Podcast: Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto Sermons and Reflections

Teaching Our Children How to Fall

As we celebrate both Father’s Day and Freedom, we turn our attention to the gifts that those of us who parent and share in the lives of parents, hardly ever cease to enjoy: the children we help to nurture. While all of us, no doubt, … read more.

Joy and Woe, Woven Fine

Our blessings and our burdens are not only closely intertwined, they often come from exactly the same source. Farewells and greetings occur at the same moment, on the same threshold. The experiences that wounded us most yielded the insights that enable us to live more … read more.

Please Be Patient: Student Driver

When we’re driving, new drivers may be alongside us at any time–people who don’t even have a license yet. They’re just learning, so they’re not the safest cars with which to interact. Maybe it would be better if they weren’t on the road. But how … read more.

The Ultimate Gift

Please note that we are back in person (as well as online) at 11!

Memorial Day was created to honor and give thanks to those who were willing to die in the service of their country. So let us ponder today: what would we die for? … read more.

Can I Believe Anything I Want?

That’s a misleading shorthand that people often use to describe Unitarian Universalism–a religion where we can believe anything we want. It’s understandable that these words come to mind, because in contrast to many religions, it’s true that Unitarian Universalism isn’t defined by a set of … read more.

The Morality of Abortion

The leaked news that the Supreme Court will almost certainly overturn Roe v. Wade after 50 years has landed with a sickening, world-shaking crash in our lives. While many rejoice, the vast majority of US Americans want abortion to remain available. But we have been … read more.

Flower Communion

In this annual intergenerational service, we each bring a flower (or several), fill vases and baskets with them, and after blessing the flowers and each other, we each choose a flower that someone else brought and bring it home. If you’re attending online, have your … read more.

Diversity and the Golden Rule

The Golden Rule is a central part of many religious traditions. But buried in it is an assumption: the people who you are “doing unto” share your values and expectations. How can we transform the Rule to work with people whose values differ from ours? … read more.

Hope: It’s Infectious

For this Earth Day service, we celebrate the gains we have made at UUCPA when we have united for environmental action. We all know the challenges facing our beautiful planet, and can get quite overwhelmed by them. But fear and despair sap the will to … read more.

The Ones Who Stayed

They weren’t among Jesus’s twelve apostles. They received so little respect that they couldn’t even be witnesses in a court of law. But they witnessed the miracle of Easter, because they persisted. Come to this intergenerational service to hear their story and receive new life … read more.