The Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Westport
10 Lyons Plains Rd., Westport, CT 06880 - Ph: (203)227-7205 Sunday Services: 10:00 AM
It was two years ago, yesterday, that I first met with your search committee seeking a transitional minister. I was invited ahead of time to offer an opening reading. I chose a short one by William Bridges from his book entitled Transitions: Although we have to deal with endings all our lives, most of us […]
This past week, I saw the documentary on Netflix, “The Greatest Night in Pop” about how Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson wrote the song “We Are the World” and gathered superstars Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner, Cindy Lauper, Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, Billy Joel, Huey Louis, Diana Ross, and 36 other superstars. It led […]
Story for All This congregation was founded by Unitarians 75 years ago, but 63 years ago the Unitarians merged with the Universalists, and this congregation became Unitarian Universalist. Today I will talk about how both traditions organized themselves, but with you I want to tell you about the great Universalist evangelist named John Murray. John […]
I met Maxine at a workshop called Alternatives to Violence. She was one of the oldest participants, in her late sixties. Maxine spoke with a sonorous voice as she spoke of family she lost in the Holocaust. Early in the weekend workshop, we brainstormed a long list of different types of violence. Each of us […]
I was four months away from entering medical school and attending the First Unitarian Church of Oakland. The ministers. Rob and Janne Eller-Isaacs, were building a liberal religious community that brought together a spiritual depth, a commitment to social justice, and a vision of shared ministry. As I led small groups, listened to Rob’s prayers, […]
He is called the savior of California. His accomplishments are the stuff of legends, and I’m thrilled very few of you have heard of Thomas Starr Kiing. The few who know of his work in California likely don’t know his background: how he got into ministry or his rise as one of the most vocal […]
I begin today with three short readings. The first is from Ernest Hemingway. He began his short story entitled “Capital of the world” with a long sentence: Madrid is full of boys named Paco, which is diminutive of the name Francisco, and there is a Madrid joke about a father who came to Madrid and […]
I walked into the room and saw a teddy bear. And then, I saw, lying on the bed, a young man with blue eyes, sandy brown curls, and freckles. As our eyes met, a smile broadened across his face. He told me his name is Josh. I introduced myself as Alan, the chaplain. For this […]
