Worship That Reaches
Beyond Sunday Morning
Sunday morning worship is at the center of congregational life. Liturgy, music, and a diversity of voices come together in thematic experiences that reflect the congregation’s character. Sermons inspire and challenge the community to live more deeply, serve more lovingly, and experience greater joy in each other’s presence. This is when we come into the awareness—whatever our personal theology—that we are one in our shared Unitarian Universalist faith
Worship should offer the comfort of the familiar while also being fully responsive to the world. I sometimes spend long hours on a Saturday evening, replacing a completed manuscript with one that responds to the shooting, failed election, or other tragedy in late-breaking news. Worship can also, occasionally, offer delightful surprises. (A morning devoted to “Sacred Silliness” had congregants voting on the order of service and creating an impromptu experience that kept us all on our toes.)
Whenever possible, worship should be participatory. This is experienced through responsive readings, the singing of hymns, and shared liturgy, such as covenants and chalice lightings. But the opportunities go far beyond that. Recent interactive elements had the congregation celebrating the titles of banned books and—on one memorable Sunday—shouting out all the LGBTQ+-related words banned from classrooms in Florida.
A FULL WORSHIP SERVICE
In Praise of Heretics
This service marked my return to Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church, where I had served as Intern Minister. It captures the essence of a pre-COVID worship experience created in collaboration with beloved colleagues and lay leaders. Its message remains central to my understanding of the Unitarian Universalist faith. View HERE.
SERMONS & MORE
The worship experiences below were recorded during hybrid services at Davies Unitarian Universalist Congregation. The laptop on the pulpit displays my manuscript and a Zoom screen in Gallery View. This allows me to see everyone joining from home. You’ll also notice that Worship Associates sometimes fulfill their responsibilities from offsite. This means that everyone can make their individual health choices while participating fully in the life of the congregation.
Crossing Thresholds
Thresholds are powerful spaces, offering the opportunity to explore and discover. This reading and sermon touch on the rich possibilities in our individual lives, our congregations, and the larger Unitarian Universalist movement during this time of change. View HERE.
Feeding Body & Soul
Rev. Kären Rasmussen joined me for this reading and sermon on “choosing to bless the world.” The service was followed by the dedication of a Little Free Pantry, made possible by a grant from No Child Goes Hungry, an organization founded by Rev. Kären. View HERE.
Pride Sunday:
Out in History!
This combined litany and sermon includes an interactive celebration of LGBTQ+ leaders past and present. It also encompasses an acknowledgement of my limited perspective as a cisgender gay man. View HERE.
May Day Magic
The many traditions of May Day serve as a metaphor for the many traditions that come together to form our Unitarian Universalist faith. More important are the ripples that emanate outwards from a congregation. The reading that precedes this sermon explores the rich complexity of that challenging word “God.” View HERE.
To Love a Shrub Oak
Several worship elements are included here: an original Opening Litany, a statement in response to imminent threats to Reproductive Rights, and a reading and sermon lifting up the mystical nature of our great Unitarian forebear Henry David Thoreau. View HERE.
Good Friday Vigil
The Lay Preacher Team and I expanded upon the Christian tradition to connect the death of the radical rabbi from Nazareth to our own wounded world. Services throughout the year build upon other faith traditions, such as the Buddhist Bodhi Day and the Jewish Purim. View HERE.
Animal Blessing
At congregations large and small, I take particular pleasure in this annual ritual, which guarantees some worship surprises. It’s an opportunity to honor our furred, feathered, and finned friends - and to enjoy some joyous new sounds in the Sanctuary. View HERE.
Time for All Ages
This interactive Time for All Ages was created for a service of Ingathering and Water Communion. The entire congregation - onsite and online - gave voice and shape to “all the waters of the world.” View HERE.
A Holiday “Pageant”
My “Interactive, No-Rehearsal Christmas Pageant” is performed often and can be found on the Worship Web HERE. This year, I chose to create a new experience to better balance the contemplative, Christian focus of Christmas Eve. Revisions are needed but this first attempt proved to be a happy one for all. View HERE.
Rites & Rituals
One of many moments that put me on the path to ministry was my niece’s wedding, which I officiated long before I dreamed of entering seminary. Standing in front of two people so deeply in love, and so eager to begin their life together, was a kind of joy I’d never experienced before.
Now, as a parish minister, I find that leading memorial services is an equally powerful experience. Meeting with the family, hearing stories, discussing readings, and creating an experience that celebrates the complexity of a life is one of the most profound gifts of this job.
I also take enormous pleasure in creating the rites of passage celebrated by a congregation. Child Dedications and New Member Dedications bring depth and resonance and delight to Sunday morning. Coming of Age services offer youthful wisdom to the community. These rituals have the added benefit of strengthening the congregation’s sense of identity, which is especially helpful when the tough times come.
