Rev. Debra Thorne
When delight goes out of the world and one’s heart is heavy… when the seasonal pressures drain the pleasure from your days… when your own life doesn’t mesh with the frenzy of consumerism… when good cheer seems distant—these are the times we need each other and the permission to be ourselves, however we are. Let us sing and be real.
Resistance Never Ends
Guest Speaker: Rabbi Laura Duhan Kaplan
The celebration of Chanukah provides an annual reminder of the journey from oppression through war to freedom. This struggle towards freedom is continuously replayed within the Jewish faith and resonates with the Jewish experience today. Rabbi Laura Duhan Kaplan will be leading us in song and story and helping us to unpack the deeper meanings of Chanukah.
Marilyn Medén and Heather Brown
What makes some people able to think outside the box? Marilyn Medén and Heather Brown will explore what makes a creative thinker, and then give each of you a chance to have fun and stretch your thinking. They’ll ask: What allowed famous inventers and changemakers like Edison and Darwin to create new ways of seeing and understanding the world? How are people such as John Stuart Mills and Elon Musk able to branch out from accepted norms or ways of thinking, and how can we apply that thinking in our our lives, in small ways, and even in larger ones, such as combating climate change?
Rev. Debra Thorne
There is a map-able process of creativity that includes moments of agony and moments of ecstasy. It’s a wild ride to an unknown destination. How does art touch our lives? How are our lives works of art?
Rev. Debra Thorne
The universe began with a spark or a bang or a cloud of chaos! The universe has never stopped being creative, and our lives are nothing but the continuous unfolding of that original creative moment. How do human beings keep up with the creative universe?
Service Co-ordinator: Phil Campbell
People probably started telling stories as soon as humans started speaking. Stories provided a way of passing on skills learned and the history of the tribe. Everyone has a story to tell. The stories of our lives are so much more than a biography. In this service we will look at how and why stories are important. There is a library of stories within each one of us. Some brave members of the congregation will share stories about themselves that will help to tell us how they became who they are today.
Rev. Debra Thorne
Our chalice flame burns as a symbol of the inherent worth and dignity of every person, and as a symbol of religious freedom and social justice. Although the flame itself is weightless, it takes strength and courage to carry it. Beaconites carry the flame by supporting the ideals of compassion and respect, of joy and justice for all; with the hope that this flame will transform lives.
Rev. Debra Thorne, Ashley Cole
If you always fish in the same place and in the same way and get no fish what kind of fisher are you? Maybe it’s time to try something new, like the other side of the boat, or new tackle? This first Pledge Sunday we figure out how to fill the boat with lots of fish! A service for the whole family that includes plenty of music and creative play.
Rev. Debra Thorne
The beliefs we held as children often change as we grow and gain life experience—or they will if we remain engaged. Spiritual growth means we are intentionally testing and refining what we know of life, meaning and reality. When did you last check if your beliefs were current?
In his book, How, Then, Shall We Live?, Wayne Muller asks fundamental questions that allow us to “glimpse that relentless spark of spiritual magic that burns within each of us, a spark that can light our way as we venture forth.” These questions cause us to dig deep into our Unitarian principles, ponder how we want to live our lives and consider what our contribution might be to the world. In this service, you will have an opportunity for quiet reflection, creative play and sharing with others in our warm and welcoming community, as we ponder the question: “How, then, shall we live?”
In addition, a representative for the 2018–19 Sharing-the-Plate Recipient ‘Camp Kerry’ will be with us.