This is my simple religion.  There is no temple, no need for complicated philosophy.  Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.     ~The Dalai Lama   Dear Folks, Welcome to July and to a great month of services–even though we continue to practice our religion beyond the confines of bricks […]

Dear Beloveds, Since the world witnessed the public execution of Mr. George Floyd, age old trauma has once again been reignited for our siblings of color. People of conscience can not rest while any parent worries about the safety of their brown or black children every time they venture out of their homes–to simply walk […]

Dear Friends, Thank you for your interest in our church. Whether you’re a visitor, a curious friend, or a long-time attendee who is interested in becoming a member of this beloved community, we welcome you! We have two locations–the Salisbury Gathering and the University Gathering; however, due to the pandemic, we are currently holding all […]

Dear Folks, During a time of worldwide pandemic, we continue to gather from many locations. Though currently separated, we are also together in new ways. This reminds us that church is not a building. “Church” never was a building. It is the Beloved Community that gathers in hope and strength from house to house, circle […]

When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ – Mr. Fred Rogers   Dear Folks, Normally, this letter begins with a rousing welcome to the month and to a new theme. […]

A Word About Best Practices for Prevention of Illness  Dear Beloved Community,  We are aware of increasing concern surrounding reports of a new virus this year. The “Novel Coronavirus” or COVID-19, first detected in China, has now spread internationally. Church Mutual is keeping us abreast of the situation, and the CDC (Centers for Disease Control […]

Dear Folks,  Welcome to March and to our monthly theme of Wisdom.  In the midst of many worldly concerns, wisdom asks us to take a step back, to seek refuge and groundedness in quiet moments, to cultivate our core of compassion, and to move through life with intention and kindness.  In her book called For […]

Thank You To Our Care Team What Does Love Look Like? Dear All, What a wonderful and caring beloved community we are a part of! On February 23rd at the University Gathering, we had a moving memorial service as we celebrated the life of our dear Reny Haas with Judy and Michael and their family. I […]

Plans are moving forward for the Piedmont Memorial/Meditation Garden at the University Gathering! Landscape Architect Laurel Holtzapple successfully completed the conceptual design for the garden, which was approved unanimously by the garden committee and shared with the entire congregation.  Laurel is now preparing construction plans. When they are completed, we will have landscape contractors bid […]

Dear Folks, Welcome to February and to our monthly theme of RESILIENCE. Definitions of this word vary a bit from source to source. Some focus on the physical aspect of resilience or “elasticity,” i.e., the tendency of a thing or person to “spring back into shape.” Others mention our human ability to recover “easily” or […]