Unity Church-unitarian's Sermon Podcasts

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 families, encourage one another to embrace this difficult balance? What can past leaders teach us about how to proceed — either by way of warning or by way of example? How might we offer and earn the trust required for the emergence of a humble vision in our relationships? Let us explore these tricky questions together

"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 web of life, we must work toward the common good.  

"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 acknowledge those they’ve loved and lost. In grief and gratitude and gladness we turn to welcome the new year.  

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 joined by Kerri Meyer and Worship Associate Mary Baremore for a descent into the underworld.

October 22 (9:00, 11:00, 4:30) Delivered at www.unityunitarian.org. "In Our Own Best Interest" — Janne Eller-Isaacs Huston Smith said that the first step in human flourishing is empathy and compassion. Janne and Worship Associate Neely Crane-Smith will examine the role that justice making activities and our own community outreach play in our own lives. This service is part of the Privilege of Place series.

October 15 (9:00, 11:00, 4:30) Delivered at www.unityunitarian.org. “The Even Better News? — Rev. Robert M. Hardies, All Souls Church of Washington What is the good news of Unitarian Universalism that our world so desperately needs? Rev. Hardies, senior minister of All Souls Church in Washington, DC, will share with us his vision of that saving message, and encourage us all to help spread it by “adding our voice.? Rev. Robert M. Hardies is senior minister of All Souls Church Unitarian in Washington DC — a historic, diverse congregation in the heart of the nation’s capital. In Washington, he is also a leader in the Washington Interfaith Network, a coalition of 40 congregations building power to create social change in the city.        

September 24 (9:00, 11:00, 4:30)  Delivered at www.unityunitarian.org. "Familiar Strangers" - Janne Eller-Isaacs For the first of our High Holy Day services, Janne and Worship Associate Elizabeth Alexander will explore the dimensions of the classic text used for the beginning of the new year, the sacrifice of Isaac at the hands of his father. In addition they will address this in the light of the immigrant experience in our country.  

September 17 (9:00, 11:00, 4:30). Delivered at www.unityuntarian.org. "The 6 Realms of Being" - Dr. Huston Smith and Rob Eller-Isaacs A lifelong career of studying the world's religions has made the world-renowned Dr. Huston Smith especially gifted in illuminating the dialogues that are timeless. His conversations touch upon many Big Questions: what is the meaning of God? Where do science and religion meet? How can we teach children about the sacred in everyday life? Join Rob Eller-Isaacs and Dr. Smith for an insightful look into this field of study.

September 10 (9:00, 11:00, 4:30). Delivered at www.unityuntarian.org. "Crossing the Waters" - Rob and Janne Eller-Isaacs Every river flows down to the sea. And we will merge the waters of the world as we begin another year together. The whole church family will gather bringing water they have brought back from around the world. We'll sing songs old and new. We'll pray for peace and be at peace together. Please note that this Sunday begins our new service schedule of 9:00, 11:00, and 4:30.

August 27 (10:00 a.m.) Delivered at www.unityunitarian.org.   "Ordinary Things" by Richard Foushee This service will reflect on appreciating the simple in a complex world by exploring the writings of the 17th century haiku master Matsuo Basho.

August 20 (10:00 a.m.) Delivered at www.unityunitarian.org. "Godtalk: UU Children and Theist Language" - Kerri Meyer Our childhoods are chapters of naming, a time when words are magically attaching themselves to our reality and becomng the currency of our transactions with other people. What do our children mean, whether they come from theist or humanist families, when they use the word God? How do we respond to the Godtalk they are absorbing simply by existing in a predominantly Judeo-Christian religious culture? What choices are we making, as teachers, parents, and fellow seekers, about the theological language we use with our young people, and to what end?

August 13 (10:00 a.m.) Delivered at www.unityunitarian.org. "Conditions for Travel" Jenny Wilson Writer Frederic Brussat claims that "we read the world to see what it can show us about the meaning of life. Through this reading, we gain a new understanding of our place in the universe and learn to recognize the many movements of the spirit." Join Jenny Wilson as she explores the journey we share as planetary pilgrims traveling on the edge of a galaxy.  

June 25 (10:00 a.m.) Delivered at www.unityunitarian.org.   "Shaping Unitarian Universalist History: The Ministry of Frederick May Eliot" by Briana Melom.  "In all of us there is a hunger, marrow deep, to know our heritage - to know who we are and where we came from." - Alex Haley. This service helps us to remember the ministry of Dr. Frederick May Eliot, minister of Unity Church from 1917-37 and president of the American Unitarian Association just prior to the merger with the Universalists in 1961. As we make space in our busy lives for what Eliot called a sacred reality, we recall one who illuminated our heritage of faith. Briana Melom will be joined by Worship Associate Sharon Hogenson.