Biologist and nature writer Rachel Carson suggested, “One way to open your eyes is to ask yourself, “What if I had never seen this before? What if I knew I would never see it again?” Today we’ll reflect, and hopefully celebrate, how important it is to … read more.
Search Committee members will lead our November 27 service titled: Zen and The Art of Ministerial Searching. The inspiration came from Search Committee member Nat Carpenter who did a chalice lighting at the beginning of one of our meetings recently. While Robert Pirsig’s book Zen and … read more.
In this country people often speak of “The Thanksgiving Story.” But in reality there are two stories: the one of what actually happened and the one most of us have been taught. In between are many steps. Can we learn a better way of understanding … read more.
Let’s face it. No matter how much we want some change, all of us resist change as well. When change overwhelms us and upends our lives, how can we anchor ourselves to respond? How can we be open to transformation, which is different from change?
Change … read more.
At this time of year it is fitting to remember our losses. Grieving can be hard, but it is part of living wholly. Let us take the time to honor individuals we have lost from our lives, not only to death but to the changing … read more.
No matter our age, we all need the courage to face what we fear. Our service will include a folk tale for all ages and some fun music. Everyone is invited to come in costume (though of course, it’s not required). And you … read more.
When life grows chaotic, how do we gather the courage to do what we can to help turn it toward justice? How do we embrace a world that is so troubled? Albert Camus, Sikh poet Valerie Kaur, and Professor of Religion and African American Critical … read more.
Changes in congregational life in America over the past few years, particularly with the pandemic, mean that all of us face challenges now and, we hope, transformations in the future. We are truly in a liminal time. How do we make sense of those changes … read more.
Rev. Claire Donaldson is a long-time member and Deacon of First Church in Salem, UU. Claire graduated from Boston University School of Theology in 2009 and has worked as a chaplain and recreation therapist in a variety of healthcare settings. She currently works with rehab … read more.
The title of this week’s sermon turns on the two meanings of “tears”: the tears we shed upon feeling hurt or regret and the rips we must mend in human relatedness. During this time of the Jewish High Holy Days, when one of the world’s … read more.
