Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto Sermons and Reflections

Intergenerational Thanksgiving service. Today’s service considers ideas and practices that help us live with constant gratitude—an attitude that benefits mind, body, spirit… and others. Worship Leaders: Rev. Peter Farriday , Rev. Cat Boyle Worship Associate: Steven Mashin Follow along in the order of service bit.ly/uucpa_oos_20231119 . Join ... read more .

In the “Season of Giving,” it is easy to give too much or to feel like we are not giving enough. Let us take a moment to relax and ensure that our own wells do not run dry, so that we may be fully present, ... read more .

In this intergenerational service, we rejoice in the everyday miracles of the season, marking the winter solstice, telling the story of Hanukah, and inviting all who wish to play a part to help make the story of Jesus’s birth come to life. Our annual tradition ... read more .

With our annual intergenerational Water Communion service, we affirm our interdependence with one another and the whole planet. Bring a little water to pour into the communal bowl, and we will bless and be blessed by the waters. (If you forget your water, there will ... read more .

Renowned mythologist Joseph Campbell writes, “You have to strive every minute to get rid of the life you have planned in order to have the life that’s waiting for you,” while thirteenth/fourteenth-century mystic and theologian Meister Eckhart said, “The soul grows by subtraction.” Using these ... read more .

Increasingly, we argue that, in the face of harm, impact is all that matters; bringing up intent is, at best, irrelevant and, at worse, usually just an excuse for bad behavior. But why then do we still care so much about intent, motive, or causation ... read more .

Why is *listening* the first step in movements for social change? Who does the listening, who gets listened to, and what do we do with what we hear? What’s the point? Why not plunge directly into problem-solving, advocating, rallying, and arguing/shouting/writing/showing up for the changes we know we need if we are to create a world of justice, equity, and compassion? Join us ... read more .

Language has incredible power to harm or heal, to oppress or liberate. Using words with care is a vital practice for people of faith and conscience—it’s even a key spiritual practice in many traditions. But it’s not always easy. What do we do when some ... read more .

Rev. Alex da Silva Souto [they+Brown+Latinx] has been a person of the “in-between space” since birth and childhood in Brazil. They are currently the minister of Sierra Foothills UUs in Auburn, where they remain a devoted social justice advocate, liturgical artist, and partner in the ... read more .

“Let us measure success by how many of us can say: I am living a life I don’t regret. A life that will resonate with my ancestors” -adrienne maree brown Join us for a reflection of heavy suitcases, surprise turning points, and attending to the complexity ... read more .

So many of us are familiar with the story of David vs Goliath.  It is a story deeply rooted in the way we tell ourselves that we can face and overcome whatever stands between us and our desired outcomes.   This week we will look at this ... read more .

As Artificial Intelligence grows, there is much wondering about whether the line between truth and fiction will be ever harder to know. Today, we look back, both in the short term and the arc of history, to discover deeper truths, together. Rev DL Helfer (they/them) is ... read more .

Poetry is perfect for lovers of words, lovers of sounds and lovers of ideas. And it’s there for anyone willing to take the plunge. Richard Heydt and a few UUCPA friends will read some of our favorite poems and talk about the place of poetry ... read more .

Our guest preacher writes: In a world that seems to have taken some disastrously wrong turns, I find myself struggling to maintain balance and a positive outlook. By word of mouth, TV, and print, I’m aware that others are having some of the same difficulties. ... read more .

From “Don’t Say Gay” bills to the swath of laws criminalizing gender-affirming and abortion-related care, attacks on bodily autonomy in the US are escalating at an alarming pace. And, this nation has always targeted certain kinds of bodies as less worthy of protection and freedom ... read more .

The Beloved Community is one of deep justice and moral beauty. But the ugly and misleading ways in which we talk about justice in today’s society blind us to its deeper meaning — justice that will truly “roll down like waters.” Let’s refresh and re-establish ... read more .

You may have seen service dogs around, especially Thida’s service dog. All you may know is you’re not allowed to touch him and the dog looks serious. Yet dogs are emotional and don’t do anything unless it’s rewarding. How can a service dog find their ... read more .

Two attitudes, two ways to journey through the world. As Amy departs for the explorations made possible by a six-month sabbatical, she shares her thoughts on the doors each one opens or closes. What happens when we meet one another, meet ideas, meet the world, ... read more .

Exactly 100 years ago, on June 4, 1923, the minister of the Unitarian Church in Prague, Czechoslovakia, the Rev. Norbert Čapek, introduced the Flower Celebration. He asked the people of the congregation to bring flowers, and after they gathered them into one beautiful display and ... read more .

“Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don’t be afraid,” says Frederick Buechner. Here we are, plunked down in a life that encompasses devastating tragedies and transcendent joys. What shall we do? In addition to giving the sermon, Amy sings music by three ... read more .

Today we are celebrating Earth Day a little late (April was packed) and reconsidering one species that we often regard as having no useful role in our ecosystem. What it contributes to the global community seems to be far outweighed by what it takes. Of ... read more .

Achieving real social and economic justice will require more than just charity and generosity. We will also need to re-envision and re-interpret some of our system’s basic economic concepts. One approach is to rethink the meaning of property, following a path that Thomas Paine (inspired ... read more .

Life in Silicon Valley is phenomenally stressful. There are as many different ways to try to cope with its pressures as there are personalities, and understanding how our personality intersects with the stress can help us to be less vulnerable to the complete exhaustion known ... read more .

Is the UUCPA group Dismantling White Supremacy, which first convened in late 2019, an education program, a justice project, a support-oriented small group, a spiritual growth group . . . ? Yes! Today, by speaking about what they’ve learned, what they’re doing, and the kinds ... read more .

“Tolerance” has become a bit of a dirty word as those pushed to the margins rightly press for more than simply being tolerated. For example, LGBTQIA folks don’t want their religious community just to tolerate them, but to celebrate them. Intermarried couples don’t want to ... read more .