Podcast: Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto Sermons and Reflections

The UU Way

This service looks at some important ways that Unitarian Universalism differs from most faith traditions.

Worship leader: Rev. Peter Farriday

Worship associate: Barbara Saxton

Special music: Teresa Orozco, flute

If you prefer to join the community of those attending online, there are two options. One, join the service via … read more.

Water Communion

Each year at this time, we celebrate the ways we are all connected to each other and every other living thing. For our intergenerational Water Communion service, please bring a little water to pour into the communal bowl. We will give thanks for water and … read more.

Looking for Yourself

In a letter to a friend, Emily Dickinson wrote “I am out with lanterns, looking for myself”. In addition to being a wonderful image and wonderfully poetic line, the idea of looking for oneself can be central to who we are.

Worship leader: Richard Heydt

Worship associate: … read more.

Saving Souls of Churches and Nations

There has been much talk in the past year, both pre- and post-election, about the soul of our nation, pointing to “soul” as the seat of sacred identity. What does it mean for nations or churches to have souls?  The soul of a church lies in its purpose or … read more.

Roots and Wings: How Unitarian Universalism Gave Me Both

We come from diverse backgrounds with our own stories about how we arrived at Unitarian Universalism. Join Rev. Cat for a service that celebrates our faith and shares her personal path to Unitarian Universalism and UUCPA.

Worship leader: Rev. Catherine Boyle (she/her/hers)

Worship Associate: Jane Correia

If you … read more.

Being Trans* Then and Now

Barb came out as transgender 30 years ago. Join him as he reflects on what was and is like to be transgender in these times, as well as how Unitarian Universalism has saved, supported, and challenged his life for these past 3 decades.

Worship leader: Rev. … read more.

Blending Spirit and Power: Reflections on Burmese Buddhism

Burmese Buddhism is an intricate blend of Theravada teachings and Myanmar’s older animist traditions. Pagodas often hold space for both Buddhas—sometimes illuminated with LED halos—and nats, the ancestral spirits still honored across the country. As a half-Burmese Unitarian Universalist, Thida Cornes (she/her) reflects on the … read more.

Collective Liberation = Love as Justice and Equity

What does Collective Liberation mean for us as Unitarian Universalists? Scripture tells us “You were born for such a time as this.” Join Rev Kev as we explore the foundational values of Unitarian Universalism as expressed through Justice and Equity with Love at the center. … read more.

Fiction-Proofing Your Own Mind

On July 6, Rev. Schriner presented “A Gospel of Ignorance,” in which he suggested that admitting ignorance can be enlightening, enlivening, and empowering. Today Chris will explore this theme further, focusing on why people often think they know more than they do. Although investigators generate … read more.

Dangerous Reading & Democracy

“A good book would take me out of myself and then stuff me back in, outsized, now, and uneasy with the fit.” – David Sedaris Censorship of written materials can be traced to the earliest documents in civilizations across the globe. Repeated waves of book … read more.