Sermons

Some people think Christmas should be outlawed. Christmas celebrations were actually illegal in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts until the mid-19th century. What did Unitarians have to do with traditions such as the Christmas tree, and how does it all relate to the movement to abolish slavery in the U.S.? (Speaker: The Rev. Lisa Romantum Schwartz) (Note: This sermon was preached on the Sunday after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings in Newtown, Connecticut.)

In 1961, Unitarians and Universalists merged and became Unitarian Universalists. They vowed to honor the important elements of each faith group as they came together. Over the course of the last nearly 50 years, though, Universalism has been nearly edged out of the room. We seldom talk about Universalism’s looming presence or its traditions and stories. What might be gained by noting its presence? What might be lost if we don’t? (Speaker: The Rev. Lisa Romantum Schwartz)

This presentation centers on three major points: 1) inner-personal peace, 2) communicating and relating peacefully, and 3) peacemaking with all Earth’s inhabitants. The information comes from a variety of sources, including information gleaned from the works of Marshall Rosenberg, William Ury, the 14th Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh, Mahatma Gandhi, and the Unitarian Universalist Peacemaking Congregational Study Action Issue (CSAI) program materials. I became interested in developing this topic called “Creating Peace in Our Lives” several years ago when I reviewed the UUA study/action materials for the social justice committee at the UUFMC when I lived in Florida. Information about that study can be found on the UUA website. (Speaker: Ann Barefield)