People's Church Of Kalamazoo

The most Confucian culture in the world, Korea, has a long history of tragedy and triumph that has manifested in their current approach to world affairs. Over the last century, the United States has also played an important part in Korea's history, both for good and for ill. To understand this complex land's past is to begin to understand current events in both North and South Korea.

Confucianism values relationships. It is through relationships with our families, friends and others that we learn virtues and practice them. It is through relationships that we can practice empathy and ‘human-heartedness’ and become exemplary people. What truth might these teachings hold for us today?

Our ‘religion of the month’ for November is Confucianism. As one might expect of a wisdom tradition founded by a tutor, Confucianism values education and learning. Rev. Rachel will explore how we might be able to incorporate this emphasis on learning as a tool for moral development into our practices as Unitarian Universalist.

This Sunday, Rev. Rachel will begin the conversation about adding a second worship service to our weekly calendar here at People’s Church. There are so many possibilities to consider: why might we want to do this? Would a second service be the same as our current service or different in a significant way? When would it happen? What might it mean for People’s Church if a second service led to significant membership growth? If you could design a worship service from scratch, what might it look like? This service will be an invitation to begin imagining the possibilities. As the conversation continues in the new year, there will be chances to share ideas and begin making plans.

In the spring, People’s Church, along with hundreds of other Unitarian Universalist congregations participated in the UU White Supremacy Teach-In. Rev. Rachel and members of People’s Anti-Racism, Anti-Oppression, and Multiculturalism Committee will continue the conversation about how we might better live into our values of love, justice, and respect for the inherent worth of all people.

There is a Buddhist teaching, attributed to many, that urges those pursuing truth not to confuse fingers pointing at the moon with the moon itself. How do we distinguish between what is true and the experiences, language, teachers, and texts that help us learn what is true? Rev. Rachel will explore Buddhist and Unitarian Universalist ways of distinguishing the moon from the fingers.

Rev. Nathan is a seventh-generation Michigander, a graduate of Western Michigan University, and a fierce advocate of social justice and benevolent localism. Prior to ministry he worked as a community organizer with the Gamaliel Network in Kalamazoo and Chicago. He attended graduate studies at the Chicago Theological Seminary and Vanderbilt Divinity School. He currently serves as the 29th Senior Minister of the First Congregational Church of Kalamazoo. He is an ordained pastor in the United Church of Christ and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Diane Melvin’s sabbatical time contained many gifts; the most valued was the gift of space and time to transform herself and her life. The richest part of this time away was the deep spiritual transformation that occurred as a result of her daily religious practice of meditation and Lojong. All are invited to join Diane as she shares her intimate journey through deep grief and despair of the Dark Night of the Soul all the way back into the light.

In this intergenerational service, we will celebrate the joy that animals bring to our lives. We will bless animals and have a moment to remember our beloved dead animals. Please bring your beloved stuffed animals, well-behaved pets, or pictures of the animals in your life. If you have animal allergies, this might be a Sunday to miss. This is an intergenerational service. People of all ages are invited to be in The Commons for the whole service, though the nursery and preschool classrooms will be open for the youngest children.

Arjuna, a soldier, is about to go into battle. He serves a righteous cause and knows he is embarking on a just war—and yet he knows people, including his family, will suffer and die in the conflict. A God, Krishna, appears and the two of them discuss the best course of action. This is the setting of The Bhagavad Gita, a Hindu sacred text that is at least 4,000 years old, which Mahatma Gandhi called his ‘spiritual dictionary.’ This service will include a retelling of this ancient conversation.

Hinduism holds wisdom about spiritual challenges that shift as we age and the religious tasks of each age group – children, youth and young adults, the middle aged, and older adults. In the first Sunday of our religious education program for children and youth, we will commission our teachers and Rev. Rachel will explore how this ancient wisdom—and other wisdom about the stages of life—might challenge us all to live lives of greater meaning, greater service, and greater joy across our lifespan.

We will begin the church program year with our homecoming service and joining of waters ritual. This summer has brought some of us peace, while others have experienced joy, love, pain, tears, and strength. Whatever the summer season brought to your life, you are welcome at People’s Church. Please bring a small container of water to join together is our collective bowl for our water ritual. This is an intergenerational service. All ages will be in the service together. The nursery and the preschool room will be open for the youngest children.

We end our program year with service that includes a flower ritual. In this ritual created by a Czech Unitarian minister in 1923, everyone brings a flower to church. Once we appreciate the beautiful bouquets we create together, everyone leaves with a different flower, signifying the gifts we receive from this congregation. This service will also include a child dedication ritual and a celebration of our religious education teachers. This service is an intergenerational service. All children and youth are encouraged to stay in The Commons for the entire service, though preschool and nursery classes will be happening. Please bring a flower to share.

People’s Church youth will lead this service in which the bridging seniors reflect on their spiritual journeys and what People’s Church has meant to them as they transition into young adulthood. Our talented youth will lead all aspects of this service and welcome eighth graders into the youth group. This service is one of the highlights of the church year and is not to be missed.

In our annual Memorial Day observance, we remember those who have died in war, as well as our beloved dead in ritual, music, poetry and preaching.

On the Sunday of our annual meeting, Rev. Rachel will explore ‘the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process in our congregations and in society at large,’ one of our Unitarian Universalist principles. In a world where religion is so often hierarchical, how did we come to do religion in this unusual way? What might the practice of democracy in our congregation have to teach us about democratic process in our wider society?

How do you know you when you are part of something? What does belonging to a congregation ask of us? Rabbi Matt of Kalamazoo’s Reform Jewish community, Temple B’Nai Israel, will explore what it means to belong to a religious community in an era when ‘none’ is the fastest growing religious affiliation.

The Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism (BLUU), in response to the racial inequity in hiring practices at the Unitarian Universalist Association called on UU congregations to spend one Sunday this spring focusing worship on white supremacy. In their invitation, BLUU leaders wrote “’White Supremacy’ is a provocative phrase, as it conjures up images of hoods and mobs. Yet in 2017, actual ‘white supremacists’ are not required in order to uphold white supremacist culture. Building a faith full of people who understand that key distinction is essential as we work toward a more just society in difficult political times.” We join with 500 UU congregations in answering this invitation and building a faith full of people with this understanding.

Join us for Music Sunday! People’s Singers, People’s Ringers, other People’s musicians, and the gathered congregation will create beautiful music together. We will experience music in new ways and reflect on how making music together helps us create community.

Oscar Wilde once quipped, ‘Everything in moderation, including moderation.’ How might practicing the virtue of moderation lead to better alignment of our lives with our values and better stewardship of the earth? As we celebrate Earth Day, we will explore what it might mean to live with ‘just enough.’