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, […]
Wide Awake, Into the World
April 5, 2016 · by ·
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 […]
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When Gratitude is Platitude
December 6, 2015 · by ·
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.
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Welcoming the Stranger
April 10, 2016 · by ·
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.
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Turn the World Around
April 24, 2016 · by ·
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.
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Tough Love
February 28, 2016 · by ·
“Tough Love” Rev. Tony Lorenzen shares thoughts about how we handle situations where loving someone is difficult. Those who need love most sometimes seem to deserve it least. What we can do when someone is difficult to love?
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Through the Other’s Eyes
May 25, 2016 · by ·
Rev. Tony Lorenzen reflects on the grace or blessing we receive when we are open to seeing the world through another’s eyes and how privilege affects our ability and inability to hear and accept as valid the experience and perception of “the other.”
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The Stories We Tell Ourselves
March 13, 2016 · by ·
Rev. Tony Lorenzen reflects on why and how we hold on to past hurts by creating narratives of resentment and indignation, and how these “Grievance Stories” can prevent forgiveness and healing. He discusses how we hold on to cultural grievance stories and how this leads to dehumanization and discrimination.
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The MLK our Holiday Never Mentions
January 25, 2016 · by ·
Rev. Tony Lorenzen reflects on the life and work of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and how celebrations of his life and work frequently ignore or minimize his fight against poverty and the war in Viet Nam.
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The Grace Scale and Emergent Universalism
May 12, 2016 · by ·
Rev. Tony Lorenzen reflects on the “Grace Scale”, a sociological tool developed by the late Catholic priest and novelist Andrew Greeley that demonstrated strong positive correlations between people’s image of God and world view, cultural attitudes, and political preferences. Rev. Tony suggests Unitarian Universalism is helping to generate a more grace filled religious landscape and […]
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