with Worship Associate Nancy Blake and pianist David Dodd. On February 15, Japanese Buddhists commemorate the Buddha’s Paranirvana: i.e., his death and entry into final Nirvana. The last teaching frequently (mis-)attributed to him is expressed in Unitarian Universalist hymn #184: ”Be ye lamps unto yourselves; be your own confidence; hold to the truth within yourselves … Continue reading “Be Ye Lamps”
with Worship Associate Nancy Blake, Cantor Rachel Walters Steiner, the Larking About Choir, and pianist Gary Rossi. As we navigate a busy holiday season, on this Sunday morning we will slow down, settle into stillness, reflection, and contemplative chanting. December 8, Bodhi Day, marks the Buddha’s enlightenment in the Japanese Buddhist traditions. This story of … Continue reading Bodhi Day: Contemplative Practices for Wisdom, Compassion, and Renewal
with Worship Associates Nancy Blake and Dave Hudson, and Cantor Rachel Walters Steiner. Over this 2025-26 church year, we’ll be exploring the Shared Values at the heart of our Covenantal relationship with one another as Unitarian Univeralists. A silly but helpful acronym for remembering these values is JETPIG, with Love at the Center. We’re covering … Continue reading Transformation: Our UU Commitment to Learning and Growth
While many members of the congregation will be at the Annual Retreat in Napa, those attending Worship in Petaluma can enjoy a minimalist service focused on silence and meditation: sitting and walking. No experience is necessary; basic instruction about different styles will be offered. Feel free to BYO meditation cushions, bench, etc. Shoes that are … Continue reading Enjoying Stillness
with Worship Associate Nancy Blake, Cantor Rachel Walters Steiner, and pianist David Dodd
with Worship Associate Nancy Blake and musicians Gary Rossi, Tony Blake, and Tim Jenkins How do people forgive the seemingly unforgivable? What is forgiveness, anyway? Does it require us to forget past harms? How is it related to reconciliation? Is either of those ever a bad idea? Is it possible to become a more forgiving … Continue reading Forgiveness and Grace
When we look at the garden’s winter bones, what can we learn about ourselves and our world? Come celebrate the joy of being together as we sing songs to honor Mother Earth and the coming of Spring.
Wakoh explores a Zen Buddhist teaching on birth and death: its beauty and usefulness when caring for those born and dying and/or when facing one’s own mortality.
In the coming months and years we will be called upon to stay committed to the work of resilience and resistance. How do we fight the temptation to look away? Can we engage in meaningful practices of solidarity with people whose lives look very different from our own?
As we go running into the new year we ask: which of our stories will we use to find our way and which will we leave on the road?
