Sermons from 2023

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?

Descent to the Dark and the Rising, Defiant Spark

Guest Speaker: Rev. Linda Slabon Renewal often requires a descent into dark places. Just as a seed pushes up from the deep dank soil, we may re-discover ourselves as we emerge from the places where we have been “dissolved and shaken”, as May Sarton observes. Through the words of William Ellery Channing and May Sarton, let us reaffirm the rising, defiant spark that is ours to claim.

Water and Stone Communion

by Chelsea Musson It’s our unofficial start of the church year – the first Sunday after Labor Day when summer is over and everyone has returned from their travels. In this service, we’ll enjoy the homecoming of everyone being together once again and share the spirituality and interconnectedness of water in our Water Communion. 

Power

by Diana Heizer We empower ourselves to uphold our principles. This week, we’ll take a look at power and the ways it influences us and our actions in the world around us.

Words Matter

by Elizabeth Olson What words do we use to describe our unique faith community? How do we choose our words of welcome at every service? What new vocabulary shall we learn in order to show each person the respect they deserve? Some of us are reassured by familiar Judeo-Christian language, while others feel uncomfortable when memories of negative religious experiences are triggered. These are the challenges of one loving community following our shared principles together along many paths.

The Wisdom of Trees

by guest speaker, Rev. Pam Rumancik While all around us, trees live vibrant lives hidden from the perceptions of most people. They breathe, communicate and share with each other and the wider world offering a glimpse of what sustaining interconnection looks like. There is a magical world in the forest – and we might learn quite a lot about how to live sustainably in this world if we simply paid attention to the wisdom they provide. 

The Evolution of Hope Through Difficult Times

This week we’ll talk about how our collective idea of “hope” has changed over generations, as we deal with stressors both old and new – and how we can remain hopeful and feel our sense of purpose even within an era that seems to feel over-saturated with challenges.

To Be In the Moment

What is life but a collection of moments? Sometimes while we’re so busy living, we forget to be fully present in the moments as they happen. Let’s take a pause and explore being fully present, exploring what that means for different ages, neurotypes, and abilities.

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)

Nourish the Spirit

Guest Speaker: Anne Clough Retreat, Connect, Repeat: How do we balance our responsibility to society with our need to nourish ourselves?

Care of the Soul

The soul is a messy thing for Unitarian Universalists. Join us this week as we share Rev. Wayne B. Arnason’s sermon on the idea of and care of the soul. (Click Save to download a .pdf of the sermon)