Sermon Archive

Tired of being directed by others’ perceptions of the “homeless” in our community, Mark Danley, mediator and Certified Introvert, spent over a year meeting and befriending our houseless neighbors. Join with Mark to share perspectives — not to judge or to solve the houseless crisis— but to build community through dialogue and understanding. (Disclaimer: Mark Danley’s primary qualifications are his curiosity and his disdain for fake news.)

Special Collection Sunday:  Potluck in the Park

Father’s Day Sunday is the traditional day for Portland’s Pride Parade.  2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising that helped to launch the modern Gay Rights movement. Join us for for a potluck brunch and facilitated table conversations where we reflect together on the past 50 years of LGBTQIA+ activism. Where we are now, personally, as a congregation, and as a UU faith, with actively affirming our belief in the inherent worth and dignity of all people?  

For those wishing to participate in the Portland Pride March, note that space is limited this year to pre-registered marchers. We are encouraged to look on and cheer the marchers. Another wonderful option is the Portland Trans Pride March on Saturday 6/15.

Service facilitated by Wy'east Members.

“…They shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”  You may remember these lines from Chariots of Fire, that great movie about runners in the 1924 Olympic games.  They describe the kind of religious experience that renews our sense of physical (as well as spiritual) vigor. Do they describe your own religious experience as well?  I hope so! Service led by Rev. Craig Moro.

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(Note this will be Rev. Moro's last service before his summer break.  He will return the first Sunday in September.)

That’s a question worth asking. Was your childhood religion good for you? What can we see about religion from a child’s point of view more clearly than we might see otherwise? Service led by Rev. Craig Moro.

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In the vein of "This I Believe," Wy'east member Hadrian Micciche will share his thoughts on what it means to be human ...

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Come join our annual service celebrating this historic Unitarian ritual of spring. Bring a flower from your garden, a nearby field, or the local market, and see what a beautiful bouquet we can make.  Service led by Wy’east members.

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If you knew an exercise that would let you live forever if you practiced every day, would you do it faithfully and never miss?  Today I'll share some insights from a 110 year-old woman about how she managed to live so long.  Sermon by Rev. Craig Moro.

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May 5th is the first day of Ramadan, when roughly one-fourth of all human beings will begin a month of daytime fasting.  How did this get started? What does it mean to those who participate? And why should we care? Service led by Rev. Craig Moro.

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Based in Portland, Kunu Dittmer Bearchum is a modern day storyteller who uses multiple mediums to communicate his message. Kunudraws from his roots for inspiration and guidance while navigating a society that too often ignores or silences an indigenous perspective.

Wisdom of the Elders, Inc. records and preserves traditional cultural values, oral history, prophesy and other messages of guidance from indigenous elders in order to regenerate the greatness of culture among today’s and future generations of native peoples. As First Peoples, we are humbled by the wisdom of our elders and the deep connection they share with Great Spirit, the world of nature and family. We regard our elders as rapidly vanishing, irreplaceable keepers of oral history, tradition and environment. Values they extol represent an ancient legacy of knowledge which has become as endangered as many disappearing species in our fragile ecosystem.

Wisdom of the Elders acknowledges the need for reconciliation between Indian and non-Indian. As part of its race reconciliation mission, Wisdom of the Elders strives to share with all peoples, using public radio and documentary production, book publishing and other educational venues in collaboration with diverse cultural organizations and educational institutions.

Learn more at Wisdomoftheelders.org.

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The Cilappatikaram is one of a very few religious epics from the ancient world that has a woman as its hero.  We are fortunate today to share a religious tradition in which no single religious scripture is placed on top of all others, so we can give this powerful story the attention it deserves!  (A word of caution: Just like the Easter story being shared in neighbor churches this morning, the Cilappatikaram features images of bodily violence.)  Service led by Rev. Craig Moro.

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