Continue reading Director of Lifespan Faith Formation 1.14.26
The following is an excerpt I adapted from my most recent worship service. Our Soul Matters monthly theme is Practicing Resistance, and my writing for this service focused on Presence, Rest, and Pleasure as Acts of Resistance: I believe a large and underrated part of decolonizing and liberating efforts is to prioritize space for imagination – a … Continue reading Director of Lifespan Faith Formation 1.7.26
“If we believe we live in an unfriendly universe, we will build walls to defend and weapons to attack. However, if we believe we live in a friendly universe, we will create bridges to connect.” Albert Einstein Understanding how our brain reacts to modern threats can enable us to act from compassion and build the … Continue reading The Neuroscience of Compassion
“All our wisdom is stored in the trees.” – Santosh Kalwar This past Sunday afternoon, I was fortunate to take a little time on a forest path near to my home. Truly unstructured windows of solo time feel like a luxury somedays, but I keep striving for enough reduction in other areas of my life … Continue reading Director of Lifespan Faith Formation 12.24.25
I wrote this winter solstice reflection this morning. I hope you enjoy: In the darkest hour, may the inner light of insight be your compass. Rest, reflect, find ease, know peace. The pace of the soul moves far more slowly than we are taught; allow that cyclical slowness reveal what is under the surface. Learn … Continue reading Director of Lifespan Faith Formation 12.17.25
There is a famous quote from Rabindranath Tagore that I have held with me and done my best to integrate for over a decade that reads, “I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy.” I truly believe that. When we … Continue reading Director of Lifespan Faith Formation 12.10.25
“Hope just means another world might be possible, not promised.” – Rebecca Solnit “These times are urgent. Let us slow down.” – Bayo Akomolafe Reflecting on and creating from December’s monthly theme of hope may bring us both a sense of rest and unrest. Community building and justice work is a long, ongoing labor, in which we … Continue reading Director of Lifespan Faith Formation 12.3.25
