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Sermons 2012

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Messages Study Guide

Want more info? Download our 2012 Sermon and Class Links Study Guide. It contains a wealth of links and resource information in an easy to use format. 2012 Messages and Classes Study Guide.

Home Connections

The Home Connections publication is a way for us to personally connect with the monthly worship themes. They contain chalice lightings that may be used at home, stories and reflection questions for individuals of all ages, possible ways to engage with the theme, and additional resources. View our current and past issues.

2012 Sermon Videos Online

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2011 Sermon Videos Online

Watch our sermon messages as high quality videos.

Audio

  • "Out With the Old?"

    Rev. Kathleen Owens, Associate Minister
    Kathleen talks about resolutions and the mind-set behind the ability to maintain one’s resolutions. She illustrates her point by referencing the Greek God, Janus and “looking toward the past and looking toward the future” likeness.

  • "Mastering Life"

    Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube, Lead Minister
    Arivid talks about Life and the underlying meaning of life for each and every one of us.


  • "Pilgrims and Indians: The Real Story"

    Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube, Lead Minister
    Arvid talks about the history of Thanksgiving and offers two “stories” of what really happened.

  • "Why Giving Is Good"

    Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube, Lead Minister
    Arvid touches on the Transformational theme for the month of November, Gratitude and Generosity

  • "To Know the Dark"

    Emily Webb, Intern Minister
    Emily talks about death and how as humans we live and must die. She draws some thought-provoking questions about one’s death.

  • "Dealing with Difficult Emotions"

    Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube, Lead Minister
    Arvid continues a new series this week focusing on the Essential SpiritualityReadings from which he is also offering Adult education classes.

  • "You're More Enlightened Than You Think"

    Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube, Lead Minister
    Arvid begins a new series this week focusing on the Essential Spirituality Readings, from which he is also offering Adult Education classes.

  • "All Together Now"

    Emily Webb, Intern Minister
    Emily refers back to the story from this Sunday's service "Anansi the Spider" to show how people with differences are all part of the bigger community.

  • "UU and the Modern Family"

    Zach Wahls, Author and Pulpit Guest
    Pulpit Guest, Zach Wahls talks about what a modern family looks like. He says that the sexual orientation of his parents has nothing to do with his quality of character. More importantly, “family,” he says, “comes from the love that binds us.”

  • "Margaret Fuller: The Most Important Woman You've Never Heard of"

    Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube, Lead Minister
    Arvid focuses this Sunday’s Service on the life and ideals of Transcendentalist, Margaret Fuller.

  • "Graying Gracefully"

    Rev. Dr. Tom Owen-Towle, Minister Emeritus
    Tom spoke to the congregation today about getting older and because it is a fact of life that we will all get older, he makes a point to put aging into perspective and talks about it with a comedic nature.

  • "Sabbatical As Pilgrimage"

    Rev. Kathleen Owens, Associate Minister
    Kathleen shared with the congregation her plans for her upcoming Sabbatical. Rev. Kathleen spoke about her pilgrimage to see of the locations that have been the catalyst for religious foundations. She shared her desire to see the places that she learned about in Seminary and speaks about in sermons and references in readings. She is looking forward to her Sabbatical as a Pilgrimage towards her own deeper spiritual journey.

  • "New Beginnings"

    Emily Webb, Intern Minister
    Emily makes her First Church pulpit debut with her sermon entitled, “New Beginnings.” She talks about what led her to ministry and shows how each of us are theologians.

  • "Morality" Keys to Spiritual Fulfillment Series

    Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube, Lead Minister
    Arvid continues his sermon series on Keys to Spiritual Fulfillment today with a talk about Morality.

  • "Soul and Destiny"

    Peter Farriday, Seminarian at Meadville Lombard Theological School
    Peter talks about how he was called to Unitarian Universalist Ministry and how he knows it was his destiny despite all of the bumps he has experienced along his life’s journey.

  • "A Home For Your Soul" Pride Sunday Service

    Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube invited some long-time Church Members who have experienced first-hand, the love and acceptance of this beloved community of All Souls to tell their stories of their pursuit of this LGBTQ friendly Church.

  • "Ecology and Poetry"

    Rev. Kathleen Owens, Associate Minister
    Kathleen speaks to this Summer’s Transformational Worship Theme of “Ecology and the Interdependent Web” with a series of poems discussing the world around us. From Summer, to trees, and fields, and the Grand Canyon; Kathleen offers reflections following these poems to further engage the congregation in this Transformational Theme.

  • "Time" Keys to Spiritual Fulfillment Series

    Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube, Lead Minister
    Arvid continues his Sermon Series of Keys to Spiritual Fulfillment with “Time.” Arvid talks about time management and discusses how some use being busy as a positive complaint.

  • "Loving Your Enemies: Is It Possible?"

    Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube, Lead Minister
    Arvid talks about Step 12 in the Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life, Loving Your Enemies. Arvid uses his first-hand experiences to bring this concept to light with his experiences at Justice General Assembly (June 18 through June 24) in Phoenix, Arizona.

  • "Ringing the Living Tradition"

    Ken Herman, Director of Music
    concluding a service of Handbell music from First Church’s handbell ensembles and guest ensemble, Timbre, Ken offers a homily encompassing the music of our hymnal “Singing the Living Tradition.”

  • "Time in Nature" Keys to Spiritual Filfillment Series

    Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube, Lead Minister
    Arvid continues his sermon series, Keys to Spiritual Fulfillment with today’s sermon, “Time in Nature.”

  • "A Heart Big Enough for the World"

    Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube, Lead Minister
    Arvid talks about Step 11 in Karen Armstrong’s Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life.

  • "P.C.D.--Reflections of the Dalai Lama's San Diego Visit"

    Rev. Kathleen Owens, Associate Minister
    Kathleen talks about her experiences meeting the Dalai Lama when he came to San Diego in May.

  • "Transcending Stereotypes" Annual Youth Service

    Today's service featured Homilies from some of our Youth on the theme of Transcending Stereoptypes. In addition to a fully Youth led Service we also have our traditional Bridging Ceremony where the sixth grade move on to the Youth Program and the graduating High School Senior move on to the Young Adult Program. For the protection of our Youth, we are not able to post their Homilies.

  • "Beam Me Up, Scotty"

    Rev. Kathleen Owens, Associate Minister
    Kathleen talks about this month’s Worship Theme, Transcendence through allusions to Star Trek.

  • Annual Spring Service of Music

    Today's Service was our annual Spring Service of Music where all of our vocal ensembles brought some of their music to our Service. Due to copyright  law, we will not be posting audio or video of this Service, nor will our BookRoom be able to sell CD's from today's Service.

  • "The Times They Are A'Changin'"

    Because so much of today's Service contained the music and poetry of Bob Dylan, we are not able to post audio or video for this Service. If you would like to experience this Service first-hand, Rev. Arvid will be live with a very similar Service experience at our South Bay Campus on Sunday, May 13, 2012.

  • "Resurrection Before It's Too Late"

    Rev. Kathleen Owens, Associate Minister
    Kathleen talks about this month’s Worship Theme, Resurrection. She talks about the traditional perception of when this term is used and expands this definition to include all types of resurrection.

  • "Earth Risiing"

    Rev. Kathleen Owens, Associate Minister
    On Earth day Kathleen offers a thought-provoking and environmentally moving sermon talking about our connection to earth as people both chemically and spiritually.

  • Intergenerational Easter Service

    Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube, Lead Minister
    Arvid offers a homily for today’s Intergenerational Easter Service.

  • "Monsters We Love"

    Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube, Lead Minister We all have good and evil within us and with that knowledge, Arvid talks about how we need to consciusly choose the good.

  • "The Necessity of Religion"

    For copyright reasons, we will not be able to post the sermon audio or video, or accomodate BookRoom CD purchases. If you missed this sermon, you are encouraged to attend the South Bay Campus Worship Service on Sunday, March 11, or visit the UUA Bookstore to find more of Rev. Guengerich's published materials.

  • "Keys to Spiritual Fulfillment: Friendship"

    Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube, Lead Minister
    Arvid talks today about the need for us as humans to belong to caring groups. He offers the opportunity for the congregation to take a moment to assess their friendships to see if they have people in their lives that they can connect with on a variety of levels. Arvid also references a study conducted recently to give the congregation evidence that people today are less connected with friendships than ever before. Arvid says that friendship one of the most important a keys to spiritual fulfillment.

  • "Love in the Tangled Undergrowth of Our Lives"

    Rev. Jim Grant, Affiliate Minister
    Today's Service pulpit guest, Rev. Jim Grant talks about current social and political events drawing a parallel with our Standing on the Side of Love campaign.

  • "Sex, Love, and Marriage"

    Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube, Lead Minister
    Today Arvid continues his sermon series on the Keys to Spiritual Fulfillment, with Sex, Love, and Marriage.

  • "Concern for Everyone" Step 9 in the Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life

    Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube, Lead Minister
    Arvid continues his sermon series using Karen Armstrong's "Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life" and speaks to Step Nine, Concern for Everyone.

  • Coming of Age Service

    Today's Services were our Annual Coming of Ages Service, where our children transition from the Children's program to our Youth program, on their journey to Young Adulthood. There is no recording available for this service.

  • "On Being the Change"

    Rev. Kathleen Owens, Associate Minister
    Today's Service Kathleen talks about the amazing work we have done as a congregation in the area of Social Justice. She references earlier inclusion from the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Lao-Tse that touch on Justice work, the need and inspirations behind them.

  • "Every Journey Begins with a Single Step" Journey Toward Wholeness Sunday

    Rev. Kathleen Owens, Associate Minister
    On this Journey Toward Wholeness Sunday, Kathleen offers a three-part sermon inter-weaved within stories, music, and a "Pair Sharing" exercise. Kathleen discusses immigration and three different stages, "Every Journey Begins with a Single Step," "Comings and Goings," and "A Reason for Hope."

  • "Money and the Meaning of Life"

    Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube, Lead Minister
    Today's Service Arvid talks about how society today has forced some to feel that the meaning of life is based on money and possessions.

  • "Setting Sacred Intentions"

    Rev. Dr. Arvid Straube, Lead Minister
    Today's Service was a time for reflection and for setting sacred intentions for the year to come.

    To view the Intentions shared during Services at both our Hillcrest and South Bay Campuses, click here

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