Podcast: Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto Sermons and Reflections

Life in a Judean Village in the Year 29

March 25, 2018 - 9:30 and 11am Rev. Dan Harper

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?

March 18, 2018 at 12:30 pm Rev. Amy Zucker Morgenstern

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

Sunday, March 11, 2018 at 9:30 and 11 am Rev. Amy Zucker Morgenstern, Senior High Youth Group (SHYG)

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

March 4, 2018 at 12:30 pm Rev. Amy Zucker Morgenstern

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

February 25, 2018 at 12:30 pm Rev. Amy Zucker Morgenstern

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!

February 18, 2018 at 12:30 pm Steve Johnson

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

February 11, 2018 at 12:30 pm Rev. Amy Zucker Morgenstern

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

Staying Curious In Conflict

February 4, 2018 at 12:30 pm Bill Hilton, Rev. Megan Dowdell

Sometimes living our values becomes a challenge when we find ourselves in passionate disagreement with someone who does not share our perspective, or at an impasse with someone we love. Conflict is often about communication, but it is also about culture – the context of our lives shapes our relationships and patterns of interacting in community. Join Megan Dowdell, Assistant Professor of Ethics and Society at Starr King School for the Ministry, as we explore how to stay curious in conflict through story, sermon and song. Music: Veronika Agranov Dafoe, piano

Chalice Sunday

January 28, 2018 at 12:30 pm Rev. Amy Zucker Morgenstern, Rev. Mr. Barb Greve

In our annual fire service, we mark the holidays of Candlemas, St. Brigid’s Day and Imbolc–which converge at this midpoint between the winter solstice and spring equinox–and celebrate the many meanings of our chalice symbol. Why do we light a chalice at the beginning of our services, and what does it mean? Child care is provided at both services as always; other children remain in the Main Hall for this intergenerational service.

The Promise and the Practice

January 21, 2018 at 12:30 pm Greg Williams, Rev. Amy Zucker Morgenstern

Today’s service puts the voices and experiences of African-American Unitarian Universalists at its center. Their witness, struggles, and joys call UUs of all backgrounds to be all that we aspire to be. Come be inspired! Music: Veronika Agranov Dafoe, piano