Sample Sermons with Orders of Service.
The first 3 sermons are audio only. The next two below them are recordings of entire Zoom services, but I've indicated the time the sermon begins for both. Just click on the title to get to the audio or video.
(Audio recordings of many more of my sermons are available on my current congregation's website)
https://uuffm.org/worship/archived-sermons/
"Giving Up God For Lent"
(April 14, 2019)
One of the most common tensions in UU churches is between Theists and Atheists. This is one of the sermons where I go directly at this tension, in this case through the lens of my personal experience with a spiritual practice called "Atheism for Lent."
The clip begins, unfortunately, in the middle of a sentence where I'm introducing the reading: a passage by philosopher Simone Weil.
There are two pauses in the sermon. This is where I left the pulpit, walked into the congregation, and, without notes, told the story about a man named Mark. At the close of the story I returned to the pulpit for my conclusion.
order_of_service-_4_14_19.pdf
"The Good News of Unitarianism"
(May 5, 2019)
For the annual service celebrating new members, a reflection on the 200th anniversary of "Unitarian Christianity," the sermon that started Unitarianism. An example of how I dig deep into our past to help us make sense of the present and future (recording begins with congregation singing "Spirit of Life," which is followed by the reading, then the sermon).
order_of_service-_5_5_19.pdf
"For A Time Such as This"
(June 7th, 2020)
Recorded via Zoom live. My response to the massive Uprising for racial justice after the murder of George Floyd, as it was all just beginning. This was the Sunday after President Trump's response, promising military intervention. Tensions were high. My sermons are typically the result of a lot of work, but this is a time when I had to truly speak in the moment to the moment.
6-7-20_oos.pdf
"A Channukah Reflection"
(December 13th, 2020)
Recorded via Zoom live. The reading is at 30:54 and sermon begins at 31:40. A reflection on Channukah and what it means to have a faith centered on family.
12-13-20_oos.pdf
"All Is Your Kin"
(December 20th, 2020)
Recorded via Zoom live. The sermon begins at 28:33. Our guest speaker had a death in the family, meaning I had to put together a sermon and service on very short notice. I chose to reflect on Yule and the insights of NeoPaganism.
12-20-20_oos.pdf
The first 3 sermons are audio only. The next two below them are recordings of entire Zoom services, but I've indicated the time the sermon begins for both. Just click on the title to get to the audio or video.
(Audio recordings of many more of my sermons are available on my current congregation's website)
https://uuffm.org/worship/archived-sermons/
"Giving Up God For Lent"
(April 14, 2019)
One of the most common tensions in UU churches is between Theists and Atheists. This is one of the sermons where I go directly at this tension, in this case through the lens of my personal experience with a spiritual practice called "Atheism for Lent."
The clip begins, unfortunately, in the middle of a sentence where I'm introducing the reading: a passage by philosopher Simone Weil.
There are two pauses in the sermon. This is where I left the pulpit, walked into the congregation, and, without notes, told the story about a man named Mark. At the close of the story I returned to the pulpit for my conclusion.
order_of_service-_4_14_19.pdf
"The Good News of Unitarianism"
(May 5, 2019)
For the annual service celebrating new members, a reflection on the 200th anniversary of "Unitarian Christianity," the sermon that started Unitarianism. An example of how I dig deep into our past to help us make sense of the present and future (recording begins with congregation singing "Spirit of Life," which is followed by the reading, then the sermon).
order_of_service-_5_5_19.pdf
"For A Time Such as This"
(June 7th, 2020)
Recorded via Zoom live. My response to the massive Uprising for racial justice after the murder of George Floyd, as it was all just beginning. This was the Sunday after President Trump's response, promising military intervention. Tensions were high. My sermons are typically the result of a lot of work, but this is a time when I had to truly speak in the moment to the moment.
6-7-20_oos.pdf
"A Channukah Reflection"
(December 13th, 2020)
Recorded via Zoom live. The reading is at 30:54 and sermon begins at 31:40. A reflection on Channukah and what it means to have a faith centered on family.
12-13-20_oos.pdf
"All Is Your Kin"
(December 20th, 2020)
Recorded via Zoom live. The sermon begins at 28:33. Our guest speaker had a death in the family, meaning I had to put together a sermon and service on very short notice. I chose to reflect on Yule and the insights of NeoPaganism.
12-20-20_oos.pdf