Sermon Archive

Our Covenant Faith

Administrator — Tue, 08 May 2012 00:59:00 +0000

Rev. Erin Gingrich - May 6, 2012

Resurrecting Ourselves; Flower Communion

Administrator — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 22:20:00 +0000

Rev. Erin Gingrich - April 8, 2012

On Easter Sunday we shared in a flower communion to celebrate our shared religious path, a path which calls us to move through the devastations of our lives to seek abundant living. When we do this, we move from being a victim to being a survivor- a sacred transformationand reclaiming of the good that is our lives.

Congregants participated by bringing a flower or two home, the fields or roadside for our annual flower communion. This Unitarian tradition began in 1923 by Norbert Capek, founder of the Unitarian Church in Czechoslovakia. The significance of the flower communion is that as no two flowers are alike, so no two people are alike, yet each has a contribution to make. Together the different flowers form a beautiful bouquet.

Read the text of the sermon here

or click here to download a PDF.

Learning From The Past

Administrator — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 21:29:35 +0000

Rev. Erin Gingrich - April 1, 2012

Church members and institutional leaders speak regarding the church's history of clergy and staff sexual misconduct and abuse of power. They shared pieces of our history, major learnings from their work, and our vision of healing, integration, safety, strength and health going forward for our beloved church. Congregational reflection and dialogue followed both services.

The Second Circle: Congregants

Listen to the Reading by Mary Ellen Mogee.

Listen to the Statement by Mary Howard.

The Third Circle: Congregation as an Institution

Listen to the Reading by Jeff Schatz.

Listen to the Impact on Congregations by Rev. Dr. Richard Speck.

Listen to the Statement by Barbara Naef.

Read the text of the sermon here

or click here to download a PDF.

Learning From The Past

Administrator — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 21:30:00 +0000

Rev. Erin Gingrich - March 25, 2012

Several church members explained why they spent the last year researching our church's history of clergy and staff sexual misconduct and abuse of power. They shared pieces of our history, reactions to this history, and our vision of healing, integration, safety, strength and health going forward for our beloved church. Congregational reflection and dialogue followed both services.

Learning From Our Past

Listen to the Introduction by Jodi Imel.

Listen to the Background by Paul Baumgartner.

Listen to the Broader Context by Rev. Erin Gingrich.

The First Circle: Impact on Victims/Survivors

Listen to the Impact Statement by Anne Welch.

Listen to the Reading by Mary Ellen Mogee.

Read the text of the sermon here

or click here to download a PDF.

Courage To Give

Administrator — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 11:47:00 +0000

Rev. Erin Gingrich - March 11, 2012

Stewardship Campaign Kickoff - Stewardship in the church is about more than giving money. We aspire to care for ourselves and more than ourselves to have the fullest lives possible. We look closely to see how we conceive of our power to influence and care for the world around us, to ensure fluidity of giving, receiving, and connecting with life around us. When did you last oil the hinges on your heart and wallet and schedule to see that you are moving in tandem with the world around you?

Listen to this sermon.

Read the text of the sermon here

or click here to download a PDF.

Courage

Administrator — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 12:40:00 +0000

Rev. Erin Gingrich - March 4, 2012

Finding courage in the face of challenge can be hard work. It seems to come easy to some though. We'll hear where church members draw courage and strength from in their daily lives to confront political challenges in VA.

Listen to this sermon.

Run To It

Administrator — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 01:10:23 +0000

Rev. Erin Gingrich - February 26, 2012

How do we as Unitarian Universalists and members of UUCR practice the words of our Unison Affirmation: "to seek truth in love, and to help one another in fellowship," and why does it so often come across as a closed circle of close community?

Listen to the Reflection - by Al & Judy Erickson.

Listen to the Reflection - by Cheryl Hennessey.

Listen to this sermon.

I've Got Good News

Administrator — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 14:36:00 +0000

Rev. Paul Britner - February 19, 2012

Rev. Paul Britner of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Montgomery, Alabama.

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Revelation Unfolding

Administrator — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 18:23:00 +0000

Rev. Erin Gingrich - February 12, 2012

As part of February's theme of "vision," Rev. Gingrich examines the connection between Unitarian Universalism and Buddhism, and our dedication to religion and personal growth.

Listen to this sermon.

Callings

Administrator — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:49:00 +0000

Rev. Erin Gingrich - February 5, 2012

Rev. Gingrich reflects on a recent presentation by Reggie McNeal entitled "Church is a Verb" as part of February's theme of "vision."

Listen to this sermon.