Past Services and Recordings

September 26, 2021

Widening the Circle
Rev. Deborah Cayer
Music: Trilight, Kate Lewis and others

In 2017, UUA co-presidents commissioned a Commission on Institutional Change to study institutional racism that created dysfunction and disruption that threatened our religious movement.  After in-depth study and interviews, the Commission published its report in February of 2020. They noted at the time that their findings and recommendations are possibly even more pertinent to a post-pandemic Unitarian Universalism than before. This morning we'll begin to explore why this report is so important, and what we are doing at ERUUF to help co-create an anti-racist Unitarian Universalism. 

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September 19, 2021

PRIDE: Embracing Possibility
Rev. Jacqueline Brett
This Sunday we begin the celebrations of Durham Pride Week with stories, reflections, and music chronicling the possibilities the LGBTQIA+ community has lived into that bring us to this present moment, as well as the current political climate and the new possibilities that must still be embraced.
 
 
 

September 12, 2021

What's Love Got to Do With It?
Rev. Jacqueline Brett
On this Sunday we officially launch ERUUF's 2500 Hours of Love project, our congregation's gift of service honoring and celebrating Rev. Deborah Cayer's 25th anniversary in ministry and her steadfast commitment to racial equity and racial justice. 2500 Hours of Love is a robust project focused on community engagement and justice-making beyond ERUUF's walls while we're also building relationships in support of the critical need for racial equity and racial justice.

LINK: https://2500hoursoflove.eruuf.org/

 
Rev. Jacqueline Brett, worship leader, with reflections by ERUUF Board Chair: Bonnie LaCroix, the 2500 Hours of Love Task Force: Jean O'Barr, Sarah Walls, and Barbara Welanetz, and the project spokespersons: Ann Verdine and Sam Wohns. Music from ERUUF's archives is highlighted by a special presentation recently created by the Eno River Summer Choir.

September 5, 2021

Somebody's Hurting Our People (and it's gone on far too long) - A "Best of ERUUF" Sunday Service

"Best of ERUUF" services will be presented occasionally from a collection of past ERUUF services that stand the test of time, on a topic that remains relevant and important today. This practice will enable our worship and tech teams to continue to sustainably develop meaningful new services. Worship leaders: Revs. Deborah Cayer, Stacy Grove, and Michael Field; music by Kate Lewis, The UU Thrive Chorus, and Yara Allen. 

August 29, 2021

Pivot Point
Rev. Deborah Cayer

Sometimes you have to make a quick change, "turn on a dime," pivot in place so you're able to take on something unexpectedly new. How do we do this so we don't end up strained, stressed, fallen, exhausted?  Rev. Deborah Cayer, worship leader, reflection by Ms. Joan Tilghman. Music from the ERUUF archives.

August 22, 2021

Laboring to Birth a New World

The people who created and led this service are members of the musical group Jewelsong: Farrunnissa, Lila Rosa, Sofianna, Sue-Anne Solem, Marilyn Grubbs, and Betsy Bickel. They’re joined later in the service by Lynda Hambourger of ERUUF’s Earth Justice Team.  

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We are living through a time of change when old ways are dissolving and new energy is being born all around us. A new world is being born. How will this new world emerge? What are our individual tasks in the birthing?

Through music, participatory singing, meditation, poetry, and reflections, Jewelsong and ERUUF's Earth Justice team invite us into this process of labor and birth.

 

 

August 15, 2021

Failing Forward
Rev. Deborah Cayer
Ever find yourself in an impossible situation, uncertain of what you can do next?  (Like right now, maybe? Or anytime this past year and a half?!) When we're caught without good options, we can at least try to "fail forward."  This morning we'll explore the spiritual practice of being moral and spiritual, especially in impossible situations. Music by Eno River Singers, Kate Lewis, and Pam DiLavore.
 
We welcome anyone to the Sanctuary who wishes to attend in person. Masks and socially distant seating in place. Space is limited. RE for children takes place outdoors at 9:30 am.  

August 8, 2021

Radically Welcoming
Revs. Jacqueline Brett and Deborah Cayer

Spiritual teacher, Bonnie Thurston says, " Real love allows us to be genuinely hospitable to others, to listen to them, to receive all people as the precious beloved persons they are." How might we put this into action together as a UU spiritual community? Revs. Brett and Cayer, service leaders.

 

August 1, 2021

Stewards of Our Chosen Faith
Dr. Elias Ortega

We are inheritors of a religious tradition that we have chosen as our faith home. As stewards of this tradition, we take on the task of tending and nurturing, hoping that our work will inspire others to chose to join our work of shaping the work with justice and compassion. In this sermon, I will share my journey and commitment to the growth of Unitarian Universalists as a liberal religion in our world. 


large eoa photoAbout Our Guest Preacher

Dr. Elías Ortega serves as President of Meadville Lombard Theological School and Professor of Religion, Ethics, and Leadership. Dr. Ortega's work brings together academic expertise in sociology and ethics with a commitment to community engagement. 

 

July 25, 2021

Telling Our Stories
Rev. Patty Hanneman with Guest Preacher, Rev. Darrick Jackson
Music: Kate Lewis and others

We are a people of story. The stories we tell shape how we see ourselves and the world. So what happens if we change our stories?

Rev Darrick JacksonThe Rev. Darrick Jackson (he/him) is the Director of Ministries for Lifelong Learning of UU Ministers Association and an Affiliated Community Minister with Second Unitarian Church of Chicago. He is one of the authors in the book “Centering: Navigating Race, Authenticity and Power in Ministry.” Darrick is active in DRUUMM (the UU ministry for people of color, and is the treasurer for Healing Moments (a ministry for caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s). He is also Co-Associate Director of the Chicago Playback Theatre Ensemble and is an avid knitter. Darrick and his husband, James Olson, live with their two cats, Merlin and Morgana.

July 18, 2021

Believing In Abundance
Rev. Patty Hanneman with Guest Preacher, Rev. Lisa Garcia-Sampson
Music: Kate Lewis and others

In 2020, UU the Vote activated more UUs in the work of justice than ever before in our faith's history. But you better believe we are just getting started. This Sunday we'll reflect on this moment of possibility and how we are called to contribute to the joyful, abundant movement for liberation in our country. 

Lisa FT Picture 250x250Rev. Lisa Garcia-Sampson serves as the Executive Director of Forward Together, The Unitarian Universalist Justice Ministry of North Carolina. In this role, she has the pleasure of working alongside UUs across the state to do justice work spanning racial, economic, immigrant, environmental, and electoral justice. 

 

July 11, 2021

On the Brink
Rev. Patty Hanneman with Guest Preacher, Rev. Joseph Santos-Lyons
Music: Kate Lewis

We have long chosen a spiritual path of community building for collective liberation. Yet we also face forces, internal and external, that threaten our existence. We live in a world on the brink, a world that needs our acts of love and justice more than ever. What is asked of us today? How do we faithfully persist through experiences of distrust and disappointment? What are you on the brink of aspiring to create?

joseph santos lyonsRev. Joseph Santos-Lyons (he/they pronouns) is a biracial Asian-American (Chinese and Czech) organizer and minister based in Antipolo City, The Philippines. With a background serving youth and young adult ministry in the UUA, and leading APANO, an Asian and Pacific Islander community-based organization, Joseph’s current calling is in cultivating a new cohousing, chapel, and retreat space in Southeast Asia through the Center for Organizing, Renewal and Leadership.

A second-generation UU, Joseph’s theology is grounded in mutuality, liberation, and the unknown. Joseph is the past president of DRUUMM, and working on a doctorate of ministry with the Pacific School of Religion. He and his partner Aimee co-parent their three children and stay engaged with the UU Church of the Philippines and the Church of the Larger Fellowship.