“Torches and Candles: A Short Reflection” Since last week’s events in Charlottesville, Virginia I have reflected on the basic difference between the use of candles and torches in American life. I watched the (small) parade of mostly young white males carrying torches on the first evening of what turned out
Continue readingYour Board of Trustees will be meeting in just over a week for the annual Board Retreat deciding on our areas of focus and setting our goals for the coming year. Then, once decided, determining how those goals will support our Mission Statement. In case you’ve forgotten, our Mission Statement
Continue reading“You Will Speak When Spoken To…” Anyone remember words like that? Can we imagine making them into a spiritual practice? I’d not thought of those words in many years. I remember how I felt punished and voiceless – in childhood and teen years especially. Perhaps a few of you have
Continue reading“Goodness, it’s warm…” Many of you know that this summer I drove to the East Coast and back on a vacation road trip. It was somewhat eventful with a failing fuel pump and a decision to return quickly to be of assistance to Debra and the Zen community in Eugene,
Continue readingI have the honor to serve as your Board President for the next year along with a remarkably intelligent and competent group of six filling the remaining positions: Jill Jackson as Vice President; Allan Lang as Treasurer; David Cycleback as Secretary; and Judi Finney, Jean Mendel and Scott Iverson as
Continue readingSeveral of us from Westside UU Congregation just returned from the UUA General Assembly that happens every year in a different city. This year it was in New Orleans. A special thanks to Jill Fleming, Steve Burrows, John and Viveca Monahan, Cecelia Hayes and Cynthia Westby for attending workshops, asking
Continue readingLast Sunday I talked about volunteering and its virtues as a spiritual practice. Several people asked me to repeat my admittedly tongue-in-cheek suggestion about a 24 hour volunteering ‘day’ at Westside. This is what I said: “Just for the fun of it the other day I tried to calculate the
Continue reading“So, now what…?” Year 1 of this second phase interim ministry is nearly over. Now what? Many of us are familiar with mission and vision statements from business or educational communities. Some of them can create eye-rolling responses especially in the business world. I even have two mission statement apps
Continue readingOn Sunday, May 21st Westside held a service with guest speaker Dr. Jabali Stewart called “We Will Keep Moving Together.” He explored the painful reality of white supremacy culture in America with music and story, looking at our cultural assumptions from a place of curiosity and solution. As part of
Continue readingThank you to everyone who responded to the Board’s request for feedback on the proposal to extend Rev. Alex’s interim contract. The Board heard you loud and clear and voted to enter into a new contract with Rev. Alex for a two-year duration, with a one-year check-in to confirm that
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