72425 Via Vail
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
760-321-0694

Sunday Worship Videos

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    Sunday, November 9, 2025: “Pride and Possibility: A Joint UUCOD-DOS Service”

    Worship Leaders: Rev. Ian W. Riddell and Rabbi Dr. Jules King
    Worship Associate: Julia Alberg-Burbank

    In the face of division and hatred pride—in our loves, in our lives, in our visions for the future—can bring connection and strength. Join members from our congregations in the valley and beyond as we celebrate and commit to a loving future together.
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    Sunday, November 2, 2025: Answering the Call: Meeting the Moment

    Worship Leader: Rev. Ian W. Riddell
    Worship Associate: Walter Gendell

    What are we called to do in the face of oppression and dehumanization? How are those of us with privilege and power to respond to the needs of our neighbors in need and crisis?
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    October 26, 2025"Still Standing: We’ve Been Here Before"

    Guest Speaker:
    Dr. Imani Woody
    Worship Associate:
    Bryna Blum
    It is in these times of uncertainty that we remember how our peoples have weathered similar storms in the past, drawing resilience from experience. We too can find strength in the knowledge that perseverance is woven into the very fabric of our being; that we do have the roadmaps from our ancestors. Accessing courage from those on whose shoulders we stand, we have the power to make the choice to save our own lives and our future.
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    October 19, 2025 "All Creatures Great and Small: Blessing the Animals"

    Worship Leader:
    Rev. Ian W. Riddell
    Worship Associate:
    Joni Padduck and
    Denise Janssen Eager
    For so many of us, the non-human animals in our lives bring companionship, love, trust, and healing. Join us on this special Sunday as we gather outside on our patio for a service of gratitude, celebration, and blessing of our animal companions. All well-behaved pets are welcome on a leash or in a crate. If you can’t bring your critter, bring a picture. Keep your eye on the weekly newsletter for more information.
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    October 12, 2025 "Ingathering: Nurturing Water"

    Worship Leader: Rev. Ian W. Riddell
    Worship Associate: Ginger Hemingway
    We mark the beginning of a new church year by welcoming travelers home and mingling the waters of our lives. Note: please bring a small container of water from home for this special service.
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    October 5, 2025: Taking Account: A High Holy Days Reflection

    Worship Leader: Rev. Ian W. Riddell
    Worship Associate: Bryna Blum
    The Jewish tradition of seeking awareness of how we have fallen short of our values or caused harm calls us to reflect today on the ways that we can pay attention and take a clear account of our lives and our hearts.
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    September 28, 2025: "Hearing Beyond the Noise: A Sermon for Troubled Times"

    September 28, 2025: "Hearing Beyond the Noise: A Sermon for Troubled Times"

    Worship Leader: Rabbi Dr. Jules King
    Worship Associate: Bryna Blum

    For both Unitarians and Jews navigating our own existence and keeping our sanity when madness seems to be the norm...
    We are not powerless. We have each other. We have our values. We have our voices. And we have something that some will never understand: the knowledge that in the end, love is stronger than hate, truth is more powerful than lies, and hope is more enduring than despair.
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    September 21, 2025: "The Spiritual Practice of Silence"

    September 21, 2025: "The Spiritual Practice of Silence"
    Worship Leader: Rev. Ian W. Riddell
    Worship Associate: Mel Wilkinson

    “Words! Words! Words! I’m so sick of words!” sang Eliza Doolittle. The world around us is noisy and urgent. How to we build practices of crafting silence and quiet into our lives to help us stay grounded and effective and whole.
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    September 14, 2025: "Envisioning Social Change"

    September 14, 2025: Envisioning Social Change
    Worship Leader: Rev. Ian W. Riddell
    Worship Associate: Julia Alberg-Burbank


    We can’t avoid engaging in the needs of the world. But each of us—and each community—has a different role in bringing change. Today, we bring a series focusing on the variety of roles we can each take on.
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    Reading Lists

    At times Rev Ian publishes a reading list of sources that he used in his sermons.

    January – February 2025

    September – October 2024

     

    Printed Sermons

    May 4, 2025:  May the Fourth Be with you:  Resistance in the Context of Community and Covenant by Julia Alberg-Burbank.

    This talk includes the ten W’s created by Diana Butler Bass, a Christian Minister.  These practices, Julia states, can strengthen ourselves and deepen the community we have here.

     

     

    June 25, 2023 GA Assembly Worship Service

    Ever Willing: Becoming the People Our World Needs

    The pandemic has wrought change and created uncertainty for institutions, like our Unitarian Universalist congregations, and our wider world. Who and what are we becoming, individually and collectively? Our GA Sunday service explores these themes as we gather in community to celebrate the best of who we UUs are.

    Link to the UUA website to view the recorded service.

    July 2, 2023: We The People

    Worship Leader: Rev. Ian W. Riddell
    Worship Assistant: Joni Padduck

    As we celebrate our nation’s birthday, we take a look at the state of our democracy and wonder together how to stay true to our values while resisting hatred, fear, and prejudice.

    *Note:  Since there was no sound on the recording we are providing the text of the sermon in this document.

    We the People Sermon