Podcast: Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto Sermons and Reflections

From Martin Luther to Modern Unitarianism Universalism

Five hundred years ago last October, a Catholic monk named Martin Luther posted his criticisms of the Catholic Church and launched a revolution: the Protestant Reformation. We still feel the effects, even in our own tradition, despite the considerable differences between us and Lutherans. Music: Broceliande, celtic music

Always Learning

Historically, human development has been regarded as something for infants, children, and teenagers–maybe young adults. Only recently have we begun to frame adulthood as a time of ongoing development. Great things open up when we think of ourselves not as animals who stop growing around age 21, but as trees that never cease to grow.
Special Music: Four Shillings Short

Roll Away the Stone! (Easter)

What weighty thing stands, seemingly immovably, between you and new life? Let’s roll it away and be amazed!
Amy gives the sermon, Dan tells the Easter story, and Liz Russ, who has sung for our Christmas Eve services, gives us special music in this intergenerational service. Special Music: Liz Russ, soprano

Life in a Judean Village in the Year 29

Unitarian Universalists have our own unique take on the figure of Jesus. What little historical record that is left shows clearly he was Jewish (not Christian), and that he lived under the oppressive colonial rule of the Roman Empire. In our view, he was not a god, and so we see him as a human who was fully immersed in the contemporary problems of his place and time. This is what we teach children in our popular “Judean Village” program, and the results are interesting, to say the least. Music: Ihang Lin

What’s in a Name?

As we consider whether to change the “church” in our name to something else, here’s some historical and philosophical context.
Music: Emma’s Revolution
Services at 9:30 and 11:00am

Senior-High-Aged Youth

The senior-high-aged youth of UUCPA lead today’s service with passion and honesty, as they share about being a teenager in today’s world. Music: Lisa diTiberio and Yuri Liberzon, flute and guitar
****DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME STARTS TODAY****

The Stalin in the Soul

This striking phrase comes from the late, great writer Ursula K. Le Guin, who inquired with great honesty about how we frequently censor ourselves and limit our own freedom. As people who aspire to free lives, it’s an important question and the topic of today’s service. Music: Veronika Agranov Dafoe, piano

Time -Turner Times

We live in a time of maximum efficiency. Machines, electronics, travel options, and advanced communications knock hours, even days, off the time many activities used to take. Why, then, do we feel busier than ever? And is there anything we can do about it? Music: Martin Manley, jazz piano

Humor: If You Come To A Fork In The Road, Take It!

Yogi Berra’s comment strikes us as funny. Something happens in your head when you hear it that derails your mind and you laugh. Today we will enjoy humor, both musical and spoken, and explore how this derailing of our mind can make us more creative (and be a lot of fun besides … ). Music: Veronika Agranov Dafoe, piano

Dreaming Bigger, Dreaming Together

The poet Francisco X. Alarcón writes: “a dream / we dream / alone,” but “reality / we dream / together.” Come to today’s service ready to dream, and we will make something bigger out of our individual dreams, a reality we can dream–and create–together. Creators: Everyone