Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation's Podcast

Sermon delivered by Andrew Harvey on June 30, 2019. Andrew Harvey has spent 40 years devoting himself to the Rumi Renaissance and to Rumi as the prophet of love of the new universal mysticism. And now, he focuses his passion on the other great universal mystical poet, Kabir the powerful poet of India, loved by Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs but whose vision of the One transcends all religions. In this...

Sermon delivered by Intern Minister Zsolt Elekes on June 23, 2019. In the month of beauty, we are trying to find the beauty in the world, which we can often find in nature. Here, Zsolt raises awareness that the beauty of nature - like the coral reefs, forests and islands - will no longer be observed by the next generations if we are not listening to the climate scientists and we are not hearing th...

This sermon from June 16, 2019 consists of addresses from three UTUUC members who are also fathers. Andrew Thompson, Michael Weekes and Terry Grace share their different perspectives as fathers of preschool, elementary school and adult age children, respectively. The theme for June is how do we lead a life of beauty? To read about our theme-based ministry, please visit  http://www.unitytemple.org/...

Sermon delivered by Intern Minister Zsolt Elekes on June 9, 2019. There is beauty everywhere, we just need to observe it. Zsolt reflects on cultural differences in social media use, on how we can observe beauties in the outside world, and our inner world, even in times of sorrow. He also provides his understanding of Pentecost. The theme for June is how do we lead life of beauty? To read about our...

Sermon delivered by Minister of Faith Development Rev. Emily Gage on June 2, 2019. Blaise Pascal wrote: "In difficult times, carry something beautiful in your heart." This sermon considers the beautiful things we carry in our hearts and encounters Emerson, Career Day and youth group trips along the way. The theme for June is how do we lead life of beauty? To read about our theme-based ministry, pl...

Sermon delivered by Rev. Brian Sauder on May 26, 2019. In this message, UT member Scott Metzger talks about his work with the Eco Justice Faith in Action Team. Then, Rev. Sauder explores the theme of curiosity and courage by sharing more about his journey in growing the impact of Faith in Place alongside diverse faith communities such as Unity Temple. Rev. Sauder is the President & Executive Direc...

Sermon delivered by Minister of Faith Development Rev. Emily Gage on May 19, 2019 as part of this worship for all ages. An ode to dandelions, being who you are, and blooming where you're planted. A homily for Flower Communion. The theme for May is what it means to be a people of curiosity. To read about our theme-based ministry, please visit  http://www.unitytemple.org/faith-development/soul-conne...

This service from May 12, 2019 was created and presented by the Unity Temple Youth Group as part of the high school seniors' Bridging Ceremony. Youth Coordinator Heather Godbout introduces the service. The three graduating seniors then give their bridging talks followed by remarks from Minister of Faith Development Rev. Emily Gage. In order, the seniors speaking are Matthew Layden, Elise Miedlar a...

Sermon delivered by Minister of Faith Development Rev. Emily Gage on May 5, 2019. When we are called to be a people of curiosity, we don't just share in each others' interests, we are called to be open to who we are and who we are becoming, in the fullest sense of the word. When we show curiosity about one another, we are often building and strengthening relationships. And when we seek out others'...

This worship service from April 28, 2019 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 worship service from April 28, 2019 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 Easter sermon was delivered by Minister of Faith Development Rev. Emily Gage on April 21, 2019. Rev. Gage shares, "We are exploring the theme of Wholeness this April at Unity Temple. As I consider the Easter story with this lens—the whole of the Easter story--not just the Sunday morning rising up part, but that which precedes it—it reminds me to honor and celebrate all of who we are. All of i...

On this special Choir Sunday on April 14, 2019, the Unity Temple Choir under the direction of Marty Swisher, Unity Temple Music Director, performs John Kramer's "The Immigrant Experience," a choral cantata in seven movements. Scored for full chorus, soprano, baritone and tenor soloists and chamber ensemble, the work describes the journey and struggles of immigrants coming to America to realize the...

Sermon delivered by Senior Minister Rev. Alan Taylor on April 7,2019. How could a worship service in 1987 where the minister distributed condoms be nearly forgotten? Rev. Taylor shares reflections of Rev. Mark DeWolfe, the first openly gay minister in Canada, whose brilliant career was cut short by AIDS and the prophetic witness of his colleague Carl Titchener whose prophetic witness should be cel...

Sermon delivered by Senior Minister Rev. Alan Taylor on March 31, 2019. When we discover that we've lost our way, a new journey potentially begins. Rev. Taylor reflects on how one's journey is often unclear, tentative, and in need of "pendulating" between engaging the world and seeking refuge in a safe place. The theme for March is what it means to be a people of journey. To read about our theme-b...

Sermon delivered by Rev. Scott Aaseng on March 24, 2019. In a world where everything seems like it's coming apart, we are called to make connections - between humans and the earth, between faith and action, between ourselves and others - and live out the interdependence we claim. Introductory music sung by Isabella Carrasquillo, sophomore at Chicago Academy of Fine Arts. She was one of three winne...

Sermon delivered by Senior Minister Rev. Alan Taylor on March 17, 2019. The Spiral Journey - reflecting on how our spiritual journeys often take the form of a spiral where we re-learn certain things again and again, Rev. Taylor shares his learnings around white male oppression and how the goal in this work is not perfection but progress. The theme for March is what it means to be a people of journ...

Reflections delivered in this Chalice Ceremony for 4th graders delivered by Minister of Faith Development Rev. Emily Gage. Following an address to the participants by Senior Minister Rev. Alan Taylor, Rev. Gage offers further thoughts. She says, "When I was in fourth grade, I was lucky enough to be part of a Unitarian Universalist congregation, and there were people there who were devoted to helpi...

Our Unitarian faith heritage draws significantly from both Transylvania and the United States. In this podcast from March 3, 2019, Intern Minister Zsolt Elekes shares from his Transylvanian heritage and Senior Minister Rev. Alan Taylor reflects on the early New England Unitarianism and the Transcendentalists. Significant similarities are found when reflecting on the questions "What saves us?" and...

Sermon delivered by Intern Minister Zsolt Elekes on February 24, 2019. Our everyday lives are constructed around stories that we trust and share among each other. These stories, philosophies shape our worldview and give meaning to our activities. Zsolt, our Intern Minister from Transylvania, shares how some of the stories under the communist dictatorship were tragically harmful to an entire societ...

Sermon delivered by Senior Minister Rev. Alan Taylor on February 17, 2019. The media has long represented Albert Einstein as an absent-minded brilliant scientist, but he was  a highly engaged, compassionate activist for human rights, for the ethical guidance of technological innovation and, unbeknownst to many because so rarely publicized, for racial equality. Rev. Taylor reflects on how his relig...

Sermon delivered by Minister of Faith Development Rev. Emily Gage on February 10, 2019. We tend to think of trust as a big word, and it is--it's big in its meaning and impact. But trust in relationships is also about everyday moments. The theme for February is what it means to be a people of trust. To read about our theme-based ministry, please visit  http://www.unitytemple.org/faith-development/s...

Sermon delivered by Senior Minister Rev. Alan Taylor on February 3, 2019. In what do you place your trust? What sustains you when you are in crisis? Where do you turn? Rev. Taylor reflects on Universalist and Unitarian responses and shares of his own faith position.  The theme for February is what it means to be a people of trust. To read about our theme-based ministry, please visit  http://www.un...

Sermon delivered by Senior Minister Rev. Alan Taylor on January 27, 2019. Many of us are reticent about prayer. If you have wondered whether prayer might have a place in your UU existence, Rev. Taylor shares how prayer ushers forth a trust in what we cannot see, and opens us up to change - both change within ourselves and to change in which we can participate amidst our wider world.  The theme for...

Sermon delivered by Minister of Faith Development Rev. Emily Gage on January 20, 2019. Rev. Gage writes, "The story has been told as though there is an ending. And that's not entirely wrong. Some of those stories do have an ending. A happy ending, even. A story that we saw a wrong, we worked to change it, and it got changed. Happy ending. I believe this is kind of how we think of the civil rights...