UU Community Church of Washington County's Podcast

Drawing on the prophetic witness of Martin Luther King Jr., Fred Hampton, Archbishop Oscar Romero, and the radical story of Jesus in Mark’s Gospel, this sermon reframes “taking up the cross” not as private suffering but as collective resistance to Empire. Grounded in histories of liberation movements and faith-rooted courage, it explores the cost of standing with the oppressed, the dangers of religious institutions aligning with power, and the enduring call to choose love, justice, and solidarity over safety. It invites listeners across traditions to recover a faith and moral witness bold enough to challenge systems of domination, sustained by the wisdom of our ancestors and the enduring hope that liberation is possible.

Let’s lean into the wisdom of the calendar, as we land halfway between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox. What are the lessons of looking forward to the coming of Spring?

“The fragrance always stays in the hand that gives the rose.”– Hada Bejar

We’re going to really lean into what we love about our congregation: what we know from the past, choices for the present, and what we dream for the future.

New Year is the time when we’re romanced into thinking there’s something wrong - with us, with our lives, our bodies, our relationships. What if, instead, it’s a time to lean in love ourselves and each other more deeply?

Witold Pilecki was a Polish cavalry officer in WWII, who was the only person to ever break into Auschwitz and then back out again. Together we’ll examine lessons from his life and legacy.

Join us for a celebration of the lengthening days and consideration of what it means to embrace progress and inspiration.

What is Hanukkah anyway?  Join us to talk about how a story about resisting military enemies can teach us about courage and offer us questions about peace.

“Sometimes it takes darkness and the sweet confinement of your aloneness to learn…” - David Whyte

This part of the year often gets described as the end of the year, but before anything can happen, many times there’s preparation that is unseen.  What if this part of the year allows us to imagine and prepare for unprecedented beauty and plentifulness?

Even when we find ourselves in the midst of struggles, every day gives us a new opportunity to practice gratitude and find joy.  Please join us in taking time to reconnect, laugh, and sing for joy!  We will celebrate being alive, together on this planet.

We get to choose some of our endeavors; others choose us.  Cheyenne will share her personal story of becoming an environmentalist and science educator, and the impacts of one particularly personal, seemingly ubiquitous, nefarious form of pollution.