While searching for meaning and purpose in our lives, we can get turned around and shaken. Sometimes change comes slowly and other times all at once. How do we nurture our souls so that we are ready to fully embrace our life’s calling in all these moments? Joan Javier-Duval is a Candidate for Ministerial Fellowship […]
Author Archives: usguu
Unconditional Holy Days, Rev. Kent Matthies & Choir
Come celebrate the Jewish High Holy Days. What a blessing when we can enter into Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur with an open heart. Asking forgiveness should not involve humiliation or tearing oneself down. It is also much better when we don’t demand something in return. When we become right-sized we feel our glory, inspiration and joy of new […]
We Know Why We Are Here! Rev. Kent Matthies & Choir
In this Ingathering Water Ceremony we mark the beginning of our congregational year and we welcome one and all! Many of us come here to this specific place and community again and again and again. We know why we are here! We are here because we are dedicated to Building Beloved Community with Compassion, Service […]
Philly Public Schools: A Musical Celebration, Barbara McDowell Dowdall and Bernard Henderson
This Sunday all members/friends/visitors and their children are invited for the whole service. If you have wanted a time when the family stays together through worship, come join us! This will be a celebration and call for the arts in the public schools. There will be a story for all ages, a presentation of oral histories of African American classical musicians, live performances of a Mozart […]
Passing on Sacred Memories, Rev. Kent Matthies
Memories are powerfully important in shaping how we live our lives. It is important that we are intentional in choosing which memories to embrace. Part of the healthy religious life is passing on sacred memories that allow others to open new doors or see new vistas. Let’s all pick at least one important memory this […]
Heart of Light, Berdine Whedon
Where do you go for inspiration when there seems to be no inspiration? How do you find your center when chaos and negativity seem to prevail? How do you find your way back to the heart of life, of joy, and hope? Berdine Whedon has been a member of USG since 1994 and in that […]
Follow Those Nuns, Rev. Kent Matthies
Current leaders in the Leadership Conference of Women Religious are under fire from the Vatican. In its assessment of the group, the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith said the Leadership Conference is undermining Roman Catholic teachings on homosexuality and birth control and promoting “radical feminist themes incompatible with the Catholic faith.” In reality […]
The Church of the New Millennium, Sam Gugino
That’s what Harvard religion scholar Diana Eck called Unitarian Universalism. But that’s a pretty tall order for a denomination that has not grown in numbers in the past 50 years. So what is it about Unitarian Universalism that makes its future so bright? And how do we get from here to there? Food and wine […]
Peace, Love and Joy with Elaine Silver
The theme for this very special, intergenerational worship service is “Peace, Love and Joy.” Our magnificent guest musician, Elaine Silver, will create two 20-minute periods of music, poetry, spoken word and audience participation for all ages. Elaine has a singing voice you’ll never forget: it is stunningly clear, rich and supple. She sings a cappella […]
Spreading Joy, Rev. Kent Matthies
Famous Universalist John Murray said, “Go out to the highways and byways and give them hope, not hell.” It is also great advice to go out and give them joy, not suffering. We human beings have lots of power to cause pain for others. We also have power to bring joy. The art of happiness […]