Sermons for the Journey Podcast

This sermon was preached back in 2022, in my first year of ministry. As Unitarian Universalists, we are a faith tradition. What does “faith” mean for us? How do UUs understand faith, especially with tensions between science and faith? Are these that irreconcilable after all? Sermon from UUCGT's Service on Sun., Mar. 20, 2022. Preached by the Rev. Alex Jensen, Senior Minister at the Unitarian Unive...

Hope lifts us up… and sometimes weighs us down. This Soul Matters month of “Choosing Hope, we’ll explore the Buddhist insight of the “twin thieves” of hope and fear, and how we live meaningfully when hope feels distant. Sermon from UUCGT's Service on Sun., Dec. 7, 2025. Preached by the Rev. Alex Jensen, Senior Minister at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Grand Traverse (UUCGT), Traverse...

This sermon was preached back in 2021, in my first year of ministry. Thanksgiving can be a complicated holiday. Holding the themes of gratitude and abundance with the histories of colonization and violence against Indigenous Peoples, we reflect on what it means to gather in this time and how we can hold and make sense of this complex history. Sermon from UUCGT's Service on Sun., Nov. 21, 2021. Pre...

This sermon was preached back in 2023, yet it speaks to this time of gathering together around tables and what it means to embody radical love and inclusion. UU congregations seldom celebrate communion. Though, we hold a lineage and historic importance to this ritual of generosity and abundance. What are its roots? How might we reclaim communion and set a table for all who need it? Sermon from UUC...

What does it mean to age with grace, purpose, and humor? In this service inspired by Karl Keinath’s auction offering, we reflect on the gifts and growth of the aging journey. Preached by the Rev. Alex Jensen, Senior Minister at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Grand Traverse (UUCGT), Traverse City, Michigan. Get full access to Sermons for the Journey at revalexjensen.substack.com/subscri...

This sermon was originally shared in my first year of ministry. How do Unitarian Universalists relate to prayer? In this service on prayer, we’ll delve into what it means to pray, why we do it, and how it could be meaningful to those that don’t. Sermon from UUCGT's Service on Sun., Mar. 13, 2022. Preached by the Rev. Alex Jensen, Senior Minister at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Grand...

Who are the saints of our tradition: the truth-tellers, justice-makers, and quiet caregivers? On this All Souls’ Day, we remember those who shaped our faith and call us to deeper love. Sermon from UUCGT's Service on Sun., Nov. 2, 2025. Preached by the Rev. Alex Jensen, Senior Minister at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Grand Traverse (UUCGT), Traverse City, Michigan. Get full access to...

As the Veil between worlds grows thin, we honor our ancestors and those we have lost in the past year. Through ritual and remembrance, we carry their light forward. Sermon from UUCGT's Service on Sun., Oct. 26, 2025. Preached by the Rev. Alex Jensen, Senior Minister at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Grand Traverse (UUCGT), Traverse City, Michigan. Get full access to Sermons for the Jou...

In honor of Indigenous Peoples’ Day and LGBTQ+ History Month, we reflect on the history and resilience of Two-Spirit people and the spiritual wisdom they offer our wider human story. Sermon from UUCGT's Service on Sun., Oct. 19, 2025. Preached by the Rev. Alex Jensen, Senior Minister at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Grand Traverse (UUCGT), Traverse City, Michigan. Get full access to S...

This sermon was originally shared in my first year of ministry. What does it mean to “believe in God?” How can we understand “God” ourselves, if we don’t believe? As a community of both non-theists and theists, we’ll explore perspectives on God and what “a God of our understanding” might mean. Sermon from UUCGT's Service on Sun., Mar. 6, 2022. Preached by the Rev. Alex Jensen, Senior Minister at t...

In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, we listen deeply to the stories and voices of Latinx/Hispanic members of our community. Through memory, music, and reflection, we explore how roots nourish both personal and collective identity. Reflection from UUCGT's Service on Sun., Oct. 5, 2025. Preached by the Rev. Alex Jensen, Senior Minister at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Grand Tr...

What happens when our words miss the mark? Together we explore how vulnerability, curiosity, and courage can help us stay connected when communication goes sideways. Sermon from UUCGT's Service on Sun., Sept. 28, 2025. Preached by the Rev. Alex Jensen, Senior Minister at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Grand Traverse (UUCGT), Traverse City, Michigan. Get full access to Sermons for the J...

We begin our church year by gathering the waters of our lives—water from summer journeys, sacred moments, and daily renewal—to symbolize our shared life and collective hope. Message from UUCGT's Service on Sun., Sept. 14, 2025. Preached by the Rev. Alex Jensen, Senior Minister at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Grand Traverse (UUCGT), Traverse City, Michigan. Get full access to Sermons...

We begin our church year by gathering the waters of our lives—water from summer journeys, sacred moments, and daily renewal—to symbolize our shared life and collective hope. Message from UUCGT's Service on Sun., Sept. 7, 2025. Preached by the Rev. Alex Jensen, Senior Minister at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Grand Traverse (UUCGT), Traverse City, Michigan. Get full access to Sermons f...

This Christmas Message was delivered on Christmas Eve… But who doesn’t love a Christmas in July?! What is the message and spirit of Christmas? What does A Christmas Carol have to say to us as a congregation in today’s times? Come as we tell the familiar story once again and revel in the joy of the season. Get full access to Sermons for the Journey at revalexjensen.substack.com/subscribe

This sermon was originally delivered back in winter, but its message still feels timely. Our congregation's history is a garden rich with the gifts of those who came before, tilling the soil for what blooms today. Together, we celebrate the vibrant contributions of new voices and hands, planting seeds of connection and possibility in this rich soil. Join us in this Soul Matters month of “Presence”...

This sermon was originally delivered back in the fall, but its message still feels timely. How do we foster clear and healthy communication with one another? What happens when the words or signals get mixed up? Join as we explore the surprising challenge in crafting a PB&J sandwich! Get full access to Sermons for the Journey at revalexjensen.substack.com/subscribe

This sermon was originally delivered back in the fall, but its message still feels timely. When we serve with our fullest selves, we're invited into a space beyond helping and fixing. How can we embody selfless service in ways that put us into deeper connection with one another? How can we get in touch with that no-strings-attached place of Love and gratitude? Get full access to Sermons for the Jo...

This sermon was originally delivered back in the fall, but its message still feels timely. Shared Ministry involves sharing the many roles and responsibilities that our community holds. While the Minister is an integral part, they cannot do it on their own. How might we strengthen the sharing of our ministry together? Get full access to Sermons for the Journey at revalexjensen.substack.com/subscri...

As we mark one of Unitarian Universalism's special ceremonies, what is the message of the flowers? Join us in this celebration of diversity, abundance, and freedom! Get full access to Sermons for the Journey at revalexjensen.substack.com/subscribe

Why consider retreat experiences? How is this type of space helpful for our personal and spiritual lives? For our inner creativity? Rev. Alex reflects on his times on retreat and the unique ways we Unitarian Universalists have a spiritual "passport" to respectfully encounter and learn from other traditions along the way. Get full access to Sermons for the Journey at revalexjensen.substack.com/subs...

Written before modern understandings and knowledge on mental health, how does mental health show up in the world's traditions? In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, we'll look to the metaphors and stories in sacred texts for their gleanings in understanding mental health. Get full access to Sermons for the Journey at revalexjensen.substack.com/subscribe

A necessary component for joy is having the space to experience it! What might Sabbath-taking mean for you? How can this countercultural practice of pausing for rest and renewal help us all to resist the culture of productivity and exploitation that harms so many? Get full access to Sermons for the Journey at revalexjensen.substack.com/subscribe

This Easter, join as we celebrate an Earth-themed Communion. Unitarian Universalist congregations seldom celebrate Communion. Though, we hold a heritage with this ritual of generosity and abundance. How might we reclaim Communion and set a table for all who need it? Get full access to Sermons for the Journey at revalexjensen.substack.com/subscribe

This sermon was originally preached back in November, the Sunday following the 2024 election… Following this election, many in our country are feeling anxious, with heavy hearts. What's our Unitarian Universalist message of repair to a hurting nation and world? What moral injuries might we carry that leave us divided or stuck? Get full access to Sermons for the Journey at revalexjensen.substack.co...