Speaker: Allysson McDonald

Rooted, Inspired, Ready!

On Sunday, July 5, we will find out what we’ve learned at last week’s Unitarian Universalist General Assembly. Delegates Allysson McDonald and Kathi Bayne, ministers Rev. Barbara Meyers and Rev. Chris Schriner, and Denominational Affairs Chair Holly Ito will all share the highlights of their … read more.

It’s a Mystery – How Do We Get 2020 Vision?

Our theme for December has been “mystery”, and what is more mysterious than the future? Sometimes it seems we have no control over that! Some create vision boards to help them focus on the outcomes they want to achieve. But science tells us that traditional vision boards can actually make us less likely to succeed because we may then passively wait for our dreams to come true. What’s more helpful is to visualize the work or the steps involved in bringing about success. Join us this morning for an inter generational workshop where you envision not only your goals for the New Year, but how you might attain them. There will be magazines and other paper resources, art supplies, and poster board set up at stations. If you have supplies you don’t mind sharing, contact Shawn. We will also sing, share joys and concerns, and move together as we acknowledge the changing of the year and look to the future.

The Principled Life

As Unitarian Universalists our congregations affirm and promote 7 principles that serve as the glue for our faith. Do you live by the seven principles? How do they impact your life? During this service we’ll play with what it means to lead a principled life by sharing with each other how we manifest them in the world. Perhaps you’ll come away with a new insight or a new commitment to our principles. At the very least you will know a little more about some of your fellow congregants.

It’s Elemental!

In the last service of 2018 we will each have an opportunity to reflect back on the last year and make wishes for the new. We will explore three stations representing Earth, Wind, Fire, and Water. In completing each ritual activity we will also move through the themes we focused on over the last months (forgiveness, gratitude, and healing) and begin to develop a vision for the next year (our next theme!). Join us for an all ages New Years program with opportunities for doing rather than just listening.

Belonging – Me, Us, Them [audio]

One of the fundamental human needs is a sense of belonging, connection, or community. We all have our stories of not belonging. How do we help others feel like they belong? How do we exclude others? Do we need boundaries? How does this play out on various levels – personal, social, congregational, national? What is a nation anyway, and how do we decide who belongs? Our worship leader, Allysson McDonald, wrote her Master’s Research Paper on nationhood, and as an “undercover immigrant” has personal experience of belonging and not belonging.

UU Assets For Youth [audio]

We worry about youth suicide, gun violence, and other issues affecting young people, but often feel helpless and don’t know how we can make a difference. The Search Institute has identified 40 positive supports and strengths that young people need to thrive. Half of the assets focus on the relationships and opportunities they need in their families, schools, and communities (external assets). The remaining assets focus on the social-emotional strengths, values, and commitments that are nurtured within young people (internal assets). How do these fit with our UU values and how can we help instill them so our children can feel valued and lead healthy lives? All community members , not just parents, have roles to play. Do you know how to make a difference?

Experiencing Grace in the New Year

December’s worship theme at Mission Peak is Grace. On the last day we will explore the InterPlay idea of grace, which is similar to ease. I don’t know about you, but I could use more ease in my life! Come hang out with us, figure out how to let go of some of the stress of 2017 (hang loose), and ways to help you hang in there through the coming year. We’ll use a combination of ritual, meditation, conversation, and some easy movement to help us relax, connect, and discover what will bring more grace and help us ease into the New Year. Music by Jay Steele.

Forward Together – The Third Reconstruction and A Reason to Hope

Last year the UUA named Rev. Barber’s book The Third Reconstruction: Moral Mondays, Fusion Politics, and the Rise of the New Justice Movement as our 2016-17 Common Read. This week’s sermon will give you an overview of the themes of the book and argue that it is even more relevant post-election than it was before. Among other things, Barber can help us understand why we are where we are today and how we can find hope. How do we fit into the long view of history? Find out how we move forward together.