Conejo Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Audio Sermons

Resurrection and a Basket Full of Chocolates

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 21:09:42 GMT

by The Rev. Lora Brandis

Like Christmas, Easter is one of those times during the year when popular culture bombards us with ancient symbols that still resonate in our collective unconscious. Signs of ancient fertility rites show up in our kids’ Easter baskets. These symbols may or may not point to the same truth, but are certainly worth exploring annually as we hide plastic eggs and watch the earth explode in color.

Cold Comfort

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 22:06:05 GMT

by Lorella Hess, CVUUF Member

Honoring the centennial of Robert Scott’s final Antarctic expedition, Lorella Thomas Hess tells the story of that adventure to frame an existential perspective on spiritual courage in the face of failure and loss.

All Life, All Truth is One

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 22:04:55 GMT

by Rev. Lora Brandis

Our Unitarian ancestors died defending the truth that “God is one.” We affirm a free and responsible search for truth and meaning; revelation is not sealed. If, when we declare “All Life, All Truth is One,” we are not proclaiming an immutable truth, then what are we proclaiming? What are we willing to defend?

All Souls are Worthy of Love and Respect

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 21:59:46 GMT

by Rev. Lora Brandis

Our Universalist ancestors could not make sense of a God who saved some and condemned others. They would say, “All are saved by God.” We may say it differently now, but we do have something to say about salvation.

The He(art) of Prayer

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 00:45:15 GMT

by Rev. Lora Brandis

We often tell each other “you are in my thoughts and prayers,” but what exactly do we mean by that? For many of us, praying for a certain outcome makes us very uncomfortable. If we aren’t asking for something from a supernatural deity that intervenes from afar then, how do we pray? How do we approach all of life prayerfully, thoughtfully and from the heart?

Transform the World through Compassion

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 21:02:00 GMT

by Rev. Lora Brandis

Our second principle calls us to justice, equity and compassion in human relations. The mission of this Fellowship calls us to transform the world through justice and compassion. How can justice inform our compassion and compassion frame our justice efforts? This is the last of the four sermons that have explored our new mission.

Nurture

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 04:15:50 GMT

by Rev. Lora Brandis Here we do not ask you to sign a creedal statement. Here we do not teach our children a certain dogma. Here we nurture and draw out the wisdom already inherent in each individual. It can be a gentle process, at the same time requiring spiritual courage. This is the third sermon that explores our new mission.

Transform the World Through Justice

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 21:29:13 GMT

by Rev. Lora Brandis

The “arc of the moral universe bends towards justice” is a quote that started with 19th Century Unitarian Minister Theodore Parker and wound up on a rug in the oval office. We’ll explore this quote and this concept as we look at what it means to transform the world through justice. This is the second sermon in the series of sermons that unpack our new mission statement.

Making Room for the New

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 21:33:45 GMT

by The Rev. Lora Brandis

As we let go of the past year what are we willing to give up? What unwanted parts of ourselves can we let go of? We will participate in a ritual of renewal, intending to let go of past thoughts and actions in order to make room for the new.

Spiritual Courage

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 03:01:01 GMT

by Rev. Lora Brandis

Our new mission is to nurture spiritually courageous people who transform the world through justice and compassion. What do we mean when we proclaim ourselves to be spiritually courageous? What does a spiritually courageous person look like and what can we learn from those we would identify as spiritually courageous?