Beauty is not incidental– beauty nourishes us so that we continue doing our parts to grow the beloved community, in the face of all that disheartens us. Come celebrate the glorious beauty we are surrounded by at this time of year (if your allergies allow!)  Please wear your boots or sneakers and a coat as … Continue reading Beauty is Essential

Audre Lorde writes in her poem A Litany for Survival that “when we speak we are afraid our words will not be heard nor welcomed but when we are silent we are still afraid. So it is better to speak.”  In this service, you will be invited to reflect, write, and then share your hope … Continue reading It is Better to Speak

What gets us through hard times whether they be physical, emotional or spiritual?  For many the answer may be nature.  Former Modesto Poet Laureate and retired teacher, Sal Salerno, will share some of his poems, which focus on how nature can offer us solace and refuge. Worship Leaders:  Sharon Arpoika, Lynn Bristow and Melynda Rodriguez.  … Continue reading Nature as Solace and Refuge

What happens when you set out with others on a journey and the way forward is unclear — bewildering, confusing and messy? What happens when we don’t know what we’ve gotten into to or where to go next? Let’s explore what it means to navigate the twists, turns and possibilities of the unknown. Worship leaders: … Continue reading Navigating in the Wilderness

What does it mean to have power? How do we approach this very particular political moment we find ourselves in? Worship Leaders: Rev. Darcy, Robbie E. 

Do legends deny influential figures their right to be perceived as champions of more than one issue? Why is the legend of Martin Luther King, Jr. only one of racial equality? Worship Team: Matte Black, Sharon Arpoika and Magdalene Myint. Guest speaker: Todd Whiteley. Tech Maestro: Adlai Frederickson

“The universe is made of stories, not of atoms” wrote poet Muriel Rukeyser. What stories make up your universe? What new stories do we need? Worship leaders: Rev. Darcy Baxter, Tricia Garcia, and Magdalene Myint.  Tech Maestro: Todd Whiteley. 

When the near future feels uncertain or unpredictable, it can be hard to face forward. And yet, face forward we must. As we begin 2025,  what do you need to remember, what do you need to release, and what do you need to resolve to do?  Rev. Darcy will lead the congregation’s annual ‘burning off’ … Continue reading Facing Forward, Letting Go

“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” proclaims Jesus according to the Gospel of Matthew. So be, or become, like children we will in our multigenerational pageant of Margaret Brown’s Christmas in the Barn. Worship leaders: Rev. Darcy Baxter, Sharon Arpoika, and Melynda … Continue reading Become Like Children