Sunnyhill Unitarian Universalist

Everything is HolyRev. Jim MagawRalph Waldo Emerson, one of our most famous Unitarian forbears, wrote: “all things are friendly and sacred, all events profitable, all days holy, all [humans] divine.” What does it mean to be part of a faith tradition that seeks the holy not just in certain places but everywhere?www.sunnyhill.org

Any significant undertaking will almost certainly involve significant risk and the possibility of failure. Any venture that is not at least somewhat risky is probably not much of a venture. And vulnerability is a necessary part of any project that is worth doing and is an essential element of success. This sermon will explore risk, failure and success in the context of our congregation’s proposed capital campaign as well as in our personal lives.www.sunnyhill.org

Omnia Mutantur, Rev. Jim MagawOne of the central messages of Easter (and of most religious traditions) can be summarized in two words: everything transforms. Why is this such an important idea and how can it help us, no matter what our religious beliefs might be?www.sunnyhill.org

Our Universalist forbears believed that it was up to each of us to create something like the kingdom of heaven on earth–to work for justice, to act with compassion and mercy, to be generous in bringing abundance to all, and to love the hell out of the world.  What are we doing today to fulfill this same vision?www.sunnyhill.org

The gospel of Mark’s parable of the mustard seed challenges its readers to think about such issues as faith, doubt, and the power of community. What does this parable have to say to us about our own lives and our own era?www.sunnyhill.org

What is the good news of our current era? Is there such a thing as “good news” when we are facing so many grim challenges? This sermon–the first of four inspired by the Gospel of Mark–will explore what it means to be bringers of good news, even (or especially) in dark times.www.sunnyhill.org

One of the greatest challenges in life is paying attention. Sometimes, when things are difficult to experience, we really don’t want to pay attention. Other times, we simply forget. However, when we do pay attention, we’re better able to cope with reality and to appreciate all that is good in our lives and in our world.www.sunnyhill.org

The phrase “my cup overflows” is a translation of the Hebrew phrase kosi r’vaya from the 23rd Psalm. Our spiritual cup often overflows–with joy, with sorrow, with wonder, with worry. What does it mean to live life from a place of abundance and overflowing rather than scarcity and emptiness?www.sunnyhill.org

Dust and AshesRepentance is one of the major themes of the Christian liturgical season of Lent. What does repentance look like in our contemporary context, and is it even a useful concept here and now?www.sunnyhill.org

Community & ConnectionJulie Ann Sullivan, Rev. Jim MagawWhat are the benefits of being part of a healthy, thriving community, and what does it take to create and sustain such communities? In this service, we will explore these questions and others.www.sunnyhill.org

As part of a liberatory Reproductive Justice movement, we affirm our commitment to building a world in which all people are able to make choices about their bodies, their health, and their families within safe, thriving communities.www.sunnyhill.org

It has been said that “if you’re not outraged, you’re not paying attention.” While it’s true that outrage and anger are appropriate, necessary, and even productive emotions, it is also true that something more is needed to nurture and sustain social justice movements. How do we bring both our outrage and our love to this work?www.sunnyhill.org

One of the most radical statements in the Christian gospels is expressed in three simple words: God is love.  What are the real implications of conceptualizing God not as some distant all-powerful being but rather as something familiar and down-to-earth that manifests itself in countless life-sustaining, life-affirming ways?www.sunnyhill.org

Until recently, Bayard Rustin was one of the lesser-known leaders of the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s. What can we learn from the life and work of Rustin, a gay Black man who was, in many ways, ahead of his time? And how might his example inspire all of us to carry on his work today?www.sunnyhill.org

Frozen and Liberating LoveThe Frozen animated children’s film franchise explores the shadow side of the hero’s journey and collective identity. What are the implications of these themes for our own lives and our own culture? And how can courageous love lead to liberation, both for individuals and for society as a whole?www.sunnyhill.org

This service will be comprised of holiday­-themed music from various Sunnyhill members and friends, including the choir and other individuals and groups of all ages and many different styles. Come celebrate music and the season!  www.sunnyhill.org

Religious freedom and political resistance are major themes in the story of Hanukkah and the Maccabean revolt against the Seleucid Empire. In this service we will explore how and why these themes are just as relevant now as they have ever been.www.sunnyhill.org

While we might like to think that everything that happens is somehow logical and understandable, the truth is that all of existence is shrouded in mystery. Carl Sagan said, “The universe will always be much richer than our ability to understand it.” How do we lean into, and learn from, a sense of the mystery that is always present in our lives?www.sunnyhill.org

Drawing on the work of the transcendentalists and, more recently, Ursula Goodenough, this sermon will address issues of angst, anxiety, loneliness and hopelessness by focusing on the spiritual sense of being part of something larger than ourselves. What do natural theology and nontheist faith have to offer in response to these issues?www.sunnyhill.org

The great Christian mystic famously said, “If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.” Of the various kinds of prayers, prayers of thanksgiving might be the most powerful. How do we practice giving thanks, even in challenging times?www.sunnyhill.org