Where You are Held
In this sermon, I explore how early emotional absence—especially around safe male affection and belonging—can shape a life long after childhood. I talk about part of my healing journey, platonic intimacy between men, and the profound human need to be held, accepted, and told: “You belong.”
God Bless America
Why do we ask God to bless America? What is the history of that song, what is its meaning and why is it still so popular today on this special 250th Fourth of July weekend?
Service As Practice
If we turn to Buddhist literature, service is vital to the spiritual goal of Mahayana Buddhism. After twenty years of community service the three aspects of Buddhism wisdom… Impermanence, Suffering and Interconnectedness have been validated. Listen to our weekly sermons anytime, anywhere on your favorite podcast platform – Apple Podcasts and Amazon Music. Just search for OCUUC and hit “Follow” to stay up to date. If you enjoy the sermons, please take a moment to give us a rating or…
Juneteenth: Celebrating Our Shared Freedom
Juneteenth commemorates the day enslaved people in Texas finally learned of their freedom, but its meaning extends far beyond a single moment in history. In this sermon, Gary explores how the struggle for Black freedom helped expand liberty, citizenship, and civil rights for ALL Americans. Drawing on history, personal family stories, and themes from his recently published book, Civil: The War That Never Ended, he invites us to see Juneteenth not only as a celebration of emancipation, but as a…
Wheels On My Suitcase
We all carry around our own unique burdens – “our baggage,” if you will. UCLA Oncology Chaplain and popular guest speaker, Michael Eselun, will look at what might be “the wheels” on that suitcase that we drag around. What are the ways we can make it all a little easier to maneuver and manage – particularly in these uncertain and challenging times.
The Buddha Meets AI
What can the Buddha’s teaching about reality and the working of the mind tell us about this emerging technology?
The Gifts of Unitarian Universalism
In a country aching with loneliness and weary of dogma, Unitarian Universalism has something rare to offer: a spiritual home where you don’t have to check your mind at the door, where love is the center of everything, and where your questions are welcome. This Sunday, as we close our “Gifts of” series, we’ll celebrate the gifts of our own tradition.
Flower Communion
Curiosity asks us to look more closely at the world — and at one another. This Sunday, our annual Flower Communion offers us the chance to do exactly that. Each of us will bring a flower and place it in a shared vase; at the end of the service, each of us will take home a flower someone else has carried in. What might we discover if we approached each bloom, and each soul, with a curious heart? Bring a…
Building Community Through Singing
Susan Shaw and Steve Morihiro, our Co-Directors of Music, will lead this week’s Music Sunday service. As expected, the service will be filled with lots of uplifting music. And best of all, you get to help! We hope you’ll come and have fun with us.
From Education to Exploration: Why We Changed the E in RE
You may have noticed that what we used to call “Religious Education” is now “Religious Exploration.” It’s a small change with a big story behind it. We’ll explore why a simple shift from education to exploration says something profound about who we are: a people who trust questions more than answers, and curiosity more than certainty.
The Gifts of the “Woo-Woo”
Let’s be honest — when someone mentions their birth chart or pulls out tarot cards, some of us lean in and some of us look for the exit. This Sunday, we’ll explore the gifts of neopaganism, new age spirituality, and earth-centered practice with open hearts and curious minds. But like all traditions, they have gifts to offer.
Don’t Panic (But Maybe Pay Attention)
A loving nod to Douglas Adams — and an invitation to approach our AI moment with curiosity instead of dread. We are living through one of the most significant technological shifts in human history. Is AI a tool? A mirror? A threat? A gift? This service doesn’t promise easy answers, but it does promise that asking the questions together is exactly what we’re here for.