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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

November 17, 2024 Rev. Janet Onnie The story of Nehemiah is my go-to story whenever I think about the challenges of building the world our Unitarian Universalists values dictate. Values we share with those ancient Jews. Last week those values came under attack. As did many other congregations, we at HUU participated in a grief vigil. Last Sunday the Unitarian Universalist congregations nationwide reported overflowing sanctuaries with people expressing their fear, anger, s

Rev. Janet Onnie September 1, 2024 Last week Rev. Paul Britner described ministry, quoting Gordon McKeeman, as ‘the quality of a relationship between and among human beings that beckons forth hidden possibilities.’  Rev. Britner gave striking examples of individuals doing ministry.  I need only to look around at HUU and see equally striking examples of people doing ministry.  So why did you feel you needed a minister?  To address that question that I’ll need to reference our

by Rev. Kirk Ballin August 18, 2024 The Dash by Linda Ellis I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend. He referred to the dates on the tombstone from the beginning…to the end. He noted that first came the date of birth And spoke the following date with tears, But he said what mattered most of all Was the dash between those years. For that dash represents all the time that they spent alive on earth. And now only those who loved them know what that little li