Murray
Church Sermons
|
|
April 15, 2018
"Celebrating Religious Freedom" by
Rev. Gretchen
E.
Weis
|
It was 450 years ago when the Unitarian Faith was declared a
legitimate religion in Eastern Europe, thanks to the groundbreaking Edict of
Torda. Let’s take a look back at a
pivotal moment in our faith history to celebrate this all-important milestone
when religious freedom was declared the law of the land. It’s also our annual Celebration Sunday
when we announce the financial pledge results for our Stewardship Campaign for
the 2018-2019 church year ahead.
|
April 8, 2018
"Doubt: The Ants in the Pants of
Faith" by
Rev. Gretchen
E.
Weis
|
Doubt is an
essential part of exploring and living our
beliefs. In the words of Frederick
Buechner: “…if you don’t have any
doubts, you are either kidding yourself, or asleep." Doubts are the ants
in the pants of faith. They keep it awake and moving.” Let’s take a
closer look at sacred
skepticism and the importance of lifelong questioning as part of our
faith journey to define
our most important beliefs.
|
April 1, 2018
"The Promise of Easter" by
Rev. Gretchen
E.
Weis
|
Who
is
to
say
what
Easter
is?
And
why
we
celebrate
and
sing
a
joyful
Alleluia?
Come
join
us
as
we
explore
the
Easter
promise
that
some
things
will
never
die.
W.
Edward
Harris
observes
that
the
darkest
times
in
the
human
spirit
are
always
succeeded
by
the
renewal
of
life.
Just
as
there
is
loneliness,
abandonment,
brutality,
cruelty,
hate
and
fear,
so,
too
are
there
values
and
principles
that
cannot
be
killed
and
buried.
Justice,
Truth,
Beauty,
Love,
and
Courage,
will
continue
to
rise
up
again,
and
again,
throughout
the
ages
providing
hope
to
illuminate
the
human
experience.
Alleluia!
|
March 25,
2018
"Sneaking into Jerusalem by the
Back
Door" by
Rev. Gretchen
E.
Weis
|
It’s
Palm
Sunday,
which
celebrates
Jesus’
entry
into
Jerusalem
at
the
start
of
the
Passover
Celebration
week
—
the
final
week
of
his
life.
Why
did
he
choose
to
enter
Jerusalem
by
a
back
gate,
riding
on
a
donkey?
And
why
did
his
followers
salute
him
with
palm
leaves?
What
statement
was
he
trying
to
make,
mocking
the
might
and
power
of
the
Roman
Empire?
|
March 18,
2018
"Keepers of the Flame" Stewardship
Sunday Service
by
Rev. Gretchen
E.
Weis
|
This
is
a
healthy,
thriving
congregation,
making
a
positive
difference
in
people’s
lives,
and
in
the
life
of
our
larger
community.
It’s
Stewardship
Sunday,
where
members
and
friends
are
asked
to
pledge
their
financial
support
for
the
2018-2019
church
year
ahead.
This
year’s
theme
is
“Lighting
Our
Way,”
as
together,
we
help
to
create
the
larger
burning
light
of
religious
freedom,
of
personal
truth
and
moral
values,
of
life-altering
acceptance
and
loving
kindness,
and
of
a
hope
that
heals
and
renews.
Our
church
receives
no
outside
financial
help.
We
are
supported
solely
through
the
generosity
of
our
members
and
friends.
As
we
continue
to
attract
new
families
and
our
children’s
program
continues
to
grow,
we
invite
all
to
give
generously
to
not
only
the
church
we
are
today,
but
the
church
we
are
becoming.
Can
we
count
on
you
to
be
a
Keeper
of
the
Flame?.
|
March 11,
2018
"Our Own Glass House" with Rev. Gretchen
E.
Weis,
Shelley
Stark,
Louis
Jackson
and
Lucia
Field
|
It
was
about
a
year
ago
when
our
denomination
headquarters
erupted
amid
accusations
of
racist
hiring
practices,
as
yet
again,
a
white
male
minister
was
hired
for
a
key
leadership
position
over
equally
qualified
people
of
color.
Within
weeks,
the
UUA
president,
chief
operating
officer
and
congregational
life
director
all
resigned.
Murray
member
Lucia
Santini
Field
serves
on
the
national
board
of
the
UUA
and
has
had
a
front
row
seat
this
past
year
to
the
angry
confrontations,
key
learnings
and
painful
transformation
evolving
from
this
controversy.
Lucia
will
share
her
story
with
us.
In
addition,
Murray
members
Shelley
Stark
and
Louis
Jackson
will
share
their
heartfelt
concerns
about
why
Murray
Church
remains
a
predominantly
white
congregation
and
what
we
might
all
do
to
help
that
change.
We
also
welcome
new
members
this
Sunday,
as
well.
|
February 25,
2018
"Dare to Dream" by Rev. Gretchen
E.
Weis
|
There
are
an
estimated
800,000
young
adults
who
were
brought
illegally
to
America
as
infants
or
young
children
who
are
identified
as
Dreamers
-
covered
under
the
Deferred
Action
for
Childhood
Arrivals
(DACA)
policy
that
is
set
to
expire.
Who
are
these
young
people,
who
have
grown
up
here,
been
educated
here,
who
work
or
go
to
college,
and
pay
taxes,
and
have
never
known
another
home
country
except
America?
Let's
hear
from
a
few
of
these
Dreamers
who
grew
up
in
our
area,
as
they
share
their
stories
and
help
to
put
a
face
on
this
all-important
immigration
issue.
|
February 18
2018
"Love the Hell Out of This World"
Matt
Meyer
&
The
Religious
Services
Committee
|
Join
the
Religious
Services
Committee
for
a
fun-filled
Sunday
morning
service
conducted
by
well-known
GA
drummer
and
spiritual
leader
Matt
Meyer.
Matt
is
a
artist
in
percussion
and
experienced
in
a
variety
of
styles.
He
is
a
graduate
of
the
Berklee
College
of
Music
and
has
studied
abroad
in
Cuba,
Ghana
and
Central
America.
A
love
of
music
and
a
deep
respect
for
its
ability
to
stir
and
transform
audiences
is
at
the
heart
of
Matt's
continuing
devotion
to
understand
more
of
the
world's
cultures
through
the
vocabulary
of
rhythm.
|
February 11
2018
"Love and Marriage: Sharing Our
Stories"
by
Rev.
Gretchen
E.
Weis
|
Human
marriage
partnering
is
as
old
as
time,
and
in
many
cultures,
it
was
common
for
parents
to
arrange
marriages
for
their
children.
The
practice
of
people
selecting
their
own
partners
based
on
romantic
love
is
a
relatively
new
concept
in
the
human
story.
Yet,
sadly,
one
in
two
marriages
fail
in
today's
world.
What
are
the
secrets
to
a
happy
marriage?
On
this
Sunday
closest
to
Valentine's
Day,
let's
hear
from
a
few
Murray
couples
as
they
share
their
love
stories.
|
February 4,
2018
"Digital Distraction: Who Are We
Becoming"
by
Rev.
Gretchen
E.
Weis
|
Technology
is
certainly
changing
our
lives.
But
how
is
it
changing
our
bodies,
our
psychological
health,
our
brain's
ability
to
focus
and
make
decisions?
Entire
new
industries
have
sprung
up
dedicated
to
capturing
and
selling
human
distraction
on
digital
devices.
When
recent
studies
reveal
that
the
average
American
touches
their
cell
phone
2,617
times
a
day,
what
does
this
mean
to
our
long-term
physical,
mental
and
spiritual
health?
|
January, 28,
2018
"Widening Our Hearts"
by
Rev.
Gretchen
E.
Weis
|
Compassion is at the core of every religious tradition, yet
we don’t see enough empathy and loving kindness at work in the world. How might we open our hearts up to
embrace and embody greater compassion in our day to day living? Let’s explore
thoughts from a number of spiritual leaders and religious scholars in our quest
to help create a more loving and just world.
|
January, 21,
2018
"This I Believe - Continuing the
Conversation"
by
Rev.
Gretchen
E.
Weis
|
Our religious freedom encourages the individual search for
ultimate truth and meaning.
We are each called to be in relationship with whatever we deem to be
most sacred. Last month, we began
a celebration of the diversity of beliefs found here at Murray Church. Let us continue that celebration as we hear
from three more of you to share your experiences and beliefs.
|
January, 14,
2018
"Bob Marley: One Love" by
the
Murray
Musicians
and
the
Choir
|
The
Music
Committee
service
is
focused
on
the
life
and
times
of
Bob
Marley.
Bob
Marley
rose
from
being
an
impoverished
youth
in
Jamaica
to
being
an
international
superstar
in
a
very
short
period
of
time.
His
short
life,
religious
beliefs
and
dedication
to
love,
brotherhood
and
world
peace
will
be
presented.
The
Murray
Musicians
and
choir
perform
some
of
Bob
Marley's
most
popular
&
memorable tunes.
|
January, 7,
2018
"New Starts, New Beginnings"
By
Rev.
Gretchen
E
Weis
|
What
stories
have
you
outgrown,
what
habits,
beliefs
or
behaviors
no
longer
serve
you?
Growth
and
deepening
–
letting
go
of
the
old
to
make
room
for
a
new,
fresh
start
–
is
a
natural
cycle
of
life.
Join
us
for
our
annual
Fire
Communion,
as
we
release
the
old
in
our
burning
bowl
and
welcome
in
new
blessings
for
the
New
Year
ahead.
|
December 31,
2017
"Reflecting on the Past: Wishes
for
the
New
Year"
Ruth
Dubrot
&
the
Murray
Youth
|
We
invite
you
to
spend
a
special
New
Year's
Eve
day
service
with
us
to
celebrate
what
we
are
calling
"Wishes
for
the
World."
This
service
will
feature
the
Youth
from
Murray
Church,
led
by
Ruth
Debrot,
who
will
be
singing,
dancing,
reading
poetry
and
playing
music.
What
a
joyful
way
to
end
2017
and
welcome
the
New
Year!
Congregants
will
write
their
own
"wishes,"
and
the
youth
will
read
them
to
the
congregation.
|
December 17,
2017
"The First Christmas"
by
Rev.
Gretchen
E
Weis
|
The
Bible
tells
several
different
stories
about
the
birth
of
Jesus.
These
stories
are
more
than
sentimental.
Scholars
Marcus
Borg
and
John
Dominic
Crossan
examine
these
nativity
parables
and
help
us
sift
out
the
historic,
political
meanings
behind
these
beloved
tales
of
the
First
Century
Mediterranean
world.
What
did
these
stories
mean
then,
and
what
might
they
mean
for
us
in
the
twenty-first
century?
|
December 10,
2017
"This I Believe"
by
Rev.
Gretchen
E
Weis
|
Ours
is
a
“big
tent”
filled
with
differing
personal
beliefs.
This
diversity
is
one
of
our
greatest
strengths,
celebrated
in
the
phrase:
“many
beliefs,
one
faith.”
Come
celebrate
the
diversity
of
belief
here
at
Murray
Church,
as
we
hear
from
some
new
voices
sharing
their
personal
statements
of
faith,
modeled
after
the
“This
I
Believe”
format
heard
on
National
Public
Radio.
|
December 3,
2017
"We Need a Little Christmas Now"
by
Rev.
Gretchen
E
Weis
|
It's
been
a
challenging
year,
filled
with
stories
of
pain,
suffering,
violence
and
hate.
Our
hearts
might
be
feeling
raw
and
tender.
I
don't
know
about
you,
but
I
could
sure
use
a
little
of
the
Christmas
spirit
right
about
now.
Come
gather
as
we
connect
to
the
deeper
values
of
the
season
-
hope,
love,
peace
and
joy.
|
November 26,
2017
"Through the Valley"
Guest
Speaker
David
Egan
|
David
will
share
some
of
his
experiences
from
this
past
summer
working
as
a
hospital
chaplin,
and
what
it
means
to
walk
with
people
who
are
near
death
and
the
theologica
and
existential
questions
that
arise.
David
Egan
is
the
ministerial
intern
at
the
Old
Ship
Church
in
Hingham.
He
is
a
Masters
of
Divinity
student
at
Andover
Newton
Theological
School
and
hopes
to
go
into
parish
ministry
after
graduation.
|
November 19,
2017
"The Power of Thanksgiving"
by
Rev.
Gretchen
E.
Weis
|
Join us for our traditional Thanksgiving service, where we
explore the power of living in gratitude – Thanksliving – as we acknowledge the
abundance and many blessings of our lives. Our traditional cornbread and cider communion will be served
for this all-important multigenerational family service.
|
November 12,
2017
"Pilgrim's Progress"
by
Rev.
Gretchen
E.
Weis
|
We
talk
about
our
lives
as
spiritual
journeys,
but
what,
exactly
do
we
mean
by
that?
Some
faiths
provide
a
clear,
set
path
of
beliefs,
that
steer
towards
a
specific
spiritual
goal.
Our
faith
encourages
us
to
wonder,
as
we
wander.
We
are
invited
to
be
our
own
trailblazers.
The
way
forward
may
be
neither
straightforward
nor
clear.
So,
where
are
you
in
your
setting
out,
your
wondering,
your
wandering,
and
how
does
your
path
lead
back
home?
|
November 5,
2017
"To Want What We Have"
by
Rev.
Gretchen
E.
Weis
|
It’s
human
nature
to
notice
the
things
others
have
and
want
the
same
things
for
ourselves.
When
we
see
the
world
through
the
lens
of
scarcity,
we
play
right
into
the
hand
of
our
consumer
culture
that
pressures
us
to
buy
and
own
more,
more,
and
more
stuff.
When
we
view
our
lives
through
the
lens
of
abundance
and
gratitude,
are
we
willing
to
let
go
of
envy,
let
go
of
having
what
we
want,
perhaps
even
let
go
of
some
of
our
stuff,
and
open
ourselves
to
wanting
what
we
have?
|
October 29,
2017
"One Brave Whistle Blower"
by
Rev.
Gretchen
E.
Weis
|
Celebrating the 500th anniversary of a young monk
named Martin Luther who nailed his criticisms and complaints against the
all-powerful Catholic Church to the cathedral door in Wittenburg, Germany, on October 31, 1517, and
gave birth to the Protestant Reformation.
|
October 22,
2017
"Exploring Diwali: Let there be
Light"
with
Kavita
Vansant
&
Rev.
Gretchen
E.
Weis
|
Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights celebrated
every year in autumn in the northern hemisphere. It is one of the most popular festivals of Hinduism, and includes
millions of lights and lamps shining on housetops, outside doors and windows,
around temples and other buildings. Diwali spiritually signifies the victory of light over darkness,
good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair. Kavita Vansant,
our
Director
of
Lifespan
Religious
Education, helps co-lead this
multi-generational worship as we explore some spiritual and cultural diversity,
together.
|
October 15,
2017
"Living in Anxious Times"
by
Rev.
Gretchen
E.
Weis
|
Life
is
full
of
uncertainty.
The
rate
of
change
in
our
digital
world
continues
to
increase.
Today’s
news
can
feel
overwhelming.
Life
often
feels
beyond
our
control.
We
are
living
in
anxious
times.
What
can
we
do
in
the
face
of
today’s
challenges,
to
take
good
care
of
ourselves,
and
of
our
children
--
to
find
our
way
back
to
center
when
life
feels
chaotic?
|
October 8,
2017
"Columbus, Colonialism, and Compassion"
by
Guest
Minister
Rev.
Ann
Fox
|
Many
Native
Americans,
who
arrived
in
North
America
13,000
years
before
Columbus,
question
why
we
bother
to
name
a
special
day
for
him.
They
say
it
is
an
insult
to
them.
After
all,
he
mistreated
and
enslaved
the
inhabitants
of
all
the
lands
he
found.
They
say
that
we
should
rename
the
day
Indigenous
People's
Day.
What
do
you
think?
Let's
explore.
Rev.
Ann
Fox
is
Minister
Emerita
of
Unitarian
Memorial
Church,
Fairhaven,
MA.
She
retired
from
full-time
ministry
in
2014.
|
October 1,
2017
"The Forgiveness Project"
by
Rev.
Gretchen
E.
Weis
|
Crime,
violence
and
wartime
horrors
can
shatter
and
change
lives
forever.
Journalist
Marina
Cantacuzino
began
to
collect
personal
stories
from
around
the
world
from
people
who
have
experienced
unimaginable
loss
and
pain,
and
their
respective
paths
towards
ultimate
forgiveness
and
reconciliation.
Exploring
forgiveness
as
an
alternative
to
resentment
or
revenge,
Cantacuzino
created
The
Forgiveness
Project,
a
collection
of
testimonies
that
demonstrate
the
power
and
grace
forgiveness
can
play,
transforming
both
victims
and
perpetrators
alike.
Let's
explore
a
few
of
these
extraordinary
stories,
to
see
how
they
might
speak
to
us.
|
September, 24, 2017
"Come, Let us Be Faithful Fools,
Together"
by
Rev.
Gretchen
E.
Weis
|
Ours is a faith built on doubting, questioning, passing beliefs through the fire of our own experience and reason before defining our deepest truths. While some doubts are healthy, other doubts can keep us small. What do you take on faith? What possibilities call to you? What edges do you find yourself perched upon, that invite you to step off, in the hopes that you may just sprout wings? What does it mean to live a faithful life? How does your faith call you to action, to help create a better world?
|
September, 17, 2017
"Opening Our Doors, Wide"
by
Rev.
Gretchen
E.
Weis
|
Changes in technology and culture are opening up new
opportunities for churches in the 21st
Century. What
lessons can the online world teach today’s churches about reaching out,
encouraging engagement and building community?
We are a thriving, vital beloved faith community. And we have a lot to
offer those who are seeking a kinder, gentler, more loving and just
seeking place for themselves and for their children — especially for
families of color, as the hate-filled voices of the KKK and other
neo-hazi right wing groups are on the rise. How can we help others
discover our church and
share in the spirit of love, acceptance and inclusion here? Let us be
intentional and swing our doors open wide to invite in the many seeking
what we have to offer.
|
September 10, 2017
"Ingathering. Water Communion" by
Rev.
Gretchen
E. Weis
|
We
gather
once
more
to begin
a new
church
year
together.
Please
bring
a water
sample,
a symbol
of how
you
spent
your
summer,
to add
to our
shared
water
communal
bowl.
It doesn't
matter
where
your
water
sample
comes
from
- half
a world,
or a
state
or two
away,
or from
the
kitchen
sink,
or the
garden
hose
in your
own
back
yard.
As we
gather,
let
us celebrate
It is
good
to be
together
once
again.
nd,
special
thanks
to the
wonderful
folks
from
the
Religious
Services
Committee
who
provided
such
rich,
thoughtful
and
inspiring
Worship
all
summer
long!
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