Podcast: Sermons

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

The audio player above plays the audio podcast of the sermon only. The YouTube player below plays the video of the entire service with copyrighted and private information redacted. We welcome Christmas, live-streamed from our beloved sanctuary, with stories, carols and special music, and candles. Come sing the familiar songs that are always powerful, and … Continue reading Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

What If God . . . ?

Whether we call ourselves believers or not, most of us have a god we don’t believe in–what others believe (or we think they believe) that shapes our own attitudes. That can be quite restrictive, because in the abundance of gods we have imagined, we have addressed many different human needs. So today, we’ll hear about different kinds of gods. Maybe some other god-ideas are knocking at the door of our hearts, offering a new way of seeing the world. Since it’s Posadas season, maybe someone else will knock at the door as well.

The Table of Plenty

Our intergenerational Thanksgiving service comes at a tough time. The story The Table Where Rich People Sit, by Byrd Baylor and Peter Parnall, offers a way to think about our lives when we don’t have everything we want. With that story and a special performance from Greg Becker and Kris Geering, plus more adventures of Possum and friends and lots of beautiful music, we’ll literally count up our blessings and see how we’re doing.

The Antidote to Shame

Not only individuals, but families and communities, carry secrets within themselves. The secrets are protected by silence, and shame guards them like a fierce dog. But there are ways to pass safely into the vault and release the secrets, if we want to be free of them.

With Malice Toward None

The audio player above plays the audio podcast of the sermon only. The YouTube player below plays the video of the entire service with copyrighted and private information redacted. How do we move forward together as such a divided nation? How do we proceed “with firmness in the right as God gives us to see … Continue reading With Malice Toward None

Annual Service of Remembrance

It is the time of All Souls and All Saints, and Rev. Millie Phillips returns to our pulpit to lead the service of memory for our beloved departed. We will lift up the names of the members of the UUCPA community who have died since our last remembrance service, and also remember anyone whom any … Continue reading Annual Service of Remembrance

What Was Left in the Box

We’ve heard the story of Epimetheus and Prometheus, and how Prometheus was punished by the gods for bringing the gift of fire to humanity. Well, in one version, that wasn’t enough for Zeus, who also sent one last punishment: Pandora. And she opened a container that had diseases and spiritual torments inside, and accidentally let … Continue reading What Was Left in the Box

Where Have You Gone, Joe DiMaggio?: When Heroes Fall

Do we still have heroes? Do we still need heroes? When the people we venerate turn out to have flaws, we have some choices: we can give up our ideals, beat up our former idols–or grow up into a more complex view of them and ourselves. Worship Leader: Rev. Amy Zucker Morgenstern Special music: Kris … Continue reading Where Have You Gone, Joe DiMaggio?: When Heroes Fall

Blessing of the Animals

Today is the Feast of Saint Francis, and thus the traditional day for blessing animals in Roman Catholicism. It’s also World Animal Day–a fine occasion for us homo sapiens to reflect on what it means to share a biosphere with about 8.7 million other animal species. Now that online services make it easy for non-human … Continue reading Blessing of the Animals