When I was first setting out along my path into the ministry, I came upon an essay written by a UU minister, whose name I cannot recall, who was reflecting on the art and craft of preaching.  She said something that has stayed with me for years now:  that ultimately...

The title of my presentation today is “A Variety of Poems – Some in the Key of U.U.”           [Unitarian Universalist] Cape Ann   Surrounded by sea on every side Ere at the mercy of storm and tide Touched and kissed by resplendent foam This beautiful island we call...

A talk given by Roger Garberg on August 9, 2015: I want to greet you today with the typical Chinese greeting, which a public speaker uses to greet his or her audience.  Dàjiā hǎo.  The usual translation of this is just “Hello everyone”.  But it’s more literal rending...

A Poetry Service Given at the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church Sunday – July 26, 2016     by Ruthanne (Rufus) Collinson Water Over Stones  This morning, the ravenous sea reaches way out over the shore and pulls back again, powerfully driven to contain itself....

[download id="252"]         I have thought much in recent weeks about two very different emotions, about compassion and about hate. Into that mix of emotions add a helping each of fear and sorrow and a slice of hope. Sounds like a recipe for a troubled heart and it...

"Crazy with Gratitude" It is the beginning of June and in a few weeks the “regular church year” will be over.  The choir will take a well-deserved break, we move into summer services, some of you will be preaching.  I can feel my time here with you drawing to a...

“What’s To Be Gained?” Some of you may have read a book released a few years ago that includes some of the more amusing corrections that The New York Times has had to make in its long history. The book is entitled Kill Duck Before Serving: Red Faces at The New York...

Henry Thoreau states:” Time: It is not enough if you are busy.  The question is, what are you busy about?”  Simplicity or Living a Simple Life is not a new concept. This topic can be traced back to many classic ancient scripts, teaching or spiritual traditions such as...

I look around and think how lucky we are to be in this beautiful space worshiping together. We are surrounded by our own history, by the impressive works of those who came before us.  Let me tell you that there is nothing impressive about the looks of Murray Grove....

Just about five years ago I gave a sermon in this church on the topic of race and my personal experience of learning what racial identity is all about. Recently Charles Nazarian asked me if I would like to give that sermon again with perhaps some new thoughts and...

The church had been a meeting place for leaders like Martin Luther King, Jr. and others seeking to end segregation and register African-Americans to vote in Birmingham. No American of conscience who remembers those days can forget the horrible poison of pure hate it...

"Just as long as I have breath I must answer Yes to life." Saying yes to life requires the ability to face our regrets and angers and then to let them go. Some people slog through their lives encumbered by old wounds, grudges, and regrets. They reach old age with a...