Does Prayer Matter?
A couple summers ago, I went with a group of UCGers to Plum Village Meditation Center in France. I was excited to hear one of my personal saints, Thich Nhat Hanh, in the flesh. But I also had an ulterior …
Continue readingQueering the Witness
There is a variety of opinion among etymologists regarding the origins and early meaning of the word queer. According to some studies, it entered the English language in the 16th century or so and was believed to have come from …
Continue readingPeace Talks Matter
In this September worship theme, are asking ourselves, “What Matters Most?” And thus far, we have named that humility of heart matters and that humility leads to deep listening, and deep listening matters, and deep listening can lead to connections …
Continue readingHumble Pie Matters
“What matters most” is a worship theme and a call to contemplative action. It has been a question calling out to many of you, in the context of our time and place, as we feel again and anew the suffering …
Continue readingConnections Matter Most
“It really boils down to this: that all life is interrelated. We are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied into a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one destiny, affects all indirectly.”- Martin Luther King Jr. “Be …
Continue readingA Costly Invitation
One of the most significant seasons in my spiritual life began when I answered an invitation not unlike the two classified ads we just heard read. It didn’t invite me to adventure on the high seas or through a time …
Continue readingD-I-Y Faith
There is one swear word in this sermon. Which I say mostly to heighten expectation. But also by way of warning. Dan Stevenson has lived in the Eastlake neighborhood of Oakland, California for four decades. Over those years he has …
Continue readingThe Comforting Parakeet
John 14:15-21 Our worship theme in these days of sunshine and rain is “Sacred Summer,” exploring what enhances our spiritual journey. As the seasons change, as we work and play, teach and travel, and as the humidity rises, how is …
Continue readingEvangelism 101
Rachelle’s mom is known for telling a particular kind of story. It goes something like this: “Do you remember John Smith?” “No.” “We knew him back in New Mexico. He went to our church.” “It’s not ringing a bell.” “He …
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