Help! YOU Need Somebody
This service will offer insight from the Meals on Wheels experience in the neighborhoods of Pittsburgh. It’s not always about the food.
Services
Democracy and Religion
Separation of church and state does not mean that religion has no role to play in democracy. How has conservative religion been co-opted and perverted in order to bolster authoritarianism and how can liberal religion be a positive force in building a healthy democracy from the ground up?
There Will Be Enough
How do we remain generous in a world that constantly tells us there isn’t enough? Drawing from his experiences accompanying immigrant families and his Catholic faith, Jaime Martinez reflects on abundance, grace, and dignity, exploring how the way we relate to one another may be one of the defining spiritual questions of our time.
Dugout Theologians
In his baseball novel “The Natural,” Bernard Malamud wrote: “We have two lives, Roy, the life we learn with and the life we live with after that. Suffering is what brings us toward happiness.” Whether you agree with this sentiment or not, there’s no doubt that baseball fans tend to be philosophical. This sermon will … Continued
Music as a Through Line
Through personal stories, we’ll explore how music can serve as a powerful through-line throughout our lives. Its remarkable ability to engage both the brain and body fosters healing, strengthens relationships, and creates a sense of belonging. Music also has a unique way of capturing emotions, preserving memories, and connecting us to people and moments long … Continued
Flower Service
We will celebrate the flower ritual, which was created by Norbert Capek, the founder of the Unitarian Church in Czechoslovakia, and which honors the beauty and uniqueness of each individual and the bouquet we create by joining together with one another to create communities of justice and compassion.
What to Do When You Don’t Know What to Do
Most of us have experienced moments in our lives when we are caught off-guard by something big for which we were not prepared. In fact, over the past few years, some of us have experienced many such moments. This sermon will offer some suggestions about what to do when you don’t know what to do.
The Voyage of Discovery
A reflection on how our lives are shaped by the surprises we never asked for — the wounds, the wonders, and the strange gifts along the way. Through story, science, and the poetry of Naomi Shihab Nye, Will invites us to see our journeys with new eyes.
Patriotism vs. Nationalism
In recent decades, we have seen the rise of a new “religious” nationalism that presents itself in the guise of a particular brand of “patriotism.” As members of a liberal religious community, we are guided by values that transcend national interests, so it is important to examine the difference between true patriotism (a noble virtue) … Continued
John 3:16 Revisited
In recent decades, John 3:16 has become perhaps the most famous (or infamous) verse in the Bible, and has served as shorthand for a fundamentalist understanding of Christianity. But there are other ways of reading this Bible passage that might lead to a more expansive understanding of the life and teachings of Jesus.