Listen to the sermon here: Big Magic or watch and listen to the sermon on Facebook. You may have figured out by now that my usual preaching style is to start with an opening — a story, a quote, a news story. Build it up into larger context, link it to one or more of … [Read more…]
Listen to the sermon here: Distributed Denial of Service or watch and listen to the sermon on Facebook In his reflection, Steve spoke of experiences in which he witnessed the immense gulf between different populations in our world, a gulf that is only growing as our ability to innovate technology increases and the very valid … [Read more…]
Listen to the sermon here: The Courage of Creativity or watch and listen to the sermon on Facebook Y’all would not believe the time I have had writing this sermon for today. Oh, the irony of getting writers’ block on a piece about creativity! But there you go. Stuck on that blank, white page. Kids … [Read more…]
Listen to the sermon here: We Were Made For This or watch and listen to the sermon on Facebook I’ve gotten lots of questions about what today’s sermon will be about. I’ve deflected all of them — partly because, well, I wanted people to show up. And partly because, I think, I wasn’t sure where … [Read more…]
Listen to the sermon here: We Are Groot Or, watch and listen to the sermon on Facebook When I was initially working on this sermon, as evidenced by the description of the worship service from January, I thought the focus should be more on our first principle, the inherent worth and dignity of every person. … [Read more…]
Listen to the homily here: Ten Days of Returning Or, watch and listen to the homily on Facebook I spent this summer working as a chaplain at Vanderbilt. And one of the most heartbreaking encounters I had was with a person I’ll call Alex. Alex had been admitted for observation, as they had a lot … [Read more…]
Listen to the sermon here: Jeanne D’Arc Or, watch and listen to the sermon on Facebook Joan of Arc. The name has passed into legend around the world, the Maid lifted up into sainthood. Her story has been re-imagined, retold, and adapted over and over again, from Mark Twain’s novelization of the historical records in … [Read more…]
Watch and listen to the sermon on Facebook The Book of Revelation. It’s a letter written by a person who called themselves John, meant for seven communities in Asia that had gathered around a belief in Jesus Christ. Unlike today, when Christian identity is linked with power and empire, Christian communities (even before they were … [Read more…]
Listen to the sermon here: We Ask the Church Or, watch and listen to the sermon on Facebook I used to be a screenwriter. Almost ten years ago, the Writers Guild of America went on strike, right when my career was about to take off. I’d sold a project to a big studio AND it … [Read more…]
This is the text of a sermon given at First UU Nashville on May 8th, 2016. Listen to the sermon: Pay No Attention to That Man Behind the Curtain The Wizard of Oz started out as a harmless showman in our world, one who entertained people with tricks and illusions. Then he crashed, literally and … [Read more…]