This October, our theme calls us into the practice of Cultivating Compassion. Compassion is not only a feeling but a way of living—a daily choice to see one another with gentleness, to respond to suffering with courage, and to create space where all can belong. Each Sunday we will explore how compassion can take root in surprising ways: in stories once silenced, in the courage to live out loud, in the unconditional love of our animal companions, and in the transformative power of education across the globe. Together, we nurture a spirit of compassion that grounds us in love and calls us to justice.
October 5 – Rev. Phoenix
Banned for Love: Stories They Tried to Silence
What makes a book dangerous? Too often, it’s love. Love that breaks binaries. Love that questions power. Love that names the truth of racism, queerness, disability, trauma, or survival. During Banned Books Week, we confront not only the censorship of books—but the erasure of whole communities whose stories disrupt dominant narratives.
October 12 – Rev. Phoenix
Addiction, Grace, and the Long Road Home
Addiction is often misunderstood. It is not only about substances, but about seeking relief from pain—pain that too often festers in isolation and shame. In this sermon, Rev. Phoenix Bell-Shelton Biggs weaves together personal story, pastoral encounters, and the Parable of the Prodigal Child to explore the long road of addiction and recovery. At the heart of the story is not condemnation but grace: a God who runs to meet us with open arms, a community called to welcome before judgment, and the truth that every step toward healing is a miracle. Together, we will reflect on what it means to be a church that embodies this radical love—where the lost are found, the wounded are embraced, and no one is left to walk the road alone.
October 19 – Rev. Phoenix
Grace for Wild Paws & Sacred Claws: A Blessing of the Animals
Come one, come all—furred, feathered, scaled, and beloved—for a joyful service celebrating the sacred bond between humans and our animal kin. In Grace for Wild Paws & Sacred Claws, we honor the love, companionship, and wisdom our non-human companions bring into our lives. Through story, song, and ritual blessing, we will reflect on what animals teach us about unconditional love, presence, and our place in the interdependent web of all existence.
October 26 – Mozambique Bursary Team
From Carlisle to Zambezia: A Legacy of Learning
This Sunday, we honor Priscilla Laws (1940–2023) and the Bursary Project she founded after traveling in Mozambique with UUCV’s Bechtel family. In rural Zambezia province, most families live without electricity or running water, and secondary education is out of reach for nearly 90% of girls. The Bursary Project changes lives—supporting girls to stay in school, delay marriage, strengthen their families, and become community leaders. Together we celebrate Priscilla’s vision and the hope it continues to bring.
Join us for in-person worship in our Sanctuary every Sunday at 10:30 am or on ZOOM. or “listen in” (without video) by telephone, by calling 646-876-9923 and entering Meeting ID 550 751 6685
