Back in January of this year, I attended the UU Ministers Association professional development seminar with Marcia McFee that focused on worship. She introduced the concept of a sermon series, as a way to try something new. She shared her view that, “you can’t deliver a one-hit wonder every Sunday of the year!” Although that’s what I usually try to … Read More
Is Depression Always Depressing?
This Sunday Lexi Bagheri, our last lay-preacher of the summer season, is sharing her meditation on the prevalence of depression and suicide in our culture. She will also offer suggestions of ways we can look for signs to help people who are struggling. De-stigmatizing mental illness has always been one of my overarching missions throughout my career as a UU … Read More
Hajj, Muslim Women, and the End of Summer
It’s so exciting to see that a Muslim woman may soon be off to Congress. Please see this article about Rashida Tlaib from Democracy Now! Hajj, or making a pilgrimage to Mecca, is one of the five pillars of Islam, and the culminating date of Hajj happens to be this Sunday, when we will be so fortunate to welcome Esma Ali … Read More
Summer Postcard
Happy August! Summer is my favorite time of year because it’s a chance to travel, reflect, and enjoy the gifts of life: time with friends and family, being outdoors with nature, and time to sit deep with a few good books. I have been reading several wonderful new books in preparation for my sermons over the course of the year. … Read More
My Trip to General Assembly 2018
By UUCSC member Rachel Bennett Steury. In June, I attended General Assembly in Kansas City Missouri in my role as Administrator of UUs for a Just Economic Community (UUJEC). While there, I helped to coordinate our Annual Meeting, Board Retreat, Poster and Networking Session and our advocacy on two AIWs. Here are several highlights from General Assembly. I included links … Read More
We Are Just Getting Started
Please welcome guest blogger, lay leader and Social Justice Council Chair, Antoinette Scully! I was drawn to the Unitarian Universalist faith because of their commitment to justice. I didn’t have to roam far to find UU Studio City. In my seven years here, I’ve been the committee chair for Religious Exploration (RE), volunteered in the classrooms, taught the sex-ed program … Read More
A New Era Has Arrived!
On June 24th, the UU Church of Studio City voted to call me as their settled Minister. This means that rather than renewing a contract each year with the board, I will now have one contract into the future that is between me and the church’s membership. A contract held in sacred covenant of our right relations, the UUA, and … Read More
Memorial Day One Week Later
Wasn’t Memorial Day last week? Yes, but we were working around our high school seniors’ schedule so we could do their very important bridging ceremonies into UU adulthood last Sunday – congrats grads and new UU adults! I’m a little stubborn when it comes to Memorial and Veterans’ Day, so we are observing this national holiday one week late. I’m … Read More