From the first breath until the last, our lives are framed by beginnings and endings. Most of us do better with the beginnings than the endings. Yet ancient wisdom teaches us that there is a time to gain and a time to lose. We confront losses of many kinds in the course of a life. Accepting the impermanence of all things and learning to say goodbye to everything, one sweet piece at a time, puts me in the here and now, which can be a surprisingly happy place to be.
In a time of uncertainty, conflict, and emotional exhaustion, many of us wonder how to stay compassionate without becoming overwhelmed. Drawing on personal story, spiritual wisdom, and the UUA’s invitation to “meet the moment,” Rev. Nica reflects on how we can face life’s heartbreak and hurt with honesty and compassion, while still making room for joy, wonder, and hope.
We become what we revere. In a world competing constantly for our attention and allegiance, what is truly worthy of our devotion? Together we’ll explore how reclaiming reverence can awaken us to the sacredness already woven through everyday life.
Today we explore how our UU values guide us in times of: war, justice, equity, transformation, pluralism, interdependence, and generosity, all centered on and flowing from love. You’ll be hearing from some of our Justice Leaders who felt called to speak following our country’s latest military actions.
This July 4th weekend, as America celebrates its 250th anniversary, we’ll explore the surprising story of the revolutionaries, heretics, and visionaries who helped shape Unitarianism in Britain and America. From burned churches and bold acts of conscience to the enduring quest for truth and freedom, this is the story of a faith tradition that crossed the Atlantic and helped nurture some of America’s deepest ideals: freedom of conscience, religious liberty, and the courage to challenge authority.
What does Unitarian Universalism look like beyond North America? Rev. Nica’s sabbatical took her across Europe and to the European UU Conference. This Sunday, she reflects on the people, communities, and traditions she encountered and what they reveal about our shared faith.
Recent events have reminded us how important Unitarian Universalism’s voice is in our world and raised a deeper question: Why do we gather? This Sunday, as we celebrate our newest members, we’ll explore how spiritual community offers belonging, wisdom, hope, and joy, while helping us become a force for love and light in challenging times.
The phrase “Be Gay, Do Crime” became popular after the discovery of some graffiti in Marseilles, France in 2016. Embraced by the queer anarchist movement, the phrase is now a rallying cry for the LGBTQ+ community, whose very existence has been (and still is) seen by some as deviant and even criminal. How do queer folk continue to wake up every morning embracing their true selves and finding joy in life?
What if life is not a race to be won, or a destination to arrive at, but a pilgrimage to be walked with presence, courage, and wonder? Drawing on stories and insights from her sabbatical travels to pilgrimage sites across Europe, Rev. Nica explores what it means to live life as a pilgrimage, and how we might be transformed when we learn to walk through life with openness, intention, and awe.
Today, Rev. Nica returns to Chalice from her sabbatical. Please join us in welcoming her back and beginning to get a sense of her adventures.
