Unity Church Sermon Podcasts

Oh Say Can You See, By the Dawn's Early Light? — Tom Esch It is time to really put our imaginations to use. Fewer people can doubt that we are near or at a point of crisis on many levels as a planet and as a species. Is it time for all of us to begin to see new things in new ways? Where do we as a UU movement find our vision and inspiration in times of desperation?

The Eldercare Journey - by Rev. Ann Romanczuk Many of us in this congregation are caring for, or anticipating caring for, our aging parents. Author Mary Pipher writes of this process: "if we embark freely and willingly on this voyage of discovery, we may find joy, empathy, understanding, and intimacy. We expand our definitions of what it means to be human. We grow our own souls in the garden of ti...

  During the month of May, our ministers Rob and Janne Eller-Isaacs made their way along the Camino de Santiago, an ancient pilgrimage trail that culminates at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compestella. They return to Unity Church to tell us why they chose to go beyond Santiago and to end their pilgrimage at the sea. In this 4 part sermon, Rob and Janne reflect on their sabbatical, on making a pilg...

The Joy of Ripeness Justin Schroeder Life is full of beginnings and endings. Yet, there is that magical moment, that space someplace between the beginning and the ending, where a fullness and perfect readiness is reached. It is as if we have been preparing our whole lives for this moment, this moment that can come again and again in our lifetime. It is a moment of joy, a moment of perfect ripeness...

The Journey We're Ready For by Teresa Schwartz We make our paths by walking them, step by step. If our lives are a journey, are we ever truly ready? How would we know? What is the role of faith as we step into the unknown, especially as Unitarian Universalists? As we reach the close of our church year, we"ll reflect on the paths we�ve made together, and what lies ahead as we move into the ripe s...

Service and Sacrifice: The Complexities of Memorial Day by Justin Schroeder In part, Memorial Day is a day of remembering all who have given their lives in service to our country. In this remembering, we are drawn into larger questions of meaning and purpose in our own lives: What am I willing to sacrifice? Who or what am I most authentically serving?

Heading into summer is the perfect time to pause and reflect on the nature of joy and pleasure. How do we find our true course in the midst of so many distractions? What is the difference between a joy we can trust and follow inward and a pleasure that is only a temporary fill for the "God-shaped Hollow." Katie Lawson was Unity's Hallman Ministerial Intern in 2005 and 2006 and was fellowshipped wi...

"You're Going To Wear That?? — Teresa Schwartz We were all born — and we all have mothers. Some of us are mothers and grandmothers. We'll explore having a mom and being a mom — times funny and sad; moments poignant and irreverent. Mothers of all kinds should be remembered, if not honored. Some mothers are nurturing, some mothers are stifling, some mothers always loved us, some didn't know how, som...

Work That is Real by Rev. Dottie Mathews, Fox Valley UU Fellowship of Appleton, Wisc. The title for this sermon comes from the Marge Piercy poem "To Be of Use." Explore the dynamics between finding coherence in our inner life and how we then take that coherence (or sense of meaning) out into the rest of our lives, our work, our home, and our relationships. Dottie Mathews is the Assistant Minister...

"Abundant Possibilities" by Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, All Souls Church, Tulsa, Oklahoma Marlin Lavanhar grew up Unitarian Universalist at North Shore Unitarian Church in Deerfield, Illinois. After graduating from Tulane University, he relocated to Kyoto, Japan, where he worked and studied for two years. Leaving Japan, he and a friend took a three year, around the world odyssey on mountain bikes. The t...

Easter Sunday by Teresa Schwartz and Justin Schroeder We honor the Easter story every year; every year we are in need of resurrection. We will celebrate doubt and belief, the commonplace and the miraculous, our fears and our hopes as we reach into new life.  

Fools, Foolishness, and Folly: What Clowns, Jesters and Pranksters Have to Teach Us by Justin Schroeder This April Fool's Day (and Palm Sunday), come laugh and chortle as we explore the history of the holy fool - those clowns and jokesters that throughout the ages have managed to penetrate our upright defenses to tell us the things we really need to know.

The Idolatry of Symbols by Rev. Karen Gustafson Karen was ordained by the Duluth Unitarian Universalist congregation in 1986. She is a graduate of the Starr King School for the ministry in Berkeley California. Before becoming an minister, Karen was a public school educator in Northern Wisconsin and Minnesota. She is married and has four just- barely-adult children. Karen is inspired by the poetry...

Gates, Alarms, Mace, and Faith: Finding Real Security in an Insecure Age. ByJustin Schroeder What makes us safe, really safe? Is it a home alarm system, razor wire, the truth, or a hand gun next to our bed? How secure is secure enough, and what's faith got to do with it?

March 4, 9:00am, 11:00am, and 4:30pm Delivered at www.unityunitarian.org .   We strive for excellence, but when does it become too much? When does our pursuit of improving our careers, our homes, families, bodies, our very selves become too much? When does our drive to be better keep us from doing anything at all? What awakens this drive is us? What feeds it? What can it offer us? As part of our L...

February 25 (9:00, 11:00, 4:30) "Possessed By Possessions? — Rev. Melissa Carvill-Ziemer, Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent, Ohio Melissa served a Unity Church's second Hallman Ministerial Intern. She is currently serving the Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent, Ohio. Melissa served as Unity's Intern in 2003 and 2004. Melissa is married to Ellen Carvill-Ziemer. In addition to her full time p...

"Created Identities? — Justin Schroeder delivered at www.unityunitarian.org Join Justin Schroeder and Worship Associate Neely Crane-Smith as they explore the fundamental questions of "identity.? Are our identities fluid or static? Who determines our identities and labels? What are the politics of identity and is it possible to ever be without an identity? Or are we forever creating the identity we...

Neil is the author of two acclaimed books, VoiceMale, and Fatherloss. He is writer-in-residence at the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning in Lexington, Kentucky, where he lives with his wife, Rev. Kelly Flood, and their 13-year-old son, Evan. Neil is co-founder of the Unitarian Universalist Men's Network. Justin Schroeder will join Neil as his Worship Associate.

Rev. Jennifer Crow, First Unitarian Church of Rochester, New York   delivered at www.unityunitarian.org Effective leadership requires genuine concern, curious listening, humility,and bold vision - a tricky combination whether your find yourself seated in the oval office, around the board room or at the family dinner table. How can we, as leaders and as members of our country, our church, and our f...

"Deep Democracy? Teresa Schwartz How do our "democratic ideals? line up with our basic lived values, in our lives, and in the world? How is our democracy failing us? Or have we failed it? In this service, Teresa Schwartz and worship associate, Dick Buggs, will look at ways to ground ourselves in a democracy that is life-giving, transformative, and reminds us that as a part of the interconnected we...

"Beloved Community" by Justin Schroeder Delivered at www.unityunitarian.org .   What we do we mean when we talked about "Beloved Community"? How do we recognize the "Beloved Community," and how do we know if we're there? On this Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Sunday, we'll explore visions and intersections of "Beloved Community," "Mountain Top" experiences, and the "Kingdom of God."

  "Tolling of Bells" - Rob Eller-Isaacs and Janne Eller-Isaacs January 7, 9:00, 11:00 and 4:30 pm. Delivered at www.unityunitarian.org . We begin each new year with a memorial service for those who have died in the previous year. Rob and Janne will each eulogize men and women whose lives have shaped the world of art or politics, literature or science. Everyone will have an opportunity to acknowled...

October 29 (9:00, 11:00, 4:30)  Delivered at www.unityunitarian.org . "What Are We Afraid Of?" — Rob Eller-Isaacs Why do we fear what we fear? Beyond hard-wired aversion to poisons or pain there are more subtle triggers. Particular costumes, a certain swagger or even just the color of a person's skin can set off our interior alarms, speeding up our heart-rates, closing down our minds. Rob will be...