Sermons from UU St. Pete

Pride and Prejudice in Florida: Part I (Video)
Pride and Prejudice in Florida: Part II (Video)

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Struggling With Islam: Waging War in our Hearts and with Others  - Our nation is embroiled in two overseas wars, both involving nations in which Islam is the dominant religion. Beyond the few basic facts we may know, do we really understand this religion or the spirit of its people? How do we make sense of the fact that many Americans fear this religion, and view it as the faith of the ‘enemy’?

04/27/08

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Earth Day - Join us as we celebrate Earth Day. Our special guest Mike Nashleanas is an expert in environmentalism. Mike will reflect with us on our commitment to the planet we live on. He relates the story of Gaviotas, Columbia, a self-sustaining village, founded more than 40 years ago in the harshest area of Colombia where they use wind and solar power as they reclaim the rain forest.

The Fire of Loneliness - Have you ever felt completely alone amidst a sea of people? Wrestled with feelings of isolation or loneliness -- physically, emotionally, spiritually? This common human experience can be one that fuels great pain, but it can also be a creative repose, a time of gathering.   Rev. Mishra will explore this topic with us, as we examine the nature of loneliness.

He Said, She Said: Visions of St. Petersburg's Future - We are excited and pleased to host St. Petersburg Council Member Leslie Curran this morning, in a service jointly led with Rev. Mishra. Council Member Curran has taken views that some have found controversial—join us for this opportunity to hear directly from her, and Rev. Mishra, on their visions for the city of St. Petersburg.

Easter Sunday: Rolling Away the Stone - What is the significance of Easter Sunday for us Unitarian Universalists? Rev. Mishra explores the topic of the many resurrections of the spirit in a beloved community such as ours.

Unitarian Universalist Women - March is Women’s History Month. During this lay-led service, members Harriet Ha-Sidi, Dorothy Goldsmith, Pat Yochim and Betsy Filz will bring history to life, with a service honoring the contributions of our Unitarian and Universalist foremothers: Mary White Ovington, founder of the NAACP; Carrie Chapman Catt, founder of the League of Women Voters; May Sarton, a poet; and Malvina Reynolds, a songwriter.

Hocus Pocus and Mumbo Jumbo: In Search of More Than Meets the Eye Our Unitarian heritage is historically grounded in its opposition to ‘mumbo jumbo,’ supposedly supernatural events. Were we too hasty in making that judgment? Is there more to ‘magic’ than we might think?

03/09/08

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Finding the Light of Hope - Our community is a beacon of hope to many. In what ways does it enrich, even save, lives? How are we called to support that work? Rev. Mishra explores the nature of community.

Unwinding the Spiral of Negativity  As a human being it is inevitable that we experience times of suffering and pain.  How can our liberal religion understand these feelings and help us in times of need? In particular, continuing our year-long series on World Religions, Rev. Mishra examines the insights and wisdom that Buddhism provides into the nature of human suffering.

02/24/08

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Honoring Black History Month  Harriet HaSidi, our lay leader for today's service reads a poem on the small but powerful voice of a crocus.  Ernest Hooper, a columnist for the St. Pete Times, who writes three times a week on numerous topics around the Tampa Bay area, is our guest speaker.  Mr. Hooper will discuss why we need Black History Month.

Will You Be My Valentine?  - Honoring Valentine's Day, Rev.  Mishra focuses on the theme of love and the spiritual lessons it inspires us towards.  Valentine's Day evokes many different emotions and experiences.  Reflecting on this, Rev. Mishra will discuss with us the themes and nuances of love. 

Tampa Bay UU Regional Marketing Campaign Kickoff - The Reverend William G. Sinkford, President of the Unitarian Universalist Association, is our guest speaker at the kickoff celebration for the Tampa Bay Regional Marketing Project.

02/09/08

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The Seven Deadly Sins: Part II  - As we continue our reflection on Dante's seven deadly sins, join us as we hear Ms. Alexandra Bolton-Schultes' reflections on Pride, and Rev. Mishra on Lust.  How have we experienced these 'sins,' and what have we learned from our encounters with them? 

The Seven Deadly Sins: A People's Voices Service -  Dante's Inferno has contributed to spirituality and literature the idea of the seven deadly sins. Join us as we explore together these 'sins.' What might they mean to us? How have these concepts affected our lives? Led by member Pat Robinson, personal reflections will be shared by: Ms. Evie May on the sin Wrath, Mr. Ian O'Hara on Sloth, and Ms. Connie Millett on Greed.

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Teach Us and Show Us the Way - Drawing on a phrase from the Chinook Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest, today’s service explores the ways in which we human beings spiritually learn and grow and the sources we draw on. Join us as Rev. Mishra offers his reflections on this topic.

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Parakeets and Paracletes - Rev. Lorakim Joyner will be visiting us this day from the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Gainesville. Following National rd Day on January 5th, she will help us celebrate some of her favorite birds, parrots and parakeets. These birds in story, humor, and metaphor have much to tell us how we can witness to the beauty and tragedy of life, and be a paraclete (comforter, counselor, advocate) for others.

The Sun is Always There - As we celebrate the winter solstice, a time of honoring nature and our connection to the universe, Rev. Mishra reflects on his own relationship to these elements, and how the winter solstice might inform and enrich our lives.

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National Farm Workers Ministry: The Impact of Pesticides Used in the Fields - Roberta ("Bert") Perry, our guest speaker, is the head of the Florida Chapter of the National Farm Workers Ministry, an interfaith organization that supports farm workers as they organize for empowerment, justice, and equality. Her talk concerns the impact of pesticides used in the fields which affect the food chain, farm workers and their unborn babies.

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Freedom, Fellowship, and Character in Religion - Rev. Mishra preaches at First Unitarian Church of Orlando during a pulpit swap with Rev. Marni Harmony, who preached at our church (listen to her sermon below). Recording of Rev. Mishra's sermon used with the permission of the First Unitarian Church of Orlando.

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Blowing on Coals - What does it mean to "blow on the coal of the heart?" Rev. Marni Harmony, First Unitarian Church of Orlando, will play with an old Zen story, a marvelously imaginative  Miyazaki movie, and talk about the importance of ritually lighting  our UU chalice.  

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Ask Jeeves...or instead, Rev. Mishra: The Question Box Sermon - Today's sermon is about questions. Do you have questions about your personal religious beliefs, or Unitarian Universalism, or perhaps Rev. Mishra’s views on life and the world? Join us for this unique opportunity, known in other churches as ‘The Question Box Sermon.’

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The Thankfulness Born of Blessings -This Sunday we have our annual Thanksgiving Celebration led by Rev. Mishra in which Rev. Mishra reflects on the Biblical phrase “I am the life and the way, follow me”; the creative force in all of us; and how we look at life – from the framework of lack and want or endless bounty.

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Meet PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Persons) - Kathy Miller, President of PFLAG Pinellas, and a few friends share with us some information about PFLAG, reflections on their own personal experience and the important role friends and family play in the lives of GLBT people.

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Till Death Do Us Part? - Our once a year Halloween worship service spookily looms on the horizon. In this time of ghosts and goblins, Rev. Mishra reflects on one of the greatest mysteries of all. What does death mean to Unitarian Universalists?

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Here a Moo, There a Moo, Everywhere a Moo Moo - Animal life surrounds us, and yet we struggle with defining our relationship to these other beings.  Join us and Rev. Mishra in this worship service honoring Francis of Assisi, our Unitarian Universalist respect for the independent nature of all life, and our planet’s many furry, winged, and scaly residents.

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Toward a UU Legislative Ministry for Florida The Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry, Florida, is a statewide justice ministry that serves to empower the moral voice of UU values in the public arena.  Our guest speaker, Fred Seidl, served as the first UULMF coordinator and our voice in Tallahassee.  Fred is a member of the Unitarian Universalists of Clearwater.

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The Birth of Monotheism: The God of Yom Kippur - As the first and oldest of the Abrahamic faiths, Judaism occupies a special place in the development of religious thinking.  How might our own spiritual lives, as Unitarian Universalists, be enriched by the Jewish faith? 

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Experiencing God Who or what is God?  More importantly - as we are a religion that values the truths of human experience - is it possible to ‘experience’ God?  Rev. Mishra shares some of his journey this summer with you - experiences that led him to reflect deeply on these questions.

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The Fruits of Our Labor On this Labor Day, Rev. Mishra explores labor and class issues and how they impact our lives.  In his sermon, Rev. Mishra explores issues of social justice and equity related to our work and its fruits.      

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It's Elemental: The Symbols of Community Rev. Manish K. Mishra starts the new church year reflecting on the symbolic meaning of the yearly "Water Communion" ceremony.

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What Does God Look Like? Pat Robinson, Acting Director of Religious Education, provides her view of what God is and what she looks like

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A River Runs through It Frank Wells, Music Director, UUC)
• Sermon Part 1: "Music as Ministry"
• Musical Interlude: "Blue Bossa" K. Dorham
• Sermon Part 2: "Foundations of Music Ministry"

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A Productive and Examined Life Alex Bolton-Schultes talks about her vision for the mission of our church.

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Adventures of a Hindu UU Rev. Manish K. Mishra, All Souls Church

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