Once Upon A Time - Rev. Katie McQuage-Loukas - Stories have the power to entertain, but they also have the power to inspire and enlighten. GK Chesterton once wrote that children already know dragons exist, and it is fairy tales that tell children dragons can be fought. What stories shaped your imagination as a child? Which ones inspire you now? Today we remember that being shaped by stories is sacred and beautiful.

Something Always Sings - Rev. Katie McQuage-Loukas - The strange tale of resurrection and triumph of the Easter story has many layers and meanings. But beneath them all is the simple core of truth—that even amid the worst of human politics and behavior there is also goodness. The Easter story proclaims that goodness will triumph, in ways that are beyond our understanding. Millennia later, this story still offers us ways to imagine a new world.

How to Tell the Truths - Nina Kuzniak - What we believe is true about the world shapes the way we live and love in it. But truth these days feels hard to find. What, and who, can we trust? Nina Kuzniak, recently back from her Witness & Solidarity Pilgrimage to Palestine with other Unitarian Universalist religious professionals, will explore how our shared theology equips us to be bold and brave in the face of paradox and seemingly conflicting truths. Nina is a fourth-year Unitarian Universalist seminarian at Starr King School for the Ministry and currently serves as the Ministerial Intern at First Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston. She also occasionally preaches at Bay Area Unitarian Universalist Church. When she’s not preparing for parish ministry, Nina enjoys experimenting with new vegetarian recipes and exploring Houston with her dogs.

The Lengthening of Our Days - Rev. Katie McQuage-Loukas - Join us for a multi-generational celebration of the vernal equinox! There will be storytelling and songs to honor the turning of the seasons and rejoice in the coming of spring.

Fifteen Words that Changed My Life - Alok Kalia, MD - In 1996, Alok’s terminally ill sister asked him a question that launched him on a spiritual journey spanning three decades. Along the way, he discovered his dharma—his essence and purpose. He developed a deep meditation practice. He embraced two religions - Hinduism and Unitarian Universalism - and found that they complement each other. And yes, he did find an answer to his sister’s question. Alok Kalia, MD is a is a long-time member of the Bay Area Unitarian Universalist Church. After retiring as a professor from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Dr. Kalia became a professional speaker on health issues for business executives. Alok’s beliefs come from Hinduism, and he puts them into action as a Unitarian Universalist.

Growing Into the Future - Rev. Katie McQuage Loukas - We create the future we long for by nurturing it now, in this present moment. We build for tomorrow bit by bit, brick by brick, with our time, labor and resources. We may not yet have a full vision of the future we desire, but we know some pieces of it, and we – and we will – cherish and nurture those pieces until we grow with them into the future.