Unitarian Universalist Sermons and Conversations from First Unitarian Church of Dallas

In this sermon, Rev. T. J. FitzGerald kicks of our Lenten series Reclaiming Religious Language by taking a fresh look at sin through a Unitarian Universalist lens. Starting in the Garden of Eden, he explores how the story has been shaped over time and how "original sin" may be less about disobedience and more about avoiding responsibility. Instead of inherited guilt, he considers the idea of origi...

Join us for a much loved and meaningful tradition – Youth Sunday! Our YRUU teens lead the service, sharing their musical gifts and reflections on our theme year "Return Again." 🔥 This sermon is part of our Return to Who You Are 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 Universalist shared values, this...

In her sermon "Love at the Center," Rev. Beth Dana reflects on the meaning of unconditional love through the story of Hosea Ballou, a child who learned that he was loved even when he was muddy, curious, and imperfect. That early lesson shaped his belief that God's love must be wide enough for everyone. Rev. Dana invites us to remember that we are already beloved and we should see others the same w...

A Unitarian Universalist Sermon for Martin Luther King Day | Rev. T. J. FitzGerald | 01.18.2026 In his sermon "The Name of Love," Rev. T. J. FitzGerald reflects on on Martin Luther King Jr.'s message for us in troubled times. Drawing from Dr. King's teachings on agape love, nonviolence, and moral courage, this UU sermon explores what it means to live with purpose when fear, injustice, and division...

In a time of violence and division Rev. Dr. Daniel Kanter's sermon "Giving Heart" reflects on what it means to keep a giving heart when fear and anger feel overwhelming. Rev. Kanter names the grief and exhaustion many are carrying while affirming a Unitarian Universalist faith that sees this world as sacred and deeply interconnected. We are invited to move beyond tolerance toward genuine inclusion...

In his sermon, I Am You and You Are Me, Rev. Dr. Daniel Kanter speaks about interdependence as a sacred truth at the heart of life. He reflects on human existence, gratitude, and the deep connection that links us to one another and to all living beings. Beginning each day with thankfulness becomes a way to remember that life itself is a gift. The sermon moves through moments of wonder, struggle, a...

Beyond the Buffet: A Unitarian Universalist Sermon About Pluralism | Return to Who You Are | Rev. Beth Dana In her sermon, "Beyond the Buffet," Rev. Beth Dana explores what it truly means to be Unitarian Universalist in a world of many religions and cultures. Rev. Dana invites us to move past the idea of religion as a pick-and-choose buffet and instead embrace genuine pluralism, deep respect, and...

The Fire This Time: A Unitarian Universalist Sermon About Transformation In his sermon "The Fire This Time," Rev. T. J. Fitzgerald reflects on what it means to be fully human in a world shaped by fear, shame, and the pressure to be perfect. Through stories, poetry by Joy Harjo, and insights from James Baldwin, the sermon invites us to notice the quiet, beautiful ways love already lives in us and t...

In his sermon "Rest of the Story," Rev. T. J. FitzGerald reflects on old stories that shape our lives and asks what it means to write a new one together. Drawing from the Book of Revelation, music, and shared history, he explores how fear, power, and injustice repeat themselves across time and how faith can help us see the truth clearly. This message calls people of faith to speak openly, act bold...

In this episode of Tiny Pulpit Talks, Rev. Dr. Daniel Kanter and Rev. T. J. Fitzgerald dive into what it truly means to be an LGBTQ-affirming church and why it matters now more than ever. This conversation explores queer inclusion in faith, Unitarian Universalist values, and the radical idea that church should be a place where everyone can be fully themselves. Rev. Daniel and T. J. reflect on the...

In this Unitarian Universalist Advent sermon, Rev. Beth Dana invites us into the quiet and often uncomfortable space of waiting. As we light candles and prepare for Christmas, we explore how Advent is less about rushing to joy and more about holding hope in the dark. Through story, tradition, and reflection, this message reminds us that waiting can open our hearts to something new. In a world mark...

In this Unitarian Universalist Advent sermon, "Barren Earth," Rev. Dr. Daniel Kanter reflects on how hope can appear in the hardest seasons of life. Through stories of poets, and spiritual teachers, he invites us to see how even what looks empty or frozen can still hold the promise of new life. When the world feels heavy and the ground feels bare, we are reminded that renewal often begins unseen....

In this episode of Tiny Pulpit Talks, Rev. T. J. Fitzgerald and Rev. Dr. Daniel Kanter talk about the long history of churches speaking up during hard political times. They reflect on how faith communities have played key roles in major moments like the American Revolution, the fight to end slavery, and the civil rights movement. They explain that speaking from the pulpit is about sharing values o...

In this episode of Tiny Pulpit Talks, Rev. T.J. Fitzgerald shares an honest update about the difficult realities of immigration work in Texas. He explains how major changes in the system are making it harder for people to stay with their families while their cases move forward. He also talks about the importance of courtroom observers and community partners who help shine a light on how people are...

This Fourth Sunday of Advent sermon, Rev. T. J. Fitzgerald reflects on grief, addiction, loss, and the quiet pain many people carry during the holidays. Drawing on James Baldwin's Sonny's Blues, the wisdom of the blues tradition, and personal stories of love and endurance, this message speaks to those who feel cracked open by life and wonder how the light still gets in. In the darkest season of th...

"Trim the Hearth" is Rev. Dr. Daniel Kanter's Unitarian Universalist sermon for the first week of Advent, inviting us to slow down, clear space, and make room for warmth and renewal in our lives. He reflects on what it means to tend the center of our lives with intention, honesty, and care. Advent becomes a season of gentle preparation, rather than pressure - of noticing the light that rises each...

This Sunday, we welcome guest minister Rev. Jen Crow as we celebrate Rev. Beth Dana's 10-Year Anniversary of Ordination. Across the generations, across the country, across theologies and untold multitudes of experiences, we name and nurture and sustain the faith that has the power to transform us individually and collectively. Today we celebrate the ties that bind us together and the part we play...

Join us for this Unitarian Universalist Thanksgiving reflection with Rev. T. J. FitzGerald. Rev. FitzGerald reminds us that giving thanks is not about pretending the world is fine, but about finding the courage to say "yes" to the future, to forgive what cannot be changed, and to stay rooted in wonder and compassion. In a season when many feel weighed down by fear, division, or uncertainty, this m...

In her sermon "Milestones on the Journey," Rev. Beth Dana reflects on the power of milestones and rituals in our spiritual and everyday lives as Unitarian Universalists. She explains that birthdays, transitions, and life events matter because they help us find meaning, reflect on change, and remind each other that we are loved and seen. In our UU faith, these moments are sacred opportunities to re...

In his All Souls sermon, Rev. Dr. Daniel Kanter reflects on the fragile beauty of life and the lasting echoes of love, laughter, and memory. Through stories of family and friends who have passed, he reminds us that even as life floats away like feathers, the warmth of connection endures in our smiles, our laughter, and our care for one another. Our annual All Souls service invites us to remember a...

Ever wondered how a church with a $2.4 million budget and 28 dedicated staff members keeps everything running with integrity and transparency? In this episode, Revs. Daniel Kanter and T. J. Fitzgerald break down how our church's finances really work — from pledges and balanced budgets to collective generosity and community trust. What you'll learn: How the annual budget is built from member pledge...

In her sermon "Are You A Humanist?" Rev. Beth Dana reflects on her journey with Unitarian Universalism and humanism, exploring how these values shape faith, meaning, and community. She discusses the evolution of humanism, emphasizing awe, wonder, and reverence as experiences that connect us to each other and the world. 💚 Consider making a one-time contribution to First Church today. Your financia...

In his sermon "Being Ungovernable," Rev. T. J. FitzGerald takes us from the streets of Boston to the waters of Walden Pond, following the life and lessons of Henry David Thoreau. Through stories of Thoreau, Gandhi, Dr. King, and others who stood up to injustice, we explore how real freedom begins when we follow our conscience instead of just obeying the rules. Rev. T. J. reminds us that In a time...

In this sermon from the Ancestors of Our Faith series, Rev. Dr. Daniel Kanter explores the radical faith of 19th-century Unitarian minister and abolitionist Theodore Parker, whose ideas reshaped the course of liberal religion. Drawing inspiration from Parker's distinction between what is "transient" and what is "permanent" in faith, Rev. Kanter invites us to examine the difference between the oute...

This series honors those whose courage and conviction formed the soul of our tradition. They were not perfect, but they were faithful: to truth, to love, and to the possibility of a better world. In honoring these ancestors of faith, we ask: What do we inherit from them? What do we carry forward? We begin with the 4th-century Unitarians who challenged the prevailing Trinitarian view of Jesus, aski...