Beyond Sunday: Reflections, News and Flyers
For favorite sermons, the current Friday Flyer, Rev. Lori’s reflections, and links to the Monthly Messenger, this is the place!
“It being November, with the backdrop of Thanksgiving, it is fitting that Soul Matters chose Gratitude for the theme this month. Gratitude is not just a feeling—it’s a flow. When we recognize the gifts we’ve received, something inside us opens. We see how our lives are woven together with the kindness of others and the abundance of the world. True gratitude doesn’t stop at saying “thank you”; it ripples outward.”
Rev. Lori Offers a Samhain Ritual
“We are celebrating in word and ritual this week, the pagan holiday of Samhain. Samhain is the ancient Celtic festival marking the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter, a time to honor ancestors, reflect on cycles of life and death, and embrace the mystery of transformation as the veil between worlds grows thin. “
Rev. Lori on How We Learn Compassion
“Close your eyes for a moment and think of those who first showed you what compassion means. It may have been a parent, a grandparent, a teacher, a neighbor, or even a stranger. Perhaps it was a gentle word when you felt small, a hand extended when you were lost, or a quiet presence that made you feel safe. These moments, though ordinary at the time, planted something in us. They reminded us that we are never alone, that kindness has the power to carry us through pain, and that to care for another is to give them life itself.”
“We are celebrating in word and ritual this week, the pagan holiday of Samhain. Samhain is the ancient Celtic festival marking the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter, a time to honor ancestors, reflect on cycles of life and death, and embrace the mystery of transformation as the veil between worlds grows thin. This intergenerational service will include elements from our young folks religious exploration program as well as a ritual to mark the festival. “
Rev. Lori on Turning Compassion Into Action
“Action. Political action. Cultural action, Community action. Action. I think about that word a lot lately. I am constantly wondering what my part is in the world right now. I am compassionate towards most. I am an advocate for so many. And yet I wonder what is effective for me to participate in. Where will my limited energy even make a difference. I do believe a well of compassion must overflow to satisfy need or suffering. Whatever that means. I am confessing that it all has felt disheartening to me, so much so that I have had to step away from news feeds and social media as much as possible.”
Rev. Lori on the Intersection of Addiction and Compassion
“Addiction isn’t just about drugs or alcohol. It’s broader, and honestly, a lot more familiar than we like to admit. Most of us know what it’s like to chase a feeling—whether it’s the dopamine hit from social media, the comfort of a nightly glass of wine, or the mindless escape of binge-watching something when life feels a little too sharp around the edges. Addiction, in some ways, is about the stories we tell ourselves: “I need this to unwind,” “I’ll stop tomorrow,” or “It’s not that bad.” We all have a version of that narrative.”
Rev. Lori on Building Community Through Love in These Challenging Times
“These times will trigger our deepest fears and wounds and may cause us to default to our primal instincts, or unresolved hurts, childlike selves. Holding each other in community, even when we aren’t able to be our best selves is in fact the greatest call we have AND best example of what it means to be right relationship. That is what the world needs more than anything else right now.”
Rev. Lori On The Lessons Autumn Teaches Us About Letting Go
Rev. Lori’s reflects on Autumn and letting go.
Rev. Lori On Returning to Community Like Rivers Flowing Back Together
Rev. Lori’s reflects on the new church year and the act of coming together in communion.
Rev. Lori On Our Personal Connections to Church and Community
Rev. Lori’s reflection includes and invitation to meditate on your connection to our church and community even in the down times between services.
Rev. Lori On Savoring the Last Days of Summer as We Shift Into Autumn
Rev. Lori’s reflection includes an invitation to pause and savor the shift from the slow, lazy days of summer as we head into the busyness of Autumn and a new church season.
Rev. Lori On Opening Our Doors to Others
Rev. Lori’s reflection includes an invitation to consider how we open our doors and hearts to others.
Rev. Lori on Slowing Down & Being Present
Rev. Lori’s reflection is an invitation to sit with Mary Oliver’s Poem When I Am Among The Trees.
Rev. Lori On Transitions
Rev. Lori’s reflection includes an invitation to pause:
I invite you to make space to contemplate and let go of what doesn’t serve you and then even more importantly make space for what dreams may come. Without worry about whether you can accomplish or live those dreams out. Rest in possibility.