How do we decide what to trust? The solidity of what we can reliably know has been chipped away: by propaganda, deceit by once-trusted leaders, postmodernism, and the multiplication of media sources. However, the question is not new, and wise answers have been proposed for thousands of years. We’ll look at some of the guidance we’ve been offered. Special music: Veronika Agranov-Dafoe
The order of service is here.
We hope you can participate in this annual ritual of ingathering. During the ritual in the August 30 service, waters and words that were shared earlier will be poured into the communal bowl. Please also have a glass of water on hand when the service begins in order to join in another part of the ceremony.
The order of service is here.
And now, a question for you. What is something you were taught at a very early age that you still live by and value? If you’re comfortable being “interviewed” by Amy on this question, please e-mail her at parishmin@uucpa.org. Our answers will send our children to school with wisdom and love. Special music: Larry Chinn, jazz piano
The order of service is here.
What are you wondering? In lieu of the sermon, Amy will answer as many of your questions as she can. Come with a question in mind! Special music: Veronika Agranov-Dafoe
The Justice Partner for August is Abilities United, which has merged with Gatepath and is now called Ability Path. The offering today will be donated to this justice partner.
The order of service is here.
. . . for the mistake shall not be repeated. So reads the inscription on the memorial Cenotaph in Hiroshima, a message to those who died 75 years ago from the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the many more who died of the effects in the years that followed. There are many things we can do to fulfill this promise and make a world where nuclear war will not happen, and they start right here in our community. Special music: Michael Peterson and Laura Rubinstein-Salze, Harpsichord and violin
The order of service is here.
Sacrifice is a word that evokes feelings ranging from horror to noble aspiration. It is hailed as a necessary ingredient of religion, success, and community, on the one hand, and it is deeply mistrusted, on the other. And it is much in the news as some U.S. Americans beg others to be willing to sacrifice convenience in order to end the pandemic. Today is the Muslim celebration Eid al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice, so it is a fine time to explore: what would we sacrifice, and toward what goals? What should we be willing to sacrifice–and what should we not? Special music: Veronika Agranov-Dafoe, piano
The order of service is here.
As the climate of our beautiful blue boat home changes, people living near shorelines now find their homes underwater, while those farming on rich land are now beset by drought. The result is increased migration within and beyond borders. We’ll hear from Gregorio, who left Guatemala and its rapidly changing climate to come to Mountain View, and Amy will share what we can do (and are doing) to repair the interdependent web of people, other animals, plants, sky, sea, and earth. Special Music: The Aurora Singers
The order of service is here.
“Ring theory,” or “Circles of care,” is a simple principle with many, many applications. It can help us help others and get what we need, ourselves. Today’s service explores its almost magical possibilities. Special music: Veronika Agranov-Dafoe, piano
Today’s offering will be donated to the justice partner for July: California Clean Money Campaign. Nancy Neff will be the speaker.
The order of service is here.
The human need for connection is undeniable. Yet for most of us, for the hundreds of thousands of years of human existence, those connections have arisen from, and been sustained by, proximity. How do we create community when physical closeness is so limited? Special Music: Margaret Davis, harp, and Kristoph Klover, acoustic guitar
The order of service is here.
Fifty-one years ago today, the people gathered at the Stonewall Inn had had one police raid too many, and they fought back. Many consider this the birth of the movement for LGBTQA+ rights in the United States, and to a large extent, around the world. Why did the shift happen then? If we must lean on the moral arc of the universe to bend it toward justice, what lessons does this particular justice movement have to teach us?
The order of service is here.
