Podcast: Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto Sermons and Reflections

Transcendence In Place

The series “Why do we do that in the Sunday service?” continues, with an inquiry into music. The choir sings for the last time before their six-week break; we sing; we listen; and we give some thought to the relationship between music and the spirit.
Music: Veronika Agranov-Dafoe, piano

Coming of Age

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As young people at UUCPA come of age, they spend several months together in reflection on the questions adult UUs grapple with, meet with mentors from the congregation, and articulate their own beliefs in a credo project. They will share their credos and lead the service today. Music: Karen Vandyke, flute

Flower Communion

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For this intergenerational service, please bring a flower to exchange in our annual ritual. Dan will tell the story of how the Flower Celebration came to be, and we will fill the hall with flowers. We’ll have plenty of extras for those who forget or don’t know about the ritual in advance. We will also welcome new members during this service. Music: Veronika Agranov-Dafoe, piano

Life Passed through the Fire of Thought

In a service last year, Dan Harper delved into why the elements of our Sunday service are what they are. Amy’s going into several of them in depth, one per Sunday, now and then, and this first exploration looks at the sermon. Why do we have one? What is it for?
Special music: M’Earth Tones, a small chorus featuring some of our members and frequent guest cellist Kris Yenney. Their mission is “Creating Harmony in a Dissonant World,” and they encourage us to “think globally, act vocally.”

Our Ten Commandments

In our Building Your Own Theology class last fall, participants generated their ten (or more) commandments. They were so wise and wild and loving that they need to be shared, so here are some of them, and what they indicate about our ethical lives today, in this congregation. Special music: Veronika Agranov-Dafoe, piano

From Martin Luther to Modern Unitarianism Universalism

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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)

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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