In her book The Sum of Us, Heather McGhee asks a simple question about the American landscape that has haunted me for some time: “Why can’t we have nice things?” From public parks to community resources, she explores how the “zero-sum” myth, the idea that … read more.
I put on an Air Force uniform when I was 18 years old to work as an airplane mechanic, took it off and put it on again to play trombone with the Air National Guard, and took it off and put it on yet again … read more.
As composer Alex Berko explains, Sacred Space “connects the old with the new, the sacred with the secular, and the individual with their community.” Using elements from Jewish liturgy combined with “the writings of several American environmentalists and poets who have spoken about their relationship … read more.
Artists have discovered a truth: That the intersection between imagination, art, and religion is being attentive to the world. In that space, boundaries vanish and the secular becomes sacred, the ordinary becomes sublime. Poet Mary Oliver writes, “This is the first, wildest, and wisest thing … read more.
When our carefully held identities, plans, or hopes fall apart, what remains? Guest preacher Dr. Emma Farrell explores ego, grief, leadership, love, and the courage it takes to meet reality as it is. Drawing from lived experience and wisdom from contemporary thought leaders, this service … read more.
We are often told to be “realistic,” a word that frequently serves as a boundary for our spirits and our justice work. But what if the “possible” is something we must actively practice, like an instrument or a muscle? Join me this Sunday as we … read more.
Each year at our annual auction I let one lucky winner pick the topic for one Sunday in the spring. This year, David Black chose, “The Concept of God for UUs,” in which we will explore theologies, from Transcendentalism to Process Theology, that many UUs … read more.
What happens when 30+ congregations speak with one moral voice? We are delighted to welcome Natasha Walker, our new leader at the UU Advocacy Network of Illinois (UUANI), to the pulpit. Natasha brings a unique perspective to our movement, combining two decades of strategic work … read more.
Easter can be complicated for UUs. As an amagam of ancient Earth-centered and Christian practices celebrating rebirth, resurrection, and renewal, it was designed to be a mash-up by the expanding Holy Roman church as it encountered non-Christian cultures. Add in some of the personal and … read more.
This Sunday we are invited to notice how easily we miss our own lives while dreaming of someplace more dramatic. Using Walter Mitty as a mirror, we’ll consider how paying attention can reveal meaning and wonder in the ordinary. What might change if the real … read more.
