Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto Sermons and Reflections

A man named Itaru Sasaki missed his deceased cousin, so he set up a phone booth in his garden in Ōtsuchi, Japan. Although the phone was not connected to anything, he found it comforting to pick up the phone and speak to his cousin. After ... read more.

Last week we talked about time. This week the topic will be money, and the following week, the series will wrap up with a service on work. It’s said that you have to spend money to make money. We get that when it’s applied to, say, ... read more.

Both our political system and our religious tradition grew out of a highly individualistic philosophy. But our experiences tell us that we are, in fact, not only shaped by but inextricably intertwined with others: especially our families, but also friends, the wider community, and the ... read more.

Invisible people roll past us, walk among us, even speak to us . . . and what’s even stranger, we are sometimes invisible to them. This isn’t a fantasy movie, but instead, a strange fact of our existence, one that Passover urges us to challenge ... read more.

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.

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.

We hope you can participate in this annual ritual of ingathering. During the ritual in the August 30 service, waters and words that were shared earlier will be poured into the communal bowl. Please also have a glass of water on hand when the service begins in order to join in another part of the ceremony. The order of service is here.

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.

Not this one, but previous ones. Plague and flu, tuberculosis and smallpox: each has challenged us, shown us who we were and could become, and offered us some lessons that could help us today. Let us redeem this difficult time by emerging from it with more compassion and self-understanding. Special Music: Eric Leong, violin The order of service is here.

Our guest speaker is now retired and living on the Peninsula after a career that has included service to our congregations in England, New Hampshire, and California, and seven years as the District Minister for the London area. Special Music: Ema Currier, Andrew Currier, piano and bass violin

What we honor with a special day or simply a moment of our attention, we elevate in our lives. What needs attention that we neglect too much? (It may or may not be lima beans, celebrated last Saturday by those in the know.) And what do we attend to that we could begin to ignore, the better to pay attention to more important things? Music: Martin Manley, jazz piano

We all carry around a set of beliefs about ourselves, particularly things we “can’t do or be”; like paint, sing, dance, be smart, be beautiful, be athletic. Many of these beliefs are formed at one period of our life, often early child- hood, and may not apply to who we are now. We’ll explore our limits, and talk about how to test them and, perhaps, remove the ones that don’t fit any more. Be prepared for a pep talk! Music: Eric Leong, violin

As the year turns anew, many of us make New Year’s Resolutions. At the same time, some of us are watching the games of the College Football championship. What can we learn about our spiritual journey from football and other sports? Do you need a coach and a team to support and encourage your growth? Or are you on a solo journey and you need someone to keep you honest and focused? Or maybe you just stepped on the field and aren’t sure. Find out ways UUCPA can serve you and how you can serve the church. Special music: Libby & Anat Kardontchik, piano and violin

Our annual remembrance service is a good place to put Frank Ostaseski’s invitations to the test. They arose out of his experiences of working with people close to death and grieving them. What rest can we find in the middle of that most invasive experience, loss? Your mementos and photos of loved ones are welcome to our altar. Music: Jim Stevens guitar

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

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

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.

Can we review our 2017 resolutions, and our lives so far, with compassion instead of judgment? It is particularly hard to do in those matters where we feel we have not lived up to our own plans and promises. Let us forgive ourselves as well as others as this year comes to an end. Music: Ihang Lin