Unitarian Universalist Church West

Bill Staines' fun song reminds us, "All God's critters got a place in the choir -- Some sing low, some sing higher, Some sing out loud on the telephone wire -- And some just clap their hands, or paws, or anything they got...." This is true in nature's choir where biodiversity is beauty, but it's also true in our congregation.  If the church were a choir, which part are you singing?  Which part would you like to sing?  Are certain parts missing from our harmony?

As Unitarian Universalists, part of our covenant is to affirm and promote justice, equity and compassion in human relations. As we begin to unfold our monthly Ministry Theme of "Living our UU Faith by Practicing Harmony," the face of Martin Richard, the eight year old boy killed in the explosions at the Boston Marathon challenges us. "In a world full of discord and violence, how do we live in harmony?" Today is also Cinco de Mayo, honored by some of our Mexican-American members, friends and neighbors as a time to celebrate culture and heritage -- what does that symbolize for our harmony? 

As Unitarian Universalists, part of our covenant is to affirm and promote justice, equity and compassion in human relations. As we begin to unfold our monthly Ministry Theme of "Living our UU Faith by Practicing Harmony," the face of Martin Richard, the eight year old boy killed in the explosions at the Boston Marathon challenges us: "In a world full of discord and violence, how do we live in harmony?" Today is also  Cinco de Mayo, honored by some of our Mexican-American members, friends and neighbors as a time to celebrate culture and heritage -- what does that symbolize for our harmony? 

The language, emotion and theology of Pentecostalism tends to be well outside of our often intellectual Unitarian Universalist comfort zone. But our Pentecostal siblings and friends have much to teach us about the transformational capacity of the Spirit and the power of Testimony. 

Ashley Horan, UU Minister, serves as Consulting Minister to the Open Circle UUs in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Joliet, Illinois. She is a lifelong Unitarian Universalist with degrees from Harvard University and Meadville Lombard Theological School. Ms. Horan lives in Chicago with her partner the Rev. Karen Hutt and their daughter. She is a vibrant, vital preacher with a compelling voice on important issues and our UU faith.

Today we being our new ministry theme for the month of April, Living Our UU Faith: Speaking our Truth. What is our Truth (or truth)? Is there only one truth? We are a creedless faith - does that mean we have no truth to share? How does this faith help us determine and live our beliefs and values - and how are those beliefs and values shaped by this faith? Come ponder the questions together--- perhaps we will find some answers!

 Stewardship is our calling to use responsibly the resources under our care, particularly understanding ourselves as part of one interdependent living system on Planet Earth. What if our very souls were a resource too? Honoring Easter, we riff on the wisdon of Jesus regarding the Stewardship of Souls.

As Unitarian Universalists, we recognize and affirm that everything is connected. We are part of nature, and dependent upon it. Today we will explore how caring for the earth is stewardship of the environment, and many other aspects of our human lives.

Rev. Suzelle Lynch says, "When the leprechaun started showing up at our house on St. Patrick's Day, I knew something magical was happening; not in my child's life, but in my own." Parenting is hard work, and touches all of our lives, whether we are parents, grandparents, guardians, or simply the adult children of our own parent-figures. In keeping with our Ministry Theme of Deep Stewardship, we explore the magic of parenting as a spiritual practice. 

Deep Stewardship -- our ministry theme for the month of March -- is the practice of using resources sustainably -- the practice of conservation, of planning, of creating systems that can support themselves-- that generate life-energy as well as needing life-energy to keep operating. In the deep stewardship of our UU faith, what's the role of face-to-face community? Could we sustain our faith via a more "virtual church" -- or perhaps even extend it more powerfully than every before?

Grace: effortless beauty and knowing we are loved. 
Guts: courage, nerve, audacity, fortitude. 
Giving: freely sharing our resources.

UU Church West: An extraordinary place where grace, guts and giving come together.