June 5, 2022
We finish up the “Question Box” (aka “Ask the Minister”) that we started on May 15. Lots of great questions!
All Sermons
“Happy to Be Here”
May 29, 2022
FCU’s own Rev. Jackie Clement guest preaches!
“Theology of Baseball”
May 22, 2022
I give my own take on a “baseball theology”. Special music!
“The Question Box”
May 15, 2022
- Cindy Malley
- Debbie Eston
- Larry Kaylor
- Rev. Lara Hoke
- Ask the Minister
- Question Box
- Time for All Ages
- Trevor Project
We just get started on “The Question Box” (aka “Ask the Minister”)… We have a Share-the-Plate for the Trevor Project.
“Motherhood and Choice”
May 8, 2022
- Debbie Eston
- Jen Jaksa
- Rev. Lara Hoke
- Mother's Day
- parenthood
- reproductive justice
- Time for All Ages
We think about motherhood for Mother’s Day, in light of the leaked Supreme Court decision on Roe v. Wade.
“May Day”
May 1, 2022
Director of Religious Education Thea Shapiro led a May Day service, complete with joyful dancing around the maypole!
“Earth within You”
April 24, 2022
An Earth Day service, with a special meditation.
“We Rise” – Easter Service 2022
April 17, 2022
- Monica Pilman
- Rev. Lara Hoke
- Thea Shapiro
- The Underground Church: Reclaiming the Subversive Way of Jesus
- early Christianity
- Easter
- Jesus
- resurrection
Another look at Easter — we rise together. Lots of influence from Robin Meyer’s work.
“A Unitarian Universalist Look at Prayer”
April 10, 2022
We took a UU-influenced look at prayer.
“Of Faith and Force”
April 3, 2022
We considered religious thought and the use of force.
“The Littlest Thing Can Begin a Transformation of Your Mind, Heart and Spirit”
March 27, 2022
- Bob Williams
- Dave T
- Debbie Eston
- Larry Kaylor
- Rich Lombardy
- Sam Williams
- Susan Tordella-Williams
- hope
- prison
- prison ministry
- Time for All Ages
- transformation
I powerful talk by a formerly incarcerated person. Share-the-Plate for Concord Prison Outreach.
“Being Peace: Remembering Thich Nhat Hanh”
March 20, 2022
A service to remember and celebrate the life and teachings of the Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh.
“Stewards of Hope”
March 13, 2022
Our annual stewardship Sunday, with a couple of special videos.
“The Best of All Possible Worlds?”
March 6, 2022
- Cindy Malley
- Rev. Lara Hoke
- Thea Shapiro
- Gottfried Leibniz
- midrashim
- theodicy
- theology
- Time for All Ages
- Ukraine
- Voltaire
Could this possibly be the best of all possible worlds? Does it matter?
“Preach It, Sister!”
February 27, 2022
- Monica Pilman
- Rev. Jackie Clement
- Rev. Kathryn Pfaltzgraff
- ministry
- Time for All Ages
- women's rights
FCU’s own members and (retired) ministers Rev. Jackie (UU) and Rev. Kathryn (Church of the Brethren) preach!
“The Meeting House and the Temple”
February 20, 2022
- Monica Pilman
- Rev. Lara Hoke
- Thea Shapiro
- A Religion for One World: Art and Symbols for a Universal Religion
- Charles Street Meeting House
- symbolism
- theology
- Time for All Ages
- worship space
We considered Ken Patton’s distinction between the “meeting house” and the “temple”.
“Toward Spiritual Wholeness”
February 13, 2022
- Bill Duston
- Rev. Lara Hoke
- Thea Shapiro
- 8th Principle
- anti-racism
- spirituality
- white supremacy culture
We considered the proposed 8th Principle and the connection to spiritual wholeness.
“Disenchanted, Re-enchanted”
February 6, 2022
Can you get your enchantment back?
“The Secret to Happiness”
January 30, 2022
Our lead deacon Cindy Malley preached!
“Losers”
January 23, 2022
We considered whether losing can be beautiful…
“MLK Sunday”
January 16, 2022
Our annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Sunday service, thinking about voting rights then and now.
“Fear Itself”
January 9, 2022
- Bill Duston
- Molly Lozeau
- Rev. Lara Hoke
- Thea Shapiro
- fear
- online worship
- spiritual practice
- Time for All Ages
We had an online-only worship service on Zoom, thinking about fear.
“Remembrance Sunday”
January 2, 2022
- Bill Duston
- Cindy Malley
- Martha Childs
- Monica Pilman
- Rev. Lara Hoke
- Thea Shapiro
- afterlife
- new life
- remembrance
- Time for All Ages
An annual tradition: on the first Sunday of the new year, we remember those we lost in the past year, and celebrate those born in the past year. Co-led by me (Rev. Lara) and the Deacons.
“Potpourri Sunday”
December 26, 2021
An annual tradition! The Deacons led a service of sharing.
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service 2021
December 24, 2021
- Bill Duston
- Cindy Malley
- David Grober
- Monica Pilman
- Rev. Lara Hoke
- Thea Shapiro
- Christmas
- nativity
- Time for All Ages
Our (hybrid) Christmas Eve Service was a little different this year! We started out inside, then ended outside by the fire pit so that we could have some singing. It was lovely!
“No Rehearsal Pageant”
December 19, 2021
- Bob Williams
- Debbie Eston
- Emily Welch
- Rev. Lara Hoke
- Sara Cope
- Susan Tordella
- Thea Shapiro
- Christmas
- nativity
- Time for All Ages
Director of Religious Education Thea Shapiro led the whole congregation through a jolly no-rehearsal pageant! We had lots of fun.
“Cosmic Consciousness?”
December 12, 2021
I continued with my “Consciousness Series”, considering “cosmic consciousness” and whether the Universe might be conscious.
“Merry Agnostic Christmas”
December 5, 2021
- Carolyn McCreary
- Cindy Malley
- Monica Pilman
- Rev. Lara Hoke
- Roger Price
- Thea Shapiro
- agnosticism
- Christmas
- nativity
- online worship
During “red light” conditions, we worshiped online-only. Guest preacher and FCU deacon Cindy Malley discusses what Christmas means to her as an agnostic.
“In the Hanukkah Story”
November 28, 2021
- Andrea Price
- Bob Williams
- Cindy Malley
- Jen Jaksa
- Martha Childs
- Rev. Lara Hoke
- Roger Price
- Hanukkah
- Judaism
- online worship
During our “red light” conditions, we worshiped online-only. We discussed who we might be in the Hanukkah story.
“Giving Thanks”
November 21, 2021
We did something a little different this year. Because of “yellow light” Covid-19 conditions, we could not do our traditional Cornbread Communion. Instead, the Deacons and I used menti.com to have folks share something that made them feel grateful.
“Choice Ancestors”
November 14, 2021
- Cindy Malley
- Rev. Lara Hoke
- Sara Cope
- ancestors
- Learning Up
- Macdellar Sons of Grace Preparatory School
- white supremacy culture
I explore the Soul Matters theme “holding history”, thinking about ancestors. Share-the-Plate was for Macdellar Sons of Grace Preparatory School in Ghana, via Learning Up.
“The Ghost in the Machine?”
November 7, 2021
This is part two in the “Consciousness Series”!
“Showing Up”
October 31, 2021
Our wonderful Director of Religious Education Thea Shapiro delivers the homily.
“Holy Roller: Lessons from Bowling”
October 24, 2021
For our hybrid worship service on October 24, 2021, I discussed some lessons I’ve learned from bowling!
“Why Celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day”
October 10, 2021
Our own FCU member Lorinda Morimoto shares her thoughts about the contributions of Native Americans in honor of Indigenous Peoples Day.
“St. Francis Sunday: The Animal in Me”
October 3, 2021
In honor of St. Francis, we think about the animals with which we feel a special connection.
“A Unitarian Universalist Appreciation of Sukkot”
September 26, 2021
I share about one of my favorite Jewish holidays, Sukkot!
“Making Perfect Pottery”
September 19, 2021
Our second hybrid service… And perhaps a mindset for the year ahead.
“Ingathering”
September 12, 2021
This was our first-ever “hybrid” (in person and live streaming) service, kicking off the 2021-2022 “church year”.
“Fathers & Flowers”
June 20, 2021
- Cindy Malley
- Karen Tucker-Barisano
- Laura Semple
- Rev. Lara Hoke
- Susan Palmer
- Thea Shapiro
- coronavirus
- covid-19
- Father's Day
- Flower Communion
- online worship
- Time for All Ages
In our final “regular church year” worship service for 2020-2021, we celebrated Flower Communion, our outgoing RE Chair, our incoming DRE, and Father’s Day!
“The Waves Upholding Us” (with Keeper of the Flame)
June 13, 2021
- Andy Leyenaar
- Debbie Eston
- Lynda Kaylor
- Martha Childs
- Mike Pilman
- Rev. Lara Hoke
- coronavirus
- covid-19
- keeper of the flame
- online worship
- Time for All Ages
I shared some of my thinking about re-opening as well as some thanks, and we awarded our Keeper of the Flame to Mike Pilman!
- « Previous Page
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- …
- 7
- Next Page »