Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “That which dominates our imaginations and our thoughts will determine our lives and our character. Therefore, it behooves us to be careful what we worship, for what we are worshipping, we are becoming.” You might know Emerson as a 19th-century American philosopher who defined the distinctly American relationship to nature in his writings and lectures. But are you aware that Emerson was also a Unitarian minister in Boston for a brief period of time when he was young?  

  Emerson's writings inspire us to be mindful of our actions. We live in a beautiful place in Florida that is losing its natural beauty due to our actions. Many of us moved here to be able to enjoy the abundant nature by doing such activities as kayaking, fishing or spending time at the beach. However, we are missing these activities due to human-made disasters such as extended lengths of red tide, a pending sargassum seaweed blob, nitrogen from our green lawns and leaks from our septic or sewer systems.  

  We Americans are the world’s greatest consumers. The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Charlotte County is a place where our members are committed to environmental justice in both their values and actions. They live this commitment through spiritual connection, education, sustainable living and social justice. Bring your whole self—your full identity, your questioning mind and your expansive heart—on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. to worship with us.   

Location: 1532 Forrest Nelson Rd, Port Charlotte, 941-627-4303, UUFCC.org.