Author: Michele Dubuc

01 Dec

Posted at 13:44h in Upcoming Events

Sunday worship at 10:00am in the Sanctuary

Services are live streamed on the CHANNING YOU TUBE CHANNEL and available for viewing afterwards.

Sunday, December 3: When Our Cultural Identity and Spiritual Values Collide…

Rev. Jeannette Bessinger  & Samuel Hollister

Historically, having a strong cultural identity is associated with human thriving. But when elements of that collective identity clash with our individual spiritual or ethical values, where can we find rootedness in “who we are”? Through the dual lenses of Scorsese’s movie of Grann’s novel Killers of the Flower Moon and the ongoing fighting in Gaza, we’ll explore, with language and music, some ways we can navigate the grey zone between “us and them”, “good guys and bad guys”.

Rev Jeannette Bessinger: Jeannette is an ordained interfaith chaplain, certified Spiritual Companion, and Board Certified Health Coach, bringing a holistic perspective to her 20-year health ministry. As the current Director of Spiritual Development for Westminster Unitarian Church, she is enjoying working deeply with a UU community across the full span of chronological ages.

Sunday, December 10: There Be Miracles, even in a UU World

Rev. Bill Zelazny  

According to tradition, during the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean revolt, there was only enough oil to light the Temple’s menorah for one day, but somehow miraculously burned for eight days. The festival of Hanukkah commemorates this event. This Sunday, with the assistance of Irene Glasser and the Channing Choir, we will mark this ancient Jewish festival but then expand our look at the idea of miracles. Yes, there are miracles even in the UU world view.  

The 2nd Sunday of the month is our nonperishable foods collection for local food banks.

Sunday, December 17:  Science and Mystery Walk Hand in Hand

Rev. Bill Zelazny

Some people think Science is the only guide to living and some hold that Mystery is what guides life.  Our UU Sources says both give UUism form. Ursula Goodenough calls this the Covenant with Mystery – a both/and approach. 

Sunday, December 24 

Christmas Eve 

10:00 AM — No morning service. Sleep in, spend time with the family, have a quiet cup of coffee, finish wrapping Christmas presents. 

5:00 PM — Christmas Eve at Channing Church          

Rev. Bill Zelazny & Friends

The sanctuary will be decorated, candles lit, traditional and new readings presented, anthems performed by the choir, carols sung, a short homily presented and “Silent Night” holding candles sung in the darkened sanctuary. All the elements needed for a beautiful traditional Channing Church Christmas Eve for adults and children.  A perfect way to start the Christmas celebration.  Come, bring family and friends to share this Christmas Eve with you.

Parking is available in the Elk’s parking lot, Please place the bright orange parking permit on your dashboard where it is clearly visible. Permits are located on the table to the right as you enter the church.  

Sunday, December 31:  Say Adieu, Say Hello

Rev. Bill Zelazny  

In a few hours 2023 will leave us and 2024 will arrive.  Rev. Bill is inviting the congregation to a New Year’s brunch (no formal service) in the Parish Hall to say “Adieu” 2023 and “Welcome” 2024.  Rev. Bill will make breakfast casseroles and quiche but breakfast pastries would be a welcome addition.  Please email Michele in the office: office@channingchurch.org to let Rev. Bill know if you plan to come to the brunch.  Bring a poem or short new year theme reading to share.

31 Oct

Posted at 13:20h in Upcoming Events

Sunday worship at 10:00am in the Sanctuary

Services are live streamed on the CHANNING YOU TUBE CHANNEL and available for viewing afterwards.

Sunday, November 5: Concepts of Faith

Rev. Bill Zelazny

When people talk about faith most are probably thinking about Western Christian faith.  But religious faith has broader implications and application.  This Sunday Bill will lead us in an exploration of the concept of religious faith that goes beyond just a belief in a Western God entity. 

Sunday, November 12: Fascism American Style

Rev. Bill Zelazny  

People with a progressive or left leaning political view are claiming that fascism is on the rise in the USA. Other, primarily conservatives of libertarians say that is not the case, but rather the Alt-Right is just a more robust conservative political/social perspective but not fascist.  As the 2024 political campaigns start to get into full-swing Bill will help us look at this social/political phenomenon that has become part of our political discourse. 

 Jon Dember, a folk music musician, whose music has roots in British and American county music, who plays the button accordion, will be our guest musician.  Jon formed the group, Farm Dogs, who play around the area at farmer’s markets and festivals and has played for our services several times in the past years.

 The 2nd Sunday of the month is our nonperishable foods collection for local food banks.

This Sunday we are taking a special collection to help fund our Community Meals program that is low on cash.  See the article about Community Meals on page 2 of the Catalyst

Sunday, November 19: The Gratitude Generosity Loop

Rev. Bill Zelazny

Research has shown that gratitude can lead to generosity. In a sense, gratitude seems to prepare the brain for generosity.  Perhaps this is why researchers have observed that grateful people give more — our brains create a gratitude-generosity loop. We are thankful for the generosity shown to us, and that thankfulness inspires our own compassion and generosity. On this Sunday before Thanksgiving Day, Bill will look at this psychological, emotional phenomenon. 

Monday, November 20 is Transgender Day of Remembrance in the USA.  During and after the service members of Channing Interweave will lead a commemorative time to honor the transgender people whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence in this past year. 

Sunday, November 26: Attention is a Finite Resource-Don’t Waste It

Rev. Bill Zelazny

Our attention determines the direction toward which we focus our minds.  The universe is ours to explore as we wish.  But there are forces – business, government, social justice organizations and other’s – that work hard to commoditized it. Getting our attention is now a multibillion-dollar industry.  If we pay attention to what is happening, we will find that our attentional powers are constantly under attack and those powers are limited.  This Sunday Bill will invite us to pay some attention to who we allow to have ownership over our consciousness.

28 Sep

Posted at 14:26h in Upcoming Events

Sunday worship at 10:00am in the Sanctuary

Services are live streamed on the CHANNING YOU TUBE CHANNEL and available for viewing afterwards.

Sunday, October 1: Flowing with the Flow

Rev. Bill Zelazny

Most of us are taught from a young age that we need to push ourselves, work hard to make things happen. That approach is one way to live.  But there is often a negative cost to our mental and physical health living like that.  But, what if we approached life with the mindset of “going with the flow?” As a person who has lived much of his life “pushing”, Bill has been thinking about and trying to practice this way of living.  This Sunday he will explore this very different way of approaching living.

Sunday, October 8: Skeptical Science

Rev. Paul Spreacher  

What is the relation between science and religion?  Why has it become so common to find “science” as contested ground in our contemporary culture wars — over masking, vaccinations — and what should be taught to children in our public schools?

Rev. Paul Sprecher is a past minter at First Parish in Bridgewater. MA.  Since his retirement he has become a climate activist at Linden Ponds, a Senior Living Community in Hingham, MA, as well as in the town of Hingham.  Previously, he served Second Parish in Hingham.  He has served interim ministries at Murray Church in Attleboro and at the Chatham, MA Meeting House.  In other lifetimes, he was a middle school teacher at a boys’ prep school in New York City and Vice President for Technology at the American Stock Exchange.

Sunday, October 15: LAGBT+ Justice–Yesterday and Today

Presenter: Monique Paul

National Coming Out” day is celebrated on October 11th. It was necessary when it was created and it is still needed now, more than ever with the anti-trans, anti-gay initiatives.  Monique will talk about the good it has done over the years in the fight against discrimination and prejudices of our society as a whole and how it has helped people become their “best” selves for themselves, their families and society in general.

Monique Paul, is a 67 yr. old Transwoman from Coventry, R.I. She Transitioned 12 years ago after, as she describes it, denying her authentic self for over 50 years. She retired in 2022 after 25 years as a lab tech with Fujifilm Electronic Materials. Ms Paul has been involved in the Transgender Community for many years, joining TGI Network of R.I. 11 years ago, and currently serving as its President. She is also working with the RI Commission on Prejudice & Bias speaking to Police Cadets throughout the State. As a hobby she has been involved with the scuba diving community since the 1970’s.

TGI Network of Rhode Island, is a statewide organization providing support, education, and advocacy for the TGI (transgender, gender diverse, and intersex) communities in Rhode Island and surrounding areas.   

Sunday, October 22: Ancestors that Travel Beside Us

Rev. Bill Zelazny

Alberto Ríos, in his poem “A House Called Tomorrow” wrote “You are a hundred wild centuries…/bringing with you/ In every breath and in every step/ Everyone who has come before you.” This Sunday, a week before All Souls Day, when we honor the memory of our ancestors Bill will talk about how our ancestors shaped their world and now our world. 

Everyone is invited to bring a picture of an ancestor – parent, grandparent, uncle — to place on an Altar of Remembrance to join us for this service.

Sunday, October 29: A UU Look at Halloween

Rev. Bill Zelazny

Marking a day pertaining to the dead and their potential connection (or interference) with the living goes back centuries.  Today it has become more of a candy eating, partying day for children as well as adults.  Some cultures want to scare away the dead on this day and some invite the dead to reconnect with the living.  Bill will look at this holiday with a UU eye to see what it means for people of all religious and spiritual (and maybe ghostly) interests.  

30 Aug

Posted at 10:55h in Upcoming Events

Sunday worship at 10:00am in the Sanctuary

Services are live streamed on the CHANNING YOU TUBE CHANNEL and available for viewing afterwards.

No Service Sunday, September 3rd.  Enjoy a Labor Day Weekend outing or picnic!

Sunday, September 10: Remember, Revelation is Not Sealed

Rev. Bill Zelazny

“Revelation is not sealed”, is an affirmation long spoken by Unitarian Universalist. It is a conviction that religious teachings and practice, like the sciences, are not closed as the once and for all truths.   The same can be said about UU congregation life – what was and is now may not be what is needed in our future. On this In-gathering Sunday, Bill will invite us to have an open mind and open heart to potential changes to expand and renew our church.

Our UU faith is part of our everyday life, not just on Sunday mornings.  To symbolize the connection between our church and our everyday living, members and friends are invited to bring a token from their home – a flower, stone, leaf, picture, knick-knack, small vile of water – which we will place on a table to give us a visible representation of the connection of everyday life to our church life.

We will also welcome our new Music Director, Jan Navarro, and say goodbye to our pianist, Conor Kennedy, (at least as a regular musician) in this service.  A reception for Jan and Conor will be held in the Parish Hall immediately after the service.

 Sunday, September 17: A Question of Religion-Who am I?

Rev. Bill Zelazny

This is the first of a multi-part series on the big questions of life that we all face.  This Sunday Bill will explore a basic question “Who am I?”  We start off being defined by other people and gradually come to be individuated. But who is this individuated being?  Do we change or adjust our understanding of ourselves as the years past?  What role does religion have in giving an answer to that question?  Let’s think about this together this Sunday.

Sunday, September 24: A Question of Religion: What Does the Universe Mean to Me, and What am I to it?

Rev. Bill Zelazny

This is the second service looking at one of the big questions of life.  WOW!  The universe is so huge, unimaginably huge and I am so tiny, insignificantly tiny.  But there has to be a connection.  Bill will look at this religion question of our existence, maybe even having a few answers for us to consider.

Community Fair after Church! Our congregation functions because of the involvement of its members making things happen.  Following the Sept. 24th service we will hold our annual Community Fair where we can learn about the many committees, programs and projects that are the life of our church and find the one or two that make our hearts glad in which we wish to participate.    

27 Jun

Posted at 13:21h in Upcoming Events

Sunday Worship Services 

Summer Worship Service Break : June 25 – July 30

Linda Beall will play the chimes at 9:30 on July 2, 16, and 30.  Please enjoy from a shady spot in Touro Park!

Sunday, August 6, 12:30pm, Ports. Historical Society HQ

Meeting W.E. Channing in Portsmouth

Rev. Bill Zelazny

William Ellery Channing, the “Father” of American Unitarianism and for whom our church is named was born and raised in Newport loved his family farm in Portsmouth. Throughout his life he spent entire summers at Oakland Farm.  Sundays would often find him preaching or simply talking about religion and life with the farmers and fishermen who attended the non-denominational Christian Church at Portsmouth, today the Portsmouth Historical Society headquarters at the corner of East Main Road and Union Street. Rev. Bill will talk about Channing life’s and philosophy in the very church on East Main Road at which Channing spent many Sundays. 

NOTE:  The service begins at 12:30 p.m. Stay afterwards for a tour of the historical society’s many exhibits of nearly 400 years of life in Portsmouth.

Sunday, August 13, 10:00am, in Touro Park

Awaken the Spirit with Movement

Rachel Balaban & Rev. Bill Zelazny

Movement is great to energize the body and the spirit. Gather in Touro Park for a service, lead by Rachel Balaban, of  gentle meditative movement that honors your mind, your body and your energy force The service will take place in Touro Park, weather permitting, Rain location will be the Sanctuary.  Bring a chair.

Sunday, August 20, 10:00am

A Sunday Morning Walking Meditation

Rev. Bill Zelazny

Back by request, we will do a walking mediation service.  Join Rev. Bill at the Portuguese Discovery Memorial at 9:55am for a silent, intentional, mindful meditative walk along the ocean, paying attention to how all our senses are being touched by nature.  The service will be cancelled in the event of rain.

Sunday, August 27, 10:00am

A Wisdom Lesson from the East

Rev. Bill Zelazny

In the Parish Hall

Last summer an ancient Taoist story offered us a life lesson about what we can learn from water.  Join Rev. Bill in the Parish Hall to consider some other lessons from ancient eastern stories that may help us to better enjoy life.   

No Worship Service Labor Day Weekend (September 3rd)

01 Jun

Posted at 13:01h in Upcoming Events

Sunday worship at 10:00am in the Sanctuary followed by Fellowship Coffee Hour in the Parish Hall

Services are also live streamed on the CHANNING YOU TUBE CHANNEL and available for viewing afterwards.

Sunday, June 4: Gay Pride, Intersectionality, Liberation

Rev. Bill Zelazny

This month is known as Pride Month. It is important to people who live within the rainbow.  But, while Pride has come to be a celebration of LGBTQ+ people, the work is far from done. Bill is going to discuss the issue of LBGTQ rights, the intersection of different civil right issues (intersectionality) and liberation of all people and the challenges now faced by minorities groups with the growing reactionary political and religious climate.

Quorus, the newly formed LBGTQ+ chorus on Aquidneck Island will provide the our music for this Pride Month service.  

Sunday, June 11: They’re Taking Away Our Seven Principles, or Are They?

Rev. Bill Zelazny

The UUA is in the midst of a multi-year study to consider revising Article II of the UUA Bylaws – the article that defines the Association’s Purpose and lists the seven principles that have been the   short-hand way to describe what we believe.  Our bylaws require Article II to be reviewed every 15 years.  A proposed replacement for the current Article II has been presented after to be considered for the first of two readings and votes at the 2023 General Assembly.  Bill will explain the process and how the proposed Article II is the same as, and different from, the current one.

If you would like to read the proposed Article II and related information, go to:

 https://www.uua.org/uuagovernance/committees/article-ii-study-commission

https://www.uua.org/uuagovernance/committees/article-ii-study-commission/blog/faq

Sunday, June 18: On Celebrating our Blessings

Rev. Bill Zelazny

Rev. Dr. Rebekah Savage wrote a short poem entitled “Blessings are real, and ours to claim” — Blessings are real, and ours to claim and radiate/ Blessings are abundant, and ours to revel in and pass along.  Bill thinks this is a wonderful perspective to have.  On this last Sunday of the formal church year, and Father’s Day, Bill will lead us in a reflection on the wonder and power of life’s blessings, including fathers.

Summer Worship Service Break:

June 25 – July 30

Summer recess – no Sunday services. Services will resume Sunday, August 6th with four interesting and unique services, both outdoors and indoors. Watch for information in the Summer July/August Catalyst!

 

30 Mar

Posted at 14:27h in Upcoming Events

Sunday worship at 10:00am in the Sanctuary followed by Fellowship Coffee Hour in the Parish Hall

Services are also live streamed on the CHANNING YOU TUBE CHANNEL and available for viewing afterwards.

Sunday, April 2: So, What Does Passover Have to Do With It?

Guest Speaker: Peter Freeman

It is that time of year again when thoughts turn to Spring and all its rituals. In true Universalist tradition, the Channing community has long recognized and reflected upon the relevance of Passover and Easter to our spiritual practice. This year, Passover precedes Easter. On Sunday morning, friend of Channing, Peter Freeman and Worship Associate Margaret Polski will reflect on the parallels between Passover and Unitarian Universalist principles. The incomparable Newport String Project will provide music for the service starting at 9:45am.

Peter Freeman is an attorney practicing land use law in Massachusetts. He is a Jewish person who grew up in Newton on the very “reform” side of the religion, a Yale alumnus and deeply devoted to the Red Sox, Patriots, Bruins, and Celtics. He is inclined to fall asleep in Temple but always stays awake at Channing services.

Sunday, April 9: Something Happened…..Thoughts about the Easter Event

Rev. Bill Zelazny

The facts are lost to time, but something happened in Jerusalem two days after an itinerant Jewish prophet was executed by crucifixion.  Was a man actually raised from the dead?  Were people having post-death visions of a person as sometimes happens when a loved one dies or did Jesus really appear to people?  It is all a made-up fable to give credence to a new religious movement?  This Sunday let’s think about Easter, the resurrection and the fact that something happened.

The 2nd Sunday of the month is our nonperishable foods collection for local food banks.

Sunday, April 16: Religious Diversity

Rev. Bill Zelazny

Religious pluralism is an attitude or policy regarding the diversity of religious belief systems co-existing in society.  While this idea may seem normal for Unitarian Universalist, it is not in much of the world and faith communities.  This Sunday, Bill will discuss the idea of religious diversity and functioning in a pluralistic world.

Sunday, April 23: Protecting our Earth

Guest Speaker: Alex Chuman

Celebrate our Earth, and learn how you’re helping to protect it at our annual Earth Day service, April 23. Alex Chuman, Conservation Director for Aquidneck Land Trust (ALT), will be our speaker, His topic will be “Watershed Conservation on Aquidneck Island: How Land Protection and Good Stewardship Can Improve our Island Waters.”  This will also be Share the Plate Sunday, and ALT is our recipient for March and April. Your generosity will help guard your water supply!

Sunday, April 30: Finding Meaning in Everyday

Rev. Bill Zelazny

Searching for meaning is a primary motivation for each of us.  Feeling that our life has meaning is fundamental to the experience of being human. Philosophers, psychologists, and psychiatrists argued that meaning in life is a rare, profound experience, attainable through an active search, deep self-reflection, or some other arduous way of creating meaning in a seemingly meaningless world. But does it really require all of that?  Bill will explore the notion of creating meaning in our everyday life this Sunday by just living life. 

27 Feb

Posted at 14:59h in Upcoming Events

Sunday worship at 10:00am in the Sanctuary followed by Fellowship Coffee Hour in the Parish Hall

Services are also live streamed on the CHANNING YOU TUBE CHANNEL and available for viewing afterwards.

Sunday, March 5: Goals, Success and the Journey

Rev. Bill Zelazny

“Life is about the journey, not the destination.” is a quote, attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson, often used for self-help, mindfulness, and as a pick-me-up, especially if you’ve not accomplished a goal. The funny thing, though, is that we won’t truly understand the value of the journey until we’ve taken the journey, since usually your eye and mind are focused on a goal rather than the journey to get there.  Today, Bill will talk about the ideas of goal, success and journey and what these mean for fully living life.

Sunday, March 12: Security and Serenity

Rev. Bill Zelazny

Security is the feeling of being safe and in control. Serenity is to be calm, unruffled, unconflicted and peaceful.  They are not the same, though they may each enhance the quality of the other. Based on material presented by the Rev. Christine Robinson and Alicia Hawkins from the First Unitarian Church of Albuquerque in their book “Listening Hearts” and others, Bill will explore these concepts and what they might mean for our spiritual well-being.

The 2nd Sunday of the month is our nonperishable foods collection for local food banks.

Sunday, March 19: “What Not to Cook” Women’s Work Theater Collaborative

Rev. Bill Zelazny

It’s 1963.  It’s before Betty Friedan wrote the Feminine Mystique.  It’s after the end of WW2 – when women were forced out of their jobs and back into full time domestic duties.  It’s a dilemma for a lot of women.  They want more.  They don’t want to cook every day.  They don’t want to handle all the domestic responsibilities by themselves.  They don’t like the assumption that they should like it.  That they “should” be happy.  That they “have it all.”  We say “Hold on one minute there folks…we just may think AND DO otherwise.”

WomensWork is a Providence area creative collaborative working to promote theatrical opportunities for women of all ages, with a focus on women over 40.  Channing congregation member, Gayle Hanrahan, a member of the collaborative, has secured this production for our service Women’s History month service.

Special music at Channing on March 19th!

On Sunday, March 19, classical guitarist Victor Main returns to Channing and will be performing before and during the service.  Victor was a big hit at Channing last year and it is exciting to have him returning.  

Victor is an award-winning classical guitarist, composer, and educator.  He is president of The Rhode Island Guitar Guild which presents concerts and masterclasses of international soloists and ensembles in addition to leading educational outreach programs for aspiring musicians.

Victor began his guitar studies in high school at the age of 16 and quickly decided to pursue his passion for music at the conservatory level.  He received his Bachelor of Music degree in Guitar Performance from the Mannes College of Music and his Master of Music degree from University of Rhode Island.

The special music starts at 9:30am.  Be sure to attend!

 Sunday, March 26: A Celebration of Dedication and Wonderful Music

Rev. Bill Zelazny, Choir and Congregation Members

This Sunday will be our Music Director’s last regular Sunday with us.  Today, will celebrate Janet Grant’s remarkable 31 years tenure with Channing Memorial Church in word, song and music

Everyone is invited to attend a potluck reception in honor of Janet in the Parish Hall immediately after the service

31 Jan

Posted at 12:44h in Upcoming Events

Sunday worship at 10:00am in the Sanctuary followed by Fellowship Coffee Hour in the Parish Hall

Services are also live streamed on the CHANNING YOU TUBE CHANNEL and available for viewing afterwards.

Sunday, February 5: Trust-A Building Block of Life

Rev. Bill Zelazny

The Rev. Justin Schroeder once said, “We know that DNA is the building block for all life. But more than just DNA is needed to build and sustain a fruitful, healthy, and vibrant human life.  Trust — trust in ourselves, in other people, in institutions — is a foundation all building upon which we can build a life strong enough to carry us through heartbreak and setback.” This Sunday, Bill will explore the several aspects of trust and how each is part of the foundation of a good life.

Sunday, February 12: Being Loving Can Be Hard

Rev. Bill Zelazny

Pulitzer Prize winner poet, Franz Wright, wrote in his collection of poems Walking to Martha’s Vineyard, “How is it that I didn’t spend my whole life being happy, loving other human beings’ faces.”  His question reminds us of the human tendency to fall short of our highest aspirations, especially when it comes to love. Being loving can be hard, and we often fail to do it well.   On this Sunday before Valentine’s Day, we’ll take a stroll through the various scenes of love in our lives.

Fika Fellowship after church Feb. 12th! The Social Action Team would like to invite you for a Fika on Sunday, February 12th after church in the Parish Hall. What is a Fika? In the Swedish tradition, a Fika is a moment to take a break for a cup of coffee with a delicious baked good to go with it. More than just a coffee break, a Fika is a magical time to slow down and spend time together. We will be providing traditional Swedish baked goods and collecting donations for the UUA disaster relief fund, our February Share the Plate recipient.

Sunday, February 19: A Magnifying Glass on a Dangerous Idea-Christian Nationalism

Rev. Bill Zelazny

We have just finished a round of elections where the idea of Christian Nationalism was part of the political discussion.  Christian nationalism is the notion that America is a nation by and for Christians alone. It is a contributing ideology in the religious right’s misuse of religious liberty as a rationale for circumventing laws and regulations. It leads to discrimination, or calls to discriminate, and at times use violence, against religious minorities and the nonreligious.  It is a dangerous, non-democratic, political and social phenomenon.  This Sunday, Bill will talk about this concept and its implications for everyone, especially people who identify themselves as theologically liberal.

Sunday, February 26: Talking with Each Other

Members of CMC

The Worship Committee is working to create a service that we will do something that Channing people really like – provide an opportunity to talk with each other.  This Sunday we will hear about life events from congregation members that were significant to them or taught them a lesson or gave them new insight.  Come to the service to learn more about your friends and congregation neighbors.

AN INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE! Do you have an insight about life? A profound experience that got you thinking in a new way? A humorous episode that came just at the right time?  A very meaningful event in your life that you fondly, or not so fondly, recall today years later? Don’t be afraid to share your story with the congregation.    Contact Rev. Bill (minister@channing.org) or Judie Porter for more information and volunteer to be a speaker

 

30 Dec

Posted at 13:53h in Upcoming Events

Sunday worship at 10:00am in the Sanctuary followed by Fellowship Coffee Hour in the Parish Hall

Services are also live streamed on the CHANNING YOU TUBE CHANNEL and available for viewing afterwards.

 Sunday, January 1: Brunch and a Few New Year Thoughts

This Sunday we will celebrate the start of a New Year with a Channing Church New Year’s bunch at 10:00 in the Parish Hall.  Bring some food (do you have a New Year’s specialty?) to share. After we eat Rev. Bill will lead us in reflecting on a new year. We will also play a Resolution Game – come up with a resolution you think some world leader might make (serious, not so serious, outrageous)

Sunday, January 8: Music, Music, Music!

Cory Pesaturo

Guest presenter, Cory Pesaturo, is revolutionizing the accordion and accordion performance.  He holds world championships on acoustic, digital and jazz accordion.  In 2017 he became a Guinness world record holder when he played a 32 hour and 14-minute accordion concert.  Cory is a graduate of the New England Conservatory of music in Boston – one of only two accordion graduates.  This service will be a fun and inspiring way to start your new year! An amazing musician and speaker, you’ll want to see him play and hear his talk.  Music starts at 9:30am.

Sunday, January 15: Power, the Three-Part Brain and Personal Agency

Jeannette Bessinger

In my last year of theological study in social change at Starr King School for the Ministry (a UU seminary), my concepts about personal power have transformed. In this service we’ll explore models of power based on elemental archetypes we can actually draw on when we need to show up strong in challenging situations. And we’ll look at some ways we might work with the hardwired functions of our three-part brains to disengage the governors that can disempower us from the inside.

Sunday, January 22: Sixty Years After M. L. King

Rev. Bill Zelazny

Sixty years after Dr Martin Luther King campaigned for racial equality some things have changed, and some things are pretty much the same.  This country continues to struggle with race, but in ways different from what Dr. King was battling.  As our annual tribute to Dr King Rev. Bill will look at the race issues facing us in the 2020s.

Sunday, January 29: Facing Fears            

Rev. Bill Zelazny

Our fears serve a great purpose. The can prepare us to face a threat as adrenaline rushes through our body, so we can physically respond with speed and strength. But sometimes our fears are concerns made up by anxious minds.

UU Navy Chaplain notes that often religious paths can help us cope when we are afraid. Some can give us inner fortitude to charge ahead and some help us cope by cultivating the inner life so our the spirit is strengthened to face anything that happens in the material world.   Rev. Bill will help us look at how to face our various fears.