Because We Knew Them....

Because We Knew Them....

Look around our world, our neighborhoods, our congregation we are not all alike.  We are a world of differences, age, race, socio economic status, linguistic, I could go on and on. I have been drawn to, perhaps influenced by my mother’s early teachings, and gifted by differences of many kinds.  Our focus this morning is on what we educators, call ‘special needs’ and more recently ‘neurodiverse”. Both Cil and I, have interacted with many ‘special needs” children and adults and have come to realize that they have informed our lives more profoundly than most other life experiences.  

What Now?

What Now?

I love that it’s part of my job to go to church! And I’m grateful that you come too!

I was talking with someone the other day about the dimensions of church and the spiritual life; that they are both horizontal and vertical. The horizontal plane is what we experience with companions, and in community. Our greeting time, and when you light candles for your sorrows and joys, these ways of seeing one another are horizontal aspects of our community. To say nothing of coffee hour! The vertical dimension is about depth or height, being still and entering the depths of silence, waiting for the presence of the Holy. Or looking up.

Don't Be Afraid

Don't Be Afraid

So I have to ask—are you ready? Are you ready for Easter, with its promise of life and love, and wings?

Let’s take a minute to try and imagine the story of that first Easter morning, when these three women come to the tomb, prepared to anoint the body of their friend Jesus, as was their custom in those days. And they find the stone rolled back, the tomb empty, his body gone. Were they ready for that?

Learning to Love It

Learning to Love It

“Sing out praises for the journey,” we just sang. This month we’ve been reflecting on the journey, and its invitation to step across the threshold, to cross over from what is familiar, to head into futures yet unknown. And I wonder, how you imagine your journeying? As an adventure, that you’re eager to embark on, singing praises as you go? Or are you more inclined to face the journey with some fear and trepidation, because it’s so unpredictable and uncertain?

Re-Finding Ourselves

Re-Finding Ourselves

I was thinking recently about how much people are like transformers, like we saw during A Time for All Ages.   As kids we come into this world without baggage, fresh beautiful whole selves full of love and curiosity.   Then as we grow, we start to encounter life situations that start to change us.   We have all encountered the teacher, mentor, boss, parent who has made us feel dumb when we asked a question– well up goes a shield and a lesson or is it really a story we tell ourselves – maybe I should not ask for help again – certainly never ask that person.  There are a lot of these “lessons” that we learn that make us put up our shields.   Stop crying or I will give you something to cry about – crying is bad - shield up.   A death happens and no one talks about it; don’t talk about death and your feelings about it – shield up.   You are not good at that - stop doing it and never do it again, even if it was bringing you joy, it does not matter – shield up.      

Adventures in Going Nowhere

Adventures in Going Nowhere

Have you had the experience of the right thing showing up at just the right time? Like when you’re feeling lonely, needing someone to talk to, and a friend drops by or calls you on the phone? Or you’re needing some inspiration or wisdom, and the right thing appears? I experience this with books—one I’ve been meaning to read for years catches my eye, jumps off the shelf at me, and when I start reading, it feels like it’s come to me at just the right time.

WELCOMing. Caring. Faith. Community.

Universalist Unitarian Church of Haverhill
15 Kenoza Avenue, Haverhill, MA • 978-372-5173 • office@uuhaverhill.org
Mailing & office address: 16 Ashland Street, Haverhill, MA 01830