“Meeting the Moment” – February 8, 2026

Rev. Sophia preaching, with Kyle Belmont, Charlyn Bethell, Laura Horn, Guy Urban and the FPW Choir!

One of our UU values is Generosity which asks us to be living embodiments of abundance, gratitude, faith, and hope. This is a challenging ask–one that requires discipline, creativity, and a lot of courage. Let’s explore this as a community committed to Meeting the Moment both within our church community and beyond its walls. Our choir will be singing about the fire of commitment and wintertide awakening–good messages to companion us on the path! The sanctuary is glowing, warm, and filled with friends longing to welcome you home. Won’t you slow down and give yourself the gift of church? See you on Sunday!

Reading: “Choose to Bless the World,” by Rev. Dr. Rebecca Ann Parker

Your gifts—whatever you discover them to be—
can be used to bless or curse the world.

The mind’s power,
the strength of the hands,
the reaches of the heart,
the gift of speaking, listening, imagining, seeing, waiting

Any of these can serve to feed the hungry,
bind up wounds,
welcome the stranger,
praise what is sacred,
do the work of justice
or offer love.

Any of these can draw down the prison door,
hoard bread,
abandon the poor,
obscure what is holy,
comply with injustice
or withhold love.

You must answer this question:
What will you do with your gifts?

Choose to bless the world.

The choice to bless the world is more than an act of will,
a moving forward into the world
with the intention to do good.

It is an act of recognition,
a confession of surprise,
a grateful acknowledgment
that in the midst of a broken world
unspeakable beauty, grace and mystery abide.

There is an embrace of kindness
that encompasses all life, even yours.

And while there is injustice, anesthetization, or evil
there moves a holy disturbance,
a benevolent rage,
a revolutionary love,
protesting, urging, insisting
that which is sacred will not be defiled.

Those who bless the world live their life
as a gesture of thanks
for this beauty
and this rage.

The choice to bless the world can take you into solitude
to search for the sources
of power and grace;
native wisdom, healing, and liberation.

More, the choice will draw you into community,
the endeavor shared,
the heritage passed on,
the companionship of struggle,
the importance of keeping faith,

the life of ritual and praise,
the comfort of human friendship,
the company of earth
the chorus of life welcoming you.

None of us alone can save the world.
Together—that is another possibility, waiting.