Sermons
The Long Goodbye
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- Written by Meg Soens
A sermon by Meg Soens, Acting Minister
Sunday, April 15, 2012 • Unitarian Universalist Church Of Reading
Like a hard-boiled detective, sometimes we just want to slip away and avoid those hard good-byes, perhaps when someone we care about is dying, or we must leave old friends in a cross country move. Other times, we take advantage of the gift of time to honor the importance of saying good-bye, to the benefit of ourselves and the other people involved. Still other times, such as when a loved one dies suddenly, we have no choice, and it seems like the possibility of saying goodbye at all is stolen from our grasp. Ultimately though, perhaps all good-byes are long. We'll explore these ideas together in Meg Soens' last sermon at UUCR, both as acting and as intern minister.
Listening In Place
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- Written by Meg Soens
A sermon by Meg Soens, Acting Minister
Sunday, March 25, 2012 • Unitarian Universalist Church Of Reading
Unitarian Universalists place a high value on beauty, especially natural beauty, and on the individual, so we tend to be creative and prize self-expression. However, listening is beautiful in its own way, too and is at the root of love and tolerance and civility. What does listening really involve, and how can we learn to do a better job?
Who Do We Think We Are, Anyway?
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- Written by Meg Soens
A sermon by Meg Soens, Acting Minister
Sunday, March 4, 2012 • Unitarian Universalist Church Of Reading
Particularly in Unitarian Universalism, different-sized churches often have different ways of relating to the world and to folks within the church. It's not just a question of size: what really matters to our church? Why do we exist? What do we want to do? How do we want to change? We'll explore some of these questions with poetry, story and sermon.
The Shape of Hope
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- Written by Meg Soens
A sermon by Meg Soens, Acting Minister
Sunday, February 19 2012 • Unitarian Universalist Church Of Reading
“Don’t be afraid. I’m here. It’s all right.” These classic words of reassurance may not exactly the same words you or I might use as we comforted a fearful loved one, but the language, of faith and hope, would be the same. Where do these words come from in each of us? What are the grounds of your hope and faith?
Blinded by the White
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- Written by Meg Soens
A sermon by Meg Soens, Acting Minister
Sunday, February 12 2012 • Unitarian Universalist Church Of Reading
On this Unitarian Universalist History and Heritage Sunday, our acting minister Meg Soens and the youth of Coming of Age One will explore the story of Ethelred Brown, the first black Unitarian minister in the U.S., and how his story illuminates the seven principles of our faith, and the importance of our living tradition.
Welcoming the Stranger, the Neighbor
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- Written by Meg Soens
A sermon by Meg Soens, Acting Minister
Sunday, January 29, 2012 • Unitarian Universalist Church Of Reading
The ancient Greeks had a strong tradition of welcoming the stranger who showed up at the door into their home and feeding him or her. After all, you never knew: they could be a deity in disguise. What about us? Why do we strive to welcome newcomers to our midst? Why might we do even more to bring them in?
Viola Liuzzo
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- Published Date
- Written by Meg Soens
A sermon by Meg Soens, Acting Minister
Sunday, January 15, 2012 • Unitarian Universalist Church Of Reading
Years ago, on March 25, 1965, the Black civil rights movement celebrated one of its greatest triumphs when 25,000 peaceful protesters finally succeeded in marching into Montgomery, Alabama from the nearby city of Selma. One of these protesters, a white Unitarian Universalist woman named Viola Liuzzo, was murdered later that evening by Ku Klux Klansmen as she ferried marchers back to Selma. As Unitarian Universalists, we have a proud tradition of responding to the imperatives of love and justice to work with those of us who are marginalized and oppressed in society and the world. Come learn about Viola Liuzzo's story, and consider what that can tell us about ourselves and others as we continue to respond to these twin imperatives.
A Time Apart
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- Written by Tim Kutzmark
A Sermon On the Occasion of a Minister’s Sabbatical by Rev. Tim Kutzmark
Sunday, January 8, 2012 • Unitarian Universalist Church Of Reading
Our holiday season concludes with our annual opportunity to light candles for those who died during the past year. We’ll also look ahead at the possibilities of a fresh New Year. Tim will preaches on the gifts found in being together, and in being apart
Faith In Nights - A Short Sermon For Solstice
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- Written by Tim Kutzmark
A Short Sermon Offered by Rev. Tim Kutzmark
Sunday, December 18, 2011 • Unitarian Universalist Church Of Reading
Celebrate the Winter Solstice and explore the ongoing dance between light and dark. What will nature and the cycle of the seasons tell us about our light and shadow-filled lives?
I'm Calling You
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- Written by Rev. Tim Kutzmark
A Two-Part Sermon Offered by Rev. Tim Kutzmark and Iris Hardin
Sunday, December 4, 2011 • Unitarian Universalist Church Of Reading
The Christmas season is filled with stories of ‘callings.’ Sometimes ‘callings’ come from outside yourself, and some come from those internal gut feelings or promptings that tell you what to do or not do. Perhaps the most famous of the season is the story of Mary, the mother of Jesus. She heard a calling and her life was never the same again. Today, we’ll explore the ways the universe calls to us to let it bless our lives.
