Archives: Services

Flower Communion Sunday

You are invited to bring a flower or two to exchange during our annual ritual of beauty and fellowship. Like always, this service will be accessible via Zoom and in person. Thankfully, this will be the first time since 2019 that we have the option to exchange physical flowers. Please join us however you choose … Continue reading Flower Communion Sunday

Nurturing Ourselves Through Ritual: Thoughts About Fat Bear Week

An exploration of how we can create rituals for ourselves that help us connect with the beauty that is at once within and beyond our own bodies. Nathan will share some thoughts about his personal ritual practices and invite individuals to think about their own ideas and beliefs around what it means for something to … Continue reading Nurturing Ourselves Through Ritual: Thoughts About Fat Bear Week

The Invisible Embrace

“We live between the act of awakening and the act of surrender.” – John O’Donohue. This Irish poet, priest, and philosopher helps us rediscover the true source of compassion, serenity, and hope through his writing Beauty: The Invisible Embrace. See the UUConnect for the service logon information or click on May 8 in the calendar. RE Focus: Celebrating … Continue reading The Invisible Embrace

The Art of Nurturing Beauty

A visual reflection on capturing moments of beauty “hidden in plain sight” and therein encouraging us all to actively cultivate beauty all around us. Fr. James Neilson, O. Praem. is a Norbertine priest of St. Norbert Abbey in De Pere, WI. Fr. Neilson has studied art at The School of the Art Institute in Chicago, … Continue reading The Art of Nurturing Beauty

Wakening To The Possibilities Of A More Sustainable Healthy Environment And How That’s Even Attainable

We all learn from each other. This Sunday you can find out more about Open Circle’s efforts in promoting and implementing solar energy in the community. Tom Schuppe, a long time member of Open Circle and Vice President on the Board, will present the history of the OC solar panel project and the benefits derived … Continue reading Wakening To The Possibilities Of A More Sustainable Healthy Environment And How That’s Even Attainable

Wandering in the Wilderness

The Passover story reminds us of a people wandering in the wilderness for 40 years before they awakened in their “Land of milk and honey”. What does this story tell us of times of uncertainty? RE FOCUS:Waking Up to the Pain and Suffering of Others. We explore this theme in connection to Passover and highlight … Continue reading Wandering in the Wilderness

Awakening Our Imaginations

Awakening Our Imaginations with, First Unitarian Society of Madison Humans have a unique capacity to envision that which is not, to use imagination to move from the realm of the known to the realm of the possible. Imagination can truly be transformative and revolutionary, especially when we recognize its power to help us empathize with … Continue reading Awakening Our Imaginations

It’s Hard to Offer You Love and Compassion When I Want to Punch You in the Face

A provocative title, I know, but certainly a feeling we may be experiencing during these troubling times.  As Unitarian Universalists we are called to believe in the inherent worth and dignity of all people. And yet many of us may have friends and family, let alone strangers, who we struggle to understand their politics and ideologies. … Continue reading It’s Hard to Offer You Love and Compassion When I Want to Punch You in the Face