Speakers: Susan Panttaja, Camille Hatton, Lucy Faridany & the UUCMP Community ChoirFor our annual winter holiday Music Sunday, Camille Hatton, Lucy Faridany and our UUCMP Community Choir will share songs of Celebration and Praise. The service will include exciting works for piano by Florence B. Price and Margaret Bonds, two early 20th century African American … Continue reading “Sing and Rejoice! – Music Sunday”

Speakers: DRE Erin Forstein and Susan PanttajaOur multigenerational holiday celebration will focus on the Winter Solstice, the time of year when, down through the ages, people have turned to community and ritual to find warmth and hope for brighter days. Let us do the same, as we mark this milestone on the journey around the … Continue reading “A Multigenerational Solstice Celebration”

Speakers: Susan Panttaja and W.A. Ann Jacobson, with Guest Music Director Amanda Thomas The winter holiday season is a joyous season for many, but it can also hold outsized expectations or memories that generate feelings of loneliness, grief, guilt, alienation, or depression. Today we will acknowledge the mixed feelings of the season and create space … Continue reading “Room for All the Feels”

Speakers: Ray Krise & W.A. Natalie Fryberger As we close this month of reflection on the theme of “Holding History,” we think today about the idea: “history that changed my life.” None of us lives the life we intend. History provides the challenges of experiences that happen and don’t happen beyond our control; we strive … Continue reading “Holding History, Releasing History, History That Changed My Life”

Speakers: Susan Panttaja & W.A. Micah Forstein No one knows how the world and life came to be, but that doesn’t stop humans from seeking answers. The six sources of Unitarian Universalism offer many different stories about the origins of it all. Today we will explore some of those stories and what it means to … Continue reading “Origin Stories”

Speakers: Ashley G., Susan Panttaja, and W.A. Karen Brown Since 1970, when the General Assembly passed a resolution to end discrimination against homosexuals and bisexuals, UU welcoming congregations like UUCMP have committed themselves to be inclusive of all sexualities and genders. Knowing that the work of welcoming is never done, today we consider what it … Continue reading “A UU History of Welcome for LGBTQ+”

Speakers: The Indigenous Caucus of the Diverse & Revolutionary UU Multicultural Ministries (DRUUMM) and Susan Panttaja. During General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association in June 2021, the Indigenous Caucus offered a powerful worship experience that wove together stories, poetry, and songs from many indigenous cultures. This rich presentation will be the central element of … Continue reading “Healing through Indigenous Storytelling and Ceremony”

Susan Panttaja & W.A. Ray Krise In many cultures, this time of year marks a thinning of the veil, a time when our ancestors who have died are nearer than usual. For many of us, the legacy of our ancestry is a mixed bag of traits and history that is handed down for generations, even … Continue reading “Where Do We Come From?”

Rev. Tet Gallardo, Laura Nagel, & W.A. Kathleen CraigWe all come from many different family cultures, ethnic cultures, and work cultures. Yet sometimes UUs are not sensitive to this great diversity. The UU Church of the Philippines recently submitted a proposed amendment to add “cultures as communities of practice” to the current six sources of … Continue reading “How Do We Culture Our Religion?”

Ann Jacobson & Karen BrownWe are all part of this church family, and we’re part of many other families too. This service will celebrate and honor many kinds of relationships, what makes them survive and what makes them thrive. Join in a celebration of diversity and unity as we hear from others in our congregation … Continue reading “Wholly Family”