By Rev. Barbara Prose “Never react to an evil in such a way as to augment it,” the great French philosopher Simone Weil wrote in 1933 as she contemplated how to be a good human in a world that seemed to be falling apart. I find myself reflecting on those words after returning from ten … Continue reading February’s Theme: Good & Evil
By Bonnie Withers Of all the ways there are to leave a mark on the world, funding libraries is very high on my list. Thus, we remember Sir Henry Tate, who died on December 5, 1899, at the age of 80. Tate was born in 1819 in Lancashire, England, son of a Unitarian minister. He … Continue reading Moments in UU History: Sir Henry Tate
By Bonnie Withers Last week, we learned about the First Unitarian Church of Baltimore (Unitarian and Universalist) where William Ellery Channing’s famous sermon (1819) was preached. At that time, it was called The First Independent of Baltimore. As we learned, this was the first church built by Unitarians in the U.S. and has been used … Continue reading Moments in UU History: King’s Chapel
Let’s Strengthen Our Community by Gathering Together! Every Third Thurday from 5:30-8 pm at the Rockford Grange (4262 Barrett Dr. Hood River, OR) Feeling lonely or disconnected from others? Here at the Gorge UU Fellowship, we’re making space for you to talk about what matters and feel your feelings with others in real life. This January … Continue reading Third Thursdays Together
Each month, MCUUF shares one-half of the month’s offerings from worship services with a local agency that is working to meet MCUUF values. In 2024-25, we shared over $5,000 with 12 programs across our service area (Klickitat, Skamania, Wasco and Hood River counties), with an average monthly donation of $430. We are encouraging the MCUUF … Continue reading Share-the-Plate Nominations Now Open
By Bonnie Withers After reading yet another horrific story about the Indian Boarding School movement which began around the 1870’s, I began to wonder if, even though most of the schools were run by the Catholic church, our Unitarian and Universalist forebears had been a direct part of this ill-conceived movement. It was reported in … Continue reading Moments in UU History: Indian Boarding School
By Bonnie Withers As we think about how we re-invent religious education, we might well seek guidance from one of our most influential forebears. Sophia Lyon Fahs was born on August 2, 1876 to missionary parents in China. She studied progressive approaches to education at Columbia, and continued those studies at Union Theological Seminary where … Continue reading Moments in UU History: Sophia Lyon Fahs
Nevertheless, She Persisted! By Bonnie Withers If you are looking for a UU woman for a role model, you need look no further than Olympia Brown. But beware! This feisty little woman will ask much of you. Olympia was born in a Universalist household on January 5, 1835. Her upbringing lead her to pursue education … Continue reading Moments in UU History: Olympia Brown
By Bonnie Withers Let’s take a dip back into the early history of belief in Unitarianism, specifically thatGod is a single entity. Imagine a street corner in Rakow, Poland, in the early 1600’s.A small crowd has gathered to watch yet another street corner debate between aRoman Catholic priest and…a Unitarian! Erasmus Otvinovius, a Polish knight … Continue reading Moments in UU History: Otvinovius
By Rev. Barbara Prose Tell Me About the God You Don’t Believe In and Chances Are I Don’t Believe in that God Either. “It is like the finger pointing to the moon…” says Bruce Lee in Enter the Dragon, referring to an ancient teaching from the Zen Buddhist tradition. If someone points to the moon … Continue reading December’s Theme: GOD
