Selected Sermons

Talks that have been presented to Quincy's Unitarian Church.

We have been collecting the texts of sermons delivered to Quincy's Unitarian Church for many, many years. Here you will find many texts from decades ago. In 2007, we began podcasting recordings of some of our services. For some sermons, only text is available; for others, only the live recording is available. Many of the newer sermons in this collection are available both ways. To subscribe to podcasts of the sermons we have recorded. Copy this link's address and paste it into your aggregator software. Choose RSS Icon or Subscribe through Google Reader or use . . . whatever you like.

Liberal Lights and Bushel Baskets by {speaker-title}Ellen Taylor
January 29, 2012
In 1956, our minister was Rev. Thomas Maloney, a 1952 graduate of Harvard. Ellen has discovered a copy of one of his sermons, delivered during the McCarthy Era to our congregation. In her re-delivery of this sermon, Ellen offers valuable insights into the quality of the Liberal Religion that we practice in our community.

The Law of Threefold Return by Paul Miller
January 8, 2012
Every culture has a phrase which encapsulates the idea that it is better to be generous towards our fellow travelers than to be mean or stingy. Our resident Wizard chose the Sunday after Epiphany to bring us this gift.

Words, Words, Words: Expressing the Authentic Self by Alexis Engelbrecht
December 18, 2011
The goal is to begin to explore how a literate society can use words to grow and develop our understanding of each other and ourselves. The literary world is full of massive amounts of ideas, depictions, and attempts to inform. Literacy invokes emotions and, more importantly, thoughts, which allow for both the process of reflection and anticipation.

The Voices in Our Heads by Steve Wiegenstien
December 11, 2011
"You hear about the so-called "background noise of the universe," . . . an important piece of evidence for the Big Bang itself. . . . The background noise in our minds is the same sort of thing -- it's the residue from our origins, something we can't escape, but just have to observe and account for, in order to have an accurate view of our lives."

Growing Up as a Muslim in India During the Partition by Dr. Zakiah Ali
November 27, 2011
Dr. Zakiah Ali grew up in the midst of an historical event whose ramifications have not yet seen the beginnings of resolution. Her perspective and the recollections of her childhood reveal the empathy and understanding which sparkled during her 30 year career as a physician in our community.

Joining the Losers by Doug Muder
November 13, 2011
We always look forward to the clarity and depth of perception that Dr. Doug Muder brings to our congregation. Here, he tackles the subject of the tricks that our minds play upon our selves, and how clever people use these tricks to manipulate us towards our own detriment.

The Evolution of Lincoln's Theology by Reg Ankrom, Executive Director of the Historical Society of Quincy and Adams County.
October 16, 2011
Reg Ankrom, the executive director of the Historical Society of Quincy and Adams County, is a student of Lincoln and the men and women who influenced him. In this talk, Reg traces the threads of Lincoln's Theological Thought.

Sorry, You're a Role Model! by Rodney Hart
September 25, 2011
It's about admiring others. It's about wishing to be more than you are. Let it be about loving someone near and dear to you, rather than someone remote and far away. But don't ever let it be about despising who you are; about you despising your humanity.

Let Us Pray? by Doug Muder
September 18, 2011
What if you ignore the metaphysics and theology surrounding prayer and just look at the doing of it? What beneficial practices has folk wisdom encoded into prayer over the centuries? How many of them can we rescue without falling into the corresponding traps?

The Storm is Passing Over by Jane Hayashi
June 5, 2011
Five years after Hurricane Katrina's devastation, we hear about the Unitarian Churches in the New Orleans area; about the level of destruction, about the pace of their recovery, and about the spirit that keeps them moving on.

Love to Love by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
May 29, 2011
The longest serving minister in the long history of this congregation takes his leave. In this talk Rob thanks the congregation and offers his hopes for our future.

Consumer's Guide to Choosing a Religion by Jeff Seabarkrob
May 22, 2011
Like most of us, Jeff was "born into" a religion. Catholicism in his case, with parochial school and all the trappings. Jeff escaped that trap and found UUism to be a more congenial religious point of view. In his lively and charming discourse, Jeff encourages each of us to find the religion that suits us best.

Trees of Life by Susan Morrison Hebble
May 8, 2011
Let's take some time to free-associate with the word, "tree." Isn't it amazing how many different metaphors come to mind; how many different images can be conjured; and how often we can find contexts in which it is appropriate? Come, play with a word with us for a while.

The Sudden by Steve Wiegenstein
April 24, 2011
It is appropriate for us to think about "miracles" on Easter Sunday. As Unitarians, we question much of what is usually termed, "miracle." To those who say, "Expect a miracle." We have to say, "If it's expected, then it isn't much of a 'miracle,' is it?

Me and My Monkey: Hairbrained thoughts on the synergy between body and soul. by Paul Miller
April 17, 2011
Our resident pagan, chemist, and a favorite speaker, Paul Miller, explores the mysterious interconnections between concepts of body and soul; man and dog; space and electrons; and ultimately, life and death.

The Story of Our Deaths by Dr. Doug Muder
April 3, 2011
We live as characters inside countless stories that motivate our actions and make meaning out of our lives. One way to maintain motivation and meaning is to tell death-denying stories about eternal life. Another is to live in the moment and put off thinking about death for as long as possible. But wise and skillful story-tellers have other options.

Hospitality Pure and Simple by Dr. Robert Gervasi
March 6, 2011
Hospitality is all about Power! Ethically, we search for an understanding of an equality between the host and the guest, when the guest enters the boundaries maintained by the host. Hospitality is the welcome that we offer to the guests in our homes and to those who cross national frontiers into a land that is not their own. Spiritually, when we find ourselves vulnerable to the insults of our hosts, will we find the inner power to treat ourselves with the hospitality that we deserve?

Call it a Day for Democracy: Thoughts on our Revolutionary Present for Jacques Derrida. by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
February 27, 2011
Revolution is in the air! Americans are applauding the overthrow of despotic governments that Imperial America has supported with aid and arms for decades. But why is it that when democracy is adopted, following revolutions in other parts of the world, that American, representative democracy is not the model that is chosen? Are we Americans missing something here?

Morality Within Beauty by Alexis Engelbrecht-Villafane
February 20, 2011
The ancient Greek philosophers held that "Beauty" has something to do with excellence, perfection, and satisfaction. Alexis asks us to look past the surfaces that we see before us; to acquaint ourselves with the "essence" that is often hidden from immediate view. Make the connection which recognizes and even celebrates our common humanity.

Troubles With Sports in Our Football Nation by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
February 6, 2011 - Super Bowl Sunday
Watching football has become our national pastime. Characterized by crashing together, falling down, then repeating frequently; football is a bruising sport which takes a severe toll upon the players' bodies. These modern gladiators provide the entertainment for this Super Bowl Sunday's afternoon.

Our Improbable Universe by Paul Miller
January 23, 2011
The Universe is really big. No, I mean REALLY BIG! And it's getting bigger all the time. Understanding how Newtonian Physics works is perfectly intuitive. But on the cosmic scale, nothing about physics has anything to do with human intuition. How could the universe have happened? Well, that's the question -- and we Unitarians, it might even be said that we worship the question.
And watch the YouTube video: Hubble Deep Field: The Most Important Image Ever Taken.

Liu, Xiaobo, for Example by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
January 9, 2011
The winner of the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize is a Chinese man little known in the United States. In this talk our Minister helped us better understand the life and the character of Liu Xiaobo.

Living Advent with Medieval Women Christian Mystics by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
December 19, 2010
Catherine of Siena and Julian of Norwich were 14th Century contemporaries who never met. We consider the contributions to the Christian Tradition that these extraordinary women brought to their contemporary culture, as a part of our advent reflections.

Keep the X in Xmas - Revisited by Sandra Morrison
December 5, 2010
Given that Christmas is a Christian Holiday, what is it that Unitarian-Universalists have to celebrate? It shouldn't be surprising that an answer can be found in nature and in the stories that surround the historical Jesus. For us, that "X" is an unknowable unknown.

Digging a Hole by Steve Wiegenstein
November 14, 2010
Think of manual labor as a spiritual experience. Confer a fitting respect towards those whose work brings them fulfillment. Beware of the trap of equating personal self-worth with the worth of the monetary reward. Above all, beware of finding your identity in your occupation. Please, be kind towards those who must work in unfulfilling occupations in order to live.

Spirituality and the Humanist by Doug Muder
November 7, 2010
Nothing throws cold water on a Spiritual discussion like opening a dictionary! This understanding doesn't deter Doug from positing and explaining his own definition: Spirituality is an awareness of the gap between what you can experience and what you can describe.

Dying to See the Doctor by Terrell Dempsey
October 24, 2010
Too often, families have taken advantage of the economies of NOT having health insurance, of NOT seeing the doctor, of making the assumption that they were "just fine;" only to discover too late, they had neglected to recognize early warning signs of diseases that a simple check-up with the doctor should have uncovered. Shame on us!

Character Studies by Dr. Sharon Buzzard
October 17, 2010
Whatever happened to Character? When we were likely to have the same neighbors for most of our lives, we needed to attend to our neighbors' perception of us. Is that an outmoded idea? Or is it just that modern news has a jaundiced slant towards the most sensational stories? Where has all the Character gone?

Gandhi and Levinas in Dialogue on 'An Eye for an Eye, a Tooth for a Tooth' by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning and Dr. Richard Middleton Kaplan
October 10, 2010
Emmanuel Levinas once wrote a short paper on the proposition presented in the Old Testament, 'An Eye for an Eye, a Tooth for a Tooth.' Today, we look in to the context of that concept in Jewish Law, and we come to understand it as a limit upon retribution, rather than a prescription for retribution.

Peace and Peacemaking in an age of Endless War by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
October 3, 2010
During the 2010 General Assembly, a draft statement, "Creating Peace" was brought to a vote. It was approved to be an official Statement of Conscience of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). Today's talk places the statement in perspective.

Seeing the One Which Has Opened by Ellen Taylor
September 26, 2010
Transitions like births, deaths and marriages are life events, often marked with religious observances. They are very much like the transition that our congregation faces as we grow into an unknowable future, and contemplate an as-yet-unknowable, new minister.

The Restorative Influence of the Night by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
September 12, 2010
A summer "away from it all" can be very much like a night of good rest. And the return to "reality" can be thought of as an awakening. Though the world will certainly have undergone change during our respite, we will return to our lives, rejuvinated and happy to greet the new day.

'What am I to myself that must be remembered' - A Search for What is Real by Carol Nichols
June 6, 2010
We are all on a quest to find our own, authentic version of life. Unlike a sudden life-threatening illness or catastrophic events in our lives, traveling is a lot kinder to our sensitive selves. But, all such events get at what Sri Ramana Maharshi states is our greatest purpose in life, "Your own Self-Realization is the greatest service you can render the world."

Do Animals Have a Face? Thinking about our Obligations to Other Animals. by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
May 30, 2010
Since Darwin, we've come to understand that we humans are simply a species of animal. When this is contrasted with Genesis 1:26, this revolutionary realization may require a re-thinking of our ethical attitudes.

When Ideals Become Obsessions by Alexis Engelbrecht
May 16, 2010
We are presented here, with both an advocate and an example of the primacy of rational thought. Eschewing what Jean Paul Sartre called "Bad Faith" and what she characterizes as "Obsession;" Alexis leads us by example, toward our acceptance of our responsibility to direct the course of our lives.

Weirdos by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
May 2, 2010
Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, "There are some things to which we all should be 'Maladjusted'." Perhaps he was saying that we should all be 'Weirdos'.

Jefferson's Bible, Lucy, and the Road to Unitaria by Terrell Dempsey
April 25, 2010
Telling the tale of his hitchiking past Religions and Religious cults, great and small; his study of anthropology and his affinity with the Jeffersonian view of Biblical study; Terrell Dempsey details his journey toward membership in Quincy's Unitarian Church.

What it Means to Remember Norbert Capek by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
April 18, 2010
Norbert Capek was a Unitarian Minister in Prague, Czechoslovakia, whose life ended in captivity, during the Holocaust. Rob brings to life this dynamic leader, in his time, of the largest Unitarian Congregation in the world.

Living Good Friday and Easter with Martin Luther King, Jr. by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Easter Sunday, April 4, 2010
In this Unitarian Church, we celebrate Easter and recall the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s death, all in the same service. Rob tell us that there are ideas, ideals, points of view, that will not die! Hatred and violence are not of God. They cannot be ultimately victorious. This is the essence and the audacity of MLK's faith!

Religion & the Sea: Moby Dick by Dr. Virginia Leonard Ewing
March 21, 2010
"Some literary critics see religion in Moby Dick as a struggle between Melville's personal adoption of Unitarianism, and the Calvinism of his father and mother." Exploring Moby Dick, Dr. Ewing brings Melville's mid-nineteenth-century vision of liberal religion into focus.

Too Many Americans and Other Environmental Problems: Changing the Ways We Think and Live by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
March 14, 2010
Can America lead a global Green Revolution? Are you part of the revolution? Or are you, like Rip Van Winkle, sleeping through the Revolution?

From the Majority Opinion to the Minority Opinion by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
March 7, 2010
In the minority opinion from the 2009 Supreme Court Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission decision, Justice John Paul Stevens offered this prophecy: "Starting today, corporations with large warchests to deploy on electioneering may find democratically elected bodies much more attuned to their interests." Democracy is a core Unitarian - Universalist Value.

Unitarian Musical Heritage by Our Minister of Music, Dr. Carol Fisher Mathieson
February 28, 2010
Our Our Minister of Music presents a history of hymnody and a surprising presence within that history, of Unitarian-Universalist influence. Following the words of the hymns you will find in UU hymnals, is highly recommended.

The Backward Look by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
February 21, 2010
You screwed up! You feel guilty. You regret what you've done. And it's past. You can't change it. You can't keep from remembering it. You have to keep on living with yourself, knowing that it was your fault. What are we to do?

Connected? Empathy in the 21st Century by Susan Morrison Hebble, PhD
February 14, 2010
Culturally, spiritually, and politically we seem to be losing our connection with one another, we seem less willing and able to empathize. Can technology serve to spread empathy and compassion, as effectively it is being used to spread hatred and ignorance?

Buddhism, Britt Hume, and Tiger Woods by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
February 7, 2010
Yes, we've heard enough about Tiger Woods' personal affairs! But Britt Hume brought Tiger's religion into the spotlight. Unitarians might have a little trouble swallowing Britt Hume's American Religious myopia.

Experience the Moment by Mike Flanagan
January 31, 2010
In a carefully wrought talk, which is really a kind of meditation, Mike examines with sensitivity and clarity the sometimes paradoxical importance of individual moments of time in the fabric of our lives, whether we be young, middle-aged, or old.

170 years of Unitarianism in Quincy by Sandy Morrison
January 24, 2010
In her survey of the history of our church in Quincy, Sandy draws our attention to the repetition of issues and challenges that we have faced. In the records of topics of discussion, she also finds a repetition that points to a consistency of our values and interests over time.

Dreams, Accomplishments and Disappointments: Obama's First Year in the White House by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
January 17, 2010
The principles that guide us as Unitarians encourage us to be actively involved in the political community in which we live. In this talk, we are treated to a broad survey of the possible reactions to the first year of the Obama presidency.

The State of the Quincy Public Schools by Lonny Lemon, Superintendent of Quincy's Public Schools
January 10, 2010
On this Sunday morning, we were granted the opportunity to get to know the Superintendent of Quincy's Public School System, Lonny Lemon. It is good that our children's education is in these capable and caring hands.

Remembering Forrest Church by Joe Conover
January, 3, 2010
Rev. Forrest Church was perhaps the most influential Unitarian-Universalist theologian of his generation. Joe Conover leads us through an overview of his life, his ministry, and his theology, using the published words of Forrest Church, himself.

The Light In The Dark by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
December 20, 2009
Only in a Unitarian Church on the Sunday before Christmas. We explore the Tao Te Ching!

Naughty or Nice: Are Humans Good or Evil? by Paul Miller
December 13, 2009
Paul explores the either/or proposition of good and evil, and finds a bit more hope than he earlier expected.

Conversation with Mark Twain by Curator of the Mark Twain Museum, Henry Sweets
November 29, 2009
Henry Sweets has been the curator of the Mark Twain Museum in Hannibal, Missouri for nearly 30 years. Tracing Samuel Clemens' personal history from his boyhood in rural Missouri, through his European adventures, his aquaintance with Henry Ward Beecher and his close friendship with Rev. Joseph Twichell; Mr. Sweets illustrates the biting disdain that Mark Twain held for every sort of hypocrisy, including his own.

Roads by Marlee Labroo
November 22, 2009
Marlee explores our relationship with the many and various conceptions of "Roads." Our journeys through space, our journeys through time, our spiritual journeys and our journeys through threads of logic and thought - all of these are roads in need of exploration.

'Tis the Season, 'Tis the Story: The Christmas Narrative in Biblical Study by Fr. Bill Burton
November 15, 2009
Our favorite Biblical Scholar, Fr. Bill Burton explores the conflicts in the stories of the birth of Jesus found in Matthew and Luke. He explains how these stories were developed as responses to theological considerations rather than being the product of an historical record.

Right Wing Radio and the Place Where we Live by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
November 8, 2009
In our community, it seems there are very few alternatives! If you listen to the radio, and you'd like to listen to people discussing imnportant issues, your choices are right-wing, right-wing, right-wing, and NPR. Is that what they mean by, "Fair and Balanced?"

Who Owns the World? by Doug Muder
November 1, 2009
On this bright Sunday morning, we "breathe the air around Tom Paine." How could humankind ever have come up with this notion called "property?" Doug Muder explores the term, "ownership."

1479 Hampshire: Not Just Stone and Mortar by Dienna Drew
October 25, 2009
Dienna's family began attending Quincy's Unitarian Church in 1931, and they have been very active. Searching thorough Church archives, and relating them with the personal diaries of her family members, we gain insight and perspective into our past.

Reason and Reverence by Dr. Robert Gervasi
October 18, 2009
Quincy University is one of the relatively few Catholic Universities in the Franciscan Tradition. Dr. Robert Gervasi, the President of Quincy University, shares his insight into some traditional Franciscan values which contemporary Unitarian/Universalists should find very familiar.

The Worship Question and the Ties that Bind by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
October 11, 2009
It can be truly difficult to explain what it is that we, as Unitarians, do. And when we are contrasted with the American versions of Christianity, it is impossibly difficult for us to explain what it is that we believe. But here is Rob, taking one more stab at it.

Is Democracy Possible in the Age of Obama? And What Difference Will it Make? by Dr. Gerald McWhorter
October 4, 2009
Participation, Representation, and Transformation: These form the foundation of the ideal democracy. Dr. McWhorter makes the point that one of the values of democracy is to protect the interests of minorities from the tyranny of a majority.

Values-driven Life Success by Dr. Thomas Klincar
September 27, 2009
Dr. Thomas Klincar, the president of John Wood Community College in Quincy, Illinois, shares the insights which helped him grow into his present, successful, position.

Why Church? Why THIS Church? by Ellen Taylor
September 20, 2009
Ellen Taylor, the president of our Board of Trustees, presents a portrait of our church. If you're looking for a church, we may not be what you expect to find. That could be a bad thing -- Or it might be better than you could ever have imagined!

Thinking About Revolution by our minister, the Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
September 13, 2009
While we were apart during the past summer, the seeds of a revolution were being crushed in Iran. On this day, we opened ourselves to a discussion of the human values and the human connections we share with the people of Iran.

A Perspective on Faith by Christine Jach
June 7, 2009
Unitarians often travel unconventional paths towards the faith that they find fulfilling. Christine Jach, a member of our congregation, describes for us the journey that has brought her thus far.

Standing Outside the Miracle: Toward a Unitarian Spirituality by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
May 31, 2009
We Unitarians battle against the many ways culture, tradition, the way we think, just the way we do things, tries to shut the door and keep us from living with a full appreciation of life's miracles and mysteries.

The Spiritual Roots of the Economic Crisis: Pastor Niemoller Revisited by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Mother's Day, May 10, 2009
What does the current economic crisis tell us about the social and ethical aspects of our contemporary American Culture; about what our values are; about what type of people we are?

Nonviolent Actors Retake the Initiative by Cliff Kindy
April 26, 2009
Cliff Kindy has worked with Christian Peacemaker Teams in Gaza, West Bank, Mexico, Vieques, Colombia, Iraq, with First Nation struggles in the US and Canada and is presently in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We are happy to hear his report, and to applaud the efforts of Christian Peacemakers, everywhere.

Living Lightly on the Earth, and Living Well by Paul Miller
April 19, 2009
Paul Miller has been living in his home in the country for about fifteen years. He manages to live in purposeful unemployment, generating one of the smallest carbon footprints of anyone that we know. Here's how he does it.

Revolutionary Theology for Easter, or Jesus, God, Empire, and Hope by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
April 12, 2009
If there was only one test for Unitarian Ministers just coming out of seminary, it could easily be the single question, "What do you do with Easter?" On this Easter Sunday, Rob offers an answer.

The Most Avoided Question by Rev. Dr. William Fox
April 5, 2009
Dr. Fox makes his last appearance at Quincy's Unitarian Church before his move from the presidency of Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Missouri to the presidency of St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York. He reminds us to take the time to consider our immortality.

Criminal. Justice by John Hoover
March 15, 2009
John makes his living as a public defender. Today we get to see how our justice system operates, from the perspective of one of John's typical defendants.

There and Back Again by John Hayashi
March 8, 2009
High School student, John Hayashi, recounts his experience as an exchange student in Japan. We include his recitation of Bach's Partita.

Racism in America, or the History of a Poisonous Lie by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Do we really intend that the word "Race" should refer to differences in ethnicity, or national origin, or skin color? We, as members of the Human Race, should be able to discern the logical fallacy contained in such a notion.

Keeping One's Place by Ridgely Pierson
Sunday, February 22, 2009
In this elegantly literate and intensely personal memoir, we offer an example of the gracious and graceful secular humanism that we Unitarian-Universalists, warmly embrace.

Refusing Hegel: Some Troubling Thoughts about Lincoln, The Civil War, and Contemporary America by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, February 15, 2009
On this, the Sunday following Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday, Rob chooses to question conventional wisdom. Can Lincoln's decision to preserve the Union at such a horrible cost be justified? By the constitution? By the subsequent course of American History? By the subsequent course of world history? Or by the integrity of The American Ideal?

St. Paul Among Contemporary Philosophers and Unitarians by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Recently, there has been an increased interest in the writings and the philosophy of St. Paul. Today, we look for a message that Unitarians and Universalists could find valuable in the words of St. Paul. As Rob says at the close, "Too Heavy."

Books That Change Lives by Dr. Steve Wiegenstein
Sunday, January 25, 2009
This semester, I am teaching a class called "Writing and Literature." It's one of those classes that is more eagerly anticipated by the teachers than by the students. I looked forward to the English teacher's guilty pleasure - making students read works that mean a lot to me; books that have changed my life.

We've Just Got to Do Something? by Dr. Carol Mathieson
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Our Minister of Music makes a rare appearance, speaking about unexpected consequences. Acknowledging the damage done by well meaning policies and programs, Carol insists that we must continue doing the best that we can with the knowledge available to us at the moment.

Hopes and Expectations for 2009 by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Anticipating regime change in America, we wonder what other changes a new regime might bring to us. Will we be able to find a more responsive and honest form of democracy, or will we return to the same ol', same ol' the practices of the recent past?

Should We Buy a Chevrolet for Christmas? by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, December 14, 2008
In this talk, we concern ourselves with the Social Fabric of our nation. It is sometimes a discussion of the values surrounding our caring for our neighbors. And it is sometimes a critique of the level of care that we've experienced from our neighbors, the American Automobile Manufacturers.

Rhino Crash: Ethiopia by Christopher Mackenzie
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Chris describes the great leap of faith he and his wife experienced during the process of becoming the proud parents of an orphanage child from Ethiopia. His story contains a rich description of the impoverished street life of children in Ethiopia.

On Living Finally: Thoughts on "The Last Lecture" and Jacques Derrida's Last Interview by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Celebrating life in the words of three dying men, (1)Unitarian Minister, Forrest Church; (2)Professor Randy Pouch; and (3)the French Philosopher, Jacques Derrida. We who live on, we who survive; it is we who live the most intense life possible.

How Can You Stand Not Knowing? by Doug Muder
Sunday, November 23, 2008
When we say that we teach nothing about the afterlife, others hear that we teach that the afterlife is nothing. It is as if they imagine that Nobody is the name of a person, and then are horrified to hear all the things that Nobody does. Not having an answer is different than saying that nothing is the answer.

Jesus for Pagans by Paul Miller
Sunday, November 16, 2008
When Jesus is viewed from the perspective of religious pagans, interesting parallels and striking contrasts emerge. Curiously, there seem to be parallels between Jesus and the pagans -- and contrasts between Jesus and the modern, American "Christian."

Round to Reason 2: Is this the Beginning of a New Regime of Truth? by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, November 9, 2008
The first sermon titled Round to Reason was delivered eight years earlier. Once the regime of our government changed, dare we look forward to a new era of reason?

How to Avoid a New Cold War by Mike Moore
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Mike Moore, research fellow at The Independent Institute, makes the case against American Exceptionalism. If we demand to be granted hegemony over the entire world, we must accept the loss of the respect of the entire world.

Institutionalized Xenophobia in our Melting Pot by Ellen Taylor
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Ellen tells a tragic tale from her own family's recent experiences. It is an indictment of the American immigration system, of governmental bureaucracy, and of the mind-set - the world-view - in which this profound hypocrisy thrives.

The Spiritual Path of Living Without a Why by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Plagued by the ubiquity of the contemporary book, "The Purpose Driven Life," Rob draws a contrast to the profound philosophy of the 14th century Dominican Mystic, Meister Eckhart.

The Spirituality of Kenosis, or Emptying by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Emptiness is a concept that is usually understood through Taoism or Budhism. In Phillipians, Paul said, "Jesus though he existed in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant."

The Prophetic Voice of American Agrarianism by Kevin Ballard
Sunday, September 14, 2008
When Kevin began, he thought he would speak about our little corner of American Culture. As the talk took form, the subject changed to include the community and economy at large. The talk is a studied, philosophical, prophetic outline of agrarian principles; an agrarian proposal for change.

Hope by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, June 1, 2008
There is something about the word "Hope" that is seductively alluring to us. But what rational basis is there for our Hopes? It's a strange word, when you think about it! Isn't it?

Am I My Brother's Keeper? by Jeff Seabarkrob
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Jeff tells us the story of his sibling, his older brother, on his brother's birthday. The contrast between these two lives is told with sorrow and love and compassion, to the church family Jeff now calls home.

So-o Sorry: the Art of the Apology by Susan Hebble
Sunday, May 18, 2008
How many times during a day will you say, "Sorry," or "Excuse me," or "Pardon?" Here we examine not only the small bumps in life, but also the requirement that we express remorse for the damage that we do to others.

Creative Advance into Novelty? Whitehead, God and Species Becoming Extinct by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Surveying the Religious Philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead, we find a God that must be a being who loves to create, who loves diversity, who loves to open up possibilities for the future of the universe.

Living in the Past by Steve Wiegenstein
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Steve has been researching nineteenth century ways of life as part of his process for writing a book. It is an exercise full of surprises and insights that aren't immediately apparent to those who haven't yet immersed themselves so deeply.

Trailing Libyan Donkeys, or The Spirituality of the Way Back Out by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Quoting the Talmud, we challenge the wisdom of the American Invasion of Iraq. Understanding that we are the Americans who who started it; we lament the unintended consequences of the Invasion and our moral responsibility for all of the lives lost and disrupted by the events put in motion by U.S. - us.

The "News" of Rev. Wright - Or How the More Perfect Union Remains a Dream by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Rev. Manning shares his thoughts on Barack Obama's "A More Perfect Union" speech and on the way that America's mainstream news media created the controversy over Rev. Wright's remarks.

America's Most Reviled Minority by Rev. Edward Searl
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Surveys bear it out: atheists are the most hated group in America. Learn about two kinds of atheists. And reflect on the ways that an atheist can be reverent, arguably more reverent than more traditional believers.

A Thought Experiment in Trinitarianism for Unitarians at Easter by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Easter Sunday, March 23, 2008
Christianity in its popular forms may be responsible for our traditional conception of God as a great Being up in the sky, but the doctrine of the Trinity insists that we must think of God as a system of relation. God is the Father and is the Son and is the Father's relation to the Son and is the Son's relation to the Father. "God" becomes intrinsically relational and more interesting.

Religiosity as Creative Imagination, the good news of Mary of Maglala by Carol Nichols
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Mary Magdeline's gospel was lost for more than a millenia. One of Carol's quests is to learn all that she possibly can about the historical Jesus and the people who surrounded him. Recent discoveries continue to bring more information than the Church of the dark age would allow us to hear.

Emerson and America Today - What does it mean to be Emersonian? by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Internationally regarded as America's preeminent philosopher; do Ralph Waldo Emerson's writings still have any relevance for our American culture today? The focus here is upon his essays Self-Reliance, Nature, and the Divinity School Address.

Antigone and the Politics of Mourning by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, February 24, 2008
What parallels can be found between Antigone's predicament and ours, today. The King forbade Antigone to bury her brother. We are forbidden to view the flag-draped coffins of our fallen brothers and sisters. How can we respond when the State is manipulating the depth of public response towards the actions of the State?

The Challenge to be Moral in an Immoral Society by Dr. Gerald McWhorter
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Our sense for Morality should notice that there are both homeless persons and vacant houses; that there are both people who possess great wealth and people who must choose between food and prescribed medications. One simple step toward living morally is to simply befriend one another. Welcome the experiences others share with you. Acknowledge and listen to each other. Encourage others to enjoy being homo-sapiens, living on this planet, during this moment in time.

Abraham Lincoln's Religion Reconsidered by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Historians have offerred much speculation about the religious views of Abraham Lincoln. Here, a Philosopher surveys the evidence and comes to his own conclusions.

Some Assembly Required by Doug Muder
Sunday, February 3, 2008
We sometimes think that if we stated the UU principles exactly right, then everybody would understand what we are all about. But no, they wouldn't. Because someone who walks in the door thinking the wrong metaphor, someone who tries to stuff us into the wrong box; they will always ask the wrong questions. And after they've asked the wrong questions, even the best answers can't help.

Understanding Darfur by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, January 27, 2008
A broad and comprehensive survey of the history, the politics, the religious values and the racism of the crimes against humanity that are being perpetrated in the region of the Sudan called Darfur.

Martin Luther King on the Holocaust by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Recently returned from a seminar at the Holocaust Museum, and marking the coming holiday, Rob surveyed the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for references to the Holocaust.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T by Michael Flanagan
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Idealism is often uncomfortable alongside pragmatism. Is it possible that pragmitically, Democracy could produce high quality solutions to political questions? Perhaps it depends upon the quality of the systems used to ask the questions.

Weeping by the Rivers of Babylon -- Again by Rev. Dr. Hemchand Gossai
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Dr. Gossai, the Director of Religious Studies at Georgia Southern University, re-draws the parallel between the 6th century bce plight of the Israeli's who found themselves captive in the Imperial City of Babylon.

Quest for a Radical Peace by Rev. Dr. Hemchand Gossai
Sunday, December 23, 2007
The prophecy of Isiah speaks to us this morning. Is there a more relevant time when these ancient words challenge our modern conventions? "They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nations shall not lift up sword against nation, and neither shall they learn war any more."

Living the Peace of Advent with Tich Nhat Hahn by >Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, December 9, 2007
When we speak of peace, our first thought is of peace in the world. We look for an absence of violence and conflict, warfare and crime. But there is a more immediate level of peace, the peace within. The Budhist tradition offers us detailed techniques for developing inner peace. And the Vietnamese Budhist writer, Tich Nhat Hahn describes them with a beautiful simplicity.

Living the Peace of Advent with Catholic Mystic Thomas Merton by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, December 2, 2007
American Christianity, even American Catholicism, has lost much of the contemplative meaning of Advent. From the writings Thomas Merton, a secluded, Trappist Monk, we glean his understanding of what it is about current events that is worthy of contemplation, and what is not.

Let Us Be Thankful by Melissa Holden
November 25, 2007
Thanksgiving has an important history that is related to the settlement of America. But Thanksgiving also has a history within the memory of each of us who has celebrated a Thanksgiving Dinner. Melissa helps us with our memories and with our thanks.

Paper or Plastic? Reflections on the Difficulty of Life. by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Rob moves us towards the enjoyment of our place in the sun. Using the Latin term, ipseity, we can find an understanding of our selves lying outside of the province of sin and guilt and aescetic ideals. We hear Nietzsche saying, . . . that the sick should not make the healthy sick, should surely be our supreme concern on earth.

Postmodernism, Unitarianism, and the Return of God by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Unitarian thought grew out of the Enlightenment, the age of the Modern. As intellectuals have grown past the age of the Modern into the Postmodern, Unitarian thought too, has evolved into something fresh and new.

The Pathology of Alienation by Rev. Keith Delap
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Rev. Delap, retired from the Presbyterian Ministry, directs our attention to the message of reconciliation and forgiveness that is contained in the ministry of Jesus. He recounts his efforts towards the World Peace, a Christian goal which he has promoted throughout his own ministry.

Get Ready! The World Is Coming to an End -- Or Is It? by Paul Miller
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Environmental doomsday is only a part of the danger that faces our planet. Paul surveys the stages of events that lead up to failed civilizations and shares his optimism that humankind will realize the value of a broader self-interest.

Confucius and Jesus by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
October 7, 2007
Jesus is often credited as a great teacher of moral principles by the Christian community. Writings handed down from Confucius contain a larger body of moral teaching than any other moral teacher, including Jesus! Today, we explore Confucian wisdom.

Tenth Anniversary by Frieda Marshall
Sunday, May 27, 2007
A very special service honoring the Tenth Anniversary of the ministry of the Reverend Dr. Rob Manning. Remarks from Fr. Bill Burton, Ellen Taylor, Frieda Marshall, Dr. Kerry Manning, and Dr. Rob Manning. Music from Kim Starkey.

Why do we Never Have Enough? by Paul Miller
Sunday, May 13, 2007
In this society of consumption, the desire to accumulate is driven by the primitive urge to survive. Adam Smith's economic model provides a solution to the efficient distribution of SCARCE commodities. How do we cope when "stuff" isn't scarce any more?

In Praise of Imperfection by Susan Morrison Hebble
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Perfection is not part of our make up. Indeed, achieving perfection might be the death of us; it is a notion antithetical to the idea of seeking to make the world a better place, . . . to continually renew the spirit. . . but also to celebrate humanity. And humanity, by definition, is imperfect!

Joys by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, April 29, 2007
What do you think are the most enjoyable things in your life? Playing in the dirt? Your children? Hanging out with friends? "There has never been enough joy."

This Week In God by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Following a week of senseless murder, both in Quincy and at Virginia Tech, Rob shifted his focus to address some of the issues raised. These acts are symptoms of a culture oriented towards death rather than a culture of life. Referring to the conception of God described by Alfred North Whitehead, Rob explains how God experiences the losses during the week past with pain, very much like our own.

Words Matter, But . . . by Joe Conover
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Joe concludes a marvelous survey of the human condition with the words, "Perhaps being "fully alive" means simply living by that positive ethic that was also taught over the last 4,000 years by all the great religions of which we know: treat others as we would want to be treated. If the evolutionary biologists have it right, this is in fact the ethic that came to us from our primate ancestors. If so, it is this ethic that is truly fundamental." And including special music from Robert Sibbing - clarinet, Rosa Julstrom - piano, and Mari Hauge - cello.

What Jesus Tried to Save Us From by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Easter Sunday, April 8, 2007
On this Easter Sunday Morning, Rob made a fresh survey of the four Canonic gospels, with only one question in his focus: What was it that Jesus was trying to save us from. He came up with five answers, each with a scriptural reference. You will find the range of these answers at variance with the traditional American Christian Easter sermon.

What's So Funny? I Don't Get It by Steve Wiegenstein
Sunday, April 1, 2007
Steve brings us an April Fool's delight; a critique of the forms of humor that we encounter daily. Mixed in amongst the scholarly analysis and the thoughtful observations are examples of the humor that Steve finds most entertaining. Have you heard the one about . . .

The View From Afar by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Rob shares his recent experience as a Fulbright Scholar in Romania. This time his focus is upon the perception that Romanians and Eastern Europeans in general, have of America and of Americans. Rob presents a 21st Century version of the story of the "Ugly American."

Forever Gaijin by Jane Hayashi
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Culture shock seems to be a theme at Quincy's Unitarian Church, recently. Jane Hayashi recounts her recent experiences as an exchange student in Japan.

God's Politics, Jim Wallis, and the rise of the Evangelical Left by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, March 11, 2007
The face of Christianity in America has been dominated by the politically active, Religious Right, for several decades, now. In his book, God's Politics, Jim Wallis presents an indictment of the Religious Right. Jim Wallis presents a vision of Christianity that Unitarians can look more favorably upon.

Lost in Translation by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, March 4, 2007
When we become confronted with clashing cultures, we often find that truth becomes elusive. We suppose that we know many things about other peoples. Our experiences within other cultures reveal to us how much we don't understand about what is foreign, different to us, and how imperfect, and flawed, and provisional is our understanding when we do try to interpret and to know the other.

The Bear in the Closet by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, February 11, 2007
The face of Christianity in America has been dominated by the politically active Religious Right, for several decades now. In his book, God's Politics Jim Wallis presents an indictment of the Religious Right. Jim Wallis presents a vision of Christianity that Unitarians can look more favorably upon.

Christianity and Social Justice; Reflections on 'Letter from Birmingham Jail' by Melissa Holden
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Melissa presents us with a juxtaposition of America's "Christian" identity with Jesus' most radical of notions, that one should "Love your neighbor as yourself". Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s message resonates with a 21st Century audience as vibrantly as when he first penned his 'Letter from Birmingham Jail'.

Let me Know if I Ever Need to Bring a Shovel by Anna Wiegenstein and Chelsea Lloyd
January 7, 2007
Anna & Chelsea have been fast friends since they were in Junior High School. Together, they tell us about the challenges of growing and changing, living and loving, with their "Best Friend" very close by.

Grace in Unexpected Places by Dr. Hemchand Gossai
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Dr. Gossai illustrates a significant parallel between the plight of the Israelis exiled to Babylon in the 6 thcentury BCE, and all who find themselves estranged from their familiar, traditional roots. Jeremiah exhorts us to take our surroundings, as we find them, and to work toward making a peaceful home for ourselves and for our enemies.

Living Your Bumper Stickers by Ellen Taylor
Sunday, November 19, 2006
We have to stop our childish, "am not - are too" shouting matches and begin having reasonable discussions. Namecalling isn't getting us anywhere. It would behoove us to pay more attention to our behaviors than we do to the labels on our bumpers.

Left and Right Together: What Religious Liberals and Conservatives Have in Common by Doug Muder
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Liberal religion and conservative religion are two responses to the superficiality and emptiness of today's consumer culture. Liberals and conservatives blame each other for the current state of the world. Both should realize that they share similar visions of Dystopia: a world without depth.

Hannah Arendt & The Origins of Totalitarianism by Joseph Messina
Sunday, November 5, 2006
This talk and her book, is ultimately about universal human responsibility not just for the development of the totalitarian situation but for the entirety of our moral reality.

A Fine Kettle of Witches by Paul Miller
October 29, 2006
The origins of Wicca, told through biographies of some prominent witches by our perennially popular promoter of personal serendipity, Paul Miller.

Clarence Jordan and the Left Hand of God by Judy Crocker
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Clarence Jordan was the founder of an interracial Christian cooperative founded in 1942. His is a story of religious belief informing progressive social action. There have been several "spin-offs" of his original Koinonia Farm; Habitat for Humanity is probably the best known.

This I Believe: Why UU's are a Religious People by Carol Nichols
Sunday, October 1, 2006
UU's are religious in a way that is not common in America. Carol encourages our curiousity and asks us to explore the realm of the religious from our own, personal perspective.

Thoughts About the Future by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Rob has served as the minister of Quincy's Unitarian Church for ten years, now. He has served longer than any other minister in our long history, a history that dates back to 1839. In this talk, Rob shares a vision of our future, and his.

Our Church Community as a Home by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Home for a while from Romania, Rob explains how his experiences away from America, away from Quincy, and away from Quincy's Unitarian Church, have affected his sense of "Home".

Everything I Needed to Know About High School, I Learned in College by Anna Wiegenstein
Sunday, June 4, 2006
Anna grew up attending our church. Here, she offers reflections after her first year away at college.

Spirituality in Children's Literature by Dr. Susan Morrison Hebble
Sunday, May 7, 2006
Susan offers her view of semantic differences between the words "morality" and "spirituality." Then describes the relationship that discussion brings to the study of Children's Literature.

Bunnies and Chicks by Steve Wiegenstein
Sunday, April 16, 2006
We who are outsiders, living within a predominantly Christian culture often find "resurection" a bit hard to swallow. But the betrayl and the suffering described in the Easter Story are universal themes; themes shared by all of humanity.

Meeting at Infinity: What Theists and Atheists Can Learn From Each Other by Doug Muder
Sunday, April 2, 2006
Doug Muder grew up in Quincy. His first career was in Mathematics. Now, he lives and writes in New Hampshire. In this talk, he makes the connection between sacred epiphany and secular epiphany.

Progressive Christianity on the Move by Louise Crede
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Herb and Louise Crede are dear friends of many members of our church. They find profound meaning within their decidedly NOT Fundamentalist, Christian Faith.

The Importance of Living: Idle Philosophy Born of an Idle Life by Joe Conover
Sunday, February 12, 2006
Forty years ago, Joe encountered a poem that he typed out and has carried with him as he has traveled all over the world. We rediscover with him the source of those "Words to live by."

The Miracle of Faith by Dr. Sharon Buzzard
Sunday, February 5, 2006
The concept of "Faith" often causes Unitarians anguish over its meaning. Here, Sharon presents an interpretation of "Faith" that many of us will find comforting.

Reflections on Justice in Shakespeare by Joseph Messina
Sunday, December 18, 2005
Justice is an important Shakespearean concern, but perhaps a more important concern is the forgiving presence and action of others.

What a Long Strange Trip It's Been! by Bill Holden
Sunday, November 6, 2005
Bill paints a portrait of a mentor and friend whose homegrown flavor of spirituality reflects a Unitarian ideal.

Into the Dark or Heaven, Hell, and Other Options by Paul Miller
Sunday, October 30, 2005
Our purposefully unemployed, autodidactic, neo-Renaissance scholar goes spelunking in the depths of afterlives.

A Different View of Jesus - What Christianity Could Have Been by Carol Nichols
Sunday, October 16, 2005
Carol has done careful research into the evolution of the canon supporting Christianity. She finds an affinity with Thomas' writings; writings which were rejected as the orthodox canon was being established at Nicea.

Our Unitarian Families: Looking Back, Looking Forward by Judy Crocker and Sandy Morrison
Sunday, June 5, 2005
Our church has a long, rich history. Some of the families attending today, have a long, rich history within our church, too.

Do You Believe in Faeries? by Paul Miller
Sunday, January 23, 2005
Our resident chemist, Pagan, and autodidact neo-Renaissance scholar presents his naturalistic vision of spirituality.

On the Israeli-Palestinian Situation by former Republican, U.S. Congressman from Illinois (1961-1983), Paul Findley
Sunday, September 26, 2004
Rep. Findley advocates respect and understanding for all the peoples of the Middle East.

Patriotism and Spirituality by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Saturday, May 22, 2004
Rob offers an intimate glimpse into the way his patriotism has been affected by his theological and religious understanding.

Power by Michael Flanagan
Sunday, April 25, 2004
What is behind the close correlation between political power and military power, and what portent does this relationship hold for the future?

The Secret of Forgiveness by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Easter Sunday, April 11, 2004
"Father Forgive Them for they Know Not What They are Doing." Rob asks us to examine the ways in which holes are being torn into the fabric of the universe.

Certainties and Hesitancies, A Talk about Gay Marriage by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, April 4, 2004
The Certainty within the morality of Gay Marriage. And the Hesitancy to allow it to become another political football.

Coming Together Outside the Temple by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, March 7, 2004
Rob tackles the theology of Mel Gibson's controversial movie, The Passion of the Christ.

A Perspective from the Archives of the 1880's by Frieda Marshall
Sunday, January 18, 2004
How this church, which was organized in 1839, functioned more than a century ago.

Where Do We Go From Here? by Ellen Taylor
Sunday, January 4, 2004
Reflections upon the differing concepts of afterlife. What comes next? What happens when we die?

A Unitarian Parable for Christmas by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Christmas Eve, December 24, 2003
We look forward to our annual Christmas Eve Program as an important ingredient in our families' celebration of the season. Our Minister made Christmas 2003 especially memorable with this Christmas parable.

Extracting Meaning from the Christian Myth by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, December 21, 2003
Rob surveys several different possibilities for meaning from the familiar Christmastime story about the baby Jesus.

The Spirituality of The Gift by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, November 30, 2003
Digging deeply into some of the thoughts that surround the concept of the giving of gifts.

Which Halloween do we want? by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, October 26, 2003
A brief history of the syncretistic holiday, Halloween.

Has our Church Become Too Political? by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, September 21, 2003
Reflections upon the role of our church in our community.

A Whole New Christianity, Beginning When? by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, April 20, 2003
Where is the re-evaluation of Christian thought required by honest reflection upon the events of the Holocaust?

Talmudic Interpretation of the Babylonian passage recounting the conversation between the Rabbis and Alexander the Great by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, April 13, 2003
Our minister plays the role of a Talmudic Scholar and offers an interpretation of a famous Talmudic Story.

On Judas by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Good Friday, March 28, 2003
On this Good Friday, Rob was asked to make this short presentation to Quincy's Ministerial Alliance as part of the larger program.

On Becoming a Life Long Unitarian by Dr. Susan Morrison Hebble
Sunday, March 9, 2003
It is a Unitarian-Universalist necessity to keep looking, to change, refine, flow, debate, and to consider religion perpetually.

Nature's Plan by Paul Miller
Sunday, January 19, 2003
"The probability that we might exist by chance rather than by design is, I think, less than one in a googolplex. It is zero." Reflections upon the design of the Universe by a Wiccan chemist.

The Ugliest Idea ever Conceived and The Most Beautiful Idea ever Conceived: Thoughts on Christianity by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, January 12, 2003
The predominant vision of Christianity in America is one that Jesus would hardly recognize.

The Great Enchantment of Religion by Rev. John W. Brigham, D.D.
Sunday, December 29, 2002
John took a long look back over a rewarding life, remembering how it had been punctuated with moments of great personal, religious meaning.

On Dying Daily by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, December 22, 2002
In developing a personal theology of continuous renewal, Rob finds one meaning for On Dying Dailywithin the life of Jesus. And another meaning for On Dying Dailyfrom the writings of Paul, which is more Buddhist in character.

Advent, The War Versus Iraq, and Spiritual Direction by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, December 1, 2002
Let Advent be a time for the contemplation of a most important question: Do we want to make war on Iraq in the first place?

Martin Luther King Jr., the Civil Rights Movement, and American Memory by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, November 17, 2002
". . .the curse of poverty has no justification in our age. . . The time has come for us to civilize ourselves by the total, direct and immediate abolition of poverty." MLK, Jr.

Looking Back at the (First) Gulf War by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, November 10, 2002
Why aren't we discussing the Persian Gulf War of 1990. Why aren't we making the effort to learn from our recent history?

Twin Stars: Naturalism & Secularism by Rev. Calvin R. Knapp
Sunday, April 28, 2002
My decision in 1971 to become your minister was one of the most important milestones in my life. Now is the time for me to report just how far I have come.

Violence and Christian Doctrine by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, March 31, 2002
How might conventional Christian teachings and theological interpretations be fostering, enabling, even promoting some of the violence in our households?

Unitarianism as a Culture by >Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, March 3, 2002
How are Unitarian values integrated into the lives of the Unitarians you know?

Life Inside the Simulacrum by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
SubtitleDate
Exploring the Social Theories of Jean Baudrillard, Rob asks how fictional visual images affect contemporary perceptions of "reality."

The Non-Christian Sources of Martin Luther King's Thought by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, January 13, 2002
"In his speeches and his writings, King mentions Gandhi more often than any other historical person except Jesus."

Taking Risks and Making Connections by Ellen Taylor
Sunday, January 6, 2002
We say that variety is the spice of life. We say that we value original thinking and creativity. What we really seem to value, especially in our schools, is conformity.

Unfunny Remarks About Humor by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, October 28, 2001
Jokes and their relation to repression. Wherein Rob gives us a heavy and serious talk about humor.

Good, Critical, Prophetic Theology: Where is it? by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, September 23, 2001
Or: This is NOT a Time for BAD Theology!

Ruptured by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, September 16, 2001
A Unitarian response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001; presented on the Sunday following those terrible tragedies.

Life Lived Between Idiocy and Lunacy by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, September 2, 2001
A short talk for the first Sunday of our church year, celebrating how the summer has widened our horizons.

A Moment, A Summer by Sharon Buzzard
Sunday, June 3, 2001
Our church traditionally recesses during the summers. Sharon, a perennial academic, gives us a sensual assignment for the Summer to come.

The Spiritual Practice of Forgiveness and its Problems by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, May 27, 2001
There are profound differences between the philosophies of Forgiveness practiced by the Christians and the Jews. Rob illustrates these differences with stories drawn from the survivors of the holocaust.

American Dreams and the Workplace Blues by Sharon Buzzard
Sunday, March 18, 2001
How do we work day by day towards justice, equity, and compassion in human relations in our own lives, and especially in the life of the workplace? Sharon reviews how our personal identity is too often, intimately tied to our occupational identity.

Unitarian Religious Education: Paradox or Paradigm? by Sherryl Lang
Sunday, February 11, 2001
It seems as if we Unitarians are quick to tell others what we don'tbelieve. What can we tell our children about what we dobelieve? A discussion of the Seven Principles of our Unitarian Universalist Faith.

Approaching Tao by Kevin Ballard
Sunday, January 7, 2001
A broad survey of Taoism, its practice and its philosophy. And an appreciation of some similarities between Taoism and the philosophy of Unitarian Universalists.

Will You Please Be Quiet, Please? And other Christmas Thoughts by Steve Wiegenstein
Sunday, December 10, 2000
The Christmas story tells us that holiness sometimes breaks into our lives unexpectedly, unasked-for; and that if we can be open to these moments our world can suddenly blossom and be transformed.

What Mean These Stones? by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Veteran's Day, November 11, 2000
Cultural Memory and the meaning of the past. Reflections upon our rememberance during a day set aside for remembering.

Playing the Church Game by Ellen Taylor
Sunday, September 17, 2000
A powerfully perceptive response to Ellen's personal questioning. Why do we bother with coming to church? What is it that Unitarians find so compelling about coming to this place and being with these people?

Growing up as a UU by Kristina Mathieson
Sunday, May 7, 2000
In honor of our graduating High School Seniors, we annually designate one Sunday as "Youth Sunday." We are extremely proud of our graduates, and we are happy to share the address that Kristina presented on "Youth Sunday, 2000."

Surfing Toward Bethlehem by Steve Wiegenstein
Sunday, March 26, 2000
Can a person be an inhabitant of this media-saturated era without falling prey to its twin influences of superficiality and self-absorption? The key is to make sure that you are using the technology, and not the other way around.

Christians and Pagans and Satan, Oh My! by Paul Miller
Sunday, February 20, 2000
Let us draw a distinction between those who call themselves "Pagans" and those who call themselves "Satanists." While we're at it, let us illuminate a few of the sins of the Christians, too. A discussion of the "Nine Satanic Statements."

The Four Faces of Jesus by Dr. Davidson Loehr
Sunday, January 30, 2000
We invited Dr. Loehr to Quincy to present a weekend workshop on the Jesus Seminar. His Sunday Address presented an historical view of the person named "Jesus."

Overcoming Christianity by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Easter Sunday, April 4, 1999
Martin Luther King would tell us that all who work for justice have cosmic companionship. God, as a spirit who helps us to overcome, is the meaning of Christ's resurrection.

The Morality of a Broad & Comprehensive Education by Ellen Taylor
Sunday, March 21, 1999
Ellen's vision of Morality and Education was presented to us before Quincy's Public School Administration was re-invented during the Spring of 1999.

What is Prayer & Do Unitarians Pray? by Carol Nichols
Sunday, February 28, 1999
A broad survey of the meaning of the word, "Prayer," and of the meaning that prayer can add to Unitarian Lives. Think of prayer as ". . . that which will center you and help you live your brief life with a spark of the Divine."

A Lonely Minority by Dr. John Sperry
Sunday, December 27, 1998
Reflections upon the relationship between Unitarian Universalist Congregations and those members who consider themselves to be "Christians."

Why do we Need Funerals? by Rev. Allen Peyton
Sunday, October 11, 1998
An anthropological search for the biological and psychological underpinnings of our need for the rituals which solemnize the deaths of our loved ones.

Christianity and the Care of the Self by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, November 9, 1997
Does Christianity have as one of its central concerns, and does it treasure and promote what Michel Foucault presented to us as the central concern of both Greek and Roman cultures; "the care of the self"?

The Specter of Marx: Labor, Alienation, the Caterpillar and the Silkworm by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, October 19, 1997
Since we give so much of our lives to our work; our best sort of work should be the kind which enables us to become who we really want to be.

On World Religion by Michael Flanagan
Sunday, September 21, 1997
An attempt to unify the religions of the world. What might ALL of the world's religions have in common?

Love as Strong as Death by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, February 23, 1997
Life's toughest battles are fought inside people's hearts as they struggle with the despair, pain and hopelessness brought to them, without their choice, by death's power to take away.

Uprooted and/or Transplanted by Rev. Dr. Rob Manning
Sunday, November 17, 1996
In an afternoon ceremony on the same day, Dr. Robert J. S. Manning was formally ordained and installed as the minister of the Quincy Unitarian Church. In this, his morning talk, Rob pledged to resist becoming "settled."

I am Haunted by Waters by Captain Michael Flanagan
Sunday, October 13, 1996
The value of a life lived on the Mississippi River during the latter half of the Twentieth Century.

Jesus, God, Etc. by Rev. Lynn S. Smith-Roberts
Sunday, May 5, 1991
In this, the second of a two part series titled "What Unitarian Universalists Believe," our minister describes aspects of the many relationships among God-talk, Christianity and Unitarian Universalism.

Religion? Without God? by Rev. Lynn S. Smith-Roberts
Sunday, April 7, 1991
Our minister presented a two part series that she titled "What Unitarian Universalists Believe." This defense of Humanism came first.

The Edge of the Sea by Nike Mendenhall
Sunday, November 11, 1990
A discussion of the importance of the oceans to those of us who live in the centers of continents.

Our Four Churches, Their Celebrations and People by Dienna Drew
Sunday, December 17, 1989
A short history of the church buildings that we have occupied since our organization in 1839.

. . . All We Value Here by Rev. John W. Brigham, D.D.
Sunday, March 10, 1985 - to the First Unitarian Church of Sioux City, Iowa
In 1985 Dr.Brigham was asked to join in the Centennial celebration of the Unitarian Congregation in Sioux City, Iowa, where he had been minister many years before.

The Oracles of Concord: Emerson, Thoreau, Alcott, and George Melvin by Rev. John W. Brigham, D.D.
Sunday, June 3, 1983
Dr. Brigham recalls the portion of Unitarian history that grew from Concord, Massachusetts, his home town.

The Moral Confusion of Religious Zealots by Rev. John W. Brigham, D.D.
Sunday, March 15, 1981
When personal judgement is surrendered to a movement, the individual's moral sense becomes vulnerable to the judgement of the collective.

This Mad World on its Way to Nowhere by Rev. John W. Brigham, D.D.
Sunday, March 4, 1979 - to the Burlington, Iowa Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
The human unreasonableness of many "perfectly reasonable" public policy positions.

A Walk in the City by Rev. John W. Brigham, D.D.
Sunday, April 7, 1968 - to the First Universalist Church of Rochester, New York
A Palm Sunday sermon, given on the Sunday following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. What would be a fitting and proper sort of memorial to the life of this remarkable man?