A driving force of our world today is the desire to make the world controllable. Yet, according to sociologist Harmut Rosa, “it is only in encountering the uncontrollable that we really experience the world–only then do we feel touched, moved, alive. A world that is fully known, in which everything has been planned and mastered, … Continue reading Peace with Uncontrollability

Our deepest faith values tell us we must ABOLISH ICE NOW! “What Minneapolis taught me is that resisting authoritarianism requires trained, sustained resistance, grounded in truth-telling and faithful witness.” 1. Resistance must be trained. 2. Sustained resistance matters more than one-day action. 3. Non-cooperation is a moral strategy. Worship Leaders: Rev. Kevin Mann, Tricia Garcia, … Continue reading Abolish ICE Now! Lessons in Resistance from Minneapolis

We too often think of freedom as liberated from constraints or obligations. But the words freedom and friend share a common linguistic ancestor, an old word that meant free or beloved. Freedom originally meant being among friends—being in particular kinds of relationships. What relationships help us get free?  Worship Leaders: Rev. Darcy Baxter and Zana … Continue reading How to Get Free

Our bodies are instruments of resilience, experience, and connection. They are also inherently sensitive and exposed. All it takes is a fall, a swerve of a car, or sudden chest pain to pierce illusions of independence and strength. As Board President, Lynn B’s grad school professor put it, “most of us are only temporarily able … Continue reading In the Skin We Share

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 Not Incidental

Join Todd Whiteley for a discussion of the insights, resilience, and understanding that can be discovered using established writing tools to fictionalize your story of the search for truth and meaning. Worship Team: Matte Black and Melynda Rodriguez. Guest Speaker: Todd Whiteley. Tech Maestro: Adlai Frederickson.

“It is easier to imagine the end of the world than the end of capitalism,” writes philosopher Fredric Jameson (or Slavoj Zizek!). While often disregarded as escapism, fantasy is essential to making it through all we need to make it through in our lives. How does the popularity of Heated Rivalry, a show about the … Continue reading Necessary Fantasy

When disaster strikes, how and where do we find sustenance? Worship Leaders: Rev. Darcy Baxter and Tricia Garcia. Tech Maestro: Zack Gianotti

There are some inexplicable times and places that seem to drive people to share what’s on their minds, today we will make one of those spaces. In this service, we will reflect for a few minutes, and then you will be invited to share your hardship, your triumph, your joy, and your sorrow. Worship Team: … Continue reading Sharing Our Stories in Obscure Places

In 1908, Jack Johnson became the first Black heavyweight boxing champion of the world. His victory did not just shatter a barrier in sports– it fundamentally challenged the assumption of Black subservience of the era. On his deathbed, it has been reported that he uttered these words “I risked everything for my pleasure.” What is … Continue reading Risking Everything for Pleasure