Back in the day, it seemed every other UU minister I knew had a sermon (or more) about major league baseball. (We’ve since come to preach about women’s softball, a game just as engaging and filled with unpredictability.) Back to the major leagues, even those preachers who rooted for perennial, last-place “basement-dwellers” couldn’t resist the … Continue reading From the Interim
From the Interim More than the other three seasons, autumn has a way of reminding us nothing and no one lasts forever. It’s nature’s way of telling us the Eastern traditions have it right: Everything has a beginning, a middle and an end. Just ask the falling leaves. Impermanence may be our lot, but … Continue reading From the Interim
From the Interim 9-11-26 “Change means movement. Movement means friction. Only in the frictionless vacuum…can movement or change occur without that abrasive friction of conflict.” – Saul Alinsky There is an unease within your congregation right now. For some, that’s a mild description of what you’re experiencing. For those who are just learning about this … Continue reading From the Interim
From the Interim Minister 9/4/2026 Many of you may know by now that the QUUF Board and I made the hard decision to change course with your music program leadership. (Note that newsletters are not the right place to be specific with names. We’ll share in somewhat more detail at the town hall meeting following … Continue reading From the Interim
It takes a lot to maintain a Unitarian Universalist in the 21st century. Many of the practices we thought would always work, just don’t. Or at least not as well. Part of our interim ministry is about naming some of those habits, but we don’t stop there. We look at what vital religious traditions and … Continue reading From the Interim
On the turning away From the pale and downtrodden And the words that they say Which we won’t understand Don’t accept that what’s happening Is just a case of others’suffering Or you’ll find that you’re joining in The turning away Pink Floyd fans will recognize these lyrics from one of their most socially aware songs. … Continue reading From the Interim
Upon his retirement, Anglican Archbishop David Hope noted, “I have always hoped that it might be possible to conclude my ministry as I had begun it, as a parish priest…” You have heard by now that your board and I reached an agreement to extend my interim ministry through July 1, 2027. Three points guided … Continue reading From the Interim
It’s been 18+ years since I stumbled into a “stringer” job with a staunchly progressive newspaper. The religion contributor just stopped contributing, so I emailed the editor to see what was up. Turns out the writer gave no notice. Did I know anyone who might fill the gap? Having long fantasized about a career in … Continue reading From the Interim
In a Memorial Day article published in the Los Angeles Times circa 1993, essayist and Vietnam combat veteran, John Samuel Tieman realizes his enemy is not just the Viet Cong. He’s also fighting the militarism that invades – sometimes takes – the lives of children. Tieman tells us we should have a separate day of … Continue reading From the Interim
From the Minister Here’s a three-part blog, friends. Part 1: Earlier this week I joined the interfaith group planning a protest vigil for later in May. The goal is to “make witness” – to represent our individual congregations, but more importantly, to show the Port Townsend area that unity is the antidote to isolation. … Continue reading From the Interim
