West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church

by Reverend Anthony Makar and Ryan Rosu, Worship Associate “Pay It Forward” is about a way of being kind in a world that needs kindness. It’s about putting your time and energy and money in service to Love. Come and find out how you might take part in this. There will also be a surprise that you simply won’t want to miss! Music: Wonderful, Beautiful People by Jimmy Cliff Free Spirit Band; Laird Wynn, lead vocal   You Can Get It If You Really Want by Jimmy Cliff Free Spirit Band; Bill Hudson, lead vocal

by Reverend Anthony Makar and Victoria Warden, Worship Associate If a “foodie” is someone who has refined tastes in food and drink and tends to seek out new food experiences, a “soul foodie” is someone who is like that in the religious realm. Today we talk about how Unitarian Universalism invites people to be soul foodies and what we need to be aware of in order for our worship to be hospitable to that. Music: I am Resilient by Rising Appalachia, sung by Margaret Gardner and Ally Jagoda

by West Shore Youth Group, Worship Leaders Once every year our youth prepare and deliver a Sunday morning service for the congregation. The services provided by the youth are typically heartfelt, engaging, and inspiring. This year’s service is on the theme “Community.” The Youth will be sharing what it's like to grow up and GROW in a Community; whether that community is church, family or another type of community. Music: The Times They are 'a Changing by Bob Dylan Performed by The Byrds Blowin’ in the Wind by Bob Dylan Performed by Abby Rosu & Seth Wanner Changes by David Bowie

by Reverend Anthony Makar and Christine Salontay, Worship Associate Feeling like you belong is a two-way street. Part of it has to do with how others treat you—whether they are being invitational and hospitable. But an equally important part of feeling like you belong is your own openness to that, and things you do to enhance your sense of belonging. As Care of the Soul author Thomas Moore says, “Belonging is an active verb, something we do positively.”

by Reverend Anthony Makar and Elizabeth Gerencser, Worship Associate The experience of shame is so intense that often the result is lashing out at the very person whose love we crave. But what would it mean to allow another to love us in our shame? What happens to us if we truly embrace our vulnerability? Music: Shame by Avett Brothers Performed by: Free Spirit Band; Laird Wynn, lead vocal Music: Hold Your Head Up by Rod Argent Performed by: Free Spirit Band; Bill Hudson, lead vocal

by Reverend Anthony Makar and Marty Blachly-Cross , Worship Associate Courage is key. Maya Angelou calls it the “the most important of the virtues because without courage you can’t practice any other virtue consistently.” As for Winston Churchill, he said, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” Let’s talk about courage today.

by Reverend Anthony Makar and Jeff Modzelewski, Worship Associate When we lose touch with our heroes’ stories, we lose touch with our own powers and potentialities. We hear a call to leadership, but our response can be, Who, me? Yet the message of the life of every hero who has ever gone before us, or who may be in our midst right now, is that you don’t need to be perfect to have a dream. Today, we explore some of Dr. King’s story and how it speaks powerfully to our own today.

by Reverend Anthony Makar and Ryan Rosu, Worship Associate Hearts hunger to be a part of Beloved Community, which is a place where people feel enlivened and vital and loved. So what’s involved in creating Beloved Community, and then sustaining it? How might you help?

by Reverend Chris Long and Judy Montgomery, Worship Associate West Shore is known throughout Greater Cleveland for its justice-making. The work that our congregational Task Forces and our Social Action Committee continues to do, with a few highly dedicated members and friends of the congregation, is astounding. We will reflect on our individual and collective journey over the last year with our justice efforts at West Shore and beyond. Rev. Long will also share some of his experiences with our Interfaith Community Partners and other organizations in Cleveland. He will also include details regarding his faithful journey with our denominational efforts in becoming a living tradition striving to become an “anti-racist, anti-oppressive, multicultural” faith movement as we lean into 2020. This holy work needs more of us in it! Music: I am Resilient by Rising Appalachia, sung by Margaret Gardner and Ally Jagoda

by Martha Blachly-Cross and Ryan Rosu, Worship Leaders Vicki Warden, Worship Associate For the shortest, darkest weeks of the year, human beings have, from the beginnings of time, created festivals of light to brighten their days. Christmas, Hanukkah, Epiphany—each anticipates the longed-for return to spring, each has its rites, symbols and above all stories. For the holidays, then, a reading list. Chaucer urged, “To read and drive the night away.”

by Reverend Anthony Makar and Gerry Meader, Worship Associate The Christmas Story involves any number of fascinating figures: Joseph and Mary, the wise men, the animals in the stable, the angels, King Herod, and so on. There’s more to each than meets the eye. This year, I will share my personal letter to Mary.

by Reverend Anthony Makar and Vicki Warden, Worship Associate What do spirituality and money have to do with each other? Everything! Come and find out about how we might relate to money (and talk about it!) in healthier ways.