Category: Message From The Minister

Dear Beloveds and Friends,

As the warm summer breeze graces our days and the sun bathes us in its golden rays, we find ourselves in a season of abundant growth and reflection. July has arrived, bringing with it a cherished opportunity to explore the essence of freedom of belief and deepen our connections within our beloved community. The warm sun reminds us of the promise of abundance, and the climate-change induced smoke in the air reminds us of our responsibility to care for the earth. Continue reading “Message from the Minister”

Friends,

As we enter the month of June, as we reach out and experience Pride Month, as we begin to enjoy the summer… Continue reading “Message from the Minister”

Friends,

I recently was invited to participate in the Ohio-Meadville District Ministers retreat. One of my takeaways was being present to the deep questions in front of us, just under the surface. Continue reading “Message from the Minister”

Friends,

As I watch our days increase, the rain and the clouds, and the culmination of both in our of late amazing sunsets, I cannot help but to think about the connection of all. We are material, matter, and so is the rock. We are alive, and so too is the bright green moss on the forest floor. We move and run and billow and crawl, so too does the wind. We frolic and play, so too does the doe. Continue reading “Message from the Minister”

Dear Friends,

Love is the power that holds us together and is at the center of our shared values. We are accountable to one another for doing the work of living our shared values through the spiritual discipline of Love. Continue reading “Message from the Minister”

Dear Friends,

I hope February finds you in peace and love and purpose! In this lovely month, I hope you can pause to appreciate all of the different types of love in your life. With Valentine’s Day, we typically focus on romantic love (Greek: ‘eros love’), but with Galentine’s Day, we fellowship focusing on friendship love
(Greek: ‘philia love’). In families we experience love (greek: ‘storgē love’). And, through Black History Month and when we engage in Justice work we love (Greek: ‘agape love’). Continue reading “Message from the Minister”

Happy New Year!

I show my inner Trekkie to reveal an unanticipated joke, just as I share that life has taken an unexpected turn. Sometimes it does that, and it behooves us to not only take it in stride but to dance along. There is a line from the musical Beetlejuice that says, “We should have carpe’d way more diems. Now we’re never gonna see ’em!” Continue reading “Message from the Minister”

Friends,

Advent is upon us, and we are preparing for the darkest day of the year, and we are preparing for the return of the light. We anticipate the struggles of busyness, obligation and the annoyances that find us, all the while the joys of Christmas–the sparkle of the lights, the giving, the receiving, the hope and wonder of it.

This time of year, as the trees bare themselves, clad with only the cold wind upon them, I am reminded of Mary Oliver’s “Blackwater Woods.” Here is an excerpt:

Everything I have ever learned in my lifetime leads back to this: the fires and the black river of loss whose other side is salvation, whose meaning none of us will ever know.
To live in this world you must be able to do three things: to love what is mortal; to hold it against your bones knowing your own life depends on it; and, when the time comes to let it go, to let it go.

I think of the Magi and the three gifts they brought: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These parallel with Mary Oliver’s three things. Gold is for provision, providing for a family or friends and our responsibilities. Frankincense is the heaven-bound incense that connects us to the divine and to one another. And, myrrh is the embalming oil for the departed–”when the time comes to let it go.”

I pray each of you have joy and connection this holiday season, that you can connect at our different gatherings, and you connect with friends and family alike.

Peace beyond all understanding, may it be with you!
Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays!

— Rev. Wil

Friends,

I want to thank you all for a great congregational meeting. In it I feel like we clearly established our goals of a prudent balanced budget and our generous mission of serving our community– welcoming the stranger. In this month of Thanksgiving and heritage, I want to express my gratitude for All Souls and each of you. You are the ones who make the atmosphere Lovecentered.

Helen Keller once said, “Faith is the strength by which a shattered world shall emerge into light.” When we look at this shattered world, we can choose to view it as brokenness or the beauty of a mural or like stained glass. We can take the challenges in front of us and we can use them to accomplish our goals. The stoic, Marcus Aurelius, is accredited with the saying, “The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.”

The obstacle becomes the way. Our goals of creating Beloved Community, welcoming in more people, listening to more voices–this is the obstacle, therefore it is also our way. We need to engage and invite more people–
friends, neighbors and more. I encourage all of you to invite friends to our church, to create opportunities for connection, to dream with us.

First Thursday of the Month is Wine and Cheese Night
First and Third Wednesdays are the Course in Miracles Group
Second and Fourth Wednesdays are Yoga with Karli

During Advent (Nov 27-Dec 24), we are looking to restart an older small group-
The Wednesday Supper. We are forming groups of 8 people or so who can commit to sharing a supper once per week. Typically the group rotated hosts and shared a soup (also rotating the cook)–but the group can dream up what might work for them–meeting at the church (be sure to sign it out with Rob Gibson), or meeting in a restaurant. If the group would like discussion questions, I can provide them, or if your group just wants to figure it out, that’s fine, too. We have brought this small group back because we have a lot of newer people–we are growing–and we need to know one another.

Happy Thanksgiving! Peace!

— Rev. Will

Friends,

Happy Halloween! Happy October. I am excited for pumpkins and falling leaves, frost and foggy mornings. A cool fall morning, flannel shirt, a fire, some coffee… I think I need that.

With these fall times, Halloween—this is the time when the veil of reality thins and we can expect the hereafter and the here-and now to become close to one another. I’ve been talking with others about the Spirit of Expectancy—within this notion that we live in a veiled reality: We live in a reality where Beloved Community is real and tangible now and those who behave as if we don’t are acting outside of the norm, the actual reality; we are to live, breathe and act as if Beloved Community is here.

The poet Rumi once wrote, “Set your life on fire. Seek those who fan your flames.”

Enjoy your pumpkin spice, friends, lovers, and bring the change we need in this world. Love whole-heartedly. Find solace in a moment. Find others to keep the faith, to fan your flames. Usher in the beloved community!

Happy Halloween!
— Rev. Will