UU Church of Annapolis Podcast
655 episodes - English - Latest episode: 8 days ago - ★★★★★ - 4 ratingsSermons from the Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis
www.uuca-md.org
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Episodes
Bearing Witness to Life on the Streets w/ Bob Ertman, Lay Worship Associate & Zen teacher
August 28, 2019 19:35 - 29 minutes - 34.3 MBAmerican Zen teacher Bernie Glassman developed Street Retreats to push his students to give up their fixed ideas and pay attention to life around them. We go out without money, sleep on sidewalks, and beg. Back in 1991 when Bernie first started his street retreats, folks would ask him: How much money do you bring to the people on the street? And he would say: “No money.” Clothes? Blankets? Extra shoes? And he would say: “None of these. We bring ourselves.”
The Importance of Ritual in our Lives
August 06, 2019 16:45 - 23 minutes - 27.1 MBWe have rituals for many occasions in our lives. We live by them and they are important. We need to honor rituals and create new ones to satisfy our continued lives.
Roots, Wings, and Grain Offerings
August 06, 2019 16:15 - 30 minutes - 34.8 MBThe Fourth Source of Unitarian Universalism is Christian and Jewish Teachings calling us to love. In the aftermath of 2 mass shootings, we will reflect on how the book of Leviticus in the Hebrew Scriptures can inform us how we can change, atone, and act for justice in these difficult times.
Shall We Panic Yet?
August 06, 2019 15:49 - 20 minutes - 23.6 MBWe Americans swim in the waters of a gun culture that increasingly threatens our well-being as well as our lives. Can we keep from drowning? How can we respond effectively?
Love Surrounds Us
August 06, 2019 15:44 - 22 minutes - 25.6 MBThe intentional deepening of our faith can benefit not only us but also future generations. Let's explore how living in a purposeful multi-generational community can be fulfilling and also an act of social justice.
Scotland, Silicon Valley, and Jesus Christ--Or, How Unicorns Got Their Stripes with Intern minister Leika Lewis-Cornwell
July 03, 2019 14:07 - 17 minutes - 20.5 MBCishet, pansexual, genderqueer, aromantic... As a Welcoming Church, we invite people to bring their full selves, but the spectrum of beautifully diverse identities can sometimes feel confusing to allies and some members of the LGBTQ+ community alike. This sermon will use the Gender Unicorn, a graphic by Trans Student Educational Resources, to explore identity, expression, and attraction.
1.5 Justice w/ UU Seminarian Joshua Long
June 24, 2019 18:37 - 28 minutes - 32.8 MBIn late 2018, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned the world that we have only 12 years to prevent catastrophic damage to the Earth. Let’s take a realistic look at climate justice and why choosing hope is our way forward.
Why We Sleep
June 16, 2019 21:49 - 20 minutes - 18.6 MBWhy do we sleep? Why did Arianna Huffington leave her job to devote her life to teaching people to live healthier lives through sleep and intentional self-care? Here's why we sleep and why we must prioritize it in our lives.
A Theology for Hot Mess Times Rev. Kathleen, Interim Minister
June 16, 2019 21:41 - 28 minutes - 25.6 MBEvery day we hear about a new crisis arising; whether the threat to women’s reproductive freedoms, measles outbreaks, looming tensions in the Middle East, asylum-seeking families being cruelly separated or deported, white supremacy asserts itself at every term, glaciers melting – it’s a Hot Mess! Every day we must practice a few core principles of our faith which allow us to persist and resist. Buy Rev. Nancy McDonald Ladd’s new book: After the Good News: Progressive Faith Beyond Optimism fo...
When Statues Move (KR)
May 29, 2019 17:30 - 27 minutes - 31.4 MBIn this Memorial Day sermon, Interim Minister, Rev. Kathleen Rolenz, gives a compelling and riveting message on the racial and controversial events in Charlottesville, Virginia last year over the removal of the Confederate statue of General Robert Lee. Rev. Kathleen asks "What if the narrative you are telling yourself is a lie?" and boldly shows why one's personal stories can create false narratives that lead to war and violence. What can we do differently? Listen to this message.
Feel the Fear w/ Rev. John Crestwell
May 22, 2019 18:52 - 24 minutes - 28.3 MBFear and love are powerful motivators. Some say fear is more potent while others say love is the thing that links us all. We will examine curiosity, fear, fight and flight and show that we must do what the author Susan Jeffers says, “Feel the fear and do it anyway.”
A Curious Faith with Rev. Kathleen Rolenz, Interim Minister
May 07, 2019 16:48 - 26 minutes - 29.9 MBOn May 5, 1819, The Reverend William Ellery Channing preached a controversial sermon at the Unitarian Church of Baltimore. Channing's sermon went "viral" and quickly established the Unitarians not only as religious liberals - but theological radicals.
A Curious Faith with Rev. Kathleen Rolenz, Interim Minister
May 07, 2019 16:48 - 26 minutes - 29.9 MBOn May 5, 1819, The Reverend William Ellery Channing preached a controversial sermon at the Unitarian Church of Baltimore. Channing's sermon went "viral" and quickly established the Unitarians not only as religious liberals - but theological radicals.
Not Dead Yet! w/ Rev. Kathleen Rolenz
April 27, 2019 17:17 - 29 minutes - 33.3 MBOn Easter morning, the women disciples of Jesus came to the tomb, only to discover that he wasn't there. Fast forward some 2,000 years, and we'll discover a Jesus whose message of radical hospitality and inclusiveness is still very much alive and still in need of our purposeful engagement.
Five Things You Need for the Journey with Rev. Kathleen C. Rolenz
April 18, 2019 21:31 - 30 minutes - 34.5 MBAs your interim minister, Rev. Rolenz has been on this journey of transition several times. There are certain experiences that are common to all churches in transition; others are unique to specific congregations. Rev. Rolenz will reflect on the journey of UUCA towards the next chapter of its life, with some help from the five spiritual touchstones which can frame our life's journey.
The Road to Freedom w/ Leika Lewis-Cornwell
April 18, 2019 21:18 - 14 minutes - 16.1 MBFreedom is not a single destination, but a series of roads we journey on together as we seek wholeness for ourselves and our world. This service will reflect on the lessons of Passover and the ways in which the journey of the Exodus still speaks into our own lives as we embrace and uplift freedom.
How We Decide with Rev. John T. Crestwell, Jr.
April 09, 2019 19:29 - 23 minutes - 27 MBHow do you choose to do or NOT do a certain thing? When or how do you know that your choice was the right one? In this message, Rev. John will utilize the social science scholarship of author Jonah Lehrer as he explores the intricate processes and decisions involved in finding and living in wholeness and happiness.
Pele and the Dragon with Leika Lewis-Cornwell
April 02, 2019 16:26 - 15 minutes - 18.7 MBIn celebration of Women's History Month and the commitments we make together to justice, this sermon explores epic journeys in myth, history, and our own lives.
Journey of Souls (Life After Death?)
March 19, 2019 19:23 - 22 minutes - 20.4 MBWhat happens when we die? Today I examine spiritualism, reincarnation and life after death using some personal transcendent experiences, history and current writings, Rev. John explores the mystery of death and the afterlife.
Thanks For Staying w/ Rev. Kathleen Rolenz
March 11, 2019 17:53 - 13 minutes - 15.3 MBUnitarian Universalists generally believe that we are autonomous, independent individuals who have the right to do with our lives whatever we wish-including the right to end it. This sermon was inspired by the book Stay by Jennifer Michael Hecht who argues that suicide violates not a moral law but a human ethical imperative to stay alive with and for each other. Trigger Warning: This sermon contains sensitive content on suicide and discussion around mental health. Please be advised with ch...
A Great Bundle of Humanity with Rev. Kathleen C. Rolenz
March 11, 2019 17:35 - 25 minutes - 29.4 MBFrances Ellen Watkins Harper was an African-American abolitionist, suffragist, poet, teacher, public speaker, and writer. She was active in social reform and was a member of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, which advocated the federal government taking a role in progressive reform. Her writings, poetry, and theology all leaned towards Universalism. Within her powerful life story, we may find lessons for our own to encourage, challenge and inspire us.
I've Seen the Promised Land! with Rev. John T. Crestwell, Jr.
March 04, 2019 15:34 - 31 minutes - 35.7 MBWe talk of our journey to the beloved community all the time. We aspire to create a place that is diverse and welcoming to ALL. What does that look like when it is realized? How will we know when we get there? In this service, Rev. John will share his vision for the UUCA congregation, in particular, and Unitarian Universalism, in general, with great hope, and determination.
Trust but Verify w/ Rev. John Crestwell
February 18, 2019 21:06 - 6 minutes - 7.66 MBWho do you trust? Why do you trust them? Have you lost trust in someone or something? How do you get trust back? In this interactive service, Rev. John will lead you through some of the Soul Matters materials to get to the heart of the matter: Trust but verify!
Trusting Mercy w/ Rev. Kathleen Rolenz, Rev. John Crestwell, and Leika Lewis-Cornwell
February 06, 2019 19:44 - 28 minutes - 32.8 MBThe theme for February is "Trust" and there are many ways in which trust can be both eroded and built. The Ministry Team will reflect on the role of vulnerability, forgiveness, and mercy as it is experienced in the hard work of building relationships, dismantling oppression, and working for justice in our community.
Our Civil War
January 21, 2019 16:25 - 24 minutes - 22.7 MBIt is said that old wounds fester. Could it be that we are still fighting the Civil War in America? Is it possible that the Civil Rights Movement was a continuation of a quintessentially American story about tribe, race, resources, and power? In this message, Rev. John looks at history and suggests that we are fighting a war for civility.
Ice Cream for Astronauts w/ Intern Minister Leika Lewis-Cornwell
January 04, 2019 19:59 - 11 minutes - 12.8 MBFrom the cold vacuum of space to the lush wilds of earthly jungles, Wanderers have been heading out to explore the unknown since the dawn of time. No matter how intrepid these explorers, though, some of the small-some might say silly-reminders of home have traveled with them on their journeys. This multigenerational service will examine the ways we strike out to know mystery, and the things that keep us grounded on the way.
Does God Exist w/ Rev. John Crestwell
December 11, 2018 18:59 - 25 minutes - 29.1 MBDoes God exist? Perhaps we've all thought about this question? I have, often, and have drawn a few conclusions. Are you atheist, deist, theist, or none of the above but still believe in a greater good? How do you celebrate the holidays when they are based upon a narrative that says God entered the world through the birth of Jesus to lead humanity to salvation? In this holiday service, Rev. John will tackle the mystery of God and posit that everyone believes in a higher power.
Let the Mystery Be with Rev. Kathleen C. Rolenz
December 03, 2018 16:03 - 20 minutes - 20.6 MBWe spend much of our life trying to figure things out - where we came from, who and what are we and where we are going; yet woven in and amongst all of these questions persists randomness, uncertainty and deep mystery. This sermon will explore the spiritual practice of engaging with the unknown.
The Long Goodbye w/ Leika Lewis-Cornwell
November 27, 2018 15:54 - 20 minutes - 22.8 MBThe holidays can be a time of joy and also a time of struggle. This service will open space for all the complicated feelings we carry during this season of light and darkness.
Remembering Democracy with Revs. Kathleen Rolenz & John Crestwell
November 13, 2018 16:49 - 24 minutes - 20.5 MBUnitarian Universalists 5th principle encourages us to affirm and promote: The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large. In a joint sermon following the mid-term election, Revs. John and Kathleen will reflect on the meaning of democracy in a nation divided by the threat of tribalism. Can this election serve as a wake-up call for a new era of civic engagement? Or, is democracy in deep peril?
Welcoming the Stranger
October 22, 2018 19:51 - 22 minutes - 20.4 MB"Be welcoming" we are told. It's actually hard to be truly welcoming. Why? As religious people, however, it is what we do. It's who we are. In this message, Rev. John tells the story of UUCA's Black Lives Matter sign and the confession of a young man who stole it. He ends with the call for UUs to not think small and even though it's counter-intuitive, to open its doors even wider to welcome the strangers looking for our UU sanctuary. Enjoy...
A Holy Pause
October 16, 2018 01:34 - 22 minutes - 26.1 MBIn the midst of the fight for justice, how do we care for the spirit? This sermon will examine the history of armistice, and what that means for the ways we create sanctuary. - Leika Lewis-Cornwell, Intern Minister
Waking Up Woes and Wows
October 01, 2018 16:22 - 24 minutes - 27.9 MBIn liberal circles being woke is a popular saying these days. It's in to be aware-but aware of what? Rev. John delves into why there are woes and wows as we awaken to the true realities of what life really is.
Is Forgiveness the Only Option?
September 17, 2018 20:58 - 20 minutes - 23.7 MBThere are plenty of misconceptions about the role of forgiveness in our lives. Some of these are indeed grounded in religious teachings; others are secular attempts to express the need to forgive. But what about the commitment of acts which are unforgivable? What do we do with those? Rev.Kathleen delivers a message that explores forgiveness, resentment, and moving through some of life's most difficult and heartbreaking moments.
If We Are Broken How Can We Expect Our Children to Be Strong? with Shauntee Daniels
August 28, 2018 20:36 - 22 minutes - 26.1 MBShauntee Daniels, Worship Lay Minister, examines the words of Frederick Douglass It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men. Right now, children of color are at risk, we know that for sure. But when we examine the facts all children are at risk. What are the risks? How can we look at ourselves to help all children be strong?
If a Tree Speaks in the Woods with Lisa Fleeharty
August 20, 2018 15:08 - 19 minutes - 16.6 MBCurrent science is discovering that trees and other organisms can and do communicate with each other. Hear how Lisa Fleeharty explores how this informs our understanding of our seventh principle and its connection to the first (and eighth!).
Life and Death Came to Dinner with Dayna Edwards
August 16, 2018 13:05 - 16 minutes - 14.3 MBListen to UU seminarian and former DRE Dayna Edwards as she explores the ways in which life and death conspire to keep us in balance whether we like it or not. Her words are timely given our recent tragedy.
What Will UUCA Be Like in 2025? with Thornell Jones
August 06, 2018 20:34 - 22 minutes - 25.4 MBWe all think about our own life and how it will change over time. It is prudent to think about how our church will change. Even though we are addressing our documents and taking an inventory of our activities today, we have taken a major step in adopting the 8th Principle. How will this affect the church community and help us grow our faith? How will this expand the breadth of our reach?
How We Heal with Rev. Kathleen C. Rolenz
July 25, 2018 11:54 - 22 minutes - 25.8 MBWhen our bodies are wounded, the body kicks into high gear to begin the process of healing. From the common cold to more serious diseases or injuries, our body intuitively knows how to heal itself. When we are faced with trauma, grief and/or loss we need to pay equal attention to how our we heal emotionally and spiritually. The good news is that healing can, does, and will occur. As we seek to heal from a collective trauma, we'll look at ways to continue that process in the days, weeks, ...
The Sacred Art of Joy with Leika Lewis-Cornwell
July 17, 2018 16:12 - 22 minutes - 25.4 MBThis interactive service will draw from multiple sources and traditions to examine the "golden rule" and what we can learn from each other about embracing the joy in life. Reading is by Whitney Houston, The Greatest Love of All Read by Worship Leader Alethea Shiplett
Love Actually - Reconciliation Among Siblings
July 09, 2018 16:34 - 21 minutes - 20.1 MBJoin Worship Leader, Jane Carrigan and she explores forgiveness, letting go and reconciling her relationship with her sister through the spiritual practice of "Ho'oponopono".
Wendi Winters Memorial Service Entire Service
July 08, 2018 22:52 - 2 hours - 130 MBThis is the entire service save the first 15-minutes, unfortunately. There is a live stream and also a videotape version coming soon. This version is 2:22 minutes but worth every second. Thank you Wendi for your bravery and love of what you do!
Eulogy for Wendi Winters
July 08, 2018 18:10 - 19 minutes - 17.7 MBOn June 28 at 2:33pm, We lost an incredible member of our congregation, Wendi Winters. Her service was too large to be held in our sanctuary with a 250 capacity. We moved the service to Maryland Hall which holds 726. There were over 1000 in attendance (standing room only); and another 1,000 watching our live-stream. "This is the biggest thing to happen in the life of our congregation to date," many said.. We have all been profoundly hurt and changed. On this UUCA podcast, Rev. John ...
Universalism...Our Saving Grace
June 25, 2018 11:00 - 21 minutes - 24.1 MBIn 1920, Olympia Brown gave her final sermon entitled, "The Opening Doors," a few weeks after the passage of the 19th Amendment which gave women the right to vote in America. This victory sermon was a reminder to the Universalists in Racine, Wisconsin to remember their shared salvation and how they are called to be a blessing to others. A century later, this message may still ring true for us.
Light the Flame
June 21, 2018 19:25 - 19 minutes - 17.8 MB"It only takes a spark to get a fire going...That's how it is with love.." Kurt Kaiser's words guide this message about generosity--lighting the flame within; and the power giving has on people, places and things! Check out Rev. John's message on Father's Day 2018. Note: This message was not recorded live so this is a re-recording.
Between A Rock and a Hard Place
June 10, 2018 18:30 - 13 minutes - 15.8 MBRev.Kathleen Rolenz & Leika Lewis-Cornwell What do you do when you find yourself between a rock and a hard place? As we look at the monthly theme of "Blessing" we find that many blessings aren't visible until we are going through troubled times. The Worship leaders reflect on blessing and struggle in this sermon. This was a multi-sensory service in which the entire worship team was involved so we do acknowledge their dedication for producing such a meaningful service.
SSECCUS /SUCCESS
May 28, 2018 15:08 - 19 minutes - 17.9 MBSSECCUS with Rev. John Crestwell, Jr. Is this title creative? Creativity is our monthly theme. I spelled success backward because I think many have it all wrong. Today I examine ideas and definitions of success that may be opposite to what you may have considered success to be. NOTE: Sermon wasn't recorded live so Rev. John did a manual recording for this podcast.
Law of Surrender with Rev. John Crestwell
May 22, 2018 16:07 - 25 minutes - 35.3 MBSurrendering is seen as cowardice by many but it actually is very courageous and is one of the hardest things in life to do. We hold on--sometimes too long--and in the process lose the very thing we wanted so badly. Using strategies from Dr. David Hawkins, Rev. John will help us with one of the hardest lessons of all--letting go.
Mum's the Word! with Rev. Kathleen C. Rolenz
May 13, 2018 17:29 - 15 minutes - 21.5 MBMum's the word is British slang for "keeping quiet." Today, however, we're not keeping quiet about the role that our Mums (or moms) play in our lives. This multigenerational service celebrates Mother's Day and included our annual Flower Ceremony.
Restless Souls
May 01, 2018 18:29 - 20 minutes - 28.6 MBWe are restless souls yearning to be understood and evolve. What is emerging in ourselves and in humanity? Inspired by the words of the Chilean Poet Pablo Neruda, Rev. John explores how learning to understand our emerging selves and each other allows us to live into the Beloved Community.