This week, lay preacher Josie Waldman shares the movie Troop Zero with us, and what the film meant to her, as a girl who was picked on in school. She shares some of her personal experiences and wonders what it is that makes some kids act the way they do. She asks us to consider the essential question of the movie: "What kind of world would it be if every homely, strange little girl thought she could do whatever she wanted?"
This week, lay preacher Josie Waldman shares the movie Troop Zero with us, and what the film meant to her, as a girl who was picked on in school. She shares some of her personal experiences and wonders what it is that makes some kids act the way they do. She asks us to consider the essential question of the movie: "What kind of world would it be if every homely, strange little girl thought she could do whatever she wanted?"
Rev. Ken continues our SpiritFlix series with the award winning documentary film, "I Am Not Your Negro." He begins his message with a story about an uncomfortable moment at a baseball game, before getting into the subject matter of the film. This unfinished memoir by James Baldwin is about his relationships with slain civil rights leaders. Now, more than ever, this film and message offer us a chance to wake up to the realities of being black in America.
Rev. Ken continues our SpiritFlix series with the award winning documentary film, "I Am Not Your Negro." He begins his message with a story about an uncomfortable moment at a baseball game, before getting into the subject matter of the film. This unfinished memoir by James Baldwin is about his relationships with slain civil rights leaders. Now, more than ever, this film and message offer us a chance to wake up to the realities of being black in America.
Rev. Ken (appropriately) brings us a second SpiritFlix Message about Groundhog Day where he addresses the repetitiveness of our days right now. How do we break the cycle of "Groundhog Day?" We can do it by being of service to others, but also by fully inhabiting our own lives. Even if you don't know where your life is going right now, Rev. Ken emphasizes the importance of keeping after your pursuits, and your spiritual practices. That's how we finally make it to the metaphorical February 3rd.
Rev. Ken (appropriately) brings us a second SpiritFlix Message about Groundhog Day where he addresses the repetitiveness of our days right now. How do we break the cycle of "Groundhog Day?" We can do it by being of service to others, but also by fully inhabiting our own lives. Even if you don't know where your life is going right now, Rev. Ken emphasizes the importance of keeping after your pursuits, and your spiritual practices. That's how we finally make it to the metaphorical February 3rd.
Rev. Lee kicks off our summer SpiritFlix series by talking about the 1989 Spike Lee "Do The Right Thing." Even though this movie is over 30 years old, it's incredibly pertinent to the police brutality we're still seeing today. This film shows us imperfect characters interacting over the course of a single day, and asks us to consider what it means to do the right thing - both in small ways and in larger, society-changing ways.
Rev. Lee kicks off our summer SpiritFlix series by talking about the 1989 Spike Lee "Do The Right Thing." Even though this movie is over 30 years old, it's incredibly pertinent to the police brutality we're still seeing today. This film shows us imperfect characters interacting over the course of a single day, and asks us to consider what it means to do the right thing - both in small ways and in larger, society-changing ways.
Lay preacher, Kathy Burke-Howe, concludes our “Love the Hell Out of This World” series by asking us to consider what love looks like today, during a pandemic. How have our definitions of love changed with the rapidly changing and evolving situation around us? What can dogs – both real and animated – teach us about caring for one another?
Lay preacher, Kathy Burke-Howe, concludes our “Love the Hell Out of This World” series by asking us to consider what love looks like today, during a pandemic. How have our definitions of love changed with the rapidly changing and evolving situation around us? What can dogs – both real and animated – teach us about caring for one another?
This week, Rev. Ken talks about how he's been using social media as a means of reaching out during the pandemic. He also talks about challenging emotions many of us are feeling right now. What do both Buddhist teachings and Pixar movies have to say about challenging emotions, and how can we apply those lessons to our lives? He ends with a story about a wrongfully imprisoned man, and a prayer rug which helps him in more ways than one.
This week, Rev. Ken talks about how he's been using social media as a means of reaching out during the pandemic. He also talks about challenging emotions many of us are feeling right now. What do both Buddhist teachings and Pixar movies have to say about challenging emotions, and how can we apply those lessons to our lives? He ends with a story about a wrongfully imprisoned man, and a prayer rug which helps him in more ways than one.
Lay-preacher Chris Groppe shares his first ever message with us. He shares what we can learn about love from Mr. Rogers, a person taught us what it really means to love all people. He also talks about what a challenging concept that can sometimes be, and shares a meditation which might help us better understand lovingkindness.
Lay-preacher Chris Groppe shares his first ever message with us. He shares what we can learn about love from Mr. Rogers, a person taught us what it really means to love all people. He also talks about what a challenging concept that can sometimes be, and shares a meditation which might help us better understand lovingkindness.
This week, Rev. Lee continues our Love the Hell Out of This World message series. She opens with a story of a Universalist church making the decision to remain closed during the 1918 flu pandemic. She also shares a story from a inside a hospital in the Bronx, where front-line workers are making a conscious effort to honor the humanity in their patients in the midst of so much fear and uncertainty. There's power in saving what we love, and now more than ever, "what we love" means all of us.
This week, Rev. Lee continues our Love the Hell Out of This World message series. She opens with a story of a Universalist church making the decision to remain closed during the 1918 flu pandemic. She also shares a story from a inside a hospital in the Bronx, where front-line workers are making a conscious effort to honor the humanity in their patients in the midst of so much fear and uncertainty. There's power in saving what we love, and now more than ever, "what we love" means all of us.
Rev. Ken kicks off our message series, “Love the Hell Out of this World,” by exploring the concept of Universalism through the lens of – wait for it – Weird Al Yankovic. What can we learn from a painfully shy, almost cloistered youth who made so much safe space for others who have always felt like outsiders?
This week, Rodney Whittenberg takes us on a musical journey through his life. He plays selected songs, and tells us about the friends he most associates with each piece. How can we use music now to be a healing force in these unprecedented times? How can we use music to stay connected when we must stay physically apart?
This week, Rodney Whittenberg takes us on a musical journey through his life. He plays selected songs, and tells us about the friends he most associates with each piece. How can we use music now to be a healing force in these unprecedented times? How can we use music to stay connected when we must stay physically apart?
This week, Rev. Lee brings us a different kind of message. We all have to accept the idea that we don't know how long we'll in this strange new situation. She shares a story of a friend going through labor, and how sometimes, when we're faced with something that feels impossible, the only thing we can do is focus on breathing and living through the next few minutes, over and over again.
This week, Rev. Lee brings us a different kind of message. We all have to accept the idea that we don't know how long we'll in this strange new situation. She shares a story of a friend going through labor, and how sometimes, when we're faced with something that feels impossible, the only thing we can do is focus on breathing and living through the next few minutes, over and over again.
In our Easter Sunday message, Rev. Ken talks about the empty spaces around us, and how they connect to the imagery of the empty tomb. He reminds us that Easter is about people who, in the face of death, continued to live. He also shares a lovely memory about holding his mother's hand when he was little.
In our Easter Sunday message, Rev. Ken talks about the empty spaces around us, and how they connect to the imagery of the empty tomb. He reminds us that Easter is about people who, in the face of death, continued to live. He also shares a lovely memory about holding his mother's hand when he was little.
Rev. Lee brings us the story of Exodus, and what we can find in the story of the burning bush right here and now, as we all wait out a necessary quarantine. She recounts a walk through South Philadelphia so quiet, she could hear the stoplight timers whirring - a sound she's never heard before. Above all, she reminds us that there is no place so dark and frightening that holiness cannot touch it. Stay safe and stay well!
Rev. Lee brings us the story of Exodus, and what we can find in the story of the burning bush right here and now, as we all wait out a necessary quarantine. She recounts a walk through South Philadelphia so quiet, she could hear the stoplight timers whirring - a sound she's never heard before. Above all, she reminds us that there is no place so dark and frightening that holiness cannot touch it. Stay safe and stay well!
Rev. Ken speaks to us from his home to share a message about how small acts that we perform now can be not only meaningful, but even heroic. He talks about how important it is for us to create meaningful connection, even as we stay physically apart. He also tells us what the 1990s movie "Armageddon" and the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel have in common, and what they can teach us in the context of a quarantine.
Rev Lee speaks about how drastically things changed in the span of 10 days, and why it's okay to feel like you don't have anything under control. She shares a story from the 1918 flu epidemic, and shows why stories like this can help us see that others have been through this before. She shares the concept of "Digital Campfires" and reassures us that we're still connected, even if we're physically far apart.
Rev Lee speaks about how drastically things changed in the span of 10 days, and why it's okay to feel like you don't have anything under control. She shares a story from the 1918 flu epidemic, and shows why stories like this can help us see that others have been through this before. She shares the concept of "Digital Campfires" and reassures us that we're still connected, even if we're physically far apart.
Our first ever remote worship service! As we practice keeping physical distance as an act of care, we come together in different ways. Rev. Lee talks about how all of us need all of us, and how nobody can do everything themselves - even in times when we need to stay apart. Perhaps what we're doing right now as a country is a kind of large-scale spiritual practice. She shares a beautiful story about the power of a whisper, and how something as simple as that can remind you that you're okay.
Our first ever remote worship service! As we practice keeping physical distance as an act of care, we come together in different ways. Rev. Lee talks about how all of us need all of us, and how nobody can do everything themselves - even in times when we need to stay apart. Perhaps what we're doing right now as a country is a kind of large-scale spiritual practice. She shares a beautiful story about the power of a whisper, and how something as simple as that can remind you that you're okay.
