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

  • Screaming at God & Screaming Into the Void

    Delivered at High Street Unitarian Universalist Church on Sunday, April 30, 2023 The title for this sermon comes from my poem, Screaming at God. You can find that and many more in my recent book, Something Resembling God, now available on Amazon. An audio recording of this sermon can be found here. Do you remember…

    HP Rivers

  • Cactus

    I asked my spouse To stop buying me flowers – “Buy me a houseplant instead, So I don’t have to watch them die.” So now my “Sorry you got assaulted” cactus Sits on the mantle Next to Uncle Frank and the “Congratulations on 6 months sober!” cactus And the one I picked up For her…

    HP Rivers

  • “This I Know” – An Installation Blessing

    LREDA and UUMA Colleagues may use this video for worship, etc. free of charge. Please be sure to use my correct pronouns – they/them – when giving attribution. Click here to support my work. “This I Know” – A Blessing for the Ministries of the Rev. Misha Dawn Sanders and Northwest Unitarian Universalist CongregationWritten by HP…

    HP Rivers

  • Fog

    Inspired by and dedicated to my beloved and brilliant friend, JeKaren, who always reminds me that joy and resilience are spiritual practices. “Fog lifts. We lift. We find what we are looking for with our hands if not our eyes. I think we have to keep asking ourselves where is the joy? JeKaren Olaoya Joy…

    HP Rivers

  • The Bird

    I anoint a dead bird with holy waterfrom the memorial garden at the church where I grew up.Weightless as it is lifeless, it knows not that I drape it with flowersAnd say a prayer. I light a candle,and beseech its spirit to bless other realms with its flight,Continuing to and transcending its Highest Good. Yellow…

    HP Rivers