Joseph Bednarik serves as the Pulpit Assistant at Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Port Townsend, Washington. He is the Co-Publisher of Copper Canyon Press, a nonprofit publisher dedicated to poetry. Joseph studied philosophy at Haverford College and speaks regularly at UU congregations throughout the Puget Sound region.
The proverb goes like this: “The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The second best time is today.” As we consider (or ignore!) resolutions for the coming year, this New Year’s Eve sermon … read more.
The great American writer Mark Twain once said, “The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter—it’s the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.” Choosing “right words” can also be a spiritual practice to help create … read more.
When asked to submit an artifact for an exhibit called “Stranger Than Kindness,” musician Warren Ellis offered a piece of gum once chewed by Nina Simone. Ellis had taken the gum off Simone’s piano after a 1999 concert, wrapped it in her concert towel, and … read more.
June is PRIDE month, with pink triangles and rainbow flags showing
visible support for the LGBTQ+ community. This morning we share the
multi-layered story of one young person’s coming out within a packed
UU sanctuary.
Somewhere on Earth we will take our leave, as have billions of ancestors before us. The place where we die — our point of departure — can become hallowed ground for our loved ones. With reverence and respect, this Memorial Day sermon approaches various sites … read more.
“How do you heal?” is one of the most consequential questions of our lives. This Sunday, in the midst of a global pandemic, we explore the rich topics of health and healing.