Dr. King consistently highlighted the critical need to love your enemy. “For the salvation of our nation and the salvation of humankind this is the only way to create beloved community,” he said. Through the reflective lens of our experience we know that anger too easily becomes toxic. From the most mundane endeavors to the […]
Author Archives: usguu
1.10.16, A Piece of My Mind, Rev. Dr. David Parke
Rev. Dr. David Parke served as Minister at USG from 1965-70. Rev. Parke’s scholarship, social and racial justice leadership and pastoral care all positively impacted many lives. It is also true that his Ministry here suffered under many of the exact pressures, which afflicted our nation at that time. Rev. Parke is returning to our […]
1.3.16, New Orleans Jazz Funeral, Rev. Kent Matthies & The Barbone Street Jazz Band
Ring in 2016 with the energy of this six-piece Dixieland jazz group. In the New Orleans tradition, we will have a wake for the Old Year, lay down our burdens and lift our possibilities for the New Year. The spirit will be alive with great music including “Just a Closer Walk with Thee” and “When […]
12.20.15Kwanzaa Celebration, Rev. Matthies, Rev. Gregoire, Mark Daugherty and with Abayomi Awodesu
We will have a joyous time lighting candles, telling stories, and moving to the beats of African drumming. Storytellers will bring us on journeys not to be missed! At 11:00, enjoy a dynamic, inspirational drum and dance troupe. People of all ages can sing and dance in this rich tradition.We will celebrate the principles of Kwanzaa: […]
12.13.15, Be the Light, Rev. Kent Matthies
When darkness hurts most, light relieves our souls. Diwali, Chanukah, Winter Solstice, Kwanzaa and Christmas all celebrate light and life. During this holiday season it is wonderful to receive and celebrate the light. However, a powerful faith calls upon all of us to be the light. To paraphrase John F. Kennedy, “Ask not what your […]
11.30.14, Feel Helpless, Help Someone, Rev. Daniel Gregoire
The Burmese political leader Aung San Suu Kyi once said that by helping others we help ourselves. If you are feeling helpless it is indeed time to help someone–else. In this service we will explore how we find our true purpose in service to others. We will also celebrate the contradictions of the hero and […]
11.22.15, Best Worst Thing. Thanksgiving Bread Communion. Rev. Kent Matthies and Rev. Daniel Gregoire with Mark Daugherty & the USG Choir
Historical paradoxes of Thanksgiving in the United States tend to strain our hearts. We cannot forget the massive injustices which devastated Native American people. This year we celebrate Thanksgiving Sunday in both morning services. In the afternoon we host USG’s second Teach-In– “From Punitive to Restorative Justice: The Job’s the Thing”– to educate and organize […]
11.15.15, War Without End? Rev. Daniel Gregoire
Healing from the trauma of war in our society requires us to embrace new practices of living that can restore our humanity. Our contemporary society is remarkably insulated from the realities of ongoing wars around the world. With very little effort we can pretend that we are safe in our leafy enclaves from the dangers […]
11.8.15, Soft Power, Rev. Kent Matthies
Samuel Longfellow served as Minister of the Unitarian Society of Germantown from 1878-1882. Joseph Abdo wrote a biography of Rev. Longfellow entitled “The Quiet Radical” in which he lays out the ways in which this Unitarian minister touched people’s lives with compassionate spirituality and radical ideas, including ideas on Women’s Rights and the Peace Movement. […]
11.29.15, Gratitude’s Smallest Face, Davy Knittle, 11am
Thanksgiving, like many holidays, makes space around itself that affords us the opportunity to briefly change our routines. We make use of this extra space in many ways – to be in the places, or with the people or doing the things for which we are most grateful, or which most urgently need an attention […]