Each month we feature a spiritual theme (see below) which we weave into Sunday worship, Religious Exploration and many of our small groups and gatherings. Each month’s theme is also highlighted in the aesthetic elements of the sanctuary. We send out the theme resources found here (eadings, spiritual exercises, and reflection questions) in an monthly worship email so you can explore the theme on your own or with your family members and friends. These theme resources come from the Soul Matters Sharing Circle,  a UU theme-based program with more than 140 UU subscribers.

Social Justice Monthly Plate Partners

Each month we introduce our Plate Partner , an organization whose work and mission are connected with our UU social justice mission and values. Rev. Sara and the Social Justice Council often explore additional opportunities through collaborative programming (ex: book discussion, arts opportunity, issue forum, workshop etc). For more information about the plate partners below, please visit our plate partner webpage.

November 2025 Spiritual Theme:

Welcome to Nurturing Gratitude   

When it comes to how we should travel through our lives, our culture and religion are clearly at odds. Culture cries, “Accumulate!” Religion counsels “Appreciate!” The mantras couldn’t be more different: The commercials surrounding us scream, “Go out and grab all you can!” The pulpits before us plea, “Learn to want what you have.” 

There’s an important reminder here: Gratitude is essential. It’s not simply a nice “extra” to get around to when we can. Or to put it another way, we aren’t built for constant striving and the pursuit of more. Instead, we need moments of pause in which we are filled and replenished by the large and small wonders of this world. As poet and philosopher, Mark Nepo, puts it: “The original meaning of the word “appreciate” means to move toward what is precious. So practicing gratitude reengages our aliveness—they awaken us to what is precious.” The implication here is clear: If we want to be truly alive, we need to pay attention when moments of gratitude arise.

But is that really it? Is that all we need to do? Wait for moments of gratitude to bloom and then stop and let their beauty sink in?

Plate Partner: Duck Valley Reservation

The Duck Valley Reservation is a Native American reservation on the border of Idaho and Nevada, home to the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes. Established in the 19th century, it is a land of high desert and canyons that spans nearly 300,000 acres. The community is focused on traditions, ranching, and recently, improving infrastructure like broadband and schools, though it also faces challenges such as environmental contamination from past activities.Location: The reservation straddles the border of Idaho and Nevada, near the 42nd parallel. 

Inhabitants: It is the home of the federally recognized Shoshone-Paiute Tribes, often referred to as “Sho-Pais”. 

Size: It covers approximately 289,819 acres, with about 1,700 members of the over 2,000 tribal members living on the reservation. 

History: The reservation was established in the 1800s after Native Americans were forced from their homelands, with Shoshone bands from Nevada and Idaho being moved to this land.