Sermon Samples

Are the Rolling Stones Right? Or Can We Get Some Satisfaction?
Nearly 50 years ago this summer, the Rolling Stones released their first big international hit that put them on the map. Listed as either the number one or number two greatest rock-n-roll song of all times, "I Can't Get No Satisfaction" was a highly controversial song for its time -- a critique of crass commercialism. All right, yes, they were also singing about having a difficult time with girls, but two out of the three verses railed against advertising slogans pitched by "Mad Men" to keep us dissatisfied, and always needing to buy something more. The pressure to consume has only ramped up over the past 50 years. When is owning enough stuff, truly enough? Can we get some satisfaction? And maybe, just maybe, a little more happiness, too? "A hey hey hey".....
To listen, or to read.
Tell Me: What DO You Believe?
From atheists, to humanists, theists, Buddhists, agnostics, Christians, UU Jews, mystics and everything in between, we gather together, comfortable in the knowledge that "we do not have to believe alike, to love alike." Yet, ask UUs what they believe and you are as likely to hear about what someone DOESN'T believe than about what they actually DO believe. Why does that happen? Turns out there may be a few good reasons why we struggle to articulate our faith..... Come celebrate the diversity of what we DO believe!
To listen, or to read.
From iChurch to Beloved Community
Are we a "me" church, or a "we" church? That is the challenge Rev. Dr. Fred Muir threw down to all Unitarian Universalists at the annual Berry Street lecture this past year. He warns that many of our congregations have become an iChurch, with the "i" standing for self-absorbed individualism. He challenges us to consider how often we allow the needs of
very few individuals trump the needs of the entire church community. How do we accommodate individuality as we build our Beloved Community?
To read.
Our Hearts, Broken Open: Social Witness in Haiti
During a recent UU College of Social Justice trip to Haiti, we saw much that broke our hearts. The challenge was to stand firm in our witnessing, and allow our hearts to break wide open, because it is in that place of shared humanity that we are ready to do our part to help heal the world.
To read.
Nearly 50 years ago this summer, the Rolling Stones released their first big international hit that put them on the map. Listed as either the number one or number two greatest rock-n-roll song of all times, "I Can't Get No Satisfaction" was a highly controversial song for its time -- a critique of crass commercialism. All right, yes, they were also singing about having a difficult time with girls, but two out of the three verses railed against advertising slogans pitched by "Mad Men" to keep us dissatisfied, and always needing to buy something more. The pressure to consume has only ramped up over the past 50 years. When is owning enough stuff, truly enough? Can we get some satisfaction? And maybe, just maybe, a little more happiness, too? "A hey hey hey".....
To listen, or to read.
Tell Me: What DO You Believe?
From atheists, to humanists, theists, Buddhists, agnostics, Christians, UU Jews, mystics and everything in between, we gather together, comfortable in the knowledge that "we do not have to believe alike, to love alike." Yet, ask UUs what they believe and you are as likely to hear about what someone DOESN'T believe than about what they actually DO believe. Why does that happen? Turns out there may be a few good reasons why we struggle to articulate our faith..... Come celebrate the diversity of what we DO believe!
To listen, or to read.
From iChurch to Beloved Community
Are we a "me" church, or a "we" church? That is the challenge Rev. Dr. Fred Muir threw down to all Unitarian Universalists at the annual Berry Street lecture this past year. He warns that many of our congregations have become an iChurch, with the "i" standing for self-absorbed individualism. He challenges us to consider how often we allow the needs of
very few individuals trump the needs of the entire church community. How do we accommodate individuality as we build our Beloved Community?
To read.
Our Hearts, Broken Open: Social Witness in Haiti
During a recent UU College of Social Justice trip to Haiti, we saw much that broke our hearts. The challenge was to stand firm in our witnessing, and allow our hearts to break wide open, because it is in that place of shared humanity that we are ready to do our part to help heal the world.
To read.