Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County - Sermons

Last Wednesday night I was visited by an angel. His name was Michael, and I met him right out there in the lobby. He was sitting on the couch, patiently waiting for me while I was in a meeting. As I came out of my ... read more.

Before I begin, I want to let you know that this is the first of a two-part message, and that I'll be delivering the second half next Sunday. So, please plan to be here next week and, if you can't, you can either read or ... read more.

An old Jewish man was walking along the beach one day with his grandson.  Now let me tell you about this old man.  All his life, nothing ever satisfied him.  He complained about everything.  He always focused on what he didn't have instead of appreciating ... read more.

My son, Kaleb, went to Boy Scout camp this summer. The packing list included the option of bringing a “Bible, testament, or prayer book.”  Kaleb and I joked that as a UU, he would need an entire separate bag to carry his holy books. That's one of ... read more.

I was sitting in my room thinking of how big liminality is and how I would bring it to you today. I had at least seven different half sermons circulating each with its own merit and open space to develop, yet none of them seemed ... read more.

If I believed in such things, I would say that my father-in-law, Dan Fitzpatrick, is looking down and laughing at me right now. He would find it at least entertaining if not completely ridiculous that I, with all my fancy degrees, would be standing before ... read more.

What's all this “alleluia-ing” about? And why do so many Easter hymns have so many of them? Well, I'll tell you: “Alleluia” is an Anglicized version of “Hallelujah,” which comes from the Hebrew expression that mean “Praise the Lord.” Whether you start and end it with an “H” or start and end it with an “A,” it ... read more.

The graduate program for your Masters of Divinity is a rigorous one. It takes at least three years, and often longer, to complete. It took me four years to finish my MDiv and all the additional requirements that the Unitarian Universalist Association has for ministers. ... read more.

There is no text available.

The Winter Solstice was about a week and a half ago. In the Northern Hemisphere, it's the day with the shortest period of daylight and the longest night of the year. Around our area of suburban Philadelphia, that means the longest night was over fourteen ... read more.

What does it mean to be in “right relationship?” And if we’re not in right relationship, how might we “right the relation-ship?” These are the central questions that the Jewish High Holidays pose, and the burning questions – and, in some cases, I mean that ... read more.

I’ve never seen the Northern Lights. Have you? I would definitely like to. These natural phenomenon, like the aurora, are awesome in the truest sense of the word. They create within us a sense of awe. There was another awesome display of nature at its ... read more.

We’ve got to keep our hearts wide open, til our faith brings us back to solid ground. I invite you to close your eyes for a moment and picture yourself swimming. Maybe you’re at the Jersey shore, or in a lake in the mountains somewhere. ... read more.

I’d like you to meet Edna. Edna is 68 years old. She’s married to Fred, who worked at the Boeing plant down in Chester for nearly 30 years before his COPD got so bad he had to retire. Edna works at the Giant supermarket on ... read more.

There is no text for this sermon, so please listen to the service on video, starting with the Reading by Scott Youmans, “Goddess Kali and the Battle with the Demons” from the Devi Mahatmya.

Besides the joy and companionship they bring, pets can help us learn some valuable life lessons. This Sunday, Chrissy Bushyager, our Director of Religious Education, shares some lessons learned from the newest member of her family, Bailey the puppy. Joy Thiessen provides musical reflections on ... read more.

“All will be well. All will be well. All manner of things will be well.” That’s not how Job was feeling, that’s for sure. For those who don’t know the story from the Book of Job, let me summarize: Job was a good and righteous man. ... read more.

Guest speaker Latifah Griffin discusses fear and ways to address it. There is no additional text for the sermon, so please watch the video of the complete service!

As a liberal religion, we hold steadfast to the belief that all are welcome in our places of worship and reflection and that all should feel celebrated and safe. The report “Widening the Circle of Concern” shared at this year’s General Assembly reminds us that ... read more.

There is no text for this sermon, so please enjoy the video of the complete service!

The Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Augusta, Maine, the congregation where Rev. Peter served as an intern for two years before coming to UUCDC. Rev. Carie Johnson led our service. This Sunday she explores tensions of belonging and becoming in Unitarian Universalism. There is ... read more.

What are we, as Unitarian Universalists, to make of the Easter story? This most mystical, miraculous event – the resurrection of Jesus from the dead – that forms the basis for belief for billions of Christians around the globe? Easter compels us to confront so ... read more.

About ten years ago I took up the sport of paragliding. In paragliding you strap yourself into a harness that’s attached to a large fabric wing that enables you to glide and soar through the air like a bird. It’s the closest thing to what ... read more.

I’m guessing that there might be a few folks here today who are as geeky about space flight as I am. But only a few. Having grown up in the ‘60’s, as the space race unfolded chapter by chapter, from the John Glenn and the ... read more.

What is a Muslim doing working at a church? A question our guest Minister, Sana, received frequently while working at the UU Church of Arlington, VA. Today there are more people identifying as UU Muslim. Join her to explore how we make room for interfaith ... read more.

There’s a game I like to play with my grandsons. We call it “Which superpower?” It’s simple and fun and maybe you’ve played it before. In fact, we can play it right now in the chat. It just requires you to answer two questions: “If ... read more.

What if to “side with love” meant making bold, faith-full choices? What if it were even a little bit scary? This worship service brings together worship leaders and musicians from across the country to offer hopeful, moving, challenging reminders about what we, as Unitarian Universalists, ... read more.

It was Tuesday morning at 8 am when I texted Chrissy, who for the previous two weeks had been on a study leave so that she could work on her religious educator credentialing portfolio. After welcoming her back and setting up a time to talk ... read more.

Before I begin my remarks on this Martin Luther King Sunday, I want to acknowledge that, for some, Dr. King has become something of an anachronism. A vestige of the past who has little relevance or value to the struggle for Black Lives in the ... read more.

As I walked down the hospital hallway, I was expecting to find my good friend JP hooked up to an assortment of wires and tubes, semi-conscious at best. After all, it was just two days after his heart transplant surgery. I was shocked – pleasantly ... read more.