“Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words and never stops at all…” Emily Dickinson I spend a lot of time bird watching, it is one of my favorite spiritual practices. I listen to their songs, notice the color of their feathers, watch them gather … Continue reading Lessons from the Geese – Minister’s Blog March 2017
Beloveds, I am so glad and grateful to be among you and to begin serving as your settled Minister. Since May 15th, the date when the congregation voted to call me, I have been blessed by your kindness and hospitality. Even before my mother and I arrived, there were people helping us to find … Continue reading Cambia, todo cambia/Everything Changes by Rev. Maria Cristina Vlassidis Burgoa
For the month which includes Father’s Day and the Summer Solstice Here’s a little story about a father for your meditation, on the strength of community: A father wanted to leave his estate to his children, but he wanted to be sure that they would stick together and look after each other when he … Continue reading Words of Joy – June 2016
Ministry based on an equal relationship is like a dance; sometimes I lead and you follow, sometimes you lead and I follow. As we get to be better partners, its gets difficult to tell exactly who is leading and who is following. But by then it doesn’t matter—after all, it’s the dance that’s important. … Continue reading Words of Joy – May 2016
Near the beginning of April, the hard-working Ministerial Search Committee will ask one of the “pre-candidates” they have been interviewing to be the candidate for the settled ministry of this congregation And then, in May, comes the moment you have been waiting for—the presentation of the ministerial candidate during what we call “candidating week”—a very … Continue reading Words of Joy – April 2016
Interim Minister’s Column The late UU minister John Wolf expressed some of the reasons why we would want to support a Unitarian Universalist congregation: You want to support it because it has a free pulpit. Because you can hear ideas expressed there which could cost any other minister his or her job. You want to … Continue reading Words of Joy – March 2016
Interim Minister’s Blog There is no remedy for love but to love more. — Henry David Thoreau Valentine’s Day is certainly a commercial boon, with billions spent on cards, chocolate. Jewelry and flowers, But behind this day stands the basic human desire to express love. Our current Valentine’s Day seems to be descended from … Continue reading Words of Joy – Valentine’s Day and Love – February 2016
How could we tire of hope? —so much is in bud. How can desire fail? —we have only begun to imagine justice and mercy, only begun to envision how it might be to live as siblings with beast and flower, not as oppressors… there is too much broken that must be mended, … We have … Continue reading Words of Joy – January 2016
Interim Minister’s Blog Let me take the time To watch the candle’s light; And know it is the same Vast silence of the silver stars. –John Q. Parkhurst As the holidays descend upon us, many of us speed up the pace of our lives, making lists of tasks, planning for or … Continue reading Words of Joy – December 2015
Interim Minister’s Colum Words of Joy Thanksgiving Graces As you gather with loved ones over the Thanksgiving holiday, you may wish to offer a few words of gratitude for the many gifts of life. Here are a few Thanksgiving graces as suggestions. (I have also found that going around the table and having each … Continue reading Words of Joy – November 2015
