Please come to our services in person from June 30 -- no more Zoom till Fall. (Then you can again click here for Zoom of our weekly services at 10 am).
Christina Sillari has been the minister of First Parish in Portland since 2010. She is the visiting minister at CVUUS during October, 2019.
Originally from Somerville, Massachusetts, she is from a working-class family of Greek Orthodox and Catholic Heritage. She rejected those faith-based traditions as a teenager, and sought meaning in mysticism and dance, and became a practicing Buddhist, embracing the ways of Eastern Philosophy. She became a Unitarian Universalist in her mid-20s after feeling empowered by a sermon given by a female UU minister in Boston. She values UU’s willingness to let individuals define their own brand of faith. And that open-mindedness drew her to our congregation.
In addition to her Masters in Divinity, Christina has her Masters in Psychology with a focus on yoga and mind/body health. Prior to becoming a minister, she worked as a therapist, yoga teacher, shamanic practitioner and group leader. After choosing her path as a UU minister, she was an integral member of the ministerial teams at UU churches in Newburyport and Arlington, MA.
Christina is a strong and supportive minister with varied experience, knowledge and belief that deeply benefits the First Parish Congregation. She is passionate about work in justice, compassion and understanding within the local, denominational and world communities. In addition to her insightful sermons and spiritual teachings, she provides perspective, support and growth to the church, its members and visitors.
Rev. Christina Sillari returned to our pulpit and asked: “Frankly, do you need to believe in God to be convinced that sincerity is preferable to dishonesty, courage to cowardice, generosity to egoism, gentleness and compassion to violence and cruelty, justice to injustice, love to hate.” by Andre Comte-Sponville Watch a recording of it here: We … Continue reading Atheism: What Are Its Blessings? How Does It Shape Our Faith?
With Rev. Christina Sillari. “If you can’t fly, then run, if you can’t run, then walk, if you can’t walk, then crawl, but by all means keep moving.” The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Watch a recording of it posted here. Order of Service Entire service indoors (please mask AND distance). Bell: Land Acknowledgement Prelude … Continue reading From Courage to Resilience: Navigating These Challenging Times
Rev. Christina Sillari returns to our pulpit as guest worship leader. She and Rev. Barnaby exchanged pulpits in Fall 2019. “Beloved community is formed not by the eradication of difference but by its affirmation, by each of us claiming the identities and cultural legacies that shape who we are and how we live in the … Continue reading Beloved Community
What is healing and how do we create it in our lives? Rev. Christina finished her exchange with this service. Our Choir sang There but for Fortune by Phil Ochs Arr: by Peter Amidon Show me the prison, show me the jail, Show me the prisoner whose face has gone pale And I’ll show you someone … Continue reading Cultivating Healing
How do justice, equity and compassion intersect for us as UUs? Guest minister Rev. Christina Sillari explored this. We also heard from Anore Horton, executive director of Hunger Free Vermont, our November donee. Several joined her after worship for a lesson on UU History that was open to all, and especially for those looking at … Continue reading A Bird’s Eye View–Our Second Principle
Rev. Christina Sillari explored how Jesus embodied our UU principles.
