Archives: Services

In Praise of Frolicking

This sermon title may sound frivolous, but overwork is a serious issue from many points of view – medical, spiritual, and even political.  In the 1950s, futurists were predicting a four-day work week and a surplus of leisure time.  They worried about that: what would people do with all that spare time?  Decades later, this was a non-issue; … Continue reading In Praise of Frolicking

Truthiness and Atonement

Several years ago the comedian Colbert coined the term “truthiness:” that is, truth which is determined by intuition and perception without regard to evidence, facts, or logic. In contrast, how might we practice and promote conversation grounded in substance and reliability? What might we learn from a teenage “busy-body,” a character in Ian McEwan’s novel … Continue reading Truthiness and Atonement

The Story of Membership

I wonder if anyone has heard stories about Unitarian Universalism being an “anything goes” sort of religion, or that Unitarian Universalists don’t need to believe in anything. Let’s reframe those “anything goes” stories, to consider a constructive framework which defines free religion and membership in Unitarian Universalism. We’ll tell the positive story of why membership … Continue reading The Story of Membership

Spoken at Arlington: Excerpts from Memorial Day Speeches

Since its earliest inception following the Civil War, Presidents, generals and activists such as Frederick Douglas have offered speeches on what began as “Decoration Day,” and is now called Memorial Day.  Members of our UU congregation will present excerpts from several of these Arlington Cemetery tributes through the ages.

Celebrating Our Volunteers

Today we recognize the many volunteers who have participated in shared ministry to UUCM this year: leadership of committees, groups, and projects, and the all-important Religious Education teachers and students. Our congregation is a Voluntary Association, in the words of James Luther Adams.  Volunteering is essential to the stewardship of this congregation.

Mother’s Day: A Day for Peace

Our modern celebration of Mother’s Day started as a call by Unitarian Julia Ward Howe in 1870 for Mother’s Peace Day. On this day of honoring all mothers as well as anyone who nurtured us, let us remember to promote peace around the world for the future of our children for generations to come.

Old Maps No Longer Work

Are there places in your life where “old maps” — that is, traditional habits, perhaps some which you’ve held for a long time — are no longer serving you? How can you know when an old map has led you to a dead end? What would it be like to travel through life without a … Continue reading Old Maps No Longer Work

Resistance: Stand Against Bullying

Join the children and youth in this multigen service to explore the difficulties of bullying and how to approach it with love and resistance. Presented through music, readings, and a skit, they explore how emotions interact with a bully’s choices and the complexity of how hurt can be displayed. With this new perspective on the … Continue reading Resistance: Stand Against Bullying