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

  • The Big Sad

    The truth isI can’t rememberThe last timeI wrote a poem,Wore lipstick,Baked a cakeJust for the fun of it,Marveled at the moon. I can’t rememberThe last timeI felt like a personand not a production,The last time I wasn’tExhausted by strength,Just getting through. I don’t know whenI stopped smiling,But I know my bodyMisses laughter. I have no…

    HP Rivers

  • Morning Prayer VII

    A Gentle Reminder from Godde: Go where you are called,for too shall I be there.Be not afraid of the roador the lack of one –I will move mountains for you.Consider it already done.Child, breathe. Perhapsyou are not meant to know.For now, just simply be. And so it is.Blessed Be.

    HP Rivers

  • It’s Here! My first book of poetry is now available!

    I’m so excited to finally share this with you! My first book of poetry, Something Resembling God, is now available on Amazon. This collection is so close to my heart – they are all poems about the many beautiful, messy, human ways we relate to The Divine. It feels like a love song for the…

    HP Rivers

  • Oh Honey

    Oh Honey, Stop pretending you are small Just because you are terrified Of your enormity.

    HP Rivers

  • Morning Prayer III

    God, I am tired.The days grow shorter and colder,But God, they are still so long,and so full.The hungry ghosts who liveIn the space between tasksNever stop wailing –They are never satisfied. God, let me be satisfied.Let me feel confidentThat I am enough,My efforts are enough,And Grace residesIn the space between breaths – May I rememberTo…

    HP Rivers