Worship
© Copyright 2017 Tomo Hillbo
Worship Arts
As a former theatre major and as an English undergraduate, the arts have been and continue to be my greatest spiritual resource. Whether music, theatre, dance, literature, poetry, or film, the arts illuminate our souls and help us discover the meaning in our lives. In his 1952 acceptance speech for the Nobel Prize in Literature, William Faulkner emphasized that literature must “help man endure by lifting his heart, by reminding him of the courage and honor and hope and pride and compassion and pity and sacrifice which have been the glory of the past.” Like religion, the arts remind us of our universal struggles and connect us to both our human family and the Sacred.
By far, my most rewarding seminary course was on using the arts in ministry (it was called Creative Encounters). This class taught me how to use the arts as spiritual tools for worship, small group ministry, and social action. I learned how to integrate my own acting and improvisation skills into my ministry and thereby strengthen both. Most importantly, the class helped me embrace my natural form of preaching, extemporaneous preaching.
As a parent and and religious educator, I also have learned that there are many different learning styles and ways of connecting with the Sacred. Therefore, I welcome a wide variety of styles to our worship so that we are able to feed all of our congregants. While I love to experiment with different music styles, art forms, and service rhythms, I understand the importance of well-loved congregational rituals and traditions and am excited to learn how you celebrate the Holy.
By far, my most rewarding seminary course was on using the arts in ministry (it was called Creative Encounters). This class taught me how to use the arts as spiritual tools for worship, small group ministry, and social action. I learned how to integrate my own acting and improvisation skills into my ministry and thereby strengthen both. Most importantly, the class helped me embrace my natural form of preaching, extemporaneous preaching.
As a parent and and religious educator, I also have learned that there are many different learning styles and ways of connecting with the Sacred. Therefore, I welcome a wide variety of styles to our worship so that we are able to feed all of our congregants. While I love to experiment with different music styles, art forms, and service rhythms, I understand the importance of well-loved congregational rituals and traditions and am excited to learn how you celebrate the Holy.
Sermon Podcasts
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Choosing Abundance
November 26, 2017 Despite what society teaches us, we can create abundance when we give ourselves the gift of gratitude. Gratitude for Our Ancestors' Work September 3, 2017 We share the stories of 3 Unitarians whose hard work made our religious movement more welcoming and justice-seeking: Rev. Joseph Tuckerman, Dorothea Dix, and Francis Ellen Watkins Harper. Class Stories: Embracing Our Diversity July 2, 2017 For most Americans, socioeconomic class is one of the last taboos. Unitarian Universalists aren't all that different. Loving Our Bodies May 28, 2017 While our bodies take much abuse from living and aging in the world, we often inflict the most damage to our bodies ourselves. Writing Our Own Stories November 27, 2016 I ask us to reflect on the parts we play in our own stories and to consider rewriting our stories with courage and hope. Healing Our Anger: The Practice of Forgiveness October 23, 2016 Anger cannot be buried -- it must be healed. Yet, this simple truth is hard to achieve. In order to heal our anger, we must practice forgiveness. Nobody Knows My Name: The Ministry of Eugene Sparrow August 21, 2016 The Rev. Eugene Sparrow was one of our first African American Unitarian ministers. Unfortunately, Sparrow could not find a congregation to call him. Together, we'll explore what Sparrow's story tells us. Cultivating Acceptance and Understanding August 9, 2015 In support of Unity Temple's Mental Health Awareness Team (MyHAT), I share how mental illness has touched my life in the hopes that sharing my story will help reduce the stigma and increase our understanding. |
 © Copyright 2017 Tomo Hillbo
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Worship Videos
© Copyright 2017 Tomo Hillbo
© Copyright 2017 Tomo Hillbo
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Sermon: Risking Love
March 26, 2017 Unitarian Universalism calls us to our best selves and to our highest aspirations, our seven Principles. Let's explore the "riskiness" of our first Principle: the inherent worth and dignity of every person. Homily: Creating the New Year
January 1, 2017 I share sources of inspiration that will help us become our own prophets in this new year of resistance and courage. Story for All Ages
January 1, 2017 I read A Kiss Goodbye by Audrey Penn to help the congregation consider what they want to hold onto as part of their New Years ritual. Ritual: 2017 New Years
January 1, 2017 I lead the congregation in a ritual of letting go and holding on. |
Earth-Centered Spirituality Circle
During the first year of my congregational internship (2016), I asked if we offer a Winter Solstice service. Although I did not know a lot about paganism and/or earth-centered spiritualities, my home church offered these services and I knew them to be an important part of the holiday offerings. The staff explained we no longer had an active pagan group. I asked if any of the former group members were still part of the congregation and the ministers encouraged me to reach out to them and plan a service.
Our membership director gave me a list of four past members and I sent out an email to see if anyone was available and interested. Because I value multigenerational leadership and worship, I also sent an email message out to our youth group, our religious education teachers, and our young adult group. In the meantime, I discovered two additional participants by offhandedly mentioning it in my other congregational work. Quickly, I had four deeply interested and invested congregants to help me offer the service.
At our first planning meeting, I admitted to my fellow planners that I didn’t have a wealth of knowledge in earth-centered spirituality. I framed our planning as an opportunity for me to support their leadership, offer my knowledge of worship and ritual as a minister, and learn earth-centered spirituality from and with them. The participants accepted my invitation eagerly and we quickly gelled as a planning group, creating the entire ritual together. The Winter Solstice was a great success and we had over 30 congregants and visitors attend.
Because the event itself and the planning process went well, the five of us decided to continue our work together and offer congregational rituals for the equinoxes and solstices. We agreed that my work would be to help them to develop their structure and leadership so that they would need minimal support from the staff once my internship was over.
Now in our second year together, our group has started offering informal potluck meals on the cross-quarters, open to any and all. The leadership group has expanded to five congregants and I have moved out of the planning meetings. At our second Winter Solstice, I was thrilled to see over 70 congregants and visitors in attendance. I am confident that our Earth-Centered Spirituality Circle will continue to flourish and grow!
Winter Solstice Service 2016 Spring Equinox Service 2017
Our membership director gave me a list of four past members and I sent out an email to see if anyone was available and interested. Because I value multigenerational leadership and worship, I also sent an email message out to our youth group, our religious education teachers, and our young adult group. In the meantime, I discovered two additional participants by offhandedly mentioning it in my other congregational work. Quickly, I had four deeply interested and invested congregants to help me offer the service.
At our first planning meeting, I admitted to my fellow planners that I didn’t have a wealth of knowledge in earth-centered spirituality. I framed our planning as an opportunity for me to support their leadership, offer my knowledge of worship and ritual as a minister, and learn earth-centered spirituality from and with them. The participants accepted my invitation eagerly and we quickly gelled as a planning group, creating the entire ritual together. The Winter Solstice was a great success and we had over 30 congregants and visitors attend.
Because the event itself and the planning process went well, the five of us decided to continue our work together and offer congregational rituals for the equinoxes and solstices. We agreed that my work would be to help them to develop their structure and leadership so that they would need minimal support from the staff once my internship was over.
Now in our second year together, our group has started offering informal potluck meals on the cross-quarters, open to any and all. The leadership group has expanded to five congregants and I have moved out of the planning meetings. At our second Winter Solstice, I was thrilled to see over 70 congregants and visitors in attendance. I am confident that our Earth-Centered Spirituality Circle will continue to flourish and grow!
Winter Solstice Service 2016 Spring Equinox Service 2017
Rites of Passage
As your minister, it is my honor and privilege to share the most important events in your lives-- those that are your greatest joys and deepest sadnesses.
During these occasions, my goal is to support your wishes so that the service authentically reflects your spirit and values. If ideas are needed, I can provide suggestions and recommendations. However, we will weave the service together. The service isn't about me or Unitarian Universalism-- it is about you and your loved ones.
I look forward to getting to know you over our years together. Ministry is pretty amazing, isn't it?
During these occasions, my goal is to support your wishes so that the service authentically reflects your spirit and values. If ideas are needed, I can provide suggestions and recommendations. However, we will weave the service together. The service isn't about me or Unitarian Universalism-- it is about you and your loved ones.
I look forward to getting to know you over our years together. Ministry is pretty amazing, isn't it?