Unitarian Universalist Sermons and Conversations from First Unitarian Church of Dallas

As our nation marks its 250th anniversary, what does America inspire in us? Pride and hope? Concern and challenge? Perhaps all of these at once. Through the voices of musicians such as Woody Guthrie and Bruce Springsteen, we'll reflect on the ongoing promise and unfinished work of the American story. 💚 Consider making a one-time contribution to First Church today. Your financial support allows us...

Life rarely follows the script we expect. Improvisation invites us to listen deeply, trust ourselves and one another, and create something meaningful in the moment. Drawing inspiration from the joyful spontaneity and musical genius of Bobby McFerrin, we'll explore what it means to embrace uncertainty with curiosity and discover unexpected possibilities along the way. 💚 Consider making a one-time...

What does faith look like in a time of rising Islamophobia, Christian nationalism, and division? In this episode of Tiny Pulpit Talks, Rev. T. J. FitzGerald sits down with Rev. Mara Richards Bim and immigration attorney Zainab Khan for an honest conversation about what's happening in North Texas and across the country. Together, they explore how fear and misinformation are fueling anti-Muslim hate...

One root of our existence is the resilience of our ancestors. How do we use resilience today for our next generations? (On Thursday, June 18 at 6 pm in Channing Social Hall, we will screen Wall-E*, whose vision of humanity raises questions about endurance, responsibility, and renewal.) 💚 Consider making a one-time contribution to First Church today. Your financial support allows us to provide our...

What does it mean to be inspired? In this opening sermon of our summer series, Inspiration, Rev. Dr. Daniel Kanter reflects on creativity, soul growth, and the lifelong process of becoming. Through the stories of Kurt Vonnegut, ancient understandings of inspiration as breath, and a Unitarian Universalist vision of spiritual growth, this sermon invites us to pay attention to what gives our lives me...

Through the Irish folktale "Teig O'Kane and the Corpse," we reflect on the weight of moral obligation, the consequences of our choices, and the enduring truth that responsibility cannot be avoided. 💚 Consider making a one-time contribution to First Church today. Your financial support allows us to provide our weekly livestream, produce Tiny Pulpit Talks - our weekly podcast, pay our staff, and ma...

What does it mean to live in a world that is driven by greed? This popular Tawainese folktale helps us think about fairness and selflessness as life values. 💚 Consider making a one-time contribution to First Church today. Your financial support allows us to provide our weekly livestream, produce Tiny Pulpit Talks - our weekly podcast, pay our staff, and make our UU values real in the world. 💲Giv...

With many of our foundations in reason and Enlightenment-era thinking, Unitarian Universalists often struggle with mystery. We're often averse to things we might perceive as stories and beliefs that present as "supernatural." But what if "real" and "not real" is a false binary? Perhaps we're not asking the right questions when it comes to grappling with the unexplainable. About Cameron Young (they...

Join us as we celebrate and bless our youth coming of age and graduating seniors bridging into young adulthood. 💚 Consider making a one-time contribution to First Church today. Your financial support allows us to provide our weekly livestream, produce Tiny Pulpit Talks - our weekly podcast, pay our staff, and make our UU values real in the world. 💲Give through PayPal, Venmo, & Apple Pay here: ht...

What do we owe to mothers on Mother's Day. Lets talk about it! 💚 Consider making a one-time contribution to First Church today. Your financial support allows us to provide our weekly livestream, produce Tiny Pulpit Talks - our weekly podcast, pay our staff, and make our UU values real in the world. 💲Give through PayPal, Venmo, & Apple Pay here: https://tinyurl.com/firstchurchpaypal 🌎 Join our g...

T. S. Eliot wrote about the experience of seeking and exploring, only to return to where you started and to know the place for the first time. Looking back on our church's theme year, what do we know now – about ourselves, our faith, our community, our world – that we didn't know when we started? Reimagining and Remaking Series The world as we've known it is shifting, shaped by climate crisis, inj...

In this episode of Tiny Pulpit Talks, Reverend T. J. FitzGerald sits down with Jerry Hawkins, our Director of Equity Initiatives and Community History Fellow in Residence, to explore the hidden and often erased history of race and racism in Dallas. Together, they discuss why uncovering these stories matters, how missing archives and silenced narratives shape public memory, and why imagination is s...

The work of racial equity is foundational to the world we hope to build. We'll reflect on the commitment, honesty, and transformation required to bring that hope to life. Reimagining and Remaking Series The world as we've known it is shifting, shaped by climate crisis, injustice, polarization, and deep longing for something better. In this closing series of our Return Again theme year, we ask: Wha...

In this episode of Tiny Pulpit Talks, Director of Equity Initiatives Jerry Hawkins joins Rev. T. J. FitzGerald for a conversation about racial equity, faith, and the work already happening within the church and the wider Dallas community. Jerry shares his story, from growing up in Chicago to years of equity work across organizations, and reflects on what it means to step into this new role at the...

Rev. T. J. FitzGerald's sermon "Our Rock and Our Salvation" invites us to see Earth in a new way. He reflects on the quiet of the universe, the sounds of everyday life, and how rare and precious it is that we are here together. This message calls us to remember that we belong to a living world, not a pile of resources. Drawing on the ideas of Thomas Berry and the words of Maya Angelou, Rev. FitzGe...

Let's think outside the box together about what creativity and imagination is called for in this time. How far can our imagination take us? Reimagining and Remaking Series The world as we've known it is shifting, shaped by climate crisis, injustice, polarization, and deep longing for something better. In this closing series of our Return Again theme year, we ask: What now? What next? What if? This...

This Unitarian Universalist Easter sermon, "Above the Fold" by Rev. Dr. Daniel Kanter, follows a reporter arriving in Jerusalem after Jesus' death, trying to gather the story for his readers. As he speaks with ordinary people, he hears how Jesus changed lives in simple but powerful ways. People became more generous, more compassionate, and more aware of one another. Through these encounters, the r...

In this episode of Tiny Pulpit Talks, Reverend T. J. FitzGerald shares important updates on immigration enforcement in Dallas and across the country. Drawing from what he's seeing in local neighborhoods and stories from other cities, he speaks about the growing fear many families are facing and the real impact on everyday life. He also highlights ways people can respond, from supporting mutual aid...

In his sermon, "Reclaiming Religious Language: Christ," Rev. T. J. FitzGerald explores the meaning of the word "Christ" through a Unitarian Universalist lens. He explains that "Christ" originally meant "anointed one," someone set apart to bring healing and change, not just a title for Jesus. He challenges common assumptions, questions claims of certainty, and names how the word has been used to ju...

Reclaiming Religious Language: Confession | Rev. Dr. Daniel Kanter Many of us have never sat in a confessional but have had to break ourselves open to the truth of who we are. What is confession in a Unitarian Universalist context? 📖 This sermon is part of our Reclaiming Religious Language Series In this series, we explore the religious words that shaped traditions before us and ask: What still s...

In this episode of Tiny Pulpit Talks, Rev. Dr. Daniel Kanter and Rev. T. J. Fitzgerald explore the meaning of Lent in simple terms. They talk about this season as a time to reflect on life, mortality, and what truly matters, while inviting listeners to consider spiritual practices that go beyond just "giving something up." Instead, they share how picking up meaningful habits—like prayer, reflectio...

"Sacrament" is not a common word in Unitarian Universalist discourse, but we say it every Sunday in our Affirmation. Let's explore what we really mean when we say "the quest of truth" is our sacrament. 📖 This sermon is part of our Reclaiming Religious Language Series In this series, we explore the religious words that shaped traditions before us and ask: What still speaks? What needs healing? Wha...

In this special Women's History Month episode of Tiny Pulpit Talks, Rev. T. J. FitzGerald and Rev. Beth Dana reflect on the legacy of women's leadership in Unitarian Universalism. They share stories about pioneering minister Olympia Brown and the "Iowa Sisterhood," a group of women who helped build congregations across the Midwest in the late 1800s while facing barriers and skepticism along the wa...

In his sermon, "Reclaiming Religious Language: Blessing," Rev. Dr. Daniel Kanter explores what it really means to give and receive a blessing in a world filled with conflict, fear, and uncertainty. Through stories, personal experiences, and the teachings of Jesus in the Beatitudes, he explores how blessing can begin with simple attention to one another and to the realities of life. This message in...

Faith is not one-size-fits-all. For Unitarian Universalists, it can be rooted in many sources and expressed in many ways. Together, we'll consider how we claim and protect a life of faith that reflects our deepest values. Reclaiming Religious Language Series At the turning of the year, we pause to rediscover what matters most to us beneath the noise of daily life. Rooted in the Unitarian Universal...