What Brings You Joy?
May 14, 2020That's a loaded question, isn't it? You might answer it sheepishly, like binge-watching TV (if the show is good), or relaxing with a few drinks (if you're a drinker), or using medicinal marijuana (if you have any), or sex (if available). Then there's taking early morning or sunset walks in your neighborhood, gardening, dancing in your living room, Zooming with ...
Mother, I Forgot to Tell You…
May 7, 2020Many years ago, I used to go to "church camp." This was an annual, week-long event put on by the Unitarian Universalist Association for young adults aged 18 - 35. It was called OPUS (nope, oddly enough, that's not another UU acronymn, just its name). I went to OPUSes all over the US and Canada. In the mornings we all ...
What the Hell is Happening to 2020?
April 29, 2020It's quite something to realize it's about to be May, the 5th month of the year. I vaguely remember celebrating New Years, Valentines, and St. Patrick's Day . . . then all hell broke loose. Lately in my worship services, I've done my best to have a pastoral theme, something that comforts us personally. Meanwhile, there are social justice issues ...
Love in the Time of Corona
April 23, 2020I thought I was so clever when I came up with that snappy saying! I was day-dreaming, trying to orient my disoriented quarantined-after-two-weeks self. I remembered the famous novel by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. How I read "Love in the Time of Cholera" when I was about 19 or 20, when it was hot, deep into a Michigan summer. I was ...
Our Hearts Go Out to New York City
April 15, 2020My heart broke today when I heard Mayor Cuomo of New York City begging the nurses and health professionals to come help out if the epidemic was not too acute in their home region or city. It feels like when there is a really bad forest fire and firefighters are flown in from other states, and even other countries. Our ...
Easter Time!
April 8, 2020A resurrection would be nice right about now, eh? Resurrection as far as a return to normal life, social gatherings, and public events. I miss the NBA! I miss socializing in my little Altadena village where I live, where I run into people I know. I miss going out to eat! What do you miss? So much feels "dead" right ...
Free Your Mind . . . And Your Ass Will Follow
April 1, 2020Our Worship Theme of the Month for April is LIBERATION. Ironic, considering many of us feel anything but liberated at this time. But it's referring to the major Jewish and Christian holidays in April. For Jews, Passover is about liberation from slavery. For Christians, Easter is about liberation from sin. (For Easter, the title of my sermon is: "Liberation From ...
Been Here, Done This
March 25, 2020Greetings 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 ...
To Love the Dead
October 24, 2019It'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 ...
In Appreciation: Donna Mae Pitluck (1928-2019)
October 8, 2019Donna 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. ...
Whose Are You? Where Do You Belong?
October 3, 2019This 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 ...
Stories of Memory Loss
September 19, 2019I'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 ...