February 21, 2016 Kristina Spaude and Matt Alspaugh Homily – Kristina I applied to graduate school for a third time in the fall of 2009. I had submitted materials to the University of Akron and was accepted. After months of discernment about what I was actually going to do with my life, including the longest … Continue reading Homilies: Feb 21 – “Longing for Wholeness: Addiction and Spirituality”
This is Valentine’s Day. It is also Evolution Weekend. We pair these up to explore the role of sex and death in the evolution of life in our world, and what it means to us as products of evolution.
What we desire is what we become…or not. How do science and religion conspire to control and cultivate our desires? We bring together apples, string theory and mandalas to explore the answer. Worship Leader: Sarah Lown
Valentine’s Day Happy Valentines Day! This is one of those holidays that we ought to pay attention to, for it has a delicious, sensual past. As with many of our favorite holidays — Christmas, Easter, Halloween — we can trace origins back at least to the Romans, where everything was different, only the date stayed … Continue reading Sermon: Feb 14 – “Sex, Death, and the Evolution of Life”
Have a favorite chili recipe? Tried any new ones this year that you liked? Bring it to the Church’s “Annual Chili Cook-Off”! Categories are: Most Unusual, Best Vegan/Vegetarian, Best Traditional, Hottest (of course), and Best of Show. We need people to also bring in not only the chili for the contest but salad, bread or … Continue reading Annual Chili Cook-Off – Sunday, Feb 28 (after the service)
As UUs, we resist racism by recognizing the inherent value in every person regardless of the hundreds of factors used to divide us from one another. Today, we explore how we will actively resist institutional racism and interpersonal prejudice in our neighborhood now and in the near future.
It starts with the people you love, and the subtle, unconscious messages they give you. It continues with the society you live in and the hidden aspects of this society. It continues with the things you do perhaps unconsciously, that you look back on, with embarrassment or with shame. Things you may not be able … Continue reading Homily: Jan 31, 2016 – “Racism and Other Things I’m Tired of Talking About”
Introduction Even though this is Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, we are not talking about King’s work or legacy today. You can join me this afternoon, for an interfaith community worship service celebrating Martin Luther King, at Third Baptist Church. As one of few participants from a non-Christian-identified church, I have been asked to … Continue reading Sermon: Jan 17 – “Healthy Churches, Sick Churches”
The Syrian refugee crisis, the rise of terrorist attacks by Islamist extremists, and the often stilted coverage of both by the media produces the perfect storm: heated rhetoric is leading to attacks on Mosques and death threats and violence against Muslims. As UUs, we are called to treat those the rest of the world would … Continue reading Podcast: Jan 10 – Trumping Islamophobia, Learning to Love the Stranger
What are your deepest, darkest secrets, those you shared with no one? A “regret, fear, betrayal, desire, confession, or childhood humiliation” — these are the kinds of secrets sought by the amazing mail art project called postsecret. We’ll explore such secrets, and what might happen if we do share them.
