Services

Imago Dei

Imago Dei means “image of God.” Unitarianism and Universalism rejected the image of God as a wrathful, vengeful, punitive deity who sits in judgment of humans who are inherently sinful. But what, if any, are the images of God that are more in keeping with UU theology? And why might our image of God be … Continued

Sanctuary

Join us this Sunday at 10:00 am at the Mt. Lebanon Recreation Center for a service led by Rev. Jim Magaw entitled “Sanctuary.” In the wake of this week’s elections, many of us are feeling a deep need to be held in loving community, to acknowledge our grief, and to discern what we are to … Continued

What Binds Us Together

Our worship theme for the month is “Ecclesiology,” and this sermon will explore Unitarian Universalism’s unique ecclesiology—how we are together as a religious community. We are rooted in the concept of covenant that traces its source to the Hebrew Scriptures and to the Puritans, but our idea of covenant is fluid and always changing and … Continued

Samhain Ritual, 6 p.m., First Church, Shadyside

The Spiritways Leadership Team cordially invites you to our Samhain ritual Sun., Oct. 30 at 6 p.m. at First Unitarian Church in Shadyside. Samhain, one of the four main seasonal festivals of the ancient Gaelic calendar, marks the end of the harvest season and the start of the dark half of the year moving into winter. … Continued

Theology of Welcoming

Our congregation is in the midst of our “Welcoming Congregation” renewal, a program that helps help congregations learn how to be truly welcoming to LGBTQ people, to undo homophobia and transphobia in our hearts and minds, our congregations, and our communities. This service will examine why welcoming is a key aspect of our Unitarian Universalist … Continued

Free Hugs

Sometimes a hug is exactly what you need. Hugs release oxytocins and lower blood pressure, and hugs can often defuse tense situations. But hugs can also be awkward and problematic. This service will explore the science and theology of hugging. This Sunday will also be Commitment Sunday.

Partisanship and Polarization

We are living in a hyper-charged, hyper-partisan political climate, especially during this presidential campaign season. There’s a lot of bellowing going on, but very little real debate or reasoned discourse. How did we get to this point, and what, if anything can be done about it?

We Begin Again in Love: Is Forgiveness Possible?

The topic for this service, forgiveness, was chosen by Lynne and Jim Heltman, winners of a sermon by Rev. Jim at last spring’s Service Auction. What does it mean to really forgive someone? Does it change anything? This sermon will address these questions and others.

The Heart of the Matter

One of the most important and worthwhile questions to ask oneself is “What do I value most?” Identifying and articulating our core values is more than an academic exercise— it can have a great impact on how we live our lives every day. We’ll be considering this question in the context of Rosh Hashanah, a … Continued

Defying Hate, Then and Now

The new Ken Burns documentary examines the courageous work of Unitarians Waitstill and Martha Sharp, who helped rescue hundreds of imperiled political dissidents and Jewish refugees fleeing the Nazi occupation in Europe. What does it mean to defy hate in our own time, and how do we go about this vital task?