Rev. Landale will explore the precepts of satyagraha (truth-force or soul-force) and ahimsa (nonviolence) as a way of life, in all aspects of our lives.

After seeing the musical “Hamilton” in Eugene in September and listening to the Hamilton soundtrack nonstop (!) ever since, and now watching documentaries and reading books of the Revolutionary War and founding of the USA, Rev. Stephen Landale will offer reflections on what all this can mean for us today.

In our current and escalating culture wars – which are increasingly spilling over into political violence, we must learn to prioritize human connection and the respect that radical connection requires. This sermon will include stories and perspectives that can be challenging for liberals and progressives, but it’s a viewpoint stemming from a personal credo Rev. Landale once encountered, “I will let nothing stand between me and the person in front of me.”

Rev. Stephen Landale joins us to share a surprisingly humorous story from the Hebrew Scriptures, the story of the healing of Na’aman, in 2 Kings 5: 1-15 (the humor will be more evident in a modern retelling of the story). We’ll reflect on how we want healing or change to happen, and how it typically needs to happen. Rev. Landale has been a hospice chaplain for over nine years, served as a full-time UU parish minister for 11 years, and has been a guest UU preacher and consulting minister for most of the last decade.

In Unitarian Universalism, we hear much of Truth and Love.  But what of Trust?  What does it mean to trust?  What are the spiritual gifts of trusting, and how does this relate to congregational life?  Rev. Stephen Landale, returns to spin a sermon on this theme. 

Rev. Stephen Landale returns to share reflections on both spiritual Daily Affirmations and existential Daily Afflictions, from his experience as a Hospice Chaplain, and as a parent.

Today is Pentecost on the Christian calendar, when Jesus’ disciples emerged from grief in a transformation that was miraculous, and yet wholly human. Grief may change us in positive, even miraculous ways. Stephen returns with a message grounded in his work as a hospice chaplain in Eugene.

Like so many other things in 2020, the unfolding election results have led many if not most of us to be on edge, giving us plenty of reasons to worry and plenty of reasons to hope. 2020 “Election Day” has become “Election Week” and could become “Election Months” with litigation. This on top of the Covid-19 pandemic worsening, and more. What are our spiritual resources at this time, as individuals, families, and communities? What are some of the sources of resilience and renewal of our country? Rev. Stephen Landale, hospice chaplain from Eugene, will lead this exploration.

During this time of pandemic AND social unrest AND now wildfires raging all around – all in a context of we’re-heading-over-a-cliff Climate Change AND eroding trust in the pillars of Democracy – with ALL OF THIS HAPPENING it is easy to experience fear, anxiety, depression, anger, and something not named often enough: Despair. But when we allow ourselves to experience these feelings fully in the right context, we open ourselves up to a heartfelt, passionate, deep knowing of our interconnectedness and our own capacities to be flow-throughs for restoration, recovery, healing, and even joy. Rev. Stephen Landale, hospice chaplain from Eugene, returns to preach on some of the early writing and teachings of Dr. Joanna Macy, Buddhist, systems theorist, and groundbreaking root teacher of Despair and Empowerment Work, now called “The Work that Reconnects.”
(note: Rev. Landale originally scheduled for this date a sermon on Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Without Mediator or Veil” but decided that the once-again unusual circumstances dictated that this topic be punted again).

As John Lewis, the great civil rights champion and voice of conscience in Congress, is laid to rest this weekend, we’ll explore the teachings of Jesus that illuminated Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights movement.
We are at a pivotal moment in history, and the application (or not) of Nonviolence may make all the difference. You may find it transformative in your personal life as well. Stephen returns to our pulpit from Eugene, where he is a hospice chaplain.