Upcoming Events

03 Jan

Posted at 15:24h 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, March 2: The Edge of Doubt

Rev. Bill Zelazny

“There is always that edge of doubt. Trust it. That’s where the new things come from…” ~ “The Edge of Doubt” by Albert Huffstickler. 

I assume everyone at least once, or perhaps many times, in their life has stood on that edge, not sure what is going to happen next.  I’ve been asked many times in the past several months “Where are you going to be living?, “What are you going to be doing?”  “Are things working out the way you planned?”  My answers can be summarized in two words, “Not sure.”  Vague replies like is probably all that anyone can give when standing on the edge of doubt.  This Sunday, Bill will look at that all too common situation of living on the edge of doubt and what it may mean for us.

Sunday, March 9: Celebrating Women’s Impact in Our Religion

Rev. Bill Zelazny

March 8 was International Women’s Day.  International Women’s Day was officially marked for a first time by the United Nations in 1975, but it’s origins can be traced back in the United States to a demonstration in New York City in 1908, where 15,000 women demanded shorter hours, better pay and voting rights and in other countries where women demonstrated for equality,  peace and justice during the early to mid-decades of the 20th Century. Today, Bill will look at this international observance and the impact women have made on our Unitarian Universalist religion. 

We collect nonperishable foods for local pantries during the worship service the 2nd Sunday of each month.

Sunday, March 16: The Fake White Gospel

Rev. Bill Zelazny

This sermon’s title is taken from a book by the same name about the Christian White Nationalist philosophy.  Bill thinks CWN is an evil, twisted expression of both religion and patriotic loyalty. This Sunday we will explore what Christian White Nationalism is and how it is a false exclamation of both [Christian] faith and love of country.

Sunday, March 23: Positions and Directions

John Prevedini

In this talk, composer, educator, and public speaker John Dante Prevedini will discuss the challenge of making sense of historical figures with complex legacies. What positions did they take in life? What directions did they move their societies toward? And why does it matter which question we ask?”

John Dante Prevedini, DMA, MBA is a contemporary classical composer, educator, and public speaker based in New England and active around the world. Drawing upon a variety of fields of knowledge, his overall work aims to examine unconventional facets of everyday life through a multidisciplinary lens.

Sunday, March 30: It’s Not Just the Numbers, But It Is the Numbers

Rev. Bill Zelazny

Why are we, Channing Memorial Church, here?  As we prepare for a new era with a new minister perhaps, we should also think about why are we here and what that means for us going forward.  Rev. Bill will present some ideas based on an essay by his colleague, the Rev. James Ford, for consideration.

30 Nov

Posted at 15:19h 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 1: The Kingdom of Heaven in a Vineyard

Rev. Paul Sprecher

The parable of the Workers in the Vineyard challenges our ideas of what is fair in life and work in the world as we know it.  Jesus tells a story about a different kind of world where everyone gets enough for their needs — the Kingdom of Heaven, a Blessed Community.

 Rev. Paul Sprecher retired from his seven-year ministry at First Parish in Bridgewater in 2021. Since then, he has become a climate activist at Linden Ponds, his Senior Living Community in Hingham and in Hingham.  Previously, he was minister at Second Parish in Hingham.  He also served as the sabbatical minister at the Murray Church in Attleboro during the first three months of 2022.  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, December 8: To Pause, To Center Down

Rev. Bill Zelazny

In some Buddhist cultures, today, December 8th, is known as Bodhi Day, the day Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, experienced enlightenment. Bodhi Day is not observed with parades and festivities.  Rather, it is a day for reflection and meditation remembering that amid all the hustle and bustle of this season we should pause and reconnect with our inner wisdom. This Sunday Bill will explore Buddhism and this idea of connecting with joy and our inner wisdom.

 We collect nonperishable foods for local pantries during the worship service the 2nd Sunday of each month.

Sunday, December 15: The Hidden Message of Chanukah

Rev. Bill Zelazny

In a little over a week Jews around the world will observe Hanukkah (December 25, 2024, to January 2, 2025). This religious holiday annually celebrates the storied miracle of one day’s worth of holy oil for the temple menorah burning for seven days.  The festival has evolved into 8 days of family gatherings and present giving in many Jewish households. But there is a deeper meaning to Hanukkah than just celebrating this the burning oil, which Bill will ask us to consider that makes Hanukkah applicable to both Jew and Gentile.

 We will have special music for this service. Channing Church friend, Irene Glasser, has arranged for a Klezmer band to provide some Jewish music for the service.  Klezmer is an instrumental musical tradition coming from the Ashkenazi Jews of Central and Eastern Europe. The music included elements of the traditional dance tunes, mixed with ritual melodies. Come to this special musical performance.

 Sunday, December 22: The Gift of Offering Our Presence to Another

Rev. Bill Zelazny

Thick Nhat Hahn has said, ‘When you love someone, the best thing you can offer is your presence. How can you love them if you are not there”?   How can we mindfully embrace those we love? This Sunday Bill will ask us to think about Hahn”s comment and what it may mean for us.

Share the Plate

The 4th Sunday of the month is “Share the Plate Sunday” when all cash and checks with a memo “Share the Plate” or “STP” collected during the offering are donated to a nonprofit organization chosen by the Social Action Team and approved by the Board of Trustees. In November & December we will collect funds for bus transportation which will be donated to TAM, Housing hotline, McKinney Shelter and Lucy’s Hearth. 

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

Tuesday, December 24, 5:00pm, In the Sanctuary   

To Perceive a World Shot Through with Divine Presence

Rev. Bill Zelazny

Middle Ages mystic, Angela of Foligno, wrote , “The world is pregnant with God.”   Meaning the entire universe is filled with the potential for divine presence and new life. For his Christmas Eve homily, Rev. Zelazny will reflect on this thought as a Unitarian Universalist.   Join him for his Christmas message, the reading of the nativity story, congregation carol singing, candle lighting, musical anthems sung by an augmented  Channing Choir and the traditional singing of Silent Night in the darkened sanctuary.  The service starts 5:00 p.m. with a procession of the choir.

 Sunday, December 29th:  Holiday break – no Sunday service.  Spend the day relaxing with family and friends

31 Oct

Posted at 11:29h 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 3: Considering Civic Responsibility

Rev. Bill Zelazny

One of the things in which we UU believe is the use of the democratic process in our congregations and in the larger society.  In fact, that conviction was included in our former Statement of Principles and Purpose.  But, Bill asks what more is there to UU civic responsibility?  On this election eve he will help us think about civic responsibility from a UU perspective.  What might that mean for us as citizens holding on to a Unitarian Universalist religious perspective?  Is there a spiritual side to civic responsibility?

Our music guest this Sunday will be Jim Egan who, along with our Music Director, Jan Navarro, will bring us some songs, and maybe even a dance, that can perhaps counter the tensions we may be feeling as election day draws near. 

Sunday, November 10: Channeling Dr. Strangelove

Margaret Polski

Every once in a while, someone asks me how I can be a Unitarian and a war gamer. Yet Unitarian Universalist tradition has embraced advocates for the use of military power in international disputes, proponents of just war theory, pacifists, and those who hold a variety of positions in between. In this Veteran’s Day weekend service, I will answer those folks who wonder how I reconcile faith and war gaming.

Margaret Polski is a member of the Channing Board of Trustees, the Worship Committee, and a faculty member in the War Gaming Department at the U.S. Naval War College where she works with senior military leadership to understand and confront current and future U.S. national security threats.

 Sunday, November 17: Mending Personal Fences

Rev. Bill Zelazny

In the fall, farmers will use the days to mend fences around their property that have broken. In many religious traditions, fall is also seen as a time for mending emotional and spiritual fences with both the living and the dead.  With the upcoming holidays that are culturally focused on bringing people together about to begin, Bill thinks it may be a good time to reflect on mending and repairing relationships that have been broken or damaged. 

 Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR) is observed in the USA on November 20.  As we have done for the past several years, members and friends of Channing Church will lead us in a time of remembrance during service to honor transgender and nonbinary people who have been murdered in the United States due to anti-transgender violence. 

An expanded service of remembrance will be held at 11:30 in the Sanctuary lead by members of Channing Church and will include a performance by Quorus and a reading of the names of individuals who were murdered around the world by transgender violence.

Sunday, November 24: Thankfulness In Spite of it All

Rev. Bill Zelazny

The national and international news is depressing.  Our national conversations seem to be more full of anger and hatred than in the past, coming out of overheated political posturing and commentary. And, of course, many of us have had difficult things happen in our lives this past year. But, as difficult as it may be, the Rev. Janet Parsons from the Gloucester UU Church reminds us in an essay that we cannot wait until all is well to say “thank you.”  Come to think of it, choosing to say “thank you” may be considered an act of defiance.  Let’s think about this with Bill on this Sunday before Thanksgiving. 

 Share the Plate: The 4th Sunday of the month is “Share the Plate Sunday” when all cash and checks with a memo “Share the Plate” or “STP” collected during the offering are donated to a nonprofit organization chosen by the Social Action Team and approved by the Board of Trustees. In November & December we will collect funds for bus transportation which will be donated to TAM, Housing hotline, McKinney Shelter and Lucy’s Hearth. 

03 Oct

Posted at 11:45h 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 6: Grappling with our Biases

Sandra Laub

Sandra Laub is an American Jew with family in Israel. She describes herself as being an active supporter of Israel, while also being very critical of Netenyahu’s far right government and their policies. She hears the two opposing views, two ‘truths’, two peoples’ versions of the Arab and Jewish eons-long ongoing tragedy.   She says that she grapples with her opposing ideas and biases regarding the Israel/Palestine conflict. She asks through her talk, how can we deal with our biases in this, or any situation, to try to understand what is true and not true.

Sandra Laub is a retired teacher, actor and award-wining playwright from Rhode Island whose play Picking Up Stones: An American Jew Wakes to a Nightmare, will be performed at Channing Church on October 5. More information in the October Catalyst 

Sunday, October 13: An Invitation to a New Day

Rev. Bill Zelazny

The Jewish High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur invite the Jewish people to step into a new day – a fresh start — for their life.  During the ten Days of Awe between these two holy observances, Jews are to reflects on the past year and their actions and set goals for the coming year. In this sermon Bill will invite us, non-Jewish and Jewish, to think about making a new day for ourselves – be it during the High Holy Days, or on January 1, or tomorrow morning.

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

Sunday, October 20: Democracy, Anxiety, and Keeping the Faith        

Rev. DL Helfer

Unitarian Universalists have long been defenders of the rights of democracy. Today we explore how that came to be, what it means now, and how we live our values in an ever-changing world.

Rev DL Helfer is non-binary, and in general avoids boxes which traps them into “this” or “that.” Instead, they search for possibility, for deeper truths, and share those glimmers of possibility with others. Rev. DL is also a licensed social worker, currently working with transgender and gender diverse children and youth. Rev. DL hails from Southern California but now calls Providence, RI home. They share that home with their beloved partner and two overzealous cats.

 Sunday, October 27: The Spirit(ual) in Halloween

Rev. Bill Zelazny

Halloween is portrayed as a celebration of ghosts, goblins, and all sorts of other things that go bump in the night.  And that is true.  But, at its core there is a spiritual heart to Halloween that taps into our deep longing to understand the mysteries of life and the interdependent web of all existence, seen and unseen, of which we are apart.  On this Sunday before Halloween and All Souls day, Bill will explore the underlying essence of Halloween.

We have arranged for a special performance during the service of the Rhode Island Witches Dance Group to add some festivity and a bit of Halloween drama to our service.  Everyone is invited to wear some type of costume – a hat, a cape, a Halloween blouse this Sunday, whatever. To join in the celebration of this spooky, mystical festival. 

29 Aug

Posted at 14:59h 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 1st, Enjoy a Labor Day Weekend outing or picnic.

Sunday, September 8: Process of Becoming

Rev. Bill Zelazny

Author Anaïs Nin said in one of her essays that “Life is a process of becoming, a combination of states we have to go through. Where people fail is that they wish to elect a state and remain in it. This is a kind of death.” The city of Newport, Channing Memorial Church, this congregation and each of us have gone through many changes over the years, and this year will be no different for each of us and for this church.  It’s important for us and this church to not get caught up in stagnation.  On this opening Sunday, Bill will reflect on the process of change that involves casting a critical look at where we are presently as an individual and as an institution and where a new beginning might be ripening.  

Coming Back Ceremony:  Everyone is encouraged to bring a small vile of water or a flower, pebble, or leaf from their home which we will bring to a ceremonial table during the service representing combining our home and our church lives.

Music: Jan and Bill have arranged for festive Caribbean steel drum music for our opening service.  Put on a Caribbean or Hawaiian shirt or blouse to add to the fun of our return to regular church services.  Note: if your hearing is sensitive to exuberant music, you may want to bring ear plugs. 

The Annual In-gathering Potluck lunch:  After the service, come together for our annual Welcome Back Potluck Luncheon.  This year it will be held in and outside the Parish Hall. Bring some food to share.

Sunday, September 15: A Wider Welcome           

Rev. Bill Zelazny

When we speak of hospitality in our church we are really addressing issues of inclusion and exclusion.  Hospitality has an inescapable moral dimension to it.  It’s the community’s job to figure out how we can stretch our welcoming and ourselves into the margins to broaden our ability to be inclusive. Inclusivity is not ‘How do we make you a part of what we are?’ but ‘How can we expand ourselves, sometimes into new territory to become more of what the people we wish to welcome are.

 Sunday, September 22: Gardening in your Small Patch Makes all the Difference    

Rev. Bill Zelazny

Volunteer service is a spiritual practice. By engaging in acts of service or justice work individuals have the opportunity to embody their faith in practical ways. This Sunday, Bill will help us consider how working in our small corner of the world can make a difference in the bigger world. 

 Following the service, we will hold our annual community and volunteer fair.  Get a beverage and explore the many opportunities available to everyone to make a difference in the community and at Channing Church.

Sunday, September 29: Looking at the Forgotten Side of UUism        

Rev. Bill Zelazny

Many Unitarian Universalists congregations observe special cultural and religious day like Christmas, Passover, Pagan Winter Solstice, and Martin Luther King Day among others. We Unitarian Universalist have our own special day in September – Universalism Day.  On September 30, 1770, John Murry, a British Universalist minister who had been expelled from England for preaching a Universalist message, gave his first Universalist sermon in the United States.  This Sunday Bill will look at the Universalist side, the often-forgotten side, of our religion. 

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30 May

Posted at 13:30h 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, June 2:  A Theological Look at the Proposed New Article II: Values Underpinning Action

Rev. Bill Zelazny

Later this month delegates to the UUA General Assembly will vote on making a significant change in the wording and emphasis of our Bylaws Article II, Purposes and Principles.  Last year, just before the first vote on the proposed new bylaw wording, Bill gave an overview of the proposed new article and how the seven principles are incorporated into the value statement. This sermon is a digging deeper into the theology underlying the values that give a foundation to the action we affirm and promote – inherent worth and dignity, justice for all, acceptance of one another, encouragement of spiritual growth, responsible search for truth, recognizing the interdependent web of existence – and the underlying theology of each statement.

Web link to the final wording of the proposed Article II and other information: https://www.uua.org/uuagovernance/committees/article-ii-study-commission/final-proposed-revision-article-ii

Sunday, June 9: Living a Rhythm of Life

Rev. Bill Zelazny

 “Rhythm of Life” is a modern take on early monastic communities’ “rules of life” which helped them live out their values. These communities had a structure or rhythm for their lives that helped them find a wholeness..  This rhythm was a framework of practices, experiences, relationships, and patterns that keep them growing on a healthy trajectory. It gave them an emotional tingle so to speak. Bill will explore this notion of having a rhythm to one’s life for emotional and spiritual growth.  regardless of age.

Helping Bill present this idea of having a rhythm or rule for living will be our choir, expanded with several guest singers and a special guest performer.

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

Sunday, June 16: Timeless and Universally Applicable Principles of Fathering

Rev. Bill Zelazny

In May Bill gave a sermon presenting the idea that there are principles of mothering that are applicable to everyone, regardless of role, gender, or age.  This Sunday Bill will talk about the fathering principles that he considers to be applicable to everyone.

Sunday, June 23: TLC Program

This will be the last Sunday event in the church year.  It will begin at 10:00 with a light breakfast followed by a presentation. See the article about the June TLC program on page 7 in the June Catalyst

29 Apr

Posted at 15:54h 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, May 5: Live into a New Way of Thinking

Rev. Bill Zelazny, Ginny Spaulding, and Tim Phelps

All people and organizations are constantly going through change. Sometimes they are small adjustments and sometimes major transitions.  Channing Church will be going into a time of change in the next year. Bill thinks this quote from Father Richard Rohr, the founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation — “We don’t think ourselves into new ways of living. We live ourselves into new ways of thinking.” — is perhaps a good perspective for grounding us during this important time in our history. Bill, Congregation President, Ginny Spauling and Board member, Tim Phelps, will talk about the upcoming changes and the process we will go through living into this change. 

Sunday, May 12: Mothering  Principles for Everyone to Live

Rev. Bill Zelazny

A man who has not raised children looks at Mother’s Day and sees there are many principles of mothering that can apply to everyone’s life.  On this Mother’s Day Bill will explore these universal “mothering” principles.  

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

Sunday, May 19: Words Matter: Watch Your Mouth      

Rev. Dianne Daniels 

When I initially entertained the concept of becoming a minister, I knew that my own use of words would be important – it could mean the difference between a person finding a soothing balm for their spirit, being “called out” on a challenging subject, or turning away from a spiritual walk that could help to free them from their pain and suffering.

Words do indeed Matter – to a person’s self-esteem and self-confidence, to a person’s livelihood, to the status of an important relationship. Whether they are words we say to ourselves (often the toughest) or words we say to others (often “throwaway words” hurt others the most), Words Matter.

Rev. Daniels has found refuge and inspiration in Unitarian Universalism for more than 20 years and is a 2022 graduate of Starr King School for the Ministry. Rev. Daniels provides guest preaching services to UU churches in the region.

Sunday, May 26: Finding Zen

Presented by Jeff Thomas

Zen is simply everyday life lived with awareness. It is a practical and spiritual method of living that can bring simplicity, balance of nature, and clarity into our daily lives. This Sunday, Jeff will share what he has learned about Zen philosophy & practices. Additionally, Jeff will talk about how Zen can provide guidance

in working through strong emotions, such as fear or anger, to reach a sense of tranquility.

Several years ago, Jeff Thomas became a member of Channing Memorial Church. He was attracted to the principles of Unitarian Universalism and the compassionate and caring spirit that the U.U. community fosters. While at Channing, Jeff has given a guest video presentation on “Cosmic Spirituality” and a slide show on the climate crisis. He graduated from Southern New Hampshire University with a bachelor’s degree in communications and moderates an internet-based talk show where panelists engage in thoughtful discussion on a variety of topics.

01 Apr

Posted at 10:13h 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, April 7: Remembering Our Interdependence

Rev. Bill Zelazny 

Thich Nhat Hanh once said, “If you are a poet, you will see clearly that there is a cloud floating in this sheet of paper. Without a cloud, there will be no rain; without rain, the trees cannot grow; and without trees, we cannot make paper. The cloud is essential for the paper to exist. If the cloud is not here, the sheet of paper cannot be here either. So we can say that the cloud and the paper “inter-are. ” Interdependence is not a mere theory or interesting philosophy. It impacts our lives directly every single day. By deepening our awareness of interconnectedness, we can create a far more harmonious and healthy society and live far more satisfying lives.  Today Bill will explore the concept of our interconnectedness.

Sunday, April 14: The Anatomy of Prestige: Guest Presenter: John Prevedini                                        

In his presentation, composer, educator, and public speaker John Dante Prevedini will discuss the complex phenomenon of prestige from the perspective of three questions. Where does prestige come from? What are the positives and negatives of prestige in the world? And what can we do to help reshape the prestige landscape for the better?”

John Dante Prevedini, DMA, MBA is a contemporary classical composer, educator, and public speaker based in New England and active around the world. Drawing upon a variety of fields of knowledge, his overall work aims to examine unconventional facets of everyday life through a multidisciplinary lens.

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

Sunday, April 21: Earth Day: Caring for Our Land, Caring for Our Earth

Presented by Cris Offenberg

“Caring for our Land, Caring for our Earth” is the theme for this year’s Earth Day service. We will welcome Aquidneck Community Table (ACT) Board member and Master Gardener Cris Offenberg to the pulpit. The service will celebrate ways ACT is working to build a healthy food system for our island while demonstrating respect for the land. ACT is also our Share the Plate recipient for March and April.

Our Guest Speajer, Cris Offenberg, is a long-time board member of Aquidneck Community Table (ACT.) Cris is a seasoned Master gardener and a practicing attorney at Silva, Martland and Offenberg in Middletown.

Sunday, April 28: Who Inspires You?

Margaret Polski & Peter Freeman

The word “inspiration” comes from the Latin word “inspiratus,” which means “breathe into.” While this word has a theological basis that refers to the influence of a divine entity on a person, for UUs, it refers to being stimulated or moved to do or feel something. Peter Freeman and Margaret Polski will lead a conversation about inspiration and some of the people who inspire.

29 Feb

Posted at 13:27h 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, March 3: 20 Questions (Sort of)

Rev. Bill Zelazny  

We’ve not done an “ask the minister” service in a long time so this Sunday we will engage in our version of the 19th century game of 20 questions.  Congregation members will be invited to ask Rev. Bill any questions they wish about Unitarian Universalism, religion, faith, facing life issues, etc. and he will endeavor to answer it.

Sunday, March 10: Issues Facing Modern Women

Guest Presenter: Ms. Erica Baker

If you read women’s history you will regularly see that they had to face many challenges from health issues to discrimination. Women in today’s society may not have exactly the same trials, but women still face many challenges.  This Sunday Ms. Baker, the Newport Women’s Resource Center clinical manager, will discuss issues modern women face.   Other NWRC will be available for conversation during Fellowship time.

The 2nd Sunday of the month is our nonperishable foods collection for local food banks. This month we are collecting foods high in protein like tuna, peanut butter, canned and dried legumes, canned chicken breast, and beef jerkey. 

Anne Hutchinson: The Woman who co-founded Rhode Island and told the Boston Puritans they were going to Hell

Presented by Tim Phelps

In 17th Century Boston, a woman dared to challenge the ruling theocracy by preaching first to women, then to an increasingly large mixed audience, that the Puritans were mistaken in their theology. Expelled from the colony in the midst of a snowstorm, she walked while 8 months pregnant to Providence and then by boat to Portsmouth, before being massacred by Native Americans she had tried to befriend.

Sunday, March 24: Facing the Dragon’s Lair

Rev. Bill Zelazny                  

This Sunday in the Christian tradition, a week before Easter, is called Palm Sunday with the story that Jesus entered Jerusalem in celebration, though he supposedly knew very bad things were going to happen to him in a matter of days.  This kind of situation is not confined to Jesus.  Most of us have had to do something, even though we know there most likely was going to be great problems ahead – the “dragon’s lair.”  Bill will talk about how we deal with facing the dragon’s lair when that is our fate. 

Sunday, March 31: Allowing Transformation

Bill Zelazny                           

Author, Cynthia Occelli has written: “For a seed to achieve its greatest expression, it must come completely undone. The shell cracks, its insides come out and everything changes. To someone who doesn’t understand growth, it would look like complete destruction.” On this Easter Sunday, Bill’s sermon will look at how we must allow for transformation of all types in our lives if we are to live a full and complete life.

30 Jan

Posted at 12:29h 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, February 4: Giving

Presented by Margaret Polski

Giving can be defined as giving from the heart without any expectation of something in return. But giving is an art that encompasses and uses all parts of ourselves including our head, our heart and hands to make a positive difference in our world. What are the ways we give to each other in our congregation and what does giving mean to us?

Sunday, February 11: Power and Rightness of Self Love

Rev. Bill Zelazny  

When people talk about Valentine’s Day our minds go to the love between people.  But the love celebrated on Valentine’s Day can also be the love of oneself.  American author, Parker Palmer, has said “Self-care (and self-love) is never a selfish act. . . Anytime we can listen to our true self and give it the care it requires, we do so not only for ourselves, but for the many others whose lives we touch.”  On this Sunday before Valentine’s Day Bill will help us explore the idea of the power of self-love.  

The 2nd Sunday of the month we collect nonperishable foods for local pantries. 

Sunday, February 18: Love and Music

Jan Navarro, Bill Zelazny  & Guests

Music and love have always shared a powerful connection.  Music can illustrate emotions and connect us with past, present and future like few other   things.  Composers, throughout the ages, have used music to express feelings of love, sorrow, joy and distress.  This Sunday we will explore the dimensions of love through music and poetry.  

Sunday, February 25: Cancel Culture:  A Useful or a Toxic Tool?

Rev. Bill Zelazny  

The term “cancel culture” is thrown around by politicians and influencers. Initially used within Black culture it soon spread to the general society.  But what is cancel culture?  Is it a negative, personal attack used to destroy a person, business or institution, or it is a tool in democracy to hold people and institutions accountable?  This service will look at this cultural phenomenon to help us understand its origin, use and impact.