Sunday, July 18th, 2010 at 10:15am: Holding Vision [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Third in the series, What is Prophetic Church?
Sermon talkback at 11:45.

Sunday, July 11th, 2010 at 10:15am: Honoring History [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Second in the series, What Is Prophetic Church?
Sermon talkback at 11:45.

Sunday, July 04th, 2010 at 10:15am: Proclaiming Freedom [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
First in the series, What Is Prophetic Church?

Sunday, June 27th, 2010 at 10:15am: Snapshots from General Assembly [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Two perspectives on the annual and international gathering of our denomination in Minneapolis, from different vantage points. What are UUs doing at GA that is challenging, interesting, or bold?

Sunday, June 20th, 2010 at 10:15am: Doubt [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Some believe that doubt is a sign of weak faith. On the contrary, there can be no faith without doubt. What are the spiritual fruits of our doubting and our questioning?

This is Rev. Hardies' last sermon before his summer vacation. Join us after the service in Rock Creek Park for our annual church picnic.

Sunday, June 13th, 2010 at 10:15am: Handle with Care [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
One of our fundamental responsibilities as human beings is to care for one another. What does that responsibility look like on a daily basis?

Sunday, June 06th, 2010 at 10:15am: One-Minute Waltz [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
In a world of increasingly brief connection, electronic interaction is the daily norm for many. Our service explores the generational divide on technology use, and the creative tension between efficiency and deep relationship. Our musical text will be a Chopin piano piece under two minutes, informally titled the Minute Waltz, with guest pianist Ana Russell.

Sunday, May 30th, 2010 at 10:15am: Love’s Messiness [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
When love refuses to be constrained by the neat boundaries we’ve prescribed for it, things can get messy. How do we handle love’s complicated and unruly nature? Final sermon in the series, Living in Love's Shadow.

Sunday, May 23rd, 2010 at 9:30am: Who's Invited to the Party? [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
This Sunday we celebrate Pentecost, the day long ago when a radically diverse group of believers got together and each spoke in his or her own language, yet was understood by all. Skeptics dismissed that first Pentecost as a drunken celebration. And who knows? I'll bet it was a party of sorts. If so, that ancient party provides a prophetic challenge to a "party"--the so-called Tea Party--that seems to be sweeping across America. What's at stake for us as a people and a nation?

Sunday, May 16th, 2010 at 9:30am: When I Believe In Me [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Join us as we welcome guest minister, Rev. Dyan "Abena" McCray, of DC's Unity Fellowship Church.

Sunday, May 09th, 2010 at 9:30am: The Chalice and the Flame [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Sometimes our love and care for the individual place us in tension with our love and care for the community. How do we respect the worth and dignity of the individual while also honoring the community that supports and sustains us? Second in the series, Living in Love's Shadow.

Sunday, May 02nd, 2010 at 9:30am: When Love Doesn’t Feel Like Love [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Sometimes love doesn’t feel like it’s “supposed� to feel. Sometimes it compels us to make difficult decisions that may even feel like the opposite of love. Yet in such moments our love matures the most. First in the three-part series, Living in Love's Shadow.

Sunday, April 25th, 2010 at 9:30am: The Plumb Line for Earth Justice [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
In a time of climate change and habitat disruption, potential harm will not be distributed equally. How do we align our multiple individual and collective choices with the plumb line for Earth justice? Celebrate Earth Day’s 40th anniversary.

Sunday, April 18th, 2010 at 9:30am: Who Is My Neighbor? [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
In order to "do justice," in our neighborhoods, we must know our neighbor, and care about their needs. What does justice look like in your community?

Sunday, April 11th, 2010 at 9:30am: Turbulent Waters [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Despite what Simon and Garfunkel said, most of the time we don’t get to take a bridge over troubled waters. Usually we have to wade right in. What happens when the waters of our lives become turbulent?

Sunday, April 04th, 2010 at 9:30am: Easter Sunday: Remember Me [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Resurrection is the process by which love triumphs over death. On Easter morn we explore the ways in which memory plays a resurrecting role in our lives and loves.

Friday, April 02nd, 2010 at 7:30pm: Good Friday Service: What Does the Suffering Bring? [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Each year we ponder the symbolism of the Christian story of the death of Jesus before the coming of the Easter light. The format of this service will have some changes from previous gatherings. It will include musical contemplation, two texts from the Christian and Buddhist traditions, a story of contemporary suffering, and a communion liturgy with bread and juice open to all. We will leave the Sanctuary in darkness and silence, before returning to celebrate together on Easter Sunday.

Sunday, March 28th, 2010 at 9:30am: Parting Gifts [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
In this, Rev. Lynngood's final sermon as associate minister of All Souls, she'll reflect on the many gifts she has received during her seven years here. A sermon of saying goodbye and offering gratitude.

Sunday, March 21st, 2010 at 9:30am: This, Too, Shall Pass [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Sometimes our suffering and despair bring us to a crisis of faith that feels like an attack on our very being. How do we endure such crises? And how do we find our way back to “Hallelujah�?

Sunday, March 14th, 2010 at 9:30am: The Meaning of Our Tears [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
The first movement of the Broken Hallelujah is lament—grief for the brokenness of our lives and the world. What do our tears teach us? How can they lead us back to life?

Sunday, March 07th, 2010 at 9:30am: Broken Hallelujahs [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
How do we affirm life in the midst of sorrow, suffering and brokenness? Joined by blues singer Cheryl Jones, Rev. Hardies searches for answers to this question in the Psalms and the Blues, two traditions that share an ability to praise life amidst suffering. What do these “Broken Hallelujahs� have to teach us?

Sunday, February 28th, 2010 at 9:30am: Who is my Brother? Or, The Gospel According to Oscar [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
A subtle theological message runs through this year’s crop of Oscar nominees, many of which ask us to reflect on the question: “Who is my brother?� What’s the religious message here, and what do these movies say about our culture? Come to church this Sunday, then impress your friends with your astute insights a week later at the Oscars party.

Sunday, February 21st, 2010 at 9:30am: The Power of Weakness [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Again and again in ways both subtle and overt we are told that strength, power, and aggressiveness are virtues. This morning we’ll look at the gifts that vulnerability and weakness have to offer.

Sunday, February 14th, 2010 at 11:15am: Our Hearts Should Do This More Often [NO SERMON]
On Valentine’s Day, a celebration of love—in its many forms!—through music and poetry.

Sunday, February 07th, 2010 at 9:30am: Love’s Messiness [CANCELLED DUE TO SNOW]
Why is it that love is always a struggle? Always more complicated than we imagined? How do we find the patience to endure love’s messiness?

Sunday, January 31st, 2010 at 9:30am: Change and Liberation [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Even though we don’t like it, change can set us free. We must endure the discomfort and uncertainty that change brings, in order to be liberated into the new reality the future holds.

Sunday, January 24th, 2010 at 9:30am: Faithfulness [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Last minute change to Sermon in response to the lack of leadership in Washington to secure Health Care for All in the wake of the Mass election result.

Sunday, January 17th, 2010 at 9:30am: The State of the Dream [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Dr.King lifted up a dream of equality and our nation to this day holds out the ideal of everyone being able to “live the American Dream�. What happens when we have conflicting visions of what that dream means? Or what it is?

Sunday, January 10th, 2010 at 9:30am: A Wintry Faith [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Winter has a way of simplifying the world, of revealing its hidden structures. A wintry faith sees the world as it truly is. What do we see when we look at the world through the eyes of a wintry faith?

Sunday, January 03rd, 2010 at 9:30am: Most Important Things [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
All too often in the rush and commotion of our lives we find we are focused on the wrong things. We get caught in the trite and petty. What are the most important aspects of our lives and how can we stay focused on them? When focused on the significant, can the "mundane" be less so?

Sunday, December 27th, 2009 at 11:15am: Kwanzaa Celebration [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Join us for our annual honoring of Kwanzaa. This year in addition to our regular celebration in music, word, and feast we will explore how service and reflection might deepen our sense of community.

Thursday, December 24th, 2009 at 7:00pm: Christmas Eve at All Souls [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]

7:00 pm "Family Candlelight Service" Our early Christmas service is designed especially for families with young children—as well as the "young at heart" of all ages! The Jubilee Singers join our ministers in this joyous celebration of Christmas. Don’t forget to bring a bell to ring every time we sing "Alleluia."

10:00 pm "Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols" Join our ministers and the All Souls Choir in welcoming Christmas into the world and into our hearts during this candlelit service of readings and carols. Don’t forget to bring a bell to ring every time we sing "Alleluia."

Sunday, December 20th, 2009 at 9:30am: The Blizzard of 2009 [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Impromptu sermon due to snow emergency cancellation of originally planned service.

Sunday, December 13th, 2009 at 9:30am: Season of Delight [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Must I really be as joyful this season as the TV ads and holiday songs suggest? Is joy an essential element of the spiritual life or is it something else…something like delight?

Sunday, December 06th, 2009 at 9:30am: People, Look East [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
"The extraordinary thing that is about to happen," writes the minister and author Frederick Buechner, "is matched only by the extraordinary moment just before it happens. Advent is the name of that moment." What is the extraordinary thing that is about to happen in your life? And how might you prepare for it?

Sunday, November 29th, 2009 at 9:30am: Awaiting the Holy [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
On this first Sunday of Advent we’ll explore the spiritual riches that can be found in waiting and being still.

Sunday, November 22nd, 2009 at 9:30am: Walls Come Tumbling Down [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
We built a wall between Israel and the Occupied Territories, and we want to build one between the United States and Mexico. What’s behind this penchant for building walls? And what about the walls we build closer to home?

Sunday, November 15th, 2009 at 9:30am: Cain, Abel, and Us [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
On November 10, the Commonwealth of Virginia is scheduled to execute John Allen Muhammad, the “DC Sniper� who, in 2002, murdered 10 people in the DC area. What’s at stake morally and spiritually when the state commits murder in our name?

Sunday, November 08th, 2009 at 9:30am: Lessons from the Camino [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
In June, 15 members of the congregation and I went on an extraordinary journey along 73 miles of the Camino de Santiago. This famous pilgrimage route in Spain taught or reminded us of many important life lessons. Come here how the northwest corner of Spain speaks to the journey of life in all places and times.

Sunday, November 01st, 2009 at 9:30am: Both Sides Now: On the Border of Life and Death [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
On All Souls Day we remember those in our community who have died in the last year and reflect on death’s meaning in our lives. As mortals, we simultaneously experience the joy of life and the foreknowledge of death. Our ability to come to terms with the “border� between life and death brings a spiritual maturity that allows us to negotiate other “borders� in our lives, the borders between peoples, cultures, races and nations.

Sunday, October 25th, 2009 at 9:30am: The Promise of the Present [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
The present, quite simply, is all that there is. All we ever have is now. How can we live fully into the promise of the present? Today is Generosity Sunday, when we make our annual financial pledge to support the ministries of our church community.

Sunday, October 18th, 2009 at 9:30am: Love Shack, Baby! [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Many of the holy texts of all the worlds major religions remind us that there is a spark of the divine in each of us. How would our world be if we rehearsed that reality--that each of us houses the Divine? Multiracial/multicultural congregations give us a chance to 'practice' the Beloved Community in which the Holy resides in each of us.

Sunday, October 11th, 2009 at 9:30am: Standing on the Side of Love
On the occasion of the largest gay rights march on Washington in two decades, UUA President Peter Morales discusses the church’s prophetic call to stand consistently on the side of love.

Sunday, October 04th, 2009 at 9:30am: The Devil You Know [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Better the devil you know,� warns the old adage, “than the devil you don’t.� But what happens when the “devil� we know best is ourselves? In a world where structures of oppression and injustice implicate us all, how do we confront and resist evil when we encounter it within us?

Sunday, September 27th, 2009 at 9:30am: A Sense of Purpose [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
We all wish to live in a way that is meaningful, and yet we frequently feel adrift or unsure that we are on the right path. This morning we’ll examine what calling means for our individual lives and our larger church community.

Sunday, September 20th, 2009 at 9:30am: Shaking the Foundations [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
What if we could see the world and ourselves from a distance, such that each of us was no longer the center of our own universe? What difference would such a radical shift in perspective make in our lives?

Sunday, September 13th, 2009 at 9:30am: Take My Hand [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
On Homecoming Sunday we celebrate the power of spiritual community to see us through difficult times, and recommit ourselves to the spiritual practice of solidarity.

Sunday, September 06th, 2009 at 10:15am: The Age of Anxiety [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
As the economy rises and dips, as our jobs and lives shift and change, it can be hard not to feel anxious about our place in the world. Join visiting preacher Amanda Poppei as she examines the ways that we try to assign values in our lives, and asks us to think about where our real worth lies.

Sunday, August 30th, 2009 at 10:15am: When St. Francis Tamed the Wolf [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
When Rev. Hardies spent time in Assissi, people shared many stories of the ministry of St. Francis to the animals and the Earlth. We will share some of those tales on this special Sunday, as we celebrate our own Blessing of the Animals. Please bring your friendly leashed or crated pets!

Sunday, August 23rd, 2009 at 10:15am: Questions of Faith [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
On his first Sunday back from summer break, Rev. Hardies answers your questions (submitted and chosen ahead of time) about God, spirituality, faith, and the church.

Sunday, August 16th, 2009 at 10:15am: UUs in Two Generations [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Dialogue sermon on building the progressive UU movement, from the vantage points of 50-something and 20-something participants in the arena of social justice.

Sunday, August 09th, 2009 at 10:15am: The Work That Changes Us: Interfaith Social Justice [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Dialogue sermon on two tales of spiritual growth, resulting from work in community, across differences.

Sunday, August 02nd, 2009 at 10:15am: Life as a Birthday Party [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Time out, play with our friends and family, special gifts, celebratory meals--why not keep it going all year long? We will celebrate all birthdays as an invitation to more joyous living.

Sunday, July 26th, 2009 at 10:15am: Loving What Is and Whatever Comes [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Insight Meditation teacher and ASC congregant. A People's Voices worship service on accepting life as it emerges, moment by moment.

Sunday, July 19th, 2009 at 10:15am: The Inconvenience of Compassion [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
In situations of tension, suffering, and loss, it is easy to find enemies. When we move towards compassion for each being, our clear categories of right and wrong break down. How might we open our hearts to all, even if inconvenient?

Sunday, July 12th, 2009 at 10:15am: Shifting Paradigms, Planting Roots
Dialogue sermon with excerpts from the UUA Social Justice Convocation, previewing the DVD and book entitled A People So Bold.

Sunday, July 05th, 2009 at 10:15am: Independence Day: All in the Family [View Text]
Living in the tension of the world as it is and the world as it should be, in our country, congregation, and families.

Sunday, June 28th, 2009 at 10:15am: At Theodore Parker's Grave [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Visiting the grave of the famous abolitionist and Unitarian preacher, Rev. Hardies discovered a new-found appreciation for our church and our faith.

Sunday, June 21st, 2009 at 10:15am: On Walden Pond [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Rev. Hardies, just back from the Coming-of-Age trip to Boston, draws inspiration from Thoreau's peaceful retreat.

Sunday, June 14th, 2009 at 10:15am: It's All in the Neighborhood [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Neighborhood Justice Sunday. A look at our local social justice connections, investigating our multicultural, multiracial mission through the lens of race, class, and educational privilege. We will also present the annual Just Soul award to outstanding neighborhood partners.

Sunday, June 07th, 2009 at 10:15am: Sustaining the Long View [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
How do we go the distance when many competing demands of life surround us? What images might inspire us to stay centered while remembering that the arc towards justice is very long indeed?

Sunday, May 31st, 2009 at 10:15am: Lift Every Voice [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Ever wonder what a prayer sounds like in Yoruba? Sanskrit? Dutch? Join us for a special celebration of song and word as we celebrate—and recreate!—the miracle of Pentecost, the day when a diverse group of believers got together and each spoke of their faith in their own language, yet was understood by all. Listen as members of All Souls Church speak their faith in the language of their hearts.

Sunday, May 24th, 2009 at 10:15am: The Importance of Community [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
When we see a new born baby, we know this child requires human care. As adults, we're expected to be self-sufficient and often lose sight of our need for others. Today we'll explore our need for community and what that might look like.

Sunday, May 17th, 2009 at 9:30am: This I Believe [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Want to know what Generation Obama believes? Teenage members of our Coming of Age class help Rev. Hardies lead worship this morning and share with us their statements of faith.

Sunday, May 10th, 2009 at 9:30am: Breaking the Silence [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
If there’s any place we should be able to bring our whole selves, it’s the church. If there’s any place we should be able to speak the truth about who we are, it’s the church. Yet we still keep silent about many of the struggles we face. How can we break the silence and bring our whole selves to church?

Sunday, May 03rd, 2009 at 9:30am: Seeking and Finding [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Joyce will reflect on the ways we say goodbye and approach transition in our lives.

Sunday, April 26th, 2009 at 9:30am: Transforming Liberalism [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
America and the world are at a precipice--a breaking and breakthrough point. Times of anxiety, change, and hope open us to opportunities where new paths can be laid that lead us toward a more just society. "Do you see what I see?" Guest minister, the Rev. John T. Crestwell, Jr. is with us again while our Minister of Social Justice, Rev. Louise Green, visits Davies Memorial in our continued collaboration.

Sunday, April 19th, 2009 at 9:30am: Earth Day: The Breath of the Universe [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
In order to live in right relationship with the Earth, we must recognize our spiritual connection with the Earth. How do we - especially us city-dwellers! - live in harmony with the rhythms of the Universe?

Sunday, April 12th, 2009 at 9:30am: Easter Sunday: Joy Comes in the Morning! [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
"Weeping may endure for the night," says the Psalmist, "but joy comes in the morning." This is the promise of Easter. Join us for this celebration of hope and resurrection.

Friday, April 10th, 2009 at 7:30pm: Good Friday Tenebrae Service
Join us for a service of music, poetry, silence, and darkness as we remember the crucifixion of Jesus and the brokenness of our world. A simple communion will be served.

Sunday, April 05th, 2009 at 9:30am: Sakura [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
In the aftermath of the US bombing of Japan, the children of All Souls Church reached out to the children of Hiroshima with a gesture of a peace and reconciliation. The exchange that ensued is a remarkable story that can provide insights into our work today for peace and restorative justice. Today’s service includes guest appearences from the All Souls Tulsa Children’s Choir, the Shizumi Kodomo Dance Troupe, and koto player, Kyoko Okamoto. After worship you are invited to a free reception and exhibit of the newly restored All Souls’ Hiroshima Children’s Drawings.
DONATE! Children from the intermediate classes (3rd-5th grades) will collect school supplies (washable markers or preschool crayons only) to help support our neighbors who attend the after-school activities at Martha's Table. Place your donations in the baskets at the 16th Street and Harvard Street entrance.

Sunday, March 29th, 2009 at 9:30am: The God Within [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
It is not a given that we talk about God in our UU circles. So what? Does it matter? Who gets to decide which God it is that we do or don't talk about? Is it possible to talk about a God that we can (almost) all accept? We'll explore the territory.

Sunday, March 22nd, 2009 at 9:30am: Freedom, Grace and Love [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
The poet, W.H. Auden wrote, “When shall we learn what should be clear as day, we cannot choose what we are free to love.� If freedom isn’t about choice, then what is it? If we don’t choose what we love, then where does love come from? At the intersection of freedom, grace and love we discover how profoundly all three ground our lives.

Sunday, March 15th, 2009 at 9:30am: A Call to Live Justly [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Rev. Palmer is joined by the All Souls Jubilee Singers.

Sunday, March 08th, 2009 at 9:30am: The Beauty of Paradox [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
We are encouraged regularly to see the elements of our lives in simplistic either/or terms. And yet we live with many tensions—needing to hold and manage the complexities and gray areas of our lives. This morning we’ll explore the gifts of life’s paradoxes.

Sunday, March 01st, 2009 at 9:30am: Spiritual Choices in Difficult Times [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Tough economic times call on us to make difficult choices about our budgets, our jobs, and our way of life. But undergirding all these choices is a fundamental spiritual choice that we must make. How we choose will make all the difference.

Sunday, February 22nd, 2009 at 9:30am: Samsara: Beyond the Dichotomy [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
The wheel goes round and round and it seems as if you are fighting the same wars and having the same arguments again and again. Are you dizzy, bewildered, and tired of this endless cycle? Would you like to get off of the wheel? Guest minister, the Rev. John T. Crestwell, Jr., from Davies Memorial Unitarian Church in Camp Springs, MD, is with us again to share ancient Hindu teachings with a postmodern prescription.

Sunday, February 15th, 2009 at 9:30am: Hope’s Firm Foundation [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Hope is in the air! But that is precisely the problem, claim the naysayers: hope is too flighty and elusive. What is the firm foundation on which we can ground our hope?

Sunday, February 08th, 2009 at 9:30am: Talking to Strangers [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Many of us were taught as children not to talk to people we don’t know, but does that really serve us well? If we are to grow to care about others beyond differences we may have to reach outside of our circle of friends and relations. What do strangers have to teach us?

Sunday, February 01st, 2009 at 9:30am: Close Encounters of the Holy Kind [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Many of us have had spiritual experiences that have powerfully shaped our lives. What are we to make of these experiences? How do we allow them to change our lives?

Sunday, January 25th, 2009 at 9:30am: Our Great Commission [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Our guest preacher this Sunday is the Rev. Dr. Thandeka, a UU minister, theologian, and research professor at Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago. She is the author of The Embodied Self and Learning to Be White, as well as a forthcoming book on Unitarian Universalist theology. She was given the !Xhosa name Thandeka, which means "one who is loved by God," by Bishop Desmond Tutu in 1984.

Sunday, January 18th, 2009 at 9:30am: The Joshua Generation [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Moses led his people to the border of the Promised Land, but it was Joshua and his generation that finally crossed over. On Dr. King Sunday we honor the Moses Generation in America's Civil Rights struggle, and celebrate the Joshua Generation. What are the promises and challenges of this new generation?

Sunday, January 11th, 2009 at 9:30am: The Spiritual Lessons of Failure [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Failure is a fact of life, especially in difficult times. But our attitudes toward failure often damage us. How can we come to see failure as a teacher? And what spiritual lessons does it offer us?

Sunday, January 04th, 2009 at 9:30am: Beginner’s Mind [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
The Buddhist tradition teaches us that beginners possess special spiritual gifts, and that even the wisest and oldest among us can be “beginners.� What does it mean to have the mind and soul of a beginner?

Sunday, December 28th, 2008 at 11:15am: In the Spirit of Kwanzaa
This year’s Kwanzaa service will reflect on Ujima, the principle of Collective Work and Responsibility. All generations will gather to celebrate the power of collective work to transform our lives and world. Then stay for our Kwanzaa Potluck Feast. Please bring a dish to share!

Wednesday, December 24th, 2008 at 7:00pm: Christmas Eve at All Souls

7:00 PM. Family Candlelight Service. Our early Christmas service is designed especially for families with young children–as well as the “young at heart� of all ages! The Jubilee Singers join our ministers in this joyous celebration of Christmas. Don’t forget to bring a bell to ring every time we sing “Alleluia.�

Sunday, December 21st, 2008 at 9:30am: The Christmas Pageant
Revs. Hardies and Lynngood join the children of the church to tell a very special story set to very special music. An All Souls tradition.

Sunday, December 14th, 2008 at 9:30am: Slowing Down [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
In the midst of the hectic holiday rush, we will use this Sunday to reflect on the merits of a slower pace. Many spiritual sages emphasize that a deeply grounded life (like many of the things we value) requires devoting significant time.

Sunday, December 07th, 2008 at 9:30am: Make Me an Instrument [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
In his simple and famous prayer, St Francis of Assisi asked God, 'Make me an instrument of your peace…' He asked for his life to be used in service to a higher calling. On the Sunday of our annual congregational meeting, we will ask, 'What is our calling as a spiritual community in the 21st century?'

Sunday, November 30th, 2008 at 9:30am: What Makes Your Heart Sing? [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
This sermon is in honor of a poet and philosopher who never lived to see his 14th birthday. He died of a degenerative disease, but left us with significant insight into the human spirit and soul. He learned to listen to his omnipresent heart’s song.

Sunday, November 23rd, 2008 at 9:30am: Let us Break Bread Together [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Every year on the Sunday before Thanksgiving we take a special collection of food and money to help those in need in our neighborhood. But are we asking the deeper questions of justice that lurk around the holiday table? Who harvests our food? And why won’t many of them be gathering at the holiday table with their families this year?

Sunday, November 16th, 2008 at 9:30am: How We Live Now [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
On this Sunday, Rev. Hardies will provide a spiritual and theological reflection on the 2008 election.

Sunday, November 09th, 2008 at 9:30am: Post-election reflection [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
After a long and intense campaign season we’ll take the opportunity this Sunday to reflect on what insights can be gleaned from the national conversation this race provoked. Whatever the outcome, it is clear there is much work to be done to improve the fractious mood in our country.

Sunday, November 02nd, 2008 at 9:30am: A Vulnerable People [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Every year on All Souls Day we remember the dearly departed. In doing so, we are also reminded of our own vulnerability. This election season finds our nation grappling with its own vulnerability in new and frightening ways. What lessons does All Souls Day offer us as individuals and as a nation?

Sunday, October 26th, 2008 at 9:30am: Here I Am [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Several powerful stories from the Hebrew Bible tell of the moment when someone with both courage and humility presents themselves to the Spirit. What does it mean to offer ourselves to the Spirit? What can we learn from these wisdom stories?

Sunday, October 19th, 2008 at 9:30am: For All That Is Our Life [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Many of us long to give our whole lives in loving service to something larger than ourselves. But one of the keys to greater service is greater acceptance of all that we are. Only when we receive all of life as a gift, can we give our whole lives as a gift.

Sunday, October 12th, 2008 at 9:30am: A Greater Citizen [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
During this all-encompassing political season we have been asked by the candidates many times over to reflect on the role each of us plays in contributing to our common life as Americans. This morning we’ll bring that notion both closer to home (who are we as family members and neighbors?) and further away (what kind of citizen of the world are we?).

Sunday, October 05th, 2008 at 9:30am: Saying 'No' to Conscience [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
In the Jewish calendar, Yom Kippur is a time for examining the conscience and atoning for the times when we’ve fallen short of the admonitions of the Spirit. This morning we explore what happens to us when we hear the voice of conscience but fail to heed it. What price do we pay for saying 'no' to conscience?

Sunday, September 28th, 2008 at 9:30am: What It Means to Be Human [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Rev. John Crestwell. What does it mean to see ourselves in others? What does it mean to hold others in our care? What does it mean that we look at our past so that we can manifest our greatness in the future? The answers to these questions will guide us to discovering again what it means to be human. Repeated at 11:15 am.

Sunday, September 21st, 2008 at 9:30am: Called to the Border [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Rev. Hardies and Friends. Border people are those who, by circumstance or calling, occupy the space at the intersection of cultures and communities. As our world grows smaller, we must all become border people, adept at speaking and understanding the “languages” of multiple communities. Join our ministers and members of the Border People covenant group to discover the gifts and challenges of such identities and to explore how we can all claim a border identity. Repeated at 11:15 am

Sunday, September 14th, 2008 at 9:30am: Race, Gender, and the Future of America [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Dr. Melissa Harris-Lacewell. During this election season, we reflect on whether our nation can build bridges across divisions of race and gender. Repeated at 11:15 am.

Sunday, September 07th, 2008 at 9:30am: Beloved: A Reflection on the Knoxville Church Shooting [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Rev. Robert M. Hardies. Join us for a powerful Homecoming Sunday as Rev. Hardies reflects theologically on the July shooting at the Knoxville Unitarian Church and on the importance of religious community. Repeated at 11:15 am.

Sunday, August 31st, 2008 at 10:15am: Giving Service [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Rev. Louise Green. A look at direct service projects in the All Souls community, including new initiatives for the next church year. What are the ways service can challenge us and change our lives for the better?

Sunday, August 24th, 2008 at 10:15am: Animal Wisdom [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Rev. Louise Green. A chance to celebrate other living beings in our lives and on our planet, as we participate in summer blessings for the interdependent web of all creation.

Sunday, August 17th, 2008 at 10:15am: People’s Voices Service [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Leaders from our “Building the World We Dream About” group share insights on building the multicultural, multiracial congregation.

Sunday, August 10th, 2008 at 10:15am: A Chance for the Soul [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Rev. Joyce Palmer.

Sunday, August 03rd, 2008 at 10:15am: Jesus of the People [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Rev. Joyce Palmer To honor the victims and witnesses of the shooting at the Tennessee UU church, we will make paper cranes and write cards of sympathy to the congregation. Please bring magazines for the paper to construct the cranes. Volunteers will be available to assist with creating the cranes.

Sunday, July 27th, 2008 at 10:15am: Redemption and Mercy [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Rev. Shana Lynngood. Religious language, part 4. We will examine the Christian vision of being redeemed as well as more secular views. What can redeem us when we have gone astray? Does redemption always come from outside of us?

Sunday, July 20th, 2008 at 10:15am: The Gift of Music [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Matt Meyer, Special Guest. This UU percussionist brings his music and sense of how it informs our faith to All Souls.

Sunday, July 13th, 2008 at 10:15am: Blessing [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Rev. Shana Lynngood. Religious language, part 3. What does someone mean when they say they have been blessed? What does it mean to feel like we could be a blessing in the lives of others? We’ll explore the rich and varied meanings of this powerful spiritual term.

Sunday, July 06th, 2008 at 10:15am: Pride [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Rev. Shana Lynngood. In this second part in a series on religious language, we explore one of the seven deadly sins. What are the ways in which we need pride in order to avoid low self-esteem? What are the ways in which pride gets in our way?

Sunday, June 29th, 2008 at 10:15am: Grace [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Rev. Shana Lynngood. In the first of a four-part series on religious language, we will explore the meaning of grace. What is it? How do we sense its impact on our lives?

Sunday, June 22nd, 2008 at 10:15am: Grateful Hearts [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Rev. Shana Lynngood. One of spiritual practice’s great gifts is its encouraging of an open, gracious approach to life. This counters all the cultural messages that foster stinginess and fear and insularity. This morning we’ll explore ways to expand our sense of thanksgiving.

Sunday, June 15th, 2008 at 10:15am: Sharing the Vision [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Rev. Robert M. Hardies & Rev. John Crestwell. Two ministers—one African American and heterosexual, one white and gay—share their visions for the future of our church and our religious movement. Please join us as we imagine the future of All Souls Church and Unitarian Universalism.

Sunday, June 08th, 2008 at 10:15am: Juggler on the Roof [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Rev. Louise Green, Minister for Social Justice. At All Souls we have a very full social justice menu of organizing, education, advocacy, direct service, and funding. What is the foundation of our action, and how does it relate to building the multi-cultural, multi-racial congregation? What’s it all about, anyway?

Sunday, June 01st, 2008 at 10:15am: Re-creation [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Rev. Robert M. Hardies. Recreation and re-creation. The first means leisure, the second transformation. What’s the spiritual link between play and transformation? How can we make recreation an opportunity for re-creation in our lives?

Sunday, May 25th, 2008 at 10:15am: The Way Forward [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
The Rev. Joyce Palmer gives her first sermon as an ordained UU minister. Remember: All Souls moves to one Sunday service (10:15 am) for the summer.

Sunday, May 18th, 2008 at 9:15am: Transformation [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Rev. Shana Lynngood. Often when we speak about experiences in our lives that have touched us deeply or changed us in some significant way (especially our church and spiritual experiences), we describe them as transformative. What does that mean? Where do we hope transformation will lead us?

Sunday, May 11th, 2008 at 9:15am: Playing with Fire [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Rev. Robert M. Hardies. What do we mean when we ask every Sunday, �Spirit of Life, come unto me�? The Spirit can work in powerful, transformative and unwieldy ways. Do we know what we�re getting ourselves into when we beckon the Spirit to enter our lives?

Sunday, May 04th, 2008 at 9:15am: Is Jeremiah (W)right? [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Rev. Robert M. Hardies. Barack Obama's pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright, put African American Liberation Theology on the front pages of America's newspapers. What are the sources and claims of this theology, and what is its critique of America and Western Christianity? Was Wright justified in his controversial comments?

Sunday, April 27th, 2008 at 9:15am: Who Do We Think We Are? [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Rob Keithan. How we see ourselves - as individuals, as Unitarian Universalists, as a church, and as a larger religious community - has a profound impact on how we go about living our values. In this service we will reflect on identity, inspiration, purpose, and potential. Rob Keithan serves as Director of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations Washington Office for Advocacy. He is a candidate for Unitarian Universalist ministry and a member of All Souls Church,

Sunday, April 20th, 2008 at 9:15am: For the Beauty of the Earth [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Rev. Shana Lynngood. In celebration of Earth Day (which this year coincides with the beginning of Passover), we will reflect on how the majesty and beauty of the Earth can inspire us to do our part to save it.

Sunday, April 13th, 2008 at 9:15am: Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory
Rev. Robert M. Hardies and friends. On the anniversary of the emancipation of slaves in the District of Columbia, we celebrate freedom with a service of music, poetry, and drama, highlighting the voices of Unitarian abolitionists and freed blacks.

Sunday, April 06th, 2008 at 9:15am: Postcards from the Lower Ninth [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Rev. Robert M. Hardies. Spiritual reflection on a visit to New Orleans.

Sunday, March 30th, 2008 at 9:15am: Honor Life [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Rev. Louise Green. What does it mean to honor the sanctity of life? How might we reflect with integrity on two contentious political and ethical debates of our time: abortion and the death penalty?

Sunday, March 23rd, 2008 at 9:15am: Easter People In a Good Friday World [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Rev. Hardies. On Easter Sunday we reflect on the story of Jesus’ resurrection and the possibility of rebirth in our own lives.

Friday, March 21st, 2008 at 7:30pm: Good Friday Tenebrae Service
Rev. Hardies. Join us for a service of music, poetry, silence and darkness as we remember the crucifixion of Jesus and the brokenness of our world. A simple communion will be served.

Sunday, March 16th, 2008 at 9:15am: Pilgrimage Toward Peace [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
The Revs. Linda Jaramillo and Bill Sinkford. On the fifth anniversary of the Iraq War two distinguished church leaders reflect on the possibilities for peace. Linda Jaramillo is executive minister for social justice of the United Church of Christ. William Sinkford is president of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations.

Sunday, March 09th, 2008 at 9:15am: The Church and the City [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Rev. Hardies. �Seek the welfare of the city� wrote the prophet Jeremiah, �for in its welfare you will find your welfare.� On Neighborhood Justice Sunday we explore the role of the church in the city. What is the role of the prophetic church in DC? DC Mayor Adrian Fenty will join us at the second service.

Sunday, March 02nd, 2008 at 9:15am: Living History, Making History [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Rev. Shana Lynngood. This Sunday, we honor members of 35 years or more and thank the Silver Souls for the marvelous history lesson their Ministers' exhibit has provided. In offering our thanks, we also consider our role in writing a new chapter for the history we've been bequeathed. What is our role in making history?

Sunday, February 24th, 2008 at 9:15pm: Begin Again in Love: Forgiveness [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Rev. Robert Hardies. Forgiveness is one of the scarcest commodities on earth, and not an easy task. How do we forgive? How are we forgiven? The last in a three-sermon series on guilt and forgiveness.

Repeated at 11:15.

Sunday, February 17th, 2008 at 9:15am: Making It Whole: Confession [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Rev. Robert Hardies. When we've done wrong, how do we get our souls and our lives back in right relationship again? How do we right our wrongs with integrity? The second in a three-sermon series on guilt and forgiveness.

Repeated at 11:15.

Sunday, February 10th, 2008 at 9:15am: Washing Our Hands of It: Guilt [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Rev. Robert Hardies. Many people come to All Souls Church glad to leave behind what they think of as "a religion of guilt." But just because we've left guilt-based religion behind doesn't mean we don't still struggle with a guilty conscience. What is our guilt telling us, and how do we cope with it? The first in a three-sermon series on guilt and forgiveness.

Repeated at 11:15.

Sunday, February 03rd, 2008 at 9:15am: Tides of Life [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Rev. Shana Lynngood. The natural cycles of the ocean remind us of one of the truths of our lives: all things ebb and flow. How do we adapt and find ways to go with the ups and downs of our lives? How do we see life’s changes not as an aspect of our living to be resisted, but rather as a truth to be embraced or, at least, held more reverently?

Repeated at 11:15

Sunday, January 27th, 2008 at 9:15am: God as Enemy, God as Friend [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Rev. Robert Hardies. Many of us - believers or not - have struggled at one time or another with our relationship with God. Some theologians have suggested that this is a good thing; that God must first be our enemy before God can be our friend. How can this be?

Repeated at 11:15.

Sunday, January 20th, 2008 at 9:05am: People of the Dream [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Rev. Robert Hardies. We are a congregation intentionally committed to Dr. King's dream of building the "Beloved Community." But what does the dream mean to us these many years later? What does it mean for us to be people of the dream?

Repeated at 11:15.

Sunday, January 13th, 2008 at 9:15am: Identity [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Rev. Shana Lynngood. We talk a great deal at All Souls about our aspiration to grow the racial/ethnic diversity of our congregation. We do so because it gets to the very heart of our self-image, of how we see ourselves as a community. This morning I’ll share some of my own wrestlings with identity and how they might be instructive for our living into our vision.

Repeated at 11:15.

Sunday, January 06th, 2008 at 9:15am: Turning Years Into Life [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Rev. Robert Hardies. The young preacher Ralph Waldo Emerson once during a sermon asked his Unitarian congregation the following provocative question: “Are you living, or are you merely growing old?” On this first Sunday of the New Year, we ask ourselves that same question. How do we convert the swiftly passing time into a life well-lived?

Repeated at 11:15.

Sunday, December 30th, 2007 at 10:15am: In the Spirit of Kwanzaa
Rev. Shana Lynngood. In this year's participatory Kwanzaa celebration, we express gratitude for our ancestors, hear stories of remarkable lives, sing, and look closely at the principle of the day: Nia (purpose).

Note: only one service, at 10:15

Monday, December 24th, 2007 at 7:00pm: and at 10:00pm:
Christmas Eve at All Souls

See the description of our two Christmas Eve services to the right.

Sunday, December 23rd, 2007 at 9:15am: The Light Shines On [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Joyce Palmer. Ancients rejoiced in the growing light, and a star led wise men to a holy child. Where does the light lead us today? By what path do we find that which is worthy of worship and praise?

Repeated at the 11:15 service.

Sunday, December 16th, 2007 at 9:15am: The Christmas Pageant
Revs. Hardies, Lynngood, and friends. The children of the church tell a very special story set to some very special music. An All Souls tradition.

Repeated at the 11:15 service.

Sunday, December 09th, 2007 at 9:15am: The God of Possibility and the Possibility of God [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Rev. Hardies. The holidays are a season of hope and possibility. How would our understanding of God change if we took the season seriously and understood God not as the cause of all things, but as the possibility in all things?

Repeated at the 11:15 service.

Sunday, December 02nd, 2007 at 9:15am: Loving Over the Years [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Rev. Hardies. Learning to love for the long haul is a spiritual discipline. How do we do it? What are its rewards?

Repeated at the 11:15 service.

Sunday, November 25th, 2007 at 9:15am: Nuance and Vision, Rev. Shana Lynngood [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
This Sunday, we will reflect on what can be learned from the artist's eye view of life. Having spent a day with some members at the Edward Hopper exhibit, Rev. Lynngood will look at the role of beauty and light and shadow in our daily living as reflected in Hopper's canvasses.

11:15 am: Nuance and Vision, Rev. Lynngood (please see description above)

Sunday, November 18th, 2007 at 9:15am: Why We Still Sing Songs of Jubilee, Rev. Robert M. Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
This Sunday we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Jubilee Singers. Some have suggested that the movements that spawned songs of liberation and freedom are over. Why is it imperative that we still sing songs of Jubilee?

11:15am: Why We Still Sing Songs of Jubilee, Rev. Hardies (please see description above)

Sunday, November 11th, 2007 at 9:15am: Leading from the Future, Rev. Louise Green, Minister of Social Justice [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
What are our leadership choices as we seek to build and sustain a multi-cultural and anti-racist community?

11:15am: Leading from the Future, Rev. Louise Green (please see description above)

Sunday, November 04th, 2007 at 9:15am: The Great Company of the Bereaved, Rev. Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
On All Souls Day we remember those in our community who have died in the last year, and reflect on death’s meaning for our living. Are there any blessings to be found in loss? How can our suffering be a source of solidarity with others?

11:15am: The Great Company of the Bereaved, Rev. Hardies (please see description above)

Sunday, October 28th, 2007 at 9:15am: A Brighter Age, Rev. Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote of the young American Nation: We stand on tiptoe looking for a brighter age. I believe his statement describes our nation even now that our innocence has been shattered. But what might that brighter age look like, and how can this church help lead us there?

11:15am: A Brighter Age, Rev. Hardies (please see description above)

Sunday, October 21st, 2007 at 9:15am: The New Skepticism, Rev. Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
The excesses of neo-conservatism and the failed War in Iraq have given idealism a bad name. A new skepticism pervades our country. How can we restore idealism to its proper role in American life and society?

11:15 am: The New Skepticism, Rev. Hardies (please see description above)

Sunday, October 14th, 2007 at 9:15am: Why I am a Unitarian, Rev. Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Earlier this year, my childhood pastor called me out of the blue. He saw that I had become a minister and wanted to know why I had left the Presbyterians for the Unitarians. In this open letter to my pastor, I share my response. This Sunday we explore our many paths to a progressive faith.

11:15 am: Why I am a Unitarian, Rev. Hardies (please see description above)

Sunday, October 07th, 2007 at 9:15am: Hospitality and Home, Rev. Shana Lynngood [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Feeling welcome and included is not always as simple as we might hope. How is being hospitable a spiritual ractice? What qualities of home are mythic? Real?

11:15am Hospitality and Home, Rev. Shana Lynngood (Please see description above)

Sunday, September 30th, 2007 at 9:15am: The Practice of Reverence, Rev. Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Reverence is a feeling of deep respect and devotion, a sense of awe and wonder. How do we imbue our daily lives with reverence? What spiritual practices can reinforce this sense of respect and awe?

11:15am The Practice of Reverence, Rev. Hardies (Please see description above)

Sunday, September 23rd, 2007 at 9:15am: The Book of Life, Rev. Shana Lynngood [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
In our annual service honoring the High Holy Days of Judaism we will look at what it means to have our names inscribed in the Book of Life. What role do forgiveness and reconciliation play in our living?

11:15am The Book of Life, Rev. Shana Lynngood (Please see description above)

Sunday, September 16th, 2007 at 9:15am: Surge, Rev. Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]

Since January, the word surge has become a staple of the Washington vocabulary. But exactly what kind of surge do we need to bring an end to the war in Iraq?

Sunday, September 09th, 2007 at 11:15am: The Unspeakable Gift - Rev. Rob Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]

Sunday, September 02nd, 2007 at 9:50am: Sustaining the Long Haul for Social Justice - Rev. Louise Green [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]

Sunday, August 26th, 2007 at 9:50am: Questions of Faith-- Rev. Rob Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
In this annual sermon, Rob will answer questions from the congregation. The questions may be of a spiritual nature, such as theology, ethics, history, modern culture, myths, sexuality, Unitarian Universalist history, or broader-ranging questions about life in general.

Sunday, August 19th, 2007 at 9:50am: The Prayers of Your Hearts-- Rev. Rob Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Reverend Rob Hardies will return from sabbatical. This morning Rev. Hardies will share the moments he felt closest to the congregation during his sabbatical. He will reflect back to us the prayers we gave him in January in celebration of our shared concerns and hopes.

Sunday, August 12th, 2007 at 9:50am: Lessons from Summer Camp-- Rev. Louise Green [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]

Sunday, August 05th, 2007 at 9:50am: Living Generously [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
In this People's Voices service, several members of the congregation talk about what living generously means to them, both at All Souls and beyond.

Sunday, July 29th, 2007 at 9:50am: 'Getting Beyond How Are You'--Joyce Palmer [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
This morning, All Souls' Director of Membership and Lay Minisries will deliver a message on deeper community.

Sunday, July 22nd, 2007 at 9:50am: 'The Purpose of Prayer'--Rev. Lynngood [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
One of my first sermons at All Souls was about the meaning of prayer. As we begin to explore spiritual development more deeply, it seems like a good time to revisit the goal of this central spiritual practice. What do we get out of prayer? Does it make a difference?

Sunday, July 15th, 2007 at 9:50am: 'Soulful Leadership'--Rev. Lynngood [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
We have spent some time this church year reflecting on vocation and calling. This morning we will reflect on lay leadership. What does it mean to offer to serve in our church community? How do we bring our gifts and not give until we are depleted?

Sunday, July 08th, 2007 at 9:50am: 'Restless Hearts'--Rev. Lynngood [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
In our constant motion culture we seem to have forgotten how to be still. How can we find a sense of satisfaction with what is? What is it exactly that we hope to find by constantly going?

Sunday, July 01st, 2007 at 9:50am: 'More Joy Somewhere'--Rev. Green [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Rev. Green addresses the high cost of of racism for the privileged.

Sunday, June 24th, 2007 at 10:50am: 'No Equal Opportunity Disasters: Social Justice Sunday'--Rev. Green [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
This morning Rev. Louise Green, ASC Minister of Social Justice, will preach.

Sunday, June 17th, 2007 at 10:50am: 'The Importance of Nurture'--Rev. Lynngood [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
On this Father’s Day and Juneteenth we’ll explore what we need from those who care for us in order to thrive and grow. Where can our freedom take us when it is grounded?

Sunday, June 10th, 2007 at 10:50am: 'Fathers and Sons: The Surprising Bond'--Rev. Neil Chethik [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Neil Chethik is a UU from Lexington, Ky, and author of two books about men’s lives: VoiceMale: What Husbands Really Think About Their Marriages (Simon & Schuster 2006), and FatherLoss: How Sons Deal With the Deaths of Their Dads (Hyperion 2001). He is a co-founder and past president of the UU Men’s Network, a national organization of liberal religious men. He is married to the Rev. Kelly Flood, vice president of advancement for Starr King School for the Ministry. On Saturday, June 9 Neil is leading a couples workshop entitled, "Love for the Long Run" and after the Sunday service he will lead a men's workshop--a dialog between straight and gay men. Neil’s expenses are underwritten by the A. Powell Davies Committee.

Sunday, June 03rd, 2007 at 10:50am: 'Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life with the Heart of a Buddha'--Rev. Tara Bach [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Tara Brach, Ph. D is the author of Radical Acceptance–Embracing Your Life with the Heart of a Buddha (Bantam, 2003.) She is founder and senior teacher of the Insight Meditation Community of Washington which sponsors meditation at All Souls on Sunday evenings from 5:00-6:00 pm. Tara teaches Buddhist meditation at centers in the United States and Canada. A clinical psychologist, she has taught extensively on the application of Buddhist teachings to emotional healing. Many people in the All Souls community have attended her mesmerizing meditation class on Wednesday nights at River Road Unitarian. Her honorarium is provided by the Beckner Fund.

Sunday, May 27th, 2007 at 10:50am: 'Living with War, Working for Peace'--Rev. Green [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
The work of mending the world in our times must include a response to U.S. policies and global violence, as people of faith.

Sunday, May 20th, 2007 at 10:50am: 'Why Are We Here?'--Joyce Palmer [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
We Unitarian Universalists often affirm our openness to walking a variety of spiritual paths. How is it that we create a sense of inclusivity in the midst of so much difference? What lessons do we have to teach and to learn about maintaining identity-in-difference?

Sunday, May 13th, 2007 at 10:50am: 'What Holds Us Together?'--Rev. Lynngood [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Two years ago this spring we adopted a covenant of right relations for our congregation. This morning we will look at how we are doing in agreement and disagreement—what this has to do with spiritual practice and how we see our role at the church.

Sunday, May 06th, 2007 at 10:50am: 'Taking Care of Unfinished Business'--Rev. Forrest Church [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Last fall Rev. Church found himself battling esophageal cancer. Although he now appears cancer free, his initial prospects for recovery appeared slim, and his life expectancy, short.  This morning he will recall his journey through the valley of the shadow, offering hints that may guide us all in living more abundantly.

Sunday, April 29th, 2007 at 10:50am: 'Golfing with Monkeys'--Rev. Scott Alexander [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
By way of a curious-but-true story from Calcutta, India, Rev. Alexander will explore the spiritual value of having an adaptable heart.

Sunday, April 22nd, 2007 at 10:50am: Earth Day--Rabbi Daniel Swartz [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Since August 2006, Rabbi Daniel J. Swartz has been the rabbi at Temple Hesed in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He recently completed two years as the Coordinator for Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light (GWIPL), an organization that works with religious institutions in the Washington area to address moral and practical dimensions to energy use.

Sunday, April 15th, 2007 at 10:50am: 'Many Paths to Freedom'--Rev. Lynngood [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
On this day when we celebrate Emancipation Day in DC we will explore the many ways in which freedom is still elusive. In what way is freedom something we are given? Is it a birthright? When and how do we limit our own freedom?

Sunday, April 08th, 2007 at 10:50am: Easter Sunday--Rev. Marilyn Sewell [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Rev. Dr. Marilyn Sewell is Senior Minister at First Unitarian Church of Portland. She has earned a reputation as a dynamic leader, not only in the Unitarian Universalist church, but in the spiritual and political community at large. Join us as we welcome this accomplished Unitarian minister, writer and spiritual leader.

Sunday, April 01st, 2007 at 10:50am: 'After Ecstasy, the Laundry'--Rev. William Schulz [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Rev. Schulz' sermon will address why UU values are so critical at this particular point in American history.

Sunday, March 25th, 2007 at 10:50am: 'Thou Shalt Not...'--Rev. William G. Sinkford [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Rev. William Sinkford has served as president of the Unitarian Universalist Association since 2001, responsible for administering staff and programs that serve more than 1,000 UU congregations. He also acts as principal spokesperson and minister-at-large for the Association. Sinkford heard his call to ministry while he was an active lay leader in his home congregation in Cincinnati, OH. Toward the end of his theological education at Starr King School for the Ministry, Sinkford joined the UUA staff. We welcome him back to the All Souls pulpit.

Sunday, March 18th, 2007 at 10:50am: 'Reflections on Social Justice Ministry'--Bishop John Selders [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Bishop John Selders is an ordained minister serving in the United Church of Christ and the organizing pastor of Amistad United Church of Christ in Hartford, CT. He was consecrated to the office of Bishop in the Church of God and presides over a new religious body, the Inter-Denominational Conference of Liberation Congregations and Ministries--an interfaith, ecumenical fellowship of radical inclusivity. Bishop Selders is a member of the Human Rights Campaign Religion Council where he has helped create safe-space conversations with African-American clergy on issues of same gender relationships in the African-American church.  

Sunday, March 11th, 2007 at 10:50am: 'To Grow A Soul'--Rev. Lynngood [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Former minister of All Souls, Dr. A Powell Davies was once quoted as saying, “Life is just a chance to grow a soul.” This Sunday we’ll look at what it means to try to do just that. How do we know when our soul has grown? What can we do to increase the odds that our souls will grow rather than atrophy?

Sunday, March 04th, 2007 at 10:50am: Melissa Harris-Lacewell Leads Worship [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Melissa Harris-Lacewell is a Professor at Princeton University. More details to follow.

Sunday, February 25th, 2007 at 10:50am: 'Unconditional Love'--Rev. John T. Crestwell, Jr. [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Is love unconditional? Is it possible to love others without conditions? What does it mean to love others who are so different from us? Come hear more!

Sunday, February 18th, 2007 at 10:50am: 'Adventures of a Hindu UU'--Rev. Manish Mishra [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
What might we Unitarian Universalists learn from the Hindu faith?  Come hear personal reflections from a UU minister of Hindu background.  Manish will explore Hindu concepts such as karma and dharma, relating them to his life experiences as well as current events.  Prior to joining the ministry, Manish was a member of the Board of Trustees at All Souls, and was ordained at our church in 2005.  He is currently minister at the UU Church of St. Petersburg, Florida.  Join us in welcoming him back, and hearing his journey as a UU of Indian heritage.

Sunday, February 11th, 2007 at 10:50am: 'What Good is God?'--Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
How do we of liberal faith develop a theology that works for us?  Does it include or wrestle with the concept (and/or reality) of God?

Sunday, February 04th, 2007 at 10:50am: 'Our Lives in Context'--Rev. Lynngood [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Amidst the swirl of personal identity, cultural influences, and societal pressures how do we chart a path that is simultaneously authentic and connected? How do we experience the world and not see it as simply the set for the events and happenings of our days?

Sunday, January 28th, 2007 at 10:50am: 'Replenishment'--Rev. Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Join us for Rev. Hardies’ last sermon before his sabbatical. A bon voyage reception will follow the morning service.

Sunday, January 21st, 2007 at 10:50am: 'Minding Our Own Business'--Rev. Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
One of the most difficult ways to love someone is to draw boundaries to our love. Sometimes what our loved ones need most is for us to help them to learn to love themselves and rely less on us. Another sermon in the occasional series, “Learning How to Love Better”.

Sunday, January 14th, 2007 at 10:50am: 'Seeing Things Whole-Martin Luther King, Jr. Sunday'--Rev. Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
During the last years of his life, Dr. King began to see connections between the struggle for racial equality in America, the war in Vietnam, and global economic justice. What would it mean for us to see things whole in our own time? Join Rev. Hardies and our three choirs for our annual service honoring the life and legacy of Dr. King.

Sunday, January 07th, 2007 at 10:50am: 'Family Matters'--Rev. Lynngood [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
New parenthood has brought new thoughts and insights about the meaning of family. How do we love those to whom we are related but are not always in agreement with? How have we been shaped by and how do we impact those who are closest to us? When it comes to family life, what really matters?

Sunday, December 31st, 2006 at 10:50am: 'Celebrating Kwanzaa - Service & Feast'--Rev. Lynngood and Joyce Palmer
Begin your New Year’s Eve with our annual Kwanzaa service. Rev. Lynngood, Joyce Palmer, and many members of our community will speak about the significance of this holiday which honors ancestors and community values. There will be a potluck feast after the Service.

Sunday, December 24th, 2006 at 9:00pm: 'Christmas Eve at All Souls-Service of Lessons & Carols'--Revs. Hardies & Lynngood & The Choirs
At 9:00 pm: We welcome Christmas into the world and into our hearts during this candlelit service of readings and carols. (Don't forget to bring a bell to ring every time we sing 'Alleluia'). An All Souls tradition.

Sunday, December 24th, 2006 at 10:50am: 'A Family Christmas'--Rev. Lynngood [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
At 10:50 am: A Christmas Eve celebration for the whole family. Come sing your favorite carols and join in the spirit of the season. (Don't forget to bring a bell to ring every time we sing "Alleluia").

Sunday, December 17th, 2006 at 10:50am: 'Christmas Pageant'--Revs. Hardies, Lynngood & Friends
On this Sunday before Christmas, Revs. Hardies and Lynngood join with the children of the church to tell the story of the birth of Jesus, all set to beautiful music and the voices of the DC Children's Choir. The Annual ASC Christmas Pageant is directed by Gabrielle Farrell, Director of Religious Education Ministries.

Sunday, December 10th, 2006 at 10:50am: 'A Growing Lasting Light'--Rev. Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
The holidays are a season of hope. On the Sunday before the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah, we will explore that story’s lessons for the season.

Sunday, December 03rd, 2006 at 10:50am: 'Hearing Our Call'--Revs. Hardies, Lynngood, & the Senior Program Staff [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
It’s not only ministers who hear a call. Even if we haven’t heard it yet, each of us is called to a ministry in this world. This Sunday we honor the ministries of our senior program staff members, and share stories of when we’ve heard a call.

Sunday, November 26th, 2006 at 10:50am: 'Seeking Balance' -- Rev. Lynngood [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
As we enter the holiday season we will take some time to reflect on what it means to live balanced lives. What does balance look like in terms of time we give to work and leisure, causes and relationships-how do we manage to treat ourselves well without overindulging?

Sunday, November 19th, 2006 at 10:50am: 'Thanksgiving Sunday-Neighbors in Need' -- Revs. Crawford and Hardies [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
As we give thanks for the many gifts of our lives, we also turn our hearts to those who are in need. Join us for our Annual Thanksgiving Collection of Foods and Funds to support All Souls Social Justice Ministries. The Rev. Alma Faith Crawford is professor of preaching at Starr King School for Ministry.

Sunday, November 12th, 2006 at 10:50am: 'The Rabbi's Gift' -- Rev. Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
On September 9, 2001, in my first sermon at All Souls, I told an old story about a religious community that had fallen on hard times, but that revitalized itself thanks to a gift from a wise rabbi. What was the rabbi's gift? How has that gift informed our life as a religious community over the last five years? Another sermon in our fall series, "The Shape of Our Love."

Sunday, November 05th, 2006 at 10:50am: 'Facing Death' -- Rev. Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Many religious tradiions teach that a frank acknowledgement of our finitude is a key to spiritual breakthrough. On All Souls Day, when we remember and honor those in our community who have died in the last year, we will also reflect on the meaning of death for us, the living.

Sunday, October 29th, 2006 at 10:50am: 'Unharvested' -- Rev. Robert M. Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
So much of our lives are consumed by the demands of economy and efficiency, of work and duty. Is there anything leftover for grace? For joy? For beauty? Is there any part of our lives left unharvested?

Sunday, October 22nd, 2006 at 10:50am: 'Resilience' -- Rev. Robert M. Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
One of the most important questions of the spiritual life is how we recover from hardship and loss. What are the sources of spiritual resilience? What makes for a resilient soul? Today is Generosity Sunday, when we make our annual pledge to support the ministry of All Souls Church. Please join us for a lively and joyous celebration.

Sunday, October 15th, 2006 at 10:50am: 'Empathy' -- Rev. Shana Lynngood [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
This Sunday we will commission our first-ever group of Pastoral Associates to the ministry of extending care to members of our community on our behalf. We will explore the meaning of empathy. What does it mean to try to understand, care for, and connect to someone? Most especially, how do we do this with people who are most different from ourselves?

Sunday, October 08th, 2006 at 10:50am: 'Love and Its Limits' -- Rev. Robert M. Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
On Homecoming Sunday, I preached a sermon with this same title, and talked about love and its demands. Many of you noticed that I didn't get around to speaking of its limits. Is there a line we can draw when love demands too much? I will respond to this difficult question this morning.

Sunday, October 01st, 2006 at 10:50am: 'Days of Awe' -- Rev. Shana Lynngood [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
The High Holy Days of Judaism (Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur) are rich and full of several significant spiritual practices. During this time of prayer and making amends and looking to inscribe one's name in the Book of Life for another year we will look at what it might mean to live all of the days of our lives with a sense of awe.

Sunday, September 24th, 2006 at 10:50am: 'Building the Beloved Community' -- Revs. Robert Hardies and Shana Lynngood [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
What will it take and what are we doing in our efforts to grow the racial diversity of All Souls? Come celebrate the diversity of our community and dream about making it more so.

Sunday, September 17th, 2006 at 10:50am: 'Dear Desire' -- Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Religion begins with desire -- a longing to be in relationship with the source of love and grace in the world. The Psalmist cries, “As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you…” This morning we explore the nature of this desire and ask how it can be quenched. Another in the series, “The Shape of Our Love.”

Sunday, September 10th, 2006 at 10:50am: 'Love and Its Limits' -- Rev. Robert M. Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Homecoming Sunday! Fall schedule resumes with services at 10:50 a.m. At All Souls, it is our hope that all members discover the source of love in their lives and act on that love in ever-expanding circles. But what does “ever-expanding circles” mean, anyway? How much love does our faith ask of us? And what are the limits of our care and responsibility? The first in a series of sermons called, “The Shape of Our Love.”

Sunday, September 03rd, 2006 at 9:50am: 'Who is America Anyway?' -- Rev. Louise Green [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
We join 60 other D.C. congregations of various faiths offering Labor Day Weekend sermons on immigrant rights and hospitality. Action option will be an All Souls delegation to the Thursday, September 7, national immigrant organizing rally in DC on the Mall at 4 p.m.

Sunday, August 27th, 2006 at 9:50am: 'Hospitality & Grace' -- Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Hospitality is a precious and powerful spiritual gift. How do we embody hospitality in our lives and what difference can it make?

Sunday, August 20th, 2006 at 9:50am: 'Questions of Faith' -- Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Are there questions about spirituality or God or faith or All Souls Church that you've just been dying to ask Rev. Hardies? Here's your chance. Submit your questions during the two services preceding this Sunday, and Rev. Hardies will answer as many of them as time allows. Join us for Rev. Hardies' fifth annual Q&A sermon.

Sunday, August 13th, 2006 at 9:50am: 'From You I Receive, To You I Give' -- Amanda Poppei [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
What do you hope to get when you come to church on Sunday? If you receive something important here, how do you pass it along? Join Amanda Poppei, All Souls member and a candidate for the Unitarian Universalist ministry, as she celebrates the many gifts she has received from All Souls -- and explores the gifts we each bring when we join a congregation. Amanda currently serves as the ministerial intern at River Road Unitarian Church.

Sunday, August 06th, 2006 at 9:50am: 'Are We Having Fun Yet?' -- Rev. Louise Green [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Summer reflections on the elusive quality of fun and why we sometimes find it in short supply as we construct our busy lives.

Sunday, July 30th, 2006 at 9:50am: 'Our Lives Are Our Legacy' -- Rev. Shana Lynngood [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
At the retreat Sunday morning this year, I spoke about living in such a way that it will leave its mark as something of which we are proud. How do we live in a way that uplifts all we value?

Sunday, July 23rd, 2006 at 9:50am: 'Putting First Things First' -- Rev. Shana Goodwin [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
This cliched phrase actually holds some wisdom about how we might prioritize and balance our lives. What are the first things in your life? How do you keep other things from obscuring them?

Sunday, July 16th, 2006 at 9:50am: 'Spiritual Resources' -- Rev. Shana Goodwin [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
A wise colleague said one of the reasons to regularly attend church is because it is the equivalent of getting a spiritual check-up. When difficult life experiences come, what are the spiritual wellsprings you draw from? How do you make sure they are accessible when you need them?

Sunday, July 09th, 2006 at 9:50am: 'Calling and Commitment:  Hearing the Life that Lives In Us' -- Rev. Louise Green [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
How do we choose where we put our time, treasure and talent? Pondering the concept of vocation for All Souls congregants and spiritual progressives. 

Sunday, July 02nd, 2006 at 9:50am: 'Qualities of Leadership' -- Rev. Shana Goodwin [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
This Fourth of July weekend, we will explore what it means to be a leader (in any setting). How much is leadership about personal traits and how much of its is rooted in the goals being reached for?

Sunday, June 25th, 2006 at 10:50am: ‘This Constant Yearning’ -- Rev. Alida Decoster [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
We all have wants and desires, yet may have ambivalence about asking for what we want. Some religious traditions teach that all desire is dangerous, leading only to self-indulgence. We must each discern those desires which contribute to wholeness and which do not. This sermon will offer a holistic theology of desire. Alida Decoster is an ordained UU minister and spiritual director. She is a member of All Souls Church.

Sunday, June 18th, 2006 at 10:50am: ‘The Thin Places’ -- Rev. Robert M. Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
There are moments and places in our lives when the worldly and sacred realms seem to brush up against one another. The Celts called these moments “thin places,” where the line between the holy and the ordinary was blurred. What can we learn from the “thin places.”

Sunday, June 11th, 2006 at 10:50am: 'Moments of Grace' -- Rev. Shana Goodwin [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
There are times in our lives when our sense of the holy and sacred enter into our everyday living.  How do we notice these moments when they arrive?  How do we cherish them without attempting to make them stay or make them happen?

Sunday, June 04th, 2006 at 10:50am: ‘Ever-Widening Circles of Love’ -- Rev. Robert M. Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
“Can All Souls welcome both people of color and gays and lesbians?” I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been asked that question, usually privately, in confidence. Variations on that question are being asked in our city and our nation, and this morning I want to respond to it. The Building the Beloved Community Task Force will sponsor a dialogue after the service.

Sunday, May 28th, 2006 at 10:50am: 'The Unitarian Bait and Switch' -- Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
On Memorial Day we consider the consequences of a faith that asks us to take responsibility for this world, rather than waiting around for the next.

Sunday, May 21st, 2006 at 10:50am: Conversation on Faith and Public Life -- Rev. Robert Hardies and guests [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
On the day after All Souls hosts a major conference of religious progressives, Rev. Hardies and conference participants will reflect on the future of progressive religion in America.

Sunday, May 14th, 2006 at 10:50am: Mother Tongue-- Rev. Louise Green, Director of Social Justice Ministries [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
What does it mean to be multi-lingual as we move in the world as spiritually and politically progressive people? An exploration of many tongues for a congregation that wants to be fluent in the languages of social justice issues, religious difference, and ethical values.

Sunday, May 07th, 2006 at 10:50am: 'Where Have We Come From? Where Are We Going?' -- Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Five years ago this month, this congregation called Rev. Hardies to be our senior minister. In this sermon, Rev. Hardies reflects on where we\\'ve been over the last five years, and shares a vision for our future.

Sunday, April 30th, 2006 at 10:50am: Claiming Our Allegiances [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
The Rev. Shana Goodwin

Sunday, April 23rd, 2006 at 10:50am: 'In Praise of Martha, Mary and Gioia Nana' -- Rev. Louis V. Schwebius [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
What do two Biblical women and a turn of the century Italian immigrant have in common? Come hear how each of their their stories reaffirms our need for balance within oursleves and within our communities. The Rev. Louis V. Schwebius is minister of the Mt. Vernon Unitarian Church in Alexandria, VA.

Sunday, April 16th, 2006 at 10:50am: 'Oh Freedom' -- Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Easter Sunday
This year three jubilant celebrations -- Easter, Passover and the anniversary of DC Emancipation -- coincide in one week. It's enough to make you want to sing, "Alleluia!" Join us for this special Easter celebration of the liberating power of faith.

Friday, April 14th, 2006 at 7:30pm: Good Friday Tenebrae Service --  Rev. Robert Hardies
Join Rev. Hardies in the sanctuary for All Souls' annual Good Friday Tenebrae service. Tenebrae means "shadow." In this service, we meditate in darkness upon the story of Jesus' crucifixion and the brokenness of our own world. This contemplative vespers service concludes with a simple sharing of communion.

Sunday, April 09th, 2006 at 10:50am: 'Riding The Monsters Down' -- Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Too often we ignore or deny the less savory parts of ourselves. We pretend they don\\'t exist. But if we pay attention to these demons, we may discover an opportunity for greater humanity and faith.

Sunday, April 02nd, 2006 at 10:50am: 'Paradox and Faith' -- Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
The longer we live the more we see "both/ands" rather than "either/ors." What are some of the central paradoxes of the spiritual life and how do we live with paradox without being paralyzed?

Sunday, March 26th, 2006 at 10:50am: 'Just Say Know' -- Rev. Bernice Powell Jackson [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Religious liberals have long rejected the notion that sex is sinful, but many have yet to embrace a positive theological vision of human sexuality. U.S. culture and policy is dominated by conservative religious views, leaving too many of us struggling for wholeness and happiness. What is our faith-based, justice-centered religious response?

Sunday, March 19th, 2006 at 10:50am: 'Our Faith, Our Values, Our Nation' -- Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
The second in a series of sermons exploring the link between our religious values and our social and political commitments. Rev. Hardies will show how, since the 19th century, Unitarian-Universalist values have supported a progressive social vision for our nation.

Sunday, March 12th, 2006 at 10:50am: 'City of Refuge' -- Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Neighborhood Justice Sunday
According to biblical tradition, God commanded Moses to establish "cities of refuge" throughout the land for those seeking asylum and justice. For Neighborhood Justice Sunday, we explore how this biblical image speaks to the political and spiritual crisis in our nation's capital.

Sunday, March 05th, 2006 at 10:50am: 'Living Ministry' -- Rev. Shana Goodwin [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
The work of ministry (to our families and friends or to the world) is too central to our vocation as human beings to be left to ordained clergy alone. What ministry does each of us have to offer? What do we feel called to do and whom do we feel called to become?

Sunday, February 26th, 2006 at 10:50am: 'Environment Justice Sunday: Mother is Melting' -- Rev. Louise Green [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
The effects of global warming are evident on a planetary scale, so nature as we know it is shifting. How might this chang us as global residents, social justice seekers, and a sprirt-growing community?

Sunday, February 19th, 2006 at 10:50am: 'Theological Origins of America's Divide' -- Rev. Robert M. Hardies [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
To understand the current divide among progressives and conservatives -- between red states and blue -- scholars increasingly point to theological differences that date back 200 years. How does theology affect politics? What role have our UU ancestors played in this theological debate?

Sunday, February 12th, 2006 at 10:50am: 'Snow Sermon' -- Rev. Shana Goodwin [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
A winter homily on the Sunday following the East Coast snowstorm.

Sunday, February 05th, 2006 at 10:50am: 'The Meaning of Life: The Hope' -- Rev. Robert M. Hardies [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Ultimately, our search brings us to an affirmation of life's preciousness and its meaning. (Last in a series of three sermons.)

Sunday, January 29th, 2006 at 10:50am: 'The Meaning of Life: The Void' - Rev. Robert M. Hardies [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Sometimes our search for meaning leads us to a dead end. Either we place our ultimate trust in something that is unworthy, or we conclude that life holds no meaning at all. This Sunday we seriously confront the possibility that there is no rhyme or reason to life. (Second in a series of three sermons.)

Sunday, January 22nd, 2006 at 10:50am: 'The Meaning of Life: The Search' -- Rev. Robert M. Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
"What is the meaning of life?" This is, perhaps, the fundamental human question... and the fundamental religious question. Today we embark on a three-week journey through the wisdom of the ages in search of clues to life's meaning.

Sunday, January 15th, 2006 at 10:50am: 'Parting the Waters' -- Rev. Robert M. Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
The Civil Rights Movement represents the high-water mark for progressive religious activism in America. What can we learn from Dr. King and the movement he led about how to be faithful religious activists in our own time?

Sunday, January 08th, 2006 at 10:50am: 'That Which Matters Most' -- Rev. Shana Goodwin [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Our capitalist and consumer-driven culture push us to confuse needs and wants. As we begin a new year, we will reflect on how we can better align our lives with our values. How can we live what we believe and what is most important to us?

Sunday, January 01st, 2006 at 10:45am: In The Spirit of Kwanzza [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
A People's Voices service by Akaii Lineberger, Paula Cole Jones, Thomas View and Virginia View. Rev. Shana Goodwin will lead a childrens story.

Saturday, December 24th, 2005 at 5:00pm: 'Christmas Eve at All Souls'
5:00 p.m.: Family Candlelight Service
The early service includes all the richness of the later Christmas Eve service, as well as a few special features for families with young children. The DC Children’s Choir and Jubilee Singers will join our ministers in this joyous celebration of Christmas that concludes with the traditional lighting of candles and singing “Silent Night.” Don’t forget to bring a bell to ring every time we sing “Alleluia.”

11:00 p.m.: Join our ministers and the All Souls Choir in welcoming Christmas into the world and into our hearts during this candlelit service of readings and carols. Don’t forget to bring a bell to ring every time we sing “Alleluia.”

Sunday, December 18th, 2005 at 10:50am: 'Christmas Pagent' -- Revs. Hardies, Goodwin & Friends
On this Sunday before Christmas, the Revs. Hardies and Goodwin join with the children of the church to tell a very special story set to some very special music. An All Souls tradition.

Sunday, December 11th, 2005 at 10:50am: 'Once More 'Round the Sun' -- Rev. Robert M. Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
As we approach the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, we are reminded of the Earth’s cycles. We can look at our own lives as cyclical, too, and in so doing, find a measure of grace and forgiveness.

Sunday, December 04th, 2005 at 10:50am: 'Freedom From Fear' -- Rev. Robert M. Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Last Sunday, Rev. Goodwin spoke of courage on a personal level. This week we explore how groups of people overcome their fear and claim their freedom.

Sunday, November 27th, 2005 at 10:50am: 'The Strange Predicament of Our Times' -- Rev. Shana Goodwin [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
It is an odd tendency in our culture to simultaneously emphasize fear and preparedness through vast amounts of information. How in the midst of a constant barrage of disaster and news of possible doom do we keep our balance?

Sunday, November 20th, 2005 at 10:50am: 'Is There Bread in the Church?' -- Rev. Robert M. Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Join us for a joyous holiday tradition at All Souls: our annual Thanksgiving service. As always, we will take a special collection of food and funds to support All Souls' ministries of justice and compassion in our neighborhood. Rev. Hardies will challenge us to find a place for compassion in our hearts and in our church this holiday season.

Sunday, November 13th, 2005 at 10:50am: 'Spacious Souls' -- Rev. Robert M. Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
The purpose of the spiritual life is to grow a spacious soul, a soul capable of withstanding the contradictions and complexities of the modern world. How do we grow such a soul? What does a spacious soul look and feel like?

Sunday, November 06th, 2005 at 10:50am: 'The Ever-Widening Circle' -- Revs. Stefan Jonasson & Robert M. Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Being UU calls us to reach out in ever-widening circles to the world, but how do churches cope with the growth and change that stems from this generous mission? This Sunday we will find out. Rev. Jonasson is the UUA's consultant for large churches.

Sunday, October 30th, 2005 at 10:50am: 'What All Souls Means to Me Now' -- Rev. Robert M. Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Several years ago I preached a sermon about the theological meaning of our church name, All Souls. Like any good symbol, though, the more you sit with it, the deeper it makes its way into your soul. This Sunday will be about the deeper meanings in this symbol that is so central to our faith.

Sunday, October 23rd, 2005 at 10:50am: 'Stepping Up' [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Generosity Sunday is the day we make our financial pledge to All Souls. This year, we will outline the challenges facing our church and nation, and what it will take for us to step up to this challenge. Stay for a free, catered lunch.

Sunday, October 16th, 2005 at 10:50am: 'Reconciliation' -- Revs. Hardies & Goodwin [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Yom Kippur is the Jewish Day of Atonement, when people are asked to repent of their sins and seek out those with whom they must reconcile. Today, Revs. Hardies and Goodwin will explore the spiritual discipline of reconciliation through the lens of race in America.

Sunday, October 09th, 2005 at 10:50am: 'The Difference That Difference Makes' -- Rev. Shana Goodwin [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
As Hurricane Katrina has reminded us, inspite of our 'melting pot' national image, race still matters. As we strive to be an 'evermore diverse' congregation, how do we see and talk about the differences between us?

Sunday, October 02nd, 2005 at 10:50am: 'Choose to Bless the World' -- Rev. Robert M. Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
No matter how large our sphere of influence, each of us contribute something to the world. The question that remains is whether what we contribute to the world is a blessing or a curse. Learn how to be a blessing this Sunday.

Sunday, September 25th, 2005 at 10:50am: 'Violence' -- Rev. Robert M. Hardies [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
We live in the rubble of one of history's most violent centuries: The Holocaust, Rwanda, Hiroshima, El Salvador, Darfur. Sometimes religion sanctions violence and other times it offers alternatives to violence and helps heal its scars. This Sunday we will look at violence through a theological and spiritual lens.

Sunday, September 18th, 2005 at 10:50am: 'Giving What We Can' -- Rev. Shana Goodwin [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
We are so often pushed to our breaking or burn-out points by deadlines and demands. When this happens, we lose sight of the good that comes from giving of ourselves to others, to worthy causes. How do we give, not til it hurts, but til it nourishes?

Sunday, September 11th, 2005 at 10:50am: 'Bring Many Names' -- Rev. Robert M. Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Homecoming Sunday: Are you sick and tired of those who package their prejudice in the language of "family values"? On Homecoming Sunday, as we celebrate the beginning of the new church year and the gathering of our All Souls "family," we will explore the foundations of progressive family values, and learn how one's understanding of religion and God can determine one's definition of "family."

Sunday, September 04th, 2005 at 9:50am: 'Time to Work, Time to Live' -- Rev. Louise Green [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
What is living wage and living well? A Labor Day reflection on issues of social justice, work, and looking for fulfillment.

Sunday, August 28th, 2005 at 9:50am: 'Generosity: A Peoples' Voices Service'
Join Dorothy Holmes, vice-president of the All Souls Board of Trustees, and other lay leaders as they share their thoughts on the important role that generosity plays in their spiritual lives.

Sunday, August 21st, 2005 at 9:50am: 'Born Again... and Again... and Again' -- Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Rev. Hardies was the keynote preacher at the Unitarian Universalist Association's General Assembly in June, in Fort Worth, TX. This Sunday, he shares his GA sermon with us at All Souls.

Sunday, August 14th, 2005 at 9:50am: 'Questions of Faith' -- Rev. Robert Hardies [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Join us for this annual opportunity to ask the minister what's on your mind. Rev. Hardies will field questions about ethics, the spiritual life, religion, Unitarian Univeralism, and All Souls Church. Questions must be submitted on the two previous Sundays.

Sunday, August 07th, 2005 at 9:50am: 'Seeking Justice in Our City' -- Ayize Sabater [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Mr. Sabater, a dynamic speaker, is the founder and director of MOMIES, TLC, an Afro-centric child-development program based at All Souls Church.

Sunday, July 31st, 2005 at 9:50am: 'Learning and Growing' -- Rev. Shana Goodwin [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
As we move through school, we see that learning is more than just memorizing bits of information, and that there is a distinction between knowing and understanding. How do we learn what we most need to know? Why are some of life's greatest lessons learned outside of a classroom?

Sunday, July 24th, 2005 at 9:50am: 'Know Thyself' -- Rev. Shana Goodwin [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
In this culture, we are pushed to define ourselves over and over again -- sometimes, in less than productive ways. How do we hold on to a sense of self while remaining open?

Sunday, July 17th, 2005 at 9:50am: 'Community and Covenant' -- Rev. Shana Goodwin [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
We have been focusing a lot of attention on how we relate to one another in the All Souls community. What does it mean to be a member of a community? How do we treat each other when life is going well? When we disagree? What does all of this have to do with our spiritual ideals?

Sunday, July 10th, 2005 at 9:50am: 'The Need For Wonder' -- Rev. Shana Goodwin [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Often we find ourselves searching for something more, rather than appreciating the blessings we have. How can we be less jaded and hold on to child-like wonder?

Sunday, July 03rd, 2005 at 9:50am: 'Room for Grace' -- Rev. Shana Goodwin [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
We each have moments in our lives in which we experience something "soul opening." How do we create space for these moments to reach us? What are the places and times that beckon to us to be receptive to the calling of the Spirit or admonitions of the heart?

Sunday, June 26th, 2005 at 10:50am: 'Loosening Up the Self Image' -- Rev. Alida DeCoster [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
In mid-life, most of us are beginning to experience the first signs of aging. It is a time of transition, perhaps transformation, as losses give way to new possibilities.

Sunday, June 19th, 2005 at 10:50am: 'Moving to Forgiveness' -- Rev. Louise Green [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Why does moving to forgiveness often feel like the hardest spiritual practice? A look at generosity, ways to forgive, and the stumbling blocks that keep us from getting there.

Sunday, June 12th, 2005 at 10:50am: 'Deliver Us From E-mail' -- Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Do you spend too much time doing things that are soul-deadening? Is your day "busy," yet unfulfilling? Time is our most precious asset, and we have a religious obligation to use it well. This Sunday we explore how.

Sunday, May 29th, 2005 at 10:50am: 'War, Violence, and Memory' -- Rev. Robert M. Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
On Memorial Day, we remember the sacrifice of those who gave their lives in military service to our country. Memorial Day should also be an opportunity to recall the legacy of violence and pain that war leaves behind with its survivors. We perpetuate an inaccurate understanding of war as long as we only memorialize some aspects of its legacy.

Sunday, May 22nd, 2005 at 10:50am: 'Coming Out as a Christian' -- Rev. Louise Green [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
In the New Testament Gospels, Jesus asks, "Who do you say that I am?" Our country is embroiled in debate about the power or peril of evangelical Christianity. This Sunday, we will look at different interpretations of Jesus, and hear one United Church of Christ minister's testimony as it relates to being a social justice director in a UU congregation.

Sunday, May 15th, 2005 at 10:50am: 'A Laughing God' -- Rev. Rev. Robert M. Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
In these serious times, it is sometimes helpful to remind ourselves of the healing power of laughter. This Sunday we celebrate the ways in which a Trickster God uses play, surprise and humor to lead us laughing to glory.

Sunday, May 08th, 2005 at 10:50am: 'Nurture and Care' -- Rev. Shana Goodwin [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
On Mother's Day, we will reflect on how environment can encourage (or stunt) us in our growth as a person and support us in our efforts to be compassionate. How is our capacity to deepen our spiritual selves impacted by what and whom we surround ourselves with?

Sunday, May 01st, 2005 at 10:50am: 'Owning Your Spiritual Past: Setting God Free' -- Rev. Robert M. Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
One of the things that everyone needs to do to achieve a mature spirituality is reckon with their religious histories. Only when we reckon with our spiritual past can we embrace our spirit's future.

Sunday, April 24th, 2005 at 10:50am: 'Reverence for Life' -- Rev. Robert M. Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
The controversy surrounding Terri Schiavo's death raises many issues about the meaning and nature of life. This Sunday Reverend Hardies will help us look at the religious issues that are fundamental to this question. As this Sunday is also Earth Day, we will put the question of the meaning of human life in the larger context of all Creation.

Sunday, April 17th, 2005 at 10:50am: 'Glad and Generous Hearts' -- Rev. Robert M. Hardies & Rev. Mary Katherine Morn [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
In a description of the early Church it is said, "Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the people." How might we in the 21st-century church practice wonders and signs that inspire awe? On this Sunday, we share worship with the members of Universalist National Memorial Church, our sister church on 16th Street.

Sunday, April 10th, 2005 at 10:50am: 'A Religious Liberal Examines His Heart' -- Rev. Robert M. Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Last November's election prompted much self-reflection among both political and religious liberals. I've been examining my own faith since the election, and have come to some conclusions about how our faith must grow and change to meet the challenges of the times. Today I want to share my thoughts with you.

Sunday, April 03rd, 2005 at 10:50am: 'Spiritual Lessons from Jazz' -- Rev. Shana Goodwin [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
We will be joined this morning by the Howard University jazz vocal choir, Afro Blue. What are the gifts that jazz brings to us? How does its beauty speak to our need to find a rhythm and melody in our lives?

Sunday, March 27th, 2005 at 10:50am: 'When Stones Are Rolled Away' -- Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Easter Sunday
Sometimes, our sense of the Holy is re-awakened in unexpected ways. A stone is rolled away, and our world is suddenly suffused with the light of mystery and grace. This morning, we say Alleluia to these surprising revelations, and to what they disclose about the nature of the Holy.

Friday, March 25th, 2005 at 7:00pm: Good Friday Tenebrae Service -- Rev. Robert Hardies
Join us for our annual remembrance of the Christian Holy Week. In the story of Jesus' suffering, we see the brokenness of our own world. A simple communion service will be offered.

Sunday, March 20th, 2005 at 10:50am: 'The Things that Make for Peace' -- Rev. Robert Hardies [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Neighborhood Justice Sunday
Violence in our neighborhood and world make me recall Jesus' Palm Sunday lament: "If only you had recognized the things that make for peace. But now they are hid from your eyes." Today, we celebrate the things that make for peace. Dr. Juan Romagoza of Clinica del Pueblo will be honored with the ASC Just Soul Award, honoring those who make our neighborhood more just and compassionate.

Sunday, March 13th, 2005 at 10:50am: 'Taking the Scenic Route' -- Rev. Shana Goodwin [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
We are so frequently in a hurry that often we don't notice the view along the way. Why is it that sometimes the direct route isn't as meaningful as the meandering path?

Sunday, March 06th, 2005 at 10:50am: 'Standing on Principle' -- Rev. Shana Goodwin [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
This Sunday, we will honor the ministry and 40-year anniversary of the loss of Rev. James Reeb. Rev. Reeb was the Associate Minister of All Souls from 1959-1964. He was killed in Selma when he went to join the civil rights struggle. What does it mean to stand for something you believe in? What are the rewards and the cost of the stand?

Sunday, February 27th, 2005 at 10:50am: 'Still I Kept on Loving You' -- Rev. Robert M. Hardies [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
The most precious kind of love is the love that has endured disappointment. It's the love of people who keep on loving us even after they've learned all our faults and failings. How does love endure disappointment and come out stronger on the other side?

Sunday, February 20th, 2005 at 10:50am: 'Where Is Our Paradise' -- Rev. Robert M. Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
You can tell a lot about a religion by what its paradise looks like. You can tell even more about a religion by when its paradise is coming. What about Unitarian Universalists? Where is our paradise? And when is it coming?

Sunday, February 13th, 2005 at 10:50am: 'Love in the Time of Opera' -- Rev. Robert M. Hardies & Friends
On the day before Valentine's Day, we will take a sometimes serious, sometimes humorous, oftentimes poignant look at love in its many forms. The service will include poetry chosen by Rev. Hardies and special music (including, but not limited to, opera) shared by the choir and soloists. Please join us for this special service.

Sunday, February 06th, 2005 at 10:50am: 'Passing: Seeking Identity' -- Rev. Shana Goodwin [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
We spend a great deal of time in our lives trying to express ourselves as authentically as possible. There are many pressures to "pass" ourselves off as someone we are not. How do we find wholeness?

Sunday, January 30th, 2005 at 10:50am: 'A Snow Day of Grace - was going to be Where is Our Paradise?' - Rev. Robert M. Hardies [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Rob spontaneously changed this service because it had snowed and spoke about how Grace is like a Snow Day.

Sunday, January 23rd, 2005 at 10:50am: 'Spirit of Life' - Rev. Robert M. Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
One of the most moving parts of every service is when the congregation together sings the hymn "Spirit of Life." Why do we find such power in these words and in this melody? What is the history of this prayer? And what does it mean?

Sunday, January 16th, 2005 at 10:50am: 'Witnessing: Speaking Truth to Power' - Rev. Marilyn Sewell & Rev. Robert M. Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
On the Sunday that honors Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we will explore how we can do what he did: Make the liberal gospel a powerful message in the public sphere. At 1 p.m., Rev. Sewell will read from and sign copies of her new book, "Breaking Free: Women of Spirit at Midlife and Beyond." Copies of the book will be available for purchase at the event, and Rev. Sewell will also answer questions on the topic of aging and spirituality.

Sunday, January 09th, 2005 at 10:50am: 'Songs of Spirit & Protest' -- Dr. Ysaye Barnwell
Join us for a special morning of singing with Dr. Ysaye Barnwell. Ysaye is a member of All Souls Church, and in manager of the Grammy-Award Winning African-American a capella ensemble, Sweet Honey in the Rock. This morning, she will teach us abou thte power that a community can muster when it gathers in song. No matter what your vocal ability, don't miss this spirit-filled, intergenerational experience!

Sunday, January 02nd, 2005 at 10:50am: 'Gratuitous Grace' - Rev. Liz Lerner [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
In the new year, we consider questions of what the world and life hold for us. This service will challenge us to expect the unexpected, as we explore experiences of grace that come to us in life and especially in nature. Liz Lerner is minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Silver Spring.

Sunday, December 26th, 2004 at 10:50am: 'Kwanzaa' -- Rev. Shana Goodwin and Others [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Join us for a celebration of Kwanzaa.

Friday, December 24th, 2004 at 7:00pm: Christmas Eve at All Souls
7 p.m.: Family candle-lighting service
This service includes all the richness of the later Christmas Eve service, as well as a few special features for families with young children. The DC Children's Choir and Jubilee Singers will join our ministers in this joyous celebration of Christmas that concludes with the traditional lighting of candles and singing "Silent Night."

11 p.m.: Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols
Join our ministers and the All Souls Choir in welcoming Christmas into the world and into our hearts during this candlelit service of readings and carols.

Sunday, December 19th, 2004 at 10:50am: 'The Christmas Pageant' -- Revs. Robert M. Hardies, Shana Goodwin, & Friends
On this Sunday before Christmas, Revs. Hardies and Goodwin are joined by some special guests to tell a story set to extraordinary music. Please join us.

Sunday, December 12th, 2004 at 10:50am: 'Blessedly Incomplete' -- Rev. Robert M. Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
A persecuted people fighting oppression, a desperate family looking for a place to lay their heads, people pleading with the Gods to not let the sun disappear. Holiday stories aren't just about peace and joy and love -- they're about survival. They remind us of both our fragility and our power.

Sunday, December 05th, 2004 at 10:50am: 'To Have and Not to Hold' -- Rev. Robert M. Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Someone once said that Americans don't know how to savor things, we only know how to consume them. Why do we so often want to possess that which we desire? How can we learn to love without crushing that which we love?

Sunday, November 28th, 2004 at 10:50am: 'A Blue Christmas' -- Rev. Don Southworth [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Thanksgiving has passed, so it must be the Christmas season. One song claims, "it's the most wonderful time of the year," but for many people, the holiday season is one of the most depressing times of the year. Why does the holiday season sometimes stir up no-so-jolly feelings? What can we do to find meaning, and maybe even joy, in this busy and stressful time? Rev. Don Southworth is minister of the Northwest Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta.

Sunday, November 21st, 2004 at 10:50am: 'Parish, the Thought' -- Rev. Robert Hardies [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Annual Thanksgiving Collection of Food and Funds
Once upon a time in New England, Unitarian churches were called "parishes." The notion of the parish signified the church's concern not only for its own members, but also for the entire neighborhood. We will revisit this "parish" ideal on the Sunday when we share non-perishable food and much-needed funds with those in our neighborhood.

Sunday, November 14th, 2004 at 10:50am: 'Where Do We Go From Here?' -- Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
A faithful response to November 2.

Sunday, November 07th, 2004 at 10:50am: 'Resilience of the Human Spirit' -- Rev. Shana Goodwin [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
On this Sunday after the election, we will reflect on how we manage to keep going through triumphs and defeats. What are the sources of our strength? How do we remember them when we struggle?

Sunday, October 31st, 2004 at 10:50am: 'Legacy' -- Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
On our annual All Souls Day service, we remember those congregants who have died in the last year, and reflect on the meaning of legacy that the dying bequeath to us. We ask the question: What legacy will we leave behind?

Sunday, October 24th, 2004 at 10:50am: 'Generosity Sunday! Making a Difference' -- Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
We all want our lives to make a difference, whether in the tiny sphere of our family, or on a larger scale. Today, as we celebrate how All Souls Church makes a difference in our lives and in our community, we ask how people of faith can make a difference in the world. This Sunday is also Generosity Sunday, the day that we make our financial pledge to support the work of the church in the upcoming year.

Sunday, October 17th, 2004 at 10:50am: 'Pushing the Limits' -- Rev. Shana Goodwin [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
While watching the Olympics this summer, I mused about the ways in which we push ourselves. When is drive and ambition healthy? When are we pushing ourselves too hard? How can we distinguish between the two?

Sunday, October 10th, 2004 at 10:50am: 'Good Grief' -- Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Why do we grieve? How do we do it well? What is the spiritual significance of our grief?

Sunday, October 03rd, 2004 at 10:50am: 'Devotion' -- Rev. Shana Goodwin [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
An ingredient of the religious life is devotion: to one's beliefs and to one's spiritual practice. Often we worry or are leery of devotion because we fear it means an approach that doesn't require us to think everything through. What might it mean to be a thoughtful believer? What is devotion for a UU?

Sunday, September 26th, 2004 at 10:50am: 'The Election Sermon' -- Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
In the centuries-old Unitarian churches of Massachusetts, it was customary for the minister, during an election season, to offer a faith-based perspective on the issues facing the Massachusetts Bay Colony. This year we will revive that old Unitarian practice here at All Souls.

Sunday, September 19th, 2004 at 10:50am: 'The Care of the Community' -- Rev. Shana Goodwin [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
We have talked a lot lately about community. One of the critical elements of being part of a community is having a network of people who look out for one another. How do we do this at All Souls? How does this sustain us?

Sunday, September 12th, 2004 at 10:50am: 'Together' -- Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
As we gather as a community for the formal beginning of the new church year, we will explore one of the fundamental tragedies of the human condition: We need people, yet we push them away. We can't survive without community, yet we are lousy at forming it. How do we live in community with integrity?

This is also "Homecoming Sunday." That means the choirs and ministers will be back, and religious education classes for children will resume. The sanctuary will also be cooler, thanks to the new air conditioning system installed over the summer. Please note that services will now start at 10:50 a.m.

Sunday, September 05th, 2004 at 9:50am: 'Working for What?' -- Rev. Louise Green, Social Justice Coordinator [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Many people in our neighborhood and country are working to just barely get by. Others are working hard to prosper, and yet lack the time and energy to enjoy it. A Labor Day reflection on work, values, and economic justice.

Sunday, August 29th, 2004 at 9:50am: 'The Dog Days' -- Rev. Robert Hardies [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
It's August in D.C. again. How do we cope with the "dog days" of summer and the "dog days" of life?

Sunday, August 22nd, 2004 at 9:50am: 'Questions of Faith' -- Rev. Robert Hardies [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Join us for this All Souls tradition. Rev. Hardies' "sermon" will consist of answering your burning questions abut faith, God, ethics, Unitarian Universalism, and All Souls Church. Questions will be collected in writing during worship the previous two Sundays.

Sunday, August 15th, 2004 at 9:50am: 'Holding Firm Amidst the Winds of Change' -- Manish Mishra [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Manish Mishra, a member of All Souls Church and a UU Seminarian at Harvard Divinity School, will preach on the topic of change. We are all confronted with changing circumstances in our lives. How does change affect us? How do we understand and relate to change? Manish will share his thoughts on dealing with change as an individual and in the context of community.

Sunday, August 08th, 2004 at 10:30pm: Gracious Abandon [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Gracious Abandon

Sunday, August 01st, 2004 at 9:50am: 'Strength of Regret' -- Rev. Shana Goodwin [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Each of us frequently gets caught up in "what if" and "if only" thinking. Regret holds a great deal of power over us. If we let go of some of this way of thinking or feeling, what difference would it make?

Sunday, July 25th, 2004 at 9:50am: 'Keeping Up Appearances' -- Rev. Shana Goodwin [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
How often do we show those around us our true selves? What would our world be like if we all felt more able to be authentic?

Sunday, July 18th, 2004 at 9:50am: 'Reverence' -- Rev. Shana Goodwin [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
As busy modern people, we don't often slow down enough to revere anything. How does the virtue of reverence add meaning to the otherwise mundane? What is reverence, anyway?

Sunday, July 11th, 2004 at 9:50am: 'Unified Life' -- Rev. Shana Goodwin [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
As UU people of faith, we work hard to incorporate many traditions and beliefs. Sometimes, however, that can leave us feeling fragmented or confused. What is the glue that holds us all together?

Sunday, July 04th, 2004 at 9:50am: 'America and Hope' [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Some think that America IS the world's hope. But hope is transcendent. As William Sloane Coffin says, "Hope criticizes what is, hopelessness rationalizes it. Hope resists, hopelessness adapts." Our guest preacher will be the Rev. John Buehrens, immediate past president of the UUA and a co-founder of the Clergy Leadership Network for National Leadership Change.

Sunday, June 27th, 2004 at 10:50am: 'Considering Marriage' -- Alida DeCoster [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
As we join in the struggle for everyone's right to legally marry, we might consider what marriage is for. Its purpose has evolved over time. Marriage can be understood as a "container" for soul work, as well as a support for families.

Sunday, June 20th, 2004 at 10:50am: 'What We Have Been Given' -- Rev. Shana Goodwin [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Each of our lives bear the imprint of those who have gone before us. How does a sense of legacy affect us? At All Souls? In our personal lives? During the service today, we'll also hold an older children dedication and a new member ingathering.

Sunday, June 13th, 2004 at 10:50am: 'The Signs of the Times' -- Rev. Robert Hardies [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
What's on my mind these days? What do I see in the world? What does it mean?

Sunday, June 06th, 2004 at 10:50am: 'Found in Translation' -- Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Different people. Different beliefs. One faith. What's the secret of this community called All Souls?

Sunday, May 30th, 2004 at 10:50am: Language of Reverence - People's Voices Service [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Join us this Sunday for a service run by members of the church.

Sunday, May 23rd, 2004 at 10:50am: 'Reconciliation' -- Louise Green, ASC social justice coordinator [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
How do we have the conversations that are so hard and so important with those who have hurt us, and between the experiences of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and class? It is part of our spiritual work to try, to improve, and to stay in it for the long haul.

Sunday, May 16th, 2004 at 10:50am: 'Pursuing Happiness' -- Rev. Shana Goodwin [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
The Declaration of Independence speaks of our inalienable right to pursue happiness, and pursue it we do. But what if happiness is to be found not by striving for it, but by slowing down? What is it that makes for true happiness? How do we know when we're happy?

Sunday, May 09th, 2004 at 10:50am: 'Life Overflowing' -- Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Someone once defined spirituality as a "thoughtful, passionate love of life." Neitzsche admonished us to live life "overflowing." How do we live and love out of a sense of abundance?

Sunday, May 02nd, 2004 at 10:50am: 'Welcoming the Prodigal That Is You' -- Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
In the story of the prodigal son, a forgiving father welcomes back a disgraced and humbled son. Sometimes the prodigal that we each need to welcome back is the part of us that we are ashamed of. Sometimes the person we most need to forgive is ourselves.

Sunday, April 25th, 2004 at 9:50am: 'For All That is Our Life' Rev. Dr. Rebecca Parker [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
To celebrate the march for Women's Lives, we will be joined this Sunday by hundreds of UUs from around the country. (Overflow seating with closed circuit television will be provided in Pierce Hall). The Rev. Dr. Parker, a leading feminist theologian and preacher, will deliver a stirring and theologically grounded sermon that looks at the issue of reproductive freedom fromt eh perspective of liberal theology. To facilitate travel to the march, our service will begin at 9:50 a.m. Rev. Parker is a feminist theologian and president of Starr King School for the Ministry.

Sunday, April 18th, 2004 at 10:50am: 'Living Downstream' (Earth Day Sunday) -- Rev. Robert Hardies [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
To live downstream is to live with the waste and pollution of those who dwell further up the river. We all live "downstream" from the damage that previous generations have done about the earth. It is our ethical obligation to protect the earth for the generations that live downstream from us.

Sunday, April 11th, 2004 at 10:50am: 'I Shall Praise Again' (Easter Sunday) -- Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
One of the most difficult and necessary skills in life is our ability to affirm life and joy after suffering and loss. Easter is a story about such a transformation. Celebrate our capacity for rebirth and renewal on this joy-filled Sunday.

Friday, April 09th, 2004 at 7:30pm: Good Friday Tenebrae Service -- Rev. Robert Hardies
Join us for a service of music, scripture, silence, and darkness as we remember the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth, and the brokenness of our world. A simple communion service will be offered.

Sunday, April 04th, 2004 at 10:50am: 'The Power of Sacred Places' Rev. Shana Goodwin [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Having taken a pilgrimage of sorts to many removed art history and spiritual sites. I was left wondering what it is that makes a place feel sacred. How and why is it that some places and spaces evoke the Spirit? Are there ways that we might bring the beauty and inspiration of those places with us wherever we go?

Sunday, March 28th, 2004 at 10:50am: 'Giving Our Lives' -- Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
It seems like martyrs and prophets get credit for paying the ultimate price for their cause: they gave their lives. But more important than dying for what we believe in is living for what we believe in. How do we give the best of our lives to the highest good?

Sunday, March 21st, 2004 at 10:50am: 'The Meaning of Prayer' -- Rev. Shana Goodwin [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
In our UU context, it is sometimes a challenge to figure out what role prayer plays in our lives. Can you pray without knowing to whom or what? How and why do you pray?

Sunday, March 14th, 2004 at 10:50am: 'Let's Talk About Sexuality' -- Archene Turner, ASC Student Minister [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
How does having a healthy attitude toward sexuality lead to a healthier spiritual life?

Sunday, March 07th, 2004 at 10:50am: 'A Shared Sermon on Race' -- Revs. Shana Goodwin and Robert Hardies [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Revs. Goodwin and Hardies will each offer their perspectives on the category of race and the problem of racism, and how they can inhibit our ability to live as members of "one great family of all souls."

Sunday, February 29th, 2004 at 10:50am: 'The Conspiracy Against Vulnerability' -- Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Our culture conspires against vulnerability. From the national halls of power down to the private lives of individuals, it seems everyone projects toughness, invincibility, competence. Yet the reality is very different. Why this fear of revealing our vulnerability? What are the consequences of our denial?

Sunday, February 22nd, 2004 at 10:50am: I Left My Heart in San Francisco [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
I happened to be visiting San Francisco last weekend and witnessed the act of 'municipal disobedience' that that city committed by issuing marriage licenses for gay and lesbian couples. I want to tell you what I witnessed there, what it taught me about 'family values,' and what our vision is for how All Souls Church can minister to all the families and children of our church and city. Nursery care will be provided for the service, but older children are asked to worship with their families in the sanctuary.

Sunday, February 15th, 2004 at 10:50am: 'Afraid of the Dark' -- Rev. Shana Goodwin [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
In many places, the image of darkness carries with it a negative connotation. In the midst of winter, how might we see darkness as a positive? How does the dualism of dark vs. light keep us from embracing a more whole view of both?

Sunday, February 08th, 2004 at 10:50am: Installation Sunday: 'Expecting Nothing' -- Rev. Emily Gage [View Text]
One of my favorite phrases of Alice Walker is: "Expect nothing. Live frugally on surprise." In The Color Purple, Celie writes of God or the world: "It always making little surprises and springing them on us when us least suspect." This morning, we'll sing for joy and reflect on surprises. Rev. Gage is a UU minister in Joliet, Ill. and a friend of Rev. Shana Goodwin, who today will be installed as Associate Minister at All Souls.

Sunday, February 01st, 2004 at 10:50am: 'A Momentary Stay Against Confusion' -- Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
When asked to discuss the traits of good poetry, Robert Frost commented that poetry should provide people with a clarification of their lives. "Not necessarily a great clarification," he said, but at least "a momentary stay against confusion." We gather together on Sundays to do just the same.

Sunday, January 25th, 2004 at 10:50am: 'The Chalice and the Table' -- Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Have you been waiting for a sermon on "Unitarian Universalism 101?" Have you hoped for a simple way to talk about your faith? Are you looking for a good Sunday to bring a friend? Then this one's for you. Rev. Hardies will articulate our faith using two prominent symbols in our sanctuary: the Flaming Chalice and the "All Souls Are Mine" table.

Sunday, January 18th, 2004 at 10:50am: 'Covenant of Freedom' -- Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Join us for our annual celebration of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Why is freedom such an important value to people of faith? And what must we do to secure freedom for all? Don't miss this joyous, stirring service.

Sunday, January 11th, 2004 at 10:50am: 'The Big Picture' -- Rev. Shana Goodwin [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Frequently, we get so caught up in each individual event in our lives that we forget to pay attention to the larger whole. What does it mean to see our lives whole? Or to see our All Souls community in its fullness?

Sunday, January 04th, 2004 at 10:50am: 'Finders, Seekers' -- Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text]
Many of us come to church as spiritual "seekers." We're on a search to discover what will fill the void we feel in our spiritual lives. But before we can discover the object of our soul's desire, we must become more than seekers -- we must become spiritual "finders." How do we make this important shift in our spiritual lives?

Sunday, December 28th, 2003 at 10:50am: Kwaanza -- Rev. Shana Goodwin
In this service, we will honor the African-American community celebration of Kwanzaa. How do its principles (faith, self-determination, collective economics, etc.) speak to our spiritual lives?

Wednesday, December 24th, 2003 at 7:00pm: Christmas Eve at All Souls
7 p.m.: Family Candlelighting Service
A special service catered to families with children, as well as others who prefer an earlier service. This service will include a children’s story and will end with the lighting of candles and Silent Night.
11 p.m.: Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols
Join our ministers and our choirs in welcoming Christmas into the world and into our hearts during this candlelit service of readings and carols.

Sunday, December 21st, 2003 at 10:50am: The Christmas Pageant -- Ministers and Friends
On this Sunday before Christmas, Revs. Hardies and Goodwin will be joined by some very special guests to tell a special story set to some special music. Please join us.

Sunday, December 14th, 2003 at 10:50am: 'Season of Miracles' -- Rev. Robert Hardies [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
As a rule, Unitarians are a rational bunch. But in this season of miracles, I invite you to sit back, relax, and listen to the closest thing that we have to a miracle story. We will also listen for what good news might be awaiting us during this season of miracles.

Sunday, December 07th, 2003 at 10:50am: 'Power: Its Uses and Abuses' -- Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
We live in the most powerful city in the most powerful nation in the world. How can we use power to increase the good and confront evil?

Sunday, November 30th, 2003 at 10:50am: 'Pilgrimage' -- Rev. Shana Goodwin [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Many of the world's major religions require that devout adherents make a pilgrimage to worship on sacred ground. What does such a journey offer to the spiritual life? Is it possible that without ever having gone to Mecca or Lourdes we have made pilgrimages of our own?

Sunday, November 23rd, 2003 at 10:50am: 'Glimpses' -- Rev. Robert M. Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
The Annual Thanksgiving Service and Collection Every once in a while life breaks through the layers of habit and routine and provides us with glimpses of life in the raw: exhiliration, profound loneliness, desperation. A sensitive soul incorporates these glimpses back into daily life. Join us for our annual Thanksgiving Service and Collection of food and money to serve our neighborhood.

Sunday, November 16th, 2003 at 10:50am: 'What Wondrous Love is This? -- Rev. Rob M. Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
The second in a two-part series. Next to our own death, the most fundamental encounter in the religious life is the experience of unconditional love. Where do we seek and find that love? And how do we respond to that love in a religious way?

Sunday, November 09th, 2003 at 10:50am: 'When Death Comes' -- Rev. Robert M. Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
The first in a two-part sermon series: The Fundamental Experiences of the Religious Life, UU minister and author Forrest Church says, "Religion is humanity's attempt to cope with the dual reality of living and having to die." Skeptics often deride religion as a crutch for people who fear death. Much religious thought stems from death, but how can the knowledge of our death be a positive experience for religious life?

Sunday, November 02nd, 2003 at 10:50am: 'Belief and UnBelief ' -- Rev. Shana Goodwin [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
There are many ways in which we are encuraged to rely on our unbelief. What would it mean to cultivate our capacity to believe in one another an in something greater than ourselves? We will explore what a shift toward belief could mean.

Sunday, October 26th, 2003 at 10:50am: 'Listening To Our Lives' -- Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
You can't read the newspaper these days without noticing what's going on in the Episcopal Church. Next Sunday -- if all goes as planned -- Episcopalians in New Hampshire will ordain the Rev. Gene Robinson as the first openly gay bishop in the worldwide Anglican Communion. The impending ordination has conservative churches in America preparing for secession, threatening to split off and pledge their allegiance and their money to more theologically conservative bishops from Africa.

Sunday, October 19th, 2003 at 10:50am: 'Faithful Over a Few Things' -- Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
When we come to the end of our days, we will not be asked whether or not we frantically juggled the many commitments of our lives, but whether we tended to the important things. NOTE: The MP3 is only a partial copy of the sermon--the tape was incomplete.

Sunday, October 12th, 2003 at 10:50am: 'The River of Life' -- Rev. Robert Hardies [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
From African-American spirituality to Taoist traditions, the river has been a powerful metaphor of the religious life. We will explore how various traditions have used the image of the river, and learn what the river can teach us about the way Spirit moves in our lives.

Sunday, October 05th, 2003 at 10:50am: 'Forgiveness' -- Rev. Shana Goodwin [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
As we acknowledge the High Holy days of Judaism, we look at the many layers of forgiveness of others, ourselves, and our sense that the Divine forgives us.

Sunday, September 28th, 2003 at 10:50am: 'God and the Boston Red Sox' -- Rev. Robert M. Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Many of us despair of our city, our nation, and our world. The values we hold dear -- peace, justice, compassion, tolerance -- increasingly seem like "lost causes." Drawing on his tragic love of the Boston Red Sox, Rev. Hardies will articulate an embracing and feisty "spirituality of the underdog." Love of baseball is not a prerequisite for this service.

Sunday, September 21st, 2003 at 10:50am: 'The Difference Between Night and Day' -- Rev. Robert M. Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
The Jubilee Singers join Rev. Hardies and special musical guests, The Lesbian and Gay Chorus of Washington, to acknowledge the many ways that the world tries to separate the human family, and celebrate the courage and vision of those who insist that we are one.

Sunday, September 14th, 2003 at 10:50am: 'Making Connections' -- Rev. Shana Goodwin
It is too easy to feel isolated and alone in our world. How do we create connections of meaningful depth in spite of all that separates us?

Sunday, September 07th, 2003 at 10:50am: 'The Wind at Our Face' -- Rev. Robert M. Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Homecoming Sunday! This morning we celebrate the sense of excitement and adventure that we sometimes experience and often long for in our spiritual lives. We also celebrate the excitement of joining together in religious community for another year.

Sunday, August 31st, 2003 at 9:50am: Labor of Love [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Labor of Love

Sunday, August 24th, 2003 at 9:50am: March On -- Rev. Robert Hardies [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
March On

Sunday, June 08th, 2003 at 10:50am: 'Searching for Home' -- Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text]
This morning, Rob preaches about spiritual homelessness.

Sunday, June 01st, 2003 at 10:50am: 'Tending the Spark, Growing the Flame' -- Rev. Robert Hardies
Raising children religiously can be daunting and delightful, and it will surely teach us soemthing about ourselves along the way. During this service, we will bless the children of our church who weren't dedicated as infants. The All Souls Choir and DC Children's Choir will sing.

Sunday, May 25th, 2003 at 10:50am: 'Discarded Generations: Why We Should Care About Losing Our UU Youth and Young Adults'
This service will reflect on the UUA's "Mind the Gap" campaign, geared towards addressing the fact that a very high percentage of UU youth leave the denomination during their young adult years.

Sunday, May 18th, 2003 at 10:50am: 'Emerson: The Soul's Bard' -- Rev. Robert M. Hardies [View Text]
This year marks the 200th Anniversary of the birth of Ralph Waldo Emerson, on of our faith tradition's greatest thinkers.  Emerson profoundly shaped the American soul. What can he still teach us about the spiritual life?

Sunday, May 11th, 2003 at 10:50am: 'Recipes for Faith' -- Rev. Robert M. Hardies [View Text]
A Mother's Day sermon about things that get passed down from generation to generation.

Sunday, May 04th, 2003 at 10:50am: 'WUUCA: A World Beyond Our Doors' -- Archene Turner, student minister
Archene preaches a sermon on the Washington Unitarian Universalist Community Academy, and why she went into the ministry.

Sunday, April 27th, 2003 at 10:50am: 'Between the Bomb and the Blue-Green Earth' -- Rev. Robert M. Hardies [View Text]
Will we lead our planet down a path of destruction or will we find the road to survival? Join us for a joyous and thought-provoking Earth Day.

Sunday, April 20th, 2003 at 10:50am: Easter Sunday: 'Finding the Living Among the Dead' -- Rev. Robert M. Hardies [View Text]
Easter and Passover teach us that new life can be found in the mindst of pain. Join Rev. Hardies and a Festival Choir for our annual celebration.

Sunday, April 13th, 2003 at 10:50am: 'Mary the Magnificent' -- Rev. Elizabeth Ellis
Mary of Nazareth, the unwed tennage mother of the Bible, went from peasant girl to being called "The Mother of God!" A new view of a powerful and spirited woman, and what she might mean today.

Sunday, April 06th, 2003 at 10:50am: 'What Difference Does It Make?' -- Rev. Shana Goodwin
We come to church because we believe it matters. How does the spiritual color everything we do and are? When we are in tune with our religious selves, do we feel different? Can others tell? There will be a meeting after this service to call Shana as our Associate Minister.

Sunday, March 30th, 2003 at 10:50am: Generosity -- Rev. Shana Goodwin (Associate Minister's Candidating Sermon) [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
On March 30 and April 6, our candidate for associate minister will preach.  You can meet the candidate after church and throughout the week.  On April 6, we will vote on whether to call the candidate.

Sunday, March 23rd, 2003 at 10:50am: The Coalition of the Willing -- Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
We've heard a lot of talk this week about a so-called "coalition of the willing." But the coalition that Rev. Hardies speaks about would work to break down the barriers that divide the human family, locally in our neighborhoods as well as in our ever-shrinking and more complex global village.

Sunday, March 16th, 2003 at 10:50am: 'The Smooth Stones of Liberal Religion' -- Rev. Robert M. Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Rev. Hardies explores what it means to be a religious liberal and makes a case for Unitarian Universalism.

Sunday, March 09th, 2003 at 10:50am: People's Voices Service
A Dialogue On Race presents a service with the theme of "transformation." The service is designed to communicate any gains and losses, changes or insights we've had since we've committed ourselves to the anti-racism work that is part of our UUA's Journey Towards Wholeness program. We hope to share our experiences along the path to personal transformation, and encourage everyone at All Souls Church to join us in this journey. Rev. Robert Hardies will also participate in the service.

Sunday, March 02nd, 2003 at 10:50am: 'The Beginning of Wisdom' -- Yielbonzie Charles Johnson [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Is there but one way to enter a path leading to Wisdom? Is that way neccessarily characterized by fear and dread? This sermon looks at a view which says: The beginning of wisdom is to call things by their right names. Johnson was Rob Hardies adviser at Starr King School, and is brought by the A. Powell Davies Preaching Fellows program.

Sunday, February 23rd, 2003 at 10:50am: 'I'm In a Funk' -- Rev. Robert M. Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Many of us are afflicted from time to time with a sense of melancholy. A sense that life has no purpose or meaning. A low-grade despair. How can we find hope amidst this despair?

Sunday, February 09th, 2003 at 10:50am: 'Religion is for Lovers' -- Rev. Robert M. Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Religion isn't, fundamentally, about the content of our belief, it's about the quality of our love. How we respond to the love that is offered us, and how do we pass it along?

Sunday, February 02nd, 2003 at 10:50am: 'Solitude and Loneliness' -- Rev. Robert M. Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Though we live in a densely packed urban environment, many of us feel alone. Unitarian poet May Sarton once remarked, "solitude is the richness of the self; loneliness is the poverty of the self." How do we transform our loneliness into a richer solitude?

Sunday, January 26th, 2003 at 10:50am: 'Where the Awesome Meets the Familiar' -- Rev. Barbara Wells [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
This sermon explores what some call the roots of religion: awe and humility. How does our particular faith, Unitarian Universalism, address these two large concepts? Can we learn to say, "We don't know?" with awe and humility? The Rev. Barbara Wells serves as co-minister (with her husband, Jaco ten Hove) at Paint Branch UU Church in Adelphi, MD.

Sunday, January 19th, 2003 at 10:50am: 'The Most Durable Power' -- Rev. Robert M. Hardies [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
"Love," said Dr. King, "is the most durable power in the world." Join us for a stirring exploration of the relevance of Dr. King's legacy for our troubled world. This Sunday's service will feature three of our choirs, the All souls Choir, Jubilee Singers and Children's Choir, and include a special collection for our church and denomination's anti-racism and diversity efforts.

Sunday, January 12th, 2003 at 10:50am: 'Accepting Our Limits, Facing Failures' -- Rev. Robert M. Hardies [View Text]
Confronting our own failures and limitations is a difficult, often transformative and sometimes healing experience. What are the spiritual lessons of failure?

Sunday, January 05th, 2003 at 10:50am: 'Spiritual Results' -- Rev. Robert M. Hardies [View Text]
There is nothing like the New Year to focus us on results. What did I accomplish last year? How much weight do I want to lose in the new year? This results-oriented thinking can permeate our spiritual life, too --sometimes with unintended consequences.

Sunday, December 29th, 2002 at 11:50am: 'Kwaanza' -- Gabrielle Farrell, Lenard Starks and others
The holiday season continues with our annual Kwaanza celebration for all ages. How can the wisdom of Kwaanza inform our living?

Sunday, December 22nd, 2002 at 10:50am: 'The Christmas Pageant' -- Rev. Robert Hardies and friends
On this Sunday before Christmas, Rev. Hardies will be joined by some very special guests to tell a very special story set to some very special music.

Sunday, December 15th, 2002 at 10:50am: 'I Do Choose' -- Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text]
One day a leper said to Jesus, “If you choose, you can heal me.” Jesus replied, “I do choose.” How do we choose and not choose to respond with compassion to a suffering world?

Sunday, December 08th, 2002 at 10:50am: 'Communities of Resistance' -- Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt
It's time for liberal religion to build strong communities of resistance to the forces that would divide and degrade us. Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt is the minister of the Fourth Universalist Society in the City of New York. A former editor of the New York Times Book Review, she is also the author of Unafraid of the Dark, a memoir of growing up in poverty. Rev. McNatt is our third Davies Preaching Fellow this year. Davies Preaching Fellows are outstanding preachers brought to our pulpit courtesy of the A. Powell Davies Memorial Committee, to honor Dr. Davies' outstanding preaching legacy.

Sunday, December 01st, 2002 at 10:50am: 'Great Expectations' -- Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text]
Author and pastor Frederick Buechner once wrote: “The extraordinary thing that is about to happen is matched only by the extraordinary moment just before it happens. Advent is the name of that moment.” Join us as we explore the meaning of advent in our lives.

Sunday, November 24th, 2002 at 10:50am: 'Save It and Savor It' -- Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text]
E.B. White once wrote, "I wake each morning torn between two desires: to save the world, and to savor the world. It makes it hard to plan the day." How do we both savor and save our beautiful and broken world? What is the connection between beauty and justice? On this Sunday before Thanksgiving, we will take our annual collection of food and gifts for the All Souls Community Aid Fund.

Sunday, November 17th, 2002 at 10:50am: 'Jubilee' -- Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text]
Come celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the All Souls Jubilee Singers. This Sunday we will honor hte spirit of faith and struggle embodied in the African tradition, and the hope implicit in the ancient promise of Jubilee.

Sunday, November 10th, 2002 at 10:50am: 'Anger' -- Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text]
What are the uses and abuses of anger? How can we tame the beast within?

Sunday, November 03rd, 2002 at 10:50am: 'Dying a Unitarian Universalist' -- Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text]
Many UU's don't believe in an afterlife. What confort does our faith offer at the end of life? This Sunday, we celebrate All souls Sunday, honoring all those in our congregation who have died in the last year. Join in with All Souls to celebrate, to sing, to worship and share a diverse and unique fellowship.

Sunday, October 27th, 2002 at 10:50am: 'The Examined Life' -- Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text]
For many of us, the religious life begins with the question, "Who am I?" Our free and progressive faith always challenges us to examine our lives. But a search that begins with "Who am I?" almost always leads to the surprising question, "Whose am I?" This Sunday we'll discuss some practical advice for a life of the spirit.

Sunday, October 20th, 2002 at 10:50am: 'All Souls Are Mine' -- Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text]
I'm convinced that "All Souls" is the best name a church can have. But where does this name come from? And what promise does it hold?

Sunday, October 13th, 2002 at 10:50am: "All are Chosen: A Primer on Shared Ministry" -- Revs. Janne and Rob Eller-Isaacs [View Text]
The great Unitarian theologian, James Luther Adams, spoke of the priesthood and prophethood of ALL believers. We are ALL called to be ministers. As we begin to clarify our future ministry together, how can we ensure that each of us has a role to play.
Janne and Rob Eller-Isaacs are co-ministers of Unity Church, Unitarian, in St. Paul, MN.

Sunday, October 06th, 2002 at 10:50am: A. Powell Davies Sunday - Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text]
Sometimes, as people of faith, we are called upon to be critical of what is, and give ourselves over to what may be. In the age of "Reality TV" we must distinguish between what is real and what is true. Please join us this week as we celebrate the legacy of A. Powell Davies, one of the great ministers of All Souls Church. A free catered lunch will follow in Pierce Hall.

Sunday, September 29th, 2002 at 10:50am: The Islamic Connection -- Rev. Mark Morrison Reed [View Text] [Listen to mp3] [StreamAudio]
Given the ongoing process of coming to terms with 9/11 it is time for UU`s to reappraise our relationship to Islam. We are more indebted to Islam than we realize, in deed, without it we might not exist. The Rev. Mark Morrison Reed is one of the most respected ministers in our movement and the author of Black Pioneers in a White Denomination, a book chronicling the earliest ministers of color in the Unitarian Universalist movement.

Sunday, September 22nd, 2002 at 10:50am: Begin Again in Love -- Rev. Robert Hardies
Forgiving others and oneself is one of the most difficult demands of the spiritual life. Why is it so hard? And why is it so important?

Sunday, September 15th, 2002 at 10:50am: The Gandhi Pill -- Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text]
Is there a secret to living a life of justice and commitment in our complex world? One group of scholars tried to discover such a secret. What can their lessons teach us?

Wednesday, September 11th, 2002 at 6:00pm: Proverbs of Ashes -- Rev. Rob Hardies [View Text]
A Service of remembrance and commitment on the one-year anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Sunday, September 08th, 2002 at 10:50am: I'm Spiritual . . . but not Religious -- Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text]
Religious community adds layers of depth to our spiritual lives. On this first Sunday of the church year, we celebrate once again the power and importance of religious community. The choirs will return and children's religious education classes begin on this Sunday.

Sunday, September 01st, 2002 at 9:50am: Divisions of Labor -- Rev. Lynn Thomas Strauss [View Text]
From corporate executives on trial, to the blue-collar heroes of September 11th, to the current talk of a baseball strike; labor in America is a complex issue. Today we explore the intersection of labor and our liberal faith. Reverend Strauss is Associate Minister at River Road Unitarian Church in Bethesda.

Sunday, August 25th, 2002 at 9:50am: Yosemites of the Soul -- Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text]
All of the world's religious traditions have imbued the mountaintop with spiritual power. Recently returned from the grand landscapes of the West, Rev. Hardies will reflect on the "mountaintop experience."

Sunday, August 18th, 2002 at 9:50am: Questions of Faith -- Rev. Robert Hardies
Come hear Rev. Hardies answer questions from the congregation on any matter of faith, ethics, theology, or Unitarian History. Questions may be submitted in the offering plate on the previous two Sundays. We hope this will become a summer tradition here at All Souls.

Sunday, August 11th, 2002 at 9:50am: Elephant or Tar Baby: UUs and Society -- Rebekah S. Beldom
As our UU movement grows, we are beginning to tackle new questions of what it means to be liberally religious in a pluralistic society. In service of our social justice tradition, are we remaining true to our spiritual roots? In service of our religious traditions, have we turned away from our activism? This sermon will explore walking our talk with all of our bodies and selves.

Rebekah S. Beldon recently completed her internship at the UU Fellowship of Boca Raton and is preparing to go before the Ministerial Fellowship Committee in September. Rebekah grew up in Bethesda, MD in the River Road UU Church and graduated from Union Theological Seminary in New York City in 1999.

Sunday, August 04th, 2002 at 9:50am: Love Life! -- Jennifer Brooks
The stress of highly scheduled lifestyles sometimes finds us head down and frantically pushing to check things off the "to do" list. How often do we stop to appreciate the gift of life? This service gives us all a chance to pay attention (if only for an hour) to the beauty around and within us.

Jennifer Brooks, a candidate for the UU ministry, graduated from Harvard Divinity School in June 2001. She has just completed her ministerial internship at Paint Branch UU Church in Adelphi, MD. From August 2002-July 2003, she will be in Geneva, Switzerland with International Bridges to Justice, an interfaith human rights organization with strong UU participation. Jennifer hopes to begin parish ministry in September 2003.

Sunday, July 28th, 2002 at 9:50am: The Communion of Struggle -- Rev. Meg Riley
How life looks when we engage with other people in justice-making as a spiritual path.

Sunday, July 21st, 2002 at 9:50am: Sing in My Heart -- Rev Meg Riley [View Text]
Rev. Riley speaks about maintaining a heart-centered life in a world that is too often heartless.

Sunday, July 14th, 2002 at 9:50am: Healing Wounds -- The Rev. Meg Riley [View Text]
Could it be possible that those very wounds which cause us the most suffering also secrete that healing balm we've searched for all over the world?

Sunday, July 07th, 2002 at 9:50am: One Nation Under God -- The Rev. Meg Riley [View Text]
Rev. Riley reflects upon the current fuss about whether the words "under God" belong in our pledge of allegiance, and what the inclusion or exclusion of them means to us as people of faith.

Sunday, June 30th, 2002 at 10:50am: Coming and Going -- The Rev. Meg Riley [View Text]
Rev. Riley begins her tenure as our summer minister, and reflects upon the rhythm of transitions that make up what we call life.

Sunday, June 23rd, 2002 at 10:50am: Uncovering the Buried life, A People's Voices Sermon
In January, Reverend Hardies preached a sermon entitled 'The Buried Life' about identifying and acknowledging the buried desires within us. The sermon charged us to acknowledge these desires, to find our vocation, where our 'deep joy meets the world's deep hunger'. In this service, people share what uncovering the buried life has meant to them.

Sunday, June 16th, 2002 at 10:50am: The Peculiar Corner at 16th & Harvard -- The Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text]
In this sermon, Rev. Hardies explores the role of the church at this crossroads of our urban neighborhood. D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams will join us this Sunday.

Sunday, June 09th, 2002 at 10:50am: Reflections of a Unitarian Missionary -- The Rev.Robert Hardies [View Text]
In 1996, I traveled to the jungle of Guatemala to serve as a human rights worker on behalf of a group of Unitarian Universalist congregations. What I learned there has shaped my faith and my ministry ever since . In this sermon, I will share some of the insights I gained into faith and justice.

Sunday, June 02nd, 2002 at 10:50am: Point Thank You -- The Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text]
Last fall, on a street corner in Greenwich Village, New Yorkers gathered daily to thank rescue workers leaving the World Trade Center wreckage. The site came to be known as 'Point Thank You'. Where and how do we express gratitude in our own lives?

Sunday, May 26th, 2002 at 10:50am: 'Forgetting Ourselves' -- The Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text]
In the Koran, the world for sin is translated literally as "forgetting." We forget what is right and good. We forget our better selves. This morning we'll look at what it means to forget ourselves, and how we might remember ourselves.

Sunday, May 19th, 2002 at 10:50am: 'Sanctuary!' -- The Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text]
Israeli troops surround the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, the legendary birthplace of Christ. Dozens of Palestinians are trapped inside having sought sanctuary there. What is our human need for "sanctuary," and how might the search for sanctuary provide a lens through which to see the Palestinian/Israeli conflict?

Sunday, May 12th, 2002 at 10:50am: 'Holy Mothers' -- The Rev. Robert Hardies
This Mother's Day we'll look at the familiar and the surprising ways that God has been imagined as Mother.

Sunday, May 05th, 2002 at 10:50am: 'Journeying Toward Wholeness' -- The Revs. Mel Hoover and Robert Hardies
As the world changes so must our faith. We are on a journey. Where are we going? How will we get there?
Mel Hoover is the Director of Faith in Action at the Unitarian Universalist Association in Boston. He comes to All Souls courtesy of the A. Powell Davies Memorial Committee as a Davies Preaching fellow, a program which seeks to bring outstanding preachers from around the denomination to our pulpit.

Sunday, April 28th, 2002 at 10:50am: 'What Are We Striving For?' -- The Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text]
Why must it always come as a surprise that love isn't something we earn? How can we accept love as a gift? (A sermon that never got preached on September 16, 2001.)

Sunday, April 21st, 2002 at 10:50am: A Path to Spiritual Depth -- The Rev. Robert Hardies
Many of us come to All Souls as seekers; we're looking for answers to life's important questions. Though this search never ends, we must also move beyond a seeker's faith to a deeper spiritual life. Today we discuss some signposts along the road to spiritual depth.

Sunday, April 14th, 2002 at 10:50am: Changing Places -- The Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text]
Thoreau once asked: "Could a greater miracle take place than for us to look through each other's eyes for an instant?" An exploration of the transforming power of religious community.

Sunday, April 07th, 2002 at 10:50am: A Guest Minister will Join us This Week
This week we welcome a guest minister into our pulpit and we welcome back the popular jazz quartet from the DC Music Center to provide special music.

Sunday, March 31st, 2002 at 10:45am: EASTER SUNDAY: Telling Stories of Hope -- Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text]
Join Rev. Hardies, the Festival Choir, and the D.C. Children's Choir for a joyous celebration of the story of Jesus' resurrection from the tomb, and the return of hope to our world and our hearts.

Sunday, March 24th, 2002 at 10:50am: The Soft Cushion Beyond Sorrow -- Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text]
What happens after we've cried all we can cry? After we've bottomed out? The soft cushion beyond sorrow is the place where we lay our grieving down.

Sunday, March 17th, 2002 at 10:50am: In Defense of Hypocrisy -- Rev. Robert Hardies
Religion and politics are the institutions we most often associate with hypocrisy. So perhaps it comes as no surprise that a preacher in the nation's capital rises to defend hypocrisy. What is the value of the gap between what we say and what we do?

Sunday, March 10th, 2002 at 10:50am: The Bible and Social Justice -- Tom Hargrave, Bill Rice, and others
How can biblical stories fuel or hinder our quest for a better world? Join us for an exciting musical program and People's Voices service presented by the Bible and Social Justice adult religious education class.

Sunday, March 03rd, 2002 at 10:50am: God: Not Mandatory, Not Optional -- Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text]
Whether we're believers or not, we can't avoid the question of God. What role does God play in our culture? In our soul? This morning we'll explore these questions and examine some contemporary, progressive conceptions of God.

Sunday, February 24th, 2002 at 10:50am: A Theology of Ecology: Greening our Faith to Protect the Earth - Katherine Jesch, Seventh Principle Project
Our UU faith recognizes the interdependent web of all existence. This sermon examines how a green theology integrates all aspects of our lives into a comprehensive ethic which includes spirituality and social justice as elements of our relationships with each other and with the earth.

Sunday, February 17th, 2002 at 10:50am: The Rare Word for the Rare Desire - Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text]
What is prayer? How do we want it? Who are we praying to? And Why?

Sunday, February 10th, 2002 at 10:50am: Holding on and Letting Go - Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text]
In life and in love we're constantly called upon to do two things: hold on and let go. It's never an easy balance.

Sunday, February 03rd, 2002 at 10:50am: The Devil's Back - Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text]
Since President Bush began calling Osama bin Laden "The Evil One," our political and theological language has become suffused with talk of evil. How do we balance our humanist faith with a sufficient understanding of evil?

Sunday, January 27th, 2002 at 10:50am: The Spirituality of Luck -- Rev. Scott Alexander [View Text]
The events of September 11th remind us of the incredible role that luck (both good and bad) can play in our lives. It is of great spiritual importance that we attach the proper meanings to that luck. The Rev. Scott Alexander is Senior Minister of River Road Unitarian Church in Bethesda.

Sunday, January 20th, 2002 at 10:50am: The Dream-life of Martin -- Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text]
Martin Luther King, Jr. Sunday- In this service honoring the life of the one who famously declared "I have a dream," we will explore the relationship between our imaginations (our dreams), our spiritual lives, and our efforts to create a more just, more compassionate world.

Sunday, January 13th, 2002 at 10:50am: Faith and the Flag -- Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text]
The recent spate of flag waving has made some of liberal faith uncomfortable. What does the flag mean? Should we fly it? How do we reconcile love of country with our social and religious values? Later this week, All Souls member Pam Sparr will offer an intergenerational workshop on patriotism that she's developing for our denomination.

Sunday, January 06th, 2002 at 10:50am: The Buried Life - Rev. Robert Hardies [View Text]
Winter is upon us. For me, this season is a time to ponder what is buried in my life -- what is frozen beneath the ground -- and it is a time to plot the thaw.

Sunday, December 23rd, 2001 at 10:45am: The Christmas Imagination
On this last Sunday before Christmas we will celebrate the delightful imagination that the Christmas season calls us to.

Sunday, December 16th, 2001 at 10:45am: Prophecy and Insanity
Prophets play a large role in the unfolding story of the holidays. When it comes to prophets, though, the question has always been: who's a prophet and who's just plain crazy?

Sunday, December 09th, 2001 at 10:45am: The Courage to Be [View Text]
Having worshipped the courage of our ancestors throughout most of the 1990s (the "Greatest Generation," the "Founding Brothers"), we Americans got a chance to exhibit some courage ourselves in the wake of September 11th. Where does it come from? And what kind of courage can get us through these troubled times?

Sunday, November 25th, 2001 at 10:45am: Guest minister
A guest minister will join us.

Sunday, November 18th, 2001 at 10:45am: The Welcome Table
Food and fellowship figure prominently in many world religions. What are the lessons of the ritual meal? What can the Welcome Table teach us about our lives? Join us for our Annual Thanksgiving Service as well the Annual Food and Community Aid Collection.

Sunday, November 04th, 2001 at 10:45am: It's 10:50 AM: Do you know where Generation X is?
What do truth, mentors, ageism, racism, All Soul's, Unitarian Universalism, and young adult and campus ministry have in common? Several young adults from the congregation will share their reflections and suggest ways that we all might deepen our religious understanding. This is a People's Voices (lay-led) Service. It is also ASC's celebration of the Joseph Priestley District's Young Adult and Campus Ministry Sunday, for which a special collection will be held. This service will also feature the debut of All Souls' DC Children's Choir!

Sunday, October 21st, 2001 at 10:45am: Raising Children Faithfully
Rev. Meg Riley, a preacher in demand throughout our movement, is the director of the UUA's Washington Office for Faith in Action and is an affiliated minister with All Souls Church.

Sunday, October 14th, 2001 at 10:45am: What is the Size of Your Soul?
Celebration Sunday - Emerson said that "life is an opportunity to grow a soul." The progressive and prophetic religious tradition we come from has always sought to grow large, supple souls. What is the size of yours? Celebration Sunday is also when we make our annual pledge to the on-going work of the church.

Sunday, September 16th, 2001 at 10:45am: Listen to the Sound of our Cry [View Text]
All are welcome to this public service of grief and prayer in the wake of our national tragedy.

Sunday, September 09th, 2001 at 10:45am: First Sunday of the New Church Year
Worship at 10:50am

Sunday, July 15th, 2001 at 9:45am: Sunday Service
Gordon Bailey

Sunday, July 08th, 2001 at 9:45am: Lay Service
Laura and Peter Sailer reflect on Independence Day

Sunday, June 24th, 2001 at 10:45am: 'SALVATION BY CHARACTER' with The Reverend Richard Kellaway
SUMMER SCHEDULE STARTS- WORSHIP AT 9:50am. One of our denomination's most gifted raconteurs and powerful preachers returns to the All Souls pulpit! Richard Kellaway is minister emeritus of the First Unitarian Church in New Bedford, Massachusetts. He writes: "What must I do to be saved? The conventional Christian answers all revolve around having the right beliefs. What is radically different about our Unitarian Universalist religion is the ongoing conviction that it is who we are, not what we believe that counts." FORUM ON ALL SOULS LIVING HERITAGE with our guest minister follows the service: "All Souls: From the Civil War to Civil Rights."

Sunday, June 17th, 2001 at 10:45am: FLOWER COMMUNION SUNDAY
Please bring a flower or sprig of greenery to place in our common vase at the beginning of the service. At the end of the service, you will be invited to come forward to receive one of the flowers brought by another. This annual communion is intended as a way for all members of the church to indicate solidarity just before summer journeys begin, so all are warmly urged to attend. David will speak briefly, and there will be an opportunity to say good-bye to him in Pierce Hall after the service on this, his last day at All Souls. Music by the Jubilee Singers directed by Lenard Starka with John Strang at the organ.

Sunday, June 10th, 2001 at 10:45am: 'I Wish I'd Said That!' - David Keyes' Washington Farewell
Our interm minister promises to preach abbreviated versions of the sermons he would like to deliver if he were staying longer. Some of the sermons have titles like "Friends Don't Let Friends Go to Starbucks" and "Let Us Now Praise White Guys."

Sunday, June 03rd, 2001 at 10:45am: Children & Youth Sunday - Sara Edwards & David Keyes
"Flaming Tongues of Spirit" is the theme for this worship service for all ages. This year, we emphasize the involvement of children and youth in a service that is all about how the Spirit moves us. The Awards Ceremony for teachers and students will take place in Pierce Hall AFTER the service, along with a thank-you cake for RE Director Sara Edwards. Dedication of Clarence Roscoe McDonald.

Sunday, May 27th, 2001 at 10:45am: Memorial Day Sunday - "Remembering Embodied Love" - David Keyes
Our Interim Senior Minister writes: "The passing of my mother this year has made me rethink what I call "the Unitarian way of death." I want to explore with you the ways in which we experience our bodies and the bodies of others, living and dead.