Probably many of us think “circus,” “Tom Thumb,” “Jumbo,” or “Greatest Show on Earth” when we hear the name P.T. Barnum. Member Teresa Northcross explores the life of Phineas Taylor Barnum – showman, best-selling author, politician, impresario, moral reformer, unabashed capitalist, real estate developer, eventual Abolitionist, and a life-long Universalist.
Rev. Summer Albayati, our Pacific Western Region of the UUA staff person will again join us. As we enter a new year she brings her insight, compassion and encouragement to our beloved community.
When we think of the unhoused community, images of tent cities, cardboard signs, struggle, addiction, and isolation often come to mind—a community marked by tremendous needs. Yet, Elias Poore, SOUUP Intern Minister and formerly unhoused community organizer with over eight years of experience working with unhoused communities, challenges us to see beyond these stereotypes. Drawing on their lived experience and work alongside these communities, Eli reflects on the invisibility and vulnerability of houselessness while offering a hopeful vision, highlighting the profound lessons these communities can offer all of us about perseverance, interdependence, inherent worth, and the transformative power of relationships.
In this sequel to Part 1, waterfalls cascade us deeper into the science of awe, including: the wonderful word “eudaemonia”; the gifts of people who are pre-disposed to experience awe; and the relations between awe, wonder, spirituality, and ambiguity.
Together we’ll remember and reflect upon people near, dear and notable whose lives concluded in 2024. We’ll light candles; we’ll sing; we’ll laugh; we may cry; and we will mourn together those we have lost. We will celebrate their legacies, hear their songs and consider how lives well lived can make such a difference.
At the turning of the year, many of us take stock of our lives: what we remember from days flown by, and what we want to find around the next corner. Our second annual participatory year-end service will take us through a collaborative process of sharing our thoughts, dreams, and goals for UUGP. Where have we been, and where do we want to go, as we live the daily joys and challenges of our seven principles? Onward to 2025!
In this time of long dark days when the southern hemisphere of the earth visits the sun, the folks of the north have for millenia ritualized the return of the light marked by the winter solstice. Stories of the return of the sun, celebrations of survival, the anticipation of rebirth that spring would bring, and faith in the promise of the future abound. Join us for a sharing of the stories, music, and the hope and joy of the season as we gather for the first of our longer, sun filled days.
Holiday celebrations—whether Solstice, Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa—share a common thread: the theme of light returning in the midst of deep darkness. These traditions remind us of the enduring hope that even in the bleakest of times, light finds a way to shine through. In this service, we will explore these celebrations and their connection to the theme of “Light as Liberation”—a light that does more than illuminate; it liberates. This light carries the promise of freedom, belonging, and renewal for all people. It is the spark that breaks chains, guides us toward justice, and ignites the flame of collective transformation. Together, we will reflect on how this light calls us to action, to create a world where all can experience the warmth of liberation and the power of a brighter tomorrow.
The world’s climate is changing, and the shift in global atmospheric conditions is coupled with disruption of the nearshore Pacific Ocean along the west coast of North America. The recent shift in ocean drivers has contributed to broad-scale impacts to marine and estuarine habitats, including unfortunate consequences for several of Oregon’s marine species of greatest conservation need.
We have an ever-increasing need for peace in times of upheaval and change. Kathleen will reflect on how that peace can be found in uplifting music and sound. As we listen to healing sound, we can calm our nervous system and relax into a stillness where we can hear the gentle guidance within. Kathleen will share the pure sounds of alchemy crystal singing bowls, and her angelic voice, as we tune into the place of peace within each heart and soul.
