UU Society of Cleveland: Recent Episodes
Unitarian Universalist Society of Cleveland
The podcast of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Cleveland: Sunday sermons and more! Join us Sunday 11:00 a.m. for worship at 2728 Lancashire Rd. in Cleveland Heights
As the story goes, the Three Wise Men met the Baby Jesus on January 6, the Day of Epiphany. What happened after? Why did the scholars from the East visit this baby, and what was an infant supposed to do with frankincense and myrrh? And what lessons can these three people teach us today about our responsibilities to the vulnerable? Join Rev. Joe Cherry as he looks for the answers.
Sermon from 1/7/18
The UU tradition celebrates four communions through the year…Flower, Water, Bread and Fire. Join Peggy Lagodny and the congregation of the Society as we celebrate the Fire Communion…a time to help us to put in perspective the joys and sorrows, the changes and transitions, the ups and downs of the past year. A celebration to separate the end of the past year from the beginning and promise of the new. Please take some time before coming to service to think about the things you would like to leave behind with the passing of the old year, and an intention to set for the new.
You may want to have a small piece of paper, a pencil, and a candle to fully participate in this service.
Special thanks to the UUA Worship pages of their website for the inspiration for this serv [...]
We Unitarian Universalists are facing some tough questions right now. Do we make a difference? Can we really change lives? Sometimes we feel like we are all alone in trying to do the right thing in the midst of all the social and political turmoil we face. We sometimes feel like a drop in the bottom of a very large and very empty bucket. But there is good news - it doesn’t have to be like that.
Rev. Joan Van Becelaere is a congregational life consultant in the Central East Region and the Executive Director of UU Justice Ohio. She is the former vice-president for Student Services at the Iliff School of Theology, Denver CO, where she also taught Unitarian Universalist polity.
Sermon from 12/17/17
metoo. This Sunday Rev. Joe Cherry and Rev. Dr. Rina Shere talk about it, carefully. It’s complicated and messy, and there’s a lot of hurt. But part of what being in beloved community is is about tackling hard things.
During the early part of the service, Rev. Joe asked the men and the women of the congregation what they did on a day to day basis to feel safe. The first picture is the list from the men of the congregation. The rest of the pictures are from the women of the congregation.
Sermon from 12/10/17
Rev. Dr. Paula R. Cannon Gable writes: Sometimes, it’s hard for me to listen to the news these days. I feel discouraged by what’s coming out of D.C. I do not want to live in ignorance, but I do not like the strong negative feelings these broadcasts elicit. I really DO aspire to love my neighbors as I love myself. But, what if my neighbor promotes values that I find abhorrent? I’ll share my theological struggle, and perhaps tips on how our faith can help Hope and Love abide.
Sermon from 12/3/17.
Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson had the kind of friendship that makes both parties rise up to be better people. Come this Sunday with Rev. Joe Cherry to learn more about friendships that enrich our lives.
Sermon from 11/26/17.
Join worship leaders Amy Collins CLM and Robyn Herr this Sunday for our Annual Breads & Spreads service, where we celebrate the bounty of the harvest together with different kinds of breads and things to spread upon them. Think of them as kind of the diversity we strive to achieve in our lives together.
Sermon from 11/19/17
Join us as we explore the many complex issues surrounding Unitarian Universalism and the military. Rev. Rina Shere, a chaplain at the VA Medical Center in Wade Park, Cleveland, will speak about the history of our faith as it relates to the armed forces, offer a space for remembrance, and share stories about war and peace from the veterans she ministers to in times of sickness and crisis.
Sermon from 11/12/17
This Sunday Rev. Joe Cherry will explore the origins and spiritual response to the myth that what we have is never enough.
Sermon from 11/5/17
Just about every 500 years something big happens in Christendom. The first big shift (at 400 years) was the movement from outsider to official state religion for Christianity. In 1000 the Orthodox and Roman churches divided. In 1517 a Catholic monk, Martin Luther, hung 95 improvements on the door of his church, and the Protestant Reformation began. It’s 500 years later…
Sermon from 10/29/17
This Sunday we continue to explore this month’s theme of courage.
It takes courage to make amends for what we’ve done wrong in this world. Last month our Jewish friends and neighbors celebrated Yom Kippur a day to seek and offer forgiveness for transgressions over the past year. This is hard and deep work. Join Rev. Joe Cherry in a reflection on reclaiming dignity.
This Sunday we have four guest speakers from Edwins Restaurant to talk about their work there. EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institute is a 501(c)(3) organization that gives formerly incarcerated adults a foundation in the hospitality industry while providing a support network necessary for long-term success. Their mission is to teach a skilled trade in the culinary arts, empower willing minds through passion for the hospitality industry, and prepare students for a successful transit [...]
In our second service this year focusing on de-centering whiteness in our world, join Rev. Joe Cherry as we explore Dr. Robin Diangelo’s essay “11 Ways White America Avoids Taking Responsibility for its Racism,” and other contemporary thoughts about how we can help to build a world that truly embodies our First Principle.
Sermon from 10/15/17
This Sunday our elected Board of Trustees will lead our service and explore the future options of our congregation. Come and be a part of the conversation.
Sermon from 10/8/17
What can Francis Scott Key, Rod Serling and Cassandra of Greek Legend have in common? These three figures will feature prominently in Sunday’s sermon about the power of speaking against the status quo. If you want to know how you should, join Rev. Joe Cherry for this service.
Sermon from 10/1/17
Social Justice work is complicated by the expectations and fears of all involved, and yet it’s work that we are called to do. Journey with us down the path of imperfectly navigating the work of Social Justice as Rev. Joe Cherry asks the question “What’s it like to walk in your shoes?”.
Sermon from 9/24/17
In meeting new people, and being in relationship with others, mistakes are made. Social faux pas, cultural misunderstandings and unintended slights sometimes get in the way of good people trying to live good, honest lives. Join Rev. Joe Cherry as he looks through the lens of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur at human relationships with both the stranger and the friend.
Sermon from 9/17/17
Join us for our Annual Water Communion, the ritual by which we traditionally open the church year. We bring water from where we’ve been to be combined with the water of long term members and visitors alike, as we use water to symbolize the spiritual journey that we are all on as individuals.
Sermon from 9/10/17
The struggle against injustice is hard and weary-making work. One of the benefits of being in community is that you don’t have to struggle or re-charge on your own, there are others to help. Others with stories to hear, dry tears, and share laughter. Join Rev. Joe Cherry as he looks at ways to improve our lives while we work to improve the world.
Sermon from 9/3/17
Art accompanies us our whole life long. From nursery rhymes, which are both poetry and song. Striking visual images in the form of photographs or paintings..we experience art every day, all day, in our lives. Sometimes though one piece…a song, a painting, a dance…sticks with us our whole lives, and as we grow and mature we may find deeper meanings in these special pieces Join Rev. Joe Cherry to explore art and spirituality.
Reflection of an Artist by our very talented pianist, Karin Tooley.
Please take a few moments before you listen to the podcast to watch these two videos.
Both Sides Now 1969
Join us this Sunday as we welcome the Rev. Renee Ruchotzke into our pulpit. Rev. Renee is part of the Central Region’s Congregational Staff and has been involved in discussions having to do with our future and the possibility of re-uniting our congregation with that of First Unitarian Church. This Sunday she’ll be preaching on Holy Curiosity.
Sermon from8/20/17