Annual Music Service
Today's Service was our Annual Service of Music where our Adult (Chalice) Choir, our Youth Choir (Voices In Unity) and our two Handbell Ensembles (Las Campanas and UUBellation) came together to offer a morning full of music encompassing the theme of the closing song, "Joyful, All Ye Nations Rise." Due to copyright laws we are not able to post the audio for this Service, nor are we able to sell it in our Book Room.

Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube, Lead Minister
Arvid talks about the next step in the Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life, today, and discusses how and what we say can imact others around us.

Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube, Lead Minister
Arvid talks about politics today and alliterates the civil rights spiritual "Kum ba Yah" to express his point. Initially Arvid talks about the history of this hymn. Then as he continues his passionate sermon, he points out how politicians have motivations to leave privilege the way it is because those with privilege are not going to give it up easily. Arvid shows how protest songs of the past, can be revitalized to bring hope to the current political climate.

Rev. Nihal Attanayake, Pulpit Guest
Rev Nihal Attanayake discusses the history of the UU Church of the Philippines and their work among the poor, "if not the church, then who?"

Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube

Rev. Kathleen Owens
Kathleen offers a sermon this morning, where she speaks to the Transformational Theme for November, Faith. She talks about finding ones faith and how Unitarian Universalists find faith in a number of places.

Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube and Rev. Kathleen Owens
This Sunday is Miracle Sunday where we were hoping to raise $700,000 in one Generosity Offering to make up the difference for our Campus Renovation Project. For this effort, Arvid offers “A Retrospective;” talking about the accomplishments this Church community has made in its 125-year history. Kathleen then follows with “A Vision” for the future of this Church community.

First Church Young Adults
This Sunday our Young Adults ages 18 through 35 offered worship around the theme of Masks. They used masks in both literal and figurative ways to illustrate their views about how and why people wear masks.

Rev. Dr. Tom Owen-Towle, Minister Emeritus
Tom discusses his book, "Theology Ablaze!" and how his book encompasses his views about how Unitarian Universalists can embrace all theology. He continues that any theology that teaches fear and hurt, is "bad theology." Theology, Tom says, is based in love and understanding.

Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube, Lead Minister
Arvid continues his sermon series encompassing Karen Armstrong's Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life, with step number six, Actions. Arvid uses this discussion of actions to remind the congregation that all of a persons actions--good or bad-- can affect people in either positive or negative ways. Arvid also reminds us that we might not now nor ever be aware of the degree of which our actions affect those around us.

Rev. Kathleen Owens, Associate Minister
Kathleen talks to this month's Transformational Theme of Death.

Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube, Lead Minister
Arvid talks to this month's Transformational Theme of Death, by addressing grief and says that throughout his years in professional ministry, he has been asked over and over if loved ones, of concerned love ones are grieving the loss of a partner, parent or child correctly. Arvid addresses this by referring to the Kübler-Ross model for the stages of grief. Arvid says that this model is helpful, but grieving is a very personal process and each person grieves in his or her own way. There is no right way for everyone to grieve . . . there is only the right way for an individual to grieve.

Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube, Lead Minister
We have included the reading from Sunday’s Service, “Mindful” by Mary Oliver, as well as the meditation Arvid leads and his sermon. In his message, Arvid discusses the 5th Step in the Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life, Mindfulness. He encourages the congregation to take the Sufi saying with them: “Remember to remember when you remember.”

Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube, Lead Minister
Arvid talks about his own addiction and recovery and encourages those in the congregation and community to seek help for their addictions and provides various different resources so that those suffering from addiction can get recovery assistance with grace and dignity.

Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube, Lead Minister
Arvid talks about where he was the morning of September 11, 2001 and reflects on how ten years later the nation and each American has changed because of the events of that day.

Rev.Kathleen Owens, Associate Minister
Kathleen also talks about the impact the events of September 11, 2001 and how they have shaped our world in may different ways.

Rev. Kathleen Owens, Associate Minister
Kathleen uses current issues to inspire the congregation with this month’s Transformational Theme of Forgiveness and Reconciliation and this “Labor in the Pulpit” Labor Day Sunday to talk about those who do the unseen, often unappreciated, and under-paid work that makes modern convenience possible.

Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube, Lead Minister
Arvid talks about the fourth step in the twelve steps to live a compassionate life; Empathy.

Rev. Kathleen Owens, Associate Minister
Kathleen finishes her series on Universalism this morning with a sermon about everlasting love and there is love all around each and every one of us, we just need to recognize it.

Rev. Kathleen Owens, Associate Minister
Kathleen talks this morning about those who have acted on the call of service and love in order to live their values. Kathleen uses stories and references to historical heroes to make her point about how responding to the call of service is essentially responding to the call of love.

Rev. Kathleen Owens, Associate Minister
Kathleen talks this morning about Universalism and how it is a faith of love and hope. She draws a parallel with Christianity and says that while both faiths are ever-evolving, Christianity is based in fear, noting the phrasing if the Ten Commandments; "Thou shalt not . . ." Instead Universalism values encourage action and love and hope.

Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube, Lead Minister
Arvid talks about recent actions of people that have done things out of fear in Knoxville and Norway and in our Government. Arvid suggests the Serenity Prayer, by Theologian, Reinhold Niebuhr, as a place to start. ". . . Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference . . . "

Rev. Kathleen Owens, Associate Minister
Kathleen talks about Unitarian Universalism, how and why this faith was established, and how UU’s are often the punch-line of conservatives.

Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube, Lead Minister
Arvid references to Karen Armstrong's "12 Steps to a Compassionate Life" to reflect upon self-love and self-worth and how low self esteem is, essentially, self-hatred and that self-hatred is self-centered. He encourages the congregation to appreciate who they are so they can obtain self-knowledge.

Sarita Pulver, Les GrantSmith, Roy Attridge and Rev. Arvid Straube
On this first Sunday of San Diego Pride week, Arvid invites three congregation members from our LGBTQ Community to share their stories of being bullied and how, in their lives, it has gotten better.

Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube, Lead Minister
Arvid uses novelist Ayn Rand and her extreme ideals to put politics today into perspective to show how politicians have in similar ways followed suit and adopt Ayn Rand’s ideology.

Ken Herman, Director of Music and Organist
Ken discusses Universalism, its roots and what it means to be Unitarian Universalist.

Rev. Kathleen Owens
Kathleen discusses the importance of taking a Sabbath to stay refreshed and renewed, in-keeping with this Summer’s Transformational Theme, Rest, Renewal and Sabbath.

Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube and Rev. Kathleen Owens
Arvid and Kathleen offer their sentiments on the State of our Church.

Sue Magidson, Intern Minister
Sue offers her final sermon in the First Church pulpit in which she thanks the congregation for the patience, learning opportunities and community that she has had over the past ten months.

Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube, Lead Minister
Arvid continues his discussion of Karen Armstrong’s 12 Steps to Compassion.

Rev. Kathleen Owens, Associate Minister
In the final sermon in her series on virtues, Kathleen discusses hope and how there are three things one needs to compliment one's hope; humor, faith, and optimism.

Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube, Lead Minister
Arvid talks with us this morning about his recent Pilgrimage to our Partner Church in the Philippines. Arvid talks about how different and at the same time how similar Sundays are between us and our Partner Church in Malingin.

Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube, Lead Minister
Arvid talks about Easter and how typically UUs are apprehensive to mention the name "Jesus." Arvid makes his point on this Easter Sunday by saturating his service with the word "Jesus" from the very beginning.

Sue Magidson, Intern Minister

Rev. Kathleen Owens, Associate Minister
Description to come.

Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube, Lead Minister
Arvid discusses self-examination through journals and meditations to answer the question: “How do I do good in the world with what the divine gave me?”

Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube, Lead Minister
Arvid has returned from Sabbatical and in his first sermon back, he shares with us the "Steps to Compassion" and discusses the secret to life; which he says is the Golden Rule. He talks about how every faith has this rule as their core value, "do unto others as you would like them to do unto you."

Rev. Kathleen Owens, Associate Minister
Kathleen discusses Spiritual Maturity with respect to giving and graciousness on this Celebration Sunday, where we kick-off our new Operating Budget campaign.

Sue Magidson, Intern Minister

Rev. Jim Grant, Affiliate Minister
Our Affiliate Minister, Jim Grant offers worship this morning with a play on the title of the piece our JUUL Tones sang earlier in this Service, entitled "Distinctions." Rev. Grant talks about Spiritual Maturity and how even Atheists have spirituality and in order to find Spiritual Maturity you have to search beyond traditional distinctions.

Rev. Kathleen Owens, Associate Minister
Kathleen talks about the deep layers of spiritual maturity and how that term does not have to deal with a deity. Today Kathleen explores the "maturity" of spiritual maturity and how maturity is not just getting older, instead she sees maturity as taking the opportunity to ever change who we are and how we engage with others.

Rev. Kathleen Owens, Associate Minister
Rev. Kathleen Owens discusses this month's Transformational Theme, Spiritual Maturity, and how as we grow older we can expand who we are spiritually and emotionally through whichever path life takes.

Rev. Kathleen Owens, Associate Minister
Kathleen elaborates on Sue's sermon from last week and talks about how each of us has the potential for Evil, and how the opposite of Evil is not as simple as "good." She talks about how much more complex the opposite of Evil is and how we can conquer Evil through clarity, courage and love.

Sue Magidson, Intern Minister
Intern Sue uses this month’s Worship Theme, Evil to discuss the concept of evil and how UUs are reluctant to use the term evil, and instead try to see the good and worth in every person.

Rev. Kathleen Owens, Associate Minister
Kathleen talks about the term temperance, how its meaning has evolved throughout history and how temperance and moderation are essential to truly know and love one’s self.

Rev. Jason Shelton, Guest Minister
Our pulpit guest this week, Jason Shelton, talks about the uniqueness of our UU Worship Services.

Sue Magidson, Intern Minister
Intern Minister, Sue talks about Authority and Love and how you can love people for what they are, another human being, and at the same time question authority. She talks about the Standing on the Side of Love movement and the UU presence in Arizona this past summer to protest the Anti-Immigration laws that were passed. She also talks about how Unitarian Universalists are frequently the “Authority Questioners.”

Rev. Kathleen Owens, Associate Minister
Today's Service, our Associate Minister, offers another sermon in her series on virtue. She talks about justice through beauty and discussed the need for reflection.

Rev. Kathleen Owens, Associate Minister and Our Journey Toward Wholeness Core Team
Rev. Kathleen and our Journey Toward Wholeness Team discuss through three very different skits, entitiled: "Hidden Disabilities," "Curry," and "Oppression Olympics," various ways that how we speak to eachother and what we say, may not be intended to be, but can be hurtful and harmful to others.  

Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube, Lead Minister
Today's Services Arvid spoke about the Shootings in Tucson, Arizona on Saturday, January 8, 2011.

Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube, Lead Minister
"Sabbatical Reflections" Today's Services were a unique offering from our Lead Minister, Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube. Arvid incorporated more than fifty pictures he took while on his Sabbatical in Oaxaca, Mexico. We have uploaded the slides so that you will be able to view the photos Arvid refers to in his Sabbatical Reflections.