Past Sermons From 2010 and Later
The topics of past sermons at our church this year are listed below. Sometimes talks are put on audio tapes that are available in our library for loan and sometimes they are available in print form by contacting the speaker directly.
See also topics of past sermons in 2009, past sermons in 2008, past sermons in 2007, and past sermons in 2006.
| 2010 | Title and Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 3 | Living With (and In) Chaos. Though humanity has been wrestling with the uncontrollable, the upsetting and disorder since the beginning of time, it wasn’t until James Glieck’s book, Chaos, that science, everyday life and religion began to seriously look at their relationships. | Rev. Howell Lind |
| Jan. 10 | Religion, Environment, and Justice. What is the role of today’s environmental concerns in the religious philosophy and practice of UUs? | Steve Todd, UUCB member |
| Jan. 17 | Such Stuff As Dreams Are Made On. Part 1 of a reflection on Unitarian Universalist ministry and vocation. | Ministerial Intern Gretchen Haley |
| Jan. 24 | The Strangeness of This Business. Part 2 of a reflection on Unitarian Universalist ministry and vocation. | Rev. Howell Lind |
| Jan. 31 | The Maybe Mission. An exploration of one way we can engage the concept of mission at UUCB. | Richard Robledo, Executive Director of Progressive Radically Inclusive Student Ministry and United Ministries in Higher Education |
| Feb. 7 | Open the Door and See All the People. An examination of the joys and responsibilites of being a member of a UU congregation. | Rev. Howell Lind |
| Feb. 14 | Love Will Guide Us. Multi-generational service to explore how we can let love guide us to do the right things. | Dr. Bobbie Poole, Director of Lifespan Faith Development, and Ministerial Intern Gretchen Haley |
| Feb. 21 | The Language and Vocabulary of Reverence. An examination of the words we use to describe and evoke our shared experience of the holy. | Rev. Howell Lind |
| Feb. 28 | Anything You Want in the World. What part do we actually have in creating our lives or in changing the world? Can we really work our way into what we want? | Ministerial Intern Gretchen Haley |
| March 7 | Original Blessings. An exploration of the Universalist focus on hope and promise. | Rev. Howell Lind |
| March 14 | When Way Closes. An examination of Parker Palmer's notion of "way closing,” and how we can religiously and helpfully re-frame and transform our experiences of rejection. | Ministerial Intern Gretchen Haley |
| March 21 | Searching for We Know Not What. Unitarian Universalism is a religious tradition that requires its members to be on their own while also undertaking a shared spiritual journey. | Rev. Howell Lind |
| March 28 | Spiritual Roots of Prophetic Journey Toward Justice. Over the past few years, a growing number of congregations and organizations, such as the UU Service Committee, has focused attention on issues of economic justice. | Rev. Deborah Holder, program consultant to UUA's Mountain Desert Distric |
| April 4 | Comfort Me. We are comforted in often small and surprising ways, and it is hard to predict exactly what will make the difference in our own or others’ lives. | |
| April 11 | Sight Unseen. It is risky to place your faith in something without even having seen it for yourself. When is it worth the risk, and why? | Rev. Howell Lind |
| April 18 | On the Road to Somewhere. From cradle to grave, the imperative of our Unitarian Universalist faith is to live life as fully, and as well, as we can. | Rev. Howell Lind |
| April 25 | Honoring Mother Earth. A review of Earth Day activities over the past 30 years and how the UU faith ties into the environmental movement. | Rev. Howell Lind |
| May 2 | Only one you. Multigenerational Bridging Service celebrating milestones in the lives of our members that mark their transitions from one stage to another. | |
| May 9 | The good life. Reflections on what it means to have a “good life.” | Ministerial Intern Gretchen Haley |
| May 16 | Seek not afar for beauty. A service of beautiful music and words inspired by the beauty that surrounds us. | UUCB choir |
| May 23 | Articulating our priorities. Revisiting the objectives that our congregation set for Rev. Lind's consulting ministry. | Rev. Howell Lind |
| May 30 | Beauty fills the soul. A reflection on gratitude for the beauty that nourishes and empowers us. | Rev. Catharine Harris, minister emerita of the Boulder Valley UU Fellowship |
| June 6 | Shalom, Chaverim. An exploration of the Jewish tradition of Shalom and its relevance for our lives today. | Ministerial Intern Gretchen Haley |
| June 13 | Men who run with bunnies. What does male liberation look like, as seen from a woman's perspective? | Rev. Mo White, visiting UU minister |
| June 20 | Our changing hymnal. A look at the many changes to the Unitarian Universalist hymnal during the past 75 years. | Mimi Stevens, guest speaker |
| Aug. 15 | The Essence of the Spiritual Journey We will lift up the importance of the spiritual life as an integral part of being a religious liberal. Part I of a two-part series. |
Howell K. Lind |
| Aug. 22 | Funny, You Don’t Look Spiritual In the second of a two-part series, we will look at a variety of spiritual “paths” that Unitarian Universalism offers individuals in pursuit of religious learning and growth. |
Rev. Lind |
| Aug. 29 | Retaining Youth Guest speaker Rebekah Martin likes to think of herself as a peacock, who opens a fan of delighting colorful feathers. We all have that fanned plume to share with the world. |
Rebekah Martin |
| Sep. 5 | The Big Universe The universe is vast beyond our knowing. And only recently have we understood that we are a part of it instead of it being something out there. How is the universe outside like the universe inside? |
UU Ministerial Candidate Joe Stone |
| Sep. 12 | Welcoming This Multi-Generational service features the gathering of water from your summer travels (no virtual water – please!). Water, as the universal symbol of change and flow, will help set the tone for this coming church program year as we also experience flow, change and growth. |
Bobbie Poole and Howell Lind |
| Sep. 19 | Defining the Future At the beginning of this church program year, it seems helpful to look at the focus and direction that our religious community is heading as well as taking a look at the direction that our denomination is moving. And where are we, as individuals, heading in our own religious and spiritual journeys? |
Howell K. Lind. |
| Sep. 26 | Defining the Future Standing on the Side of Love on the Denver Capitol Steps. This 10:00 a.m. Service is a public witness of our faith’s commitment to stand on the side of love in favor of same-sex marriage. Over 1,000 UUs from area congregations will participate. Our 10:30 am service in the sanctuary will also be a Standing on the Side of Love theme, with music from Celtic performer Melissa Cox, readings, and meditation. |
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| Oct. 3 | Belonging This Multi-Generational Worship Service will focus on what it means to be in relationship with others. Being in community — especially religious community — involves rewarding experiences and shared responsibilities. |
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| Oct. 10 | Unitarian Universalist Grace Synchronicity, compassion, beneficence. Grace comes to us always as a gift, sometimes unasked for, from that Great Mystery in which we dwell. | Tom Denkenberger and Rev. Barbara Molfese |
| Oct. 17 | Spirit of Life What is life? For many of our ancient ancestors, there was no clear distinction between the animate and the inanimate. Today, scientists struggle with the distinction, as the creation of protocells in the lab grows closer. | Dr. Alan Davis |
| Oct. 24 | A Tale of Two Pilgrims In this journey through life, we need to learn to be all we can become. We will reflect on what we might be able to learn today from the 17th century classic, John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress. | Howell Lind |
| Oct. 31 | Life After Life Almost every faith tradition has some way to describe what happens when we die. We will take a look at the construct of “death” and how we, as Unitarian Universalists, might better understand what the end of our earthly sojourn can mean. | Howell Lind |
| Nov. 7 | On Caring. A basic precept of Unitarian Universalism is that we are called to be a ‘caring people’ – with an authentic caring concern for others. This Multi-Generational Worship Service will highlight just what caring for others, our environment and our world can mean for how we look to shape our living days. | |
| Nov. 14 | Something to Anchor Upon This worship will look at our efforts to find deeper significance and meaning for our spiritual searching and quests. This is also Association Sunday where we will take a special offering to support our denomination’s Leap of Faith initiative as congregations around this nation celebrate our Association’s 50 years since the consolidation of Unitarians and Universalists. | Rev. Howell Lind |
| Nov. 21 | On Onions . . . and Other Lessons in Life Often it is difficult to experience the Divine in everyday living, and yet glimpses of the divine can come to us in the routine of daily living – if only we are able to take the moment to appreciate such moments. In this season of thanksgiving, it seems appropriate to lift up such moments for our closer reflection. | Rev. Howell Lind |
| Nov. 28 | Dear Santa . . . Shortly after Thanksgiving children sometimes write a letter telling Santa Claus what they want for Christmas. It has been many years since I did this, so this morning I will reflect on what such a letter might be like this year. | Rev. Penny Rather |
| Dec. 5 | On Gifting. For every gift given, there is a gift received, but what happens when the gift you got isn’t the one you expected? This Multi-Generational Worship Service will explore the concept of “gifting” and receiving as members | |
| Dec. 12 | Solstice: Into the Heart of Winter: Annual December music service. Please bring a small evergreen cutting, piece of holly, or pine cone for a ritual gathering of the greens to celebrate the Solstice. | |
| Dec. 19 | For Goodness Sake! It’s Christmas! Many Unitarian Universalists have embraced the secular aspects of Christmas far more easily than the Christian focus of the celebration. We’ll examine a few of the secular, traditional elements that underlie this annual observance. | Rev. Howell Lind |
| Dec. 26 | Poetry of Mindfulness. Poetry about Mindfulness will be your gifts, in keeping with the holidays. Poems by Billy Collins, Rumi, David Whyte, Mary Oliver and others will be read. Presented by Karen Morgan and Diana Maiden. | |
| Jan. 2 | Trust Me on This. Is trust a skill or an inherent characteristic? Can we learn to be more trusting? Let's explore the nature of trust in human relations and its relationship to our covenantal tradition. | Rev. Nancy Bowen |
| Jan. 9 | Heroics Are Born in the Human Condition. Humanity has always looked for and sought out heroes (and heroines!) to make us feel better about the potential of the human condition. And sometimes, the heroes that we seek are uncovered in unlikely persons. | Rev. Howell Lind |
| Jan. 16 | Beloved Community: The Relational Principle Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and his committed followers birthed a social change movement that shook the world. Today, there is still s something exciting waiting to be born and our congregations have a role to play. | |
| Jan. 23 | Over Rough Terrain. Life is an ongoing journey where we uncover possibilities, but sometimes we encounter difficulties. How we respond to these “rough spots in the road” says much about us. | Rev. Howell Lind |
| Jan. 30 | On Love and Listening. There is a strong connection between being able to love and being able to listen to those we love. We will explore that connection with assistance from an unexpected resource. | Rev. Howell Lind |
| Feb. 6 | Singing Our Theology: Special Guest – Judy Fjell, songwriter and singer. A very special multi-generational worship service where we will learn to express and be able to “sing” of our Unitarian Universalist beliefs and values. | Steve Todd |
| Feb. 13 | Loving Creation, Learning Connection, Living Covenant We join Interfaith Power and Light’s “National Preach-in On Global Warming,” led by our own Green Sanctuary Team leader, Steve Todd. | |
| Feb. 20 | In the Folds of Community. As the winter months come to a close, we will pause to look at the ways in which we care for one another and care for our selves. The beloved community of a congregation is a sacred space because of the love, caring, support, and challenges we offer one another. Covering all must be compassion. | Rev. Howell Lind |
| Feb. 27 | On Being One Church. Whether you are gay or straight, white or black or brown, theistic or atheistic, young or old, female or male, whether you fit these categories or others, here at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Boulder we say that we “Respect all Beings” and you are welcome here. This multi-Generational Worship Service will look at how, with all this wonderful diversity, we strive to be one church. | |
| Mar. 6 | A Fire In the Belly: Football and Unitarian Universalism A look at Unitarian Universalists and how we are viewed by others. Speaker -- Liz Lerner Maclay | Liz Lerner Maclay |
| Mar. 13 | Contentment. Contentment begins with self-acceptance, grounds us in reality and affirms our worth. We'll heed the Wisdom of the Ancients and some of our own Savants. Rev Barbara Molfese will guide this worship service, reclaiming our center in Unitarian Universalist values and virtue. | Rev Barbara Molfese |
| Mar. 20 | Our Evolving Church Nationally known church consultant, Mike Durall, will kick off our 2011-2012 Church Canvass as he helps us take a look at the evolving and growing nature of UUCB and the church we yearn to become. | Mike Durall |
| Mar. 27 | Conservation and Water Justice Patricia Jones, the Unitarian Universality Service Committee’s Director for Environmental Justice, will talk about environmental justice programs and how the UN Water as a Right declaration is impacting us. | Patricia Jones |
| Apr. 3 | Recognizing Each Other Knowing each other is central to being in a covenanted community. As our church continues to grow and our culture shifts, how do we recognize who we are? How do we nurture and sustain our covenanted community for all ages? | Bobbie Poole |
| Apr. 10 | How We Use Silence This meditation service will explore the subject of silence through readings from various sources. | |
| Apr. 17 | Half Empty . . . or Half Full It is an age-old conundrum that our Unitarian Universalist faith must continually respond to and address: are our glasses half full or half empty? The message this Sunday will attempt to provide answers for our living fully and well. | |
| Apr. 24 | Easter Sunday! How to Praise the World that Will Not Be This Easter Sunday’s sermon will look at the insights we, as liberal religionists, might learn from this traditional Christian observance as well as from the larger understanding of birth and rebirth in nature and on our individual earthly journeys. Ladies: Please make this Easter Sunday a chance to get out your fancy hat and wear it to church! | Rev. Howell Lind |
| May. 1 | Keeping the Spirit Alive History, customs, and traditions associated with this time of the year are highlighted in this multi-generational service as we look at ways to keep some of the customs and traditions alive in our modern day. | Multi-generational |
| May. 8 | The Ethics of Survival We live in a complex world where uncertainty, intimidation, and fear vie for our attention. The question before us is how do we survive in such a difficult climate. How our faith provides an answer is the focus of this morning’s message. | Rev. Howell Lind |
| May. 15 | Music Day The choir will present Dvorak's Songs of Nature; an enticing musical exploration of Mother Nature and her wonders. The melodies of the trees, the sun, and the wind are translated into song, and breathed through our bodies to share with you. Come celebrate and honor the beauty Nature beholds, as we give her a voice. | |
| May. 22 | On Transitions This Sunday is our Multi-Generational Bridging Service when, as a congregation, we observe and celebrate those milestones in the lives of our members – young and old – that mark their transitions from one stage to another in their lives. | |
| May. 29 | Guest Speaker Rev. Richard Robeldo The Executive Director of PRISM will be with us this Sunday as we deepen our church’s connection to this worthwhile and exciting campus ministry. | Rev. Richard Robeldo |
| Jun. 5 | We Do Remember We will focus on the importance of remembrance – especially in our remembering and recollecting those individuals who we have loved and lost through death. We will also observe the traditional ritual of Flower Communion- individuals bring a flower to share in our service. | Rev. Howell Lind |
| Jun. 12 | Seasons of the Soul There is a seasonal cycle to the world of Nature and a definite age cycle to human development and growth. This morning’s service will explore the cycle or seasons of one’s spiritual nature. | Rev. Howell Lind |
| Jun. 19 | Guest Speaker Joe Stone Topic to be announced. | Joe Stone |
| Jun. 26 | Up to the Mountain What in your life are you most compelled to do, and what is calling you to do it? And how do you get there from here? Join us for this service on how we become ourselves. | Gretchen Haley |
| Jul. 3 | Who’s at Your Table? The community college system offers one view of how we can open our communities and create economic and social transformation that also transforms lives, following the model of Jesus' open table that brought people of many walks of life together while breaking the boundaries of class and race. | |
| Jul. 10 | Standing on the Side of What? "Standing on the Side of Love," has been adopted by UUs and seems to make our commitments clear. But a little further examination raises some questions about what we mean by love. | |
| Jul. 17 | Elizabeth Cady Stanton: Unitarian Saint This Sunday’s worship will focus on the life’s work of Unitarian Elizabeth Cady Stanton, social activist and leader in the early women’s movement, and a noteworthy individual from our religious heritage. | |
| Jul. 24 | To Walk in Beauty . . . on the Trail of Tears Having spent a portion of my life in Oklahoma, I am familiar with the “forced march” of the Cherokee Nation from their native lands. There are lessons for our modern day religious journeys that we might learn from this dark episode in our American history. | |
| Jul. 31 | Living into Covenant Students from Iliff School of theology will share their insights on the meaning of covenant. | |
| Aug. 7 | The Shifting Stream of the Collective Unconscious The public mood drifts. Sometimes we are in accord with the prevailing sentiments; sometimes we're outsiders. Our interconnectedness is a constant, we are part of the process. | |
| Aug. 14 | The Greatest People I Wish I Had Known Howell has known quite a few folks so far in his lifetime, but this Sunday he wants to share a reflection on several people he wishes he had the pleasure and honor of knowing. | Rev. Howell Lind |
| Aug. 21 | In-Gathering Sunday: on Coming Home: This multi-generational worship service will highlight our return to our religious home as we observe the traditional Water Ritual where individuals and families bring a small vial of water, gathered from their summer sojourns, to add to our common vessel. With the start of area schools the week before, we are welcoming back our families, our children, and those individuals to our church home. Following the service, the UUCB Men’s Group will hold their annual Homecoming BBQ for members and visitors as we celebrate our coming home to our church community. The Men's group will provide all of the "main food" such as hot dogs, brats, hamburgers, buns, chips, and potato salad. But, we encourage and depend on other church members to "chip in" with side dishes, etc. |
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| Aug. 28 | Solar Panels, Spirituality, and the Debt Crisis! Steve Todd and the Green Sanctuary Team will attempt to demonstrate why these things matter deeply and how they could possibly be connected. | Steve Todd |
| Sep. 4 | A Path to Belonging Join members of Colorado Storahtelling in exploring a story from the Book of Ruth. Using a blend of storytelling, ritual and performance arts, Storahtelling looks at ancient stories from the Jewish tradition and interprets them with relevance for us in 2011. | Dafna Michaelson Jenet & Rev. Tracey Wilkinson |
| Sep. 11 | A Decade that Changed Our Lives The past 10 years after 9/11 have had a distinct influence in almost every aspect of our lives. | Rev. Howell Lind |
| Sep. 18 | A Dialogue on Classism We will look at the issue of, and the impact of, classism in our faith tradition, in our nation, and in our community. Classism does influence all of us. | Rev. Howell Lind and Kelly Dignan |
| Sep. 25 | Denver: Standing on the Side of Love! The
Front Range UU Congregations will come
together on the Capitol steps in a joint
service of worship that will focus on our
denomination’s ongoing commitment to
social justice and equity. Boulder: The Star Bellied Sneetches and You A lesson for all of us from Dr. Seuss |
Jim Hester |
| Oct. 2 | Eyes the Same Color As the Sea Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea, provides a clear articulation of the promise inherent in our Unitarian Universalist faith. | Rev. Howell Lind |
| Oct. 9 | Happy Talk Barnaby Feder (son of our own Michal Feder) is a Unitarian Universalist ministerial candidate. He will speak to the stories about our lives that we tell ourselves and each other that may not be as accurate as we think. | Barnaby Feder |
| Oct. 16 | Living Out of Our First Source This morning's message will address ways in which we can have a direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life. | Kelly Dignan |
| Oct. 23 | Reflections While Being Placed on Hold! I find it both amazing and interesting that my mind can so easily wander to different ideas when I am placed in a position of having to wait for something. This Sunday I want to share one experience of this “having to wait.” | Rev. Howell Lind |
| Oct. 30 | Blest Be the Tie that Binds Being in loving relationship with oneself and with others is a cardinal precept of our Unitarian Universalist faith. | Rev. Howell Lind |
| Nov. 6 | Fumbling Toward Authenticity | Rev. Alicia Ford |
| Nov. 13 | Occupy Earth! What Color DOESN’T Go with Green | Steve Todd |
| Nov. 20 | On Being Grateful | Kelly Dignan and Bobbie Poole |
| Nov. 27 | Margaret Fuller, Unitarian Saint | Kelly Dignan |
| Dec. 4 | Music for the Spirit | Lisa Phillips and the UUCB Choir |
| Dec. 11 | Busy, Busy Special Congregational Meeting following the service. |
Kelly Dignan |
| Dec. 18 | ‘Tis the Season . . . for Mixed Feelings | Rev. Howell Lind |
| Dec. 24 | 4:30 PM Christmas Eve Family Service 7:00 PM All-Church Christmas Eve Service Join us for one or both of our Christmas Eve services. Children will love the pageant in the first service, and the traditional hymns and music during the second service will be a delight for all. Please bring finger food to share with others after each of the Christmas Eve services. There will be NO worship service at UUCB on Christmas Day You are welcome to attend services at Boulder Valley UU (Lafayette, 10 AM), Namaqua UU (Loveland, 10 AM), or Jefferson UU (Golden, 9:15 & 11 AM) |
Bobbie Poole, Kelly Dignan, and Howell Lind |
| Dec. 25 | No Worship Service at UUCB You are welcome to attend services at Boulder Valley UU (Lafayette, 10 AM), Namaqua UU (Loveland, 10 AM), or Jefferson UU (Golden, 9:15 & 11 AM) | |
| Jan. 1 | This is the First Day of the Rest of Your Life UUCB and BVUUF members of all ages will participate in the service, which reflects on the past and coming new year. | |
| Jan. 8 | Camus--A Secular Saint | Rev. Howell Lind |
| Jan. 15 | Bending Towards Justice A two voice sermon from Rev. Howell K. Lind and Kelly Dignan, Ministerial Intern | Rev. Howell Lind and Kelly Dignan |
| Jan. 22 | Preserving our Keystone--Here A two voice sermon from Rev. Howell K. Lind and Kelly Dignan, Ministerial Intern | Rev. Howell Lind and Kelly Dignan |
| Jan. 29 | Religion in a Digital Age | Rev. Howell Lind |