Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto Sermons and Reflections

The audio player above plays the audio podcast of the sermon only. The YouTube player below plays the video of the entire service with copyrighted and private information redacted. The order of service is at: bit.ly/uucpa_oos_20201206 Whether we call ourselves believers or not, most of us have a god we don't believe in--what others believe (or we think they believe) that shapes our own attitudes....

The audio player above plays the audio podcast of the sermon only. The YouTube player below plays the video of the entire service with copyrighted and private information redacted. Once a year, the high-school-age members of UUCPA lead a service and always have great insights into the world around us. Today they offer leadership on ways to manage during trying times. Follow along in the order of s...

The audio player above plays the audio podcast of the sermon only. The YouTube player below plays the video of the entire service with copyrighted and private information redacted. Follow along in the order of service: bit.ly/uucpa_oos_20201122 . Our intergenerational Thanksgiving service comes at a tough time. The story The Table Where Rich People Sit, by Byrd Baylor and Peter Parnall, offers a w...

The audio player above plays the audio podcast of the sermon only. The YouTube player below plays the video of the entire service with copyrighted and private information redacted. Not only individuals, but families and communities, carry secrets within themselves. The secrets are protected by silence, and shame guards them like a fierce dog. But there are ways to pass safely into the vault and re...

The audio player above plays the audio podcast of the sermon only. The YouTube player below plays the video of the entire service with copyrighted and private information redacted. How do we move forward together as such a divided nation? How do we proceed "with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right," in Abraham Lincoln's words, while also striving for unity? The Braver Angels org...

It is the time of All Souls and All Saints, and Rev. Millie Phillips returns to our pulpit to lead the service of memory for our beloved departed. We will lift up the names of the members of the UUCPA community who have died since our last remembrance service, and also remember anyone whom any of us has loved and lost at any time. Follow along in the order of service: bit.ly/uucpa_oos_20201101 Rev...

We've heard the story of Epimetheus and Prometheus, and how Prometheus was punished by the gods for bringing the gift of fire to humanity. Well, in one version, that wasn't enough for Zeus, who also sent one last punishment: Pandora. And she opened a container that had diseases and spiritual torments inside, and accidentally let them all out. But one thing was left at the bottom: hope. We need it,...

Do we still have heroes? Do we still need heroes? When the people we venerate turn out to have flaws, we have some choices: we can give up our ideals, beat up our former idols--or grow up into a more complex view of them and ourselves. Worship Leader: Rev. Amy Zucker Morgenstern Special music: Kris Yenney, cello Follow along in the order of service: bit.ly/uucpa_oos_20201018

Numerous leaders around the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) contributed elements to a service on how we will vote love and defeat hate in next month's election. We'll be inspired to UU the Vote by a homily from UUA President the Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray, music from singers all around the country and beyond, and several voices from closer to home. We will gather the spirit, harvest the po...

Today is the Feast of Saint Francis, and thus the traditional day for blessing animals in Roman Catholicism. It's also World Animal Day--a fine occasion for us homo sapiens to reflect on what it means to share a biosphere with about 8.7 million other animal species. Now that online services make it easy for non-human animals to "attend" the service, we will have an online "parade" and bless all th...

Over the centuries, Judaism has honed the meaning and practices of atonement: how we make things right after we have done something wrong. Its teachings can heal our hearts, strengthen our relationships, help us build better communities, and even nudge us closer to world peace. Worship Leader: Rev. Amy Zucker Morgenstern Special Music: Veronika Agranov-Dafoe, piano Follow along in the order of ser...

In these times, we deeply need faith communities dedicated to love and justice and compelled to live out radical welcome as a spiritual practice. In this service guest preacher Zr. Alex Kapitan, one of the leaders of "Trans Inclusion in Congregations," the course that UUCPA is about to engage with, will share how radical welcome isn’t about simply opening our (virtual or physical) doors or being f...

How do we decide what to trust? The solidity of what we can reliably know has been chipped away: by propaganda, deceit by once-trusted leaders, postmodernism, and the multiplication of media sources. However, the question is not new, and wise answers have been proposed for thousands of years. We'll look at some of the guidance we've been offered. Worship Leader: Rev. Amy Zucker Morgenstern Special...

Difficult times are trying times. They expose our vulnerabilities. How can our vulnerabilities be our gifts? How do we hide our joy, peace and balance? How do we uncover it? Let's explore together what Buddha had to say about all of this.   Worship Leader: Prashant Billore Worship Associate: Aarav Billore Follow along in the order of service: bit.ly/uucpa_oos_20200906 Photo by Benjamin Balázs on U...

We hope you can participate in this annual ritual of ingathering. During the ritual in the August 30 service, waters and words that were shared earlier will be poured into the communal bowl.  Please also have a glass of water on hand  when the service begins in order to join in another part of the ceremony. Follow along in the order of service: bit.ly/uucpa_oos_20200830

And now, a question for  you.  What is something you were taught at a very early age that you still live by and value? Our answers will send our children to school with wisdom and love. Worship leader: Rev. Amy Zucker Morgenstern Special music: Larry Chinn, jazz piano Follow along in the order of service: bit.ly/uucpa_oos_20200823 Video of the August 23, 2020 service with copyrighted and private i...

What are you wondering? In lieu of the sermon, Amy will answer as many of your questions as she can. Come with a question in mind! Worship leader: Rev. Amy Zucker Morgenstern Special music: Veronika Agranov-Dafoe The Justice Partner for August is Abilities United, which has merged with Gatepath and is now called Ability Path.  The offering today will be donated to this justice partner.  Follow alo...

Sacrifice is a word that evokes feelings ranging from horror to noble aspiration. It is hailed as a necessary ingredient of religion, success, and community, on the one hand, and it is deeply mistrusted, on the other. And it is much in the news as some U.S. Americans beg others to be willing to sacrifice convenience in order to end the pandemic. Today is the Muslim celebration Eid al-Adha, the Fes...

As the climate of our beautiful blue boat home changes, people living near shorelines now find their homes underwater, while those farming on rich land are now beset by drought. The result is increased migration within and beyond borders. We'll hear from Gregorio, who left Guatemala and its rapidly changing climate to come to Mountain View, and Amy will share what we can do (and are doing) to repa...

. . . for the mistake shall not be repeated. So reads the inscription on the memorial Cenotaph in Hiroshima, a message to those who died 75 years ago from the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the many more who died of the effects in the years that followed. There are many things we can do to fulfill this promise and make a world where nuclear war will not happen, and they start...

In this time of physical distancing and virtual church, we miss some of what makes our Sunday mornings special. How do we reach out to one another and show our care for each other in this new way of being together? Rev. Kimberley Debus is a community minister based in upstate New York, inspiring an artful and art-filled faith. She consults with congregations and religious professionals and provide...

“Ring theory,” or “Circles of care,” is a simple principle with many, many applications. It can help us help others and get what we need, ourselves. Today’s service explores its almost magical possibilities. Worship Leader: Rev. Amy Zucker Morgenstern Special music: Veronika Agranov-Dafoe, piano Today's offering will be donated to the justice partner for July: California Clean Money Campaign. Nanc...

The human need for connection is undeniable. Yet for most of us, for the hundreds of thousands of years of human existence, those connections have arisen from, and been sustained by, proximity. How do we create community when physical closeness is so limited? Worship Leader: Rev. Amy Zucker Morgenstern Music: Margaret Davis, harp, and Kristoph Klover, acoustic guitar Follow along in the order of s...

Fifty-one years ago today, the people gathered at the Stonewall Inn had had one police raid too many, and they fought back. Many consider this the birth of the movement for LGBTQA+ rights in the United States, and to a large extent, around the world. Why did the shift happen then? If we must lean on the moral arc of the universe to bend it toward justice, what lessons does this particular justice...

One of our affiliated community ministers, the Rev. Stefanie Etzbach-Dale, speaks to us about the spiritual practice of attentiveness to the present moment, in all its complexity. Worship leader: Rev. Stefanie Etzbach-Dale Worship Associate: Rev. Amy Zucker Morgenstern Special music: Veronika Agranov-Dafoe, piano The order of service is here: https://bit.ly/2MU9ko2