HP Rivers

  • Final Master’s Project – Anagape Trauma and the Beloved Community

    This is my presentation of my thesis project for my Master’s of Religious Leadership for Social Change at Starr King School for the Ministry. It has been an incredible labor of love and a healthy dose of tears and swear words over the last year, and I couldn’t be more proud of it. I hope…

    HP Rivers

  • The nice thing about a blanket fort (Screaming at God)

    So you can go back To before the Big Bang To when God was just a whisper Suckling at the breast of the Universe, and fix whatever

    HP Rivers

  • 5 Ways to Embody Anti-Racism & The 8th Principle for MLK Day and Every Day

    I’ve noticed that sometimes when we talk about the 8th Principle, the whole idea of decolonizing our minds or actively challenging systems of oppression in ourselves and our institutions can seem super daunting. The way we have all been raised in white supremacy culture is a truly daunting issue, but it’s important to remember that…

    HP Rivers

  • Body

    The priest says,“This is the body of Christ”And I watch, wide eyed,As my grandfatherHumbly accepts the offeringOn his tongue. I wonder what Jesus tastes like. The priestess says,“May you never thirst”And I humbly accept the wine,Transmuted intoThe water of the wombThat held Jesus ChristAnd I wonderAbout Christ’s body. I wonder about his sweat,The itching of…

    HP Rivers

  • Midway

    Alternate Title: Leave Room for Jesus 2005 At the Midway Middle School Spring FormalPre-pubescent girls wear white t-shirtsUnder their sparkly dresses –Their preachers,And their mothers,Afraid that someone might think them immodest. The bus driverPulls over to yell and prayEvery time someone says, “goddamn” –And scolds meFor sitting next to a high school boy. I do…

    HP Rivers

  • “The Church Has Left the Building”

    I like to joke that I moved to Florida to get out of serving on the Board of Trustees at my home congregation in Tennessee. It isn’t entirely true. What is true is that I had just been elected to the Board when I got an opportunity to move to Florida to serve a congregation…

    HP Rivers

  • UU Lent 2020 – Part 2 – During the Pandemic

    Read UU Lent 2020 Part 1 – Before the Pandemic Here Day 17 – Doubt I woke up at 7:45 AM this morning with my mind racing. I worked most of the day and now find myself laying in bed at 11:35 PM with my mind still racing. There’s a lot of doubt going on…

    HP Rivers