The Big Bang was the beginning of our universe. But what was the beginning of everything before that? We live at a time of mind-numbing scientific discoveries, like new unexplained forms of life at the bottom of the sea. How can we understand and appreciate these discoveries? Perhaps we can apply them to the living […]
Category Archives: Sermons
1.19.14, Viva Mandela-Dr. King Sunday, Rev. Kent Matthies
On the Martin Luther King Sunday we commemorate on of the greatest leaders of the past century: Nelson Mandela! During and after the horrors of Apartheid Mandela taught South Africa how to begin again in love and justice. In doing so he taught the world that no matter how big or small our problems humans […]
1.12.14 Starting Again, Rev. Libby Smith
As the new year begins, we reflect together on the ways that we make new beginnings in our own lives. Do we make ‘resolutions” that allow us to become more fully ourselves, or that ask us to try to be someone else? The Rev. Libby Smith grew up in the Unitarian Society of York, PA (now […]
12.29.13, Who am I, Where am I going? Daniel Gregoire
We are at a crossroads; on the cusp of a new year, which provides the perfect opportunity to ask a fundamental question. How we answer that question is a matter of life or death. Today we will see how our intention (that answer), or lack of intention showed up in 2013 and discern how we […]
12.15.13 Reclaiming Your Birthright, Rev. Kent Matthies
One essential role for the religious community is to help us develop in our potential for compassion, service and empowerment. Innocence is the spiritual theme of the month. Perhaps, we can reclaim some of our childlike innocence and thus potential for doing good. But, HOW???
12.8.13 Messiah! Mark Daugherty and the USG Choir & Soloists
It’s time again for the annual Holiday music service. This year the choir will present the Christmas portion of George Frederik Handel’s masterpiece Messiah. Probably no other piece of classical music packs ’em in the way this piece does. Filled with virtuoso writing for the soloists and the choir, Messiah is a timeless holiday classic […]
12.1.13 Original Sin? – Rev. Kent Matthies
Innocence is the spiritual theme of the month. Yet we are coming off the Thanksgiving holiday, which has historic connections to Europeans driving and killing Native Americans off the land. Human babies seem to begin with something like a clean slate and pure goodness. However, most human communities have combinations of helping and hurting. There has […]
11.24.13 Will the Real Jesus Please Stand Up? Sam Gugino
UU minister Galen Guengrich says “Jesus as son of God is a brilliant conceit.” In his new best-selling book, “Zealot,” author Reza Aslan writes that much of what we were taught about Jesus, including that he was the messiah and founded Christianity, is myth. So, who was the real Jesus? And does it matter?
11.24.13 Service of the Living Tradition, Jenn Leiby, Linda Brunn
Tradition is the spiritual theme of the month. All people gathering to share in the bread communion is a holy Thanksgiving tradition in our congregation. This year we will also give thanks for all of you, the people of USG, who constitute the living tradition of our congregation. PLEASE HELP US to make this a great worship service […]
11.10.13 Old and New Wineskins, Consulting Minister Joan Javier-Duval
We can sometimes think of traditions as things of the past. But, we are constantly changing and re-creating the traditions of our lives in the present and for the future. This is true for family traditions like how we celebrate Thanksgiving, and it is also true for the religious traditions we embrace or let go […]