Rev. Jim Magaw

Hanukkah

Why is the ritual of lighting a candle or lamp (or chalice) so powerful? What does this simple act accomplish, and how does it connect us with others? What does it signify for us? We will explore these questions by means of several stories from the Jewish tradition in celebration of Hanukkah, which is taking … Continued

Christmas Eve

These services will feature music, reflections, and readings celebrating Christmas. Our nativity reenactment will occur at the 4:00 service, and our Christmas Eve candle lighting ritual will take place at both services.

Dickens, Unitarians and Christmas

Charles Dickens, the great 19th-century English novelist had a profound effect on how Christmas is celebrated. Many of his ideas about Christmas and social reform were influenced by his involvement with Unitarianism. This service will explore these ideas and their relevance today.

Longest Night

The holidays are often not as cheerful as we might pretend. In fact, this time of year often brings painful memories and a profound sense of loss. This special service is for anyone who is struggling or feeling blue during this holiday season.

Music of the Season

This service will be comprised of holiday­-themed music from various Sunnyhill members and friends, including the choir and other individuals and groups of all ages and many different styles. Come celebrate music and the season!

Christmas and Liberation

This season has, at its heart, a powerful, radical, and transformational message—namely, that each of us is called to bring into being the fierce and unrelenting love that unseats the unjust oppressors and lifts up the humble and the forgotten and marginalized people of the world. 

Grace and Grit

 Although we often take what we have for granted, it’s relatively easy to be grateful when things are going our way. How do we go about living a grace-filled and grateful life even when times are hard? Sometimes grit is just as important as gratitude.

Surviving the Holidays

This holiday season brings many challenges. Some are personal–losses of loved ones, losses of relationships, illnesses, changes in employment status, and so on. Others are more political or societal–loss of a sense of safety, increased isolation, divisions among neighbors and organization, etc. How do we deal with these challenges while still finding something to celebrate?

Healing and Organizing

In the wake of a brutal election season, how do we go about repairing and healing the wounds that have occurred? What do we need to do to heal our own wounds, and how might we help others heal? And how do we move from healing to organizing for change?

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 do next. This week’s service will focus on the concept of sanctuary—as a place of respite from the whirlwind of fear and hatred, … Continued