Unitarian Universalist Sermons and Conversations from First Unitarian Church of Dallas

– Join us for our Service of Renewal, or "Burning Service," where we decide what we will let go into the fire as we start a new year together.

– For some, Christmas does not begin and end on December 25th. It is 12 days of celebration and feasting! Join us as we extend the holiday season and celebrate the New Year.

A special sermon for Christmas Eve Sunday morning.

A Christmas Pageant Homily

- in a season that can be filled with feelings of "never enough," what does kindness do for our souls?

– On this first Sunday of Advent, we will explore how we travel the path toward Christmas, and how we embody the blessings of this season.

A homily in dialogue with Rev. Aaron White, Zoe Greene, and Isabella Uber.

– What can we be grateful for? In a time when the world presents so many challenges to our sense of gratitude and abundance, let's practice giving thanks together.

Today's sermon looks at the prophets in our lives, not as a clairvoyant, or a psychic but more akin to a namer, someone who is called to look and discern the what of what is, and name it.

– What role does discomfort play in the transformation of our lives?

– On this "All Souls" Sunday in church, we take time to honor those who have come before us, to grieve those we have lost, and to look toward our own legacy.

We are a faith in which reason and spirituality go hand in hand. Join us to explore our rationally spiritual identity and practice.

In some other faith traditions, sharing good news is a spiritual mandate. What do you know about living well, and how do you teach that just as you are?

– What is a Church For? Can we be serious about our work and create a joyful place? Join us for our "Connections Sunday".

A Zen koan I know asks "Does an enlightened person fall under the laws of cause and effect?" This koan will be our text for a sermon on mistakes, punishment and forgiveness. What's the difference between an original sin and an original mistake?

During the Jewish High Holy Day service of Yom Kippur, the entire book of Jonah is read aloud. It's a curious story about a cowardly procrastinator who reluctantly, and despite his own efforts, becomes a prophet for compassion, mercy and justice. We'll look at what Jonah's story has to tell us about our own prophetic presence in today's tumultuous times.

– How do people of different religious backgrounds and experiences worship and work together in one church? Find out this week!

– This year in church asks us what a progressive congregation is called to do and be in this moment. Join us as we start this church year together.

Labor Day was created to honor the American labor movement and workers contributions to our country. As it now seems just a three-day-weekend finish to summer, the income and wealth gaps widen, and the gap between a minimum and living wage widens. What is our role regarding these issues and those it affects?

This week, we look at Unitarianism: a theological perspective whose adherents are intertwined with our country's history. This little understood faith tradition, now paired with Universalism, continues to evolve as we pursue spiritual lives and bring healing and justice to the world.

During the next two weeks, we take a look at the basic values and history of our tradition. This week, we explore Universalism. What does "No Hell" mean in 2017?

– How do you know if you're using your life well? Does a "calling" exist for every person? If so, how do we find it?

– It's called the "problem of evil" in theological terms. Why do some people have so much, while others so little. Is life, or the universe fair?

– So many of the questions we received related in some way to what it means to be alone and to make meaningful friendships. We'll explore the spiritual side of solitude and relationships.

– For many people, "prayer," means something different now from what we were taught as children. How do today's Unitarian Universalists understand and practice prayer?