Unitarian Universalist Audio Sermons

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October, 2007

Title	Presenter	Church	Date presented
The Pathology of Alienation Rev. Delap, retired from the Presbyterian Ministry, directs our attention to the message of reconciliation and forgiveness that is contained in the ministry of Jesus. He recounts his efforts towards the World Peace, a Christian goal which he has promoted throughout his own ministry.	Rev. Keith Delap	The Unitarian Church of Quincy, Illinois	10/28/2007
Love & All That Jazz Come look closely at the carving of the angel Gabriel on my office desk. In his left hand he's holding my sermon outline for October. In his right hand--well, is that a trumpet or a sax? "Love is the spirit of this church." Do you know that tune?.	Rev. Margie Allen	The Unitarian Church in Westport	10/28/2007
Alice and Jim Fourth in a series on Ghosts	Kaaren Anderson	First Unitarian Church of Rochester NY	10/28/2007
Who Are You Going to Be for Halloween	Rev. Chris Buice	Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church in Knoxville	10/28/2007
Descent of the Dark Goddess Autumn is a time of celebrating the abundant harvest of summer, and releasing our hold on the things that did not grow. Halloween offers rich imagery that is evocative of celebration and release.	Rev. Lisa Schwartz	Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Topeka	10/28/2007
Where Do We Come From?: Universalism As we approach the feast of All Souls, it seems only appropriate to delve into the history and theology of our Universalist forbears. Who were the Universalists? What gifts of faith have they given us to carry on?	Rev. John Cullinan	The Unitarian Church of Los Alamos, New Mexico	10/28/2007
All Souls-Communion of Memory	Rev. Mary Katherine Morn	Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax, VA	10/28/2007
The Ministry We Do Together	Rev. Dr. Joshua Snyder	Second Unitarian Church of Omaha	10/28/2007
Community: Promise and Practice The word "community" appears frequently throughout literature and conversation about Unitarian Universalism. On our FUS web-page we refer to FUS as a "religious community"; in our UU Statement Principles we refer to "the goal of world community"; in the New UU classes participants often speak of "seeking community" as a reason for coming to FUS. What might "community" mean in those contexts? When we seek it, how do we know we have found it? Does community exist independent of our participation in it?	Karen Gustafson	First Unitarian Society of Madison (WI)	10/28/2007
Weaving a Tapestry of Love and Action	Rev. Anthony David	Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta	10/28/2007
Fear and Trembling There is an intensive rehabilitation program that takes troubled teens away from their current environments and their families and throws them into the wilderness with other troubled teens and a group of counseling/survival staff, sometimes for months. Through learning survival skills, the teens learn about their own struggles and gain self-confidence. Before being released, each camper must be taken blindfolded into the woods and left alone to camp overnight. Each fends for his/her own food and fire, and must face their own fears, both internal and external. Alone with no distractions, they journal and think, sing and pray, and write letters to those whom they have harmed and to those who have harmed them. Jesus also often went into the wilderness to pray. At one significant juncture, he was led into the wilderness alone and was tempted by Satan. What could be more frightening than to have to prove who you are, when someone is doing his/her very best to prove otherwise? What could be more frightening then to doubt even our own intentions? What you do with fear when it strikes you at your depths? How are you renewed and re-grounded? What can we learn from this program and the temptation of Jesus when we are facing our own fears? How do you nourish yourself so that you can stand tall in the face of fear to have the strength to (figuratively) say: Get thee away, Satan!	Rev. Tamara Lebak	All Souls Unitarian Church of Tulsa	10/28/2007
When the Night Comes On October 5th the first national Unitarian Universalist media campaign in over 50 years will begin. Look in TIME magazine for a full page ad which asks the question, "Is God Keeping You Out of Church?" Over 20 million Americans read TIME each week. For those who respond to this ad and attend our church, they might say what I have heard hundreds of times: "If I’d only known about Unitarian Universalism …" How will you respond?	Amber Beland	Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis	10/28/2007
Beyond Categorical Thinking: The Van Gogh Cafe	Rev. Keith Kron	Pathways Church, Southlake, TX	10/28/2007
Dancing Into The Dark	Rev. Laura Cavicchio	First Parish Lexington Unitarian Universalist	10/28/2007
Sins of Privilege College education, money, sound body and mind, heterosexual, male, physically attractive, white skin, English speaking, socially skilled…do these characteristics separate us from beloved community and contribute to our collective suffering or bring us together in a spirit of love that is healing and liberating? Worship and reflect on how sins of privilege can be transformed and blaze a path toward freedom and justice for all.	Jacqueline Duhart	Unity Church-Unitarian, St. Paul, MN	10/28/2007
Have Those UUs Scared the "Holy Ghost" Away? Third in a series on Ghosts	Scott Tayler	First Unitarian Church of Rochester NY	10/21/2007
Robert’s Rules of Ritual Based on the book, From Beginning to End: The Rituals of Our Lives, by the famous UU Minister, Robert Fulghum, as well as the "Spirit of Life" curriculum which we are currently teaching in Adult RE. To be human is to invent rituals of life and religion. I might even argue that rituals are instinctual and that every time we light a candle, we are participating in a ritual. Often we have left traditional religion and its rituals because they no longer were meaningful for us. We need ritual, but it has to be meaningful for us.	Rev Art Severance	East Shore Unitarian Universalist Church, Kirtland, OH	10/21/2007
The Question Box A chance to get to know Rev. John and ask him your burning questions.	Rev. John Cullinan	The Unitarian Church of Los Alamos, New Mexico	10/21/2007
The Tao: Flowing Towards the Whole (Auction Sermon)	Rev. Mary Katherine Morn	Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax, VA	10/21/2007
The Unitarian Controversy	Rev. Dr. Joshua Snyder	Second Unitarian Church of Omaha	10/21/2007
The First Principle in Theory and in Fact Once a month, throughout the year, worship and religious education will focus on one of Unitarian Universalism’s seven core principles. Hopefully, this will give families an opportunity to engage in deeper and more meaningful conversation about these key spiritual concepts. We begin with a consideration of the "inherent worth and dignity of every human soul."	Rev. Dr. Michael A. Schuler	First Unitarian Society of Madison (WI)	10/21/2007
Eat, Pray, Love	Rev. Marti Keller	Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta	10/21/2007
Hidden America	Rev. Marlin Lavanhar	All Souls Unitarian Church of Tulsa	10/21/2007
If I’d Only Known On October 5th the first national Unitarian Universalist media campaign in over 50 years will begin. Look in TIME magazine for a full page ad which asks the question, "Is God Keeping You Out of Church?" Over 20 million Americans read TIME each week. For those who respond to this ad and attend our church, they might say what I have heard hundreds of times: "If I’d only known about Unitarian Universalism …" How will you respond?	Fred Muir	Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis	10/21/2007
The Illusion of Communication	Rev. Kathy Schmitz	Pathways Church, Southlake, TX	10/21/2007
The Good Deed Conundrum A Unitarian-Universalist minister, Kate Braestrup serves on search and rescue missions in the Maine woods, giving comfort to people whose loved ones are missing, and to the wardens who sometimes have to deal with awful outcomes.	Rev. Kate Braestrup	May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Society, Syracuse, NY	10/21/2007
Association Sunday "Growing Our Faith"	Rev. Dr. Stephan Papa	First Parish Lexington Unitarian Universalist	10/21/2007
Shrink Wrap and Other Telling Terms Kabir says, Go over and over your beads, paint designs on your forehead, wear your hair matted, long and ostentatious. When deep inside you there is a loaded gun, how can you have God?" We live at the intersection of spiritual development and right action in the world. Urgency is understandable but so often its also an indication that we’re hiding behind the troubles of the world as a way to avoid confronting our own troubles. We run from church to church or from crisis to crisis hoping against hope to find an all-consuming cause. Such behavior can perpetuate the very injustice its intended to combat. Rob and Worship Associate, Craig Allen will begin our series on "Identity and Violence."	Rob Eller-Isaacs	Unity Church-Unitarian, St. Paul, MN	10/21/2007
What is the Source and Way of True Peace? In this auction sermon purchased by Ann Yeo we will reflect on our principle of promoting "the goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all" in light of our General Assembly’s 2006 resolution calling us to examine what peacemaking presently means to us as Unitarian Universalists. Can we exist with integrity somewhere between agreement with "just war" theory and a commitment to nonviolence?	Rev Art Vaeni	Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Olympia, WA	10/21/2007
The Stillborn God Starting with Mark Lilla's theory of historical political theology, do we detect a failure of western democracy to find a viable substitute compelling unifying vision for the religious one which was removed in the Great Separation? Or, in other words, are the politics which flow from the enlightenment a deadend because they do not have a passionate, rallying spiritual vision?	Rev. Dr. Randolph W.B. Becker	Unitarian Universalist Fellowshop, Key West. FL	10/21/2007
Waging Peace We welcome the winner of this year's UU UNO Greeley Address which encourages and recognizes UUs thought and action on global issues of peace and justice.	Denise Donato-McConnell	The Unitarian Church in Westport	10/21/2007
Let the beauty we love, be what we do	Rev. Kim K. Crawford Harvie	Arlington Street Church, Boston, MA	10/21/2007
Elliptical Training for the Soul	Jenny Rankin	First Parish in Concord, MA	10/14/2007
Association Sunday: Nothing Less Than This On this Sunday all over the Unitarian Universalist Association, hundreds of congregations like ours will celebrate a new comprehensive campaign to grow our faith. A special collection will be taken to support the larger efforts of the UU communities.	Reverend Nancy McDonald Ladd	Bull Run Unitarian Universalists, Manassas, Virginia	10/14/2007
Get Ready! The World Is Coming to an End -- Or Is It? Environmental doomsday is only a part of the danger that faces our planet. Paul surveys the stages of events that lead up to failed civilizations and shares his optimism that humankind will realize the value of a broader self-interest.	Paul Miller	The Unitarian Church of Quincy, Illinois	10/14/2007
The Elder's Council: They Are a Whispering! Second in a series on Ghosts	Kaaren Anderson	First Unitarian Church of Rochester NY	10/14/2007
Association Sunday: Our Liberal Religious Heritage This is a Sunday devoted to denominational growth and outreach. Studies show that close to 50% of new members come from us inviting friends, neighbors, and family to our church. But we could double our size by just encouraging the many visitors to stay! This is an opportunity to bring a guest! Maybe you could ask if they have been turned off by traditional religion, because we have, too.	Rev Art Severance	East Shore Unitarian Universalist Church, Kirtland, OH	10/14/2007
Withdrawing From Iraq William Stewart is a former State Department diplomat and foreign correspondent for Time magazine. He served in high level positions in the U.S. Foreign Service from 1961 to 1971. His most distinguished service was in India and Vietnam. He joined Time magazine in 1971 as a foreign correspondent. With Time, he was, successively, bureau chief in New Delhi, Tokyo, Beirut, and Hong Kong. As the bureau chief in Beirut, he covered the Iran-Iraq war, Israel's invasion of Lebanon, and other significant events in the Middle East. On retirement from Time, Mr. Stewart moved to Santa Fe. Mr. Stewart discusses the situation in Iraq, with audience questions following.	William Stewart, Journalist	The Unitarian Church of Los Alamos, New Mexico	10/14/2007
Association Sunday	Rev. Mary Katherine Morn	Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax, VA	10/14/2007
Principles for a Universal Health Care Plan	Todd Salzman	Second Unitarian Church of Omaha	10/14/2007
Responsibility: To Whom and to What? We follow up last weeks reflections on "rights" with a consideration of responsibility – the other side of the moral coin. Regrettably, all the public clamor for rights is seldom accompanied by comparable agitation for greater responsibility. Many people prefer to think they are accountable only to themselves and/or their closest loved ones. But without responsibility, rights soon begin to erode and are rendered meaningless.	Rev. Dr. Michael A. Schuler	First Unitarian Society of Madison (WI)	10/14/2007
First Things First: Managing the Time Crunch	Rev. Anthony David	Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta	10/14/2007
Better Together	Rev. Bill Sinkford	All Souls Unitarian Church of Tulsa	10/14/2007
Living the Spirit of Generosity This is one of my favorite Sundays because it’s when we get to be and to do: to be our theology (as generous Unitarian Universalists) and to do our part in shaping the future of UUCA. I look forward to seeing you on this our Stewardship Sunday.	Fred Muir	Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis	10/14/2007
Let Your Life Sing	Rev. Rob Moore	Pathways Church, Southlake, TX	10/14/2007
Trails, Travails and Theological Tumult: The Story of Ann Hutchinson	Rev. Jory Agate	First Parish Lexington Unitarian Universalist	10/14/2007
How Does Faith Endure? Evil prospers and wrongdoing asserts itself; loved ones disappoint us and fall short. Even our own dreams die and our courage often fails us. In the face of this often cruel reality, how dare we lay claim to hope? Rev. McNatt invites us, and our faith, to endure. This Celebration Sunday join us as we renew our financial commitments to our church community.	Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt	Unity Church-Unitarian, St. Paul, MN	10/14/2007
Wrestling with Angels In his poem "The Man Watching" Rainer Maria Rilke writes: What we choose to fight is so tiny! What fights with us is so great!.. When we win it's with small things, and the triumph itself makes us small. In this service that initiates our stewardship drive we consider how this religious tradition calls us to be engaged in the world. Are we made greater by that to which we give our life energy?	Rev Art Vaeni	Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Olympia, WA	10/14/2007
Critial Religion Or Religion of Praise Which is Unitarian Universalism - a Critical Religion or a Religion of Praise?	Rev. Dr. Randolph W.B. Becker	Unitarian Universalist Fellowshop, Key West. FL	10/14/2007
Beyond the Confines Today we celebrate Association Sunday, a time to reflect on the meaning and value of our Unitarian Universalist Association of 1,000 congregations across the continent. (Alaska and Hawaii, too.).	Rev. Frank A. Hall with Tim Brennan, John Hooper & Gail Pesyna	The Unitarian Church in Westport	10/14/2007
We Are the Ones We've Been Waiting For	Rev. Kim K. Crawford Harvie	Arlington Street Church, Boston, MA	10/14/2007
The Power of Now	Rev. Chris Buice	Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church in Knoxville	10/14/2007
Remembering Our Stories	Rebecca Johnson	First Parish in Concord, MA	10/07/2007
A Buddhist Perspective on Suffering In the Buddhist worldview, suffering is an essential part of each person’s spiritual and material journey. While we certainly prefer to avoid suffering, what can we learn by embracing it?	Reverend Nancy McDonald Ladd	Bull Run Unitarian Universalists, Manassas, Virginia	10/07/2007
It Seemed Like a Good Idea At the Time: Some Thoughts On the Ghosts Of Regret First in a series on Ghosts	Scott Tayler	First Unitarian Church of Rochester NY	10/07/2007
Our Unitarian Universalist Identity: An Introduction The beginning of our year-long exploration of Unitarian Universalist religious identity. As we approach fifty years of merged Unitarian and Universalist churches, who have we become as a people of faith? Who will we be in the next half century?	Rev. John Cullinan	The Unitarian Church of Los Alamos, New Mexico	10/07/2007
Migrations of the Soul	Rev. Mary Katherine Morn	Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax, VA	10/07/2007
To Be a Bodhisattva	Rev. Dr. Joshua Snyder	Second Unitarian Church of Omaha	10/07/2007
What Rights Do You Have? The notion that human beings possess certain rights – inalienable or otherwise – is relatively modern. For much of history and in many cultures the idea didn’t sink in. But the question "what is a human right" still has not been settled and has been muddied by claims that animals and ecosystems also possess them. Today we’ll try to shed a bit more light on rights and their implications.	Rev. Dr. Michael A. Schuler	First Unitarian Society of Madison (WI)	10/07/2007
Thank God For Evolution Michael Dowd and Connie Barlow are in Tulsa to celebrate the release of their new book, "Thank God For Evolution!" As we begin our month of Creation, Michael agreed to join Marlin in delivering the message this week.	Rev. Michael Dowd	All Souls Unitarian Church of Tulsa	10/07/2007
A Concrete Suggestion If, as many UU’s believe, we each have a piece of the truth, from whence do we get it? Intern Minister Eric Kaminetzky will engage this question by way of introducing himself to our congregation. Please join us and bring your truth.	Eric Kaminetzky	Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis	10/07/2007
Fighting Terrorism Since 1492 The naming of Columbus Day as a recognition of Columbus's landing in the Americas is a fine example of history being written by the victors. Jean will offer a Columbus Day, Homeland Security, War on Terrorism reflection.	Rev. Jean Wahlstrom	May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Society, Syracuse, NY	10/07/2007
The Heart of Our Faith	Tim Temerson	First Parish Lexington Unitarian Universalist	10/07/2007
Sources of Faith As part of our series on faith, Janne and Worship Associate Karen Palmen will examine where we look for validation of our faith. Do we look inward for our own sense of truth or do we look to outside sources? Or is it ever that clearly delineated? Emerson’s essay on self reliance will be a primary source for this service.	Janne Eller-Isaacs	Unity Church-Unitarian, St. Paul, MN	10/07/2007
I Don’t Know How I Know Some Things, I Just Know That I Do Heather Rader, an OUUC member, has had the experience of knowing something she couldn’t possibly know. From the perspective of a mystical realist, she questions: Where does such knowledge come from? Can these experiences be rationally explained? Should they?	Heather Rader	Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Olympia, WA	10/07/2007
Waiting For Someone To Really Discover America I count seven America's - six in history and one in vision. What are they? And when will WE discover the 7th?	Rev. Dr. Randolph W.B. Becker	Unitarian Universalist Fellowshop, Key West. FL	10/07/2007
Forgive Me! On saying you're sorry.	Rev. Frank A. Hall	The Unitarian Church in Westport	10/07/2007
The Tao of Our Purposes and Principles I love the oft used quote, "Love is the Doctrine of this Church and Service is its Prayer," because it gives us the opportunity to be universal. We don’t have an official "doctrine" of belief, of course, because we evolved out of doctrinaire and creed requirements that always seemed to leave us out, indeed, to list us as heretics. I like to describe us as "happy heretics!" But more than 20 years ago, we tried to find what we believed in common, calling it our "Purposes and Principles." I bring in some of the Taoist readings since we have more of an "Eastern" slant to approaching religion.	Rev Art Severance	East Shore Unitarian Universalist Church, Kirtland, OH	10/07/2007
Spirit of Life HYMN 123	Dan Kane	Arlington Street Church, Boston, MA	10/07/2007
"The Letter and the Spirit"	Rev. Chris Buice	Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church in Knoxville	10/07/2007
Secrets of the Generous Life	Rev. Anthony David	Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta	10/07/2007
Untangling our Conditioning: Homosexuality vs. the Bible	Susan Frederick	Pathways Church, Southlake, TX	10/07/2007

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