Tag Archive for: Rev. Kathleen Rolenz

The Story of Your Happiness

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The Story of Your Happiness
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By Rev. Kathleen Rolenz

2016-2017 was “The Year of the Story,” with each month exploring the answer to the question: “Tell Me a Story about a Time When You…” We’ve looked at experiences such as “faced your fears,” or “found your voice.” This is Rev. Rolenz’ last full service, so we’ll look back at some of the concerns we’ve uncovered, the joys we’ve shared, and the new story that is being written for the Fellowship’s future. This service will include the 95th anniversary of the Flower Ceremony, created by Reverend Norbet Capek of the Czech Republic. Bring a flower to share to create our common bouquet, and you’ll take a new one home with you, as a reminder that a joy shared is a joy increased.

Mother Earth Day

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Mother Earth Day
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by Rev. Kathleen Rolenz

We often say “the earth is our mother” but we humans haven’t been treating her very well. On a day when we honor and acknowledge the importance of motherhood, we’ll also look closely at the relationship between the health of women and children’s lives and the health of our planet.

MotherEarthDayMay 17 2017

Second Chances

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Second Chances
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by Rev. Kathleen Rolenz

In a world where nothing is permanent, we treat death as the exception. For those who celebrate Easter, Jesus’s resurrection is experienced as important theological “second chance.” On this Easter Sunday when Christians celebrate Jesus’ resurrection as we’ll look with at the problems and possibilities of life – before and after death.

Born This Way, Again

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by Rev. Kathleen Rolenz

The theme for the month of April is “Born Again,” which too often is narrowly defined to mean one thing. However, Unitarian Universalists like to say that “revelation is not sealed” and therefore, can be said to be born again…and again..and again! With some help from Lady Gaga, Woody Guthrie and the Fellowship Band, we’ll dig into what meaning this has for our faith and our Fellowship.

Born This Way04.02.17KR

Risking Sanctuary

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Risking Sanctuary
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by Rev. Kathleen Rolenz

Several Unitarian Universalist congregations have already become, or are preparing to become a “Sanctuary” congregation to house undocumented persons under threat of deportation. Many in our community live in fear of deportation and are looking for safe harbor at churches and congregations who are willing to support them. What are the moral issues around immigration – and do those moral issues call us, as a congregation, to provide sanctuary?

Risking Sanctuary3.26.17KR

Our True, Original Course

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Our True, Original Course
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Rev. Kathleen Rolenz, Jay Thomas, Music Director, and Fellowship Member John Newhall

One of the ways in which people navigate themselves when lost at sea is to chart a course using the north star. There’s no denying that we live in a time of great change, and many have said they felt “at sea.” How do you navigate your way through conflicting narratives, alternative facts and the many pulls and demands of life in such a way that reflects what one poet calls “our true, original course?”

Excerpt from “The Buried Life” with the Fellowship Choir, Set to music by Jay Thomas

Who Are You?

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by Rev. Kathleen Rolenz

When we greet one another, we often ask “how are you?” but what we really want to know is “WHO” are you. How do you identify yourself? We’re told, on the one hand, that identity is a fact that we’re born with, on the other hand, we know that identiy is endlessly open to revision, adapation, and tranformation. At the deepest level of interaction, we want to know another and be truly known. This service will seek to answer the question: “Tell Me a Story about a Time When You Knew Exactly Who You Were.”

Who Are YouKR2.5.17

Resistance and Resilience

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Resistance and Resilience
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by Rev. Kathleen Rolenz

On this Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, I’ll look at the legacy of President Obama’s legacy and his influence on the state of black America today. As we look ahead towards the inaguration of a new president, what are the strategies we must use to resist injustice and how do we develop the resilience to stay active and engaged for the next chapter of America’s life?

ResistanceandResilience 01-15-2017

Hearing Voices

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Hearing Voices
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by Rev. Kathleen Rolenz

In ancient times, “hearing voices” was a sure sign of being chosen as a prophet. In contemporary times, it may indicate a mental health crisis. Yet, each one of us has a private soundtrack in our heads; a chorus of voices who, for better or worse, shape who we are and the decision we make. Which voices should we listen to and which ones should we ignore?

HearingVoices01.08.2017

The Gift of Presence

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by Rev. Kathleen Rolenz

One of the greatest gifts we can give our children, our families and ourselves is the gift of being fully present for each moment of life. Why then is that the gift we find difficult to give? What’s so important about the next moment that we can’t live fully and completely in this one?

The Gift of Presence12.11.16