March 24, 2019
My sermon considered whether hope is a feeling, or a choice… What does it mean to have hope? How can you find hope, and hold on to it?
All Sermons
Installation Service of the Rev. Lara Hoke
March 10, 2019
On March 10, 2019, I was installed as the 28th settled minister of First Church Unitarian in Littleton. The sermon was delivered by the Rev. John Gibbons, and there were many other wonderful speakers and musical performances. It was a joyful afternoon!
“Lent: Into the Wilderness”
March 10, 2019
The video starts with a reading made up of excerpts from Jon Krakauer’s “Into the Wild”. Following that is my sermon, “Lent: Into the Wilderness”. This morning was the first Sunday during Lent, the Christian season leading up to Easter. Specifically, Lent is the 40 days from Ash Wednesday to Easter (leaving out the Sundays). For many Christians, Lent is a time for sacrifice. It’s a time to repent, and take stock. And of course, Lent is to Easter what Advent is for Christmas; a time for preparation. We considered what Lent might offer for 21st century Unitarian Universalists.
“All the Stirrings of Compassion?”
March 3, 2019
In the hymn “Spirit of Life” we sing, “Spirit of Life, come unto me. Sing in my heart all the stirrings of compassion.” But why are we so restrictive — so selective — with our compassion at times? In this sermon I consider how we decide to mete out our compassion. And, hot sauce.
“The Theology of ‘The Wizard of Oz'”
February 24, 2019
I preached this sermon on the morning before the Oscars, on the 80th anniversary of “The Wizard of Oz”. Synchronistic events (meaningful coincidences) reminded me of this wonderful story recently (the book as well as the movie). Watch and listen to explore some of the hidden theological and spiritual messages of the great tale by L. Frank Baum! (And note my rainbow stole, as well as my blue gingham shirt in honor of Dorothy’s dress.)
“But I Don’t Wanna Talk about Money!”
February 10, 2019
On February 10, 2019, I delivered a short “Sermon on the Amount” for Stewardship Sunday.
“Foolish Consistency”
February 3, 2019
Our Unitarian forebear Ralph Waldo Emerson famously wrote: “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds”. My sermon considered wise inconsistencies as well as life’s contradictions and what we can learn from them.
“Forget Your Perfect Offering”
January 27, 2019
My short sermon was part of a whole church (also known as “multi-generational”) worship service reflecting on the concept of “Perfectly Imperfect; Impossibly Possible”, and considering things we “used-to-think”. (The service was followed by a whole church “Winter Comfort” Sunday Social where members and friends were asked to bring their favorite comfort food to share, and to wear pajamas. That is why I’m in pajamas!)
“The Day I Saw God”
January 13, 2019
In Sanskrit, the word darshan means a chance for a meeting with a holy entity or even the sighting of a deity. In the west, we might call it a chance for holy communion or a Beatific Vision. Have you ever seen a deity? In this sermon, I discuss the day I saw God.
“Remembering the Astronauts”
January 6, 2019
- Rev. Lara Hoke
- Collected Poems of Robert Hayden
- astronauts
- death
- mortality
- remembrance
- Robert Hayden
This reading (the poem “Astronauts” by the great Robert Hayden) and my short sermon (“Remembering the Astronauts) were shared at the end of Remembrance Sunday. Remembrance Sunday is an annual FCU tradition; the congregation lights Candles of Love and Memory to recall irreplaceable family and friends who died in the past year as well as Candles of Hope and Joy to celebrate children dear to us who were born in the past year. Errata note: The beautiful line in Hayden’s poem is “once Absolute Otherwhere” (not “Everywhere”, as I mistakenly say a couple of times in this video.) My apologies! Read his gorgeous poem at this link.
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