First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin

Rev Chris Jimmerson's sermon delivered on September 3, 2023. We come together to begin our new church year with the Annual Water Communion Ritual. We share with one another water that symbolizes something meaningful to us as we blend and mingle the waters that remind us of our shared faith.

Rev Michelle LaGrave's sermon delivered on August 27, 2023. Rev. Michelle LaGrave will share her theology of interim ministry, some of her hopes for this coming year, and a little bit about herself too.

Rev Michelle LaGrave and Rev Chris Jimmerson's sermon delivered on August 20, 2023. Rev. Michelle and Rev. Chris will answer your submitted questions about the church, life, the universe, and everything else (time permitting.)

Rev Chris Jimmerson's sermon delivered on August 13, 2023. The pandemic and the necessary isolation that accompanied it changed us and our world in ways we are still trying to understand. As we move through this time, when we hope that Covid may be becoming endemic, it is important that we appreciate all that we have experienced together, as we assess how we approach life, the life of our church,...

Rev Chris Jimmerson and three same sex couples' sermon delivered on August 6, 2023. As this year's LGBTQI+ Pride week begins in Austin, we continue our annual tradition of inviting members of our church community to share their experiences with the intersectionality of identity and faith.

Rev Erin Walter's sermon delivered on July 30, 2023. In her last service as our interim Minister for Joy and Justice, Rev. Erin Walter reflects on the congregation's learning and spiritual growth in the past year, and offer blessings for the church's future. Rev. Jonalu Johnstone will also join the service by video.

Rev Chris Jimmerson and Small Group Leader's service delivered on July 23, 2023. Did you know that the church offers several small group ministries where people gather in groups of around 10 to share deeply, explore personal and collective spiritual growth, and develop sustaining, nurturing practices? Join us to hear from fellow congregants who have helped lead such groups and, in doing so, discov...

Rev Chris Jimmerson and Chalice Camper's service delivered on July 16, 2023. This week we hosted Chalice Camp, a full-day summer camp for UU kids from all around the Austin area. During worship this Sunday, they'll be sharing some of the songs, stories, and UU history that they learned this week. We'll also hear a Bridging Homily from a graduating senior about how their faith has informed their un...

Rev Chris Jimmerson and the leaders of our First UU Cares Team's sermon delivered on July 9, 2023. As a faith without creed, Unitarian Universalism is deeply rooted in relationship. We are a people of shared values, mission, and covenant, and through these we make sacred promises to care for one another and our world. We explore how we can create an ever increasing culture of caring at First UU Ch...

Guest speaker Julica Hermann de la Fuente's sermon delivered on July 2, 2023. There are so many things vying for our attention and energy. How do we manage it all? How do we find joy and satisfaction? How do we fit our commitment to justice among the many other things that need doing? Let's explore the possibility of sustainable and joyful liberation and transformation, in our lives and our commun...

Rev Chris Buice's sermon delivered on June 24, 2023. We bring a very special worship service from our annual Unitarian Universalist General Assembly, where UUs from from far and wide have gathered in Pittsburgh this week. Our Director of Religious Education, Kelly Stokes, leads our service as we join our larger faith in worship. Rev Buice is minister of the Tennessee Valley UU Church in Knoxville,...

Rev Chris Jimmerson's sermon delivered on June 18, 2023. The experience of delight is essential to our spirits. Delight allows us to encounter the transcendent even within the mundane of this world. We will explore what brings us delight and how we may cultivate and find it - how we often discover that our path to delight lies in serving others and the greater good, being a part of creating someth...

Rev Erin Walter's sermon delivered on June 11, 2023. Happy Pride Month. This Sunday, Rev. Erin Walter and three members of First UU will co-lead a service inspired by the recent Transgender Inclusion in Congregations course. What did folks learn that can spark more love and joy in our own lives? How can lessons of trans inclusion help First UU foster belonging for all, be more welcoming of all age...

Rev Chris Jimmerson's sermon delivered on June 4, 2023. In this traditional Unitarian ceremony, everyone is invited to bring flowers to church. Then, during the service, we hold our annual ritual where we bless the flowers and then share them with one another. What might this annual ritual tell us about human flourishing and delight.

Rev Chris Jimmerson's sermon delivered on May 28, 2023. We need our most creative spirits to manifest the holy in our world. Indeed, becoming, changing, engaging in constant acts of creation and re-creation are the essence of our growth and spirituality, And we are at our most transformative and transformed when we co-create in communion with one another and the web of existence.

Rev Chris Jimmerson and Kelly Stokes' sermon delivered on May 21, 2023. One of our church ends states, "We embody the principals of Unitarian Universalism and invite people of goodwill to find a spiritual home with us." Our church is growing in both numbers and multiculturally. This both provides all of us greater creative potential and requires greater creative efforts and openness from each of u...

Rev Jonalou Johnstone's sermon delivered on May 14, 2023. Whether you came from a different religious tradition or grew up purely UU, you have probably encountered religious concepts, phrases, and words that rub you wrong. Today we consider those words - some that you've provided - and what it means to consider, reclaim, or reject the words that we love to hate.

Rev Erin Walter's sermon delivered on May 7, 2023. A proverb (and countless songs) tell us, "If you love something, set it free." But alongside letting go with love, we also need the capacity to invite people in. This is a muscle we are still regrowing from the pandemic.

Rev Chris Jimmerson's sermon delivered on April 30, 2023. With all that is going on in our social and political environment these days, it can feel overwhelming. How do we resist so many assaults on human worth and dignity? How do we sustain resistance long-term? We will look at how spiritual practices such as opening to joy, celebrating our bodies, embracing joy and humor, immersing ourselves in...

Rev Erin Walter and Simone Monique Barnes' sermon delivered on April 23, 2023. Seven years after his death, Prince's work continues to influence and inspire the world. With religiously themed music and lyrics, combined with an ongoing exploration of identity, self expression, truth-telling, joy, injustice, grief, and of course, love, Prince's deeply spiritual music offers a theology of liberation.

Rev Chris Jimmerson's sermon delivered on April 16, 2023. As we approach Earth Day, what is the current status of the climate crisis? We will examine what we can do to make a difference and how viewing the climate crisis as a spiritual and personal issue might help sustain us for the sacred journey ahead.

Rev Jonalu Johnstone's sermon delivered on April 9, 2023. Easter, Passover and Ramadan all come together this year. We'll consider these holidays and break into the full life of the Spring.

Guest Speaker Chaplain Anthony Jenkins' sermon delivered on April 2, 2023. Rev. Jenkins will lead a worship service exploring the interfaith intersection of the modern Easter holiday - through an ancient (and Divine Feminine) prism. This will be a hearing of sorts, a trial for the rightful ownership of Easter.

Guest Speaker Rev Sara Green's sermon delivered on March 26, 2023. There are many interpretations about what we are supposed to be doing as a church - rituals, building community and justice, are just a few. Liturgy, sometimes interpreted as the work of the people, calls us to make micro experiments in beloved community creation. Let's explore how our care of land and collaboration with the planet...

Guest Speaker Rev Ed Proulx's sermon delivered on March 19, 2023. We have seen the unspeakable become commonplace. It's become more and more common and unspeakable. How do we, as religious people address our societal breakdown? One conversation at a time.