Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation's Podcast

Today's podcast is from a worship service live streamed on September 13, 2020. The sermon is delivered by Senior Minister Rev. Alan Taylor. Reflecting on how spiritual and social renewal has occurred throughout history with the birth and re-birth of compassion, Rev. Taylor explores how our current historical moment is calling for radical empathy and revolutionary love. The theme for September is w...

Today's podcast is from a worship service live streamed on September 6, 2020. On this Labor Day weekend, Senior Minister Rev. Alan Taylor reflects on what Valarie Kaur calls "the sweet labor of love" that calls us to address classism and racism through opening up to the stories of those we encounter.  The theme for September is what it means to be a people of renewal. To read about our theme-based...

Today's podcast is from a worship service live streamed on August 30, 2020. The sermon is delivered by Minister of Faith Development Rev. Emily Gage. Rev. gage observes that last year at this time, we never in a million years would have pictured remote or hybrid learning or masks or social distancing protocols, or virtual water communion services, or the incredible chaos of the systems around us....

Today's podcast is from a worship service live streamed on August 23, 2020. The Unity Temple Mental Health Awareness Team (MyHAT) brings three journeys navigating mental health along with diverse resources. Leisa Aiken, Rev. Ericka Bailey and Cory Anderson share vulnerably and powerfully. The theme for August is what it means to be a people of possibility. To read about our theme-based ministry, p...

This sermon was delivered by UTUUC Music Director Marty Swisher on August 16, 2020. Marty shares insights into how music is a force for transformation. The theme for August is what it means to be a people of possibility. To read about our theme-based ministry, please visit  http://www.unitytemple.org/faith-development/soul-connections  on our website. For the safety of all in light of the COVID-19...

This sermon was delivered by Rev. Joseph Santos-Lyons on August 9, 2020. Our Unitarian Universalist ministries have a long history in culturally specific communities around the world and here in North America. Who are some of these communities? Why and how were they accepted or rejected? What does their legacy mean for the future of our faith? How can we live into a broader, more faithful interdep...

This sermon was delivered by Pastor Ira J. Acree on August 2, 2020. Rev. Acree has served Greater St. John Bible Church, a thriving Missionary Baptist church in the Austin neighborhood, for the past 30 years. He reflects on the story of Esther of the Hebrew Scriptures and how people of faith are called "for such a time as this."  The theme for August is what it means to be a people of possibility....

This sermon was delivered by Minister of Faith Development Rev. Emily Gage on July 26, 2020. Four plus months into our pandemic existence, Rev. Gage has been thinking hard about what sustains us, what keeps us going, what gives us hope. What makes us feel free, or at least keeps us in touch with something beyond our current circumstances. Two readings presented by youth member Clare Roarty precede...

This sermon was delivered by Rev. Dr. John Buehrens on July 19, 2020. Rev. Buehrens explores how the American Transcendentalists ignited movements for racial, gender and social justice in the 19th century and reflects on their wisdom for our current moment. The podcast includes a reading from "The Limits of Tyrants" by Frederick Douglass. The Rev. John Buehrens was president of the Unitarian Unive...

This sermon was delivered by Rev. Julie Taylor on July 12, 2020. Rev. Taylor explores the sometimes complicated relationship between the military and Unitarian Universalism. Rev. Julie Taylor is a Unitarian Universalist community minister specializing in critical incident response, community crisis and pastoral care. Julie is the Senior Director of Contextual Ministry and an affiliate professor at...

The sermon was delivered by Senior Minister Rev. Alan Taylor on July 5, 2020. How does a faith community participate in social change and especially the democratic process? On this Fourth of July weekend, Rev. explores the three levels of participating in democracy, both as individuals and as a faith community. The theme for July is what it means to be a people of hope. To read about our theme-bas...

The sermon was delivered by Minister of Faith Development Rev. Emily Gage on June 21, 2020. There are moments when our hearts open up as wide as can be and let us be fully present to all that is. We can sense all the love and joy and sorrow and pain and vulnerability at once. And we need those moments. And... we simply can't live like that all the time. It might be too much. The theme for June is...

This podcast is excerpted from Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation's live streamed worship service on June 14, 2020. "The central task of the church is to unveil the bonds that bind us." Using the work of Resmaa Menakem, Senior Minister Rev. Alan Taylor reflects on the challenge of processing the trauma of racism and how this trauma often gets lodged into our bodies. The theme for Jun...

This podcast is excerpted from Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation's live streamed worship service on June 7, 2020. At this time of deep anguish and greater awareness of racism, our community needs to listen to Black voices in our midst. UTUUC members Marsha Borders, Aisha Ellis and Michael Weekes share poignantly from their experiences.  The theme for June is what it means to be a pe...

This podcast is excerpted from Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation's live stream of a worship service on May 31, 2020. Sometimes we take courage and strength from our very own stories, our very own histories that tell us something about who we are and what we are capable of. Sometimes we take those same things from stories of those who have come before. Minister of Faith Development R...

This podcast is excerpted from Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation's live stream of a worship service on May 24, 2020. Reflecting on the thresholds of trauma and healing, Senior Minister Rev. Alan Taylor explores a sensations-based approach to dealing with wounds that we cannot see. Minister of Faith Development Rev. Emily Gage reflects on scars that we have on the outside and inside...

This podcast is excerpted from Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation's live stream of a worship service on May 17, 2020. For Minister of Faith Development Rev. Emily Gage, we're kind of in that "I don't think this is ever going to end" phase of sheltering in place... Every day feels the same and it still seems strange and new at the same time. For me, finding old favorite things that ha...

This service from May 10, 2020 was created and presented by the Unity Temple Youth Group as part of the high school seniors' Bridging Ceremony. Youth Coordinator Justine Urbikas introduces the service. The graduating seniors then give their bridging talks followed by remarks from Minister of Faith Development Rev. Emily Gage and Senior Minister Rev. Alan Taylor. In order, the seniors speaking are...

This podcast is excerpted from Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation's live stream of a worship service on May 3, 2020. We are currently navigating through a significant threshold and it's not clear what's on the other side. Rev. Emily Gage  reflects on how thresholds are like doorways into important places and Rev. Alan Taylor explores how this  is a time to identify what is essential...

This worship service from April 26, 2020 was created and presented by participants in our Coming of Age program. These ninth graders spent the year exploring their Unitarian Universalist identity, history, spirituality, their feelings and their beliefs. Their work culminates in this worship service where each delivers a personal credo statement that they have developed. Minister of Faith Developme...

This podcast is excerpted from Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation's live stream of a worship service on April 19, 2020. Reflecting on the growing ecological awareness and our capacity to know ourselves as pieces of the earth conscious of itself, Senior Minister Rev. Alan Taylor reflects on the extraordinary story of the original Earth Day and how we Unitarian Universalists can mobili...

This podcast is excerpted from Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation's live stream of a worship service on April 12, 2020. On this Easter morning and fourth day of Passover, Minister of Faith Development Rev. Emily Gage explores the stories of this sacred time, and Senior Minister Rev. Alan Taylor reflects on how Easter happens every day.  The theme for April is what it means to be a pe...

This podcast is excerpted from Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation's live stream of a worship service on April 5, 2020. Senior Minister Rev. Alan Taylor and Minister of Faith Development Rev. Emily Gage reflect on how we create new opportunities for our spirit during this challenging time. Rev. Gage reminds us to be kind to ourselves and each other. For the safety of all in light of t...

This podcast is excerpted from Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation's live stream of a worship service on March 29, 2020. Rev. Alan Taylor and Rev. Emily Gage reflect on how we ground ourselves in love during this challenging time, and Rev. Alan reflects on conversations he has had with medical professionals and their families.  The theme for March is what it means to be a people of wi...

This podcast is excerpted from Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation's live stream of a worship service on March 22, 2020. How is it with your soul? How goes the rhythm of your days? Rev. Alan Taylor and Rev. Emily Gage provide reflections on how to navigate this challenging time, particularly remembering that in these tender moments, love is our guide, always, shepherding us towards wa...