Unitarian Universalism – Awake & Witness

Reckoning with Heritage: Unitarian Indian Boarding Schools (sermon)

Leave a Comment / Justice, Sermons, Unitarian Universalism / By KGJ

First Unitarian Universalist Society Burlington October 8, 2023 In her book, Medicine Stories, Aurora Levins Morales writes: “Acknowledging our ancestors’ participation in the oppression of others and deciding to balance the accounts on their behalf leads to greater integrity and less shame… It becomes possible to see the choices we make right now as extensions …

Reckoning with Heritage: Unitarian Indian Boarding Schools (sermon) Read More »

Beyond Apology (sermon)

2 Comments / Justice, Sermons, Spiritual Practice, Unitarian Universalism / By KGJ

First Unitarian Universalist Society Burlington September 24, 2023 For those of a certain age (older than me, maybe older than you), there may be a recollection of Art Linkletter’s mid-twentieth century television show, and book, which revolved around “Kids Say the Darndest Things.” I want to bring that into this part of the 21st century …

Beyond Apology (sermon) Read More »

Closer to Fine (sermon)

Leave a Comment / Death, Sermons, Unitarian Universalism / By KGJ

First Unitarian Universalist Society Burlington August 27, 2023 When I entered into Unitarian Universalism, having grown up in a fiercely atheist household, surrounded by rural fundamentalist Christians who had a strong sense of mission and a poor sense of boundaries, this need was beginning to take shape in me. It was in Unitarian Universalism, when …

Closer to Fine (sermon) Read More »

This Love

Leave a Comment / Poems, Standing on the Side of Love, Unitarian Universalism / By KGJ

The following was the Call to Worship on August 20, 2023 at First Unitarian Universalist Society Burlington. The first line refers to a hymn we sung, a version of which is at the bottom of this post. This love: the world didn’t give it to us and the world can’t take it away. This love: …

This Love Read More »

Love at the Center of All (sermon)

Leave a Comment / Sermons, Unitarian Universalism / By KGJ

August 20, 2023 First Unitarian Universalist Society Burlington (VT) Reverend Karen G. Johnston Part I Imagine, if you will, a lava lamp. Yes, I am talking about that electrified mechanism that has an incandescent light bulb illuminating a sealed, transparent container that holds brightly-colored goo. When heated by said bulb, that brightly colored goo begins …

Love at the Center of All (sermon) Read More »

Prayer of July 2, 2023

Leave a Comment / Prayers, Unitarian Universalism / By KGJ

this prayer was given at Community Church of New York I invite you to find a posture of dignity that allows you to receive, to soften, to be ready for possibility, insight, grief, joy to find their shape within you. That and more, or less, at this time of stillness that some calm meditation, some call prayer. We are living …

Prayer of July 2, 2023 Read More »

Teaching & Learning Goodbye – Parts I & II (sermon)

Leave a Comment / grief, Sermons, Unitarian Universalism / By KGJ

The Unitarian Society, East Brunswick, NJ May 28, 2023 When I was in search to become your minister, I received two pieces of advice. Love you as a congregation. And the best thing I could do, no matter how long my ministry with you, was to leave you well. I think the latter advice was …

Teaching & Learning Goodbye – Parts I & II (sermon) Read More »

Abundant Love (sermon)

Leave a Comment / Justice, Sermons, Standing on the Side of Love, Unitarian Universalism / By KGJ

Love is the power that holds us together and is at the center of our shared values. We are accountable to one another for doing the work of living our shared values through the spiritual discipline of Love. These words are from the Article II Study Commission’s proposal to the UUA Board in their recommendation …

Abundant Love (sermon) Read More »

Ritual to Affirm & Bless a True Self

Leave a Comment / Spiritual Practice, Standing on the Side of Love, Unitarian Universalism / By KGJ

Just before this ceremony, we told the story, “Red: A Crayon’s Story” by Michael Hall (which ends with the phrase that this text begins with). We also handed out small vials of bubbles to be used for the joyful bubble blessing at the end. We have someone here, among us, who is reaching for the …

Ritual to Affirm & Bless a True Self Read More »

There’s a Thread: Change Ahead (sermon)

Leave a Comment / Justice, Sermons, Unitarian Universalism / By KGJ

In 1887, these were some of the things most commonly believed in Unitarianism, adopted by a vote of 59 to 13. I won’t be reading aloud all of the bullet points, but you can see them on the screen: We believe that to love the Good and to live the Good is the supreme thing …

There’s a Thread: Change Ahead (sermon) Read More »