Podcast: Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto Sermons and Reflections

Better Late Than Never?

It can be very hard to be a latecomer to a point of view. As people like Rep. Liz Cheney have discovered, you not only anger the people with whom you used to agree, but you don’t get a lot of love from your new … read more.

Wolves, Narnia, and a Parliament of Fowls

That’s what Valentine’s Day is really all about. At least, that’s the best anyone can figure out, since this holiday, now dedicated to made-for-TV movies and keeping florists in business, has very murky origins. But there is some real wisdom embedded in its stories, with … read more.

What Matters Most

No, I’m not going to tell you. You know what matters most to you — or, if you are still trying to figure that out, you are in the right place, because we support each other in discerning and living into our most profound values. … read more.

Power over Pity

You heard the reflection, now hear the sermon: on how disability rights activists in this country both influenced and inherited the movement for African-American civil rights, and led themselves and everyone to greater liberation. Amy was unable to be at the January 17 service and … read more.

Free and Responsible

By highly unofficial survey, of the seven principles that we affirm and promote as a member congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Association, number four, “A free and responsible search for truth and meaning,” is the favorite. Today we delve into what … read more.

The Gift of Limitations

Our limitations don’t usually feel like a gift. But today we’ll hear some stories about surprising things that have happened in situations of difficult and unwanted constraints. Our guest preacher, Rev. Darcy Baxter, is in her seventh year of serving as the minister at the … read more.

Creating Traditions

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.

Follow along in the order of service: bit.ly/uucpa_oos_20201213.

Holidays are a time for traditions, and by nature, … read more.

Harvest the Power

Numerous leaders around the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) contributed elements to a service on how we will vote love and defeat hate in next month’s election. We’ll be inspired to UU the Vote by a homily from UUA President the Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray, music … read more.

New Visions of Community

The human need for connection is undeniable. Yet for most of us, for the hundreds of thousands of years of human existence, those connections have arisen from, and been sustained by, proximity. How do we create community when physical closeness is so limited? Special Music: Margaret Davis, harp, and Kristoph Klover, acoustic guitar

The order of service is here.

How Change Happens

Fifty-one years ago today, the people gathered at the Stonewall Inn had had one police raid too many, and they fought back. Many consider this the birth of the movement for LGBTQA+ rights in the United States, and to a large extent, around the world. Why did the shift happen then? If we must lean on the moral arc of the universe to bend it toward justice, what lessons does this particular justice movement have to teach us?
The order of service is here.