Sermons by Stephen Day

Change is in the Air

The weather has cooled, the days are getting shorter, and the leaves are beginning to fall – all signs that the season of Fall is upon us. This morning we’ll explore and celebrate this transitional time and how we can accept, and even welcome, change into our lives – even when we feel satisfied with the status-quo.

The Worm at the Core

by Stephen Day The American philosopher, William James, dubbed the knowledge that we must die “the worm at the core” of the human condition. While we may not realize it, our subconscious grappling with that reality may shape our daily actions and our relationships with people and the world around us. What can we learn about how to live by facing our fear of death?

Playtime

With only a few weeks of summer vacation remaining, this week we’ll explore our human need for Play – what is it, why is it so important, and how can we find it in our daily lives? If you’re interested in learning more about “Play”, including the eight Play Personalities, check out the National Institute for Play’s website! (Click Save to download a .pdf of the sermon)

Flower Communion Ceremony

The first Flower Ceremony was held in Prague one hundred years ago, in June 1923, led by Rev. Norbert Capek. For decades, this beloved tradition and its powerful history have provided meaning to UU congregations around the world. Join us as we celebrate and honor the spirit of Flower Communion at UUCE. (Click Save to download a .pdf of the sermon)

Calling it Quits

Sometimes life throws us challenges that we can learn and grow from – but other times, those curveballs might be not-so-subtle hints that the direction we’re heading isn’t where we’re meant to be. How can we know the difference and be comfortable (and confident) with a decision to call it quits?

News of the World: The Article II Study Report

“Article II” is one of the most important sections of our UUA’s by-laws – the section that defines what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist through our seven principles. In the last few years, you may have heard whisperings of an “eighth principle” or other potential updates to our principles and religious sources. This Sunday we’ll learn what’s been going on with Article II, what it means for us, and how we can get involved.

New Year’s Rituals

Join us in two New Year’s rituals – a Fire Communion and an Intention Setting ritual – in which we bid farewell to the old year and hello to the new one. In the words of Rev. Elizabeth Harding, “The fire communion separates the end of the year from the beginning, helping us to put in perspective the joys and sorrows, the changes and transitions, the ups and downs of the year.”

This I Believe

Our Unitarian Universalist fourth principle calls for a free and responsible search for truth and meaning. While our UU heritage recognizes sources of “truth”, in the end, it is the responsibility of each of us to craft a worldview for ourselves that makes sense to us as an individual…that gives our actions some direction for making meaning in our life. This Sunday, three of our members will be sharing their personal spiritual beliefs and the journeys that lead them there.

This Time When We Might Be Flying

Our community is starting to come back together after so much time apart. So what’s next for us and for Unitarian Universalism in the world around us? Join us this morning for a sermon by the UUA’s Central East Region’s Rev. Dr. Megan Foley. We’ll follow the sermon with some individual and small-group reflection exploring the opportunities this new era can present to UUCE. (The Sunday service included time for personal and group reflection on a series of three questions.…

Next Time Around

Most world religions exist to provide an answer to the big question of life: what happens after we die. This morning we present a sermon by Rev. Wayne B. Arnason where we’ll consider one possible answer – reincarnation – and how a belief in a starting over can make an impact on how we interact with the world around us.