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by Rev. Janet Onnie February 16, 2025 The offertory this morning was the familiar song by The Beatles, “All You Need Is Love.” I have always been slightly uncomfortable with this sentiment.  It was the same sort of general discomfort – manifesting itself as annoyance – at the Hallmark sentiments on Mothers Day, Fathers Day, Grandparents Day, and all the other “days”.  Too often these Hallmark holidays excuse perfectly awful behavior toward the one being honored the rest of th

by Rev. Janet Onnie February 6, 2025 In the Word for All Ages this morning you heard the story of a Taco falling apart and, with the help of friends, one in particular, pulling itself back together.  Then in the reading you heard the very abbreviated story of David & Goliath, found in the 17 th chapter of the first Book of Samuel in the Hebrew bible.  This is a familiar story to anyone who attended Sunday School, corporate motivational workshops, or psychological roundtables

By Bill Faw January 26, 2025 Good morning. Merle asked me 2-3 months ago if I could speak on “evil” at HUU. So this is a “commissioned address.” For my 15th message at HUU, I will talk about how folks, who don’t believe in Satan or hell, can talk meaningfully about evil. This talk draws upon research I did a few years ago for a conference lecture on psychopaths ; also draws on philosopher Todd Calder’s article on “The Concept of Evil” in the on-line Stanford Philosophy Encyc

By Rev. Janet Onnie January 12, 2025 I want to talk with you today about transformation and the story we tell ourselves about it. Along the way we’ll touch on process theology -- the notion that we are co-creators in our lives with God (however you define that) and how relates to transformation. And we’ll end with the idea that maybe what we in this religious community say what we’re about – transforming lives – maybe that story isn’t true. Maybe what we’re abo

By Tom Hook December 1, 2024 Advent: What Does It Mean? In Christianity, Advent refers to the period of four weeks leading up to Christmas. It begins on the Sunday closest to November 30 and ends on December 24. It is a time of anticipation and preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus on Christmas Day. The word “Advent” is derived from the Latin word adventus, which means “coming” or “arrival, " which translates to the Greek word parousia. Parousia means: . . . p