Summary:
This sermon by Michelle Saville explores the profound societal and spiritual shifts triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. The speaker contrasts the initial communal unity found during lockdowns with the rising political polarization and systemic injustices currently facing the world. Central to the sermon is a call for the Unitarian Universalist Church of Loudoun to move beyond superficial changes, such as renaming the institution, and instead commit to radical inclusivity and the dismantling of racism. By adopting the Eighth Principle, the speaker argues that the community must actively live out its values rather than offering hollow promises. Ultimately, the sermon serves as an invitation to treat the return to in-person worship as a fresh start to prioritize love and justice.