Sun Day – in the spirit of Earth Day – is a nationwide celebration of clean energy: a day of joyous action in support of solar and wind energy and a call to leave fossil fuels behind. On the eve of the autumn equinox, we’ll explore clean energy options for individuals, communities and the planet.
Many trace the emergence of American Unitarian thought to the work of a group of seekers called the Transcendentalists. The chief writer among them was Ralph Waldo Emerson. It seems, though, that the movement he helped launch was seeded earlier by his Aunt Mary. Let’s explore this amazing woman, her impact on our movement and the power of mentorship.
Unitarian Universalists are pioneers in comprehensive sexuality education, offering “Our Whole Lives” classes that flip shame-based messages about “sex ed” upside-down. Negative messages about sex have been used to consolidate power and control for millennia, and this active oppression continues in the highest levels of our government today. But our religion teaches that our bodies are good, science is real, and all people are equally deserving of love and respect; we can all be loud and proud to carry that faith with us in our work for justice.
Northwest Seasonal Workers Association is an independent membership association of workers in the seasonal industries of agriculture, timber and tourism which has been active in Jackson County since 1976.
As the summer fades and we return from travels, visits with family and friends and the adventures of the hot summer months, UUs around the country return to the formal beginning of a new church year. We invite you to bring a memento of your adventures in the form of a sample of the waters from your summer days. For some this might be water from distant lands. For others it might be the life sustaining water from your backyard well, hillside spring, or the faucet in your kitchen that brings the water of the Rogue River and its headwater’s mountain streams to our community. Let these waters be a symbol of both the miraculous life-giving systems of mother earth, and the beloved community that is our UUGP congregation.
Kurt will talk about his healing work in prisons and how these experiences helped the Heart Based Institute in launching the recently released video program on the Spiritual Heart onto Endovo, an online platform that currently reaches 1,250 prisons and jails across America.
After thousands of people around Los Angeles lost their homes in devastating fires, and a new authoritarian POTUS with plans for revenge was inaugurated, someone posted on Facebook that they’d tried the 2-week trial subscription to 2025 and wanted to cancel it. Funny, but sad as well — and nationally things have only gotten worse. How do we “keep hope alive” during times like this? How do we protect ourselves from despair? Can our UU ancestors offer us any clues?
Kate Campbell, local musician and director, knows that singing in harmony can enrich our music experiences, and that everyone can access the joy of creating harmony together. We will learn some easy songs in two- and three-part harmony to add to our personal and communal repertoires as Kate shares her insights into how to find that joy.
As a lead into our semi-annual congregational meeting we will be discussing how our congregations govern themselves as part of the larger denomination, and how we treat our sister congregations and the members of our own congregation. What does it means to be a covenantal faith? How does our spiritualty intertwine with our polity? What is my role as a member or friend of UUGP?
Rachel, along with some of UUGP’s constant gardeners will share the rewards their gardens have given them in story, poetry and song. Gardening can be spiritual practice, therapy, a place to engage with nature, a place for experimentation, or simply a place of peace and quiet.
There will also be a few sing-a-longs of garden songs that will make this collaborative Home Grown (pun intended!) service a happy morning.
