First of all, I just have to say…Congratulations! I’m so exited for you and for Rev. Sophia as you look forward to beginning the next chapter of your adventure together! While you were spending your time getting to know Rev. Sophia – and she, you – during your Candidating Week, I was attending the annual conference of the Transitional Ministers Chapter of the UU Ministers Association (UUMA). Each year we meet to sharpen our skills and to deepen our connections to one another and our...
Transition
Candidating Week Schedule
We know you are curious about Rev. Sophia and awaiting the chance to get to know her! Candidating Week will run from April 24 to May 2, 2021. During this busy week there will be small group, larger group, and congregation-wide times to meet Rev. Sophia.
Search FAQ: When do I get to vote on a minister?
We have been waiting a lot since mid-March 2020… waiting for a vaccine, waiting to see our loved ones, waiting for a hug, waiting for our communities to be open, waiting for a kinder world… At FPW, there is also waiting for the Ministerial Search Process.
Beyond Categorical Thinking
Will the new minister hear me? Will my concerns and needs be met? Will the minister understand what I’m living with? How will the community respond to our minister? In answering these questions, a picture of the “ideal minister” (categorized by age, gender identity, nationality, physical or cognitive ability, race, sexual orientation, etc.) comes to mind. With this picture in place, it can be easy to unintentionally exclude ministers who fall into certain categories. At times, as we get caught...
“Becalmed” – Homily for 17 May 2020
I had the extreme good fortune of growing up with a father who loved to sail, and who instilled in me a love of sailing. As a child, I spent many weeks over the course of many summers, cruising the Chesapeake Bay, exploring its inlets and coves, sleeping in the cockpit under the stars. It was beautiful and lovely…except when it wasn’t. There were plenty of mosquitos at dusk and dawn, and many hours spent sitting still under a hot sun waiting for the wind to blow. For many years, I did not...
“Movin’ On” by Mark W. Harris – June 2, 2019
“Movin’ On” by Mark W. Harris
June 2, 2019 – It is time to say farewell to church and community. How do we accept the transition to retirement, and move on?
“Living with Ghosts” by Mark W. Harris – May 26, 2019
“Living With Ghosts” by Mark W. Harris – We all live with ghosts. What ghosts from your past do you live with, and how do they affect you?
“Tidying Up and Sparking Joy” by Mark W. Harris – March 31, 2019
Tidying Up and Sparking Joy” by Mark W. Harris – Do you ever feel overwhelmed with stuff? Getting ready to move to Maine has meant an ongoing purge of books, furniture, clothes and files. What items have I kept because they bring me joy, and what does tidying up do for my sense of balance, letting go and spiritual growth? Let’s explore the religious implications of Marie Kondo’s quest for tidiness.