Author Archives: KGJ

Ritual for Broken Times: After the New Zealand Massacre

Posted on March 18, 2019 by KGJ

led at First Unitarian Society of Plainfield March 17, 2019 This afternoon’s ritual space is a lamentation, a condemnation, and rededication in the aftermath of the New Zealand tragedy on Friday where so many, too many, taking part in religious … Continue reading →

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Upstanding

Posted on January 17, 2019 by KGJ

Think about your personal experiences with the place beyond hope and fear. I’m certain there’ve been many times when you found yourself stepping forward without hesitation. Something in the situation called you into spontaneous action without calculating costs and benefits. … Continue reading →

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Dalliances with the Afterlife (sermon)

Posted on December 17, 2018 by KGJ

“Herein the afterlife, everything exists in all possible states at once, even states that are mutually exclusive.  This comes as a shock after your Earthly life, where making one choice causes the other choices to disappear.” So begins the short … Continue reading →

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Little People Living Love Out Loud (sermon)

Posted on November 4, 2018 by KGJ

The Unitarian Society, East Brunswick Reverend Karen G. Johnston   Our reading:   The sermon: Little people living love out loud. That’s what Kid President told us is ours to do. That’s what the Lost Souls Public Memorial Project is … Continue reading →

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A Lamentation for Violence (in Two Voices)

Posted on October 29, 2018 by KGJ

October 28, 2018 Spirit of Life and Love, Possibility of Mercy and Peace, Impulse towards Compassion, Yearning for Comfort in times of Fear, our hearts echo these words from the poet Warsan Shire: We lament the very fact of this … Continue reading →

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Seeking Safety in an Unsafe World (sermon)

Posted on October 29, 2018 by KGJ

October 28, 2018 The Unitarian Society   East Brunswick, NJ   Here is what I have been learning as we face the new normal of increased violence in our midst. First: Of the emergencies that happen at houses of worship – … Continue reading →

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Lost Souls Public Comment to Middlesex County Freeholders

Posted on October 19, 2018 by KGJ

October 18, 2018 It is time to remember them. Harriet Susan Mary Augustus Simon and Margaret – who were both already free Not fictional characters. People with real lives: deceived, stolen, sold back into slavery, removed to a place with … Continue reading →

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Answering the Call of Love (sermon)

Posted on October 14, 2018 by KGJ

The Unitarian Society East Brunwick, NJ Reverend Karen G. Johnston Time for All Ages was the story of the change in title of the Jason Shelton hymn from Standing on the Side of Love to Answering the Call of Love … Continue reading →

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No Hell Below Us: A Sermon for John Murray Day 2018 (sermon)

Posted on October 1, 2018 by KGJ

The Unitarian Society East Brunswick September 30, 2018   (This sermon was preceded by the poem, Monet Refuses the Operation.)     Are there Star Wars fans in the house?   Can I get a sense with a show of hands: … Continue reading →

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What We Lost Fifty Years Ago: Dr. King (sermon)

Posted on March 26, 2018 by KGJ

(A heads up: last Sunday, when I was not here, I was actually attending the 9am service at First Baptist of Lincoln Gardens, in Somerset.  If you are not familiar with First Baptist, it is a Black Baptist church with … Continue reading →

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