If we really are not all that concerned one way or the other about a historic war against the country that is now our closest ally, if we refuse to shelter ourselves from the dicier truths of our past, from the shameful parts of our history, what gives us reason to celebrate on this July … Continue reading Our Better Angels
My congregation is observing Pride Sunday today as part of our commitment to growing equity and justice in the areas of sexual orientation and gender identity. It is becoming more common for American churches, synagogues, and other organizations to give a nod to the just desire of queer people for safety and equal access to … Continue reading News Virginian, June 27, 2021
Something important is underway in Washington, D.C. Having passed the House of Representatives on Feb. 25, the “Equality Act” is under consideration in the Senate. Back in 1986, I met my partner at an ACLU meeting in the Illinois town where we both were living. The topic of the meeting that night was a proposed … Continue reading News Virginian, April 25, 2021
A first column is, like any introduction, the only chance I’ll get to make a first impression. So, no pressure here! Only… some of you already know me, for better or worse. Perhaps you read the letter I wrote in response to a recent column on transgender issues. Some of you liked what I wrote. … Continue reading News Virginian, March 29, 2021
LOVING, ACTIVE, WELCOMING GRACE AND UNDERSTANDING a sermon by the Reverend Paul Oakley 10:30 AM, Sunday, January 26, 2020 In keeping with our faith and inspired by our Vision, it is the mission of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Waynesboro to grow a loving, active and welcoming community, practicing grace and understanding in … Continue reading Loving, Active, Welcoming Grace
JUSTICE AND GENEROSITY a sermon by the Reverend Paul Oakley 10:30 AM, Sunday, December 15, 2019 This morning we’re going to take a look at the paired words “Justice and Generosity” that come from this congregation’s Vision Statement. This is the fourth in this year’s sermon series on the ways we here have … Continue reading Justice and Generosity
THE PRACTICE OF LOVINGKINDNESS a sermon by the Reverend Paul Oakley 10:30 AM, Sunday, November 17, 2019 If you google the word “Lovingkindness” – that is how we initially seek information that is new to us nowadays, isn’t it? Google it? – and then from the links provided make your way to Wikipedia, … Continue reading The Practice of Lovingkindness
DIVERSE AND VIBRANT a sermon by the Reverend Paul Oakley 10:30 AM, Sunday, September 22, 2019 Over the course of the 2015 to 2016 fellowship year, my first year here, a task force made up of leaders of the congregation led us on the journey of discerning how our various individual preferences and … Continue reading Diverse and Vibrant
WHY ARE WE HERE? a sermon by the Reverend Paul Oakley 10:30 AM, Sunday, August 18, 2019 Perhaps you noticed that I changed the topic from “Worship, Study, Service, Fellowship,” as it is listed on the website to “Why Are We Here?” Never fear! The topic remains the same. And no, we will … Continue reading Why Are We Here?
SINAI, PENTECOST, AND OUR DEMOCRATIC PROCESS a sermon by the Reverend Paul Oakley 10:30 AM, Sunday, June 9, 2019 Today many Christians are celebrating Pentecost, the day recognized as the event that birthed Christianity as a movement that lived beyond the life of one man. People were gathered together, who had known and … Continue reading Sinai, Pentecost, and Our Democratic Process
