Click here to access our livestream which starts about 10:30.
The title for this week’s service comes partly from a book my mom gifted me while I was in the midst of transitioning from middle childhood to adolescence. Like most of Alvin Schwartz’s books, “Cross Your Fingers, Spit in Your Hat: Superstitions and Other Beliefs” was written for young readers and was shaped by some of his favorite topics: folklore, urban legends, and spooky, scary stories, like those about witches and ghosts. Schwartz, an author, teacher, and journalist, respected these topics and researched them extensively, spending time in historical societies and libraries and talking with university professors, folklorists, and folx open to sharing their own superstitions and stories. And while one may feel that such topics are too advanced for young readers, as a person who grew up in a family that fostered and encouraged an interest in anthropology and archaeology from an early age, this book deepened my curiosity and created a sincere interest in how other people experience and move through the world and life. As Cate T. shared on the Russell Library’s blog, The Library Vault, these stories and tales “reflect the human experience in simple and profound ways. They force us to reckon with our morality by reminding us that our actions have consequences” and “they serve to create a deeper understanding of places and people unfamiliar to us.” Touched by this book, my humble wondering stayed with me as I deepened my understanding of Halloween and learned about Samhain, considered by many to be the first sabbat or festival of the Wheel of the Year.
Join us this Sunday as we hold all that these final days of October have to offer. We’ll enter a sacred time of remembrance by honoring ancestors through gentle ritual, and we’ll celebrate Halloween’s unique cheer with a costume pageant during the service and a trunk-or-treat afterward. During this service, you are invited to bring a photo of a loved one, beloved friend, or animal companion you would like to remember. And folx of all ages are invited to wear their Halloween costumes.
Rev. Shaie has been blessed with a life that’s provided her with opportunities to meet folx from diverse backgrounds, communities, and cultures. Her work experiences include theatre and television, photo researching, being a chaplain at a children’s hospital, and accounting. She earned her Master of Divinity from Vanderbilt Divinity School in 2018, and on the night of the Autumn Equinox in 2025, she was co-ordained by BuxMontUU and UUs of Mt. Airy, the congregation where she completed her ministerial internship. Most recently, she joined BuxMont UU Fellowship as their Affiliated Community Minister.
- 10:15 a.m. – Gathering Time In-person
- 10:30 a.m. – Sunday Service both Online & In-person
- 10:30 a.m. – Religious education provided for children from birth through teens. All classes begin at 10:45 and last through the end of service.
- 11:30 a.m. – In-person Social Time
To read more about the Religious Education for children & youth this Sunday, visit the RE program page.
Our Covid-19 policy has shifted over time, we are currently mask friendly which means that masks are optional but in no way discouraged for anyone who would like to wear them.