Sermons & Talks

December 14, 2025 by Amanda K Gross I have been asked to speak about hope, which, interestingly, is a word I don’t often choose to use. Hope on its own feels flimsy to me. It smells a bit like the semi-smug well wishes of “hopes and prayers,” as a performance of caring, the impact of which too often communicates: I want you to know that I’m aware that you’re suffering, but I will probably—no, most definitely—not do anything to bring an end to your suffering, especially if it

by David Lane November 9, 2025 It was a Saturday afternoon. I was pushing a grocery cart at Kroger‘s on my way to bread or bananas. And suddenly at the far end of the aisle Beryl  Lawson came into view, also pushing a grocery cart. When she saw me, she  started to wave her arms furiously, to get my attention. So for the moment putting all thought of shopping aside, I rushed to see what was going on. A really good discount? A preview of the service upcoming the following day a

by Linda A. Dove October 26, 2025 When I was little, my mother knitted two teddy bears for me. I loved them to death. I played with them and wet the bed when I couldn't have them with me to cuddle. Later, mother got rid of my bears without telling me. I was terribly upset. Then, 50 years later, clearing my parents' attic, I came across my teddy bears. I was overjoyed. They're still valuable to me and I don't wet the bed any more. They're valuable but not sacred. Now bear with

by Rev. Janet Onnie August 17, 2025 Back in 1978 Alban Institute consultant, Roy Oswald, wrote a 19-page treatise on how to leave a congregation called “Running Through the Thistles.”  In it he suggests that styles of saying ‘hello’ and ‘goodbye’ are learned very early.  He relates his own childhood experience of being run through a patch of thistles by his older brothers.  It was a significant shortcut on their way home from school.  He said, “I can still vividly remember th

by Rev. Janet Onnie August 10, 2025             For those of you who like courtroom dramas, this is your day.  I’ve been intrigued by this story since I heard it in seminary, and it has informed much of the way I think about the tension between individuals and their institutions. The setting is Ottoman Empire in the sixteenth century. This was not a period of history known for its tranquility.  In the rest of Europe at this time blood was flowing freely over religious dispute

By Rev. Janet Onnie July 20, 2025             Well, my friends, life in this not-so-United States has not gotten better for those of us who center our values in love.  I admit I am suffering with the realization that it’s likely that we’re not who I thought we were.  I imagine I’m not alone in this disillusionment no matter where you fit on the political spectrum.  For the past five months or so we have been whip-lashed from one catastrophe to another. Chaos and uncertainty i

By Rev Janet Onnie July 13, 2025 The Shenandoah Valley is in mid-summer.  So are the mountain towns in the Blue Ridge.  I know this because the Farmers Markets are brimming with produce and flowers, there’s a smell of charcoal and sunscreen in the air, and I read email messages from friends in far-flung places.  I know that many of you are no longer confined to summer to indulge in your wanderlust, but the rhythms of childhood are hard to break.  July in America – at least th

by Dianne Davis-Meadow June 29, 2025 I'm sure you already figured it out and won't be shocked by what I'm about to say because you've already seen the Order of Service. I am an atheist. It feels strange, honestly, to be standing inside a church and saying that out loud. As an atheist, walking into a church feels a little like going to a costume party where I’m the only one not in costume… and I’m afraid they might hand me a Bible instead of a drink. But for the first time in

by Bill Faw June 22, 2025 In November, 2021 , I gave a zoom sermon to HUU on “ The Seasons of Our Life and of the Soul”.  Irv was also my facilitator that day. Today, I will repeat part of the Seasons of the Soul, in order to then expand the metaphor to seasons of democracy for nations and the world . PART ONE: SEASONS OF THE SOUL In her challis reading, Andi set the stage for seeing seasons of the soul as cycles of good and bad experiences in life, through the famous wo

Rev. Janet Onnie June 15, 2025 Reflection:  My Grandfather’s Apron My grandfather was a small, wiry man with a thick head of hair, a slow smile, and an emotional reserve expressed in silence.  (Although he did become more animated when discussing the affairs of the church over Sunday suppers.)  He was a reader of books and collector of relics left over from the former inhabitants of the Ohio land where he had our small dairy farm.  Some of those relics turned up by his plow –

by Rev. Janet Onnie June 8, 2025 The new worship team has been meeting to look at the Sunday services here at HUU. One of the more theologically interesting discussions refers to the Order of Service. They asked the very good question why we do what we do in the order we do them. Why do we have to have an Order of service ? Why is it not called the Order of Worship? They’re not so much interested in changing the elements of the Sunday service or even their order. Like

By Rev. Janet Onnie May 18, 2025             “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” If you’re a subscriber to process theology, all seasons are seasons for change.  As we heard in the reading, “We must choose every moment how we will relate to the new world aborning in our midst.”              The events of these past few months have given us a glimpse of one possible ‘new world’ aborning.  And it’s not one designed to soothe anxiety.  T

by Rev Janet Onnie May 11, 2025 I have mixed feelings about preaching on Mothers Day – balancing terror and wonder.  Terror because I know that no matter what I say at best I’m going to leave someone out.  At worst I’ll going to engender painful memories.  I worry about the responses of women who have – by chance or by choice -- not had children.  Or have buried their children.  Or given them up.  Or lost them to circumstances way, way beyond their control.  Or simply don’t l

by Merle Wenger May 5 2025 UU Minute James Luther Adams (1901-1994) was a prominent Unitarian Universalist theologian and a significant figure in 20th-century liberal religious thought. Born in 1901 in a small Nebraska town, Adams faced a challenging youth that shaped his commitment to social justice and religious pluralism. He studied at several institutions, including Harvard Divinity School, where he was influenced by both Unitarianism and the pragmatism of philosophers l

by Ben Campbell April 27, 2015 I want to begin by saying that you might not agree with everything I am about to say – and that’s OK. It’s OK in Unitarian Universalism far more than it is in any other faith I know of. If you look around on the HUU website, you’ll find a pamphlet titled 100 Questions That Non-Members Ask About Unitarian Universalism. One thing it says is “We do not believe that any religious precept or doctrine must be accepted as true simply because some relig

By Rev. Kirk Ballin February 23, 2025 Revolutionary Love By Dayna Edwards I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for my faith. My faith that our collective love united can drown out the evils of empire and hate and greed; Together we create a love energy more powerful than any force of oppression. Because When two or more people are gathered side by side, arm in arm, shoulder to shoulder the force of love ignites liberation. Revolutionary love calls us to know ourselves deeply see

by Rev. Janet Onnie February 16, 2025 The offertory this morning was the familiar song by The Beatles, “All You Need Is Love.” I have always been slightly uncomfortable with this sentiment.  It was the same sort of general discomfort – manifesting itself as annoyance – at the Hallmark sentiments on Mothers Day, Fathers Day, Grandparents Day, and all the other “days”.  Too often these Hallmark holidays excuse perfectly awful behavior toward the one being honored the rest of th

by Rev. Janet Onnie February 6, 2025 In the Word for All Ages this morning you heard the story of a Taco falling apart and, with the help of friends, one in particular, pulling itself back together.  Then in the reading you heard the very abbreviated story of David & Goliath, found in the 17 th chapter of the first Book of Samuel in the Hebrew bible.  This is a familiar story to anyone who attended Sunday School, corporate motivational workshops, or psychological roundtables

By Bill Faw January 26, 2025 Good morning. Merle asked me 2-3 months ago if I could speak on “evil” at HUU. So this is a “commissioned address.” For my 15th message at HUU, I will talk about how folks, who don’t believe in Satan or hell, can talk meaningfully about evil. This talk draws upon research I did a few years ago for a conference lecture on psychopaths ; also draws on philosopher Todd Calder’s article on “The Concept of Evil” in the on-line Stanford Philosophy Encyc

By Rev. Janet Onnie January 12, 2025 I want to talk with you today about transformation and the story we tell ourselves about it. Along the way we’ll touch on process theology -- the notion that we are co-creators in our lives with God (however you define that) and how relates to transformation. And we’ll end with the idea that maybe what we in this religious community say what we’re about – transforming lives – maybe that story isn’t true. Maybe what we’re abo