Historical Sermons |
Beth Nakao
This year’s Music Sunday will have no performances, no choir, no specially-prepared selections at all. Instead, it will include simple chants, sung repeatedly by the congregation, as a form of meditation. Between the chants will be plenty of silence. The service will be styled after the worship music at Taize, an ecumenical retreat center in France. It will be an antidote to the hurried and complex lives we lead in modern-day America.
April 19, 2009 “Jesus’ True Message”
Rev. Dr. Betty Stapleford
We hear a lot from some people about what Jesus would have people do with regard to abortion, sexual orientation, and religious beliefs - to name a few. But what did he really want us to understand about human behavior and how we should live? Using the biblical scholarship of Dr. Bart Ehrman from his book Misquoting Jesus, we will explore some of the actual ideas that were there and discover our connection to them.
Music: Orange Coast Choir will sing the anthem.
April 12, 2009 “April Showers Bring May Flowers”
Rev. Karen Stoyanoff
It’s Easter once again and we are reminded of the stories of rebirth and renewal that come at this time of year. What is the groundwork that we must lay in order for the renewal and resurgence of spirit? What does it mean to a Unitarian Universalist to consider the stories of this season?
Music: Orange Coast Choir will sing a traditional anthem by an early 18th century American composer whom the Untiarians claim as their own, William Billings.
April 5, 2009 “A Rose in the Wintertime”
Rev. Karen Stoyanoff
We are beginning the Canvass process this Sunday — that’s the time when everyone is asked to give of themselves, both in money and time and effort, to make our UU community flourish. Karen will talk about how we can do this in both ordinary and extraordinary ways.
Music: Guest Artist Pasión Gitana.
March 29, 2009 “When I Assume . . .”
Rev. Karen Stoyanoff
The children’s choir is going to sing a song that points up how we make a mistake when we assume we know what is true. Are we open to finding out that something is different from what we expect? Do we open our minds to the possibility of the unexpected?
March 22, 2009 “Successful Failures”
Rev. Mitra Rahmena
(This is a pulpit exchange with Tapestry.)
We have a tendency to box our lives into successes and failures. Sometimes we hold ourselves back until we can predict the likelihood of a success, protecting our reputations. Other times we neglect the importance of our experience when we deem it a failure. Today we will explore the depth of success and failure honoring the power of ambiguity.
March 15, 2009 “War and Peace”
Rev. Karen Stoyanoff
As we approach the anniversary of the beginning of the war in Iraq we will commemorate the day by talking about peace. What can we do to promote not only the end of the war in Iraq, but to stand fi rm against the beginning of other wars. When, if ever, is war justified or necessary? What alternatives might there be to this form of aggression?
Music: Orange Coast Choir will sing “I Dream a World” with text by Langston Hughes.
March 8, 2009
Music: Orange Coast Choir will sing “Dance, Dance My Heart” with text by a Hindu poet and Nicole Glasser will sing a “colorful” solo.
March 1, 2009 “Finding Wonder in the Everyday World”
Rev. Karen Stoyanoff
Too often we make a dichotomy between the everyday world and our concept of a life that is spiritual. How do we learn to fi nd that spiritual component in even the most humdrum parts
of life. This service will explore the beauty of everyday and the importance of our willingness to be present to it.
Music: Guest Artist Peter Dobson, blues guitarist and vocalist.
February 22, 2009 “Things to Do In Church When You’re Dead”
Rev. Fred Wooden
Our guest preacher this morning is the minister of the Fountain Street Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He describes his sermon as “a sermon from a minister who is not your minister, whom you would not want to be your minister, saying things that you would not want your minister to say.” Karen assures us that this will be sermon
you won’t want to miss!
February 15, 2009 “Praise Song for the Day”
Rev. Karen Stoyanoff
On January 20, 2009, we entered a new era, filled with hope and the promise of better times ahead. Still we are in the midst of serious problems, which won’t be easily solved. Using inauguration poet Elizabeth Alexander’s words as inspiration, Karen will weave a story around the idea that this day is one worthy of praise, even though it is also a time fraught with serious difficulties. She will be assisted by Margaret Armstrong.
Music: Orange Coast Choir will sing “Simple Gifts” and we’ll also have our drummer Axel Clarke in the house.
February 8, 2009 “Revelation: UU Style!!!”
AJ Blackwood
We will be exploring what it is to be in the midst of revelation. Some consider revelation to be inspiration from a Divine Source while others experience revelation as inspiration from the learning more about one’s self and the world around us. We will be exploring how this religious term can be translated and integrated into our lives as UUs so that it inspires, reveals, and gives us insight into who we are and the nature of the universe around us.
Music: Mystery Guest Artist.
February 1, 2009 “Religious Humanism”
Rev. Karen Stoyanoff
Carl Sagan suggested that a religion “that stressed the magnificence of the universe as revealed by modern science” would be a benefit to our society. Defined in the first Humanist Manifesto, such a faith has existed for most of the twentieth century. This service will explore what humanist theology holds true and how it is “religious” as well as secular.
January 25, 2009 “You’ve Got To Be Carefully Taught”
Rev. Karen Stoyanoff
Schoolyard and Schoolroom bullying is becoming an increasing problem in schools. Often it takes the form of hate crime since it targets children for issues like race, sexual orientation, handicapping conditions, and other such categories. What is our response to this problem? How do we live our UU principles in the face of hate as it is directed to members of our human family? What can we do to put a stop to hate crime in our schools? This service will look carefully at these issues.
Music: Elly Anderson will sing a song about standing by without taking action, and Orange Coast Choir will sing a funkalicious song about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy.
January 18, 2009 “UU Belief in Community”
Rev. Mitra Rahmena
Is it true, Unitarian Universalists can believe whatever we want? It is true that we live with tension between building our own theology and the traditions of our religious ancestry. As a result we sometimes have a tendency to create dualities between ourselves and others, within and outside our community. Today, we will look at how contemporary polarities are both a gift and limitation of our tradition, growing theologies, and community.
January 11, 2009 “Considering a Language of Reverence”
Rev. Karen Stoyanoff
Unitarian Universalists have lots of problems with traditional theological and liturgical words. We don’t hold many of the concepts they refer to as part of our belief system and when we do, they are frequently not defi ned the way the rest of the world defines them. How then do we create a language of reverence that does fit with our individual beliefs? and what do we do with the traditional words. This sermon will explore these concepts, drawing wisdom from some of the contemporary leaders of our faith tradition.
Music: Orange Coast Choir will sing an excerpt of "Avodath an Hakodesh" in Hebrew by Swiss-American composer Ernest Bloch.
December 28, 2008 “Making our Way in Tough Times”
Rev. Karen Stoyanoff
Come explore the implications of the current economic situation for our future lives?
December 20 & 21, 2008 “Winter Solstice Singing Ritual”
Beth Nakao & Rayna Hamre
Join OCUUC this holiday season for an Earth-centered Winter Solstice Service celebrating the longest night of the year and the rebirth of the Sun. Saturday night will be a special candlelight service! Take a break from the holiday hustle and join us for a meditative journey into the heart of winter and the dawning of longer days.
December 14, 2008 “What’s Love About?”
Rev. Karen Stoyanoff
We talk about spirituality as something desirable to have, and Karen, at least, talks about love as the grounding for all the good work we can do in the world. What is the inter-connection
between the two? How does love inspire spirituality in our lives? What can we do to become more spiritual or to increase our sense of spiritual connection through love? This Sunday we’ll explore all of these questions.
Music: Mystery Guest Artist
December 7, 2008 “To Build the Common Good”
UUA Moderator Gini Courter
Examine the history of any signifi cant social institution in this country, and you’ll fi nd it peopled with Unitarians and Universalists. From public health to public education to election reform to civil rights to gay rights, they had a commitment to improve public life, to build the common good. We should not be shy about our history. This morning we will dare to name those on whose shoulders we stand, and remember ourselves as their rightful inheritors.
Music: A joint Tapestry/Orange Coast Choir will sing “A Promise I Will Keep,” plus a joint chamber group will perform classical instrumental selections.
November 30, 2008 “World AIDS Day—an exploration of Pediatric AIDS”
Rev. Karen Stoyanoff and AJ Blackwood
AIDS is a disease that can affect anyone, but some of the most heartbreaking stories are those of children afflicted with this disease. Somewhere between 100 and 200 infants in the U.S. are afflicted with HIV annually, and globally, approximately 2 million children were living with HIV in 2007. But there is also good news: from 2002 to 2006, the estimated number of AIDS cases in the U.S. decreased 64 percent among children under 13 years of age. We will look at this world-wide problem, considering both the good news and the bad, as well as
exploring what we might do to help.
November 23, 2008 “What the Pilgrims Believed”
Rev. Karen Stoyanoff
The people who came to the shores of our country on the Mayflower were the forebears of both the current day Unitarian Universalists and the United Church of Christ. But they didn’t think or believe much the way we believe today—we may have a hard time recognizing ourselves in their image. Come listen to Karen explore what they believed and how we might relate to their courage and steadfastness even though we don’t necessarily echo their theology!
Music: Orange Coast Choir will sing Mendelssohn’s “How Lovely Are the Messengers.”
November 16, 2008 “Medical Ethics at the End of Life—Maintaining Dignity”
C. Ronald Koons, MD
By 2017, the population worldwide will be split evenly with the number of people over 65 matching the number of people under 5. The people in the middle will be taking care of these two diverse populations. How will they cope? What can we do today to allow for the best for everyone? Plan for the future and know your options.
November 9, 2008 “Covenantal Religion”
Rev. Karen Stoyanoff
What does it mean to be part of a covenantal religion such as Unitarian Universalism? Karen will talk about the historical roots of our relationship and what it means to us as 21st century UUs. What covenant might we have with each other and our larger community as well as with Unitarian Universalism? These are questions that all of us need to consider if we are to intentionally live our lives in accordance with Unitarian Universalist principles.
Music: Orange Coast Choir will sing “Freedom Come.”
November 2, 2008 “Día de los Muertos”
Intergenerational Service
Join us for a very special interactive Intergenerational Service. We will celebrate the lives of those we love who have left this life with theatre, music, dance, and fellowship. So that we might celebrate with you please bring a photograph or token to share on our Día de Los Muertos altar. Everyone is welcome to “dress up” as skeletons, or festive south-of-the-border clothing. The festival will continue onto the patio with Mexican food, lively music, and a community of friends new and old.
October 26, 2008 “United Nations Day 2008: Human Rights on a Changing Planet”
Jennifer Krumper
This year the US-UNA theme for United Nations Day is “Ensuring Environmental Sustainability.” The sermon will describe some of the present and future effects of climate change and environmental degradation on the world’s poorest people, then move to motivate members of our congregation to practice environmental sustainability more in their daily lives. This sermon will be a call to global social justice.
Music: Guest Artist—African drummers and dancer led by David Comfort, our resident African drumming teacher.
October 19, 2008 “Growing the Spirit”
Rev. Karen Stoyanoff
We will celebrate Association Sunday this day. Be sure to bring your checkbook because we will take a special collection to support the work of our Association. The UUA provides inspiration for our congregations as well as offering support for our endeavors. This year the theme of Association Sunday is “growing the spirit!” The service will explore what that means for each of us individually and for OCUUC as a member congregation.
October 12, 2008 “Finding Faith in Uncertain Times”
Rev. Karen Stoyanoff
Come find out what it means to have faith when you are a Unitarian Universalist—how we might be willing to believe some things that we cannot prove. And even more important, how we find a way to keep our faith in the face of life’s uncertainty.
Music: A women’s ensemble will sing “Faith is the Bird that Sees the Light.”
October 5, 2008 “Coming Out Sunday”
AJ Blackwood
Our student minister, A.J. Blackwood, will explore many aspects of coming out in our lives.
Music: Orange Coast Choir will sing an exuberant coming-out anthem with 2 percussionists and a hornist, and a barbershop quartet will sing a silly song in the 2nd service.
September 28, 2008 “Living in Spite of Loss”
Rev. Karen Stoyanoff
Each of us experiences loss of something we treasure at some point in our lives. When this happens we must fi nd a way to pick up the pieces and move on with our own lives. Of course this process includes grieving the loss itself as well as rising above it. How we do this varies from individual to individual, but it is part of a journey we all must take sooner or later. Come explore with Karen the process that allows us to do this task and fi nd grace in our lives even so.
Music: Orange Coast Choir will sing “On Eagle’s Wings.”
September 21, 2008
Michael Esulun
Come hear Michael Esulun, from the Santa Monica church. He’s spoken to us before and this Sunday promises to be another inspiring experience as he shares his wisdom with us.
Music: Guest Artist oboist Amelia Russo-Neustadt.
September 14, 2008 “Finally, Spirituality Makes Sense!”
Rev. Karen Stoyanoff
Karen attended a lecture at UCI Medical School by eminent psychiatrist, George E. Vaillant (professor at Harvard University). Come hear the exciting news about his research, which has shown spirituality to be a positive force in human evolution. It has wonderful implications for all of us in terms of well-being!
Music: Orange Coast Choir will sing a spirit-filled anthem “Nada Brahma,” and Alan Block’s recorder group will provide special music throughout the service.
September 7, 2008 “Water Communion”
Rev. Karen Stoyanoff and Christine Daukas
We begin our new church season with a reunion. This morning we will share significant events in our lives with one another through a water communion. Be sure to bring with you a vial of water that represents something important to you. It may come from travels, it may come from your own backyard or kitchen sink—the important thing is that you will tell us what of signifi cance has happened for you in the past few weeks or months. The water communion is one way we have of connecting to each other on a personal level, so please plan to attend and share your experience with us.
Music: Orange Coast Choir will sing in the services for the first time this season, plus special music by flutist Michael Straw.
August 24, 2008 “What a Difference We Can Make”
Rev. Dr. Gary Barmore
Rev. Barmore will reveal how an ancient story of mercy survived suppression by entrenched powers and speaks to us today.
Music: Family Choir will sing in the 11:15 service.
August 17, 2008
OCUUC Young Adults
The Young Adults will be hosting an interactive service on this day. Please come prepared for an exciting upbeat service that will be thought-provoking and celebrate the concerns of our community. Be prepared to listen, share, and explore as a community.
August 10, 2008 “The Circle Game”
Rev. Karen Stoyanoff
Karen has been challenged to do a service that celebrates doughnuts and she’s decided to accomplish that by talking about that which creates the circles in our lives. The fi rst, and most obvious, is the circle of caring, but be sure to come find out what the other circle elements we live with are! Although this service stated out as a tongue-in-cheek challenge, rest assured, a serious message will come out of it!
August 3, 2008 “Finding Happiness in Uncertain Times”
Rev. Karen Stoyanoff
How can we justify finding happiness in our lives when so much is uncertain? And when much of that which is uncertain involves suffering and oppression for others? This is a dilemma that many of us find ourselves in and yet there is always a part of us that yearns to celebrate and be joyful. Karen will explore how we reconcile these opposing elements in our lives in a way that allows us to honor both the joy and sorrow, to say nothing of the concerns that are present for us in our daily lives.
July 27, 2008 “Nonviolent Communication: Peacemaking in Everyday Life”
Rev. Terry LePage
A nutshell introduction to Nonviolent Communication (NVC), developed by Marshall Rosenberg. NVC is a recipe of words that translates judgment, blame, and disconnection into a language of compassion. It supports a transformation of our hearts to a quality of connection that makes cooperation and giving easy and enjoyable. It is used all over the world in international relations, mediations, schools, workplaces, and families. Rev. Terry LePage’s community ministry is training and coaching in Nonviolent Communication and Parenting, in order to bring peacemaking into our everyday interactions.
July 20, 2008 “Racism Today”
Kent Doss
This sermon will confront the reality of racism in our society today. It will also explore how our faith and our tradition call us to struggle toward making justice and being a truly welcoming community.
July 13, 2008 “Interrogation and Unriddling: The Untangling of Compressed Spirits”
Rev. Robert Jordan Ross
Would you not agree with Theodor Reik, a psychoanalytic contemporary of Freud, that “To express unafraid and unashamed what one really thinks and feels is one of the great consolations of life?” We praise William Ellery Channing for saying that “I call that mind free . . . which rejoices to pour itself forth in fresh and higher exertions.” But how many are there who truly want to know you, the tortured you as well as the you who is ready to soar to the skies: and who asks you who you are?
June 29, 2008 “Transcendentalism”
Rayna Hamre and Rev. Karen Stoyanoff
One of the most important movements in Unitarian Universalism was transcendentalism. The impact of this small group of mid-nineteenth century poets and philosophers continues to affect what we think and believe more than a century and a half later. Come hear about their ideas as Karen Stoyanoff and Rayna Hamre present a compilation of the most important tenets of this important philosophy.
Music: OCUUC’s talented young musician Claire Pukszta will perform a flute solo in the 11:15 service. Other music will be inspired by or contemporary with the Transcendentalists.
June 22, 2008 “Coming Down the Mountain”
Rev. Karen Stoyanoff
The tension between what we’d like life to be like—in our most spiritual moments—and what it is actually like as we traverse the freeways and go about the business of daily living is one of the most difficult dichotomies for many of us to contemplate. How do we resolve these differences and find ways to be spiritual in the midst of the “hurly-burly?” Karen will explore this conundrum with assistance from the poetry of Leonard Cohen.
Music: Look for music by Leonard Cohen, of course!
June 15, 2008 “Reconciliation”
Rev. Karen Stoyanoff
Atrocities were committed in South Africa for decades under the rule of apartheid. When freedom finally was won for all the peoples of this country, it was necessary for reconciliation between the victims and the perpetrators. The story of how this occurred is a life lesson for all of us. We need to find forgiveness for our own “sins” and to offer it to those who have sinned against us. Is it possible the lesson of South Africa might provide us with the answer to this dilemma in our lives? Come find out!
Music: Amazing singer-songwriter Lisbeth Scott will be our featured Guest Artist.
June 8, 2008 “Huffing and Puffing Our Way to Transformation”
Angela Henderson
We’ll take a look at the Dry Bones text in the Book of Ezekiel from the Hebrew Bible as a dialogue partner with current events about seeking truth and transformation. Angela is a Claremont School of Theology student studying for the Unitarian Universalist ministry, and a member of OCUUC.
Music: Orange Coast Choir will sing “Canticle of Brother Sun,” previewing the opening song from their concert work Missa Gaia. This will be their last Sunday to sing until the fall. (Their concert is their last time to sing for this season—June 14.)