Rev. Jim Magaw

Third-Person Unitarian

In the 19th-century, many Unitarians described themselves as “first-person Unitarians,” meaning they emphasized only the first part of the idea of the Trinity – God the Father, but necessarily the Son or the Holy Spirit. However, in the 21st-century, it’s possible that the concept of a “third-person Unitarian” may be more relevant. This service will … Continued

Why Church, Why Now?

In a bygone era, it was assumed that almost everyone would belong to a religious community of one kind or another, but that assumption no longer holds as more and more people are unchurched. What are the real benefits of going to church and what does it mean to be a member of a congregation … Continued

Sabbath Wisdom

The idea of a “day of rest” may seem quaint and outdated–especially in a world that appears to be on fire. But, if we are to be functional and at least somewhat effective as bringers of justice and compassion, we need a day of rest more than ever before. How can we make room for … Continued

Turning Fear into Love

Vietnamese Buddhist teacher and activist Thich Nhat Hanh spoke of four mantras “effective for watering the seeds of happiness in yourself and your beloved and for transforming fear, suffering, and loneliness.” This service will examine those mantras and how they might be practiced. No RSVP required, masks optional for the in person service! PS- Sunnyhill … Continued

Pride!

Being a “welcoming congregation” is not merely an academic exercise or just a nice thing to do. Welcoming our LGBTQIA+ siblings is a life-affirming and potentially life-saving act. In this service we will examine what we can do to work for justice for LGBTQ people while becoming a more fully inclusive and welcoming congregation.

Decoration Day

Memorial Day began in the immediate aftermath of the Civil War when formerly enslaved African Americans conducted a series of commemorations to express their sense of the meaning of the war. This service will explore the deep roots of Memorial Day and how those roots might change the way we experience this holiday in our … Continued

The Purpose of Beauty

The Navaho blessing “May you walk in beauty” seems to imply that beauty plays a central role in our lives, both as a path that we tread and as that which surrounds and enfolds us while we are on that path. In this sermon, we will explore how we might recognize, embrace and engage beauty … Continued

Mothers and Others

For various reasons, Mother’s Day is not a holiday that everyone celebrates. Rather than beatifying or idealizing mothers, this service will look at the importance of supportive, nurturing relationships and how anyone can give or receive such nurturance.

Coming of Age

Credo is a Latin word which is generally translated as “I believe,” but its literal meaning is closer to “what I set my heart to.” Sunnyhill’s Coming of Age (COA) class (8th-grade youth) will share what is close to their hearts in this service which is a capstone of the COA curriculum.

Book of Awakening

Drawn from ideas in Mark Nepo’s book of the same name, this service will explore, in Nepo’s words “our ongoing need to stay vital and in love with this life, no matter the hardships we encounter.” How might we go about cultivating this love for life, even when the going is rough?