People's Church of Kalamazoo
187 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 6 years ago - ★★★★★ - 4 ratingsPeople's Church is a welcoming religious community drawing on wisdom and inspiration from many sources to discover and live out our highest values. It is a Unitarian Universalist congregation in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
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Episodes
The Power of Story - Rev. Rachel Lonberg - November 15, 2015
November 16, 2015 19:00 - 12.3 MBThe stories we tell shape our understanding of our lives, our institutions, and our country. Why do we tell the stories we tell and how might we harness the power of our stories to create a more promising future? Rev. Rachel is addressing this topic at the request of the winner bidder at last spring’s service auction.
The Empty Church - Rev. Rachel Lonberg - November 8, 2015
November 09, 2015 17:00 - 11.1 MBIn 1760, a New Jersey farmer named Thomas Potter built a small church on his property with a dream of someday gathering a Universalist congregation there. What happens next—heartbreak, a ship run aground, and unlikely coincidences—has been called a Unitarian Universalist miracle story. Rev. Rachel will tell this story and reflect on the wisdom it might hold for us today.
Waiting for the Big One - Rev. Jill McAllister - November 1, 2015
November 02, 2015 18:00 - 13.8 MBImmigration crises, systemic racism and police brutality, impending financial crisis—again, oh—don’t forget climate change…what else can happen? On the west coast of the USA, we’re now adding “The Big Earthquake” to our shortlist. How do we live in these times, without being in despair or in denial? Can our religious lives hold us steady?
The End of Religion Is a Beginning - Dr. Brent Smith - October 25, 2015
October 26, 2015 18:00 - 18.8 MBThe end of religion has been heralded across time and culture since the 1600s, and now, in the academic study of religion, it can be heard again. But, this declaration is different and the meanings it has for spiritual communities and traditions of spiritual expression are critical to understand in the 21st century.
The Answer Is to Question - Rev. Rachel Lonberg - October 18, 2015
October 19, 2015 17:00 - 19.2 MBAll People’s Church members and friends are invited to submit questions to Rev. Rachel, who will answer as many as she can during the time in the service usually set aside for the sermon. Bring questions about theology and belief, ethical dilemmas, Unitarian Universalism, or anything else you want to hear her talk about.
Other People's Children - Rev. Rachel Lonberg - October 11, 2015
October 12, 2015 17:00 - 12.4 MBOn the morning when we hold a child dedication ritual and make promises to the children being raised in our congregation, Rev. Rachel will explore our obligations to the children within our church community and the children in the wider community and wider world.
Why Me? - Rev. Rachel Lonberg - October 4, 2015
October 05, 2015 17:00 - 11.2 MBWhy do bad things happen to good people, particularly us? Why is the universe so profoundly unfair sometimes? How might we make sense of this? Rev. Rachel will delve into how the world's wisdom traditions answer these questions, offer her best answers, and explore how we might support one another in our questioning.
Angels Unaware - Rev. Rachel Lonberg - September 27, 2015
September 28, 2015 17:00 - 12.1 MBThis week, our Muslim friends and neighbors celebrated Eid al-Adha, the feast of sacrifice. Years ago, Rev. Rachel was in Aleppo, Syria for this holiday. As a hungry traveler with very limited language skills she had a deeply moving experience of hospitality. She will tell this story and reflect on how we might engage the spiritual practice of hospitality in our lives and in our congregation.
To Convert Life into Truth - Rev. Rachel Lonberg - September 20, 2015
September 21, 2015 17:00 - 11.9 MBIn 1838, Ralph Waldo Emerson spoke to the graduating class of Harvard Divinity School, challenging the Unitarians of his day to ‘acquaint men at firsthand with Diety,’ to make experience their primary religious teacher. Now, 177 years later, Rev. Rachel will return to this Divinity School Address and explore what challenge it might hold for contemporary Unitarian Universalists.
Joining of Waters; Joining Together - Rev. Rachel Lonberg - September 13, 2015
September 14, 2015 17:00 - 5.4 MBWe’ll kick-off the church year with our annual Homecoming service. We will gather from the four directions, return to the People’s Church community, and begin the year with our new settled minister. All are invited to bring water from a special place, whether a far off land or right here in Kalamazoo. We’ll join our waters together in a common bowl, as we all join together to form this church community.
Promises, Promises: Lord Moulton's Middle Domain - Rev. Dave Johnson - March 8, 2015
March 09, 2015 17:00 - 12.9 MBAll human actions (noted the English judge Lord John Fletcher Moulton) fall within three domains. One is the domain of laws, requiring compliance. At the other extreme is the domain of free choice. In between, Lord Moulton identified a domain which he called “obedience to the unenforceable.” This is the domain constituted by agreements, promises, understandings, civility, and respect. In short: Right Relations. This domain is sometimes problematical for Unitarian Universalists. However, our ...
What's Your Passion? Pay It Forward - Rev. Dave Johnson - March 1, 2015
March 02, 2015 17:00 - 12.4 MBEnergy takes on many forms. Money is one form of potential energy wherein we transform our principles and values into meaningful actions. As we launch our stewardship campaign for the 2015-2016 church year, we have the opportunity to “pay forward” the values entrusted to us by our predecessors at People’s Church. Generous stewardship will strengthen the work of our Ministerial Search Committee as they seek the best ministerial candidate to serve our church in the years ahead.
Season of Forgiveness - Thom Andrews - February 22, 2015
February 23, 2015 17:00 - 12.5 MBThis service will explore forgiveness within the context of our busy and varied lives. We’ll look at practices that help us find and cultivate the space where raw experience is welcomed and forgiveness takes root.
Are You Fit to Be Tied? Turning Up the Gain, and the Heartbreak - Rev. Dave Johnson - February 15, 2015
February 16, 2015 17:00 - 12.6 MBThe Sufi poet Jelal-ad-din Rumi asked: “Are you fleeing from Love because of a single humiliation? What do you know of love except the name? Love has a hundred forms of pride and disdain, and is gained by a hundred means of persuasion. Since love is loyal, it purchases one who is loyal; it has no interest in a disloyal companion.” We’ll explore some of the enchanting and intriguing landscapes of love, and the “habits of the heart”.
How Then Shall We Live? A Process-Relational Vision - Rev. Dave Johnson - February 8, 2015
February 09, 2015 17:00 - 11.9 MBBuckminster Fuller wrote: “I am not a thing—a noun. I seem to be a verb, an evolutionary process, an integral function of the universe.” Fuller’s perspective contrasts with the “substantialist” (Newtonian) world-view consisting of solid objects in motion. Traditional religions have also attributed a “mis-placed concreteness” to their theological world-views. We will consider a “theology for our secular age” (Process / Relational theology) and its implications for us as Unitarian Universalist...
Can't I Breathe? - Rev. Dr. Jo Ann Mundy and Dr. Jim Croteau - January 18, 2015
January 19, 2015 17:00 - 17.5 MBA recent study indicated that in 2012 a black person was killed every 28 hours by police, security guards, and self-appointed vigilantes. What is going on in this country? Join the Reverend Dr. Jo Ann Mundy, Co-Executive Director of ERACCE and Pastor of On Common Ground: a community church in Three Rivers, along with Dr. Jim Croteau, Professor of Counseling Psychology at WMU in considering why this is and what can be done.
Candide's Dilemma: Beyond Good and Evil - Rev. Dave Johnson - November 2, 2014
November 03, 2014 17:00 - 21.6 MBVoltaire’s brilliant satire “Candide” emerged during the Age of Enlightenment, in the aftermath of a catastrophic earthquake and tsunami which destroyed Lisbon on the morning of November 1, 1755. The mass hysteria led to a re-instatement of the Inquisition, during which thousands were hanged or burned alive to find who had been spreading “earthquake germs”. “Candide” was Voltaire’s satirical response to the hysteria. His book was burned in Geneva, banned in Paris, and put on the Vatican i...
The Importance of Visibility for LGBT Equality - Jay Maddock - October 26, 2014
October 27, 2014 17:00 - 13.9 MBOur guest speaker Jay Maddock, Executive Director of the Kalamazoo Gay and Lesbian Resource Center (KGLRC), will explain the need for LGBT visibility within the larger community in order to secure equal rights and protections for LGBT citizens. He will emphasize the important roles that allies hold and talk about bullying and recent crimes and discrimination against LGBT persons including the very recently proposed amendment to the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to exclude protections for ...
Being Calm and Courageous, No Matter What - Rev. Dave Johnson - October 19, 2014
October 20, 2014 17:00 - 11.5 MB“It is very hard to be who we are,” wrote Norman Lear, “because it doesn’t seem to be what anyone wants.” A sermon on the politics of self — and the obstacles, resentments, and sabotage that inevitably will arise whenever one defines oneself clearly and responsibly.
Anxiety: The Price of Freedom - Rev. Dave Johnson - October 12, 2014
October 13, 2014 17:00 - 13.5 MBIn this first of several sermons on Family Systems, we’ll consider anxiety — the price that we must pay for human freedom. Biologist Lewis Thomas observes that humanity has “always been a specifically anxious creature with an almost untapped capacity for worry; it a gift that distinguishes us from other forms of life.” Is there a way out — or at least a way to navigate wisely through the turbulence?
Forgiveness: A Door Set Open - Rev. Dave Johnson - October 5, 2014
October 06, 2014 15:48 - 13.8 MBA new year begins – marked by the Jewish holidays Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. It’s an opportunity to let go burdens / resentments, and to begin anew. What might unfold in the year ahead? G.K. Chesterton writes: “Good News: but if you ask me what it is, I know not; It is a track of feet in the snow, It is a lantern showing a path, It is a door set open.” How might we welcome and creatively engage the doorways that will open to us?
Us Versus Them - Cybelle Shattuck - September 28, 2014
September 28, 2014 18:00 - 13.5 MBIn the daily news and the impending election, the language of “us versus them” is all around us. Aside from turning off the TV (highly recommended), can we turn this annoying verbal barrage to good account by using it to inspire us to be mindful about the ways we speak and think about ourselves and others? What are the perils and benefits of us/them categorizations? When do “they” become “we”? We’ll reflect on themes of Us versus Them in relation to personal identity, world religions, and co...
Strange Happenings in the Woods - Rev. Dave Johnson - September 21, 2014
September 22, 2014 18:32 - 14.6 MB“Never talk to strangers.” Thus reads the moral of “Little Red Riding Hood” and other children’s stories. Is this a moral lesson that you would wish to pass along to your children and grandchildren? In the years since the horrific traumas of 09/11, what have we learned about being genuinely open to strangers — including those with whom we may profoundly disagree? The politicized rhetoric is already intensifying as Election Day 2014 approaches. Stephen Sondheim’s “Into the Woods” will b...
Land of Oz, Revisited - Rev. Dave Johnson - September 14, 2014
September 15, 2014 17:00 - 11.7 MBA century ago, L. Frank Baum wrote of Dorothy’s journey from her flat-land Kansas home to the enchanting Land of Oz. While there she and her dog Toto encounter an intriguing cast of characters – including witches, a tin man and scarecrow, and the mighty Wizard who, upon closer examination, proves to be a humbug. What does this myth of journeying, and the longing for home, suggest about our own journeys: personally, and in those relationships that matter most?
Why We Travel: Notes from the Open Road - Rev. Dave Johnson, Diane Melvin - September 7, 2014
September 08, 2014 20:49 - 7.12 MBHomecoming / In-Gathering: Water Ceremony. Inter-Generational Service All are invited to bring water samples from places of special significance, and to contribute your waters to our common bowl, symbolizing the converging of the streams of our lives into this remarkable community at People’s Church. During the service the Ministerial Search Committee will be introduced, and we will read together a portion of the Search Committee Charter which the Committee developed during their start-u...
Memorial Day Service - Rev. Pam Allen-Thompson - May 25, 2014
May 26, 2014 17:00 - 7.22 MBIt has been a custom at People’s Church to engage in a ritual to remember those among us who have died in the past year. In addition, Bob Friedel will reflect on his Vietnam days and Reverend Pam will bring a homily and her farewell to People’s Church. You’ll especially enjoy the music.
Congregational Convocation - Rev. Pam Allen-Thompson - May 4, 2014
May 19, 2014 17:00 - 18.8 MBPlease join us for this unique service, blending our beloved rituals of inspirational words and music with the annual gathering of our congregation to conduct the business of the Church. We will celebrate the vitality of People’s Church and—in keeping with our democratic, free-faith tradition—cast votes and make decisions for our dynamic future. We combine the service and annual meeting this year so that all may participate in the celebration luncheon hosted by the Combined Campaign Committ...
Inequality and Us - Allen Webb - May 4, 2014
May 06, 2014 17:00 - 13 MBThe first two principles of the UU Association are affirming and promoting, “The inherent dignity and worth of every person” and “Justice, equity and compassion in human relations.” Allen Webb will use these as themes in talking about his connections with Guatemala (a food exporting country where half of the children are malnourished) and other very poor countries, and how these connections have influenced his view on his responsibility as a teacher and as a world citizen.
Stewardship of the Earth - Rev. Pam Allen-Thompson - April 27, 2014
April 28, 2014 17:00 - 8.48 MBFaith statement from Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth: Our UU faith compels us to promote policies that build sustainable and just responses to the effects of climate change. We honor the sacredness of all of creation, recognizing our place within—not separate from— the web of life. Come join us for a call to renewed commitment to Mother Earth and Father Time. During this service, we’ll pledge our commitment to the Annual Operating Fund and the Keep Feeding Our Flame capital camp...
We Are All Connected - Diane Melvin & Religious Education Program - April 20, 2014
April 21, 2014 17:00 - 30 MBPlease join us for our annual Earth Day Intergenerational service designed to engage all ages of wisdom seekers. This service is based on a story entitled, “A Little Jar Labeled Freedom.” You are invited to journey with us into the “Creator’s Workshop” as we explore how humans are living on the earth with “free choice.” Enjoy beautiful music and sharing while receiving inspiration for your spirit.
With Sandals and a Slingshot - The Rev. Fran Dew - April 13, 2014
April 14, 2014 17:00 - 8.55 MBGreat Friend of Man, Lamb of God, Carpenter's Son, Man of Sorrows—there are many images of Jesus. During a trip to Egypt, Rev. Fran began to reflect on the different place Jesus occupies in Muslim scripture and thought. This morning, she wants to introduce you to a remarkable Muslim. The Reverend Fran Dew began her UU life as a member of People's Church of Kalamazoo in the 1960s, in the "old" church downtown. She is a retired Accredited Interim Minister. During her ministry she served congr...
The Legacy of Our Religious Educators - Marj Lightner, Deb Wickman, and Diane Melvin - April 6, 2014
April 07, 2014 17:00 - 19.4 MBOur children’s Religious Education program, led by Diane Melvin, is seen by many here as one of our most successful and meaningful accomplishments. A very large number of teachers, parents, and assistants contribute to this dynamic endeavor. This Sunday we will hear from two of the directors of religious education who laid the groundwork for this thriving accomplishment—Deb Wickman and Marj Lightner.
Our Coming of Age Youth - Diane Melvin and Our Coming of Age Youth - March 30, 2014
March 31, 2014 17:00 - 21.2 MBAt this intergenerational service, our 9th graders will read their belief statements.
Visioning and Supporting Our Future - The Rev. Pam Allen-Thompson, Allan Hunt, Jeff Susor, and Deb Wickman - March 23, 2014
March 24, 2014 17:00 - 14.9 MBAt this service we will hear different perspectives on the great work People's Church has recently done, and why it's important to keep going in support of our future.
Negotiating the Playground of Shared Ministry - The Rev. Pam Allen-Thompson - March 16, 2014
March 17, 2014 17:00 - 10.6 MBThis service is about trying to balance both work and fun in shared ministry.
The Cost of Free Religion - The Rev. Pam Allen-Thompson - March 9, 2014
March 10, 2014 17:00 - 7.95 MBMany in our UU history have made sacrifices to preserve their religious ideals. What is the cost of free religion today?
Engaging Our Humanity - Lillie Wolff - March 2, 2014
March 03, 2014 17:00 - 12.3 MBLillie Wolff has been actively involved with ERAC/Ce (Eliminating Racism and Claiming/Celebrating Equality) since 2011 and began serving as a Co-Executive Director in 2014. She is currently apprenticing to become a core trainer with ERAC/Ce’s national partner organization, Crossroads Antiracism Organizing and Training. Lillie is bilingual in English and Spanish and prior to working for ERAC/Ce spent seven years organizing around farmworker and immigrant rights. She is passionate about the in...
Important Lessons Learned - The People's Church Transition Team - February 23, 2014
February 24, 2014 17:00 - 9.69 MBThe second in a two-Sunday series about our church history, this service will focus on the ministries and lessons learned from the Loehr ministry, the Campbell interim ministry, and the McAllister ministry. Voices from these periods will share perspective and insights that can inform and provide wisdom as we move into the next phase of our church life.
Claiming and Honoring Our Past - The Reverend Dr. Pam Allen-Thompson with Dave Curl and Marj Lightner- February 16, 2014
February 21, 2014 15:56 - 9.23 MBLongtime church members will talk about People's Church's history, and share some of their thoughts and experiences with the congregation.
The Courage to Lead--Black Women and Civil Rights - The Reverend Dr. Pam Allen-Thompson - February 9, 2014
February 14, 2014 17:05 - 11.3 MBThe struggle is not over. What can we draw from the vision and power of trailblazers to protect civil rights today?
The Unexpected Gifts of Change - The Reverend Dr. Pam Allen-Thompson - January 26, 2014
February 07, 2014 16:51 - 7.75 MBOften we do not choose change or welcome it, especially when it so often involves loss. Yet, we can all name life-changing benefits that came out of unanticipated changes in our life plans. Following the service will be the first all-church transition meeting.
The In-Between Church - The Reverend Dr. Pam Allen-Thompson - February 2, 2014
February 03, 2014 17:00 - 15.9 MBShared ministry? The power center? Identity? Growth in numbers, growth in spirit? Community outreach? How is People's Church affected by these dynamics? What are the key factors that ministers in search will be looking for?
Radical Hospitality - The Reverend Dr. Pam Allen-Thompson - October 20, 2013
October 24, 2013 18:07 - 13.9 MBRadical hospitality in the age of the Benedictine monks was not about serving tea. It was and is a risky and revolutionary way of living that challenges our natural compulsion to avoid connection with people we don’t know so well. What treasures might we uncover as we hear some of the practices of radical hospitality? Rochelle Habeck Hunt will help with this service.
Autumn–Turning Over a New Leaf - The Reverend Dr. Pam Allen-Thompson - October 13, 2013
October 24, 2013 18:04 - 11.8 MBWhat are the secrets of the seasons? How are we affected by the changing colors and skies? What is the spiritual thread that binds us to the wonder and mystery of the seasons of our lives? David Isaacson will also participate in this service.
This I Believe - The Reverend Dr. Pam Allen-Thompson - October 6, 2013
October 07, 2013 15:14 - 12.6 MBWhen friends or family ask what you believe, what do you say? Do you have a handy “elevator speech,” meaning that you could express the core of your belief systems in the time it takes for the elevator to go from the first floor to the sixth—without getting tongue tied? If they are intrigued and want to know more, do you have a deeper explanation? I will share something of my current beliefs, and we will hear “elevator speeches” from some of our members.
Faith and Conservation - Cybelle Shattuck - September 29, 2013
September 30, 2013 16:00 - 14.5 MBThe People's Church community has expressed a desire to be "as green as possible." But where do we find motivation to take action and strength to persevere when the crises besetting our wondrous planet seem to escalate while political will evaporates? One resource can be found in accounts of other faith communities striving to foster sustainability. We can learn from their examples as we craft our own UU path forward and we can take heart in knowing that we have companions across religions ...
Blessings All Around - Jill McAllister and all - June 9, 2013
June 17, 2013 16:16 - 10.3 MBThe last service of the “regular” church year, and Jill’s last regular service with us. All ages will meet together, to share in the Czech Flower Ceremony (please bring a flower to add to the bouquet), with songs and stories and pictures from this year of growing together. Following the service, our new ‘tradition”—a pie and ice-cream social!
The Adventure of Life - YRUU (High School Youth) - June 2, 2013
June 03, 2013 17:10 - 11.1 MBMembers of our High School class will share what they have been studying and exploring this year, including music, stories, and reflections. Their insights on UUism and the religious life are always worth hearing and pondering. Graduating seniors will be recognized, and “bridged” on to young-adulthood, and several 8th-graders will “bridge” into YRUU.
The Great Mystery - Jill McAllister - May 26, 2013
June 03, 2013 17:05 - 11.2 MBThe final sermon in a three-part series on teachings of world religions which illustrate the project of religion itself. This week, Who Am I in Relation to Life? (God, the cosmos, the universe, ultimate reality, or other names.) These teachings address questions of ultimate existence—where do we come from, where are we going, what is the meaning of life? It is an appropriate theme for our annual day of remembrance of those we have lost in the past year—People’s people, or others special ...
The Vehicle for Our Growth - Jill McAllister - May 19, 2013
June 03, 2013 17:04 - 11.8 MBThe second in a series of sermons on teachings of world religions, this morning we’ll focus on the nature of our relations to others—humans and all living things. In general, these teachings cover the ethical precepts of religion traditions, which arise from needs for harmony and peace. What are the right actions, and who is to decide? Are there universal moral standards, or is morality contextual? How do we know when we are living in right relations?