Hello all you dear folks who are leading Follen this year, I wanted you to know that I have recently decided to give $6,000 to Follen Church to underwrite Vivian Montgomery’s Urban Church Music Friendships Initiative. I’ve been following the budget belt-tightening worries and – because I care so much about helping all of our … Continued
Follen Youth Participate in Homelessness Awareness/Service through Boston’s City Reach Program On the second weekend of March 2019, 14 youth members of the Follen UU Youth (FUUY) Group, along with their Youth Program Coordinators and the Director of Religious Education, made their way to Boston to participate in the City Reach program, sponsored by … Continued
Humble Practices Identify one way this month to be “uniquely humble.” The options are endless: · Spend an hour one evening looking up at the stars and contemplate how small—and how lucky—you are; · Rather than giving your coworkers advice, humbly ask your coworkers for advice, for a change; · Take a risk and humbly … Continued
TIPS FOR TALKING TO CHILDREN ABOUT RACE AND RACISM From Beryl Aschenberg, Director of Religious Education One of the things that attracted me to Follen Church was the commitment to become an “intentionally and proactively antiracist congregation.” Years of living in Milwaukee, WI- named the most segregated city in the United States- has convinced … Continued
RE-flections by Beryl Aschenberg, Director of Religious Education We can tell our values by looking at our checkbook stubs. ~ Gloria Steinem Children realize very early in life that money has value. They understand that getting a toy means that someone (often a parent) must spend money, or that they need to save … Continued
The Artist is Present Resource: “The Artist is Present” by Marina Abramovic. Read more about Marina Abramovic’s career as an artist here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marina_Abramović. Marina Abramovic and Ulay started an intense love story in the 70s, performing art out of the van they lived in. When they felt the relationship had run its course, they decided … Continued
Ordinary yet extraordinary wonders What seemingly simple thing sustains your sense of reverence right now? What ordinary object or relationship reminds you of life’s preciousness? What is currently helping you not take things for granted? Hopefully, these are easy questions for you. If not, figure out why and use this month … Continued
As Thanksgiving approaches, Unitarian Universalist families often consider blessings that might be said before a meal. Here are a few of my favorites: “For the food before us, the family (and friends) beside us, and the love that surrounds us, we are truly grateful.” –Sarah Richards “Earth, who gives to us this food, Sun, who … Continued
I’m a big fan of the NPR show “On Being” with Krista Tippett. Two years ago, singer Carrie Newcomer shared her poem “Three Gratitudes” on an episode. The poem starts with this: Every night before I go to sleep I say out loud Three things that I’m grateful for, All the significant, insignificant Extraordinary, ordinary … Continued
I remember my first visit to a Unitarian Universalist church. Just taking the step to walk into a “church” felt gutsy to me. I had grown up Jewish, married a Catholic, and felt like an agnostic. I wanted my children to have the opportunity to experience the richness that participation in a faith community can … Continued
