Scott Writes, The Greatest Unitarian Universalist Theologian of the 20th Century, the Rev. Dr. James Luther Adams of Harvard Divinity School, believed that there were “5 Smooth Stones” (or foundational operating principles) that defined the spirit and thinking of our liberal religious movement...and I believe still do today. This morning, I begin this 5-part series -- which will happen in separate sermon installments over the 2024-25 church year – with a sermon on the all-important core of UU epistemology. Do be with us as I launch this sermon series.
Sunday service timeline:
9:50 – Join for informal conversation (optional)
10:00 – Service begins
11:00 – Coffee hour
Most Unitarian Universalist’s don’t believe in the primary operational definition of grace held by Orthodox and Conservative Christianity. So, does that mean that we’re just out of luck when it comes to experiencing and receiving grace? This reflection explores the ways grace can manifest itself in life for those who do not accept the Christian version of grace’s purpose or workings. in the life of humankind.
The Rev. Jacqueline Ziegler recently retired and lives in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. Before retiring she served as the Settled Minister for the UU Church of Boulder, Colorado and Acting Minister for the Stockton Universalist Congregation in Stockton, Illinois. She also served as an interim minister for nine Unitarian Universalist congregations specializing in helping congregations who were experiencing conflict.
She graduated in 1994 with a joint Masters of Divinity degree from Meadville Lombard School of Theology and the University of Chicago’s Divinity School with emphasizes on ecological and process theology and democracy.
She is very engaged in the climate change movement and has participated in many climate change rallies and non-violent acts of civil disobedience. Rev. Jackie considers climate change to be THE MORAL ISSUE of 21st century and most likely the greatest challenge humanity has ever faced.
Sunday service timeline:
9:50 – Join for informal conversation (optional)
10:00 – Service begins
11:00 – Coffee hour
The air is full of people talking about our nation going forward, versus going back. Forward is supposedly hopeful; back is self-serving and stupid, some say. This made me think about my life, and how things in my past affected me, and how the way some of those things have changed is affecting our nation now.
Sarah Oelberg has been a special education teacher, has written special ed. curriculum for our U.S. Office of Education, was a faculty member at Yeshiva University in New York and at NYU, and trained special ed. teachers in Iowa. She followed her heart as the first in her six-generation Unitarian family to become a UU minister. After serving churches in Nebraska and Minnesota, she retired in 2001. She and husband Gerald raised four children and have six grand- and four great-grandchildren.
Sunday service timeline:
9:50 – Join for informal conversation (optional)
10:00 – Service begins
11:00 – Coffee hour
The meaning of worship is
to be shaped by
what is of worth.
We gather together in spiritual community because we need constant reminders of what matters most in life. In a world of heartbreak and dehumanization, our congregations and communities call us to our better selves. We learn to live with more wisdom, more connection, and more compassion.
Our Worship Services are weekly reflections that weave together our own thoughts and experiences with music, beauty, poetry, and words that both comfort and challenge. Our programs for all ages inspire and awaken us to our capacities to make a difference in our own lives and in the world.
