Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto Sermons and Reflections

Gary Rosin, a member of our congregation and a retired law professor who has written poetry since he was sixteen, brings “Eye of the Dark” to our pulpit this week. “Eye of the Dark” is prose mixed with poetry to argue that poetry is the ... read more .

Soul Focus: “InSoulvent: The Costs of What’s Been Lost” (Part 6 of 6) Rev. Peter continues his ongoing exploration of the soul and society. Worship Leader: Rev. Peter Farriday Special Music: Veronika Agranov-Dafoe, piano Follow along in the order of service https://bit.ly/uucpa_oos_20260621 .

Soul Focus: “InSoulvent: The Costs of What’s Been Lost” (Part 5 of 6) Rev. Peter continues his ongoing exploration of the soul and society. Worship Leader: Rev. Peter Farriday Special Music: Jim Stevens, folk guitar Follow along in the order of service bit.ly/uucpa_oos_20260614 .

Soul Focus: “InSoulvent: The Costs of What’s Been Lost” (Part 4 of 6) Rev. Peter continues his ongoing exploration of the soul and society. Worship Leader: Rev. Peter Farriday Special Music: Veronika Agranov-Dafoe, piano Follow along in the order of service bit.ly/uucpa_oos_20260607

This Sunday’s Flower Communion celebrates the garden of blossoming beings that make up UUCPA, including those who most recently set down spiritual roots here. And since every garden needs TLC to thrive, we’ll also honor all those who tend and nurture it. If it’s easy ... read more .

We all make mistakes, so practicing forgiveness is vital to people’s well-being. Last week this 2-part inquiry began with a focus on forgiving others. This week looks at how to seek forgiveness from others—and how to forgive ourselves. Worship Leader: Rev. Peter Farriday Special Music: Steven Chanan, ... read more .

We all make mistakes, so practicing forgiveness is vital to people’s well-being. The first of this 2-part inquiry focuses on forgiving others, while next week looks at how to seek forgiveness from others—and how to forgive ourselves. Worship Leader: Rev. Peter Farriday Special Music: Lynda MacNeil and ... read more .

Love isn’t just an emotion; it’s a commitment that matures over time. Join us this Sunday for an inclusive service dedicated to the power of nurturing in all its forms. We celebrate the hands that held us, the hearts that chose us, and the memories ... read more .

May Day is an earth-based holiday celebrating the vibrancy and creativity of spring, as well as a day of worker recognition and protest. As we prepare to weave the ribbons of the maypole dance after the service, we’ll reflect on the various interwoven threads of ... read more .

Rev. Peter continues his ongoing exploration of the soul and society. Though suicidal despair and authoritarian domination may seem poles apart, in his Soul Focus sermon series Rev. Peter suggests that both arise mainly from modern materialism’s spiritual wasteland—and that archaic religious remedies now only ... read more .

Rev. Peter continues his ongoing exploration of the soul and society. Though suicidal despair and authoritarian domination may seem poles apart, in his Soul Focus sermon series Rev. Peter suggests that both arise mainly from modern materialism’s spiritual wasteland—and that archaic religious remedies now only ... read more .

Though suicidal despair and authoritarian domination may seem poles apart, in his Soul Focus sermon series Rev. Peter suggests that both arise mainly from modern materialism’s spiritual wasteland—and that archaic religious remedies now only aggravate these and related ills. He also reclaims the soul’s significance ... read more .

Rising: The Satisfaction of Action UUCPA’s Covenant of Shared Ministry includes the promise “to struggle for justice and act with compassion, taking the teachings of our faith beyond these walls.” Come learn how doing so leads directly to life’s greatest satisfactions. Worship Leader: Rev. Peter Farriday Special Music: ... read more .

Sermon Topic: Showing Up Despite many other worthy things competing for our attention on Sunday morning, we choose to take a few hours out of our day to show up here. Why? What difference does it make to show up regularly? Could it be that ... read more .

Sermon Topic: Changes, Challenges, and Consciousness When sudden life changes and challenges come, do we best tackle them head on or try to go over, under, or around instead? Another option: go “above and beyond.” Worship Leader: Rev. Peter Farriday Worship Associate: Jan Rosin Special Music: Martin Manley, jazz ... read more .

Sermon Topic: ’A Chosen Faith’ Part 2 (of 2) A Chosen Faith: An Introduction to Unitarian Universalism  is a classic book by prominent UU ministers John Buehrens and the late Forrest Church that examines aspects of UU history, theology, congregational community, social action, and more. On Feb. ... read more .

Sermon Topic: A Home for Our Hearts Worship Leader: Rev. Peter Farriday Worship Associate: Steven Mashin Special Music: Veronika Agranov-Dafoe, piano Follow along in the order of service, bit.ly/uucpa_oos_20260308 .

Worship Leader: Rev. Johnnie Bloom-Ramirez Worship Associate: Barbara Saxton Special Music: Paul Kosta group, instrumental Follow along in the order of service, bit.ly/uucpa_oos_20260301 .

A Chosen Faith: An Introduction to Unitarian Universalism  is a classic book by prominent UU ministers John Buehrens and the late Forrest Church that examines aspects of UU history, theology, congregational community, social action, and more. This Sunday Rev. Peter shares aspects of the first half, ... read more .

Rev. Peter Farriday continues the ongoing  series of reflections that explore the soul and society . Expanding on the Introduction, this Sunday continues last week’s survey of the historical emergence of materialism’s limited worldview, and some of its harmful psycho-spiritual consequences. Worship leader: Rev. Peter Farriday Special music: ... read more .

Rev. Peter Farriday continues his ongoing exploration of the soul and society. Worship leader: Rev. Peter Farriday Special Music: 4 Shillings Short If you prefer to join the community of those attending online, there are two options. One, join the service via Zoom  bit.ly/uucpa_service_1030am_v3 . To get the passcode, ... read more .

Worship leader: Rev. Ranwa Hammamy Special music: Barbary Grant, Harp You can follow along in the order of service: bit.ly/uucpa_oos_20260125 .

Rev. Peter Farriday continues his ongoing exploration of the soul and society. Worship leader: Rev. Peter Farriday Special music: David Chen, guitar If you prefer to join the community of those attending online, there are two options. One, join the service via Zoom  bit.ly/uucpa_service_1030am_v3 . To get the passcode, ... read more .

Rev. Peter Farriday continues his ongoing  exploration of soul and society . Worship leader: Rev. Peter Farriday Special music: Veronika Agranov-Dafoe, piano If you prefer to join the community of those attending online, there are two options. One, join the service via Zoom  bit.ly/uucpa_service_1030am_v3 . To get the passcode, email ... read more .

Rev. Peter Farriday begins an ongoing series of reflections that explore the soul and society . Worship leader: Rev. Peter Farriday Special music: Season of Us (Bill Stanfield, Guitar) If you prefer to join the community of those attending online, there are two options. One, join the service ... read more .