Sermons: January 2021 - June 2021
My Muzungu Eyes Are Improving with the Unitarian Universalist Hysterical Society
June 13, 2021. This a playful humor service about bravery and Unitarianism overseas sharing the story of Rev. Fulgence Ndadigimana’s imprisonment for his work as a UU Minister. UUs around the world came together to get him released. Building relationships across diversity enriches us and opens the possibilities to make a true difference.
Dance of Transformation with Rev. Diane Whalen, Guest Speaker
June 20, 2021. As a leader and a Roman Catholic Woman Priest, Diane explores this ancient-yet-new transformational dance. No matter what our particular individual spiritual or religious beliefs, we are all invited into this great Wisdom Dance which continually invites us to deeper communion and love, inclusivity, justice and peace.
Flower Celebration with Rev. Scott, Minister & Erin Cole-Baker
June 6, 2021. Join us for our annual Flower Celebration service as we close this fellowship program year. The beauty of the gathered flowers reminds us of the uniqueness each of us brings to this community. We will enjoy the sounds of our special guest musician, Erin Cole-Baker.
Pay Attention. Be Astonished. Tell About It. with Katie Diez, Guest Speaker
May 30, 2021. These are instructions for living by Mary Oliver. They are also words that speak to this Sunday’s speaker Katie Diez. Katie will tell her story of how paying attention and curiosity led to Comfort Seeds; a project that has been a way to honor her father, teach and help children through grief, and bring some happiness to the world.
The Power of Story with UUFCO Youth and Amy, Director of Religious Exploration
May 16, 2021. Join our UUFCO youth as they take us on a journey through the power that story has to ground, connect, and guide us as a people of Unitarian Universalist faith.
Dream Keeping: The Life of the Imagination in Challenging Times with Will Hornyak, Guest Speaker
May 9, 2021. Storyteller Will Hornyak shares poems, myths and tales that reflect upon the vitality of the imaginal world in healing and renewal during difficult times. Join us as we explore how story informs our lives..
Created and Connected Through Story with Rev. Scott, Minister
May 23, 2021. Each day of our lives we add a little bit to our own story. As commingle our stories together, we learn more about ourselves and the world around us. Each of us is an author until our dying day.
Receiving & Returning the Earth’s Gifts with Rev. Scott, Minister
April 18, 2021. As this Earth Day approaches, how do we bring ourselves back into a relationship of reciprocity with the planet? Can a practice of gratitude strengthen our ability to protect an ecosystem in crisis? Does taking pleasure in nature, food, and the gifts of the Earth play a role in our awareness of the interdependent web of life? Join members of the Environmental Justice team to contemplate the gifts we exchange with the planet we call home.
Two Sides to Every Story with Rev. Scott, Minister
May 2, 2021. Let’s be honest. There are not just two sides to every story. There are as many sides as there are people hearing the story. When we hear a story we filter it through our own experience and understanding. In the end, we all must decide for ourselves what we believe about a story.
A Rabbit Becomes Our Teacher with Rev. Scott, Minister
April 4, 2021. The ancient symbols of spring’s re-emergence include bunnies -- lots of bunnies that make their appearance in the early days of spring. Today we listen to the wisdom of one particular rabbit who teaches us about love, the greatest lesson of all.
A Divided America Can Recover from Shame and Blame with Dr. Janet Lindeman, Lay Leader
April 11, 2021. Please join us as Jan speaks about her work and new book: A Divided America Can Recover from Shame and Blame. She was a psychologist for 35 years and taught at the University of Alaska in Anchorage. She has also authored From the Bamboo Grove Dream Journaling For Self-Therapy and 365 Wise Ways to Happiness.
Between Being and Becoming with Rev. Scott, Minister
April 25, 2021. We hope to learn how to be at peace with ourselves – to love ourselves and recognize that we are precious just as we are. At the same time, we have areas where we know we can do better and engaging the noble religious struggle of spiritual growth.
It is enough to make you feel like stretched out taffy.
EqUUal Opportunity with Rev. Scott, Minister
March 21, 2021. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law on July 26, 1990. This civil rights legislation prohibits discrimination and guarantees that people with disabilities have access to mainstream opportunities. But inclusion doesn’t just come through legislation. It comes through an ongoing commitment to learn and practice what we learn.
To Whom or What are you Committed? with Rev. Scott, Minister
March 28, 2021. Our lived lives reveal more clearly than our words where our deepest commitments lie.
A Year in the Life with Lay Leaders
March 14, 2021. Our Worship Team invites you to reflect about worshiping online for the last year. We will ask you to breathe into your sorrow and find joy in your resilience. We will look back and look forward as we mark how we have stayed together though apart.
Dear Letter Writing with Rev. Scott, Minister
February 21, 2021. Personal letter writing used to be a common form of communication and contemplation. Seems like the mail is full of advertisements and bills more often than heartfelt communication. This service is a love letter to letters appreciating that lost art for connection.
Love Yourself with Rev. Scott Rudolph
March 7, 2021. We each have many commitments in life. In meeting these, we might skip a primary commitment we have – ourselves. What does it look like for you to be committed to yourself? To love yourself?
The Power of Story with Heather McNeil
January 24, 2021. Heather will be speaking about The Power of Story, providing examples, both humorous and profound, of how stories have impacted her and others. She will explain how we are all storytellers, about the importance of respect for the culture and history of a story, and how stories open our minds and hearts to the minds and hearts of others.
Creating Beloved Community with Rev. Scott, Minister
February 7, 2021. In a Beloved Community, there is enough for everyone. Beloved Community is a vision of what could be in our world. Resources are shared and needs are met. Moral imperatives do not allow for things like hunger, poverty, or racism. To create such a world, we must be loving and allow others to love freely.
Resist with Love with Rev. Scott, Minister
January 10, 2021. After the events at the US Capitol this week, we are left with difficult emotions and wondering what to do. We find hope in small acts of courage and love. There, we ground ourselves for all that is to come.
Until We Are All Free with Rev. Scott, Minister
February 28, 2021. As Black History Month closes, we look at the many ways that the Civil Rights movement invited intersectionality as it sought justice for the Black Community. We all hold many identities. “Until we are all free, none of us are free.” (Emma Lazarus) And that means all parts of each of us.
Love Lessons in the Peace Corps with UUFCO Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
February 14, 2021. On this lay-led Valentine’s Day service you’ll hear from people in our congregation who spent time in the Peace Corps – where they fell in love with service, in love with those they served, and, in a couple of cases, in love with the person with whom they’d spend their lives.
Imagine That with Rev. Scott, Minister
January 31, 2021. We have had to imagine our worship services very differently ever since we moved to online worship. I wonder what happens if we keep on imagining together? The power of imagination points to possibility. Just ask Albert Einstein!
What if… and then what? Imagination and Creation Part 2: Community with Rev. Scott, Minister
January 17, 2021. We are co-creators together of the shared narrative of our wider community, each of us creating from our own little corner of the world. We imagine how a more peaceful, just, and compassionate world might look. Then each day new day the collective story of humanity is created through our individual actions.
Ugh 2020… Yay 20201! with Rev. Scott, Minister
January 3, 2021. 2021 is finally here. 2020 is behind us. Never before has there been quite the pleasure of a year coming to a close. So everything will just be automatically and magically better in 2021, right?