You Can’t Talk About THAT in Church!

Rev. Tony Lorenzen and Michele Alves share thoughts about making church a safe place to talk about love and sex. The Our Whole Lives (OWL) human sexuality curriculum is introduced and Michele and Rev. Tony talk about the benefits of using OWL in the congregation using vignettes from their professional experience working with individuals, families, […]

You Can’t Stop Christmas: A Christmas Eve Homily

Rev. Tony Lorenzen’s Christmas Eve homily explains why neither Nazis nor Grinches can stop Christmas from coming.

Working Class Community

“Working Class Community” – Rev. Tony Lorenzen reflects on how the shrinking presence and influence of unionized labor has affected American community life.

Wide Awake, Into the World

Rev. Josh Pawelek of Unitarian Universalist Society: East in Manchester, CT preaches shared missional ministry at the installation of Rev. Tony Lorenzen.  Rev. Pawelek encourages Hopedale Unitarian Parish and Rev. Tony to move beyond the walls of the church, take the “red pill,” wake up from the Matrix, and be a people on mission to […]

When Gratitude is Platitude

With Rev. Tony away this Sunday, UU Ministerial Candidate Sierra-Marie Gerfao reflects on how at this time of year gratitude often intertwines with both hope and lament, and we need to hold sacred space for one another.

Welcoming, Open, and Affirming

Rev. Tony Lorenzen and Hopedale Unitarian Parish welcome three guests from Speak Out who share their stories and experiences as people who identify as gay, bisexual, queer, genderqueer, and pansexual.

Welcoming the Stranger

Rev. Tony Lorenzen reflects on welcoming the stranger, the meaning of home and family, refugees, immigration and how radical welcoming requires treating new comers as family not as guests.

Walking the Dog

Rev. Tony Lorenzen reflects on what qualities make something a spiritual practice. Discipline, dedication,and depth are among the qualities that differentiate spiritual practices from other activities.

Ultimate Optimism

Rev. Tony Lorenzen reflects on the Adin Ballou, the Hopedale Community, and how religion and resilience are two resources for meaningful change that justify hope and foster optimism in both our individual lives and the life our congregation.

Turn the World Around

Rev. Tony Lorenzen and Dona Neely reflect on the global climate crisis and how what seem to be like small changes in our individual and group behavior can truly turn the world around for the better and help to heal our damaged planet.