UU Church of Annapolis Podcast

As we begin another church year together, let us gather ourselves and our blessing for our journey ahead with our annual water communion ceremony, and backpack blessing. Rev. Anastassia Zinke preaching. Delivered on Sunday, September 11th, 2022. 

In this sermon, Rev. John highlights many of the themes the ministers will lift up this church year and the vision/mission for continuing the quest of building a Beloved Community at UUCA and beyond. Music by Joshua Long and the Worship Ensemble. Delivered Sunday, August 28th, 2022.

Civility, humility, kindness, sharing, and modesty are some of the things we learned in Kindergarten but in our world today these words have seemingly lost their meaning and value. Let's examine ancient and modern civilizations and why we are just beginning to learn how to build community. Sermon delivered by Rev. John T. Crestwell, Jr. Music by Betsy Kranning.

We all seek to become somebody or achieve success according to our definition of the word. But what if the ultimate goal is not to become anything? Sermon by Rev. John T. Crestwell, Jr.  Music by Sara Jones. Delivered on Sunday, August 14th, 2022. 

Unitarian Universalists are questioners. We honor this by having our ministers answer your questions. What are the questions that are gripping your spirit these days? You may submit them in advance by emailing Karen Murphy-Keddell. This is Rev. John's first Sunday back from sabbatical, so we know that you are curious. Music by Sara Jones. Delivered on Sunday, August 8th, 2022. 

The Webb telescope recently provided us with the earliest look into the origins of our universe. This cosmic nursery was also the beginning story for our Earth, for life abundant, and for human life. Let us consider the grand story of which we are a part. Sermon delivered by Rev. Anastassia Zinke. Music by Josh Long and the UUCA worship ensemble. Delivered on Sunday, July 31st, 2022. 

Explore two narratives about encountering starfish. Let us consider how they might help us discern how we want to meet the world at this moment. Rev. Anastassia preaching, with music offered by Betsy Kraning. Delivered Sunday, July 24th, 2022.

The US political, social, and medical landscape changed dramatically with the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe vs Wade and cleared the way for several states to highly restrict or ban abortion services. For us at UUCA, what are the implications of this decision? How will our faith guide us through this time? Rev. Anastassia preaching. Music by Rob Redei and the UUCA choir. Deli...

This is the story of a good death. We faced it with song and memories and kung pao chicken. It was achieved with intention and mindfulness. It was meant to face Mom's final journey in joy instead of fear. I hope we all learn to be the master of our final moments from this loving example.  By Jane Carrigan, Board of Trustees President, Worship Leader. Delivered on Sunday, May 29th, 2022.

We Only Have Now. Love is an action word that is often expressed as collective action. NOW is the operative word since we only have now. Examples and questions are what drive us to social justice, but only if we truly believe in the 7 Principles and live the 8th Principle in our private and public lives. Thornell Jones is an active member of UUCA who has been a lay leader, is a member of the 8th P...

Carrie Baquie explores a few pivotal crossroads she encountered on her road to recovery from sudden traumatic illness. We learn through her story that within us all is the power to transform our experience. Following the service at 11:15 am in the Angebrandt Room, we invite you to join Carrie for an After Hour GOING DEEPER session to explore the feelings and emotions around this topic. A 20-year I...

On July 3, the eve of our nation's birthday, Max Ochs led a service titled: "I HEAR AMERICA SINGING". With help from some gifted UUCA musicians, using a pastiche of folksongs and readings from Mark Twain, Abraham Lincoln, Sophia L. Fahs, Reed Whittemore, and others, Max offers his vision of The America I Believe In.   Max Ochs began his association with UUCA's Liberal Religious Youth (LRY) in 1956...

With Special Guest Speaker, Leika Lewis-Cornwell! With the climate and weather, ongoing waves of pandemic, court decisions, and other justice issues, sometimes it seems like the same experience over and over again. So how do we keep going--and growing--when it can be so easy to feel stuck? Music will be provided by Joshua Long and the UUCA Ensemble. Delivered on Sunday June 26th, 2022. 

Our favorite songs, whoever the artist or whatever the style, were created in a strange alchemy of study and inspiration, of strict practice and of letting go. Spiritual practice is a similar combination of dedication, muscle memory and perhaps a little divine inspiration. Join us for a musical exploration of learning to risk, building the muscle memory of courage, and a spiritual practice of rela...

During this Membership Sunday service, we will reflect together on the meaning we find as part of the UUCA community. We will hear reflections from Rev. Anastassia and members of our congregation. One-year reflection from McKendre Jay. Ten-year reflection from Linda Mundy. Twenty-five-year reflection from Ted Hall. Finally, forty-year reflection from Cindy Curtis.  Music by Rob Redei and the UUCA...

We will celebrate our Bridging High School seniors as they cross this life stage milestone. We will honor and bless our faith formation volunteers for their incredible service over the past year. Rev. Anastassia preaching, with music offered by Rob Redei and our UUCA Choir. Delievered Sunday May 22nd, 2022. Congratulations Senoirs: Fiona Coleman, Lillian Davis, Maeya Devlin Tremble, Teddy Fleming,...

There are many issues that Unitarian Universalists are interested in engaging, so much so the issues sometimes almost define us. But perhaps even more defining is the how of how we do collective action. This Sunday, Rev. Anastassia will draw upon the thought work of adrienne maree brown (writer, a pleasure activist, Octavia Butler scholar, facilitator, speaker and singer, and doula) to unpack some...

For over a year Rev. Fred Muir partnered with a team of UU colleagues to review and write about "Widening the Circle of Concern" (the Report of the UUA Commission on Institutional Change, 2020). It's a bold, comprehensive, and "frame-bending" appraisal of our multicultural, anti-racism commitments with many recommendations. This morning Rev. Fred will share some of his insights—institutional and p...

All the major world religions have a theology that narrates humanity's relationship with the Earth, and that often manifests in certain environments or landmarks being recognized as sacred and, therefore, not to be violated. Come hear what a UU sacred text might sound like, and help identify what local places on this Earth we want to recognize as sacred. Rev. Anastassia preaching, with music by Jo...

Through voluntary or forced migration, most people in the United States don't live on their ancestral land, and in the process, the sacred wisdom traditions and practices of living entwined with the earth have become lost. Utilizing Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by indigenous botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer, let us reflect on how we can have...

When Jesus needed to discern the next steps, he went into the wildness. When we celebrate Passover, we taste bitter herbs and horseradish from our Earth to recall the wisdom and experience of our ancestors. When the crocus opens its purple petals to the crisp air we are invited to experience a vision of Spring. This Easter Sunday, let's consider both what small deaths we can abide, and what reveal...

UUCA member and Somatic Psychotherapist Jessie Rhines will share a top-down view of the current state of mental health, as well as some bottom-up practices she recommends to help us better care for ourselves and our communities. Join us for our last sermon on the theme of "Compassion," woven throughout with experiential practice. Music by Josh Long. Delivered on Sunday, April 10th, 2022. 

Send Rev. John off on sabbatical with a blessing and listen again to his vision for UUCA in the present/future. Music by The UUCA Choir. Delivered on Sunday, March 27th, 2022.

This pandemic time has exposed fault lines around how individualism and community can come into conflict. Through the work of several contemporary ethicists, we'll explore how we can make good choices, what we owe to each other, and how our foundational ideals inform those ideas. Guest minister, Rev. Christian Schmidt preaching. Music provided by Rob Redei. Delivered on Sunday March 6th, 2022.

In this message, Rev. John Crestwell, shares his understanding of Casteism and Racism using the brilliant writing of author Isabel Wilkerson from her book Caste: The Origins of our Discontent.