I am away at school this week, one of the week-long intensive classes for the Doctor of Ministry degree at Austin Presbyterian Theological School. (And boy, is it intensive – 8 required books, with another 5 recommended.) I’m on the “Leadership for Public Theology” track and this class applies to...
This past weekend, I got to attend a fancy tea party with other members of Live Oak, an offering I’d bid on last spring at our church service auction. What a treat! We hadn’t had a service auction for several years and to a certain extent, last year’s service auction...
On Christmas Eve, I shared Alberto Ríos’s poem, Christmas on the Border, 1929. It was based on the true story of the twin towns of Nogales, Arizona and Nogales, Senora, that were separated by the US/Mexico border. The town of Nogales, AZ wanted to throw a big Christmas party with...
Like many, I was stunned and heartbroken at the news of the deaths of Rob and Michele Reiner. (Much attention has been given to the President’s cruel and undignified response, but that has gotten far more attention than it deserves, so let’s get into sharing our favorite memories of the...
When have you been the recipient of generosity? How did it change you? My family was the recipient of a huge gift many years ago. Our youngest qualified for a Make-a-Wish gift, and so all of us were sent to the amusement parks of Orlando- all the Disney parks, plus...
Time to get out your calendar and mark it up! December is full of holiday special events at Live Oak. It all starts Saturday, Dec. 6 with the Jingle Jangle Jam from 10:00 am-2:00 pm: drop the kids off for lunch, holiday crafting, and games, while parents shop, wrap presents,...
Most religions have some type of ceremony to mark the arrival of a baby or child and express the commitment a community gives to the child and their parents – baptism, Bris, etc. For Unitarian Universalists, we have a dedication ceremony that is conducted during a regular worship service. This ceremony welcomes the child into our faith (and,...
Dr. Gregory Cuéllar writes about “trespassing on the archive” when studying history, because “master-narratives that wield power within a body politic often seek the authoritative status of universality.” On Sunday, I lifted up the archive of Unitarian Universalism. We have over 200 years of theology, written thought, and historical activities...
I have a friend who is an observant, Orthodox Jew. Her family strictly keeps their Sabbath – they prepare ahead of time for it, and when it comes, there are rules that come with it. No using electricity, no tv, no social media. Food has to be prepared ahead of...
I’m back! It’s been a full summer for me. I’ve already written about going to UUA General Assembly this June, but connecting with UUs around the country continued in July at the Central East Region Summer Institute held on the Oberlin campus in Ohio, then guest preaching at West Shore...