Why Community Matters - July 5, 2026

Why Community Matters - July 5, 2026

Angela Lujan, Cedars Guest Speaker Liz Motter, Worship Associate The development and importance of community and the role it plays in resilience. How it relates to Pride and its importance for all of us. Angela Lujan is a board member of Poulsbo Pride, the Executive Director of NW Hopeful Horizons, and an employee of Kitsap Mental Health. As a mental health professional of 14 years, serving the Kitsap County community has always been important to her. She sees the challenges our community faces and the struggles individuals face when they feel a lack of belonging. Her passion for serving and stewarding others centers on her hope for a better future.

Good Grief! - June 28,2026

Rev. Barbara Cornell, Cedars Guest Minister Nancy Philip, Worship Associate In his book, The Wild Edge of Sorrow, grief therapist Francis Weller says, “In our grief we are broken apart and reassembled. It is hard, painful, and unbidden work. No one goes in search of loss; rather, it finds us and reminds us of the temporary gift we have been given, these few sweet breaths we call life.” Join us this week for a reflection on meeting the pain of our losses, on the patient work of reassembly, and on honoring the brief, luminous gift of this life. Rev. Barbara Cornell coordinates bereavement services in Edmonds, WA as the Lead Coordinator of the Bereavement Program and the Mental Health and Recovery Ministry Team at Swedish Edmonds Hospital. In addition to her work as a hospital chaplain, she is married to Dane Scott, and they have two adult children, Katie and Will.

Where are the men? Problems and Progress - June 21, 2026

Chuck Walbridge, Cedars Guest Speaker Liz Motter, Worship Associate Within parts of the liberal left, there are voices that speak of men through the lens of toxic masculinity, hoping to name real harm but sometimes painting with too broad a brush. On the illiberal right, the manosphere often responds by amplifying the very traits it is criticized for. And in the space between these loud extremes, the everyday experiences, struggles, and quiet goodness of most men rarely receive attention. This Sunday, we'll explore these tensions with care and look for a more generous, human‑centered way forward. You're warmly invited to join us.

Now What? - June 14, 2026

Rev. Barbara Gilday, Cedars Guest Minister Johanna Munson, Worship Associate Featuring music by Gretchen Yanover [https://gretchenyanover.com] As we try to make sense of what is happening in our country, it is useful to look back at some past recoveries, and importantly, look at what successful strategies are being employed in our day.  We must not lose faith. We must not give in. And true to our Unitarian Universalist values, we must think and act in love - the greatest power in the world. Rev. Barbara Gilday came to professional ministry in mid-life, but her life has been full of inquiry, diversity, social justice, connecting and sharing with others: Teaching in Ghana, hosting Japanese Exchange Programs, developing peer tutoring programs, hosting a Ukrainian refugee, to name a few. Currently, she is exploring in new and deeper ways, how we continue to find joy in, and give value to life as our capacities change. Barbara is the grateful member of a loving, blended family, and a new mom to a young rescue dog, Marley, who keeps her physically active.

Flourishing Together: Flower Communion - June 7, 2026

Rev.  Margo Rinehart, Cedars Minister Liz Motter, Worship Associate As spring turns into summer, Unitarian Universalists from around the world celebrate Flower Communion, a ceremony of celebration of each person's uniqueness and to honor how we flourish together. Flower Communion was created for his congregation in 1923 by Czech Unitarian minister, Nobert Capek. Remember to bring a few blossoms to give away as we share in the abundance of life.  Reverend Margo Rinehart serves Cedars by welcoming people from diverse theological and religious backgrounds and spiritual beliefs on their journeys to learn from one another, search for truth and answer the call of love and justice.