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.
Onsite & Zoom. Come to this intergenerational service in which we will explore how Ramadan embodies this month’s Soul Matters theme of resilience. We’ll share our offering plate with the CVUUS Ministers Discretionary Fund to support the immediate needs of our congregants. See our order of service: RE this Sunday: Children will stay in worship … Continue reading Exploring Ramadan
We explored this month’s Soul Matters Theme of Resistance with Rev. Christina and the small group ministry leaders. We share our offering plate with Vermont Immigration Legal Defense Fund to support the immediate legal and fiscal needs of our marginalized neighbors. Guest musician Barry Cohen, bassoonist, played music by Satie and by Ibert during the … Continue reading A Small Group Ministry Experience
We had readings and songs, and ended with the traditional lighting of candles and singing of Silent Night. We collected for the CVUUS Discretionary Fund used for urgent mutual aid requests. See our order of service: OOS Xmas Eve 7 pm Here is a video recording of the service:
Onsite. We will not be doing the “traditional” nativity pageant this year, but instead it will be a rehearsed pageant that is connected to Christmas, but not the traditional story. The story will be an adaptation of O. Henry’s The Gift of the Magi. Ends with the traditional lighting of candles and singing of Silent Night. … Continue reading All-Ages Christmas Pageant
We honored the solstice through ritual. Before 10 am our music began with our Music Director Jennifer Cohen and others playing steel drums. We remained silent for three minutes to honor moment of the solstice at 10:03. There were No Milestones and Passages this week. If you have a pastoral need or concern, please feel free … Continue reading Choosing Hope: All-Ages Solstice Celebration
Join us as we continue November’s spiritual focus on nurturing gratitude. This is an all-ages service where children will participate in and stay in worship. We’ll recognize Transgender Day of Remembrance. Sharing Our Donation Plate: Food & Housing Crisis Local Providers Due to the impending food crisis caused by the non-renewal of SNAP benefits, a … Continue reading Being Thankful When You’d Rather Not
SET CLOCKS BACK ONE HOUR. Onsite & Zoom. Join us as we introduce November’s spiritual focus on nurturing gratitude. Sharing Our Donation Plate: Food & Housing Crisis Local Providers Due to the impending food crisis caused by the non-renewal of SNAP benefits, a loss of an average of $200/person/month for so many people across the … Continue reading Gratitude: A Shift in Consciousness
What is at the heart of one of the world’s oldest religions? How does it intersect with Unitarian Universalism? What does it teach us about compassion? Come and explore this rich faith with us and what it can teach us about October’s spiritual focus on cultivating compassion & more. We share our offering this month … Continue reading Hinduism
Rev. Christina helps us reflect on October’s spiritual focus on cultivating compassion. We share our offering this month with Outright VT & Middlebury Pride working to lift up our LGBTQIA+ community and celebrating our participation in Midd Pride Parade & Festival on Sat Oct 11, 1-4 pm. See our order of service: See a video … Continue reading Compassionate Detachment
What does it mean to belong to our family, our community, our own self? How does belonging nourish our beings? We explored the notion of belonging and how we cultivate it in our lives. “My hunger to belong was not merely a desire to be attached to something. It was rather sensing that great transformation … Continue reading The Longing to Belong
