First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin

Rev. Meg Barnhouse's sermon delivered on April 12, 2020. Rev. Meg tells one of the oldest human religious stories, a story from almost 4000 years ago, a story about resurrection often called Inanna's Descent into the Underworld. We are descending these days, deeper and deeper, and we do not know what the world will look like when we come back out again.

Rev. Meg Barnhouse's sermon delivered on April 5, 2020. Rev. Meg looks back on her days in seminary.

Assistant Minister Rev. Chris Jimmerson's sermon delivered on March 8, 2020. Though this is a difficult and challenging time, it also provides us with an opportunity to truly realize our interconnectedness - to know we can only get through this together, even as we cannot be physically together. Perhaps our vision, at least for now, may be less about the future and more about how we can treat ours...

Rev. Meg Barnhouse's sermon delivered on March 22, 2020. Join Rev. Meg and Rev. Chris as they discuss community and what it means to them, while reflecting on questions such as: What does community do for us? How do we need it in our lives? And, what do we do when we cannot gather in person?

Guest speaker Bear Qolezcua's sermon delivered on March 15, 2020. Life would be so much easier if it came with a manual that told us all the rules for survival but, of course, nothing so simple exists. Let's look at lessons gleaned through grief and find the common threads that bind us all together in this very human experience.

Assistant Minister Rev. Chris Jimmerson's sermon delivered on March 8, 2020. Wisdom is more than just knowledge. In fact, sometimes we have to unlearn things to have greater wisdom. Sometimes wisdom is found in uncertainty, making mistakes and the ineffable experience of our interconnectedness with the interdependent web of all existence. Sometimes wisdom is found in experiences deeper than just t...

Rev. Meg Barnhouse's sermon delivered on March 1, 2020. Another in our sermon series on the elements of baking. We look at bread and yeast. Rabbi Jesus told a parable about how the kingdom of heaven, or the Beloved Community is like yeast. What could that mean for us?

Assistant Minister Rev. Chris Jimmerson's sermon delivered on February 23, 2020. Sometimes it takes grit and determination to stay resilient in times of challenge. Sometimes, though, like the trees, we need to be able to bend but not break when strong winds gust - change, but also hold onto our core selves, like when the river changes course around obstacles in its path. Always, we need each other...

Rev. Meg Barnhouse's sermon delivered on February 16, 2020. So many beings seek sweetness. Fruits invite the bees with it, It can make a meal delightful. What happens, though, when civilizations go after sugar production without thought for ethics or balance?

Rev. Meg Barnhouse's sermon delivered on February 9, 2020. Today we are talking about butter, and about creativity within constraints. Sometimes it's when we fail or when we are limited that our creativity is brought to the fore. Agitation can bring transformation.

Rev. Meg Barnhouse's sermon delivered on February 2, 2020. All Ages Service with our Annual Blessing of the Pets. There are several theories about how best to train horses and dogs. Might these theories work concerning humans as well?

Rev. Meg Barnhouse's sermon delivered on January 26, 2020. The second in the sermon series inspired by the elements of baking, we will talk about everything from the history of salt in the shaping of civilization to the Christian scriptures' admonition to be the salt of the earth.

Assistant Minister Rev. Chris Jimmerson's sermon delivered on January 19, 2020. Remaining true to our whole selves, as well as our religious principles and values, is integral to practicing our faith and nourishing our spirits. Indeed, our integrity is a soul matter.

Rev. Meg Barnhouse's sermon delivered on January 12, 2020. The first in a sermon series inspired by the elements of baking. Sometimes transformation takes heat, it takes trouble, agitation or discomfort. We will have just finished two days of talking about our religious education program with an interim facilitator. Telling stories from the past can turn up the heat, but as in baking, the results...

Rev. Meg Barnhouse's sermon delivered on January 5, 2020. Is it possible to let go of grudges? Is it a good idea? We take things that we want to let go of from 2019 and we give them to the Burning Bowl. Then, from a second bowl, we will draw a word which can inform our intentions for the new year.

Assistant Minister Rev. Chris Jimmerson and ministerial intern Lee Legault's sermon delivered on December 29, 2019. Lee and Rev. Chris discuss their own and other spiritual practices, how to maintain them and why they are more important than ever in the year to come.

Rev. Meg Barnhouse's Christmas Eve service delivered on December 24, 2019. Come join our annual Christmas Eve worship service of Lessons and Carols. We will read, from the Christian texts, the story of Rabbi Jesus' heralded birth as well as sing Christmas carols and hymns for the holiday.

Rev. Meg Barnhouse's sermon delivered on December 22, 2019. Our Annual Christmas Pageant with costumes provided for Angels, shepherds, and more as we hear and perform the famous story.

Rev. Meg Barnhouse's sermon delivered on December 15, 2019. What can we say about miracles? Are they supernatural interferences with the laws of nature? Are they proofs of divine power? Are they everyday beauties and interactions we can see if we have an eye for miracles?

Assistant Minister Rev. Chris Jimmerson's sermon delivered on December 8, 2019. When we consider the magnitude of our universe; observe the intricate beauty and yet the sometimes seemingly random cruelty of nature; contemplate the mysteries of life and living, we can feel both small and humbled, as well as have a sense of being a meaningful part of something much, much larger than ourselves. We'll...

Ministerial intern Lee Legault's sermon delivered on December 1, 2019. We experience the world differently. Those of us journeying life neuro-typically and with ableist privilege too often hold this truth abstractly and at a distance. Let us hold the truth of neuro-physical diversity closely and tenderly to transform worship and build the Beloved Community.

Rev. Meg Barnhouse's sermon delivered on November 24, 2019. In time for Thanksgiving, we will talk about family dynamics, focusing on "cut-off", when someone decides they can't be around the rest of the family.

Assistant Minister Rev. Chris Jimmerson's sermon delivered on November 17, 2019. Sometimes our lives can be so fast paced that we fail to notice the beauty all around us. Societal turmoil keeps us from noticing the suffering of others. We fail to cherish the moments with those we love. We will explore mindfulness and directing our attention toward all that we value.

Rev. Meg Barnhouse's sermon delivered on November 10, 2019. How to Comfort Someone Who is Suffering. Lessons from the recent "Lunch with Meg" study of the book of Job from the Hebrew Bible.

Rev. Meg Barnhouse's sermon delivered on November 3, 2019. Jedediah Morse and the Battle for Harvard." Another juicy slice of Unitarian history. What about this story from the 19th century might still be affecting Unitarians and Universalism?