In this week's message, lay preacher, Chris Groppe, shares his spiritual practice of drawing. He talks a bit about his personal history with drawing, and how it's sometimes been set aside as an activity for another time. But once he began looking at is as a means of creating a sacred space, he realized it can be used as a spiritual practice anywhere and anytime. This message provides two opportunities to draw along with Chris, so be sure to have a pencil and paper somewhere nearby!
Jan 26, 2021
In this week's message, lay preacher, Chris Groppe, shares his spiritual practice of drawing. He talks a bit about his personal history with drawing, and how it's sometimes been set aside as an activity for another time. But once he began looking at is as a means of creating a sacred space, he realized it can be used as a spiritual practice anywhere and anytime. This message provides two opportunities to draw along with Chris, so be sure to have a pencil and paper somewhere nearby!
Jan 26, 2021•23 min
Rev. Ken begins by telling us that mindfulness is about perspective. He brings up Schoolhouse Rock, and challenges the idea that a person is a noun. He believes that a person is much more of an active state of being. Mindfulness isn’t just about accessing more calm. It’s about opening up our experiences. He also gives us an invitation to participate in a short mindfulness practice. He concludes with a story about the Buddha.
Jan 19, 2021
Rev. Ken begins by telling us that mindfulness is about perspective. He brings up Schoolhouse Rock, and challenges the idea that a person is a noun. He believes that a person is much more of an active state of being. Mindfulness isn’t just about accessing more calm. It’s about opening up our experiences. He also gives us an invitation to participate in a short mindfulness practice. He concludes with a story about the Buddha.
Jan 19, 2021•27 min
Rev. Lee struggles a bit with what to say about the events at the Capitol this week. She planned to introduce the practice of generosity, but thought the message might not make sense this week. But when she thought more about it, she realized that generosity is a practice of pushing back against toxic individualism “I’ve got mine, and you’ve got yours… good luck.” She shares with us how she began practicing generosity herself this year, now that her everyday expenses are down during the pandemic...
Jan 12, 2021
Rev. Lee struggles a bit with what to say about the events at the Capitol this week. She planned to introduce the practice of generosity, but thought the message might not make sense this week. But when she thought more about it, she realized that generosity is a practice of pushing back against toxic individualism “I’ve got mine, and you’ve got yours… good luck.” She shares with us how she began practicing generosity herself this year, now that her everyday expenses are down during the pandemic...
Jan 12, 2021•33 min
This week, Rev. Ken opens our annual New Year's service with the story of The Epiphany, and talks about the restoration of a painting of the Magi by Leonardo da Vinci. After the painting was cleaned, more detail and color than anyone expected was revealed. Isn't that how life is sometimes? So many things can build up and get in the way of us living the lives we really want.
Jan 05, 2021
This week, Rev. Ken opens our annual New Year's service with the story of The Epiphany, and talks about the restoration of a painting of the Magi by Leonardo da Vinci. After the painting was cleaned, more detail and color than anyone expected was revealed. Isn't that how life is sometimes? So many things can build up and get in the way of us living the lives we really want.
Jan 05, 2021•19 min
Rev. Lee talks about a friend's policy towards internet use with children: Before you click on something, think about whether you really want to watch, becauase once you see it, you can't unsee it. She also talks about a reality show where drag performers put on shows in small communities to help let people know that there are all types of people in every community. She includes a parable from the bible wherein Jesus talks about men given land, but not realizing what they have.
Dec 29, 2020
Rev. Lee talks about a friend's policy towards internet use with children: Before you click on something, think about whether you really want to watch, becauase once you see it, you can't unsee it. She also talks about a reality show where drag performers put on shows in small communities to help let people know that there are all types of people in every community. She includes a parable from the bible wherein Jesus talks about men given land, but not realizing what they have.
Dec 29, 2020•22 min
Rev. Lee brings us our annual Christmas Eve service - this year inspired by the movie Home Alone.
Dec 29, 2020
Rev. Lee brings us our annual Christmas Eve service - this year inspired by the movie Home Alone.
Dec 29, 2020•16 min
Rev. Ken shares a story from Anne Lamott wherein she talks about calling around to different friends trying to find the true meaning of Advent. She doesn’t have much luck until she reaches a Jesuit friend who has 35 years of sobriety. He shares a dramatic event which happened early in his own recovery wherein folks at a 12-step meeting showed compassion to a man in a terrible state. The patience they showed then, evoked the feeling of Advent for this friend.
Dec 22, 2020
Rev. Ken shares a story from Anne Lamott wherein she talks about calling around to different friends trying to find the true meaning of Advent. She doesn’t have much luck until she reaches a Jesuit friend who has 35 years of sobriety. He shares a dramatic event which happened early in his own recovery wherein folks at a 12-step meeting showed compassion to a man in a terrible state. The patience they showed then, evoked the feeling of Advent for this friend.
Dec 22, 2020•25 min
Lay preacher, Kathleen Higgins shares her message, beginning about a close encounter with a rattlesnake. She mentions the Gavin deBecker book "The Gift of Fear" which focuses on figuring out what is real danger and what is dread. Dread is more about imagination. She also shares a story about her grandson experiencing seizures, and a story about attending a conference of gun violence survivors where a fire alarm went off and frightened many people in the audience.
Dec 15, 2020
Lay preacher, Kathleen Higgins shares her message, beginning about a close encounter with a rattlesnake. She mentions the Gavin deBecker book "The Gift of Fear" which focuses on figuring out what is real danger and what is dread. Dread is more about imagination. She also shares a story about her grandson experiencing seizures, and a story about attending a conference of gun violence survivors where a fire alarm went off and frightened many people in the audience.
Dec 15, 2020•16 min
This week, Rev. Ken talks about how he is a fan of scary stories, even horror movies, even living as a person with an anxiety disorder. He shares how sometimes, experiencing fear as a story can help us realize why fear is an important part of life. He also talks about being a fan of Taylor Swift's album, Folklore, especially a song which seems to approach fear from a child's perspective.
Dec 08, 2020
This week, Rev. Ken talks about how he is a fan of scary stories, even horror movies, even living as a person with an anxiety disorder. He shares how sometimes, experiencing fear as a story can help us realize why fear is an important part of life. He also talks about being a fan of Taylor Swift's album, Folklore, especially a song which seems to approach fear from a child's perspective.
Dec 08, 2020•23 min
Lay preacher, Rodney Whittenberg, talks about feeling afraid often in life, but reminds us that fear is sometimes a useful emotion. Fear can help us make decisions in our own best interests. To illustrate, he shares a story of his father feeling afraid while driving, and also a story from a friend of his who happens to be an Army Ranger. What happens when we embrace the fear we feel, rather than trying to shove it aside?
Dec 01, 2020
Lay preacher, Rodney Whittenberg, talks about feeling afraid often in life, but reminds us that fear is sometimes a useful emotion. Fear can help us make decisions in our own best interests. To illustrate, he shares a story of his father feeling afraid while driving, and also a story from a friend of his who happens to be an Army Ranger. What happens when we embrace the fear we feel, rather than trying to shove it aside?
Dec 01, 2020•21 min
Each year, we ask different WellSpringers to answer the question "What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" Today, you can hear thoughtful, creative, honest, and inspiring stories from five different people in our congregation.
Nov 25, 2020
Each year, we ask different WellSpringers to answer the question "What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" Today, you can hear thoughtful, creative, honest, and inspiring stories from five different people in our congregation.
Nov 25, 2020•30 min
This week, Rev. Lee discusses the concept of living with our fear, but not in it. This past week, with the election and the rising Covid cases, has made us realize how fragile and vulnerable we still are. Rev. Lee also admits her fear of snakes and shares a story about a recent encounter with a snake on a hike. In the moment, she was able to be with her fear, and realize that not only was it a harmless type of snake, but that it was also afraid of her. Of course, there's a difference between the...
Nov 17, 2020
This week, Rev. Lee discusses the concept of living with our fear, but not in it. This past week, with the election and the rising Covid cases, has made us realize how fragile and vulnerable we still are. Rev. Lee also admits her fear of snakes and shares a story about a recent encounter with a snake on a hike. In the moment, she was able to be with her fear, and realize that not only was it a harmless type of snake, but that it was also afraid of her. Of course, there's a difference between the...
Nov 17, 2020•35 min
Rev. Ken begins our new Message series "How to Be Afraid" with a late-recorded message about the election. He remembers a slogan "Pain is just weakness leaving the body," while recounting a time when he himself got injured during a half marathon. He also talks about the use and abuse of fear. There are some who believe that fear is only weakness, but the denial of fear is sometimes why people stop listening not only to themsevles, but to each other too.
Nov 10, 2020
Rev. Ken begins our new Message series "How to Be Afraid" with a late-recorded message about the election. He remembers a slogan "Pain is just weakness leaving the body," while recounting a time when he himself got injured during a half marathon. He also talks about the use and abuse of fear. There are some who believe that fear is only weakness, but the denial of fear is sometimes why people stop listening not only to themsevles, but to each other too.
Nov 10, 2020•23 min
In this week's message, Rev. Lee talks about the upcoming election, and admits that she'd gone back and forth on what kind of message to deliver this week: one where she reassures us that everything will be okay, and one that warns us that it won't be. She remembers words Rev. Ken said to her at her ordination: "Let your ministry break your heart," and tells us that out broken hearts are good enough. She concludes with a story about a unique political canvassing project which focuses on listenin...
Nov 03, 2020
In this week's message, Rev. Lee talks about the upcoming election, and admits that she'd gone back and forth on what kind of message to deliver this week: one where she reassures us that everything will be okay, and one that warns us that it won't be. She remembers words Rev. Ken said to her at her ordination: "Let your ministry break your heart," and tells us that out broken hearts are good enough. She concludes with a story about a unique political canvassing project which focuses on listenin...
Nov 03, 2020•30 min
In this short introduction to our annual Remembrance Service, Rev. Ken assures us that it's okay to not "cheer up" every time we feel sad. Sometimes, we can sit with sadness, especially in the wake of a loss. If we sit with grief and sadness, what we find at the root of it is love.
Oct 27, 2020
In this short introduction to our annual Remembrance Service, Rev. Ken assures us that it's okay to not "cheer up" every time we feel sad. Sometimes, we can sit with sadness, especially in the wake of a loss. If we sit with grief and sadness, what we find at the root of it is love.
Oct 27, 2020•14 min
