December 24, 2023
All Sermons
“Behold, the First Pancake!”
December 17, 2023
- Larry Kaylor
- Lynn Courtney
- Rev. Lara Hoke
- Thea Shapiro
- imperfection
- second time around
- Time for All Ages
The Parable of the First Pancake and the Parable of the Crowded Antique Shop. What more do you need to know?
“Holiday Festival of Lights”
December 10, 2023
- Bev Cyr
- Jim Barisano
- Jim Nehring
- Joel Ross
- Larry Kaylor
- Martha Childs
- Molly Lozeau
- Peggy Britton
- Rev. Lara Hoke
- Sarah Buchholz
- Thea Shapiro
- Advent
- Hanukkah
- Kwanzaa
- solstice
- St. Lucia Day
- Yule
DRE Thea Shapiro and I co-led a joyful multigenerational service celebrating the light of Solstice, Yule, Advent, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and St. Lucia Day.
“The Spaces Between”
December 3, 2023
For the First Sunday of Advent, I preached about space leading to growth. There was some amazing guest music, too!
“The Living Tradition of Change”
November 26, 2023
- Cindy Heiland
- Kris Ersland
- Lori Locascio
- Peter Ersland
- 8th Principle
- Time for All Ages
- Unitarian Universalism
- UU history
FCU lay leaders (and last year’s General Assembly delegates) Kris Ersland, Cindy Heiland, and Lori Locascio lead a service discussing UU values, change, and the proposed amendment to Article II of the UUA bylaws.
“Thank You, Lydia Maria Child” with Cornbread Communion
November 19, 2023
- Anna Fadden
- Bob Williams
- Cindy Malley
- Rev. Lara Hoke
- Sara Cope
- Thea Shapiro
- Cornbread Communion
- gratitude
- Lydia Maria Child
- thanksgiving
- UU history
Our annual Cornbread & Cider Communion Service, the Sunday before Thanksgiving, co-led by DRE Thea Shapiro, the Deacons, and me. I talked about one of our great UU forebears, Lydia Maria Child.
“Positively Bright-Sided”
November 12, 2023
- Amy Lavigne
- Peter Ersland
- Rev. Lara Hoke
- Thea Shapiro
- Bright-Sided
- positive thinking
- Time for All Ages
I explore “the power of positive thinking” and “the secret” in light of Barbara Ehrenreich’s book, “Bright-Sided”. The Share-the-Plate recipient was the Greater Boston Food Bank.
“The Idol of Reason”
November 5, 2023
My sermon explored the relative (un?)importance of reason…
“Fear Lite”
October 29, 2023
Director of Religious Education Thea Shapiro led this multigenerational service in honor of Halloween.
“Big Bang Theology”
October 22, 2023
My sermon considered what the Big Bang Theory might suggest, theologically-speaking. The Share-the-Plate recipient was Veterans, Inc.
“A Sense of Place”
October 15, 2023
- Larry Kaylor
- Rev. Lara Hoke
- Thea Shapiro
- From Where We Stand: Recovering a Sense of Place
- sense of place
- Time for All Ages
I examine what it is to have a sense of place with some help from Deborah Tall’s “From Where We Stand: Recovering a Sense of Place”.
“Indigenous Peoples’ Day Sunday”
October 8, 2023
- Brian Tarbox
- Jim Nehring
- Lorinda Morimoto
- Rev. Lara Hoke
- American Indian
- Indigenous Peoples' Day
- Leonard Peltier
- Time for All Ages
FCU member Lorinda Morimoto and I share our thoughts this Indigenous People’s Day with a focus on justice for Leonard Peltier. Special music by Brian Tarbox!
“Radical Curiosity”
October 1, 2023
- Alessandra Ranelli
- Cindy Malley
- Rev. Lara Hoke
- Thea Shapiro
- Radical Curiosity: Questioning Commonly Held Beliefs to Imagine Flourishing Futures
- Buckminster Fuller
- curiosity
- imagination
- Time for All Ages
- Unitarian Universalism
I talk about “Radical Curiosity” based on the book by Seth Goldenberg. Also, Alessandra visits from Austria! Lots of cool music, too, with a solo from Natalie and more.
“Tikkun Olam: A UU Appreciation of Yom Kippur in Light of the Climate Crisis”
September 24, 2023
- Debbie Eston
- Peter Ersland
- Rev. Lara Hoke
- Thea Shapiro
- Facing the Climate Emergency: How to Transform Yourself with Climate Truth
- civil disobedience
- climate crisis
- environment
- Extinction Rebellion
- forgiveness
- Judaism
- shofar
- Time for All Ages
- Yom Kippur
We take a look at the Jewish holiday Yom Kippur from a UU lens, and also from the lens of climate crisis.
“Glimmer Warnings”
September 17, 2023
- Anna Fadden
- Rev. Lara Hoke
- Thea Shapiro
- glimmers
- Hawai'i Community Foundation (HCF) - Maui Strong Fund
- hope
- Time for All Ages
You’ve heard about “trigger warnings”… but what are “glimmer warnings”?
“Ingathering and Water Communion”
September 10, 2023
Our traditional ingathering service with Water Communion!
“100th Anniversary of the Flower Communion” with Keeper of the Flame Award
June 18, 2023
- Bill Duston
- Hugh Vartanian
- Karen Tucker-Barisano
- Rev. Lara Hoke
- Thea Shapiro
- Flower Communion
- keeper of the flame
- Time for All Ages
On our final “regular” worship service of the “church year”, we recognized the 100th Anniversary of the Flower Communion, a UU tradition. We also awarded the “Keeper of the Flame” to Hugh Vartanian!
“Coming of Age” service
June 11, 2023
- Bllu Catalano
- Cindy Malley
- Dana Malley
- Karen Tucker-Barisano
- Máiréad Foley-Catalano
- Niall Foley
- Oliver Malley
- Rev. Lara Hoke
- Thea Shapiro
- Coming of Age
- Time for All Ages
- Unitarian Universalism
- youth
A Coming-of-Age Service co-led by youth Máiréad Foley-Catalano and Oliver Malley!
“LGBTQ+ Pride and Possibility”
June 4, 2023
We take a look at LGBTQ+ Pride and Possibility as of 2023… and have a New Member Welcoming Ceremony!
“Widening the Circle: What Is Neurodiversity?”
May 28, 2023
- Karen Tucker-Barisano
- Oliver Malley
- Rev. Jackie Clement
- Thea Shapiro
- disability
- inclusivity
- neurodiversity
- Time for All Ages
FCU’s own (retired UU minister) Rev. Jackie Clement and fabulous youth Oliver Malley co-lead a service on neurodiversity!
“Magical Mystical Tour with The Beatles”
May 21, 2023
- Larry Kaylor
- Molly Lozeau
- Patti Sardella
- Rev. Lara Hoke
- Thea Shapiro
- 1960s
- George Harrison
- John Lennon
- music
- NAMI
- Paul McCartney
- Ringo Starr
- The Beatles
Music Director Molly Lozeau and I discuss (in answer to a “Question Box”/”Ask the Minister” query) what makes The Beatles so special. Lots of fun! Our own Patti Sardella also talked about NAMI for our Share-the-Plate.
“Necessity Is the Mother of Invention”
May 14, 2023
We acknowledge Mother’s Day, and my sermon continues the discussion of what we can learn from the “Spirituality of the Decades” services we had this year.
“Spirituality of the 2010s and Beyond” with Maypole
May 7, 2023
- Martha Childs
- Rev. Lara Hoke
- Thea Shapiro
- Spirituality of the Decades
- 2010s
- maypole
- Time for All Ages
I preached the final in my “spirituality of the decades” sermons which started back in October with the 50s!
“There’s Work to Do”
April 30, 2023
- Cindy Malley
- Karen Tucker-Barisano
- Kris Ersland
- Lori Grant
- Thea Shapiro
- anti-racism
- racism
- Time for All Ages
- white supremacy culture
Deacon Cindy Malley leads a fabulous service with others from FCU’s Racial Justice Action Committee (RJAC)!
Earth Day: “Props to the Planet”
April 23, 2023
DRE Thea Shapiro and I co-led a multigenerational Earth Day service!
“Hiding in Plain Sight”
April 16, 2023
- Araya Fast
- David Gaynor
- Kathi Geisler
- Rev. Lara Hoke
- Thea Shapiro
- Compassion and Choices
- imperfection
- imposter syndrome
- Time for All Ages
I preached about hiding in plain sight, of course! And about imperfection, and “Imposter Syndrome”. Our share-the-plate was Compassion and Choices.
“That’s Hot: The Sick Spirituality of the 2000s”
April 2, 2023
- Cindy Malley
- Rev. Lara Hoke
- Sara Cope
- Spirituality of the Decades
- 2000s
- spirituality
- theology
- Time for All Ages
The 6th in my series of sermons and services exploring the spiritual and theological messages hidden within the modern decades.
“The Peace of Trees”
March 26, 2023
- Larry Kaylor
- Rev. Fred Small
- Rich Lombardy
- Sara Cope
- environment
- peace
- Time for All Ages
- Tree of Life
Former FCU minister Rev. Fred Small returns to the pulpit for the first time since 2008!
“Is Math God?”
March 19, 2023
- Larry Kaylor
- Rev. Lara Hoke
- Sara Cope
- Thea Shapiro
- mathematics
- science
- theology
- Time for All Ages
- Wolf Conservation Center
Did we create math, or did math create us?
“Considering Our Worthship”
March 12, 2023
Our annual “Stewardship Sunday”.
“You Go, Girl: The Hella Fly Spirituality of the 1990s”
March 5, 2023
The fifth in our series of examining the spirituality and theology hidden within the modern US decades…
“Plastic Slipcovers: Good Stewardship or Edifice Complex?”
February 26, 2023
FCU’s own Rev. Jackie Clement guest preaching! Excellent sermon.
“Walden Pond and the Ganges: Transcendental Indebtedness to Vedanta”
February 19, 2023
- Cindy Malley
- Kris Ersland
- Rev. Lara Hoke
- Emerson's Essays
- Walden
- Hinduism
- Neighborhood Supper
- Time for All Ages
- Transcendentalism
- UU history
We consider how Unitarian Transcendentalist forebears were inspired by Vedanta, the wisdom tradition of Hinduism.
“Totally Tubular Spirituality of the 1980s”
February 5, 2023
- Monica Pilman
- Rev. Lara Hoke
- Thea Shapiro
- Spirituality of the Decades
- 1980s
- spirituality
- Time for All Ages
The fourth in our series considering the theological and spiritual messages hidden within modern US decades…
“Doling Out Compassion”
January 22, 2023
Why do we sometimes feel compassion, but other times not so much?
“Martin Luther King, Jr. Sunday” 2023
January 15, 2023
- Caroline Marvin
- Cindy Heiland
- Larry Kaylor
- Lori Grant
- Monica Pilman
- Rev. Lara Hoke
- Thea Shapiro
- Martin Luther King
- racism
- Time for All Ages
- white supremacy culture
The Racial Justice Action Committee (RJAC) and I lead the annual MLK service.
“Remembrance Service”
January 8, 2023
- Bill Duston
- Cindy Malley
- Karen Tucker-Barisano
- Monica Pilman
- Rev. Lara Hoke
- Thea Shapiro
- afterlife
- new life
- remembrance
- Time for All Ages
- Tree of Life
An annual tradition… we remember those we’ve lost in the past year and celebrate new life too.
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service 2022
December 24, 2022
- Bill Duston
- Cindy Malley
- David Grober
- Monica Pilman
- Rev. Lara Hoke
- Thea Shapiro
- Christmas
- Time for All Ages
For the first time since December 24, 2019, we were able to have a candlelight service for Christmas Eve! Lots of beautiful music.
“No Rehearsal Pageant”
December 18, 2022
For the second year in a row, DRE Thea Shapiro and the congregation had great fun with a “no rehearsal” and alternative pageant, adapted from Norman Allen’s work.
“Have a Nice Day: The Dy-No-Mite Spirituality of the 1970s”
December 11, 2022
- Bill Duston
- Rev. Lara Hoke
- Thea Shapiro
- Spirituality of the Decades
- 1970s
- spirituality
- Time for All Ages
The third in a series, discovering the hidden spirituality of a decade!
“The ‘No-Order-of-Service’ Service”
December 4, 2022
An experiment! What would it be like to worship without an Order of Service printed out? We give it a try…
“Democracy: Our Fifth Principle”
November 27, 2022
- Debbie Eston
- Larry Kaylor
- Martha Childs
- Monica Pilman
- democracy
- Time for All Ages
- Unitarian Universalism
FCU Deacon Monica Pilman delivers a thoughtful talk on democracy.
“Counting Our Blessings” with Cornbread & Cider Communion
November 20, 2022
- Bill Duston
- Cindy Malley
- David Gaynor
- Monica Pilman
- Rev. Lara Hoke
- Thea Shapiro
- Cornbread Communion
- gratitude
- thanksgiving
- Time for All Ages
An annual tradition! The FCU Deacons serve communion, and we give thanks. Wonderful guest musicians, including Carolyn McCreary, Emma Bruns Riffelmacher, Eric Semple, Sara Weeks, and Charlie Weeks.
“The Groovy, Far-Out Spirituality of the 1960s”
November 13, 2022
- Janet Adachi
- Monica Pilman
- Rev. Lara Hoke
- Thea Shapiro
- Spirituality of the Decades
- 1960s
- spirituality
- Time for All Ages
We carry on with the second of our “Spirituality of the Decades” series with a look at the 1960s. Great music, of course!
“Western Psychology and Eastern Religion”
November 6, 2022
- Bill Duston
- Rev. Lara Hoke
- Thea Shapiro
- Toward a Psychology of Being
- Human Potential Movement
- psychology
- Time for All Ages
- Transpersonal Psychology
An auction-sermon topic! Interesting stuff, to me.
“Dia de los Muertos”
October 30, 2022
- Peter Ersland
- Rev. Jackie Clement
- Thea Shapiro
- ancestors
- death
- Dia de los Muertos
- Native American
- Time for All Ages
FCU’s own (retired UU minister) Rev. Jackie Clement led a wonderful multigenerational service on “Dia de los Muertos” (“Day of the Dead”).
“Guns and the Culture of Violence”
October 23, 2022
I discuss guns and the culture of violence in the USA in light of Littleton’s own gun issue.
“Bobby Socks and the Bomb: The Spirituality of the 1950s”
October 16, 2022
The first in my series on the spirituality of modern US decades; I consider the spiritual lessons of the 1950s. Unfortunately, the first 28 minutes of the video were lost. The video starts at the very end of the choir’s anthem. Don’t miss the postlude!
“The Spirituality of Land Acknowledgement”
October 9, 2022
- Cindy Malley
- Lorinda Morimoto
- Rev. Lara Hoke
- Thea Shapiro
- We All Go Back to the Land: The Who, Why, and How of Land Acknowledgements
- American Indian
- anti-racism
- Indigenous Peoples' Day
- Native American
- Time for All Ages
- white supremacy culture
For Indigenous Peoples Day Sunday, I preached on land acknowledgement and the reality that our church is on the historical lands of the Nashobah Praying Indians. Lorinda Morimoto also shared her own perspective.
“Behold, I’m Doing a New Thing”
October 2, 2022
I considered change and impermanence, and was bold (or foolhardy) enough to end with a reworking of Isaiah 43:18-19, which was the inspiration for the sermon title, of course.
“Blowing Our Own Horn: A UU Appreciation of Rosh Hashanah”
September 25, 2022
I explored the Jewish New Year, or Rosh Hashanah, and attempted to demonstrate some shofar blasts and their meanings. We had some difficulty with sound in this video.
“21st Century Transcendentalism”
September 18, 2022
- Patti Sardella
- Rev. Lara Hoke
- Emerson's Essays
- Margaret Fuller: A New American Life
- Spiritual Pilgrim: Awakening Journeys of a 21st Century Transcendentalist
- The Transcendentalists and Their World
- Theodore Parker Sermons
- Transcendentalism Yesterday and Today
- Walden
- Advocates
- Transcendentalism
- Unitarian Universalism
I have been reading a lot about Transcendentalism lately. It occurred to me… we are Transcendentalists today! Upon reading further, other UUs agree (notably retired UU ministers Rev. Barry Andrews and Rev. Jim Sherblom, both of whose books confirmed many of the thoughts I have been having, including even Peter Mayer’s “Holy Now” as a Transcendentalist song… great minds think alike? (Unfortunately we had technical difficulties on this day and the first half of the service is missing from this video.)
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