Starr King UU Fellowship Podcasts

“The Liberal Bible”

skuuf — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:33:25 +0000

A sermon by the Reverend Sarah C. Stewart. Every christian whether conservative or liberal can find words of wisdom and solace in the bible. Jesus spoke to the hearts of all mankind.

“Tales from the Crypt”

skuuf — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 20:17:29 +0000

A sermon by the Reverend Sarah C. Stewart about coping with the unknown mysteries of life.

Sermon: Ben and Fred, Sitting On Our Shoulders

skuuf — Sun, 31 May 2009 21:46:03 +0000

A Sermon by Guest Minster Johan Anderson

We have a little Ben Franklin sitting on our shoulder, urging us to improve ourselves. Self-improvement is great, and often necessary, but we need a Fred Rogers on the other shoulder that lovingly tells us to accept ourselves, warts and all.

For ourselves and others, compassion is a far better improvement and it cannot be obtained with surgery, more money, or drugs.

Memorial Day Sermon: The Call to Service

skuuf — Sun, 24 May 2009 20:09:08 +0000

Sermon by Visiting Minister Reverend Paul Sawyer, Minister of the First Universalist Society of Hartland, VT.

On this day we honor the veterans who answered the call to service for our country. We too must also answer the call to remember the great price paid by many of them and understand the great debt owed by all of us, to remember the names of those that will not return and understand the grief and pride of their families and friends, and to remember the bodies, minds, and spirits broken in battle and understand the effort, time, and love needed to heal.

Mother’s Day - More Than a Hallmark

skuuf — Sun, 24 May 2009 20:08:12 +0000

A sermon by Guest Minister Reverend Mary Edes. Mother’s Day has many different meanings. Neither our culture, as seen in TV ads, nor even our dictionary describes this holiday’s meaning, or any woman, very well. The personal meaning is so fluid, as mothers are individual human beings, full of flaws and excellence. Her-storically, Julia Ward Howe, the mother who wrote the ‘Battle Hymn of the Republic’ originated the holiday to promote peace.

You Can’t Always Get What You Want

skuuf — Sun, 03 May 2009 19:17:32 +0000

Sermon by Guest Pastor Danni Simon: Often, the significant challenges we encounter, like separation and divorce, are unwanted and the path forward seems to only to lead to loss and despair. Often, these challenges can lead to a better days in ways we could not ever expect or even envision as preferable. Faith is a tool of surprising force, for the small steps we can take can show us that we are more powerful than we know and the days ahead can be better than we could ever expect.

The Kin-dom

skuuf — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 17:11:53 +0000

Guest Minister Reverend Dena McPhetres’s sermon for Palm Sunday focuses on Jesus’s bold public entry into Jerusalem riding an ordinary donkey and the important meaning for us of actions committed with compassion, courage, and humility, as Jesus showed both a great determination to continue his ministry, in spite of the hostility and fear that the Jewish aristocracy and the Roman rulers held for him, his message, his ministry, and the multitudes who welcomed him to the city, and a great humility, as the palm leaves laid upon the road (was it mud season?) clearly showed that while he was beheld as a king, he chose to ride into town carried by a stubborn beast of burden.

Practising Presence through Music and Poetry

skuuf — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 17:40:06 +0000

A sermon from Guest Minister Dana Cunningham that explores how we express our longing for belonging with words and sounds, and how music and poetry, or even the dance of a child, allow us to express with passion and beauty the many layers of belonging, including love, justice, and compassion.

Not a Country Club

skuuf — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 21:34:52 +0000

Sermon by Guest Minister Rev. Mary Wellemeyer:

In the past some churches were supported by few but attended by many. Just as ministry in a true spiritual community is an opportunity for and responsibility of all, the financial and hands-on support of our fellowship must be the necessary effort of and reward for every member.

Too Fine a Point

skuuf — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 17:44:27 +0000

Sermon by Guest Preacher Reverend Mary Higgins (UU District Executive) on the need for more compassion, generosity and determination in the struggle and tension between the ideals and hopes that we always hold in our hearts and the cynicism and despair that come to us easily when we put too fine a point on detailing all the difficulties of our lives, especially in these times.

Saying Goodbye, Looking Forward to Hello

skuuf — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 18:04:05 +0000

Sermon by Reverend Sarah C. Stewart on her upcoming sabbatical (Until September 2009) and what it means for both herself and the congregation. For both, there will be growth and learning as one will have a journey of scholarship and discovery and the other will be collectively taking the responsibility for a community’s continued spiritual growth and outreach.

Inherent Worth and Dignity

skuuf — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 18:06:27 +0000

Sermon by Reverent Sarah C. Stewart on the reasoning and rationalization behind torture and capital punishment and how these compare with what justice and faith say about the inherent worth and dignity of every person

Meditation and Prayer

skuuf — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 18:55:48 +0000

A sermon by Reverend Sarah C. Stewart on the different ways that we meditate and pray, from Zen Buddhism to the prayers and Rosary Beads of christianity, and how they all strive for a kind of higher understanding of ourselves and of spirituality.

Change and the World Ahead

skuuf — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 20:54:23 +0000

Sermon by Reverend Sarah C. Stewart: Reflections on the symbolism of the week’s Inauguration and how it contrasts with the continuing struggle for equality and justice for racial and ethnic minorities, women, and people of lower incomes and disadvantaged backgrounds

Sermon: Economic Injustice, Poverty, and Racism - We can make a difference

skuuf — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 22:17:06 +0000

Sermon by Alex Livingstone on Economic Injustice, Poverty, and Racism - We can make a difference. Quotes from Martin Luther King, Jr. as spoken by the congregation are included after the sermon (at 7 minutes).

Presidential Politics

skuuf — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 23:42:51 +0000

A sermon by Reverend Sarah Stewart on the upcoming selection of the President of the Unitarian Universalists. Who should represent us? Is it time for a woman?

Its the End of the World as we know it

skuuf — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 23:38:12 +0000

Sermon by Reverend Sarah Stewart on the End of the World. Will it all end as written in the New Testament’s Revelations, or as written by our poor treatment of fellow humans and the Earth itself? Are the Revelations just predictions or a call to action?

“The Return of the Light”

skuuf — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 21:57:03 +0000

A sermon by the Reverend Sarah C. Stewart about the winter solstice.

“Mary, Then and Now”

skuuf — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 02:12:41 +0000

A sermon by the Reverend Sarah C. Stewart about biblical and contemporary discrimination against women

“How Do We Know What Is Right?”

skuuf — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 21:51:53 +0000

A sermon by the Reverend Sarah C. Stewart about individual moral decisions