For some people, religion is about attaining perfect — nirvana, enlightenment, heaven. UU’s, though, and many others, don’t expect to attain that perfect state. Instead, we advocate continual improvement, and that only comes through practice. How do we practice our religion? Individually and collectively? And why does that matter NOW, when so many of our … Continue reading “Religious Practice, not Perfection”
Once again, this service will feature a water ceremony. In this ceremony, everyone brings a small container of water that represents a journey (real or symbolic) they’ve taken over the summer. It might be water from a trip to the ocean, or from a favorite fishing hole. It might be rainwater collected after a storm, … Continue reading “Ingathering and Water Ceremony” Celebrating the Beginning of the New Church Year!
One of our foremost theologians, Rev. Theodore Parker, gave an ordination sermon in 1841 about the “transient and permanent” in Christianity. How does this idea of the transient and the permanent reflect in modern day Unitarian Universalism? How is related to our new Article 2? How is it related to our everyday lives? Note: Kids … Continue reading “Transience and Permanence in our Modern Era”
On Sunday, July 14, we explore the deep spiritual connection that Unitarian Universalists often feel with nature, tracing its origins to the Transcendentalist Movement of the early 19th century and Ralph Waldo Emerson’s writing, among others. How does Transcendentalism and its ideas about nature continue to influence modern Unitarian Universalist spirituality, and what revisions do … Continue reading “Nature’s Inspiration: A New Transcendentalism”
For my final sermon here at First Unitarian, I’d like to share some thoughts about change and how we deal with it. I’ll concentrate on change in the church, especially the changing religious landscape in the United States, and corresponding changes within Unitarian Universalism. Will we meet these changes with hope and creativity? Or will … Continue reading “New Occasions Teach New Duties: Navigating Change”
Direct link to YouTube stream HERE. In our country, we are facing an epidemic of loneliness. What role can a congregation play in countering this trend and nurturing a spirit of community?
Direct link to YouTube stream HERE. In this UU water ceremony, everyone brings a small container of water that represents a journey (real or symbolic) they’ve taken over the summer. It might be water from a trip to the ocean, or from a favorite fishing hole. It might be rainwater collected after a storm, or … Continue reading Water Ceremony/Ingathering
Direct link to YouTube stream HERE. Robert Oppenheimer once said during an interview that, at the time of the first atomic bomb test, he recalled a line from the Bhagavad Gita: “Now I am become Death, destroyer of worlds.” As Unitarian Universalists, we celebrate science, and it is one of our key sources, but how … Continue reading “Now I Am Become…? Science and Unitarian Universalism”
Direct link to YouTube stream HERE. As we transition from summer into the regular church year, we offer three special services (our “Seeker Series”) specifically designed for those who are new to Unitarian Universalism, as well as those who may be longtime UUs but are still learning about our faith. Our first service in this … Continue reading “UU Theology According to Barbie”
Direct link to YouTube stream HERE. Using a canonical sermon by Rev. Theodore Parker as a springboard, we consider what stays the same in the midst of change and what holds us together in times of growth, change, and conflict.
