Dear Church,
I would like to invite you into a new experience with me. The next three sermons will be on a related theme. Sometimes we need to be very intentional in telling stories about racism here.
Let’s begin with song.
You may have noticed the song “Lift … read more.
My parents told me that the only thing I would ever really own was my name. My name, ordinary in other contexts, is still odd in America.
Earlier this week, I came across two powerful poets who share the story of navigating the cultures and contexts of … read more.
Some of you have asked for the little blessing I wrote for this year’s Water Communion and the list of dates for other outdoor Sundays. Both are below. I want to thank you all for creatively re-imagining a way to be together.
A Water Communion … read more.
Many stories of faith retail the pain of exile, of forceable removal from the land we call home. These days of responding to a global pandemic finds exile reimagined: we are exiled from the church building, and from being physically together.
For those who cannot return … read more.
In the early 1970s, the Unitarian Universalist at General Assembly made a public statement against the death penalty. At St. John’s, the effort to end the death penalty found an echo in a congregation-wide resolution on peace and a more recent resolution against racism. For, … read more.
The message and prayer below can be viewed on St. John’s YouTube channel.
Good morning. I am the Reverend Mitra Jafarzadeh and I am gathered with lay leaders at St. John’s Unitarian Universalist Church.
Joetta Prost, Phyliss Flanagan-Cox, Anjali Dutt, and I want to share this … read more.
A Poem for Today, May 29, 2020
by Rev. Mitra … read more.
Dear Church,
By now you know that the shutdown came in the middle of our pledge campaign. We have had a few budget meetings already and another is coming up soon. I know you have been asked to give to the church, and I have spoken about what … read more.
Dear Church,
In our tradition, we believe that everyone’s voice matters; that everyone deserves to be seen; that each of us have a perspective and that is important.
Historically, Unitarians and Universalists have worked to promote the voice and vote of all people in our United States.
How … read more.
Dear Church,
I want to talk about scams and safety on the internet right now.
Many of us are working more online than we had ever imagined. This is a opportunity for us to find new connections, and it is an opportunity for the less scrupulous to … read more.
