Sermons given at UUCB, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley

Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley August 2, 2026The Power of HeartbreakRev. Dr. Kathryn JayBroken-heartedness is a fact of life. How can we grow and be transformed by the moments that break our hearts, making space for individual and communal healing in a world beset by loss and disappointment?

Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley July 26, 2026Rooted in Rich SoilRev. Sheri Prud’hommeFrom where do we draw our religious authority? Part of the answer is from the theological heritage of Unitarian Universalism. Ours is an open and evolving faith, and we are stewards of its unfolding. Knowing our theological roots grounds our resistance to authoritarianism, consumerism, militarism, and racism as well as our capacity to imagine a better way.

Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley July 12, 2026Spiritual and ReligiousIntern Minister: Liesl DeesWhat does it mean to be both spiritual and religious? In this closing service of our series on Reclaiming and Reimagining Religion, explore how personal spiritual practice and shared religious community can deepen and sustain one another. Together, we’ll reflect on what is sacred in our lives, what is of lasting worth, and how we build beloved community rooted in love.

Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley July 5, 2026Becoming What We BelieveIntern Minister: Liesl DeesA religious life is not only about what we believe, but what we practice. We’ll reflect on the sacred work of living our faith beyond Sunday morning—shaping lives rooted in love, justice, and compassion.

Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley June 28, 2026Reading The World Intern Minister: Liesl DeesWhat counts as a sacred text? As we continue our series on Reclaiming and Reimagining Religion, we’ll explore wisdom found not only in scripture, but also in literature, life, and landscape. Together, we’ll reflect on how we learn to read the sacred woven throughout our lives.

Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley June 21, 2026Glitter and Grit Rev. Kathryn Jay

A Prophetic Imagination Rev. Liesl DeesProphets are often imagined as lone figures predicting doom. But what if prophecy is really the courage to tell the truth, name what others refuse to see and call people back to relationship, justice, and compassion. Together, we’ll reclaim prophecy not as supernatural prediction but as the sacred work of imagining a more loving world.

Ministerial Intern Liesl DeesPrayer is often imagined as speaking into silence. But what if prayer is an exchange of longing, listening, wonder, and response? We continue our series on Reclaiming and Reimagining Religion by exploring prayer as a practice of attention, connection, and presence.

Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley May 31, 2026Community in BloomWe celebrate our annual flower communion with the recognition that we bloom always in relationship. Like the interdependent community of flowers and pollinators, we depend on each other more than we know to express our unique and sacred beauty. Bring a flower to celebrate!Rev Marcus Liefert

Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley May 24, 2026Sound of SpiritRev Liesel DeesAs we begin our series on Reclaiming and Reimagining Religion, we start with the wisdom of our bodies. On this Pentecost Sunday, we’ll riff on the New Testament story of embodied spirituality through a jazz lens, featuring special guest trumpeter Delbert Anderson.