Sunday Worship Videos

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    Sunday, May 10, 2026 "Keeping Love at the Center: Using the Power of “mama” Love to Heal"

    Worship Leaders: Julia Alberg-Burbank
    Worship Associate: Mel Wilkinson

    We are not all moms, nor do we want to be. Still, how can we tap into courageous love and heal our world?
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    Sunday, May 3,, 2026 "Look for the Helpers: Shifting Communities Toward Care"

    Worship Leader: Rev. Ian W. Riddell
    Worship Associates: Bryna Blum

    Fred Rogers famously told the story of his mother telling him to "Look for the Helpers" when he saw catastrophe and disaster. Join us as we explore how we can both be helpers and build communities of care. And we'll celebrate our volunteers today as well.
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    Sunday, April 26, 2026 "Weaving Understanding: Learning as a Spiritual Practice"

    Worship Leader: Rev. Ian W. Riddell
    Worship Associates: Mel Wilkinson

    Social media and web-based platforms have brought many challenges and threats, but they have also allowed the creation of so many ways for us to learn about ourselves and the world outside of classroom walls. Join us as we imagine ways to weave learning.
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    Sunday, April 19, 2026 “Weaving Possibility: Visions of a Future Earth”

    Worship Leader: Rev. Ian W. Riddell
    Worship Associate: Denise Janssen Eager

    On this Earth Day we face, it seems, unavoidable disaster and catastrophe. How might we reimagine possibilities, inspired by the writings of authors and poets from around the world? Join us as we imagine ways to weave possibility.
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    Sunday, April 12, 2026 “Hope is a Thing with Feathers”

    Worship Leaders: Sandy Sladen and Margaret Manson
    Worship Associate: Joni Padduck

    It goes without saying that we live in difficult times that seem to grow even more difficult with each passing day. It is hard not to feel despair. It is hard not to feel helpless. It hard not to feel hopeless. For these reasons we will take a deep dive into understanding and thinking about hope. What is it? Where does it come from? What does it look like? How does it work in our lives?

    In 2006 Margaret and Sandy retired and left their home and careers in California where Margaret was a Community College Administrator and Faculty member and Sandy was a social worker and organizational consultant. Margaret and Sandy first became UUs in 2007 after they moved to Massachusetts and were looking for ways to meet people. They quickly found at the UU in Amherst a community of deeply committed and caring people that helped make their transition from California to Massachusetts an even more positive experience. When they made the decision to return to California, specifically Palm Springs, they had already found UUCOD and that was an important part of their decision. Margaret and Sandy have told me that nothing in their personal or professional experience has prepared them to be Worship Leaders so they invite you to be part of their leap of faith.
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    Sunday, March 22, 202: In it Together: The Spiritual Practice of Relationship

    Worship Leader: Rev. Ian W. Riddell
    Worship Associates: Julia Alberg-Burbank

    Being intentional about how we are in relationship with those we live with or work with—our loved ones, family, and friends—can be a practice that deepens connection and spirit and grounds us as we encounter the world. Join us as as we explore our closest connections.
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    Sunday, March 15, 2026 “Building Bridges for a Resilient Future”

    Worship Leader: Rev. Summer Albayati
    Worship Associate: Steven Toporoff

    What does it mean to reach out to others - to build bridges between and among us? How can we build them to ensure a resilient future – especially at this time in the history of our country and world?
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    Sunday, March 8, 2026 "Make Good Trouble: Disrupting Bad Ways"

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

    John Lewis told us to “Made good trouble!” How is our congregation responding to meeting the moment in our area and how do our Unitarian Universalist values, inspire us to resist and disrupt fascism and violence?
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    Sunday, March 1, 2026 "Songs of Inspiration and Peace”.

    Worship Leaders: Rev. Ian W. Riddell and Jim Tong
    Worship Associate: Ginger Hemingway

    Join our UUCOD Choir and other musicians as we celebrate inclusion and inspire hope through song and reflection.
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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