Once upon a time, the story goes, there was a young man named Peter, who lived near the Black Forest, in Germany. And in that forest their lived two fairies: Dutch-Mike, and the Schatzhauser. Both were known to grant wishes, but only in their own particular way. The Schatzhauser was mischievous, but ultimately kind-hearted: he … Continue reading Your Heart Is a Part of Your Body
In the Jewish tradition, there is a story about a ship which was sailing across the wide, dark sea, when it became engulfed in a terrible storm. The crew worked bravely to keep the vessel afloat against the high winds and crashing waves. Eventually, the storm did past, they made it through and found that … Continue reading What Makes Us One?
The Ashanti people, today primarily of the nation of Ghana, once built one of the leading empires of Western Africa. And in their stories about the world, how it works, and why it is so, one of the leading characters is Anansi, the spider. But the Ashanti tell the tale that once there was … Continue reading Br’er Rabbit and the View from Low and Outside
Join us for a service led by our own Steve Hoy.
In the Shetland Islands, far off the northern coast of Scotland, the story is told of a widow names Mallie and her son. They lived together in a small, meager house, with only the burning peat – clumps of rich sod – in the fireplace to keep them warm through the harsh winters. Each year, … Continue reading Hope in Absurdity
As I begin my remarks this morning, I want to explain the guests I have up here on the pulpit with me. You may recognize them as Balthasar, Melchior, and Gaspar – the names given in popular tradition to the three wise men or three kings or three magi who figure in the story … Continue reading A Star Is Born
This service will be led by members of the Music and Worship Committee.
A holiday celebration – Christmas, or almost any other, really – is a natural time for assembling with family and friends, sharing the company of the people who are most important to us in the world. And good company calls for good food, which leads quite inevitably to one of the most important existential questions … Continue reading Christmas Eve “Just Desserts”
The town of Fudai sits on the north western coast of the main Japanese island of Honshu. Its economy is largely based on fishing – it depends, very thoroughly, on the sea. Fudai has less than 3,000 people in it, making it small enough that half a century ago the regional government tried to convince … Continue reading “Listening to the Experts”
Join us to celebrate the cycle of the natural world and the transition from gathering darkness to growing light. A brief, family-friendly service will be held at 4pm at Lynch Park at 55 Ober St. in Beverly (on the shoreline, near the volley-ball courts).
