USGUU Sermon Podcast

The idea of service sits at the epicenter of the well being of ourselves and our communities. It is the very wellspring of our happiness as well as our purpose. David will talk about how the the idea of faith and its various parts creates the rich soil allowing the roots of service to grow and take hold, laying the strong foundation of a rich and fulfilling life.
David Wurtzel found his passion for life within the fire service in his twenties, and currently serves as a volunteer firefighter in Narberth, PA. In 2008 he discovered a series of devastating health issues that have plagued the fire service for decades. This compelled him to launch a non-profit called The First Twenty, whose mission is help this vastly underserved population address their unmet health needs. In 2012 they launched the nation’s first ever national fitness and wellness program for firefighter health, safety and performance. They currently serve thousands of firefighters coast to coast including the United States Air Force and are at the center of two clinical trials. David is a member of USG with his wife Muna and children Galena and Billy.

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People of different faith traditions have vastly different practices and beliefs about guns.  How does one religious group come to arm themselves and another to disarm? How does your faith help you to understand this most critical social issue?

 

Katie Day is a long time resident of Mt. Airy and a faculty member at the Lutheran Theological Seminary.  As well as being ordained in the Presbyterian Church, she is also an urban sociologist.  Her last book represented seven years of research into all the communities of faith along Germantown Ave–Faith on the Avenue (Oxford University Press, 2014)

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In the wake of the Orlando mass murders and all the violence in the U.S.A., we feel that we must make this the topic of worship this Sunday. Let’s focus on Gun Violence reduction as a job for fathers and all.

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It’s the CSD Carnival to Celebrate a Great Year in Sunday School! Join us in the Grove Sunday, June 12, following the Worship Service.

And most of all, the chance to celebrate all our super kids and super teachers, our super CSD chair, Jessica, and our super-duper DSD, Rev. Daniel.
There will be a bounce house, a dunk tank and more!

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The Cleopatra Connection is a self empowerment tool that uses the life of the Pharaoh Cleopatra as a guide to overcoming challenges and creating personal success. Her imagination and resilience are key reasons we remember her today. This is an opportunity to be inspired and encouraged by the life of this incredible person.

Andrea Durham is an attorney in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  She has worked as an Attoney-Advisor for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development since 1994.  Ms. Durham graduated from Temple University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Social Administration in 1987 and earned her Juris Doctorate from Temple University School of Law in 1990.  She is licensed to practice in Pennsylvania.  Born in Trinidad and Tobago, Ms. Durham loves travel, diverse cultures and community organization. Active with several community endeavors, she is a member of the USG and serves as the chief organizer of the annual Diwali celebration.

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The gray skies and bitter cold of winter seem like a memory now that the trees are alive with color and warm breezes. Our world is fresh and new again, the Spring season faithfully bringing promise of easier days. Just as promising, we can turn to our Unitarian Universalist faith to help us through our own personal winters to the hopeful warmth of better days.

Jenn Leiby has been a member of USG since January 2010 and is honored to be returning to the pulpit. She currently serves on the Ministry Executive Team and is involved in many other wonderful groups here. She lives in Plymouth Meeting with her husband Carl and daughter Zoe.

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State Senator Art Haywood has been working hard on equitable funding for public schools, civil right for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, monitoring lead in our water and reducing gun violence.  We are thrilled that Senator Haywood will give keynote sermon for our culminating event for our 150^th anniversary.  Senator Haywood will touch on historical importance of faith communities and make the case for the role of the religious communities as critical leaders in the future!

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Do you remember when speed-reading was a new thing?  An early pioneer was Evelyn Wood in 1959.  In hindsight we see this was an early rendition in a society that would come to crave and demand fast everything: from food to internet service.  But speed reading is also an example of how going too fast often brings a cost of losing meaning.  In religion – note scripture and poetry – touching a word and staying with it can enliven hearts and transform lives.  Come celebrate Mother’s Day by touching a few words that matter.

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In this current moment of environmental, economic, and political crisis we can look back at the 150 year history of USG for clues to how we can respond today with spiritual resources, resilience, and adaptabiity as we move toward the future.

The Rev. Bill Gardiner served as a minister at the Unitarian Society of Germantown from 1980 until 1990.  From 1990 until 2014 he was the Co-director of the Department for Faith in Action at the Unitarian Universalist Association in Boston. Currently he is a member of First Parish in Arlington, Massachusetts and volunteers with several community groups.

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Part II of the sermon series on the book “Blindspot.”  We are porous beings soaking up the cultural attitudes in our environment.  How do we become more aware of our preconceived notions and do better in changing how they impact our behaviors?  How do we break the code and actually start using stereotypes for the better?  How can our prejudices help us move towards realizing a world where all are recognized for inherent dignity and worth?

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