Past Sermons Date added
-
"Minister" is a Verb
- Aug-28-2005
-
When Did You Stop Singing?
- Sep-04-2005
-
"Fear of Unfolding"
- Sep-11-2006
-
Preached on 27 August, 2006
Many of us live our lives in a quiet quest for unconditional love and acceptance. What do you fear most about living as who you are? What is necessary to risk blooming? This sermon explores all these questions and how our Unitarian Universalist tradition responds to them, both theologically and practially. It also explains how the initiation of Covenant Groups at Live Oak might respond to our human instinct for growth and intimacy.
-
"Happiness"
- Sep-11-2006
-
Preached on 30 July, 2006 What’s the secret to being happy? Well, what’s “happiness”? How have humans changed their understanding of happiness over time? Come explore what it means to pursue and enjoy happiness.
-
"With All Your Heart, Your Soul, Your Strength"
- Sep-11-2006
-
Preached 4 June, 2006
It’s the Auction Sermon! Live Oak member Fred Gamble won his choice of sermon topic and posed this question to Rev. Erika: “Jesus, when asked what the most important commandment was, said: ‘To love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength…’ Can this most important Christian commandment be appreciated by someone who is neither a theist or deist?”
-
"Be Evangelists, but Please Be Articulate"
- Sep-11-2006
-
Preached on 11 June, 2006
What does it mean to speak articulately about ourselves as Unitarian Universalists? What is our “good news”? In this multi-media sermon, Rev. Erika explores what it means to be both “evangelists” and “institutionalists,” as well as how not to talk about our UU faith. This sermon was preached on the occasion of our Bridging Ceremony to recognize six youth who graduated from high school.
-
"Where Do You Hold Your Pain?"
- Sep-11-2006
-
Preached on 20 August, 2006
Some would say that pain is a messenger from within. What brings healing to our bodies? What’s the relationship between physical pain and our emotions?
-
"Can You Say Shibboleth?"
- Sep-18-2006
-
Preached on 17 Sept., 2006
Who are we, as Unitarian Universalists? More importantly, who do we expect our guests and newcomers to be? In this sermon, we’ll explore the expectations (however unconscious) that we have for those who would belong to our community, and how they might prevent us from being “radically” welcoming.
-
"L'amor che move il sole e l’altre stelle -- the Naming Aspect of Prayer"
- Oct-03-2006
-
Preached on 1 Oct., 2006
The world’s religions have innumerable ways to address the Holy, or to name the ways that mystery unfolds in our lives and in the world. This ageless practice of Naming prayer suggests that prayer is relational. Who or what our relationship is with has everything to do with how we name.
-
"We All Spill Soup" -- The Knowing Aspect of Prayer
- Oct-15-2006
-
Preached on 8 October, 2006
We human beings all make mistakes. When we can name those mistakes and say “I’m sorry,” we’re also saying something about what we aspire to and what kind of relationships we want to have. Knowing prayer has to do with seeing ourselves – with all of our strengths and growing edges – honestly and lovingly.
-
"The Only Possible Answer at Any Given Moment" -- The Listening Aspect of Prayer
- Oct-15-2006
-
Preached on 15 Oct., 2006
How do we access the “voice still and small, deep inside all”? Religious traditions that practice Listening prayer teach us that God, or the voice of Wisdom, speaks to us continually. We can hear that quiet voice as soon as we choose to quiet the noise in our minds.
-
"When You Pray, Move Your Feet" -- the Loving Aspect of Prayer
- Oct-30-2006
-
Preached on 22 October, 2006
This sermon, the last in a series of four, explores Loving Prayer, in which we become fully engaged with the world around us.
-
"Planting Sequoias"
- Nov-13-2006
-
Preached on 12 November, 2006
This post-election sermon draws from poet Wendell Berry and philosopher Ken Wilber to explore why we're drawn to shape the world into a more just and loving place. In particular, it considers a stirring and startling interpretation of "evolution," particularly with regard to human consciousness.
-
"No Such Thing as a Free Turkey"
- Dec-04-2006
-
Preached on 3 December, 2006
Whether it's your time, money, or a present under the tree, there are different attitudes of giving; each one reveals a particular relationship between giver and recipient. This sermon, a Tale of Two Meats, uses cultural anthropology as a starting point to explore the spirit behind giving, and what "no strings attached" generosity might look like.
-
"Loneliness"
- Dec-18-2006
-
Preached on 17 December, 2006
It's the "happiest time of the year"? Don't believe the hype! The holidays can be difficult, especially for those suffering from depression, grieving a loss, or living in loneliness. What are the different forms that loneliness takes? How can we care for ourselves in the midst of loneliness?
-
"Callings"
- Feb-06-2007
-
7 January, 2007:
This service on "callings" was created and led by Live Oak members Sally Klinkon and Sara Norquay.
-
"By This (Metaphor) We Live"
- Feb-06-2007
-
4 February, 2007:
Metaphors shape the way we speak about, interact with, and shape the world around us. What metaphors do we use (perhaps unconsciously) for our beloved Live Oak Congregation? Come hear a range of images that represent our community, and their implications for who we are and who we are becoming as a congregation.
-
Reflections on "The Honeymoon"
- Feb-19-2007
-
Delivered on 18 February, 2007
Our Unitarian Universalist faith is a tradition of vow-making and vow-keeping at many levels of relationship. One such covenant is formed when a congregation calls a settled minister. After 1½ years of being in covenant together, how has the relationship between Rev. Erika and you, Live Oak’s members and friends, changed? How has it deepened? What’s ahead? -
"Where Religion Begins and Ends"
- Mar-14-2007
-
Delivered on 11 March, 2007
How did "religion" begin? What are the universal questions at the center of most religions? How has our Unitarian Universalist tradtion responded to these questions? To what "end" do the answers point, and what are we called to reach toward, as UUs?
-
"Planting Food for the Spirit"
- Apr-04-2007
-
Delivered on 25 March, 2007
Live Oak is like a community garden, where we each take part in planting, nurturing, and coaxing new growth to life. In this, our canvass kick-off service, we consider the many ways that each of us plants food for the Spirit… of Life, of Love, of Community, of Learning, of Generosity, of Compassion….
-
"The Rules of Life according to 'Car Talk'"
- Apr-04-2007
-
Delivered on April Fools' Day 2007
The Living Tradition we share draws from many Sources, including…Click and Clack, the Tappet Brothers?? Why not? Since our values are influenced in different ways – including NPR programs – this multi-media sermon will explore what these two “personalities” have to say about life, love, and ethics. Seriously.
-
"Lessons in Redemption from a Purple Plastic Bracelet"
- Apr-09-2007
-
Delivered on 8 April (Easter Sunday) 2007
In the Christian tradition, Easter is the joyful culmination of the Lenten season – a long period of waiting, mindfulness, and preparation. In this sermon, Rev. Erika explains how she “used” a purple bracelet during Lent, and how redemption arises from our small, careful, imperfect human steps.
-
What's Age Got to Do with It?
- Apr-18-2007
-
Presented on 15 April, 2007 (lay speakers)
What’s the worst part, and what’s the best, about being young? What’s wonderful, and not-so-wonderful, about being middle-aged? And about being old? This service features reflections from a youth, an adult, and a self-described “old person.”
-
"Reality-Based Family Values"
- May-15-2007
-
delivered on 13 May, 2007 (Mother's Day!)
In this sermon, we take a look at the pressures confronting today's families. We also ask what "family values" are, and how they intersect with Unitarian Universalist values.
-
"Healthy, Holy Sexuality"
- May-21-2007
-
Delivered on 20 May, 2007
All persons are sexual, regardless of age and life circumstances, and sexuality is a good part of the human experience. Our society doesn't often reflect these values, though. This sermon explores how our Unitarian Universalist theology encourages healthy, holy sexuality.
Please note: this sermon refers to an interview produced by Youth Radio (and which aired on NPR's Morning Edition) that served as the "reading" for this sermon. You can listen to the interview by clicking here.. If your computer doesn't support audio files, you can read a transcript of the piece by clicking here instead.
