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

  • A Love Letter to White Unitarian Universalists Regarding Cultural Competence and Appropriation

    Beloveds, We need to have a talk. It may be a bit uncomfortable, and that’s ok.

    HP Rivers

  • The Fertile Darkness – Winter Solstice 2021 Service

    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

  • As We Knew It: A Challenge to Dream

    This is the third in a series of essays about the COVID-19 pandemic as it relates to UU congregations and religious exploration. “The Church has Left the Building” – May 2020 “On Reopening and the Least of These” – July 2021 “Brave is a hand-me-down suit from terrified as hell.“ Andrea Gibson (they/them), American Poet…

    HP Rivers

  • A Testimony – A Sermon on Coming Out, Being a Queer UU, and Beloved Community

    The reading omitted from the video is “Angels of the Get Through” by Andrea Gibson When I first visited my home church, the minister told me she believes in God on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and alternate weekends. I didn’t believe in God at all. I was raised kind of Catholic and kind of nondenominational Christian…

    HP Rivers