Rev. Laurel Gray - Podcast Details

Shows

ChUUrch TalkWhite Hunky Jesus: ChUUrch Talk May 2024Amanda and Rev. Gray discuss: we have a new minister!; the two-year rule; church is life with training wheels; the most loaded topic in UUism; muscular Christianity; process theology; no Birkenstock erasure; signing off! Referenced in this episode: Omnipotence and Other Theological Mistakes by Charles Hartshorne: https://sunypress.edu/Books/O/Omnipotence-and-other-Theological-Mistakes Radical Equations: Math Literacy and Civil Rights by Robert P. Moses and Charles E. Cobb Jr: https://www.abebooks.com/9780807031261/Radical-Equations-Math-Literacy-Civil-0807031267/plp Sermons written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Theme music: Antidepresseur by Patchworker | https://soundcloud.com/patchworker Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2024-06-0855 min

ChUUrch TalkWe Do Not Worship Despair: ChUUrch Talk April 2024Amanda and Rev. Gray discuss: 3 months’ notice; despair doesn’t have the final say; etymology nerds sound off; operationalizing covenant; the need for collective catharsis; let’s talk about The Thing; encampments on campuses; the potency of knowing where you’re rooted; stories of rupture Sermons written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Theme music: Antidepresseur by Patchworker | https://soundcloud.com/patchworker Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2024-05-0255 min

ChUUrch TalkAnd Yet, We Get There: ChUUrch Talk March 2024Amanda and Rev. Gray discuss: gardens!; turquoise vs teal; flourishing is vulnerable; citrus allergies and equity; putting the Easter story in a post-traumatic wisdom frame; the worst sermon Laurel ever heard Sermons written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Theme music: Antidepresseur by Patchworker | https://soundcloud.com/patchworker Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2024-04-0437 min

ChUUrch Talk[Sermon] Spring Transformation, 3.17.24Spring has sprung – at least according to the calendar! Today Rev. Laurel and members of the Garden Team will share about how outdoor spaces can transform our sense of welcome and foster a sense of new life. Written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2024-03-1805 min

ChUUrch TalkTelling the Truth: ChUUrch Talk February 2024Please note that there are mentions of death and violence in this episode. The discussions do not use graphic descriptions. Amanda and Rev. Gray discuss: A statement from Laurel about Aaron Bushnell and the public narratives surrounding his death; the Empowerment Controversy; the Capitol Crawl Sermons written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Theme music: Antidepresseur by Patchworker | https://soundcloud.com/patchworker Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2024-03-0541 min

ChUUrch TalkRadical, Liberatory, Transformative Love: ChUUrch Talk January 2024Amanda and Rev. Gray discuss: what is love?; liberation: it’s a good thing; what makes violence possible; grace is metal Sermons written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Theme music: Antidepresseur by Patchworker | https://soundcloud.com/patchworker Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2024-02-0549 min

ChUUrch TalkTurning Towards the Margin: ChUUrch Talk December 2023Amanda and Rev. Gray discuss: Seasonality and slowness; a story doesn’t have to be true to be the truth; patriarchy for $500; recentering attention to the margin to threaten empire; the career path to ministry is paved with glitter Sermons written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Theme music: Antidepresseur by Patchworker | https://soundcloud.com/patchworker Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2024-01-0436 min

ChUUrch TalkLove Yourself As Your Neighbor: ChUUrch Talk November 2023Amanda and Rev. Gray discuss: theological frames for trauma and their power dynamics; redemptive suffering logic in the world; keep it cozy; love yourself as your neighbor; conflict is complexity Redemptive suffering as the logic for imprisonment: https://bulletin.hds.harvard.edu/prison-theology/ It’s OK by Wendy O’Leary: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/717893/its-ok-by-wendy-oleary-illustrated-by-sandra-eide/ Reparations steps as defined by the Movement for Black Lives, adapted from the UN framework: https://m4bl.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/defining-reparations.pdf Sermons written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Theme music: Antidepresseur by Patchworker | @patchworker Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2023-12-0644 min

ChUUrch TalkMessy Collectivism Over Pristine Individualism: ChUUrch Talk September 2023Amanda and Rev. Gray discuss: keeping algae out of your blessing water; holy jalapeños; collectivism is about connectedness, not sameness; how does the post-Roe world feel different?; simultaneous cultural fear and relief; greenwashing and greedwashing; individual moral perfectionism is a trap; justice work as playful scheming “My Town is a Salad Bowl” by Tom Chapin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgjzZugJTUs The Sanctuary Boston: http://thesanctuaryboston.org/ Sermons written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Theme music: Antidepresseur by Patchworker | https://soundcloud.com/patchworker Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2023-10-0659 min

ChUUrch Talk[Sermon] SHAG: Reflections on Justice, 9.24.23After the horrific overturning of Roe v. Wade, people all over the country redoubled efforts to protect reproductive rights and bodily autonomy. We started a reproductive rights group at UUCSW, which has evolved to now include issues of sexual health and gender more broadly. Today we’ll reflect on SHAG’s development and the ways that we all work to support queers rights, reproductive rights, and issues of bodily autonomy. Link to YouTube video of Laurel's Prayer for the Queer Kids: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jasQlem9Sl4 Correction: the poster Rev. Laurel mentions came from Portland, ME, not Port...2023-09-2409 min

ChUUrch TalkYou Too Can Build a Birdhouse: ChUUrch Talk May 2023Amanda and Rev. Gray discuss: making things is peeking into Oz; maintaining agency and moving beyond despair in climate work; fighting The Man vs planting a garden; HAGS Sermons written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Theme music: Antidepresseur by Patchworker | @patchworker Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2023-06-1843 min

ChUUrch Talk"Should"-ing Ourselves: ChUUrch Talk April 2023Amanda and Rev. Gray discuss: Religious Literacy 101; rest as anti-capitalism; drag, Passover, and making space for self-expression; courage is contagious; faith as a commitment to be engaged in the practice of looking for what is meaningful Referenced in this episode: My Rainbow by DeShanna Neal and Trinity Neal, https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/608313/my-rainbow-by-deshanna-and-trinity-neal-illustrated-by-art-twink/ Sermons written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Theme music: Antidepresseur by Patchworker | https://soundcloud.com/patchworker Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2023-05-051h 05

ChUUrch TalkThere's a Tenderness to the In-Between: ChUUrch Talk March 2023Amanda and Rev. Gray discuss: A liminal season; defining a miracle; committee positions as an antidote to helplessness; ministry is not activism; where do you put your focus when everything feels on fire? Sermons written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Theme music: Antidepresseur by Patchworker | @patchworker Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2023-04-0940 min

ChUUrch TalkPlease Don't Feed the Chickens Ice Cream: ChUUrch Talk February 2023Amanda and Rev. Gray discuss: Do the kids use blogs?; grief support tutorials; making sense of the unknown but in a UU way; a sense of belonging is ambient; allostatic load; no drones at the corn festival; a fiber arts sign-off Sermons written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Theme music: Antidepresseur by Patchworker | @patchworker Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2023-03-0536 min

ChUUrch TalkFrom Lilac to Lavender: ChUUrch Talk January 2023Amanda and Rev. Gray discuss: Dave Matthews Band songs on the organ; the UUA's proposed rewrite of the UU principles; embracing change; I want my inherent worth and dignity language back; the ultimacy of love; the hardest sermon to write; ministerial boundaries around chronic illness Sermons written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Theme music: Antidepresseur by Patchworker | @patchworker Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2023-02-011h 08

ChUUrch TalkNow We Can Do Something: ChUUrch Talk November 2022Amanda and Rev. Gray discuss: holding in the sky; separation of church and state and our nonprofit status; rules of engagement for justice work; making space for sadness among the holly jolly; affirming the holiness of being queer Sermons written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Theme music: Antidepresseur by Patchworker | https://soundcloud.com/patchworker Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2022-11-2849 min

ChUUrch TalkTaking Risks Together: Q&A October 2022Amanda and Rev. Gray reflect on this month's themes. Topics of discussion: disentangling anger and violence; risk tolerance survey summary (DATA!) Risk scale survey can be viewed at bit.ly/riskscales Sermons written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2022-11-0158 min

ChUUrch TalkPower Will Never Pay You to Challenge It: Q&A September 2022Amanda and Rev. Gray reflect on this month's themes. Topics of discussion: What I Did on My Summer Vacation; Side with Love repro justice training; risk tolerance in justice work; focusing on connection; volunteerism and “bandwidth”; solidarity not charity & liberation theology; it hurts to be hopeful; lesbian waterfall pencil drawings Sermons written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2022-09-291h 15

ChUUrch TalkDeterminism, Chaos, and Fundamental Fears: Q&A June 2022Amanda and Rev. Gray reflect on this month's themes. Topics of discussion: grown-up summer camp; the pitfalls of hyper-local governance; updates to the seven UU principles & six sources of wisdom; what world do you want to live in?; determinism vs chaos References: https://www.8thprincipleuu.org/ https://www.uua.org/beliefs/what-we-believe https://radiolab.org/episodes/radiolab-loops Sermons written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2022-07-011h 17

ChUUrch TalkHow To Disagree: Q&A May 2022Amanda and Rev. Gray reflect on this month's themes. Topics of discussion: Social justice is creative; self-soothing tips; being human is to take a truly wild amount of long pauses, especially when discussing Memorial Day and one's opposition to the military-industrial complex Sermons written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2022-06-061h 12

ChUUrch TalkAre You Willing to be Powerful? Q&A March/April 2022Amanda and Rev. Gray reflect on this month's themes. Topics of discussion: Laurel had COVID :( but she’s back!! :) ; congregationalism and hierarchy; are you willing to be powerful?; the passion tax; Ye Olden Times ministerial compensation; psychological scarcity effects; are you willing to believe that more is possible? Sermons written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2022-05-021h 17

ChUUrch TalkGay Penguins Debate Club: Q&A February 2022Amanda and Rev. Gray reflect on this month's themes. Topics of discussion: Cartesian dualism for days; I think therefore I am vs I am that I am; can you smell in Heaven?; arbitrary organizing principles; penguins can't be gay!!; the source of ministerial authority in UUism Sermons written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2022-03-1843 min

ChUUrch TalkFear is Metabolized in Community: Q&A January 2022Amanda and Rev. Gray reflect on this month's themes. Topics of discussion: 90s hairstyles; fear is metabolized in community; the Empowerment Controversy and the UUA's early racial failures; consent-based labor practices; guaranteed income as a harm reduction bridge; 2 truths and a lie Resources on the Empowerment Controversy: http://www.uusic.org/wp-content/uploads/sermons/2016/03/The-Black-Empowerment-Controversy-2.28.2016.pdf https://www.uuworld.org/articles/empowerment-tragedy https://www.uua.org/re/tapestry/adults/btwwda/workshop15/handout3 Sermons written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2022-02-1351 min

ChUUrch TalkSermon 1-16-22: Dreaming Beyond ReasonOn this Martin Luther King weekend, we reflect on the legacies of leaders like MLK and others whose lives invite us to live with intention. Rev. Laurel and Amanda Hall, who create our monthly “Reflections” podcast, co-lead this service. Works referenced in this sermon: On Dr. Collymore: https://uuspiritualexploration.edublogs.org/blog/ MLK's 1966 Atlantic article: https://www.thenation.com/article/economy/last-steep-ascent/ "Pilgrimage to Nonviolence" by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr: https://www.christiancentury.org/article/pilgrimage-nonviolence "1966 Ware Lecture: Don't Sleep Through the Revolution" by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr: https://www.uua.org/ga/past/1966/ware On why MLK wasn...2022-01-1914 min

ChUUrch TalkSermon 1-9-22: The Things That Guide UsAs we begin this new year, we’ll reflect today on how we tap into our deepest core values. Beyond new resolutions and plans, they are the things that guide us in living meaningful lives. Written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2022-01-1012 min

ChUUrch TalkA Tremendously Expansive Realm of Possibilities: Q&A December 2021Content warning: Mentions of suicide Amanda and Rev. Gray reflect on this month's themes. Topics of discussion: Bon Voyage to Elisa!; responsible and bounded approaches to discussing painful realities; consent vs. the politeness factor; distinguishing hope from optimism; meaning-making is a skill; our actions matter in ways we don't get to control; reflecting on 2021; commit to the bit; this is a sports podcast now Sermons written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2021-12-3158 min

ChUUrch TalkSermon 12-24-21: Christmas EveOur Christmas Eve service will be on Zoom this year featuring classic lessons and carols. Come in your Santa hats, your coziest pajamas, your holiday best – whatever feels most festive to you! Bring a candle for singing Silent Night and invite your loved ones near and far for this Christmas Eve service. Written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2021-12-2411 min

ChUUrch TalkSermon 12-5-21: Looking for MiraclesOn this final day of Hanukkah, we’ll revisit that age old tale of a tiny bottle of oil that sustained the flames through eight long nights, a miracle of the impossible becoming possible. Through this frame, we’ll talk about suicidality and the miracle of surviving extraordinary suffering. Often religion speaks of suicide as sin and today we will underscore our UU rejection of that idea. Written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2021-12-0914 min

ChUUrch TalkIt's Complicated: Q&A November 2021Amanda and Rev. Gray reflect on this month's themes. Topics of discussion: Welcome to our new RE director!; what we teach kids about our complicated history; scientism and institutional entitlement to truth; holiday plans at UUCSW Sermons written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2021-11-2441 min

ChUUrch TalkSermon 11-21-21: A Full TableFor many people, Thanksgiving is a holiday that inspires feelings of warmth, good food, and family. And it’s also a day that is steeped in intergenerational trauma, tenuous family dynamics, and the genocide of indigenous people. Today we’ll make space for the gratitude, the history, and the sheer complexity of Thanksgiving in the United States. Written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2021-11-2210 min

Elevate Your BrandElevate Your Brand with Stella Gray of GØØDZStella Gray is a sophomore at Yale University and the founder of GØØDZ, an online pop-up store featuring handmade products created by an international coalition of women with proceeds supporting The Pad Project, an organization that supports period equity. With the founding of GØØDZ, she hopes to curate stylish, hand-crafted wares and continue to spread good in the world.Laurel Mintz, founder and CEO of award-winning marketing agency Elevate My Brand, explores some of the most exciting new and growing brands in Los Angeles and the US at large. Each week, the Elevate Your Brand podc...2021-11-1627 min

ChUUrch TalkSermon 11-7-21: All SoulsAs is our custom at UUCSW, we hold an All Souls service on the first Sunday in November. We will take time to remember those who are gone from this world but not from our hearts. This includes dear friends and family, members of our wider community, and all those who have died during the pandemic. We know that collective grieving and remembering is a powerful balm to the loneliness of loss. Written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2021-11-0706 min

ChUUrch TalkHappy Betty Reid Soskin Centennial Year! Q&A October 2021Amanda and Rev. Gray reflect on this month's themes. Topics of discussion: hard Zoom choices; end-of-life ministry in hospitals; Iris Marion Young on justice and deliberative democracy; Happy Birthday Betty!; three deep breaths Inclusion and Democracy by Iris Marion Young: https://oxford.universitypressscholarship.com/view/10.1093/0198297556.001.0001/acprof-9780198297550 Sign My Name to Freedom: A Memoir of a Pioneering Life by Betty Reid Soskin: https://bookshop.org/books/sign-my-name-to-freedom-a-memoir-of-a-pioneering-life-9781401954239/9781401954239 Podcast episode with Betty Reid Soskin: https://thisislovepodcast.com/episode-37-what-gets-told/ NYT profile of Betty Reid Soskin: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/20/us/betty-reid-soskin-100.html Sermons written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham ...2021-11-0536 min

ChUUrch TalkSermon 10-24-21: Better TogetherAs leaders of the congregation, our task is to exemplify being more together than we are on our own, committed to the same goals as we fill different roles. Following our fall board retreat, this service will be about how we lead together to foster a community of mutual care and flourishing. Written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2021-10-2705 min

ChUUrch TalkSermon 10-10-21: Unlocking the Power of CovenantAs Unitarian Universalists, we are people of a covenant. But what does that mean? It’s an important but confusing idea, one that sounds nice and is difficult to practice. This service will use the UUA’s recent commission on appraisal report titled “Unlocking the Power of Covenant” to help us do just that. Written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2021-10-2313 min

ChUUrch TalkFirmer Footing: Q&A September 2021Amanda and Rev. Gray reflect on this month's themes. Topics of discussion: accessing the well of flexibility; collective catharsis; what counts as religion?; individualism vs. differentiation; intentional community and kinship structures; reset your passwords Sermons written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2021-10-0145 min

ChUUrch TalkSermon 9-26-21: On This New YearIn the Jewish tradition, the High Holidays mark the beginning of a new year, first with celebrating and sweetness, and then with reflection and release. Though Yom Kippur has already passed, we’ll make space today for clearing out the old and inviting in a new year. We will do a blessing of the bags and backpacks today, so feel free to have yours ready. Written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2021-09-2913 min

ChUUrch TalkSermon 9-12-21: Water Communion: All Water Runs TogetherAs is our custom, we’ll begin our church year with our Water Communion ritual. Instead of gathering waters from many places into one, we’re going to focus on all that water symbolizes and how, ultimately, it is all connected. Please have a cup of water and an empty bowl with you for this Zoom service. Written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2021-09-1510 min

ChUUrch TalkSermon 8-22-21: Journeying Together"Amidst all of this heartbreak and concern, the chaos and ambiguity, how do we prepare to journey into a fall that almost certainly does not look the way we hoped?" Written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2021-09-0112 min

ChUUrch TalkSermon 6-13-21: Flower CommunionIt is our custom as Unitarian Universalists to do Flower Communion on the last Sunday of the church year. This is a ritual that celebrates the diversity of human experience and the beauty of holding that multitude in community. As it is the last Sunday of the church year, we will also be honoring our high school graduates and those who are retiring from church leadership roles. Written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2021-06-1404 min

ChUUrch TalkHere's to Scrappy Wins: Q&A May 2021Amanda and Rev. Gray reflect on this month's themes. Topics of discussion: anti-authoritarianism for petulance or justice; a sacred stripper pole in Hell; on anthropomorphism; creative resistance as resilience; Pride was a riot; no pretty wins; HAGS Additional reading: UUA Facebook post re: Lil Nas X: https://www.facebook.com/TheUUA/posts/10159250433508749 Article on the origins of the chalice: https://www.uuworld.org/articles/wartime-origins-the-flaming-chalice Article on the work of Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera: https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/marsha-p-johnson-sylvia-rivera.htm Ujima project: https://www.ujimaboston.com/ Sermons written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Hosted...2021-06-1448 min

ChUUrch TalkSermon 5-30-21: Stories of Resilience in Hard TimesOn this Memorial Day weekend, we’ll continue our theme of storytelling and focus on stories of resilience in hard times. We will both take time to honor those who have served in the military and remember the story of how our chalice came to be, a symbol of hope born of struggle. Written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2021-06-0612 min

ChUUrch TalkSermon 5-16-21: Stories of Serendipity and AweNOTE: This episode contains a message from Laurel regarding Palestine and Israel, which plays before the sermon. Continuing with the month’s theme of storytelling, this service will focus on serendipity and awe. We’ll have time for “views from the pews” so think about moments in your own life when you have experienced moments of serendipity and awe – maybe it was a chance encounter that lightened your spirit, or a moment of wonder at the beauty of the natural world. Written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2021-05-2511 min

ChUUrch TalkSermon 5-2-21: Stories of Things Gone Perfectly WrongSo often in life, things don’t go as we had planned. This can be a source of disappointment, but this Sunday we’re going to tell stories of when things went perfectly wrong. In lieu of a formal sermon, this service will include short stories on the theme from within our congregation. Written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2021-05-2509 min

ChUUrch TalkSomething Else Belongs Here: Q&A April 2021Amanda and Rev. Gray reflect on this month's themes. Topics of discussion: We’re back at it; the most UU sermon ever; resilience in community; a Sarah Jessica Parker fever dream; spiritual development and moral injury; the space between the intensity of resistance and the resurrection of hope; triggering vs. secondary trauma; the auction! Sermons written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2021-05-0455 min

ChUUrch TalkDynamic Hope: Q&A February and March 2021Amanda and Rev. Gray reflect on this month's themes. Topics of discussion: Mini celebrations; radical hospitality; relationality and power dynamics in giving; the solidarity economy; a gritty, honest hope; “where do you see yourself in five years” but make it revolutionary Resources: The effects of COVID-19 vaccine patents: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00863-w, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/21/world/vaccine-patents-us-eu.html Solidarity economy resources: https://chordatacapital.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/chordata-zine.pdf, https://neweconomy.net/solidarity-economy/ Ujima project: https://www.ujimaboston.com/ https://seedcommons.org/ Art piece Amanda mentions, message from the future: https://theintercept.com/2020/10/01/naomi-klein-message-from-future-covid/ Sermons writ...2021-04-2151 min

ChUUrch TalkSermon 4-11-21: Stories of Making It ThroughThis Sunday we’ll be revisiting the story of Exodus that is remembered during Passover, albeit a week after Passover has ended. The retelling of the story each year during the Seder meal is a reminder of the importance of telling stories of our resilience. After a year that has contained so much heartbreak, we’ll reflect on the importance of remembering our capacity to make it through hard times. Written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2021-04-1714 min

ChUUrch TalkSermon 4-4-21: Easter SundayThis year, Passover, Easter, and Ramadan fall in biblical sequence, one after another, which rarely happens. For so many people of so many traditions, this moment is one of reflection and remembering, a collective recentering. On this Easter Sunday, we’ll remember the Christian story of Easter and reflect on what it means to turn to the past in order to move forward anew. Written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2021-04-0612 min

ChUUrch TalkSermon 3-21-21: Our Commitment to HopeIn what has been a week filled with violence of so many kinds, we’re going to focus this Sunday on our commitment to hope. As Unitarian Universalists, we are part of the liberal religious tradition, which so often eludes definition. Dean Lewis Fisher of one of the early Universalist theological schools, was once asked where Universalists stand and he famously responded, “The only true answer, is that we do not stand at all; we move.” So let us reflect on the hope that drives our capacity to move, to shift, to work together, and to commit to the task of jus...2021-04-0621 min

ChUUrch TalkDreams that Make Us Feel Hopeful: Q&A January 2021Amanda and Rev. Gray reflect on this month's themes. Topics of discussion: Remember the Bernie mitten meme?; how boundaries strengthen relationships; what counts as “political”?; legal vs. community boundaries; Laurel and Amanda dream out loud Sermons written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2021-03-3039 min

ChUUrch TalkSermon 3-7-21: The Free PulpitThis Sunday marks a year since we’ve gathered in our physical sanctuary for services because of the ongoing pandemic. Just as we have learned that a congregation is a community, not a place, the “free pulpit” that we UUs so value is not something physical. So what is it? Where did it come from? How does freedom operate within a covenantal community? What commitment are we making to ourselves and our community when we step into that free pulpit? Written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2021-03-1016 min

ChUUrch TalkSermon 2-21-21: Whose History?As we think about beloved community this month, we’ll turn our gaze to the past. Stories about who “we” are and who mattered in history shape our understanding of our country and community. But who’s missing? What would radical hospitality mean for the way we tell history? Written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2021-02-2514 min

ChUUrch TalkSermon 2-7-21: Celebration Sunday: Weathering the StormThe last year has been quite the storm, in all manner of ways. And we’re still here, still gathering in community, still caring for each other, still doing what we always do. That is something to celebrate! Written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2021-02-2512 min

ChUUrch TalkSermon: On Dreaming, 1-17-21On this Martin Luther King Sunday, we’ll consider what it means to dream, to imagine a new world, and how to do the work of justice making. We’ll talk about the action-reflection model of justice work, which encourages us to be imaginative and adaptive, learning as we move through the world. Written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2021-01-2114 min

StephenGray VisionHuachuma: The Sacred Cactus Whose Time Has Come - Laurel SugdenWe'll be hearing a lot more from Laurel Sugden in the years to come. She has been studying Huachuma, - aka, the San Pedro cactus, for years, both on the ground in Peru and in the academy. Laurel has now become a remarkable source of knowledge on most subjects related to the sacred cactus. In my interview with Laurel, she discusses such topics as: How Huachuma’s time has come as she “gathers the world under her wings” and helps humanity restore balance; the mysterious and sudden explosion of art and culture in northern Peru just as the cactus appears...2021-01-141h 08

ChUUrch TalkSermon: Insurrection on Epiphany, 1-10-21Laurel addresses the events of January 6. Written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2021-01-1007 min

ChUUrch TalkSermon: The Power of Friends, 12-24-20Come celebrate Christmas Eve with UUCSW! This will be a classic lessons and carols service – we’ll tell the age-old tale of the little baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph, and the wise men who followed the guiding light of a star. In this strange season of spending Christmas physically separate in order to keep each other safe, I’ll reflect on the power of friends in the Christmas story and our own lives. Written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2020-12-2509 min

ChUUrch TalkWe've Made It This Far: Q&A November and December 2020Amanda and Rev. Gray reflect on this month's themes. Topics of discussion: Amanda can't stop relating things back to social policy; someone's always paying; the personal as pastoral; be gentle with your little human self; Bud Armstrong is my favorite astronaut Sermons written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2020-12-2427 min

ChUUrch TalkSermon: The Sound of Snow, 12-6-20"When did you remember that you have always been enough?" Stillness is so often elusive in life – especially during the holidays. But it can also be something we so want to run from, something we try to escape when we’re deep in the valley of life’s struggles. This Sunday, I’ll tell you the story of how I learned the transformative power of stillness and came to know deep in my being that our worth is inherent and unconditional. Written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2020-12-2320 min

ChUUrch TalkSermon: All Souls, 11-29-20"This is not a simple moment. And there is space in this place for all the complexity." We typically have our UUCSW All Souls service at the beginning of November, but this year we’re celebrating it in the space between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The holidays are a time when so many of us feel the absence of loved ones gone from this world. This year, as we enter the holiday season amidst a pandemic, we will also make space for recalling all the people with whom we wish we could celebrate in person. Works referenced in this sermon: Written by...2020-11-3007 min

ChUUrch TalkObscuring Harm Is Not Listening: Q&A October 2020Amanda and Rev. Gray reflect on this month's themes. Topics of discussion: Trumpism as a defense mechanism; transcendence is part of our lineage; when you're being defensive, you aren't listening; the role of consent in connection and deep listening Referenced in this episode: Ear Hustle podcast: https://www.earhustlesq.com/ Sermons written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2020-11-3046 min

ChUUrch TalkSermon: Hearts of Flesh, 11-15-20"The lie that says some people matter more than others is predicated on everyone agreeing that their worth is conditional." This is a reflection on my experience serving as a chaplain on a heart transplant unit – caring for people who had literally received new hearts – and the biblical story about having our heart of stone replaced with a heart of flesh. This is a story about transformation and love for the world, amidst all the things that plant seeds of cynicism. Written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2020-11-3018 min

ChUUrch TalkSermon: How to Listen, 11-1-20"It’s hard to listen when we don’t want to know, or to be known." So much of life is spent with people talking past each other. Being listened to deeply is a rare experience, but a profound gift. Let us, as a community, consider how we listen and what gets in the way of true connection. Works referenced in this sermon: "Say Yes" by Andrea Gibson "A Hidden Wholeness: The Journey Toward an Undivided Life" by Parker Palmer Written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2020-11-0917 min

Birth Stories in Color74 | Honoring Loss into Life - Marise Angibeau GrayThis is a story about loss - In memory of Carter, Stokely, and EllisonMarise Angibeau Gray shared with us her journey of birthing her three angel babies and her daughter Memphis. A story she hopes can be instrumental in helping other people navigate their own. When Marise and her husband found out they were pregnant with their first son, there was a sense of shock, but soon followed with overwhelming joy and excitement. In the early parts, Marise did experience spotting, a concern she brought to her care provider, who was pretty dismissive about i...2020-10-291h 08

ChUUrch TalkWhite Supremacy Covers Its Tracks: Q&A September 2020Amanda and Rev. Gray reflect on this month's themes. Topics of discussion: #SmallActsBigPrinciples; amplify/undermine; joy as an act of resistance; data has an opinion; eugenics, abortion, and the first time we had to bleep something on this podcast; how to measure the health of a society; the work only you can do; apocalypse means revelation Referenced in this episode: Amanda's comments on white supremacy’s complicity in the development of modern statistics were informed by White Logic, White Methods: Racism and Methodology by Tukufu Zuberi and Eduardo Bonilla-Silva. Laurel's comments on the history of abortion shielding segregationism are informed by...2020-10-1647 min

ChUUrch TalkSermon: The Color of Leaves, 10-4-20Our spiritual heritage is one deeply tied to an experience of awe in nature. As we seek to nurture our spirits as a community, we’ll focus today on our Unitarian roots and how they call us to notice and open ourselves to moments of transcendence. Works referenced in this sermon: "The Celtic Spirit" by Caitlin Matthews Written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2020-10-0410 min

ChUUrch TalkSermon: Renewal at Home, 9-27-20As we continue to live more of our lives from home and weather pandemic life, this service will be about finding renewal at home. In our effort to support our kids and families as we rethink Religious Education, we’re now offering a guide called “Soulful Home” that helps us build rituals of renewal at home. Today we’ll dive into this practice of seeking renewal at home together. Written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall 2020-10-0413 min

ChUUrch TalkSermon: Streams of Renewal, 9-13-20"What are the sources that fill your well, that bring water when your soul feels thirsty? And what of our collective community - what does it mean to be a people of renewal together?" This is our ingathering service, a day for celebrating our being together in community and the start of a new church year. It is our custom to start with a Water Communion service, blending waters from places we hold dear to create a well of holy water. In that spirit, this service will be about the streams that renew us in hard times and fill our...2020-09-1515 min

ChUUrch TalkWho We Aspire to Be: Q&A June 2020Amanda and Rev. Gray reflect on this month's sermon and the UUA General Assembly. Topics of discussion: widening the circle of concern; what we are or what we aren't?; selective and imperfect inclusivity; freedom to vs. freedom from Referenced in this episode: Widening the Circle of Concern: Report of the UUA Commission on Institutional Change June 2020: https://www.uua.org/uuagovernance/committees/cic/widening Sermons written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall Produced by: Bruce Hall 2020-07-2625 min

ChUUrch TalkImpact Matters: Q&A May 2020Amanda and Rev. Gray reflect on this month's sermons and answer questions from the congregation. Topics of discussion: freedom of the pulpit; what work is this doing?; shame:performance::guilt:learning; allyship pitfalls and paradoxes; grieving in public Referenced in this episode: #WeCantBreathe UUA Vigil recording: https://youtu.be/5HeVBM4tGk4?t=593 Black Lives of UU: https://www.blacklivesuu.com/ https://www.facebook.com/BlackLivesUU/ https://twitter.com/BlackLivesUU Sermons written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall Produced and Directed by: Bruce Hall 2020-06-2126 min

ChUUrch TalkUUCSW Sermon 6-14-20: Flower Communion"We can trust ourselves to grow, to adapt, and to change. And we can trust each other to meet us in the place of flowering, the place of hope, the place of courage." Incredibly, this is our last service of the church year. We’ll be doing flower communion, as is the custom of so many UUs this time of year. While we continue to gather online, we’ll celebrate this uniquely UU ritual. Don’t forget to bring your flower! Works referenced in this sermon: "A Power Governments Cannot Suppress," by Howard Zinn, from "Walking Toward Morning," edited by Annie...2020-06-1911 min

ChUUrch TalkWhite Fragility and Anti-Racism Work as Unitarian Universalists“Racism is so deeply woven in the fabric of our society that we won’t escape it in our lifetime, but we can seek to continually move farther along the continuum of awareness and action.” This episode contains 1) a letter from Reverend Laurel to the congregation; 2) a reading from the book “White Fragility” by Robin DiAngelo; and 3) the sermon “People of a Covenant,” which was originally written for the MLK Jr. 2020 service that was cancelled due to snow. It has been revised to reflect recent events. Works referenced in this sermon: “White Fragility” by Robin DiAngelo: https://robindiangelo.com/publications/ “Between the World an...2020-05-3120 min

ChUUrch TalkUUCSW Sermon 5-23-20: BridgingWhen we planned this year’s calendar, today was set to be the bridging ceremony for all of our teens graduating from high school. One of the great losses during Covid is all the celebrations that have been cancelled or postponed, celebrations that are meant to mark significant transitions in people’s lives. Today we’ll do what we can to celebrate our teens. Works referenced in this sermon: "Blessing for Bridging Youth" by Julia Hamilton: https://www.uua.org/worship/words/ritual/blessing-bridging-youth Written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall Produced and Di...2020-05-2505 min

ChUUrch TalkThere's No Coercing Connection: Q&A April 2020Amanda and Rev. Gray reflect on this month's sermons and answer questions from the congregation. Topics of discussion: what day is it?; consent culture in situations of tenderness & power; debunking redemptive suffering ("what doesn't kill you makes you stronger") Works referenced in this episode: "On Coronavirus Lockdown? Look for Meaning, Not Happiness" by Emily Esfahani Smith: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/07/opinion/coronavirus-mental-health.html Sermons written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall Produced and Directed by: Bruce Hall 2020-05-1017 min

ChUUrch TalkUUCSW Sermon 5-3-20: Becoming"[In moments of ritual] we gather together to hold the fullness of each other’s becoming, to say we recognize you, and we gather in celebration of your being as you are." It’s not uncommon for people to ask if UUs do baptisms. Like all religions, we as Unitarian Universalists have rituals that mark the changes in our lives, which are specific to our theology, principles, and history. Today we’ll talk about why it matters to mark these transitions as a community and what these rituals mean. Written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Hosted and Edited...2020-05-0313 min

ChUUrch TalkUUCSW Sermon 4-19-20: The Next Right Thing"When things are too big and too scary and too hard, all you have to do is the next right thing." In the midst of the overwhelm and thinking about big problems, it can be hard to know how to move forward. Today we’ll focus on the power of just doing the next right thing. Works referenced in this sermon: "Desert Spring," from "Walking Toward Morning" by Rev. Victoria Safford: https://www.uuabookstore.org/Walking-Toward-Morning-P16809.aspx "Frozen II" on Disney+: https://www.disneyplus.com/movies/frozen-ii/28vdy71kJrjb Words from Sonya Renee Taylor: https://www.instagram.com/p/B-fc3ej...2020-04-1915 min

ChUUrch TalkUUCSW Sermon 4-12-20: Out of the Tomb"Resurrection wouldn't be a miracle if it was easy. It isn't easy. It's hard to imagine, harder still to believe, to hold hope in the aching cavity of an exhausted heart. [...] But the Easter story asks us to gather our supplies and meet the dawn - to see that sun rising and believe that the tomb isn't the end of the story." In our service today we’ll think about the wisdom of the Easter story – what it can tells us about hope amidst the struggle and finding our way after the unthinkable happens. Works referenced in this sermon: "Did the...2020-04-1215 min

ChUUrch TalkQ&A March 2020: "Wisdom"Amanda and Rev. Gray reflect on this month's sermons and answer questions from the congregation. This month's theme is "wisdom." Topics of discussion: cultural pressure to override the wisdom of the body; health and the cumulative trauma of oppression; interdependence, vulnerability, and control; a collective remembering Sermons written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Host: Amanda Hall Produced and Directed by: Bruce Hall 2020-04-1214 min

ChUUrch TalkUUCSW Sermon 4-5-20: The Ambiguity of Prayer"In praying, we bridge the gap between ourselves and something else." Today we’ll ponder what it means to pray, particularly when so many of us are atheists or humanists, or have differing understandings of God. And perhaps more so, because we often want to pray in moments of deepest despair – but why and to whom are we praying? Works referenced in this sermon: "The Word That Is a Prayer" by Ellery Akers: https://elleryakers.com/poetry/word-prayer.php “Help, Thanks, Wow” by Anne Lamott: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/313149/help-thanks-wow-by-anne-lamott/ Written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Host: Am...2020-04-0513 min

ChUUrch TalkUUCSW Sermon 3-29-20: The Wisdom of Kindness"Kindness says, 'I will be a friend to you as you are. I will meet you in the truth. I will witness your pain and not look away. I will celebrate your joy with gladness. I will stand up for you when you need me to.' " Works referenced in this sermon: "Kindness" by Naomi Shihab Nye: https://poets.org/poem/kindness Written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Host: Amanda Hall Produced and Directed by: Bruce Hall 2020-03-2908 min

ChUUrch TalkUUCSW Readings 3-22-20: "When This is Over"Works referenced in this episode: "When This Is Over" by Laura Kelly Fanucci: https://www.instagram.com/p/B9zCs-xl3x2/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link "Pandemic" by Lynn Ungar: http://www.lynnungar.com/poems/pandemic/ Written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Host: Amanda Hall Produced and Directed by: Bruce Hall 2020-03-2204 min

ChUUrch TalkUUCSW Sermon 3-15-20: The Wisdom of Trees"Neither trees nor people are creatures meant for solitude. Thriving and flourishing and resilience are products of community." Native traditions have long taught that the natural world is alive with its own wisdom, but scientists rejected this idea. Recently, however, science has begun to agree, citing evidence that trees can in fact communicate and cooperate. In this service, we’ll focus on the wisdom to be found in the lives of trees. Works referenced in this sermon: “Wash Your Hands” by Dori Midnight: https://dorimidnight.com/uncategorized/wash-your-hands/ "Braiding Sweetgrass" by Robin Kimmerer: https://birchbarkbooks.com/all-online-titles/braiding-sweetgrass Written by: Rev. L...2020-03-1524 min

ChUUrch TalkUUCSW Sermon 3-8-20: Embodied Wisdom"Our bodies know what we need, if only we might listen. So too, do they remember what we’ve been through." For the month of March we’ll be thinking about different types of wisdom, beginning with the wisdom of our bodies. We’ll look at what it means to know something in our bodies and focus on connecting with that wisdom. Works referenced in this sermon: “Facing Feelings in Faith Communities” by William Kondrath: https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781566994347/Facing-Feelings-in-Faith-Communities “The Body Keeps the Score” Dr. Bessel Van Der Kolk: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/313183/the-body-keeps-the-score-by-bessel-van-der-kolk-md/ Genesis 32:22-32, Jacob wrestles with an angel...2020-03-1320 min

ChUUrch TalkQ&A February 2020: "Resilience"Amanda and Rev. Gray (and a special guest!) reflect on this month's sermons and answer questions from the congregation. This month's theme is "resilience." Topics of discussion: integrating into a new community; power decentralization and the minister's role in UU organizations; a sweet historical technicality; meaningful sharing of abundance Sermons written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Host: Amanda Hall Produced and Directed by: Bruce Hall 2020-02-2320 min

ChUUrch TalkUUCSW Sermon 2-9-20: Celebrating Our Gifts"If you continually give, you will continually have. Hallelujah!" Written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Host: Amanda Hall Produced and Directed by: Bruce Hall 2020-02-2312 min

ChUUrch TalkUUCSW Sermon 2-2-20: Members and Friends Sunday"We’re all doing our best to practice being human, to show up with our whole wild hearts, to stay present when it’s hard - and the beautiful thing is that in this place we do all of it together." Written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Host: Amanda Hall Produced and Directed by: Bruce Hall 2020-02-2307 min

ChUUrch TalkQ&A December 2019 and January 2020: "Awe," "Integrity"Amanda and Rev. Gray reflect on recent sermons and answer questions from the congregation. These months' themes are "awe" and "integrity." Topics of discussion: Making room for many faith traditions; conflicting narratives from different sources of wisdom; the universal appeal of turning over a new leaf; forgiveness without coercion Sermons written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Host: Amanda Hall Produced and Directed by: Bruce Hall 2020-01-2413 min

ChUUrch TalkUUCSW Sermon 1-5-20: What We Cast Off and What We CarryThis is our first service in the new year, so we’ll reflect on those things we’re letting go of, as well as the hopes we hold for the coming year. Written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Host: Amanda Hall Produced and Directed by: Bruce Hall 2020-01-2308 min

ChUUrch TalkUUCSW Sermon 12-24-2019: A Christmas MessageUUCSW celebrates Christmas Eve. Written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Host: Amanda Hall Produced and Directed by: Bruce Hall 2020-01-2305 min

ChUUrch TalkUUCSW Sermon 12-15-2019: Festival of LightsHanukkah is often portrayed as a sort of “Jewish Christmas” because it falls in December, but it has a very different origin. In this sermon we’ll explore the importance and history of Hanukkah as a distinctly Jewish holiday. Book Reference: Jews, God, and History, by Max Dimont: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0451529405/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_lcikEb2FCFMPC Written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Host: Amanda Hall Produced and Directed by: Bruce Hall 2020-01-2216 min

ChUUrch TalkQ&A November 2019: "Attention"Amanda and Rev. Gray reflect on this month's sermons and answer questions from the congregation. This month's theme is "attention." Topics of discussion: UUism and the afterlife; grief and denial; building safety to process painful emotions; resiliency through gratitude; befriending defense mechanisms Six Sources of Wisdom: https://www.uua.org/beliefs/what-we-believe/sources Sermons written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Host: Amanda Hall Produced and Directed by: Bruce Hall 2019-12-1221 min

ChUUrch TalkUUCSW Sermon 12-1-2019: For the Love of AdventAdvent is the season leading up to Christmas, which we UUs don’t often celebrate. It’s an important and exciting time in the Christian calendar, and today we’ll explore what wisdom it offers for Christians and non-Christians alike. Written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Host: Amanda Hall Produced and Directed by: Bruce Hall 2019-12-1117 min

ChUUrch TalkUUCSW Sermon 11-17-2019: On Grief and GratitudeAs the leaves fall, and we rest in the place between All Souls and Thanksgiving, we’ll focus on what it means to give space for change and grief, while maintaining a sense of gratitude. Written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Host: Amanda Hall Produced and Directed by: Bruce Hall 2019-11-3019 min

ChUUrch TalkQ&A October 2019: "Belonging"Amanda and Rev. Gray reflect on this month's sermons and answer questions from the congregation. This month's theme is "belonging," both to ourselves and to each other. Sermons written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Host: Amanda Hall Produced and Directed by: Bruce Hall 2019-11-3016 min

ChUUrch TalkUUCSW Sermon 11-3-2019: All SoulsThis sermon brings back the old UUCSW Samhain tradition of recognizing our loved ones who have departed from this world. Movie Reference - Coco: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2380307/ Written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Host: Amanda Hall Produced and Directed by: Bruce Hall 2019-11-2005 min

ChUUrch TalkUUCSW Sermon 10-20-2019: Belonging to Each OtherIn this sermon we’ll reflect on what it means to belong to each other, to be in relationship as a community. As a congregation, we are a community who shows up for the joys and sorrows of each other’s lives, a community that helps us aspire to our own goodness and can be resilient amidst conflict and struggle. The seven UU principles: https://www.uua.org/beliefs/what-we-believe/principles The six sources: https://www.uua.org/beliefs/what-we-believe/sources "Braving, the Anatomy of Trust" by Brene Brown PDF: http://creativebynature.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/BRAVING.pdf "Belonging to Each Othe...2019-11-1720 min

ChUUrch TalkUUCSW Sermon 9-22-2019: New BeginningsWe often think of the beginning as the first step in the process of transition, but perhaps it’s the last. In this sermon we’ll reflect on the stages we go through as we move towards a new beginning. Rev. Gray will share about her call to ministry as a process of transition. Book reference: "Transitions: Making Sense of Life's Changes" by William Bridges: https://www.amazon.com/dp/073820904X/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_x_uVbmybX0GR2T0 Written by: Rev. Laurel Gray Music by: Kala Farnham Host: Amanda Hall Produced and Directed by: Bruce Hall 2019-11-1518 min

Tanzu TalkThe Clever Task of Product Managing Backing Services, with Laurel GrayThere's a lot of "backing services" in Cloud Foundry: not only middleware like databases, but also operations services like auto-scaling. This week, Richard & Coté talk with Laurel Gray, the product manager for those services at Pivotal. We discuss the services themselves, the open service broker, how to product manage APIs and services, and product management in general. Also, we hop-scotch through the news: a new version of Pivotal Cloud Foundry, Google's recently cloud announcements, and a new version of kubernetes.2019-04-1850 min

Pivotal PodcastsThe Clever Task of Product Managing Backing Services, with Laurel GrayThere's a lot of "backing services" in Cloud Foundry: not only middleware like databases, but also operations services like auto-scaling. This week, Richard & Coté talk with Laurel Gray, the product manager for those services at Pivotal. We discuss the services themselves, the open service broker, how to product manage APIs and services, and product management in general. Also, we hop-scotch through the news: a new version of Pivotal Cloud Foundry, Google's recently cloud announcements, and a new version of kubernetes.2019-04-1800 min