USG Sermons

The Hindu holy text Bhagavad-gita encourages people to worship and glorify the holy. The practice of kirtan was popularized as an effort to honor the sacred in all. This is an Indian call and response tradition commonly found in yogic traditions in the United States. This service addresses the Small Group Ministry topic: Relationship with Our Bodies.

Over the last several years, we have been horrified by violence towards people who provide safe abortions. At a minister's conference, I was in a small group with UU Minister Lisa Schwartz of Topeka, Kansas. In her congregation, Rev. Schwartz has worked for years on reproductive choice issues. Because of this, one day she received a fax from Rev. Fred Phelps informing her that he had added her name to the "roster of the damned." Learn about the courage this minister and UU congregation manifested next. I want my name on that roster!

Celebrate the resiliency and miracles of rising again after great loss. When we live life we get knocked down. Physically, emotionally and spiritually we suffer wounds. Healing through our brokenness is a mystical and potent way of getting back to living, even when things will never be the same.

This Sunday morning service will focus us on our commitment to remembering the pains of slavery and the exodus story of the Hebrews to freedom. We will also embrace the sacrifices of all people who have fought for freedom. Truly living in the moment provides us all with the freedom of now.This Sunday morning service will focus us on our commitment to remembering the pains of slavery and the exodus story of the Hebrews to freedom. We will also embrace the sacrifices of all people who have fought for freedom. Truly living in the moment provides us all with the freedom of now.

On this Commitment Sunday we will celebrate the power to appreciate and change the world! Are these two ideas contradictory? Not at all! Living in the moment allows us to connect with the sacred with gratitude and excitement. Living in the moment allows us to tap into love and courage. Spiritual and financial commitment to our church enhances our abilities to bring change and blessings of healing, spiritual growth and justice to the world.

We all know that perfection is unattainable, yet that's often where we set the bar. Are we setting ourselves up for disappointment or striving to be the best that we can? There is much to be learned about ourselves and our understanding of our place in the world by how we respond to life's inevitable imperfections.

Curiosity is the theme of the month. I am often quite curious about why some folks seek out religious community and others do not. The people of our church are encouraged to ask friends why they don't come to church. Is there anything that might make our congregation more appealing to them? Let's engage our neighbors with a kind, supportive curiosity about what they think of church and how it fits into their lives.

What is Unitarian Universalist faith about? How can we use our faith to change the world? Bruce Knotts will highlight the programs and accomplishments of the UU-UNO (Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office), and the role our faith has played at the United Nations. Areas of involvement include GLTB (Gay/Lesbian/Bi-sexual/Transgender) advocacy, empowering women, climate change, and the Every Child program in Ghana. Bruce Knotts became director of the UU-UNO in 2008, following years of foreign service. He started in the Peace Corps, and became a U.S. diplomat working for the Department of State in countries all over the world. His life work has been involved with peace-keeping, refugee, and social justice issues. He is a member of All Souls Church in Manhattan.

We just celebrated Micah's first birthday. I can't begin to express how many blessings fatherhood has brought to my life. I have learned a tremendous amount about myself, parenting and life in general. I can get by on much less sleep than I ever knew was possible. The simplest things - like playing peek-a-boo - can make me as happy as if heaven itself was revealed to me in all its glory. Changing a diaper doesn't have to involve drama and going to bed early can be majorly satisfying. Being curiously open to life's lessons brings great richness.