Month: November 2019

Thanks for the Imperfect

This Thanksgiving I find myself reflecting on the absence
of perfection. You have heard me preach about the problems of perfection as a
standard, the way it encourages all of us to embrace definitions of the good
that are culturally determined…and leaves us all perpetually unsatisfied with
our performance … read more.

MEMO: Canticum Novum

You have likely now heard that the Music Ministry at First Unitarian Church, particularly the adult choir program, has been largely restructured. This began last spring when it was announced that we would be retiring our three mixed choirs (then known as Chalice Choir, Chamber … read more.

Tuesday, December 24, 2019 – Christmas Eve (8pm & 10pm)

Monthly Theme: Birth
Sermon Topic: “Holy Night”

O Magnum Mysterium
Music: Kenneth L. DeJong
Text: Traditional

O magnum mysterium,
et admirabile sacramentum,
ut animalia viderent Dominum natum,
iacentem in praesepio!
Beata Virgo,
cujus viscerameruerunt portare
Dominum Iesum Christum.
Alleluia!

The Works of Christmas
Music: Elizabeth H. Norton
Text: Howard Thurman

When the song of the angels is stilled,
when the star … read more.

Wells We Did Not Dig

In his concluding statement
during the Democratic Candidates Debate last night, Senator Corey Booker
pointed out Rep. John Lewis sitting in the audience and began with the famous
words of gratitude from Deuteronomy: “We drink from wells we did not dig.”

He began with gratitude and
the recognition that … read more.

Come Sunday

Theologian and jazz great,
Duke Ellington, got it right: “Come Sunday, oh, come Sunday, that’s the day.”

We call it Celebration
Sunday, this Sunday, when we try to transform our financial giving to support
First Unitarian into a joyful expression of our gratitude for all the church
means in … read more.

Democracy

The first thing to say about our democracy is that it is not one. Our system of government is not a democracy. The “framers” of our system, those “founding fathers”, were deeply distrustful of democracy and what might happen if all the people had a … read more.

Sunday, November 17, 2019 -Celebration Sunday

Monthly Theme: Death
Sermon Topic: “Building a New Way”

Dig a Little Deeper
Music: Jenifer Lewis
Text: Jenifer Lewis

Don’t matter what you look like
Don’t matter what you wear
How many rings you got on your finger
We don’t care, no, we don’t care

Don’t matter where you come from
Don’t even … read more.