Podcast: Sermons

Helen Kreps, Remarkable Palo Alto Unitarian

One of the most interesting figures in the old Unitarian Church of Palo Alto that existed from 1905 to 1934 was Helen Kreps. A brilliant scholar, she
was inspired by seeing a woman minister, Rev. Florence Buck, preach at the Palo Alto church, and after a brilliant career at Stanford went on to prepare to become a Unitarian minister herself. When the influenza epidemic hit in
1918, she volunteered as a nurse, contracted influenza, and died. The story of Helen Kreps has a lot to tell us about heroism, feminism, and the importance of controlling pandemics.

Special music: Veronika Agranov-Dafoe, piano

Conservative Values for Unitarian Universalists

Order of Service: https://bit.ly/uucpa_oos_20200510

We’re mostly associated with liberal causes, not just because we are religiously liberal. Religious liberalism is a stance that affirms personal freedom to seek spiritual truth, and places trust in humanity’s power to discern rightly, via reason and other gifts, and one need not be politically liberal to be religiously liberal; but we tend to be both. However, many values that have long been associated with political and social conservatism in this country are ones to which we should, in your minister’s humble opinion, adhere. Special Music: Veronika Agranov-Dafoe, piano

Glad and Generous Hearts

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Order of Service: https://bit.ly/uucpa_oos_20200503
The text from which today’s service draws inspires us with the vision of a community where everyone shares what they have, gladly and generously. Reverend Randle (Rick) Mixon, has been pastor of First Baptist Church, Palo Alto, for the past 14 years and is adjunct faculty in pastoral care at the American Baptist Seminary of the West in Berkeley.
Special music: Veronika Agranov-Dafoe, piano

From “Amy” to “the Reverend Amy”

Order of Service

UUCPA takes seriously its vision of ministry as a collective enterprise of the entire congregation. By our by-laws, the Committee on Ministry is charged with “supporting and monitoring the health of the total shared ministry of the church, which includes the integrated work of clergy, staff, and laity,” and ensuring “that the congregation understands its mission in terms of ministry.” Today, in celebration of the 20th anniversary of Amy’s ordination as a Unitarian Universalist minister, the committee members share what our vision of ministry means to them.
Special music: Veronika Agranov-Dafoe

The Language of the Soul

Order of service: bit.ly/uucpa_oos_20200405

If someone asked you to suggest three symbols that are important to you, what three would you name? They might be visual images, or they might take some other form, such as a melody or an object. Symbols have extraordinary power, and today we’ll use them to create a sacred space in our homes.
Special music: Veronika Agranov-Dafoe, piano

Your Daily Book

The poet Ross Gay undertook a year of writing, each day, about a delight he had observed that day, and published it as The Book of Delights. If you wrote down the things you observe about your day each evening as it ends, what would the resulting volume be about? Worry? Gratitude, as suggested by an upcoming workshop led by UUCPA member Susan Plass? Complaints? Nature? Happiness? Plans? . . . And what shape does this focus give the rest of your life? Special music: Veronika Agranov-Dafoe, piano

Notes from the Resistance

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Due to unforeseen circumstances, Rev. Amy was not able to give her originally scheduled sermon. Instead, Karen Skold read Rev. Amy’s July 8, 2018 sermon titled Notes from the Resistance.
Note: Between Two Fires was the originally scheduled sermon topic for the March 8, 2020 sermon.

For Such a Time as This

What religious, spiritual, and philosophical values accompany us when we go to the polls? For us to honor them truly, they aren’t just a matter of voting, ourselves, this week and in November. Our faith was forged for a moment like this one, when the most fundamental right of a democratic society is under assault. Some of the UUCPA members involved in UU the Vote will participate in today’s service, and we will take action in the service to guarantee voting rights that were promised long ago but have never been fully realized. Special Music: Brad Handshy, pianist