What is church for? Is it a social club? Or a general purpose social justice non-profit? Is it Sunday morning entertainment? A show? A musical performance? Why, when so many of us have experienced trauma and disconnect and worse at institutions called churches, are we at one again? What are we searching for? What are … Continue reading What Is Church For? by Eric Hepburn

Our culture lionizes on the idea that “I don’t owe nobody, nothing!” it is a powerful current in a sea of staunch individualism. What if it is also part of the reason we feel so pervasively adrift, so systematically lonely? What if it is the anchor on the chain of anomie? What if the communities … Continue reading The Debt We Cannot Repay by Eric Hepburn

Easter is an invitation to struggle with one of the deepest areas of mystery: life, death, & rebirth. I want to share with you some writings from one of my most influential teachers, Stephen Jenkinson. He is author of books like “Die Wise: A Manifesto for Sanity and Soul” & “Come of Age: The Case … Continue reading Heart Like A Seed by Eric Hepburn

“(Ours) is a climate filled with heavy torrents of false accusation, jostling winds of hatred, and raging storms of violence. It is a climate where men cannot disagree without being disagreeable, and where they express dissent through violence and murder… So in a sense we are all participants in (these) horrible act(s)… By our silence, … Continue reading Can We Imagine a Future Without Violence? by Eric Hepburn, Community Lay Minister

I’ve long struggled to find an MLK Day tradition that I feel does adequate justice to his life and message as a modern day prophet. So, for the first installment in what I hope will become a long standing practice, we will use Dr. King’s spotlight to highlight the message of a lesser known but … Continue reading Prophets in the Graveyard by Guest Eric Hepburn

“No Sticks, No Carrots, Just Love.” In this time of giving, my thoughts stray to Santa’s list of who’s been naughty and who’s been nice, who’s getting coal in their stocking and who’s getting their hearts’ desire, all wrapped up in ribbons and bows under the yule tree. Let’s take a fresh look at this … Continue reading “No Sticks, No Carrots, Just Love” by Guest Speaker Eric Hepburn, Community Lay Minister

Share the Love – This Sunday we are encouraging all to bring an empty stomach, and perhaps a dish they would like to share, for this special Thanksgiving potluck service.

How do unintended consequences thwart our work to build beloved community? Join us for another invigorating guest service led by Eric!

The Evolution of Humanism with Eric Hepburn, UU Community Lay Minister Secular humanism was born in resistance to the institution of religion, as atheism was born in resistance to the idea of God. As with all reactive movements, there comes a point in its growth where it must find its own feet or stagnate. I will propose … Continue reading The Evolution of Humanism with Eric Hepburn, UU Community Lay Minister