Randy Newman’s song helped define 1968, a year marked by sadness and irony. Now, 50 years later, what song will reflect 2018?
NOTE: RE is available during the first service only.
Speaker: Mel Harkrader Pine
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TrUUmpism
Yes, that’s a controversial sermon title, but, no, this will not be a political sermon. It will be, Mel hopes, a fresh way of looking at the divisions in the country and what those divisions may teach us as Americans and as Unitarian Universalists.
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The Blind and the Elephant
We experience the holy in different ways. By clinging to our own experience of the holy maybe we are living out the story of the sightless experiencing the elephant.
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Investing in Your Beliefs
This sermon presents a speaker reflecting on their personal journey with Unitarian Universalism, particularly through the lens of socially responsible investing and the speaker’s own contrarian biases. The speaker recounts their time working for Mobile Oil during the apartheid era in South Africa and the contrasting views within their church regarding divestment. They explore the complexities of boycotts and investment screens as tools for enacting change, contrasting them with the idea of impact investing. The speaker emphasizes the Unitarian Universalist approach of encouraging individual thought and action based on personal values rather than strict dogma. Ultimately, the sermon promotes thoughtful consideration of how personal financial decisions align with one’s beliefs and the pursuit of a better world.
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Community
Summary:
This sermon explores the multifaceted nature of community, particularly within a Unitarian Universalist context, acknowledging both its supportive and challenging aspects. The discourse emphasizes that communities, like individuals, are imperfect and can cause pain. Personal anecdotes illustrate the speaker’s evolving understanding of community, from initial disillusionment to recognizing its potential for spiritual growth through navigating difficulties. The speaker draws parallels between religious community and marriage, highlighting the inevitability of conflict and the importance of managing one’s reaction to it. The story of Kisa Gotami is used to emphasize the universality of grief and the power of shared experiences in fostering compassion. Ultimately, the message encourages embracing the messiness of community, finding value in every member, and learning from moments of hurt to foster personal and spiritual development.
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Grace
Summary:
This sermon explores the concept of grace through narratives and reflections. It begins with a modern parable of a homeless man’s unexpected lottery win, connecting it to Philip Yancey’s interpretation of grace. It examines the story of John Newton, the author of “Amazing Grace,” and his transformation from a slave trader to an abolitionist. It then interprets grace as a powerful, universally available force that offers second chances and unexpected gifts. The speaker suggests grace can appear through forgiveness, suffering, and welcoming lost souls home. Ultimately, the speaker argues grace is found by surrendering to the universe, embracing opportunities, and recognizing the potential for healing and transformation.
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That Arc Bends Toward Truth, Too
Summary:
This sermon explores the theme of truth and justice through interwoven personal narratives. It begins with the speaker’s reflections on Theodore Parker’s “moral arc of the universe” and the idea that the arc also bends toward truth. The speaker illustrates this concept through the stories of Joe Saul, a man searching for his biological mother, and the speaker’s connection to Joe through genealogy and DNA analysis. Another narrative centers on Moisha Canerovich, a Holocaust survivor whose mother implored him to share their family’s story. These narratives converge when the speaker discovers they are related to both Joe and Moisha, demonstrating the power of truth, memory, and compassion. The speaker then gifts Joe with a memento from his biological mother, an artifact the speaker surprisingly had from their youth. Ultimately, the text suggests that individual actions, however small, contribute to bending the arc toward truth, justice, and compassion.
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The Fifth Precept and the Twelve Steps
Summary:
The speaker reflects on the Fifth Precept of Buddhism, which encourages abstaining from intoxicants. Initially finding the precept unimportant, recent family struggles with addiction have changed the speaker’s perspective. The speaker combines Buddhist teachings with statistical data on alcohol and drug use, highlighting the pervasiveness of addiction in society, especially among young people, while also noting addiction’s impact on the abuser and those around them. They discuss the concept of addiction and contrast with the cultural acceptance of substance use. Ultimately, the speaker advocates for compassion and awareness, urging a reevaluation of societal norms surrounding intoxicants and sharing details of a documentary to promote understanding and support for those in recovery.