This sermon was delivered by Minister of Faith Development Rev. Emily Gage on July 26, 2020. Four plus months into our pandemic existence, Rev. Gage has been thinking hard about what sustains us, what keeps us going, what gives us hope. What makes us feel free, or at least keeps us in touch with something beyond our current circumstances. Two readings presented by youth member Clare Roarty precede the sermon.

The theme for July is what it means to be a people of hope. To read about our theme-based ministry, please visit http://www.unitytemple.org/faith-development/soul-connections on our website.

For the safety of all in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, UTUUC will NOT be holding in–person worship until further notice. We have also cancelled or postponed any congregational events that would have taken place.

To see a video of this service, click HERE.

For information about how to join our Sunday morning livestream worship service on YouTube and our virtual fellowship hour on Zoom after the live stream, please visit our website at http://www.unitytemple.org. 

This sermon was delivered by Rev. Dr. John Buehrens on July 19, 2020. Rev. Buehrens explores how the American Transcendentalists ignited movements for racial, gender and social justice in the 19th century and reflects on their wisdom for our current moment. The podcast includes a reading from "The Limits of Tyrants" by Frederick Douglass.

The Rev. John Buehrens was president of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations from 1993 to 2001. He served congregations in Tennessee, Texas, New York, Massachusetts, and California before retiring in 2017. He is the co-author with Forrest Church of A Chosen Faith: An Introduction to Unitarian Universalism. His other books include Understanding the Bible: An Introduction for Skeptics, Seekers, and Religious Liberals (2004); A House for Hope: The Promise of Progressive Religion for the Twenty-first Century, with Rebecca Ann Parker (2011); Universalists and Unitarians in America: A People’s History (2011); and Conflagration: How the Transcendentalists Sparked the American Struggle for Racial, Gender, and Social Justice (2020).

The theme for July is what it means to be a people of hope. To read about our theme-based ministry, please visit http://www.unitytemple.org/faith-development/soul-connections on our website.

For the safety of all in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, UTUUC will NOT be holding in–person worship until further notice. We have also cancelled or postponed any congregational events that would have taken place.

To see a video of this service, click HERE.

For information about how to join our Sunday morning livestream worship service on YouTube and our virtual fellowship hour on Zoom after the live stream, please visit our website at http://www.unitytemple.org. 

This sermon was delivered by Rev. Julie Taylor on July 12, 2020. Rev. Taylor explores the sometimes complicated relationship between the military and Unitarian Universalism. Rev. Julie Taylor is a Unitarian Universalist community minister specializing in critical incident response, community crisis and pastoral care. Julie is the Senior Director of Contextual Ministry and an affiliate professor at Meadville Lombard Theological School. In addition, Julie serves as a Chaplain (Capt.) with the New York Air National Guard and on the board of the UU Trauma Response Ministry. An ordained minister since 2001, Julie has served UU congregations in New York City and St. Louis and volunteered with multiple crisis and disaster response organizations. A sought-after speaker and teacher, Julie has contributed chapters to several books on the subject of spiritual care and crisis. Agitating, preaching, and working towards dismantling systems of white supremacy are key in Julie’s theology and work. Julie lives in Chicago with wife Laurel and their two children.

The theme for July is what it means to be a people of hope. To read about our theme-based ministry, please visit http://www.unitytemple.org/faith-development/soul-connections on our website.

For the safety of all in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, UTUUC will NOT be holding in–person worship until further notice. We have also cancelled or postponed any congregational events that would have taken place.

To see a video of this service, click HERE.

For information about how to join our Sunday morning livestream worship service on YouTube and our virtual fellowship hour on Zoom after the live stream, please visit our website at http://www.unitytemple.org. 

The sermon was delivered by Senior Minister Rev. Alan Taylor on July 5, 2020. How does a faith community participate in social change and especially the democratic process? On this Fourth of July weekend, Rev. explores the three levels of participating in democracy, both as individuals and as a faith community.

The theme for July is what it means to be a people of hope. To read about our theme-based ministry, please visit http://www.unitytemple.org/faith-development/soul-connections on our website.

For the safety of all in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, UTUUC will NOT be holding in–person worship until further notice. We have also cancelled or postponed any congregational events that would have taken place.

To see a video of this service, click HERE.

For information about how to join our Sunday morning livestream worship service on YouTube and our virtual fellowship hour on Zoom after the live stream, please visit our website at http://www.unitytemple.org. 

Sermon delivered by UTUUC member Terry Kinsey on December 31, 2017. Terry suggests it's time to upgrade our "operating system" so that we will act from a more skillful responsive space and not a reactive "habit pattern." Our habit pattern space has evolved over time and if we want to upgrade it, we'll need to put into practice an intentional plan including "designing" the desired operating system and then "installing" the upgrade through practice. He presents a specific UU Buddhist plan of action.

Terry Kinsey joined Unity Temple in 1982. As a member of this congregation he has taught many AYS/OWL classes for junior high students. He participates in the original Men's Group which started in 1984 and has led several Men's Retreats. Terry founded Mother Earth Adventures which existed from 1991-2010 and offered vision quests and sweat lodges. In 1985, he became a counselor at Marwood Camp, a weeklong UU rites of passage summer camp for adolescents. Professionally, Terry is a retired pediatric physical therapist. His interest in secular/liberal Buddhism began in 1998. He has attended many 9- to 11-day silent Buddhist wilderness backpacks and canoe retreats as well as many 6- to 11-day silent center-based Buddhist retreats. His Buddhist "coaches" are Stephen Schettini and Erik Kolvig. Terry can be reached at mindful@unitytemple.org or terrykinsey@gmail.com.

The theme for December is what it means to be a people of hope. To read about our theme-based ministry, please visit http://www.unitytemple.org/faith-development/soul-connections on our website.

Sermon delivered by Senior Minister Rev. Alan Taylor at the 11:00 p.m. service on December 24, 2017. In this Christmas Eve homily, Rev. Taylor reflects on the saving tradition of Unitarian Universalism that thrives in the congregational life at Unity Temple, acknowledging the beauty of being back in our space while lifting up the call to embody kindness, curiosity, and joy.

The theme for December is what it means to be a people of hope. To read about our theme-based ministry, please visit http://www.unitytemple.org/faith-development/soul-connections on our website. 

This reading and homily from the Christmas Eve Pageant service were delivered by Minister of Faith Development Rev. Emily Gage on December 24, 2017. This is precisely why the Christmas story is so completely awesome: It is about following the star... and actually finding where it is leading you. It is about the impossible being possible. It is about miracles.

The theme for December is what it means to be a people of hope. To read about our theme-based ministry, please visit http://www.unitytemple.org/faith-development/soul-connections on our website. 

Sermon delivered by Minister of Faith Development Rev. Emily Gage on December 17, 2017. The sermon is preceded by the story for all ages, "The Latke Who Couldn't Stop Screaming" by Lemony Snicket. Rev. Gage says, "This December, we are exploring the theme of hope. That sounds about right. I'm up for some more hope. Even that wasn't the theme, I'd be up here working on hope, preaching on hope, finding hope wherever I can find it."

The theme for December is what it means to be a people of hope. To read about our theme-based ministry, please visit http://www.unitytemple.org/faith-development/soul-connections on our website. 

Sermon delivered by Senior Minister Rev. Alan Taylor on December 10, 2018. In this typically frenetic time, Rev. Taylor urges us to take time to find stillness. He explores the relationship between stillness and revelation, as there is often so much hidden from us, both exquisitely beautiful as well as horrific.

The theme for December is what it means to be a people of hope. To read about our theme-based ministry, please visit http://www.unitytemple.org/faith-development/soul-connections on our website. 

Sermon delivered by Senior Minister Rev. Alan Taylor on December 3, 2017. Rev. Taylor provides a sermon on seeking hope in a time of despair. Sometimes history and even our lives seem like Pandora’s Box has been opened. How do we keep hope even when cultural forms of hope seem vacuous and irrelevant to the times?

The theme for December is what it means to be a people of hope. To read about our theme-based ministry, please visit http://www.unitytemple.org/faith-development/soul-connections on our website.