Sermon Archive
The Mechanics Driving Economic Inequality
Last spring, when the Social Justice Committee was working to identify a focus for the 2021-22 Church Year, Wy’east Member Robin Henderson advocated strongly for the idea of looking at economic inequality. This Sunday, Robin will share his passion for why it is important for everyone to understand and embrace economics to bolster all of us against the sway of political coercion and scare tactics.
Economic Inequality as an issue has become prominent everywhere (not just at our church), both in politics, national and local, and numerous religious and nonprofit organizations. In essence, our country has become more “WOKE!” to this issue. However, increasing public understanding of how an economic system actually works is important to make voters less susceptible to conservative politicians’ use of poisoned words and manipulative phrases when battling for policies necessary to reverse inequality. Robin hopes to both enlighten and interest listeners to an otherwise seemingly stuffy and tedious subject. With the broader voting public, this is especially important to resist intense right wing political manipulation.
You’re Not What You Once Were
November already! It’s late in the year now as daylight grows less and darkness grows more. Fall is a good time to think about similar changes in our own lives. Are we “less” now than we were in our younger days, or “more”? Neither? Or both? Let’s spend some time with king Solomon in both his youth and his old age as we ponder these questions.
By Rev. Moro
Wisdom of the Ancestors
Learning about our ancestors and embracing their cultures enriches our lives. This Sunday, please join us for a story-filled service as five of our members and friends share the wisdom of their ancestors.
Social Justice Focus Speaker
Kaia Sand, the Executive Director of Street Roots, will be our second speaker on our social justice focus for this church year of Economic Inequality and Justice.
It's Too Early for Halloween!
Yes, there are still two weeks to go, but it's not too early to contemplate the meanings we find hidden in what is many people's favorite holiday. Let’s see how it's costumes and customs invite us to embrace diversity, decay—and even death—as we take a walk in the dark together! Sermon by Rev. Craig Moro.
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