Rev. Bill Sinkford – “What Do You Want?”
A podcast of all First Unitarian Portland’s sermons for 2017.
Emmanuel means “God with us.” In the Christian calendar, this is Advent, a time of waiting and a time of preparation to welcome God, or the Spirit of Life, into our lives. What preparation needs attention so we are ready to welcome the longed for birth of hope in our hearts?
We are a Sanctuary Church, though we have not welcomed a family to live in our facility. We will explore what our support for the New Sanctuary Movement means and how the aspiration to be a place of refuge applies to each of us as well as our undocumented neighbors.
During this season of gratitude, we often acknowledge and claim the blessing of gifts in our lives. What happens when we can’t perceive these gifts, when it feels like perhaps there’s not enough to go around? How do we contemplate the line between scarcity and abundance? Join us as we continue our monthly theme of Abundance by exploring the depth, density, and determination of Love.
Jacob had to wrestle an angel to receive a blessing. Can we avoid the wrestling match by a gratitude that matches our abundance? We will welcome our pledges of financial support for this church in the coming year and celebrate the blessing of this community in our lives.
Do justly. Love Mercy. Walk Humbly. The words of the Prophet Micah are carved above the entrance to our Eliot Chapel. To love mercy requires that most difficult of human achievements: a change of heart. In these divisive times, how do we prevent our hearts from hardening?
At the heart of our theology is the trust that our choices matter. We can at least help shape our destiny. This is called “human agency” in theological terms. Power can be used for good or ill, however. The religious question is what we will help make happen and what informs our choices.