Topic: Wonder

The Rebirth of Wonder

The San Francisco “beat” poet, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, wrote: “I am waiting for a rebirth of wonder.” Have we as a people lost the ability to experience wonder? Will it be reborn in us if we simply wait long enough? BIOGRAPHY – The Rev. Dr. Jeanne Foster is Professor Emerita, Saint Mary’s College of California, and former Minister of UU congregation in Modesto. She is also a poet, non-fiction writer, translator, and ballroom dancer. Her books include A Music of Grace: The Sacred in Contemporary American Poetry; Appetite: Food as Metaphor; A Blessing of Safe Travel; Goodbye, Silver Sister; The Living Theatre.

From Retribution to Restoration

As Unitarian Universalists, we hold a belief that there is a spark of star dust, a holy divinity within all people. Please join us in this service to think about the spark within those among us that violate the norms and laws of society. Where is the spark in those who do great harm? Where is our spark as we choose to engage or not? BIOGRAPHY – Rev. Dr. Rodney Lemery currently serves as the Interim Minister of Prison Ministry at the Church of the Larger Fellowship as well as a volunteer chaplain at the Solano County Jail. He lives in Hercules, CA with his husband, a human-resources professional, and their fur-baby Basil. Rodney and his husband are members of the Mount Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church in Walnut Creek, CA. Like lawyer and activist Bryan Stevenson, Rodney believes that “Each of us is more than the worst thing we’ve ever done.” His relational theology requires him to serve those in the margins of society where connection and love saves!

United in Wonder

Inspired by the writings of Humanist UU minister, Rev. Kendyl Gibbons, in this service we will consider how our church, whose members hold diverse beliefs, are united in the human experience of wonder and reverence.