Sermons on Society & Culture
The Thrill of Victory & The Agony of Defeat
For several years these words were the lead-in for ABC’s Wide World of Sports, but they have application to our entire national life. On this Super Bowl Sunday Rev. Paul Johnson looks at the positive and negative features of our national mania for competition.
Looking Back. Moving Forward.
Donna Janesky looks back at 2019 — its tumultuous events as well as those who have left us.
Refugees are Mothers Too
In this Mothers’ Day sermon, Basma Alawee recounts the daily life of refugee mothers, and gives us ways that we can help refugees in the Jacksonville community.
Turning Silver Into Gold
Donna Janesky discusses aging, ageism, and growing old with self-acceptance and grace.
Being a Good Neighbor to the Transgender Community
Tricia Russell shares her own (as well as her wife’s) moving and deeply personal journey.
The Death of Manhood: Beyond Masculinity
What does it mean to be a man in the day and age of “toxic masculinity”? Phillip explores answers to this question in this Father’s Day sermon: from redefining “manhood”, to ridding ourselves of the notion of “masculinity” altogether.
March for Our Lives Rally
Phillip speaks at the March for Our Lives rally in Jacksonville, Florida.
Six Sources: World’s Religions
In this installment of our sermon series on the six sources of Unitarian Universalist faith, Phillip covers the third source: Wisdom from the world’s religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life. You can download a PDF of this sermon here: https://goo.gl/ZvQu2D
The High Cost of the Closet
Karen Smith-Scott shares her vulnerable, beautiful and courageous coming-out story. Warning: The message given in this sermon includes references to sexual abuse and violence that may be triggering to some individuals.
Struggling Toward a Pluralistic Community
While those decrying “The War on Christmas” ultimately crave assimilation and homogeneity, we endeavor toward a pluralistic community.