I've always been a huge fan of the music of Aram Khachaturian, the great 20th century Armenian composer. His grandiose symphonies (particularly, No. 2), emotionally-charged concerti (particularly, the Violin Concerto), and dynamic ballets (particularly, Gayaneh) are among my most beloved repertoire of all time. But his "Masquerade Suite" is funny. Literally. Following four beautiful movements—alte...  Read More

For all of the glorious music making I've been privileged to experience—in concert halls, opera stages, jam sessions, and recording studios across the globe—it all began around 1996 in the McGinness Room. Of course, I was the beneficiary of my mom's Mozartian wisdom (and elementary piano lessons) from birth; but my very first collaborative musical experience was right here at MLUC about a year bef...  Read More

Local teen Sarah Kokas’ inspiring work of baking birthday cakes for children and families experiencing homelessness has transformed into an upcoming art exhibition at the Main Line Unitarian Church (MLUC). The exhibition, "Art à la Carte!" opens on Jan. 18 and supports Family Promise of the Main Line’s mission of helping families experiencing homelessness and low-income families achieve sustainabl...  Read More

Many individuals at MLUC have inquired about the meaning of Axé (pronounced A-shay) and why I say it alongside Amen and May it be so.I first encountered the term "Axé" when I lived in Brazil, where I experienced it through various forms, including music, the Brazilian; African diaspora religion Candomblé, and the direct connection to nature. However, it wasn't until I returned to Brazil and began ...  Read More

Exciting news! MLUC is embarking on a three-month biodiversity project, from March through May 2025. Our Environmental Justice Team have been developing a fun and engaging regional project, Nature's Best Hope Is You, to help restore our communities’ natural habitat and biodiversity. We have three sponsor organizations and nine faith communities joining our effort, which means all the work we do wi...  Read More

Well beyond my Sunday school years—hearing murmurs of a "partner church" in the mysterious land of Transylvania—but well before I would ever travel as an MLUC pilgrim, Kaitlyn and I were visiting artists with the Csik Chamber Orchestra in the Szeklerland region of Transylvania in 2013. A chaotic period of my life, I had just finished my master's degree (that same week, actually), was looking for a...  Read More

Happy New Year! As we enter a new year full of expectations and anxiety, I want to hold up the power of stories in our lives. Our story, either collectively or personally, can be a touchstone in times of uncertainty. As you contemplate your goals for the new year, recall how you made that happen in the past. If it didn't happen and you find yourself resolving to meet the same goal again, perhaps i...  Read More

If you've ever knocked doors for a cause or candidate, you've given pause to the sign that says, "No Soliciting." Perhaps it's signage expressing an antithetical viewpoint, or even a private-looking gate or porch that you must cross to ring the doorbell. In this situation, I remind myself of my favorite adage—"I'd rather ask for forgiveness than permission"—and step up to the door. For me, this is...  Read More

Poster from the documentary, John Lewis: Good Trouble As we enter the New Year, we find ourselves amidst a mix of celebrations and uncertainty. This January, many will honor the enduring legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., while also reflecting on the tragic events of the insurrection that tested our nation’s spirit. At the same time, many are anxiously looking ahead to the uncertainties of the ...  Read More

How fitting that we conclude the 2024 Holiday Season with Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights. We have spent the month exploring illumination—both the literal return of sunlight following the Winter Solstice, and the metaphorical light we seek in the darkness of hatred, bigotry, and greed that defines our new political reality. The allegorical, daily, additive light of the menorah notwithstanding, Je...  Read More

During our November Offering Outreach—where we split our congregation's offertory collection equally with a partner nonprofit—we supported Providence Relief Organization (Gondviselés) in their critical work with Ukrainian refugees.The recent letter from our their director, Attila Vagyas, reveals how our congregation's generosity is providing transformative aid. Read on to see the inspiring details...  Read More

Do you ever wonder why music sounds the way it does?On the surface, it's a funny thought experiment. But why, for example, do we have . . . say . . . orchestras? String quartets? Jazz or rock bands? Or the particular instruments that we know? The melodies and harmonies? Scales, keys, rhythms, and meters?Not unlike the theory of evolution that explains the emergence of our species—from single-cellu...  Read More