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Meeting this Moment: With Radical OK-ness

Date:   March 23, 2025
Speaker:   Rev. Amy McCormick
Length:   14:18

This morning we’ll reflect on what it would mean to trust ourselves so deeply that we would know ourselves to be okay no matter what may come. Based on an article printed in the blog Tiny Buddha by Leslie Ralph, we’ll ponder together what a practice of radical okay-ness might look like in this moment.

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Meeting this Moment: When We Are Betrayed

Date:   March 16, 2025
Speaker:   Rev. Amy McCormick
Length:   13:48

Today, we’ll talk about what happens when trust is broken, when our faith is shattered, and the way forward is unclear. In the words of Martha Nussbaum: "Trust involves opening oneself to the possibility of betrayal, hence to a very deep form of harm. It means relaxing the self-protective strategies with which we usually go through life. It means, then, living with a certain degree of helplessness."

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The Peaceful Power of Singing Together

Date:   March 9, 2025
Speaker:   Bennett Konesni
Length:   23:18

Bennett Konesni plays the traditional music of Maine and his own originals. He has a small garlic farm on Tufts Road in Belfast, which is cultivated in community with the power of song. He is also executive director at Bagaduce Music. You can hear his music and support his work at Patreon.com/bk

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Meeting the Moment: Trusting Each Other

Date:   March 2, 2025
Speaker:   Rev. Amy McCormick
Length:   10:01

On this, our annual Stewardship Sunday, we begin our exploration of the monthly theme of “Trust”. As we think about what it means to be Meeting this Moment in our lives, in the existence of this church, we acknowledge that all good things are built on a foundation of trust. In a community like this, we survive through trusting in one another. What does it mean trust each other in a moment like this? What does it mean to be trusted?

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To Belong, Be Longing

Date:   February 23, 2025
Speaker:   Rev. Amy McCormick
Length:   13:48

Our worship service this morning is based on the poem "Be Longing" by Chad Snyder.

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The Lovers, The Dreamers, and Me (Reflection 2)

Date:   February 16, 2025
Speaker:   Rev. Amy McCormick
Length:   7:37

With a major snow and ice storm underway, the UU churches in Ellsworth and Belfast shared this service on Zoom. There were 139 Zoom participants. In this service inspired by the writings of Rev. Tess Baumberger we’ll explore how lessons in welcome, hospitality and inclusion can be inspired by the most unlikely interactions, people and events. We’ll be introduced to how quirkiness, fantasy, and bravery coincide for the most profound spiritual moments. If only we welcome them in.

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Life is Vast, Love is Vaster (Reflection 1)

Date:   February 16, 2025
Speaker:   Rev. Sara Hayman
Length:   9:26

With a major snow and ice storm underway, the UU churches in Ellsworth and Belfast shared this service on Zoom. There were 139 Zoom participants. Rev. Sara Hayman provided this approach to dealing the the negativism that is so pervasive currently across American society and government.

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To Learn What We Wish We Didn’t Know

Date:   February 9, 2025
Speaker:   Rev. Amy McCormick, Cayla Miller, Ridgely Fuller
Length:   19:39

What does it mean to apply the value of “Inclusion” to our determination to learn? What are the things you’d rather not explore and why? What are some questions you’d rather not have the answers too? How does your fear of getting it wrong keep you from getting it right in the most profound ways? Let’s take some time together to dive into that which we wish we did not know. First, we hear Reflection 1 from Amy McCormick. Then, at 6:43, Cayla Miller reads her poem, "Lament for Gaza." Then we hear Reflection 2 from Ridgely Fuller at 8:32. Then, Reflection 3 from Amy McCormick at 16:40.

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The Fires of Brighde

Date:   February 2, 2025
Speaker:   Suzanne d'Corsey
Length:   16:42

We honor the pagan holiday of Imbolc, dedicated to the Celtic Goddess Brighde. The underlying power of Imbolc is life's inspiration and how we find it. The ancient Fire Festival of La Fheill Brighde is so powerful as to be as inspirational for us today as it was thousands of years ago. Our speaker this morning is Suzanne d'Corsey, a member of the Anglesey Druid Order, as well as the Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids.

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The Stories That Hurt Us

Date:   January 26, 2025
Speaker:   Rev. Amy McCormick
Length:   14:56

In this time of rampant misinformation, lies, and manipulation, it is vital to double down on truth telling, to the extent possible. Absolute truth is hard to find. There are always perceptions and interpretations that color and shape our understanding of events. The stories we tell one another matter and can create empathy, openness, bravery, and growth. There are other stories that harm and belittle our peace and wellness. Today, we’ll explore the relationship between truth and storytelling. How can we responsibly bring more accuracy to the stories we tell and release the narratives that harm?