Much of what we call “social justice” is simply a colossal waste of time. Religious congregations often try to be all things to all people, giving a little here, helping a little bit there, with no lasting impact on the systems that cause and perpetuate societal inequalities. We had better pursue justice that makes a difference rather than justice that is ultimately about “just us.”
What can animals teach us about being human? Judaism has much to say about our animal companions as well as those living in the wild. If you’ve ever had pets of any kind, this sermon will bring about some change in the way you experience them. If you are hurting, you’ll be surprised at what animals have to offer in the midst of life’s pains.
Each year we gather to look back at the passing year. With the cleansing of fire we burn a piece of our past. This service will include some very special readings.
I’ll admit it: my skepticism really kicks in at Christmas. So much of the Christmas saga is simply beyond belief, with unreasonable expectations. What if I told you that Christmas is truly a holiday for skeptics, created by ancients who sought to question rather than to answer the reason for the season? That’s exactly what I’ll explain.
“The one thing that can’t be taken from us, even by death, is the love we give away before we go.” So says the late Rev. Forrest Church, senior minister of the Church of All Souls (Unitarian Universalist) in New York City for 28 years. Based on Church’s work by the same name, this sermon considers death as a beginning and love as a way of life. When it comes to love and death, what are you expecting?
This one’s personal: I’ll tell the story of how one band of social misfits became a “forever family.” About my children, I am always quick to point out that Stillman and I didn’t save them. Instead they saved us—from a life without meaning or purpose. Another phrase I always say: “Don’t try this at home.” Come and find out how mercy was our motivator.
