Sermon Archive 2019
Previous years' archives: 2014-2018, 2011 - 2013
(Click on the links (sermon titles) below to hear or download the sermons and readings or to see the video clips.)
(Click on the links (sermon titles) below to hear or download the sermons and readings or to see the video clips.)
February 17:
Religious Humanists
in the Heart of Sarasota
Sermon by Roger Fritts
We do not require you to agree to a creed to be a member. We have a wonderful diversity of backgrounds in this congregation. Members self-identify as Christian, Jewish, Buddhist and other traditions. However, one identity stands out. In Sarasota no other established organization with a building and a staff welcomes humanists. In a 2011 survey 62.4 percent of this congregation said they had an affinity for Humanism. The sermon will reflect on this important role we play in our community. (Pictured above is Charles Darwin, honored by humanists on Charles Darwin Day, February 12.) (Recording not yet available.)
Religious Humanists
in the Heart of Sarasota
Sermon by Roger Fritts
We do not require you to agree to a creed to be a member. We have a wonderful diversity of backgrounds in this congregation. Members self-identify as Christian, Jewish, Buddhist and other traditions. However, one identity stands out. In Sarasota no other established organization with a building and a staff welcomes humanists. In a 2011 survey 62.4 percent of this congregation said they had an affinity for Humanism. The sermon will reflect on this important role we play in our community. (Pictured above is Charles Darwin, honored by humanists on Charles Darwin Day, February 12.) (Recording not yet available.)
February 10:
The Madness of Love
Sermon by Roger Fritts
During February human beings celebrate a passionate madness called romantic love. The month of February may have been picked because in the northern hemisphere, in places like Italy, February is when birds begin to pair off and build nests. Whatever the reason, I have often felt the Sunday before Feb 14 is a good day to give a sermon about the relationship, (and Feb 15 is a good day to buy chocolate).
(Recording not yet available.)
The Madness of Love
Sermon by Roger Fritts
During February human beings celebrate a passionate madness called romantic love. The month of February may have been picked because in the northern hemisphere, in places like Italy, February is when birds begin to pair off and build nests. Whatever the reason, I have often felt the Sunday before Feb 14 is a good day to give a sermon about the relationship, (and Feb 15 is a good day to buy chocolate).
(Recording not yet available.)
February 3:
The Struggle for the Leadership of America
Sermon by Roger Fritts
Many of you may have read the Dec 31 essay in the New York Times by Katherine Stewart about how some in the Christian Right view leadership in our country. The sermon will explore the issues raised by the article.
(Recording not yet available.)
The Struggle for the Leadership of America
Sermon by Roger Fritts
Many of you may have read the Dec 31 essay in the New York Times by Katherine Stewart about how some in the Christian Right view leadership in our country. The sermon will explore the issues raised by the article.
(Recording not yet available.)
January 27:
When the Earth Turns Upside Down Sermon by Rev. Bill Morgan What do you do when everything is suddenly different? When disease attacks, death strikes, or its shadow looms – any of those twists of life that turn your world upside down? Where do you go then? When the way it was no longer is, who do you become? |
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Rev. Bill Morgan
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Before his sermon, Morgan read an excerpt from Palmer's book. Click the link above to hear or download the reading.
You may read or download the sermon script below.
You may read or download the sermon script below.
January 20:
"Oh My God! I Am 68!"
Sermon by Roger Fritts
I share with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. the dubious distinction of having been born in the month of January. At the risk of being called narcissistic, the sermon will be a personal meditation on becoming a so-called “senior citizen.”
January 13:
If we can’t dance, what good is the revolution? Sermon by Josh Leach Starting out a career in human rights, I thought I knew the first rule of the struggle: no fun allowed. My work with the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee's grassroots partners over the past two years, however, has shown me I had it backward: the people closest to the struggle know better than most the importance of keeping joy and laughter alive. This sermon is about those times in the human rights movement when karaoke and dance fever are as essential as – and an inseparable part of – the work of bearing witness in solidarity. Before his sermon, Josh made these comments before showing the following video: |
Josh Leach
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UUSC Honduras from Nathan.works on Vimeo.
Josh Leach is Policy Analyst at the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, which he joined after a ministerial internship at First Parish in Bedford, Massachusetts, and completing his Master of Divinity degree at Harvard in 2015. Josh is the son of Julie and Brock Leach, long-time members of the UU Church of Sarasota. Josh's family first joined this church in 2000, after they moved to Florida, and Josh grew up attending here through middle and high school. He is a proud member of the congregation to this day.
As a policy analyst, Josh Leach supports UUSC’s programs and campaign work through strategic research, analysis, writing, and organizing. As the policy analyst for programs, research, and advocacy, he works closely with program leaders and the research team to identify partners, develop program strategy, and engage in research and advocacy initiatives that advance UUSC’s mission and vision, with a particular focus on the human rights of refugees and migrants.
Before joining the staff full time, Leach worked for 18 months as a research consultant and program intern at UUSC, where his work centered in particular on Central America and the Syrian refugee crisis. He has also served as a consultant on advocacy and education projects for the Unitarian Universalist Association and the UU College of Social Justice, where he worked as a field education student while in graduate school.
Leach received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago, where he studied modern European history. He also holds a Master of Divinity degree from Harvard University.
As a policy analyst, Josh Leach supports UUSC’s programs and campaign work through strategic research, analysis, writing, and organizing. As the policy analyst for programs, research, and advocacy, he works closely with program leaders and the research team to identify partners, develop program strategy, and engage in research and advocacy initiatives that advance UUSC’s mission and vision, with a particular focus on the human rights of refugees and migrants.
Before joining the staff full time, Leach worked for 18 months as a research consultant and program intern at UUSC, where his work centered in particular on Central America and the Syrian refugee crisis. He has also served as a consultant on advocacy and education projects for the Unitarian Universalist Association and the UU College of Social Justice, where he worked as a field education student while in graduate school.
Leach received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago, where he studied modern European history. He also holds a Master of Divinity degree from Harvard University.
January 6:
As we approach the birthday of Dr. King, I want to reflect on the story of a Sarasota Unitarian Universalist family in the 1960s who showed great courage in the simple act of buying a house.
This will be an “Auction Sermon.” For many years my offer at our annual church service auction has been lunch with the minister and an opportunity to suggest a sermon topic. Last year Marie Keeney was the high bidder and she suggested a sermon about courageous people, moral heroes. Last August Rev. Brock Leach invited me to attend the dedication of a portrait of Dr. John Chenault at Sarasota Memorial's medical office in Newton. I learned about the story of three people, Elizabeth Moore and Dorothy and John Chenault. I realized that this was my auction service, and also my annual January service honoring the civil rights movement during the month that Dr. King was born. January 6, with the help of several members of our congregation, we will tell this story about Sarasota in the early 1960s. Image: lorireinalda.com
As we approach the birthday of Dr. King, I want to reflect on the story of a Sarasota Unitarian Universalist family in the 1960s who showed great courage in the simple act of buying a house.
This will be an “Auction Sermon.” For many years my offer at our annual church service auction has been lunch with the minister and an opportunity to suggest a sermon topic. Last year Marie Keeney was the high bidder and she suggested a sermon about courageous people, moral heroes. Last August Rev. Brock Leach invited me to attend the dedication of a portrait of Dr. John Chenault at Sarasota Memorial's medical office in Newton. I learned about the story of three people, Elizabeth Moore and Dorothy and John Chenault. I realized that this was my auction service, and also my annual January service honoring the civil rights movement during the month that Dr. King was born. January 6, with the help of several members of our congregation, we will tell this story about Sarasota in the early 1960s. Image: lorireinalda.com