A sermon is an oral presentation by a live speaker to a live
congregation. It always involves a bit of interaction, even if it’s
just eye contact and facial expressions. Reading the text of a sermon,
then, is like reading the script of a play to yourself. The live,
communal experience is gone.
Nevertheless, please enjoy reading these text versions of sermons and
other presentations made at the UU Fellowship of Topeka during our
worship services. You may find that there are additional notes and/or
commentaries to the original text.
Archive for February, 2008
February 24, 2008 at 11:40 pm
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February 24, 2008 — by Rev. Lisa R. Schwartz
Some religions, both old and new, teach that to be truly spiritually minded we must be freed from bondage to our sexuality, since it is merely an annoying distraction from our calling to focus on “higher matters.” Other faiths teach that erotic energy IS life energy itself. Where do Unitarian Universalists stand on the important question about just where sexuality and spirituality intersect?
Listen to: Sex: Body, Mind, Heart, and…Soul?
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February 20, 2008 at 2:35 pm
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February 17, 2008 — by Rev. Lisa R. Schwartz
Charles Darwin, born 199 years ago this month, had both deep religious convictions and gnawing doubts. He had trained to be an Anglican clergyman, yet after spending some time as a naturalist he observed, “the more we know of the fixed laws of nature the more incredible do miracles become.” He called himself a theist, but he wrote in his later years that when children were taught the idea of God from an early age “it would be as difficult for them to throw off their belief in God as for a monkey to throw off its instinctive fear and hatred of a snake.” Is “evolutionary faith” possible?
Listen to the sermon: The Devil’s Chaplain
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February 12, 2008 at 11:41 am
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February 10, 2008 — The recording is the entire 11 a.m. service
Now into its third decade of exploring and celebrating relationships and the community they form or from which they spring, our annual H&Q program may well be the longest-standing tradition at UUFT. This Sunday new grandparents, and new parents who thereby made their parents grandparents (are you following this?) will reflect on that oh-so-special relationship. We will also explore the role of the congregational community and how growing families in our midst are a gift to us all. Program leaders: Bob McDaneld, Janine Silsby, Grace MacMillan, and Colin MacMillan. A quiche lunch followed, benefiting a charitable community program.
Listen to the recording of the entire service: Hugs and Quiches
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February 5, 2008 at 2:39 pm
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February 3, 2008 — by Rev. Lisa R. Schwartz
The Unitarian Universalist Henry David Thoreau said, “If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put
foundations under them.” Having handed ourselves a mandate on January 13th to move forward with our dream to build more space to accommodate our growing Fellowship’s activities, it’s time to build the foundations that will support the vision.
Listen to: A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes
Read the sermon: Click Here
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