East Shore Unitarian Sermons (bellevue, Wa)

Pastoral care is a ministry of presence. People have stories of grief, trauma, loss, confusion, loneliness and depression. There is healing value in speaking these stories out loud when there is a compassionate person to listen with attention, and with the intention to bear witness. Our lay pastoral ministers will listen without judging, offering advice, or trying to fix anything. Having someone tuned in and able to be with you while you sort through your feelings allows you to tap into your own deep wisdom and capacity to heal.

Join us as we celebrate Mardi Gras and Purim. Together, we'll reflect upon the power of reversals. Nothing has the power to change us, confront us with reality, open our ears to a new truth, or turn our life in a different direction like a reversal can; a time when our world is turned upside down.

We yearn to love and be loved. When we act with lovingkindness, we align ourselves with the loving power of the universe and each other. When we embrace our neighbors and all creation with love and compassion, we unlock the power of covenant and unconditional love. All ages service & Uluhan family Child Dedication.

We often think about meditation, religious rituals, or pilgrimages as spiritual practices. Yet the journey of parenting also offers us opportunities to grow spiritually as we embrace change every day.

In Honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. we will explore teachings from the book “Healing Resistance: A Radically Different Response to Harm” by Kazu Haga. Reclaiming the energy and assertiveness of nonviolent practice, we can transform not only unjust systems but broken relationships.

The Feast of the Epiphany reminds us to honor all of our life’s journeys, particularly the unexpected detours. We’ll reflect on the meaning of the Epiphany and those unexpected “Aha!” moments that might change the course of our spiritual journeys. With impending change, come both fear and child-like wonder. Let us ponder the magical experience of following your star!

Join us this morning for an all ages service celebrating the start of a new year. We will celebrate with stories, songs, and learn how to prepare for the coming year like mother earth does. We will sit quietly and rest and dream.

Join us for a lovely candlelight service with carols and readings that convey the spirit of Christmas.

Enjoy the unique, rousing peace of Christmas Eve in this service crafted for children of all ages.

Join the East Shore Mighty Choir under the direction of Director of Music Eric Lane Barnes for a wintry mix of traditional carols, classical pieces and brand-new holiday songs. Special musical guests will add flair and spice to this engaging, meaningful and very merry program.

In many Latin American countries we celebrate Las Posadas, a pre-Christmas tradition recreating the arduous journey of Mary and Joseph fleeing from violence and seeking refuge. In the United States, many churches incorporate this tradition as an expression of solidarity with all immigrants and refugees. We are reminded that we are a living sanctuary and a welcoming congregation.

Change is in the air. It is a time to be mindful and intentional about our deepest desires and concerns for ourselves, our families, our communities, and our planet. It is also a time to gather strength and nourishment for the journeys ahead.

Let us gather to express our gratitude for all the blessings received this year and to share the story of the first Thanksgiving from the perspective of the Mashpee Wampanoag people. Join us after for a potluck!

"Cambia, todo cambia, pero no cambia mi amor." What happens when congregations embrace change as an opportunity for transformation? Rev. Nancy Palmer Jones and Karin Lin are co-authors of this year's UU Common Read, Mistakes and Miracles: Congregations on the Road to Multiculturalism. They found that while the path to multicultural, anti-racist Beloved Community can be long and winding, it is also dotted with moments of joy and wonder. Nancy and Karin invite us to consider how we can open our hearts to possibility as we commit ourselves to creating a world that reflects the best of who we are.

We draw inspiration from the Jewish New Year, Yom Kippur, a ritual of atonement that allows us to bring to mind and heart those whom we have wronged, and to ask for forgiveness. Yom Kippur is the moment in Jewish time when we dedicate our mind, body, and soul to reconciliation with our fellow human beings, ourselves, and God. As the New Year begins, we commit to self-reflection and inner change. 

Join us on October 30 to honor the memory of our dearly departed. During the service, we will build a community altar. You are invited to bring pictures, flowers, and other mementos to honor your beloveds’ memory. “At the rising sun and at its going down; We remember them...For as long as we live, they too will live, for they are now a part of us as, We remember them.”

Welcoming a new minister is like turning a page in an impressive, weighty volume to a new, fresh chapter. We get to decide who we will be together in the years to come and what this new chapter will hold. Building on the congregation-wide retreat that will take place Saturday, October 15, this worship service, led by guest preacher Alex Kapitan, will be a time for deep reflection on what it takes to practice welcome together across lines of race, class, gender, sexuality, dis/ability, age, belief, and more. What transformation are we being called toward in this new chapter?

Our Unitarian Universalist faith calls us to fully understand the legacy of colonialism, just as it calls us to respect and learn from indigenous peoples and support their struggles for social justice and religious freedom. Join UUs across the United States in honoring Indigenous Peoples Day and celebrating indigenous resistance.

Join us in person or via Zoom for our annual Blessing of the Animals ceremony. You are invited to bring your pets so they can receive a blessing (please ensure they are on a leash or in a carrier). If your animal companions have crossed over the rainbow bridge, please bring their photo so we can honor their memory.

A sermon based on the book by Valarie Kaur: "When you choose to see people as your cousin, as your other self, as the friend you have not met yet, you are being courageous and compassionate. When we are curious about the people in our lives, their thoughts, their pain and joys, their wants and needs, we get a glimpse into their humanity, into their hearts, as vast and complex as our own. That wonder, is the wellspring for love."