I’m writing this on Wednesday evening after a wonderful meeting with the Worship Arts Team. This Team is working hard to craft meaningful worship for the weeks ahead, through the holiday season into the new year. As we checked in with each other, one of the Team members asked, “Does it feel like the week […]
Minister
Bountiful Blessings
Every Sunday this Fall we’ve sung a benediction to close the service written by Doug McCrea that begins: “How bountiful the blessings that surround us…” This song helps me remember that, even now and perhaps especially now, there are bountiful blessings in my life. Amidst the many losses and grief of this time, there is […]
Be Still
In this month of holidays and darkness we explore the spiritual theme of “Stillness.” What does it mean to be still? It might mean to stop trying to control, stop worrying, stop striving, stop fighting; stop, relax, wait. To me this suggests that stillness is not a passive thing, but rather like listening, it requires […]
Grief and Gratitude
On Thanksgiving Day, about 20 of us from OUUC gathered on Zoom to mark the day, because that’s what we do these days. I lit a chalice, because that is also what we do, with the land acknowledgement created by the Learning Right Relations group: We acknowledge that this land and water is the traditional […]
From Rev. Mary: “Being and Doing”
This week I am so pleased to share an update on the OUUC Listening Initiative from Martha Nicoloff and Helen Henry. Some of you may recall that the Initiative, also known as “Knowing One Another,” started shortly after you called me as your minister in May 2019, to build the capacity for listening. Thank you […]
