Northlake Unitarian Universalist Church

Freedom Day or Juneteenth, as it is best known, is a holiday celebrating the emancipation of African Americans who had been enslaved in the United States. We are joined by Rev. Anthony Mtuaswa Johnson, Mississippi born, and Chicago bred, is an Ordained Unitarian Universalist Minister, speaker, writer, poet, producer, soldier, teacher, mentor and Elder. His sermon will share the history of this recognition of the date slavery was officially outlawed in the state of Texas and the meaning of freedom in the context of today's time of racial reckoning and reconciliation. [Recording opens with a reading of “In the midst of a world” By Rebecca Parker, followed by a hymn of the Coleman Banks translation of the Sufi poet, Rumi. “Come, Come, Whoever You Are”.]

Opens with a reading from A Drop in the Bucket by Gordan McKeeman, then our choir sings There is a Love, then Nancy speaks in honor of Volunteer Recognition Sunday. "Church is run by those who find meaning and community in volunteer association with others. This type of activity can create unexpected connection within and between ourselves. Today we will talk about why we volunteer, and then honor those who give themselves to the work of this church community."

Begins with a story by Margaret Rogers - Making Community Soup. Then Jaie leads a hymn by Lyndsey Watson. Then Rev. Nancy speaks: "There is a difference between inviting someone TO a dance, and inviting them to DANCE. How do we move from invitation to inclusion? From wanting to look good by having the right people coming to church, to being good by embracing people. As we talk about our doors and windows, we will explore how we invite folk into our beloved community." Ends with Maria playing Gentle Waltz by T. Maxim.

In honor of those who nurture others, you will hear a Call to Worship, hymn From You I Receive, a Blessing, the original “Mother's Day Proclamation” By Julia Ward Howe, then stories from three mothers/daughters, Janet, Heather, and Nancy. The recording ends with the hymn Let it be a dance we do.

Opens with a reading of “Thresholds” by Arlen Goff. Then Rev. Nancy reflects on: How do you move through doors? Have you ever pondered this question? Thresholds and doors are very symbolic about how we move through life and how we enter new times in our life. This week's sermon will focus on how we deal with the in-between moments of our lives that can offer the most insight and growth potential.

In the books we read, and movies we watch, we find mirrors - experiences that reflect our own, and windows - views into lives we can barely imagine. Representation is important - all people should be able to find mirrors and we should all be able to peek into all sorts of different lived experiences. If we actively seek out diverse stories, not only do we broaden our perspectives, we also cast an economic vote that helps to increase the chances those stories can be told. Opening Words adapted from "Let Us Worship” - Kenneth L. Patton. Reading “On Seeing Yourself in Literature” from the “Off the Beaten Shelf” blog by Mandy Shunnarah. Transcript with links to sources: https://janelledurham.com/2021/04/28/representation-in-media/. Resource list, including recommended books and movies, and criteria to evaluate the media you consume is available at: https://janelledurham.com/2021/04/24/seeking-out-diverse-media/

An Earth Day celebration developed by our Climate Action Team (CAT). John P reads “Earth” written By Rev. Mark L. Belletini. A video created by CAT members, sharing something they have committed to doing in light of the current climate crisis. Piano – For the Beauty of the Earth. Video on carbon footprint by Des. A Guided Meditation from Nancy. Greg Smith reads A Prayer of Healing, written by The United Nations Environmental Sabbath Program. Podcast ends with Blue Boat Home performed by our choir.

Opens with a reading of from The Soul of Money by Lynne Twist. Sermon by Nancy: "Society messages make us feel we never have enough- we need more things, better cars, bigger homes... and we are left with a sense of scarcity and that we ourselves are insufficient. We can change the framing to realize we have what we need, and we can make a difference by choosing what we invest or time and resources in."

The story of Jesus' resurrection from a UU perspective.

At the end of your life, will you be able to reflect back and know you have lived the life you wanted? Or are you urgently attending to one thing after another, without the time to take care of your basic needs? And what are those basic needs? These questions help give each of us clarity about whether we are doing the works that brings us alive and gives us meaning. We will explore how we prioritize our lives.

In this sermon, guest preacher Ariel Aaronson-Eves invites us to reflect on how we relate to the world around us and the various traditions that have connected or disconnected people from the land and its creatures. What healing becomes possible when we open ourselves up to communicating with even the most pesky of yellowjacket wasps? What kind of counter-oppressive culture might be created through relationships of reciprocity within our ecosystems? (Recording includes a reading by Emily Kedar.)

Unitarian Universalists have seven principles that guide us... but in 2017 an Eighth Principle was introduced for consideration. This principle is about how we dismantle racism and move to anti-oppression in our faith. This is a fitting topic as we celebrate Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (Includes a chalice lighting written by Rebekah Savage.)

Recording opens with a prayer reflecting on the events at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. This is followed by a reading from Ivone Gebara in Longing For Running Water. Then Rev. Nancy:"Many of us have rejected the theology of God we were raised with. For some, this has left us without a theology and without religious language. We explore theologies that may offer a new way to move into our religious home with intellectual engagement."

Begins with hymn Here Together, written by David Glasgow. Reading: “The Church Has Left the Building” By Margaret Weis. Sermon: Foundation of Congregants - "UU's have a foundational belief in Congregational Polity. This means that we have no higher authority in our faith tradition than the congregation itself. This calls us to know ourselves well and to be responsible. It calls us to make promises to each other, trust each other, and commit to each other that we will care for each other. The work of the church is up to us." Hymn reprise.

Rev. Nancy leads a meditation, involving four elements: earth, sky, fire and water. Then Rev. Nancy speaks about Our UU Ancestors. Her summary: "We understand ourselves only in the context of our history, although we may not fully recognize how ancestors are foundational. This week we will talk about our ancestors, talking about why we need to know how they influence us, and then specifically introducing Hosea Ballou and William Ellory Channing, our Unitarian and our Universalist 'fathers'." The recording concludes with Jaie leading "We Are."

The recording begins with a reading of a poem by Maya Angelou, in honor of the loss of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Then our new music director, Jaie, leads us in singing There is a Love. Nancy shares a "Meditation on Hope and Love in a Time of Struggle" By Alice Anacheka-Nasemann, and a sermon on a Faith of the Heart and the Head - Foundational Theologies of Unitarians and Universalists. The recording closes with the hymn We Shall be Known.

Begins with song "Let Your Little Light Shine". The Time for All Ages was about Creating a Home. Hymn: Return Again. Sermon on Coming Home - synopsis: "Our theme for the year is Our House of Belonging, and we will begin by welcoming you home to Northlake after a summer of wanderings. Which leads to the questions...what makes a place home? Where do you belong, and when we ultimately are alone with ourselves in life, what makes us feel a sense of belonging?" Ends with song: Love Come and Be with Me.

Time For All Ages: "Why Are There Protests?" Prayer from Rev. Joan Javier-Duval. Reading: “Love Is Calling” from Jess Reynolds. Reflection/Sermon: Riot is the Language of the Unheard by Rev. Nancy Reid-McKee - "What is it that America has failed to hear? We will explore the message we need to attend to. We will reflect on our response that shifts the focus from our fear and discomfort and centers on what and who have been silenced."

After months of quarantining we are being pushed to return to "normal". But should we? Could we use this lesson as a way to change destructive habits? And what is the cost to the front-line workers in returning to the previous habits? Let's look at this closer. [Recording opens with "We Are Not in the Same Boat" by an unknown author.]

Excerpts from our Mother's Day Online Service - opens with the song "There is a Love" sung by Dave, then Trish reads “Circle of Care” by Lisa Bovee-Kemper. Rev. Nancy shares a “Prayer For All Who Mother” by Victoria Weinstein, and her own reflection, titled Honoring Those Who Nurture.

The Failure of Perfectionism - by Nancy Reid-McKee.

A reflection for Stewardship Sunday.

Long-time Northlaker Diane Fennema speaks about practicing compassion in the times of coronavirus. This homily was given as part of our virtual service on Zoom on 3/29/20.

Opens with “All That We Share Is Sacred” By Andrée Mol. Rev. Reid-McKee explores compassion and what distinguishes this from empathy. So often we are unsure how to respond to others as they suffer in some way. It may be that we can learn to create spontaneous, compassion within ourselves, and how to respond to others with care.

Nancy Reid-McKee with a reflection on Chaos Theory, and the changes in our life due to coronavirus. This reflection was part of a virtual worship service on Zoom teleconferencing.

This week, the Kirkland area is living with the presence of coronavirus in our community. We worry about over-reacting... we wonder if we should just go on about our lives as usual, knowing that for many people this virus only causes a mild illness. We worry about under-reacting. If we don't change our behaviors, and keep going out in the world and interacting as we always do, could we increase the spread of the disease, putting many others at risk. In the spirit of compassion, and honoring the interconnectedness of all beings, we try to find a middle way.

Hard times come around for all of us. Some people get knocked down by challenges and never recover. Some are more resilient, and can bounce back to where they started. Some rise like a phoenix from the ashes – stronger than ever before. How can we build resilience in ourselves, each other, and our communities? What protective factors create the safety nets that catch us when we fall, and launch us back up onto our feet? Speaker: Janelle Durham

This is an important election year. We must be involved and use this year to promote our values in the world if we truly believe we are part of the interconnected web, dedicated to healing the world. At the same time we must learn resiliency, how we maintain our core integrity, when the political situation feels threatening. (Opens with a reading from Clarissa Pinkola Estes.)

There is a debate about optimism versus hope. What is the difference? Liberation theologians declare optimism is not possible for those who can no longer trust the economy and politics of this country. In these difficult times, must we give up on optimism, but learn a form of spiritual hope? (Opens with a reading from Vaclav Havel.)

Integrity can be defined as a sense of wholeness and authenticity. But what does wholeness and authenticity look like in a world that often appears fractured and demands conformity? Join us as our guest preacher, Raphaelle Mills Warner, MDiv, explores this topic.

Some of the hardest work we do is healing the broken world. And so, we give and we share what we have. What does the next step look like? Our prophets (not our Biblical, but our Social prophets) call us into relationship with others. That means moving closer, becoming proximate to those most broken.

Buddhism has a term for what ails us: the hungry ghost. We desire a full life but have learned to dull our craving. How do we identify what we most need, and how do we work together to move toward satisfying this?

We will reflect on our UU martyrs. Martyrs are those who have died for their beliefs, for their faith. We will explore the characteristics of a Saint/Martyr, and recognize those of our tradition. Sermon by Rev. Nancy Reid-McKee. Northlake Unitarian Universalist Church, Kirkland, WA

Recording of the Christmas Eve Services at Northlake UU in Kirkland, WA: Christmas Carol Medley, played by Maria (0 – 8:20); Joy to the World, Candle Lighting, O Come… (8:20 – 14:30); The No Rehearsal Xmas pageant (14:30 – 31:20); Carols, Readings and Offering (31:20 – 44); Homily by Rev. Nancy Reid-McKee – Take Time for Awe (44 – 50:40); Carols and Readings (50:40 – 1:00).

In this season of cold and wet, we honor the light and warmth of fire and the blessings of community in this multigenerational service, which includes story, song, and a fire communion ceremony. (In Unitarian Universalist traditions, we often do a flower communion in the spring and a water communion in the fall. This service included Rev. Nancy's creation of a fire communion.)

So often we are caught up in the business of life and miss the mystery of being alive. In this service, Rev. Nancy led us through several practices that help ground our spirit. Recording includes Homily (recording location 0 - 11:00 minutes), then Steve Wilhelm from Eastside Insight Meditation offers a guided meditation (11 - 17:30), Lectio Divina (read, meditate, pray and contemplation centered around a reading of The Longing by John O'Donohue - 18 - 22:40), gratitude practice (22:40 - 25:30), lighting a candle (25:30 - 26:15); Choir performs We Are One (26:15 - 29:46).

This is a recording of a children's story, as told by Rev. Nancy Reid-McKee at our Veteran's Day service at Northlake UU Church in Kirkland, WA

Reverend Nancy McKee's description of her message: "Instead of dying and going to heaven, our work is to recognize that we are already in heaven and to act accordingly. We will explore what we expect from heaven." Recording opens with a reading “Prophets of a Future Not Our Own” by Bishop Ken Untener, followed by the Northlake choir performing "Look Around", an original composition by our Music Director David Duvall.

The sermon will focus on what we expect from each other in the upcoming years, and how we manage our achievements and disappointments as a religious practice. From Northlake Unitarian Universalist Church, Kirkland, WA.

Justice, Equity, and Compassion offer opportunities for growth and change. Looking back at this brief chapter at Northlake, Rev. Jim is reminded of the journey of life: to live, reflect, learn, help, and point forward, always doing the best you can. Come, join in, to reflect on setting a new course for ourselves, for Northlake UU Church, and for the world.

When we think of the homeless/unhoused community, what often comes to mind are tent cities, cardboard signs, struggle, hopelessness, addiction, isolation, and a community with tremendous needs. Eli Poore, a Unitarian Universalist seminarian, Community Ministry Intern, and community organizer who has been working with the unhoused community using a strength and relationship-based organizing process in Corpus Christi, Texas, shares what lessons unhoused communities have to offer us about perseverance, relationships, interdependence, inherent worth, and building Beloved Community. Recording opens with a reading.

This will be the longest night this year. So often we use this time of year to long for the light and wait for a kindling of fire to instill new life in us. How about we think about what the night offers to us? Instead of looking for something else, let us explore where we are (darkness) and why this is a normal part of each day, and each life. Recording begins with hymn Dark of Winter, by Shelley Jackson Denham, sung by Northlake choir, ends with When I am Frightened by Denham. Also includes a reading by Barbara Brown Taylor, from her book Learning to Walk in the Dark.

Recording opens with Maria Khavin playing Autumn Rose by E. Cortazar. Reading: “Awe and Wonder” Anonymous. Sermon theme: "First Source: Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life." Recording ends with Improvisation ( after Edith Piaf) by F. Poulenc.

Recording Begins with hymn "Come Yet Again Come." Reading: “Our Faith” by Rosemary Bray McNatt. Sermon theme: Our UU church is only one of the thousands of separate churches across the nation. And we are supported by multiple organizations, associations and groups that, together, can support and nourish the work our small church does. Today we will look at the large picture of the Unitarian Universalist universe, so we can learn about what we are part of! Recording ends with Eleanor Rigby by P. McCartney, played by Maria Khavin.

Recording begins with Meditation on Breathing. Followed by a spiritual practice - "I am Here Now". Rev. Nancy summarizes her sermon theme: "We each seek to have a deeper and richer life, but wonder what practices can help us in our spiritual development. We will explore how mind, body, heart and spirit practices are all part of an integral, transformative life practice." Recording ends with Maria Khavin playing Autumn Waltz by T. Max.

CB Beal, M.Div., will be our guest speaker on Sunday, Feb. 28, speaking on "Preemptive Radical Inclusion During COVID Times and Beyond." CB will share reflections on the idea of Preemptive Radical Inclusion as an entryway to increase justice and equity among ourselves and in the world, a way to embody beloved community in a time of physical isolation and social connection. Opens with a reading "I will not die an unlived life,” by Dawna Markova.

Air, one of the four elements, is the only one we can't actually see. But we sense it with our eyes, hearing and touch. We will explore the ways we know air, and then as a communion together we will take a collective breath, honoring this essential element of life. Includes readings from John Fire Lame Deer, Gail Forsyth-Vail, Richard Gilbert, Lewis Latimer, David Abrams, and Lyall Watson, and concludes with Maria playing Prelude in D flat op. 43 no. 1 by R. Glier.

This Sunday we continue our celebration of Women’s History Month by reviewing the four 'waves' of the feminist movement, and the recognition that liberation will require collective action to prevail, over individualistic achievement.

We celebrate fire in this service, thinking of what it offers as one of the basic elements of our planet. And fitting with this, we will have time for a burning bowl; a time to reflect on what to put behind us this past year, and what to move into as we look to the future. (Opening words adapted from “Out of the Flames” by Sara Eileen LaWall; includes a poem by May Sarton, and concludes with music - Romance by Shostakovich.)

We have entered a time of uncertainty. This is the time between realizing we are in a crisis, but before knowing the extent of it. This time is unsettling, it is much like passing through airport security, trying to get reorganized before we board the plane for the real trip. How do we become recombobulated?

When our personal lives grow crowded with the news and opinions of others, how do we remain open to the awe of all that is Divine? Speaker - Joe Rettenmaier, former intern minister at Edmonds UU, MDiv student at Meadville-Lombard.