Unity Church-unitarian's Sermon Podcasts

Service and Sacrifice: The Complexities of Memorial Day by Justin Schroeder In part, Memorial Day is a day of remembering all who have given their lives in service to our country. In this remembering, we are drawn into larger questions of meaning and purpose in our own lives: What am I willing to sacrifice? Who or what am I most authentically serving?

Heading into summer is the perfect time to pause and reflect on the nature of joy and pleasure. How do we find our true course in the midst of so many distractions? What is the difference between a joy we can trust and follow inward and a pleasure that is only a temporary fill for the "God-shaped Hollow." Katie Lawson was Unity's Hallman Ministerial Intern in 2005 and 2006 and was fellowshipped with the Unitarian Universalist Association in September. She spent the summer as chaplain at Ferry Beach, a Unitarian Universalist retreat center, and currently teaches seventh and eighth grade social studies at St. Paul Academy.

“You’re Going To Wear That?? — Teresa Schwartz We were all born — and we all have mothers. Some of us are mothers and grandmothers. We’ll explore having a mom and being a mom — times funny and sad; moments poignant and irreverent. Mothers of all kinds should be remembered, if not honored. Some mothers are nurturing, some mothers are stifling, some mothers always loved us, some didn’t know how, some mothers we never met, some mothers are our best friends. Come and and honor motherhood with us.

Work That is Real by Rev. Dottie Mathews, Fox Valley UU Fellowship of Appleton, Wisc. The title for this sermon comes from the Marge Piercy poem "To Be of Use." Explore the dynamics between finding coherence in our inner life and how we then take that coherence (or sense of meaning) out into the rest of our lives, our work, our home, and our relationships. Dottie Mathews is the Assistant Minister at the Fox Valley UU Fellowship. In middle-life, after a successful business career, Dottie answered a call to the ministry. She graduated from United Theological Seminary in May 2006 and was ordained in Appleton six months later. Dottie's internship at Unity Church is one aspect of her learning process for which she is particularly grateful. She is delighted for this opportunity to return to greet old friends and new.

"Abundant Possibilities" by Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, All Souls Church, Tulsa, Oklahoma Marlin Lavanhar grew up Unitarian Universalist at North Shore Unitarian Church in Deerfield, Illinois. After graduating from Tulane University, he relocated to Kyoto, Japan, where he worked and studied for two years. Leaving Japan, he and a friend took a three year, around the world odyssey on mountain bikes. The trip took him through some of the world's highest mountain ranges, across parts of the Gobi desert, Tibet, India, Pakistan, through the Middle East, across Eastern Europe and North America. It was on this trip that he felt the call to Unitarian Universalist Ministry. His sermon explores the power of generosity and possibility - and the surprising moments that can come from spontaneous giving!

Easter Sunday by Teresa Schwartz and Justin Schroeder We honor the Easter story every year; every year we are in need of resurrection. We will celebrate doubt and belief, the commonplace and the miraculous, our fears and our hopes as we reach into new life.  

Fools, Foolishness, and Folly: What Clowns, Jesters and Pranksters Have to Teach Us by Justin Schroeder This April Fool's Day (and Palm Sunday), come laugh and chortle as we explore the history of the holy fool - those clowns and jokesters that throughout the ages have managed to penetrate our upright defenses to tell us the things we really need to know.

The Idolatry of Symbols by Rev. Karen Gustafson Karen was ordained by the Duluth Unitarian Universalist congregation in 1986. She is a graduate of the Starr King School for the ministry in Berkeley California. Before becoming an minister, Karen was a public school educator in Northern Wisconsin and Minnesota. She is married and has four just- barely-adult children. Karen is inspired by the poetry of Mary Oliver, Denise Levertov and Wendell Berry and time in the woods and near the lakes of northern Minnesota. This sermon explores symbols and the power they can hold over us.

Gates, Alarms, Mace, and Faith: Finding Real Security in an Insecure Age. ByJustin Schroeder What makes us safe, really safe? Is it a home alarm system, razor wire, the truth, or a hand gun next to our bed? How secure is secure enough, and what's faith got to do with it?

March 4, 9:00am, 11:00am, and 4:30pm Delivered at www.unityunitarian.org.   We strive for excellence, but when does it become too much? When does our pursuit of improving our careers, our homes, families, bodies, our very selves become too much? When does our drive to be better keep us from doing anything at all? What awakens this drive is us? What feeds it? What can it offer us? As part of our Lenten series on idolatry, Sabbatical Minister Teresa Schwartz and Worship Associate Karen Palmen will explore the idolatry of perfectionism.

February 25 (9:00, 11:00, 4:30) “Possessed By Possessions? — Rev. Melissa Carvill-Ziemer, Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent, Ohio Melissa served a Unity Church’s second Hallman Ministerial Intern. She is currently serving the Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent, Ohio. Melissa served as Unity’s Intern in 2003 and 2004. Melissa is married to Ellen Carvill-Ziemer. In addition to her full time parish ministry, Melissa has been focused on Conflict Resolution and is currently exploring religious themes in children’s literature. Sharon Hogenson will join Melissa as her Worship Associate.

“Created Identities? — Justin Schroeder delivered at www.unityunitarian.org Join Justin Schroeder and Worship Associate Neely Crane-Smith as they explore the fundamental questions of “identity.? Are our identities fluid or static? Who determines our identities and labels? What are the politics of identity and is it possible to ever be without an identity? Or are we forever creating the identity we show the world?

Neil is the author of two acclaimed books, VoiceMale, and Fatherloss. He is writer-in-residence at the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning in Lexington, Kentucky, where he lives with his wife, Rev. Kelly Flood, and their 13-year-old son, Evan. Neil is co-founder of the Unitarian Universalist Men’s Network. Justin Schroeder will join Neil as his Worship Associate.

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.