Sermon Archive
Water Communion & Ingathering
We normally hold this annual traditional service on the 2nd Sunday in September. We delayed it to October this year in the hopes that we might be able to offer an in person component in our traditional meeting space. We may have to remain flexible on those possibilities, but we can joyfully celebrate gathering again for fall and finding the sacred in this beloved traditional ritual. Service led by Wy'east Members and Friends.
Join our Virtual Service Sunday at 10:30
Click Here to link to the Zoom Service
Meeting ID: 275 194 110
Phone In: (669) 900-6833
Reading Signs
There is almost nothing in the world that people have not tried to read for hidden meanings, “signs” and “omens. ” Alomancy uses salt—interpreting patterns that form when it is dropped or thrown. Tasseomancy involves reading the patterns left by the dregs of tea in the bottom of a cup. Do chance arrangements of objects really speak to us about our lives. What is it that they say? We’ll take a peek into China’s I Ching while exploring this question today. Sermon by Rev. Craig Moro.
The Great Evil of Our Time
…there should exist among the citizens neither extreme poverty nor, again, excessive wealth, for both are productive of great evil.” –Plato
Inequality is the great evil of our time, threatening the very lives of people and democracy itself. We will explore why inequality has been escalating for over 40 years and some of the myths that may prevent us from realizing the full impact it has on our lives and our society. As a people of faith, we will explore our moral imperative to act in tangible ways to reverse runaway inequality as an act of love for all of life itself.
The Rev. Connie Yost is an ordained UU minister affiliated with West Hills UU Fellowship. She currently serves as President of the Board of Farm Worker Ministry Northwest, and on the board of the National Farm Worker Ministry. She is the founder and coordinator of Friends Stay Warm, a nonprofit ministry dedicated to supporting low-wage workers and immigrant detainees through cash assistance and advocacy. She serves on the Faith Labor Committee of Portland Jobs with Justice and is the Treasurer of the Oregon Poor People’s Campaign. Connie also serves as a trained spiritual director, preacher, teacher, activist, and minister of rites of passage.
https://www.fwm-nw.org/
http://nfwm.org/
http://www.friendsstaywarm.org/
https://www.connieyost.com/
Lamech’s Numbers
According to the Hebrew Bible, Adam and Eve discovered sex and work. Abel combined the two, creating animal husbandry. Cain did the same with plants, inventing agriculture. Enoch built on both to invent cities. And Lamech invented vengeance—plus a strange form of math based on sevens and elevens that has been expanded on by countless others. But must we live our lives according to Lamech's numbers? This morning, let's consider the practice and the power of forgiveness—in a world where it's so sorely needed.
By Rev. Moro
My Spiritual Journey: Reflections from a Gay Palestinian Quaker
Dr. Sa'ed Atshan is an anthropologist, Christian, Quaker, gay activist, and professor at Emory University. He grew up in Palestine and will share parts of his personal life journey and approach to overcoming challenges and embracing spiritual grounding.
Sa'ed Atshan, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Peace and Conflict Studies
Swarthmore College (on leave, 2021-2022)
Books:
Queer Palestine and the Empire of Critique
The Moral Triangle: Germans, Israelis, Palestinians
Join our Virtual Service Sunday at 10:30
Click Here to link to the Zoom Service
Meeting ID: 275 194 110
Phone In: (669) 900-6833
Who Was Mrs. Cain?
An early Bible census shows the population of the world to be just four: Adam, Eve, and their sons Cain and Abel. After Cain kills Abel there should only be three people left, but then we're suddenly told that Cain has a wife. She seems to have appeared out of nowhere! Who was she? Where did she come from? And why should it matter to us? This is the first of a two-part series on forgiveness as we prepare to honor the Jewish High Holidays and the 20th anniversary of the events of September 11, 2001.
By Rev. Moro
UU Field Trip to Mid-Columbia (10AM Start)
“My UU Tribe”
Rev. Judy Zimmerman, with Adam Pope, celebrant.
Unitarian Universalists who were not raised as UU often proclaim that they have found their tribe when they formally join a UU congregation. The notion of communion suggests enduring friendship, closeness, and a ‘union with’. How is this expressed in a denomination with a gene for individualism and self-reliance ? This morning we’ll conclude explorations on our monthly theme of Communion as several sibling UU congregations join us for our final shared worship service of the summer.
Click on: https://zoom.us/j/767376780 to enter the online worship service.
To join by telephone, dial (253) 215-8782 and enter the meeting code 767376780 followed by the pound sign.
Please note that our service begins at 10:00 AM.
Zoroastrianism
Rebecca DesPrez
Zoroastrianism is one of the world's oldest living religious traditions. Rebecca DesPrez will join us this morning to introduce Zoroaster (Zarathushtra) and give a brief history of Zoroastrianism. She will also share her thoughts on the relationship between humanism and Zoroaster's thoughts as it is prescribed in the Gathas, Zoroaster's sacred hymns.
Rebecca DesPrez is a Zoroastrian from Iran. She has a degree in Political Science from SJSU in San Jose, CA. She is the founder of Oregon Zoroastrian Organization (OZO) and has served on the Board of Trustees of Persian Zoroastrian Organization in San Jose, CA and she is the owner of Zoroastrian Kids Korner, an educational site for Zoroastrian kids. Rebecca has published a book entitled "My Little Book of Zoroastrian Prayers." She currently sits on the board of Oregon Interfaith Hub based in Eugene, OR. She lives with her husband in the Eugene area.
The Mid-Columbia UU Fellowship (Hood River) will be joining us for this service.
Reimagining Community Response to Crisis
Britt Urban from PDX Street Response
Portland Street Response (PSR), modeled after the CAHOOTS (Crisis Assistance Helping Out On the Streets) program in Eugene, is a new program helping to reimagine our first responder system. Traditionally our system has sent police or the fire department to 911 calls related to mental health, substance use or other behavioral crises. PSR is in its pilot year and is aiming to be an alternative responder in these types of situations. Britt Urban, the mental health clinician with PSR, will be here to talk about PSR’s current services, the need for this type of crisis response, and the future of the program.
The Eastrose Fellowship Unitarian Universalist Congregation will be joining us for this service.
Marked By COVID: leveraging personal loss for the greater good
Kristin Urquiza of Marked by COVID
After losing her healthy 65-year old father to COVID, Kristin Urquiza, co-founded the grassroots group Marked By COVID which has since turned into a force in the fight to battle COVID. Powered by people who have personally been impacted by COVID, Marked By COVID is working to slow the spread, promote truth and science, and build the case for COVID justice. Kristin's work is fueled by the power of love for her father and fellow mankind and is a believer in the infinite power of turning pain into purpose. More can be read on her work at www.MarkedByCOVID.com
PS: Marked By COVID is a national, grassroots-powered nonprofit that promotes accountability, recognition, justice, and a pandemic-free future by elevating truth and science. Sign up now for updates and opportunities to take action.