This week’s Ponderings is brought to you by my Healthy Boundaries, Healthy Ministries assignment! Consider it a “this I believe” moment about what an ideal, healthy congregation should look like. I strongly believe that a healthy congregation is a congregation with a shared ministry, a congregation in which the mission and vision are articulated by…

This last Sunday, we focused on the ways in which we can build a caring community. More and more, I see that this congregation understands that the path to changing the world is relational. We first need to have a loving relationship with ourselves and the Spirit of Life. When we are self-aware and self-compassionate,…

This is a Chinook Psalter (from Earth Prayers) that I came across in my seminary readings: Ice mountain melted ages ago and made this ridge, this place of changes. Now we are rooted in it, we of the old ones we of the new ones from afar; oatgrass meadow, douglas fir thicket, we are rooted…

The fall semester at Meadville Lombard Theological School has begun! This semester I am taking “Healthy Boundaries, Healthy Ministries” and “Introduction to Pastoral Care”. There will be a lot of overlap in the material we cover in these classes. I’ve already started the reading and it’s been inspiring! I look forward to sharing insights and…

“Roots hold me close…” (Spirit of Life, Hymn #123) What does it mean, this concept of rootedness? The UUA’s theme for General Assembly this year was “Rooted, Inspired, and Ready”. Perhaps it’s my background in anthropology, or my tendency towards the “big” questions, or my propensity to always ask “why”, but I find this concept…

I love a good conversation, full of questions and different perspectives. UU’s are so good at that, especially when it comes to a book club! I really enjoyed our first conversation about the book Conflagration by John A.Buehrens. I foresee some very deep conversations, as this book digs into the history of our spiritual ancestors…