Services

Easter at UUGP: A Celebration of Renewal and Resurrection

Join us this Easter as we gather in the spirit of renewal, transformation, and hope. In the Unitarian Universalist tradition, we honor Easter not only as a Christian story of resurrection but also as a universal story of life’s enduring capacity for renewal.
This service will invite us to reflect on the ways resurrection shows up in our lives and community—not as a distant miracle, but as an ever present source of healing, justice, and love. We will explore how communities rise after hardship, how hope can emerge even in the face of despair, how healing can arrive amidst grief, and how each of us is continually invited into new beginnings.
We will also honor new members and celebrate Intern Minister Eli Poore’s last Sunday this church year at UUGP.

This I believe

Diana Coogle returns as a guest to our pulpit to talk about her strong faith in nature as healer, companion, and spiritual center, and share readings from her published books, including earlier JPR commentaries, recent poems, and poems from her book about her late husband.

Land Acknowledgement

The UUGP Land Acknowledgment, started four years ago, has sparked a variety of responses in our members and friends. Is it a courageous act of truth telling, or an act of self-flagellation? A significant thread in the larger fabric of social change, or a misguided and ultimately empty gesture? Please join us to participate in conversation about our Land Acknowledgment, guided by our seven principles and with the goal of greater understanding and compassion for friends whose views differ from our own. As part of the service, you will be invited to share your thoughts about the strongest reasons for keeping the Land Acknowledgment the way it is and the strongest reasons for changing it. Can you articulate both perspectives with curiosity and compassion?

We’ve Only Just Begun (zoom)

This sermon will expand and build upon what Rev. Fristad presented to us in June of 2023, with his sermon “Universalism: Past, Present and Powerful”. This time the focus will be on universalism as it relates to John Murray and how he came to believe in universalism in England; the early history of universalism in the American Colonies; Thomas Potter and his chapel in New Jersey (where Murray preached in 1770); and the subsequent spread of universalism up until the present time.

UU Tradition of Witness and Peaceful Resistance

To Know Another: ‘Love is the doctrine of this church’, ‘To seek the truth in Love’, ‘Beloved Community’, ‘Beloveds’. These are some of the mantras, if you will, and covenantal language we embrace to express our UU commitment to moving from a foundation of alove, working for equality, and seeing environmental justice as a core issue of human rights. Do I know my neighbors?

Faith in Action: The Call to Courageous Engagement

Unitarian Universalism calls us not only to affirm our values but to live them boldly in the world. In times of injustice, when systemic oppression and inequality persist, how do we move beyond words into direct action? What does it mean to engage in faithful resistance, to put our principles into practice with courage and integrity?

This sermon will explore the rich history of direct action within faith communities, including Unitarian Universalist movements for justice, and reflect on how we, as individuals and congregations, can answer the call to embodied love and liberation. From protest to mutual aid, from sanctuary to solidarity, we will consider the sacred work of showing up—especially when it is uncomfortable, especially when it demands risk, especially when love and justice require more than thoughts and prayers.

Together, we will reflect on how we can make our faith tangible, stepping into the prophetic tradition of those who have come before us, as we discern what it means to be a people of action in this moment.

Habitat for Humanity

Safe and stable housing is fundamental to human dignity, yet many in our community continue to face housing insecurity. This Sunday, we welcome a guest speaker from Habitat for Humanity to share their mission and vision for creating permanent housing and fostering pathways to stability in Grants Pass. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat for Humanity International has worked in all 50 U.S. states and 79 countries, helping more than 59 million people secure safe, affordable shelter. Together, we will explore how sustainable housing transforms lives and how we can strengthen our partnership with an organization committed to upholding the inherent worth and dignity of all people—ensuring that every person has the foundation they need not just to survive, but to thrive.

UU Women, Living Our Values Largest

Ever have a hard time explaining what UUs believe?  By the way we live our lives, our beliefs are often evidenced by being lived out loud.  In honor of Women’s History Month, we remember the lives of a variety of UU women and what they tell us about our values.  Some stood witness to the injustice of their times, some spoke truth to power in the halls of religion, education and government, some quietly explored the reaches of art and science.  All remind us that our values are to be lived in our actions and deeds, both everyday and during extraordinary times.

Nature Prescriptions for Health and Wellness

When we talk about treatment for substance use disorders, the first things we tend to think of are detox programs and medication assisted treatment. One treatment approach that rarely comes into the conversation is nature connection as a treatment tool for substance use disorders. Let’s change that!

The Revolutionary Power of Love: Transcending Boundaries, Transforming Worlds

Love is not just an emotion—it’s a sacred, revolutionary act of defiance. Through the story of St. Valentine, a radical who blessed forbidden unions in the face of empire, the wisdom of mysticism, and the lived experiences of queer and trans people, we’ll explore how love transcends boundaries and transforms communities. What does it mean to embody love in a world that seeks to erase and control us? How can the perspectives of the marginalized teach us to live love as resistance, connection, and liberation? Together, we’ll reclaim love as holy power—a force to heal, disrupt, and create a just, expansive future for all.