Until very recently we have largely used IQ to measure the potential for a person’s success. But many experts now realize this has been a mistake, that IQ doesn’t automatically guarantee one’s success in life, and, more importantly, that there are other frames of mind and emotional proficiencies that are just as important, if not more so.

Many in our society have succumbed to the fears that drive us to ignore inconvenient truths and to act in unjust, authoritarian, and punitive ways. How do we manage our own anxieties? How do we offer comfort to others? How do we help our society move through its fears to become more honest, just, and compassionate toward all people and all beings?

Astronomer Carl Sagan sometimes referred to our Earth as “a pale blue dot” to remind us how tiny our cosmic home really is, and how close we are to all people and all beings we share it with. As we celebrate our partnership with our Unitarian sisters and brothers in Felsőrákos, Romania by welcoming one of its visiting families, let us remember that we are not so far apart begin with.

Many of us are aware of Carl Jung’s personality types given the widespread use of the Myers Briggs Type Indicator test, as well as those outlined in the equally as popular Enneagram system; but my favorite psychologist of them all, Erich Fromm outlined a lesser known list of types. These range from the extremely pathological Necrophilous (death loving) orientation, to the more healthy minded Productive character type. In this sermon, we’ll explore these as well as the other character type’s Fromm discovered.

It seems like so long ago, and hard to believe I had a sixteen-year career in television news and corporate video production. It was never something I had intended or even enjoyed doing, just a way to make ends meet. But, in the process, it taught me a lot of important life lessons, and gave me many valuable skills that are a valuable part of my ministry.

It doesn’t seem this, one of Jesus’ most memorable teachings, has ever been widely followed by those professing his name. In light of the recent election, in which so many voted for a man who demeaned and ridiculed and threatened our Latino, African American, female, Muslim, and disabled neighbors, this seems as true today as ever. This sermon will remind us who ought to be considered our neighbor and what it means to truly be neighborly.

In addition to faith and spirituality, African American churches have historically provided important social services to their members, including housing, loans, food, and healthcare, when they couldn’t obtain them anywhere else. This remains much the case today, and will likely need to remain so for many years. This sermon will go deeper into the history of this vital ministry and discuss how we can help support it now and in the years to come.

Things may feel dire now, and our outlook for the immediate future may be dismal, but we have been here before, and we can and shall meet injustice and adversity as we always have, by continuing to uphold our values and principles in all places at all times. Community Support Gathering Friday, November 11th @ 6:30pm.

During the current political season Bernie Sanders said Israel’s “destruction of Gaza went too, too far,” and it is irresponsible for our nation to give 100 percent support to “people like Netanyahu and ignore the rest of the region.” Sander’s remarks were unprecedented for a potential Presidential candidate to make, especially given than he is himself Jewish. I consider his remarks courageous and he has inspired me to address this important, troubling, polarizing, moral issue myself.