Past Services

How do we understand and experience hope? Is it just wishful thinking? Environmental Justice activist Joanna Macy teaches us that Active Hope is something we do rather than have. It involves being clear about what we hope for and then playing our role in the process of moving in that direction. She calls this time The Great Turning and encourages us to make our contribution to it. In the process, we might discover new strengths, a wider network of allies, and experience a renewed sense of hope.

Rev Dr. Furrer shares the particulars of his personal meditation practice, walking the length and contours of his watershed, in this case Madsen Creek. As water rolls off Steve and Carol's roof, it follows a gravity-drawn course from their yard to the Cedar River and thence to the Sound. Notes on Henry David Thoreau, Wendell Barry, Annie Dillard, and the spirituality of place: this place.

Rev Steve contemplates Memorial Day by way of considering the nature and reliability of our memories.

And annual celebration from the earliest days of ESUC Sunday Services. Bring a flower to contribute to our thrown-together floral centerpiece—and take another contribution home. This will be Rev. Furrer’s last service leading services after forty-eight months as guardian and shepherd of the worship practices here at ESUC. Notes of appreciation and hope for our congregation’s future as a Beloved Community.

June 12 is East Shore's annual Pride Day service. We will be featuring several musical guests as well as the East Shore Mighty Choir, who will be presenting a world premiere! This service is fun, informative, moving, and family friendly. Come celebrate with us, dressed in whatever rainbow suits you best!

It’s that time of year when the kids and youth in our education programs leap, lead and bridge into their next spiritual journey and welcome transition in an intentional way. Through music, art, and reflection, let us open to the holy curiosity of our community. Join us for a sweet and special day! This morning we also "Share the Plate" with Congregations for Kids Good Start Back to School, who provide supplies to school age kids throughout the Bellevue School District. Monetary donations and in-kind donations of Sturdy Backpacks are requested, so please join is in your support and shop for Backpacks without slings or wheels; padded backs for 4th through high school; large size for middle and high school, with laptop compartments; solid colors (no red) for HS.

TED talks have become famous as a way of giving people a chance to share their ideas across a wide platform. In this service, members share their ideas in just 5 minutes each. In addition, Eric Lane Barnes will lead a pop-up choir. If you’ve always wanted to try being in the choir, this is your chance to give it a go. Arrive in the Sanctuary by 9am and we will learn some easy pieces, and then perform them in the service.

In the midst of our divided nation, how do we move from the paralysis of fear toward a greater sense of freedom, hope and healing? Please join us as we explore this question within the theological context of a welcome table of hospitality, bridge-building and social justice. 

"One day we were driving across town, and my partner Mary Jane wanted me to pull over, so she could give some $ to a man down on his luck. I refused; MJ rebutted; and I drove by like a heartless brute. We both felt bad for different reasons." Help is a big part of what makes us a social animal, so much so that we feel good when we help, and bad when we don't. ANSWER is how I discovered that helping children in need, helps us in our need to help. This is my journey over the potholes to giving.

Join King County Council Member Sarah Perry in an exploration of Behavioral Health challenges and what state, county and local government can and is doing to address those challenges.

What is happening in the UUA? What was shared at General Assembly? The members and staff who traveled to Portland and some who logged in virtually will share their takeaways.

We will be celebrating the first harvest and discussing how we harvest and what we will harvest,not just from our gardens but in all of our life. We will celebrate with song and dance. Please join us for this celebration of Lughnasadh (LOO-nah-sah) and the turning of the wheel of the year.

Our guest speaker, indigenous activist Julian Matthews, will share what it means for the Nimiipuu (Nez Perce Tribe) to be protectors of sacred lands and waters. The focus of his talk will be the current issue of how Nez Perce Treaty rights are impacted by the Lower Four Snake River dams. Salmon have been a critical part of Nimiipuu culture and identity and are one of the main First Foods for their people. Asserting Treaty rights to safeguard these relationships propels their current activism to restore the wild salmon runs on the Snake River by removing the Lower Snake River dams. In so doing, the tribe aims to ensure that their Treaty rights are secured for future generations.