Podcast: Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto Sermons and Reflections

Our Congregation And Its Ministers, 1947 – 2000

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Looking at the relationships between our congregation and its ministers reveals a great deal about us Unitarian Universalists — what we think about lay leaders, what we think about ordained ministers, and what we believe the purpose of our congregation is.
This is the first in an occasional series of sermons leading up to the 75th anniversary of our congregation in 2022.

Music: Wind in the Strings, Ken and Sue Dinwiddle, harp and flute

Bring Your Whole Self

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The third in the “Five Invitations” series, this phrase of Frank Ostaseski’s invites us to take the previous one and apply it particularly to ourselves. What parts of ourselves do we want to leave out of our experiences? What might happen if we brought everything about ourselves and left none of it outside? Music: Veronika Agranov-Dafoe, piano

Welcome Everything, Push Away Nothing

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The second of Frank Ostaseski’s five invitations asks us to welcome aspects of experience we are inclined to push away.

Music: Mayo Tsuzuki and Richard Heydt, singers

Don’t Wait

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Frank Ostaseski, a Buddhist teacher and end-of-life caregiver, suggests five invitations into fuller life. We’ll explore one in each of five services. Today’s: Don’t wait. Why do we wait to do things we know we feel called to do? What does the waiting cost?
Music: Eric Leong, violin

We Hear Each Other Into Speech

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Something happens when someone gives their whole attention to our words: we may discover things we didn’t know until that attention brought forth words from us. Our Transcendentalist ancestors knew this, and made conversation one of their spiritual practices. We have that spiritual practice as well at UUCPA, and we’ll engage in it this morning.
Music: Be’eri Moalem,viola

Tasting the Nectar of Work

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“Strive for work-life balance,” the saying goes. In honor of Labor Day we’ll consider balance and the place of work in our lives. Music: Martin Manley, jazz piano

You Must Be Present To Win

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Woody Allen once said that 80% of success is showing up! How can we truly show up for our lives—that is, be fully present and aware? How can we cultivate mindfulness in a world full of details, deadlines and distractions? Music: Aaron Lington, saxophone

Water Communion

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In our annual ritual of ingathering, we bring water from the places of our lives, and pour the many waters into a communal bowl in a ritual honoring variety and unity. We welcome the Adult Choir back after their several-week break. Music: Nicholas Dold, piano

Your Island of Sanity

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The world is big and messy and getting messier all the time. We are pulled in two directions: to engage and make a difference, and to retreat into a safe place. Both are important to a meaningful and sustainable life. Let’s explore the possibility of integrating these two needs. Music: Four Shillings Short, Celtic singers/musicians
DUAL SERVICES (at 9:30 and 11 am) RESUME TODAY!
Justice Partner Collection Week: This is the week that we donate the entire non-pledge collection to our Justice Partner of the Month: South Bay Sanctuary Covenant