Our nation is divided, perhaps like never before, or arguably, more than any other time in this century. How does this division, this cultural warfare, show up in our daily lives, in our relationship with others and within ourselves? Today’s message recognizes the assault upon our democratic republic and ponders the same question that songwriter … Continue reading What’s Going On?
Our sermon will focus on what it means to be grateful for being an Elder in today’s world. How can our wisdom of Elderhood serve us and our fellowship? How can we express our great fullness, our lived experiences and our celebration of life at this stage of our lives? We shall consider redefining the … Continue reading Elderhood: The Great Fullness of Life
This sermon will focus on what it means to belong to a community, to a fellowship. How can we see, feel and appreciate why we need one another? What is our common cultural and historical heritage? We shall take a look at our common interests and the meaning of belonging to a faith, to a … Continue reading Why We Need Each Other
Welcome to our first Worship Service of the Fall of 2022. All are invited to bring a sample of water from their travels during our summer recess or water that has other personal significance. We will ritually pour our water into a common bowl to signify coming together again. Our theme is “Water is Life,” … Continue reading Water Communion: Water Is Life
As part of this Sunday’s Service, we look forward to welcoming new Members. Our Annual Congregational Meeting will be held in the sanctuary immediately after the service, and will be followed by a social gathering for the Fellowship in the adjoining social hall. This in-person service will take place in the sanctuary at the JCSVV … Continue reading Until We Meet Again
We Celebrate this Mother’s Day with a sermon and message featuring the original poetry and spoken word by Minister Anthony Mtuaswa Johnson. Reverend Anthony will share poems from his published book of poetry entitled “What If God Is a Woman?” The works are “poetry and spoken words for the rest of us, that speak to … Continue reading What If God is a Woman?
This sermon will be all about “Joy,” that sometimes-elusive feeling of spontaneous happiness, usually denoted by a smile or two. We shall ponder and explore questions such as: Who helps you see the joy in front of you? What were you first taught about “deserving joy”? How has joy surprised you during Covid? How has … Continue reading Being Open to Joy
This Easter Sunday sermon will focus upon what lessons we may glean for ourselves as we recognize the most important and oldest festival of the Christian church. What does this ancient celebration have to offer us in our times of tumult? Is it our time of Resurrection? Our time of the changing of the seasons? … Continue reading Rolling Back the Stone
“Poetry may make us a little more aware of the deeper, unnamed feelings which form the substratum of our being, to which we rarely penetrate, for our lives are mostly a constant evasion of ourselves,” so wrote T.S. Eliot. We are pleased to offer another worship service which will focus upon naming and claiming our … Continue reading Poetry as a Spiritual Practice – 2.0
In the spirit of SUUF and me, I will share my journey with the Islamic faith. I was born a Baptist, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. My parents became a part of the great migration of African Americans from the South to the cities of the North. In our case, it would be Chicago. It was here … Continue reading Islam & Me
