Greetings from . . . my bed! My office has moved to my bedroom – or should I call it my war room? Never thought I’d preach from bed, but here we are. I just ordered a tripod for my phone so we can broadcast from other platforms. I’m terribly un-tech savvy, but I am doing my best to rise … Read More
To Love the Dead
It’s that time of year, when the veil between the worlds of the dead and the living gets thin and we can commune with our loved ones who have passed. So says the traditions of pagans’ Samain and the Mexicans’ La Dia de Los Muertos. It’s no wonder many Americans have embraced or appropriated these traditions for themselves, since we … Read More
In Appreciation: Donna Mae Pitluck (1928-2019)
Donna Mae Pitluck, a beloved member of UUCSC for 52 years, died on Sunday, October 6, 2019. She will be sorely missed. Donna Mae was 91 years old. Please join us for “Celebration of Life” on Saturday, November 2 at 11:00 AM in the UUCSC Sanctuary. Professionally, Donna Mae was Head Librarian at Los Angeles Mission College from 1975 to 1994. … Read More
Whose Are You? Where Do You Belong?
This is a loaded topic! There are so many layers of belonging: to our families, our communities, our religious traditions. Belonging to society at large – if we’re different, will we be accepted, so we can belong? And most importantly, what about belonging to ourselves? How at home within ourselves do we feel, so we can be our best, our … Read More
Stories of Memory Loss
I’m very glad to have our Music Director Nancy Holland as a guest blogger this week: When I chose to perform Alzheimer’s Stories by Robert Cohen, (because I found the music and lyrics so moving) I had no idea how personally significant it would be for many of our choir members. This Sunday, three choir members will speak about their … Read More
Making Out During the Debate
I’m hanging out with my buddy Denise, watching the Democratic candidate debate that she recorded earlier. I haven’t had network TV at home for around five years, so this is the best way I can watch it. But man, it’s hard to watch! All the tough issues . . . laying the truth bare to illustrate the extent of the … Read More
Water: The Paradox of Life
The best spiritual book about water I know is called “The Secret Knowledge of Water” by Craig Childs (please let me know if you know of others). It’s all about finding water in the hottest, most dangerous deserts in the US. I love this line in the Introduction: “There are two easy ways to die in the desert: thirst or … Read More
I Love Labor Day
This is one of those holidays that bleed together in secular and spiritual ways. First the secular. Americans identify heavily with their vocations – be that paid or unpaid, we love to work. We love the meaning behind “a labor of love.” It’s also the substance of life, in our bodies, our minds, our day to day waking existence: what … Read More
Back to Church!
Now that the kids are all back in school, it’s also time to come back to church each Sunday, and start blogging again! This is the time of year we get a lot of newcomers checking us out, so I try to offer some context to what Unitarian Universalism is all about. This Sunday, I’m excited to be talking about … Read More
“An Interesting and Awkward Situation”
Those are the words of Pasadena mayor Terry Tornek, as he made remarks at the 46th Annual Pasadena Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast this morning. Normally the event is held the same day as National Prayer Day, which was last Thursday. Due to a conflict, they held it today, and the interesting and awkward situation was that the Muslims couldn’t join in … Read More