Category Archives: Sermons

Glasses resting on Bible

Disturbing the Peace

Garden of Grace United Church of Christ, Columbia, S.C. Readings for the Fourth Sunday after Pentecost: Psalm 86:1-12, Matthew 10:24-39 Is there anyone who Ever remembers changing their mind from The paint on a sign? Is there anyone who really recalls Ever breaking rank at

Glasses resting on Bible

We’re One, But We’re Not the Same

Garden of Grace United Church of Christ, Columbia, S.C. Readings for Trinity Sunday (First Sunday after Pentecost): 2 Corinthians 13:5-14, Matthew 28:16-20 Is it getting better, or do you feel the same? Will it make it easier on you, now you got someone to blame?

Glasses resting on Bible

Caring for the Family

Readings: Deuteronomy 5:1-5, 16, 18; Luke 7:1-10 I have thought and rethought and chickened out on this sermon, and keep coming back to it. These two commandments have experienced the most theological and cultural change over centuries. They no longer mean what they did when

Ash Wednesday cross

Reflect, Repent, Reboot

Garden of Grace United Church of Christ, Columbia, S.C. Readings for Ash Wednesday: Joel 2:12-18, Matthew 6:1-15 Let me begin with a couple of silly questions: How many of you use a computer? How many of you have had your computer crash? I imagine many

Glasses resting on Bible

Pharisee, Pharido

Garden of Grace United Church of Christ, Columbia, S.C. Readings: Isaiah 49:1-7, Matthew 23:1-7, 23-34 Please rise as you are able and do as I do. Stand on one leg. Touch your nose. Pat your head. Now jump up and down. Turn to your neighbors

Glasses resting on Bible

The Extraordinary Power of an Ordinary Life

Preached at North Anderson (S.C.) Community Church Presbyterian, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Spartanburg, S.C., and Greenville (S.C.) Unitarian Universalist Fellowship When I was a kid I thought Leonard Bernstein was the most powerful man on earth. Even though I grew up in the age

Glasses resting on Bible

What Are You Waiting For?

Garden of Grace United Church of Christ, Columbia, S.C. Readings for the Second Sunday of Advent: Isaiah 11:1-10, Matthew 3:1-12 I sat down to write a sermon this week. I started on Monday. I got an idea. I wrote some stuff down. I got another

Glasses resting on Bible

A Bible Lesson for Liberals

Presented at the South Carolina Progressive Network Summit Hello, my name is Neal, and I’m a recovering Baptist. One of the reasons I fell in love with Unitarian Universalists and became one is because, unlike any other religious group I have known, they can laugh

Glasses resting on Bible

What Do You Say?

Garden of Grace United Church of Christ, Columbia, S.C.  Readings for the 18th Sunday after Pentecost: Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7; Luke 17:11-19 Let’s begin this morning with a little song: If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands If you’re happy and you know

Boy holding rainbow flag

Lazarus in the Pride Parade

Reading for All Saints Day: John 11:32-45 Jesus received a message that Lazarus was sick. Jesus did not leave immediately to see Lazarus. He waited for two days before going to see Lazarus. By the time Jesus arrived, Lazarus had been dead and buried for