Church of the River Sermons

Rev. Gail Tapscott will take you on a journey through the extraordinary amount of Unitarian Universalist contributions to the fields of UFOlogy and science fiction writing. Particular emphasis will be focused on how the work of fabled UU syfy writer Frederick Pohl’s writing reflects our values and principles in his often biting and humorous satire. One novel, “The Cool War” even has a UU minister as the hapless hero.

The End Of The World is a sad and scary idea, but it gets a little less sad and scary when you think about how many times it has already happened.

"It is normal to despair. It is normal to have hope. It is even normal to feel despair and hope at the same time." In a moment of heartbreak and confusion in our city, we will come together in worship in a spirit of love and compassion. Bring your despair, bring your lamentation, bring your hope, bring it all. This service is for every piece of who you are.

Sometimes we need to hear a story about a robot to understand our own humanity. Sometimes we need to be reminded of how necessary and beautiful our shortcomings are.

Since the beginning of human history women have been religious leaders. No matter how many insecure men try to cover it up, that fact will always be true.

Splash back to Church with our River Sunday worship service 'On Baptism' with FUN activities soon after.

There is no such thing as an incorrect way to pray. There is also no such thing as a method of prayer that works for everybody.

Join us as we consider in community the responsibility of covenant in our work towards collective liberation. Another world is possible; another world is inevitable; another world is ours to build.

Join us as we consider in community the responsibility of covenant in our work towards collective liberation. Another world is possible; another world is inevitable; another world is ours to build.

The sacred work of abolition is, too, environmentalist work. How can we move towards collective liberation during climate crisis?

Our living tradition asks that we take, always, one more step. As we embark on the journey towards becoming a liberatory, anti-racist, anti-oppressive religious community, what steps are before us? Join us Sunday for One More Step.

We're told that another world is possible, but what does that mean? How do we build it? How, first, do we begin to imagine a whole new world? What kind of world do we deserve?

Hell, as far as I can figure out, is just a fantasy that people have about a place where other people are punished for not being exactly like them.

The UU Coming of Age process remains relevant into adulthood. Throughout our lives, each of us embark on our own individual journey towards spiritual discovery and self discovery.

When we talk about 'thinking of the children', we need to make sure that we are thinking about actual human beings, and not the idea of children that we have invented.

The ancients labored to make sense of their violent world. Our violent world doesn't make much sense, either. Without explanation, God answers violence with life and calls us to do the same.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine brings the urgency for moral clarity in the ongoing struggle between democracy and authoritarianism. "Let us ponder the purpose of all purposes, the virtue of all virtues, and what the war in Ukraine requires of us."

Just loving the Earth is not enough if you won't fight for it. Just fighting for the Earth is pointless if you don't love it. You really have to do both.

This Easter we are all eager for a moment of rebirth, resurrection, and celebration. But how can we get to this place through all of our fear and heartache? We need to do it together.

What's the purpose and function of protests? How does the tradition of protests vary across time and traditions? This sermon seeks to sanctify protests and encourage us to leverage our liberating faith tradition to become more actively involved in the universal fight for freedom.