Category Archives for "Blog"

Sunday Worship, December 1st, 2024 at 10:30 am A Few Interesting “…isms” Rev. Mike Morran Join us on December 1rst at 10:30 am.  With our monthly theme of Divinity, we’ll consider and explore some of the beauty and weirdness of popular theological isms like theism, deism, pantheism, and even atheism. We warmly invite you to join […]

New from the FUSD Board of Directors Labyrinth Dennis Grogan and Tina Proctor have generously donated their large labyrinth to our community. Members, friends and visitors of FUSD have experienced walking the labyrinth, as well as expert guidance from Dennis and Tina, during many services and events. We are honored to give this beautiful labyrinth […]

Sunday Worship, November 24th, 2024 at 10:30 am Themes In Therapy Alisha Bashaw, Marilee Boe and Sandra Parker Join us on Sunday, November 24th at 10:30 am.  Three of our community members with expertise in therapy (Alisha Bashaw, Marilee Boe, and Sandra Parker) will reflect on their vocation. We warmly invite you to join us in […]

Sunday Worship, November 17th, 2024 at 10:30 am Pain is Inevitable, Suffering is Optional Rev. Mike Morran Join us on Sunday, November 17th at 10:30 am.  Continuing to recover from the election, and without getting bogged down in semantics, we will consider the very useful concept of clean pain and dirty pain as practiced in […]

Religious Exploration News Families, mark your calendars! In our Solstice Eve event on December 20th, the children will sing “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” participate in the Advent Spiral, create crafts with the family, and sit down for a meal together as a community. Our next intergenerational service will be held on December 22nd […]

Sunday Worship, November 10th, 2024 at 10:30 am The Truth Shall Set You Free Rev. Mike Morran Join us on Sunday, November 10th at 10:30 am.  On this post-election Sunday, whichever way it goes, we will consider the spiritual, social, and political need for Truth and truth-telling. No healing, health, or community is possible without […]

Families, it’s already time to prepare for our Winter Solstice musical, which will be featured in our next intergenerational service on December 22nd! If your child is interested in participating, we would like you to commit to attending the following Sundays, December 1, 8, and 15, where they will learn and rehearse their parts. On […]

Sunday Worship, November 3rd, 2024 at 10:30 am Preparation Rev. Mike Morran Join us on Sunday, November 3rd at 10:30 am.  On this Sunday before the election, we will consider the ancient spiritual practice of preparation. What can we do to make ourselves and our communities ready for whatever is coming? We warmly invite you to […]

Sunday Worship, October 27th, 2024 at 10:30 am Autumn Remembrance Rev. Mike Morran Join us on Sunday, October 27th at 10:30 am.  An annual tradition, we will honor those who have passed beyond the veil and their presence in our lives. Everyone is invited to bring a memento of someone they have lost and remember. This […]

Sunday Worship, October 20th, 2024 at 10:30 am But Even So… Rev. Mike Morran Join us on Sunday, October 13th at 10:30 am.  In which we examine a famous haiku by the Japanese poet Issa. Even having considered all the evidence, there is always the tug of hope. We extend a warm invitation to you to […]

Religious Exploration Program Updates: Special Service and Volunteer Recognition We are looking forward to our Intergenerational service on October 27th; there will be no RE classes that morning. We have planned some fun ways to engage our littlest congregants during the Day of Remembrance service. If your family has lost a loved one (human or […]

Religious Explorations News We currently have 20 children and 5 youth enrolled in our weekly programming. It’s never too late to enroll your children! Please use this enrollment form before they will be joining one of our classes (Nursery-5th grade). We still need volunteers for all age groups in order to have a robust team, […]

Lighting the FUSE!  (First Unitarians Seeking Engagement!) The Board of Trustees (BOT) has approved the FUSE Taskforce with the goal of visioning/revisioning how First Unitarian facilitates meaningful engagement of new members and visitors/friends, especially families with school-age children, focusing on the first two years of membership/involvement. The FUSE Taskforce presented the BOT with various plans […]

Sunday Worship, October 13th, 2024 at 10:30 am What’s a Country For? Rev. Mike Morran Join us on Sunday, October 13th at 10:30 am.  A quadrennial tradition, coming up on election day, Rev. Mike will announce his candidacy for president and lay out a Unitarian Universalist platform. We extend a warm invitation to you to […]

  Message from Coral Cosway, President, First Unitarian Society of Denver Join the effort to keep FUSD safe! A small group is needed to implement and update our Safety Plan. Yes, we DO have a Safety Plan! It just needs some helping hands to make sure the recommendations in it are up-to-date and are put […]

Sunday Worship, October 6th, 2024 at 10:30 am Just Love Rev. Alicia Forde Join us on Sunday, October 6th at 10:30 am.  If we are to survive in this world, we must, in the words of Howard Thurman, find the opening or openings through which our love can flow into the life of the other, […]

  We currently have twenty children and five youth enrolled in our weekly programming. It’s never too late to enroll your children! Please use this enrollment form before they join one of our classes (Nursery Through 5th grade). We still need volunteers for all age groups to have a robust team, and the most pressing […]

Sunday Worship, September 29th, 2024 at 10:30 am From Out to In; On the Nature of Belonging Rev. Mike Morran Join us on Sunday, September 29th at 10:30 am.  How do we know if we belong somewhere? How do we know if we belong right here at 1st Unitarian Denver? This morning will consider what it means […]

FUSD Reproductive Justice Initiative has MANY ways to support our Ballot Initiative and GOTV activities this fall. Here is a summary: For the Coloradans for Protecting Reproductive Freedom (CO Ballot Initiative), please sign up for Field Squad training to be involved in all local events. These trainings are held on zoom on Wednesdays at 6 […]

Exciting news about our Religious Exploration program! Our wonderful RE Director, Leslie Harvey, got a head start on sprucing up the basement classrooms in late August. Thanks to the generous support of the FUSD board and the Utter Fund, we’ve been able to add some new furniture. We added tables and chairs in the primary […]

Sunday Worship, September 15th, 2024 at 10:30 am Delightful, Full, and Brutally Honest Rev. Mike Morran Join us on Sunday, September 15th at 10:30 am.  What makes writing good? What makes life good? This morning will explore good writing as a metaphor for good living, good relationships, and good religion. We extend a warm invitation to you […]

Sunday Worship, September 8th, 2024 at 10:30 am It Takes A Village Rev. Mike Morran and Leslie Harvey Join us on Sunday, September 8th at 10:30 am.  This year’s Ingathering Service will focus on the spiritual life of children, and will include our annual Water Communion. Join us after the service for a wonderful celebration […]

Sunday Worship, September 1rst, 2024 at 10:30 am Interdependence: An Us Story Eric Kollwitz Join us on Sunday, September 1 at 10:30 am.  A personal reflection on Beloved Community and Interdependence. We extend a warm invitation to you to join us in person, or if you prefer, you can also participate online. Our service streams […]

Sunday Worship, August 25th, 2024 at 10:30 am Reflections on Teaching Gifted, Experienced Educators from our Community Join us on Sunday, August 25th at 10:30 am. This Sunday, three of our professional teachers will reflect on their profession, the highs, lows, complexities, and spirituality of educating young people. We extend a warm invitation to you […]

Sunday Worship, August 18th, 2024 at 10:30 am Certainly Uncertain Rev. Mike Morran Join us on Sunday, August 18th at 10:30 am. Rev. Mike will explore the tension between the inherent uncertainty of liberal theology, and the intentionally manipulative political uncertainty of our times. What on earth can we be certain about? We extend a […]

  Like this message. Click the button below to like this on Facebook.   Thank you Thank you for sharing our message on Facebook.   Sunday Worship, August 4th, 2024 at 10:30 am Loving Your Friends More Rev. Kristen Psaki Join us on Sunday, July 28th at 10:30 am. What would it look like to […]

Sunday Worship, August 11th, 2024 at 10:30 am From Your Lips to God’s Ears Rev. Dr. Brian Henderson Join us on Sunday, August 11th at 10:30 am. Sacred scriptures offer many different faith communities inspired words, but sometimes our own words, your words, are needed to navigate living. What words might be on your lips […]

Leslie Harvey, the new Director of Family Ministry and Inclusion at the First Unitarian Society of Denver, recently shared a brief introduction about her background and passion for her new role. With 32 years of experience in elementary education, Leslie has worked with underserved and at-risk youth in various locations, including Los Angeles, Mexico, and […]

Sunday Worship, July 28th, 2024 at 10:30 am Unplugging from the Matrix Theo Wilson Join us on Sunday, July 28th at 10:30 am. We will explore how disconnecting from toxic media fulfills your spiritual duty to protect humanity. Poet, activist, author, actor Theo Wilson is one of our most popular and request guest speakers. All […]

Protecting Reproductive Rights in Colorado: Abortion Ballot Initiative Gains Momentum A coalition of local organizations, including Cobalt, COLOR, ACLU Colorado, New Era Colorado, Interfaith Alliance of Colorado, and Progress Now Colorado, put forth an effort to protect the right to abortion in Colorado. In May, we secured enough signatures for the initiative to go on […]

Democrats Rally to Protect Abortion Rights Amid Growing Legislative Challenges Since Roe fell, every legislative majority under Democratic control has worked to protect or expand abortion rights. Six states have voted on and won abortion-related amendments, including voter turn-out in red states like Kansas and Ohio. “When reproductive rights were at stake, Democrats have won,” […]

Impact of Dobbs Decision: Rising Abortion Barriers and Health Inequities Roe v. Wade, the 1973 case that established a constitutional right to abortion, was the law of the land for nearly 50 years. But in 2022, the Supreme Court overturned the precedent with the Dobbs decision. Since then, data indicates abortions have increased despite drops […]

FY24-25 FUSD Board of Trustees July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025 Coral Cosway, President I have lived in Colorado since 2005 and joined FUSD in 2008. Since that time, I have served in many leadership capacities within the Church. I have served on the Board of Trustees, Leadership Development Committee, Committee on Ministry and […]

Sunday Worship, July 14th, 2024 at 10:30 am An Unrepentant Liberal Rev. Mike Morran Join us on Sunday, July 14th at 10:30 am. A brief and proud exploration of the Liberal Tradition. Our guest musicians will be Quorum, a collaborative choir. We extend a warm invitation to you to join us in person, or if […]

Sunday Worship, July 7th, 2024 at 10:30 am Here, But No Further… Rev. Mike Morran Join us on Sunday, July 7th at 10:30 am. The sermon today will explore the limits of human understanding and knowledge, beyond which we can only imagine. We extend a warm invitation to you to join us in person, or […]

Sunday Worship, June 30th, 2024 at 10:30 am The State of UU Rev. Mike Morran Join us on Sunday, June 30th at 10:30 am. An annual tradition, Rev. Mike will reflect on the state of Unitarian Universalism at the conclusion of the annual General Assembly. We extend a warm invitation to you to join us […]

  Like this message. Click the button below to like this on Facebook.   Thank you Thank you for sharing our message on Facebook.   Please Note: Access to First Unitarian will be limited because of the Pride Parade on Sunday June 23rd. You will not be able to cross 13th and 14th at Franklin […]

  Like this message. Click the button below to like this on Facebook.   Thank you Thank you for sharing our message on Facebook.   Sunday Worship, June 16th, 2024 at 10:30 am What It Means To Be Female Reproductive Justice Join us on Sunday, June 16th at 10:30 am. Join us this Sunday to […]

Sunday Worship, June 9th, 2024 at 10:30 am Chronos and Chaos Rev. Mike Morran Join us on Sunday, June 9th at 10:30 am. This morning, an annual tradition will feature a special guest speaker. We extend a warm invitation to you to join us in person, or if you prefer, you can also participate online. […]

  Like this message. Click the button below to like this on Facebook.   Thank you Thank you for sharing our message on Facebook.       Sunday Worship, June 2nd, 2024 at 10:30 am Diversity and Community Rev. Mike Morran Join us on Sunday, June 2nd at 10:30 am. Is “diverse community” an oxymoron? Does […]

  Like this message. Click the button below to like this on Facebook.   Thank you Thank you for sharing our message on Facebook.       Sunday Worship, May 26th, 2024 at 10:30 am Finding Inspiration In A Time of Confusion and Disbelief Basil Sabbah Join us on Sunday, May 26th at 10:30 am. […]

Note: Colfax Will Be Closed this Sunday from York to Broadway The Colfax Marathon is this Sunday. Colfax will be closed from York to Broadway. Please make plans to join us in person by avoiding Colfax! View the map below or click here. Sunday Worship, May 19th, 2024 at 10:30 am Less is More, More […]

FUSD has generally been intentional and successful in welcoming newcomers, educating them about the congregation, and facilitating the path from newcomer to a member or committed visitor/friend.  However, FUSD lacks the necessary organizational structure to promote meaningful engagement of individuals and families in the community to optimally support their potential for long-term commitment to and […]

  Like this message. Click the button below to like this on Facebook.   Thank you Thank you for sharing our message on Facebook.   Sunday Worship, May 12th, 2024 at 10:30 am The Ultimate Pluralist Practice: How Music Shifts Our Perspective Brian Stone Join us on Sunday, May 12th at 10:30 am. Music can […]

  Sunday Worship, May 5th, 2024 at 10:30 am Reality Has A Liberal Bias Rev. Mike Morran Join us on Sunday, May 5th at 10:30 am. This Sunday we’ll take a deep look at liberalism and whether Stephen Colbert was right when he famously said, “Reality has a well known liberal bias.” We extend a […]

  Like this message. Click the button below to like this on Facebook.   Thank you Thank you for sharing our message on Facebook.       Sunday Worship, April 27th, 2024 at 10:30 am Threads of Meaning Rev. Mike Morran Join us on Sunday, April 27th at 10:30 am. Join us for a reflection […]

  Like this message. Click the button below to like this on Facebook.   Thank you Thank you for sharing our message on Facebook.       Sunday Worship, April 21rst, 2024 at 10:30 am Earth Day Service Matthew S. Makley Join us on Sunday, April 21rst at 10:30 am. Join us for a heart-centered […]

  Like this message. Click the button below to like this on Facebook.   Thank you Thank you for sharing our message on Facebook.       Sunday Worship, April 14th, 2024 at 10:30 am The Second Longest Habit Rev. Mike Morran Join us on Sunday, April 714h at 10:30 am. The great historian Will […]

  Like this message. Click the button below to like this on Facebook.   Thank you Thank you for sharing our message on Facebook.   Sunday Worship, April 7th, 2024 at 10:30 am Interdepen-dance Hannah Kinderlehrer and Lia Davis Join us on Sunday, April 7th at 10:30 am. Join us for our 12th annual all-ages […]

Easter Sunday Worship, March 31st, 2024 at 10:30 am Jesus Before Christ Rev. Mike Morran Join us on Easter Sunday, March 31st at 10:30 am. What does history tell us about the young man from Nazareth, before centuries of politics and semi-tortured theology turned him into the Christ? An Easter donation hunt will follow the […]

  Like this message. Click the button below to like this on Facebook.   Thank you Thank you for sharing our message on Facebook.   Sunday Worship, March 24th, 2024 at 10:30 am Reaping and Sowing: The Bitter Fruits of Empire Theo Wilson Join us on Sunday, March 24th at 10:30 am. American Christian Nationalism […]

Sunday Worship, March 17th, 2024 at 10:30 am No One Gets Out Alive Rev. Mike Morran Join us on Sunday, March 17th at 10:30 am. Why and how everyone should do some end-of-life planning, even if you’re not at the end of your life. We extend a warm invitation to you to join us in […]

Sunday Worship, March 10th, 2024 at 10:30 am The Well-Tempered Temper Tantrum Rev. Mike Morran Join us on Sunday, March 10th at 10:30 am. This morning will consider anger: the what, why, how, and misunderstandings of being ticked off. We extend a warm invitation to you to join us in person, or if you prefer, […]

Sunday Worship, March 3rd, 2024 at 10:30 am Learning to Surf Rev. Mike Morran Join us on Sunday, March 3rd at 10:30 am for a dharma-style talk on the wisdom of learning to surf without getting wet. We extend a warm invitation to you to join us in person, or if you prefer, you can […]

Sunday Worship, February 25th, 2024 at 10:30 am Growing Together, Giving Together Rev. Mike Morran Join us on Sunday, February 25th at 10:30 am. A exploration of the highs, lows, and transcendent purpose of liberal religious community in 2024. Stewardship Sunday. We extend a warm invitation to you to join us in person, or if […]

  Sunday Worship, February 18th, 2024 at 10:30 am Theology and/or Love Rev. Mike Morran Join us on Sunday, February 18th at 10:30 am. This year, Unitarian Universalism will vote on whether to replace the Principles and Purposes of our faith with a new statement, one that puts Love at the center of our Purposes […]

  Sunday Worship, February 11th, 2024 at 10:30 am Songs of Freedom, Sorrow, and Resilience Lia Davis and Brian Stone Join us on Sunday, February 11th at 10:30 am for an immersive music service featuring songs by eclectic folk musician Rhiannon Giddens. Giddens has centered her work around the mission of lifting up people whose […]

Sunday Worship, January 28th, 2024 at 10:30 am Race from Here Rev. Mike Morran Please join us on Sunday, January 28th at 10:30 am. First Unitarian Denver has been learning about, and working on racism and white supremacy culture for quite a while now. Something like seventy years! Last year we raised nearly a quarter-million […]

  Rev. Mike’s latest vlog offers insights into fear, which can help us learn to recognize and address how it colors our perception. By doing so, we can better understand the world around us and the people in it and learn to navigate our fears with greater confidence and resilience. Check it out!

Sunday Worship, January 21rst, 2024 at 10:30 am Occasionally, Use Words Rev. Mike Morran Please join us on Sunday, January 21rst at 10:30 am. This sermon will consider What do you say to someone who is dying, who is grieving, who is anxious, depressed, or just lonely? We extend a warm invitation to you to […]

Sunday Worship, January 14th, 2024 at 10:30 am The Most Pervasive Mental Illness Rev. Mike Morran Please join us on Sunday, January 14th at 10:30 am. This sermon will consider whether racism, militarism, and materialism can be considered a mental illness and what wellness might look like. We extend a warm invitation to you to […]

Sunday Worship, January 7th, 2024 at 10:30 am Flip the Service The Religious Exploration Team Please join us on Sunday, January 7th at 10:30 am for our service. This week, we are bringing Religious Exploration into the service for multigenerational faith formation. Together, we will consider how liberating love is present in our lives through […]

Sunday Worship December 31rst at 10:30 am This Sunday, the last day of the year, we will take some time to reflect on both the past and the future in a community conversation designed for connection and sharing. There will be no Religious Exploration this morning. Our service streams to Youtube and Zoom (meeting ID […]

  Christmas Eve Worship December 24th 5 pm – Family Friendly 7 pm – Traditional Service (there is no 10:30 am Service) Please join us on Christmas Eve for a family-friendly service at 5 pm (in person), or a traditional service at 7 pm (in person and online). Both services will feature string quartet music […]

Join us for Solstice Eve – THIS Wednesday! (Thanks to Lia Davis for the post) Gather with the First Unitarian Denver community Wednesday, December 20th for Solstice Eve! Everyone is warmly invited to this fun, free, family-friendly community event, which begins at 5:30 pm with a potluck dinner, warm cider and cocoa, and crafts. EVERYONE […]

Sunday Worship, December 17th at 10:30 am The Friendly Beasts Erin Kenworthy, DRE Please join us on Sunday, December 17th at 10:30 am for annual no-rehearsal pageant! This festive all-ages service features a joyful telling of the traditional Christmas story from the perspective of the stable animals and lots of congregational singing. Join us at […]

Sunday Worship, December 10th at 10:30 am Beyond the Veil Rev. Mike Morran Please join us on Sunday, December 10th at 10:30 am for our service titled ‘Beyond the Veil’ with Rev. Mike Morran. Mysticism runs through every major religious tradition, and infuses many, if not all, indigenous ones. We will appreciate, wonder about, and […]

Sunday Worship, December 3rd at 10:30 am The Latest Christain Crisis Rev. Mike Morran Please join us on Sunday, December 3rd at 10:30 am for our service titled ‘The Latest Christian Crisis’ with Rev. Mike Morran. Christianity has faced, and somehow survived, many crisis over the past two thousand years. Here in the modern, post […]

  Amid the heartbreaking events unfolding in the world today, Rev. Morran shares the five things everyone needs to hear every now and then. Listen as he shares these uplifting messages that provide a source of inspiration and reflection during challenging times.  

  Join us at First Unitarian in Denver, CO, as we come together to connect with our wonderful community. Rev. Mike Morran extends a warm welcome to everyone as we embrace the beauty of the Fall season. He’s also encouraging all of us to get involved in the exciting activities we have planned for the […]

January 23, 2022 Worship – Calling Their True NameContinuing on our theme of justice, we’ll consider the power of language in thinking, dialogue, and justice work.  We’ll ground this exploration in some of the rich mythology of naming. Make your offering at https://tiny.cc/fusd-give Share0 Tweet0 Share0 To share this story, please click on the social media […]

January 2, 2022 Worship – The New Years Spiritual Weight Loss Plan Make your offering at https://tiny.cc/fusd-give Share0 Tweet0 Share0 To share this story, please click on the social media badges above. If you are not already logged into your account(s) you might be prompted to login to them.  Click Social Badges To Share This Story […]

December 26, 2021 Worship – Pandemic PicksFor the last Sunday in 2021, the First Unitarian staff team has selected some of their favorite readings, music, and messages from the pandemic video vault. Join us ONLINE for this virtual retrospective service — there will be no in-person service this morning. Make your offering at https://tiny.cc/fusd-give Share0 Tweet0 […]

December 24, 2021 Worship: Risky ReligionIt’s curious that Jesus, who was anti-establishment, anti-wealth, and anti-authority, became the poster child for establishment, wealth and authority.  All of which says much more about people than it does about Jesus. Make your offering at https://tiny.cc/fusd-give Share0 Tweet0 Share0 To share this story, please click on the social media badges […]

December 24, 2021- The Warmth of Love: a Family Christmas Eve ServiceChristmas is a magical time for children.  Current and former children are welcome to join us for singing and stories that remind us of the love, warmth, light, and community that belongs to each and all of us in this season.  This service has […]

December 19, 2021 Worship: The Friendly BeastsJoin us for our annual no-rehearsal pageant, virtual and in person edition! You are invited to wear your pajamas to watch this replay of our virtual multigen pageant recorded last year.  This festive service features a joyful telling of the traditional Christmas story from the perspective of the stable […]

December 12, 2021 Worship: Wisdom of KabbalahFurther along our Whole Souul Living Theme of mysticism, this Sunday will focus on the ancient tradition of Jewish Mysticism known as Kabbalah. Hint: The divine is everywhere, everywhen, everything, and nothing is as it seems… Make your offering at https://tiny.cc/fusd-give Share0 Tweet0 Share0 To share this story, please click […]

December 5, 2021 Worship: Beyond BrokennessOn our Whole Souul Living Theme of mysticism, this Sunday will be an introduction to Christian Mysticism, generally shunned by organized Christian traditions but present in every one of them. Make your offering at https://tiny.cc/fusd-give Share0 Tweet0 Share0 To share this story, please click on the social media badges above. If […]

November 28, 2021 Worship Service: The Healing Secrets of Mary of MagdaleneMary Magdalene is often seen as a supporting actress in the Jesus movie blockbuster. But what if she was actually the main role? She’s been called many names over the last few thousand years, the most powerful of which is ‘Disciple to the Disciples.’ […]

November 21, 2021 Worship Service: Evident TheologyMany if not all 21st century problems can be traced to both bad theology and bad science.  Both of these are products of history.  This Sunday we’ll look at how theology can catch up to modern science which leads to radically different assumptions. Make your offering at https://tiny.cc/fusd-give Share0 Tweet0 […]

November 14, 2021 Worship: Wisdom of BirdsOn our theme of Wisdom, we’ll learn about one of the classic Sufi poems, The Conference of the Birds. Some amazing facts about actual birds will also be present. Make your offering at https://tiny.cc/fusd-give Share0 Tweet0 Share0 To share this story, please click on the social media badges above. If […]

November 7, 2021 Worship: This is Our MomentThis is our moment to embrace our values, and use the power of prayer and listening to lift those that have been marginalized and forgotten. It starts here because we know all change is local, and Denver is a global thought leader. What starts here can change the […]

I Am Bad At Asking For HelpMaybe you are as well?  Or, if you are not bad at it, perhaps you made a conscious choice to get better at asking for help, or were taught from a young age how to ask for and receive help.  Wherever you are in the “asking for help journey”, […]

October 31, 2021 Worship: Autumn RemembranceJoin us in the Sanctuary at First Unitarian for a day of remembrance ritual. We will hold space for celebrating and remembering those friends, family members, and pets whom we have lost during the last year (or longer). We’ll set up a shared altar space to hold photos, items, and […]

October 24, 2021 Worship: Connecting With DivinityKnowing at the outset that there are many names and conceptions of god, and even more pathways to those many gods…, even so, we’ll consider a few of the time-honored practices for connecting with the divine. Make your offering at https://tiny.cc/fusd-give Share0 Tweet0 Share0 To share this story, please click […]

October 17, 2021 Worship: A Joyfully Embodied FaithAs First Unitarian discusses the proposal to develop a reparations fund for the black communities of Central Denver, we will explore both the responsibility and the joy in sharing resources that our faith calls us to. Make your offering at https://tiny.cc/fusd-give Share0 Tweet0 Share0 To share this story, please […]

October 10, 2021 Worship: Practice Does Not Make PerfectOn our theme of Spiritual Practices this month, we’ll consider just what a spiritual practice is for. Make your offering at https://tiny.cc/fusd-give Share0 Tweet0 Share0 To share this story, please click on the social media badges above. If you are not already logged into your account(s) you might […]

October 3, 2021 Worship: A Proposal for Our TimeRacial Justice work at First Unitarian Denver has been going on for a very long time now. We’ve read books, held seminars, hired consultants, preached sermons, had guest speakers, attended marches and protests, helped clear criminal records…, much more. We are certainly more awake to issues of […]

September 26, 2021 Worship: Conflicting MessagesConsidering our monthly theme of Balance, this Sunday we will look at human conflict, the perils and possibilities, the aversion and the necessity of bringing differences, even ones we feel very strongly about, into conversation and relationship. Make your offering at https://tiny.cc/fusd-give Share0 Tweet0 Share0 To share this story, please […]

September 19, 2021 Worship Service: Healing the PastThis Sunday, several members of the First Unitarian Denver community will share their experience of learning about systemic racism and the effects of white supremacy. What are we (a mostly white congregation), called to do in response to the racialized wounds or the past and present? Make your […]

September 12, 2021 Worship Service: The World’s Largest Living ThingOn This InGathering Sunday, we’ll use poetry and imagery to consider the world’s largest Living Organism (Pando) and what Pando has to teach us. Make your offering at https://tiny.cc/fusd-give Share0 Tweet0 Share0 To share this story, please click on the social media badges above. If you […]

Click To Download  PDF September 2021 Ploughshare Posted Date: September 9, 2021 

A Reframed Piece of Mike’s Mind…Starting in October, our Racial Justice Project at First Unitarian Denver is going to be initiating a conversation among our congregation about racism and reparations.  My column this month provides a little of my own thinking about the background for this conversation.      Ta-Nehisi Coates recently wrote:      Basically, Americans […]

BalanceBalance is a beautiful thing.  Balance is also our Whole Souul Living Theme for September.  In a technical sense, balance is an equal distribution of weight that enables steadiness.  Balance is also about correct proportions: of power, justice, prosperity, Love… ideals seldom achieved but deeply worthy.  In these busy and troubled times, all of us […]

September 5, 2021 Worship Service: The Work of the WorldRiffing on Mary Oliver’s poem The Summer Day, on this Labor Day weekend we’ll consider work, the work of the world, the work of our hands, the work of our lives. Make your offering at https://tiny.cc/fusd-give Share0 Tweet0 Share0 To share this story, please click on […]

August 29, 2021 Worship Service: We the PeopleAs both a national and global society today, tensions run disturbingly and continually near the boiling point. Chaos and turmoil seem to abound. As polarized factions, we remain at war with one another, gridlocked in a stalemate that can feel completely insurmountable. The consequences have been, and continue […]

August 22, 2021 Worship Service: The Spirit of ConversationAs news of the spread of new COVID variants continues to emerge, our UU congregations – and indeed, many other congregations across the country – are wrestling with the decision to return to in-person worship. How is spirit leading us to approach these discussions? What do our […]

August 15, 2021 Worship: Standing on the Shoulders of GiantsOn this Sunday that is on the 150th anniversary of the founding of 1st Unitarian Denver, we’ll look back on the history of Liberal Religion 1st Unitarian Society of Denver.  This Sunday will also be our first Sunday in over a year with live congregants in […]

August 8, 2021 Worship: OceansIContinuing our series on the spirit of life on Earth, today we’ll look at oceans. What are we learning about oceans and the global community connected by water? What do we owe the oceans in terms of human culture and civilization? What do oceans have to teach us spiritually? Make your […]

A Forested Piece of Mike’s Mind…By request, my column this month is portions of the TREES sermon from August 1st.Elif Shafak, the brilliant Turkish/British author, in a perspective-taking experiment wrote:  Humans do not see trees. They walk by us every day. They sit and sleep, smoke and picnic and secretly kiss in our shade. They pluck […]

Embracing PossibilitiesThis will be an uncertain year.  I am certain about that much.  Our ritual ingathering service this Sunday marks the beginning of our second year to begin again in times of Covid.  Throughout the difficulties presented by virtual church, I’ve been aware of the tension between grief and hope day to day, and how […]

Spiritual Practice Makes…Let’s try an experiment.  Keep your eyes open.  Extend the index finger on each hand and hold your fingers parallel to the horizon, elbows pointed out to the sides.  Bring the fingers up to eyelevel, adjust your focus, and then bring the index fingers together until your fingertips touch.  Refocus. Practice. Do it […]

SpiritSpirit is our Whole Souul Living Theme for August.  The word spiritual comes from the Latin spirare, the breath.  Later this became spiritus, meaning, “the animating or vital principle in man and animals: soul, courage, breath, or vigor.”  Many consider the spiritual to be supernatural or otherworldly, but with the definition above there is no […]

Click To Download  PDF August 2021 Ploughshare Posted Date: August 5, 2021 

August 1, 2021 Worship: TreesIn this month when our Whole Souul Living Theme is Spirit, we’ll take a deep dive into the spirit of Life on Earth, beginning with Trees.  What are we learning about trees and tree communities?  What do we owe trees in terms of human culture and civilization?  What do trees have […]

July 25th, 2021 Worship Service: Gratitude, Lament, and ResiliencyFirst Unitarian members Barry Osborne, Kimberly Urish, Chris Belanger, and Sarah Rowan will reflect on living through a pandemic, what has sustained them through these challenging months, and share the music and art they created along the way. Make your offering at https://tiny.cc/fusd-give Share0 Tweet0 Share0 To […]

July 18th, 2021 Worship Service: Mercy in Merciless TimesIn a world that runs on soundbites and superficiality, where do we go to express, communicate, or share the real joys and concerns of our hearts? Make your offering at https://tiny.cc/fusd-give Share0 Tweet0 Share0 To share this story, please click on the social media badges above. If […]

July 11th, 2021 Worship Service: What’s On Your Heart?In a world that runs on soundbites and superficiality, where do we go to express, communicate, or share the real joys and concerns of our hearts? Make your offering at https://tiny.cc/fusd-give Share0 Tweet0 Share0 To share this story, please click on the social media badges above. If […]

July 4, 2021 Worship Service: Liberal PatriotismWhat does it mean to be patriotic? How can different people and groups mean such vastly different things by it? We’ll consider patriotism, truth, history, and democracy on this 2021 4th of July Make your offering at https://tiny.cc/fusd-give Share0 Tweet0 Share0 To share this story, please click on the […]

Between Too Much and Not EnoughI’ve been reminded of explorers and adventurers relying on the stars, their best equipment and knowledge to set out into the unknown with the hopes of safe passage and arrival at a new destination. Some of us are still wary of large gatherings, some of us are beyond ready to […]

A Maladjusted Piece of Mike’s Mind…My column this month is the conclusion of the sermon from June 18th.Krishnamurti famously said, “It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society.”  Which is another way of saying that being maladjusted is about the sanest, most spiritually mature thing we could do.I […]

MercyOur Whole Souul Living Theme for July is Mercy, surely a precious and scarce commodity in 2021.  For years, maybe since the beginning, politics and the news is dominated by quick judgement, false certainty, and the drumbeat of fearing strangers.  Still, wisdom from the ages is clear; “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be […]

Click To Download  PDF July 2021 Ploughshare Posted Date: July 1, 2021 

June 27, 2021 Worship Service: Community Grief and Community HealingWe’ve been through a lot the past year. As a community, what have we learned? How shall we grieve what was lost? How will we move forward? Make your offering at https://tiny.cc/fusd-give Share0 Tweet0 Share0 To share this story, please click on the social media badges […]

June 20th, 2021 Worship Service: Nothing to LoseIn honor of our Whole Souul Living theme for June,(Liberation), we will consider spiritual freedom beyond the liberal church tradition. How does a church encourage, create, or model spiritual freedom? Make your offering at https://tiny.cc/fusd-give Share0 Tweet0 Share0 To share this story, please click on the social media […]

June 13th, 2021 Worship Service: There Will Always Be SingingThis year’s Music Sunday service lifts up our remarkable First Unitarian Chalice Singers, highlighting their journey and their musical creations over the past year. Choir members will reflect on why they sing and how music has sustained them during this challenging year.  Make your offering at https://tiny.cc/fusd-give […]

LiberationLiberation is our Whole Souul Living Theme for June.  Broadly speaking, Liberation can be political, physical, emotional, spiritual, or all of the above.  Typically, liberation assumes a current or previous condition of being bounded or restricted, and things get interesting when we consider that it is possible to be unaware of our own bondage.  Consider […]

Our COVID YearWhen we began our church year in the fall of 2020, we had already adjusted to online worship.  Religious Exploration staff experimented with programmatic offerings, and overall, it was a relatively quiet year. Our youth program continued to meet online.  Both the Middle School and High School groups met regularly with their volunteer […]

An Annual Piece of Mike’s Mind…We’ve made history this past year.  For the first time since First Unitarian Denver has had a building, over a year has passed without a single public gathering in our space.  I suppose this is also true for many other organizations, but I’m fond of this one.            That doesn’t mean […]

Click To Download  PDF June 2021 Ploughshare Posted Date: June 2, 2021 

May 30, 2021 Worship Service: Invitation to LiberationThis Sunday, we’ll hear from our Black Unitarian ancestor, Frances Ellen Watkins Harper. We’ll consider what liberation means in a UU context, and Jen Simon, minister to the Mountain Top Black, Indigenous, and People of Color UU community, will extend an invitation to -all- at FUSD to live […]

May 23, 2021 Worship Service: The 8th PrincipleThis Sunday will conclude the series on the Principles of Unitarian Universalism.  We will briefly revisit the idea of covenant, and then consider the many words of the proposed 8th principle, “Journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community by our actions that […]

May 16, 2021 Worship Service: The Male DenominatorIn this collaborative service, Rev. Mike and Alton Dillard will examine toxic masculinity and how it plays out in police brutality, racism, environmental justice, materialism, militarism and probably a few more isms. Make your offering at https://tiny.cc/fusd-give Share0 Tweet0 Share0 To share this story, please click on the […]

May 9, 2021 Worship Service: The Beautiful Web of IndraThe seventh principle of Unitarian Universalism reads: “We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote, Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.” Maybe the most poignant religious image for this idea is from […]

A Discerning Piece of Mike’s Mind…By request, my column this month is a portion of my sermon from April 18th:…Jem Bendell advocates for what he calls Deep Adaptation, capital “A”, and he lays out four principles as a framework that everyone can begin talking about, developing, and doing right now.  The four principles are resilience, […]

VocationVocation comes from from the Christian tradition and refers to an internal calling or summons to do holy work.  A traditional and corollary assumption is that neary everybody has vocation whether they know it or not.  Philosopher Sam Keen wrote: A society in which vocation and job are separated for most people gradually creates an […]

Click To Download  PDF May 2021 Ploughshare Posted Date: May 6, 2021 

May 2, 2021 Worship Service:  All Together…. Now?We’ll consider how radical care and consideration lay foundations for community building as we build toward our new normal.  Our 6th principle of World community with peace, liberty, and justice for all beckons us onward together to a vision we’ve not yet achieved. Make your offering at https://tiny.cc/fusd-give […]

April 18, 2021 Worship Service: Restoring Beloved Community Amidst a Global PandemicThroughout history, global and concentrated epidemics have greatly affected people’s faith, and people of faith have responded very differently to the mass death and suffering that occurred during these epidemics. Yet people of faith have been at the center of these epidemics providing healing […]

April 18, 2021 Worship Service: Just ProfitsIt’s been several years since 1st Unitarian Denver has had an active social justice group working on Climate Change and environmental justice, but heaven knows the issue hasn’t gone away.  In honor of Earth Day, we’ll look at adaptation as it applies to the natural environment, and wonder if […]

April 11, 2021 Worship Service: Just ProfitsAs tax day approaches, we will look at emerging thinking about economic justice. Can we have an economy that is both profitable and just? Make your offering at https://tiny.cc/fusd-give Share0 Tweet0 Share0 To share this story, please click on the social media badges above. If you are not already […]

April 4, 2021 Worship Service: Resurrection and EmergenceResurrection is wonderful, and thank goodness the Easter story has been bringing hope to millions for centuries. But Emergence doesn’t require anything to die or be destroyed first in order for beauty and order to be created. This Easter we’ll consider both the resurrection and the emergence of […]

Click To Download  PDF April 2021 Ploughshare Posted Date: April 1, 2021 

CompassionLove has no body on earth but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes through which Love and compassion for the world is to look out; yours are the feet with which Love is to go about doing good; and yours are the hands with which Love is to […]

Keeping a Sense of Awe“Children see magic because they look for it.” – Author Christopher Moore“Only where children gather is there any real chance of fun” – Journalist and Author Mignon McLaughlinThe pandemic has been a stress across generations, even for those resilient and emerging children and youth who will be forever impacted by the […]

A Frustrated Piece of Mike’s Mind…By request, here are the words spoken during the pastoral prayer on Sunday, March 28th, in response to the shooting in Boulder…:Very aware that I have family members and a few friends who will passionately disagree, I don’t care. I don’t care if extensive mandatory background checks, mandatory wait times, […]

March 28, 2021 Worship Service: Invocations, Lamentations& other BirdsongsThrough music, poetry, and visual art centered on birds, we will explore deep listening and our connection to the natural world. Make your offering at https://tiny.cc/fusd-give Share0 Tweet0 Share0 To share this story, please click on the social media badges above. If you are not already logged […]

March 21, 2021 Worship Service: Malcolm and MartinOn this Sunday, we’ll compare the visions for justice between these two seminal activists and thinkers. Make your offering at https://tiny.cc/fusd-give Share0 Tweet0 Share0 To share this story, please click on the social media badges above. If you are not already logged into your account(s) you might be […]

March 7, 2021 Worship Service: On the Nature of SeekingContinuing our series on the Principles of Unitarian Universalism, this morning will explore the 4th Principle, A Free and Responsible Search for Truth and Meaning. Make your offering at https://tiny.cc/fusd-give Share0 Tweet0 Share0 To share this story, please click on the social media badges above. If […]

A Reminiscent Piece of Mike’s Mind… Last month, February 22nd to be exact, was the 23rd anniversary of my ordination into the Unitarian Universalist ministry, a day for which I had spent the previous four years preparing.  From deciding I wanted to be a minister, to applying to seminary, to graduating, psychiatric evaluations, chaplaincy training, an […]

The Warmth of RitualLast night after dinner, as I sat at the table talking over the day with Jason, my four-year-old slid quietly away from the table and headed into a room of our house that we’ve repurposed during the pandemic.  Our two boys decided to share a room, feeling comforted by someone else being […]

ImaginationImagination is our Whole Souul Living Theme for March.  Consider this quote from J. K. Rowling;Imagination is not only the uniquely human capacity to envision that which is not, and, therefore, the foundation of all invention and innovation. In its arguably most transformative and revelatory capacity, it is the power that enables us to empathize […]

Click To Download  PDF March 2021 Ploughshare Posted Date: March 4, 2021 

February 28th Worship Service: 10th Annual All-Ages Dance ServiceJoin us for our 10th annual Community Dance & Music Service. Through music and movement, we will mindfully bring ourselves into the present moment, acknowledge and make space for our brokenness, and draw strength from our wholeness.  Make your offering at https://tiny.cc/fusd-give Share0 Tweet0 Share0 To share […]

February 21st Worship Service: Love and Good TroubleThis Sunday we will reflect on our past and future as a community. Make your offering at https://tiny.cc/fusd-give Share0 Tweet0 Share0 To share this story, please click on the social media badges above. If you are not already logged into your account(s) you might be prompted to login […]

March 14, 2021 Worship Service: Optimizing the OddsThe 5th Principle of Unitarian Universalism is: The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large. What do conscience and democracy have to do with each other, and why would we effectively equate them with religiousity?  Make your […]

Click To Download  PDF February 2021 Ploughshare Posted Date: February 4, 2021 

Each and Every DayFebruary is Black History Month.  It is also the shortest month of the year.  So how do we honor black history makers, while recognizing that black history is relevant 365 days a year?  Can we make a February gesture without legitimizing the idea that black history is an aside to our shared […]

BrokennessBrokenness is the Whole Souul Living Theme for February, but not so that we might wallow morose or despairing.  Brokenness, whether occasional or systemic is simply an essential and unavoidable part of human life.   It often marks turning points in our life journeys; the endings of chapters, the beginnings of new ones, the places where […]

An Unequivocal Piece of Mike’s Mind…In 1792, writer Mary Wollstonecraft called for the full participation of women in the rights and duties of citizenship.  Her essay, A Vindication of the Rights of Women becomes a foundation for the early movement for suffrage for women.In 1851, Sojourner Truth delivers her feminist speech, Ain’t I a Woman?, […]

January 24 Worship Service: The Battle for PeaceAs we continue our exploration of Peace, we reflect on a disturbing increase of unrest and violence, which hint at four years of conflict and tension to come. What does our Unitarian Universalist faith call us to do in times like these? Mateo Frisk joins us to explore […]

January 17th Worship Service: MLK TodayWhat do the words and actions of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. mean today, including his more radical and less commonly-heard messages? How might his perspective speak to the issues we care about at First Unitarian, our Faith In Action projects, and the world around us? Make your offering at […]

Show Up in Love“I’ve got peace like a river, I’ve got peace like a river, I’ve got peace like a river in my soul…” We have arrived surely into the year 2021.  It is here.  I’ve pinched myself just to be sure this is not a dream, even though recently, my sleeping dreams have been […]

Witnessing a Piece of Mike’s Mind…As I write, it is the day after a large group of white people briefly took over the Capitol building in Washington DC, where a joint session of congress was taking place. The seditionists were attempting to slow or stop certification of the presidential election that all reliable authorities had […]

Click To Download  PDF January 2021 Ploughshare Posted Date: January 7, 2021 

January 10th Worship Service: The Work That is Never DoneContinuing our series on the Principles of Unitarian Universalism, the second principle is: Justice, Equity, and Compassion in Human Relations. Make your offering at https://tiny.cc/fusd-give Share0 Tweet0 Share0 To share this story, please click on the social media badges above. If you are not already logged […]

PeacePeace is the Whole Souul Living Theme for January, and it represents a profoundly challenging hope.  Pacifist A. J. Muste wrote:  We cannot have peace if we are only concerned with peace. War is not an accident. It is the logical outcome of a certain way of life. If we want to attack war, we […]

December 27th Worship Service: Hacking the Human: The Code to Peace on Earth Make your offering at https://tiny.cc/fusd-give Share0 Tweet0 Share0 To share this story, please click on the social media badges above. If you are not already logged into your account(s) you might be prompted to login to them.  Click Social Badges To Share […]

Christmas Eve: Hold OnLooking for the thread of continuity, the thread of community, the thread of transcendence, the thread we hold on to no matter what comes, the thread that, when we hold it, we can never be lost. Make your offering at https://tiny.cc/fusd-give Share0 Tweet0 Share0 To share this story, please click on the […]

December 20th Worship Service: The Friendly Beasts – Holiday PageantJoin us for our annual no-rehearsal pageant, virtual edition! This festive service features a joyful telling of the traditional Christmas story from the perspective of the stable animals, lots of congregational singing, and our first virtual Children’s Choir performance.  Make your offering at https://tiny.cc/fusd-give Share0 Tweet0 […]

December 13th, 2020 Worship Service: Body of DenialWords like racism and classism are euphemistic abstractions. What happens in real life, on the street, in schools, in prisons, in the workplace, etc., happens to bodies of living flesh, bone, and blood. These abstractions are bad politics and bad theology. Make your offering at https://tiny.cc/fusd-give Share0 Tweet0 […]

November 29, 2020 Full Service – My Journey of LearningThe dictionary defines victimism as: “A tendency to play the victim; the adoption of a victimized persona.” Whether it’s the president, a white woman in Central Park, or the imaginary war on Christmas, victimism is a surprisingly effective social strategy! This Sunday we will take a […]

A Few Missing PiecesThree days ago, in a grasp at normal family time fun, the kids asked if we could do a 500 piece puzzle.  So the boys and dad poured it onto the kitchen table and started sorting.After an hour they abandoned it.  So I picked up where they left off… starting on the […]

Click To Download  PDF December 2020 Ploughshare Posted Date: December 3, 2020 

A Peace of Mike’s Mind…Our Whole Souul Living Theme for December is Salvation.  We don’t necessarily mean this in the heavenly sense.  I personally think of it in a wholeness sense.  I think everyone who lives in this world needs a little salvation from the forces that keep us compartmentalized, isolated, fractured.  The whole planet […]

SalvationOur Whole Souul Living Theme for December is Salvation (in THIS Life).  In truth, most of us need some salvation: from old habits and limitations, from creeping materialism, from a broken economy…  The nation needs some salvation: from partisan politics, easy answers, and outright lies.  The world needs some salvation…: from pollution, too many people, […]

November 29, 2020 Full Service – My Journey of LearningThis morning, three of our members will share their experience of learning about white supremacy culture.  Kathryn Wiley, Julie Meyers, and David Alley have been involved in racial justice work both within and without First Unitarian Denver, and each brings a unique and valuable perspective to […]

November 22, 2020 Full Service – Strong and SolidLet us take time this Sunday to connect with and draw strength from the ever strong and solid Mother Earth. Together, we will listen deeply, sing together, and honor our home, one of our most tangible sources of wisdom, love, and beauty. Make your offering at https://tiny.cc/fusd-give […]

November 15, 2020 Full Service – More Than EnoughWhat makes a person greedy beyond all reason? What does having wealth do to a person’s psychology? How do you tell if you’re already wealthy? Make your offering at https://tiny.cc/fusd-give Share0 Tweet0 Share0 To share this story, please click on the social media badges above. If you […]

November 8, 2020 Full Service – Picking Up the PiecesNo matter what the outcome of the election, there will be deep wounds in our country .  There is much that needs mourning and there are reason for hope. Make your offering at https://tiny.cc/fusd-give Share0 Tweet0 Share0 To share this story, please click on the social […]

Waiting Is Not EasyWaiting is not easy!  Mo Willems, a prolific children’s author, reminds us that waiting is really, really hard to do.  I bought this book about 5 weeks into the pandemic for my kids, and myself, as a reminder that the pandemic would eventually pass.  Yet here we are, still waiting for the […]

A Historic Piece of Mike’s Mind…As I write these words, we still don’t know the outcome of the presidential election, and it’s likely that all of us are sick to death of politics.  If that’s you, I apologize.  I’m still thinking a lot about democracy right now, because I think what passes for ours is […]

Click To Download  PDF November 2020 Ploughshare Posted Date: November 5, 2020 

November 1, 2020 Full Service – RepresentationBoth sides of the political spectrum are making a lot of noise about the threats to democracy itself if the other side is elected. So, let’s take a deeper look at democracy itself. Where did it come from? What does it really mean? Is it true that democracy is […]

GenerosityOur Whole Souul Living Theme for November is Generosity, a topic both deeply complex (if we think about it too much) and astonishingly simple (if we simply follow the impulse).  Consider the quote, “True generosity is guided by awareness.”  The implication is that if we are truly aware…: of our interdependence, of our inherent connections, […]

October 25, 2020 Full Service – Autumn RemembranceDay of remembrance. Our ancestors brought us here, and someday we’ll join them. How shall we remember them and what they taught us? How do we hope to be remembered? Life is a cycle. We’ll build an altar, and remember our place in the cycle.  Make your offering […]

October 18, 2020 Full Service – A Unitarian Universalist PlatformAs he does every four years, Rev. Mike will declare his candidacy for President of the United States and describe a Unitarian Universalist platform. Make your offering at https://tiny.cc/fusd-give Share0 Tweet0 Share0 To share this story, please click on the social media badges above. If you […]

October 4, 2020 Full Service – A Scripture of Flesh and BloodWe consider the body as a source of wisdom and knowledge. Make your offering at https://tiny.cc/fusd-give Share0 Tweet0 Share0 To share this story, please click on the social media badges above. If you are not already logged into your account(s) you might be prompted […]

Locate Your Grace“To vilify a great man is the readiest way in which a little man can himself attain greatness.” – Edgar Allan PoeIt’s fall.  Again.  It feels as though it’s still March in so many ways.  But, nearly seven months have come and passed.  We’ve been subjected to the many great failures of our […]

Click To Download  PDF October 2020 Ploughshare Posted Date: October 1, 2020 

ScriptureScripture is our Whole Souul Living Theme for October.  Spiritual traditions like Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism and many others look to very specific, historic texts for inspiration, truth, guidance, or comfort.  For our purposes, solidly in the liberal religious tradition, we will more broadly define Scripture as, “Anything we turn to for guidance, truth, […]

A Piece of Mike’s Mind…Looking into the Mind of OthersI know, I know, there is too much information, too much coverage of the election, we are all on election overload, and there’s still another month to go! Nonetheless, sorry, I have something I want to share.Like many of you, I have wondered about those 35 to […]

Locate Your GraceDearest FUSD community, I am writing to you at an unconventional time.  It is 5:30 am and I am not a morning person.  I’m up because I’ve not really caught much sleep tonight anyway, and so it seems as good a time as any to write a bit about where we are as […]

Electing a Piece of Mike’s Mind…Predictably, anxiety around the coming election is high!  Stress, worry, fear, hope, anger, exhaustion, determination, and feelings I don’t even have words for are all present.  Everyone, literally everyone, I’ve spoken with recently is feeling the weight of this election, its importance, and potential consequences.            We’ve been here before.  We […]

Click To Download  PDF September 2020 Ploughshare Posted Date: September 1, 2020 

FreedomOur Whole Souul Living Theme for September is Freedom, a profoundly important idea in liberal religion.Osho wrote; “True freedom is always spiritual. It has something to do with your innermost being, which cannot be chained, handcuffed, or put into a jail.”  Victor Frankl wrote, “Between stimulus and response, there is a space.  In that space lies […]

Wall of UnitariansAn open letter by Stu Ferguson What does a wall of Unitarians look like? Putting a faith-based organization behind a protest effort gives mainstream support for Black Lives Matter and the current issue of police brutality. It may encourage other liberal religious groups to join the movement. In last week’s FUSD coffee klatch zoom call, […]

Click To Download  PDF August 2020 Ploughshare Posted Date: August 1, 2020 

Breaking Up with Social MediaOr trying to.  Maybe considering it.  Someday.Hi.  My name is Erin, and I have a problem.  I’m addicted to social media.  At first, it was the bulletin boards of AOL, then, sharing songs over a shared network.  Then it grew to having a profile on Myspace, broadcasting my love of Broadway to anyone […]

A Cultural Activist Piece of Mike’s Mind…By request, my column this month is a portion of the sermon from July 12th on white supremacy culture.“…When we say white supremacy culture, we are referring to the common cultural assumptions, cultural expectations, cultural associations…, the hundreds of unspoken, unwritten, but intimately familiar ways that culturally exclude, punish, […]

HospitalityHospitality is an ancient value.  Legend has it the Hebrew prophet Elijah would wander about disguised as a beggar to test whether people would be hospitable or hostile.  On one occasion, a rabbi turned him away, only to learn later that it was Elijah in disguise. The moral in the Hebrew tradition is that you […]

Click To Download  PDF Ju​ly 2020 Ploughshare Posted Date: Ju​ly 2, 2020 

​The SourcesBelow is a paraphrased summary of the spiritual sources of Unitarian Universalism: Direct experience of life and the divineWords and deeds of prophetic women and menWisdom from the world’s religionsJewish and Christian teachingsThe guidance of reason and science.Earth-centered traditions and the rhythms of natureThe fact that we have a list like this defines us as […]

​Seven or Eight Pieces of Mike’s Mind…Statements are in the air.  Organizations, companies, denominations, unions, and more are putting out statements about where they stand on matters of racial justice, Black Lives Matter, police brutality, and civil protest.  It’s good to see.Perhaps the core statement of our faith tradition is our covenant, known as the […]

June 28th 2020 Homily – Pride RevealedMatthew Davis, Worship Arts Coordinator, will explore the idea that pride can only come from first struggling with who you are. In some places and people LGBTQ+ is still something to be ashamed of and breaking forth from shame is where true pride is revealed.Since there are several statistics […]

Breaking Up with Social MediaOr trying to.  Maybe considering it.  Someday.Hi.  My name is Erin, and I have a problem.  I’m addicted to social media.  At first, it was the bulletin boards of AOL, then, sharing songs over a shared network.  Then it grew to having a profile on Myspace, broadcasting my love of Broadway to anyone […]

Click To Download  PDF June 2020 Ploughshare Posted Date: June 1, 2020 

​A Piece of Mike’s ​Mind…  This report comes in the middle of an international pandemic, and for the first time that I am aware of, no services or gatherings have been held at First Unitarian Denver for two consecutive months.  Like so many organizations and communities, we are in a time of adaptation and even […]

​White Supremacy CultureHi there, First Unitarian. So…  Until recently, I had planned this, my last Ploughshare article, to be, if not a completely fluffy, sentimental and affectionate goodbye, at least a bit lighter… a bit airier…   And make no mistake – I will miss you all greatly, and I hope you know that of course I […]

​​​​MythA modern definition of myth comes from Joseph Campbell:  “Myth refers to an intricate set of interlocking stories, rituals, rites, and customs that inform and give the pivotal sense of meaning and direction to a person, family, community, or culture.”  From this perspective, all of us are living collections of myths, consciously or unconsciously modeling […]

Building Memories…“There are places I’ll rememberAll my life, though some have changedSome forever, not for betterSome have gone, and some remainAll these places had their momentsWith lovers and friends, I still can recallSome are dead, and some are livingIn my life, I’ve loved them all”  -John Lennon 1965 The Beatles released this song in 1965, since […]

​​​Change​“Whatever IS will be WAS.”  Thich Nhat Hanh wrote: “If you suffer, it is not because things are impermanent. It is because you believe things are permanent. When a flower dies, you don’t suffer much, because you understand that flowers are impermanent. But you cannot accept the impermanence of your beloved one, and you suffer […]

​​CreativityCreate:  verb 1. To cause to exist; bring into being. 2. To give rise to; produce 3. To produce through artistic or imaginative effort Our Whole Souul Living theme for the month of April is Creativity.  Human beings create art but also community, love, hope, justice, war, violence, more….  We create when we work, cook, speak, clean, sing, make […]

Click To Download  PDF April 2020 Ploughshare Posted Date: April 1, 2020 

Click To Download  PDF ​March 2020 Ploughshare Posted Date: March 11, 2020 ​

​Common GroundCommon Ground is our Whole Souul Living Theme for March.  In a world that insistently divides and fragments the human community, a central proposition of our faith is that, There is a Unity that makes us One. Rev. Victoria Safford’s wrote; We are alone yet intricately bound, inextricably connected to soil and stream and forest, […]

“This is not school, the learning that happen here is not academic. It’s emotional and it’s social. Everything that happens in our classes is secondary and important.”-Erin Kenworthy Share0 Tweet0 Share0 To share this story, please click on the social media badges above. If you are not already logged into your account(s) you might be […]

“We are so glad that you and your family decided to check our congregation out. Welcome to our congregation and thank you for being here.”-Erin Kenworthy Share0 Tweet0 Share0 To share this story, please click on the social media badges above. If you are not already logged into your account(s) you might be prompted to […]

“Look online and check out our children and family section on the website. Or just come and visit us. We have plenty of folks ready to greet you.”-Erin Kenworthy Share0 Tweet0 Share0 To share this story, please click on the social media badges above. If you are not already logged into your account(s) you might […]

“I found this place and I’ve been in love with it ever since.”-Eddy Carroll Share0 Tweet0 Share0 To share this story, please click on the social media badges above. If you are not already logged into your account(s) you might be prompted to login to them.  Click Social Badges To Share This Story On Your […]

​Evil​This month we are considering Evil as our Whole Souul Living Theme. Obviously, we are not celebrating evil, but in the spirit of religious community, seeking healing and greater wholeness through a deeper understanding. Evil, so far as we know is not embodied in any kind of being called Satan, and certainly not, at least […]

PreparationPreparation is the Whole Souul Living Theme for November, a time-honored yet under-rated spiritual discipline. Preparation is the answer to the question, “How can I live a more authentic life?” Or, “What if I have to speak in front of hundreds of people?” Preparation focusses and clarifies both our skills, and our intentions. Consider this […]

TranscendanceTranscendence is the Whole Souul Living Theme for October, appropriate for this time of seasonal change. Undeniably, all of Life is a series of transformations, transcending what we were, later became, and into whatever we are currently becoming. Sometimes transcendence happens slowly over years; one day you realize that you barely remember the person you […]

EconomyEconomy is our Whole Souul Living Theme for January, which probably needs just a little introduction. In a sense, everything has some economy to it because everything comes with trade-offs. E.B. White once wrote, “I wake each morning torn between two impulses: the impulse to savor the world, and the impulse to save it. It […]

Click To Download  PDF December 2019 Ploughshare Posted Date: Nov 27, 2019- 1:31pm | Author: GlennBarr

DivinityOur Whole Souul Living Theme for this month is Divinity. For traditional Christians, the word usually refers to the Christian God and/or Jesus. For Jews, divinity could apply to anything from the orthodox God of the Old Testament to the cosmic Ein Sof (without end) of Kabbahlistic teaching. For many Indigenous People, divinity could refer […]

Click To Download  PDF November 2019 Ploughshare Posted Date: Nov 27, 2019- 1:31pm | Author: GlennBarr

Click To Download  PDF October 2019 Ploughshare Posted Date: Oct 03, 2019- 12:09pm | Author: GlennBarr

Whole Souul Living CommunityCommunity is our Whole Souul Living Theme for May. In a wonderful allegory, Rev. Barbara Pescan wrote: One of the old ones stood up into the morning light and spoke to those who had come back to the river: “Now we have come again to this place; it is a good thing. […]