I learned a lot about myself from James Carroll’s talk on Civil Conversations and Stephanie Garcia Richard’s forum on bipartisanship. Continuing with these themes, I dream that UU might be known as the church that welcomes and affirms everyone. As my life journey continues along this uneven path, I find it helpful to look back so I will talk about my 1966 pilgrimage to Buddhist temples in Thailand and Laos, with the Vietnam war as a backdrop.

On Sundays, Mike McNaughton can usually be found near the Greeter’s table, welcoming and affirming. In 1966, he was a volunteer with the British peace corps in Malaysia, which is where he met his wife, KokHeong.

Themes of curiosity, courage, and telling your own story in Disney’s 2016 hit, Moana.

Tribalism is both a bane and a blessing. Our basic nature as human beings is to tribe-up, be with our people. This tendency probably ensured our survival for the whole of our evolution from great ape to human. Our families and tribesmen are people we can count on, to defend us and provide for us. In spite of global economies, fast communication, and world travel, we are still tribal and that may be the root cause of many of our political and economic problems. 

Sherry Hardage is a writer who lives in Rio Rancho. She has been a member of this church since 2001. Over the last 15 years, she has presented a number of Forum talks and sermons at the Unitarian Church, and looks forward to moving back to Los Alamos when circumstances permit.

Themes of family and forgiveness from the beautifully animated 2016 Oscar nominee, Kubo and the Two Strings.

Our religious heritage has deep roots in the Enlightenment and humanism. What did happiness, reverence, hope, and reason mean to those who lived and thought in that time? How can their understanding inform Unitarian Universalists today?

Rev. Munro Sickafoose holds a Master of Divinity degree from Starr King School for the Ministry. He is a community minister at UU Santa Fe, where he focuses on environmental issues. He also co-ministers at the Unitarian Congregation of Taos with the Rev. Gary Kowalski.

There are essential aspects of spirituality common to many wisdom traditions, whether Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, or Humanist. These teachings, largely independent of belief, are meant simply to help human beings realize their inherent freedom. John Ambrosiano came to Los Alamos as a scientist in 1997. He was drawn to Buddhism in 2003 and has studied formally with teacher Matthew Flickstein since 2008. John currently leads classes in mindfulness and meditation here with Henry Finney.

Our 2017 Blockbuster series kicks off with the quiet 2016 scifi hit, Arrival, and a sermon on language, time, and how we learn to see the world in new ways.

Join us for a special worship with a sermon (“The Shared World”) from General Assembly in New Orleans. Rev. Mara Dowdall, Senior Minister of the First UU Society of Burlington, VT, delivers this year’s Sunday Morning sermon at our annual UUA gathering. We’ll broadcast her sermon via delayed streaming as we build our own time of worship around her message. Our special musical guests will be Nylea Butler-Moore’s i.o.t.a. group from Bethlehem Lutheran. (Podcast audio contains readings only by Rev. John Cullinan. See link and/or video below to view the sermon)

https://www.uua.org/ga/off-site/2017/worship/sunday

A parable on a reality that may help us bring more effectiveness, justice, and compassion to education. Presented by Stephen Ledoux on June 28, 2017.

How can we bridge the many chasms that can sometimes divide us from those we love, politically, religiously, spiritually, and ideologically? Insights from a political, religious, spiritual, and ideological convert.