Rev. Kikanza Nuri-Robins, preaching

Robbert Schalekamp, worship associate

 

It’s the day after Christmas. Where is your joy? Perhaps in the midst of your warm afterglow, or the ennui of another disappointment, or the internal conflicts that arise when there is so much social pressure to give, you are ready to contemplate the need for self-compassion. If you are in charge of your own TLC (tender loving care) what is it going to look like? Finding Joy in caring for yourself — how might you do that?

Rev. Matthew Cockrum, preaching

Natalie Kahn, worship associate

 

What does it mean to expand our understandings of healing and how it occurs? How can our efforts to decolonize include our experiences and practices of medicine and end of life care?

 

The Rev. Matthew Cockrum (Honored Guest Minister) is a Unitarian Universalist minister currently serving as a hospice chaplain in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Rev. Matthew has served in congregations and hospitals, has also worked as a yoga teacher, and has a private practice in spiritual direction and somatic companioning and healing. His interest has also recently been piqued by the use of entheogenic and plant medicines in healing and end of life care.

Rev. Kikanza Nuri-Robins, preaching

Amy Brunell, worship associate

 

As we journey through life, we surround ourselves and those we care about with circles of connections. Many of the circles intersect. Most of the circles change over time. Some of the circles shrink as you age and friends and family die. Given who you are and how you are in the world, do you have enough circles? Are your circles expansive enough? How is it possible to widen our circles — and is it really necessary?