Rev. Debra Guthrie-Joyce

Learning to be Social

Many of us carry invisible lessons from our families of origin—some nourishing, others more complicated. For adult children of alcoholics and others who grew up in households marked by instability, the social skills most take for granted were not always taught.… more

Listening or Curiosity and Understanding Not to Challenge

In a world quick to argue and slow to listen, we’ll pause to consider what it means to hear one another with curiosity rather than challenge. This service invites us to practice the kind of listening that opens hearts, deepens understanding, and strengthens community.… more

New Member Sunday – Let’s Believe in God Together

On this special Sunday of welcome, we’ll celebrate our newest members and take part in a thought experiment: what happens if, just for a moment, we imagine believing in God together? Come curious, come open, and come ready to explore.… more

Ingathering. Fear of the Other or Irrational Fears.

As we return from our summer travels, we’ll reflect on the strangers and “others” we meet along the way. Together we’ll explore how fear can limit us, and how openness can lead to connection and belonging. Don’t forget to bring your water or stones from your summer travels.… more

The Right to Repair

From cracked phone screens to broken relationships, we live in a culture that often throws things away instead of fixing them. But what if repair is a sacred act? In this service, we’ll explore the growing “Right to Repair” movement as a metaphor for spiritual resilience, environmental responsibility, and the redemptive power of mending what’s been broken.… more

Lying to Ourselves

We all do it — tell ourselves stories that make us feel safe, righteous, or in control. But when does self-deception protect us, and when does it prevent growth or healing? Join us this Sunday for a service that challenges us to look inward with compassion and courage, and to consider what truths we might be ready to tell ourselves.… more

Othering

Why do we so often divide the world into “us” and “them”? This service will delve into the human tendency to “other” — to see some people as different, dangerous, or less than — and explore how this habit harms our collective spirit. We’ll reflect on how our Unitarian Universalist values call us toward radical inclusion and the spiritual work of bridging the divide.… more

Gaming the System

Sometimes it feels like the world rewards those who know how to bend the rules, work the loopholes, or tilt the table in their favor. This Sunday, we’ll explore what it means to “game the system”— in economics, politics, and even in our personal relationships. Can we resist injustice without playing the same game? What does our faith ask of us when the rules themselves are unfair?… more

Jubilee

Every seven years, ancient Hebrew tradition called for a Jubilee—a sacred pause when debts were forgiven, the land was given rest, and people were set free. It was a radical vision of economic justice, restoration, and collective renewal. What might that spirit of Jubilee mean for us today?… more

Venting

We all need to let off steam sometimes—but what happens when emotional venting becomes a useless crutch? When is venting healing, and when does it just keep us stuck? Join us for a service that honors our full emotional selves and the sacred work of processing, expressing, and moving through.… more