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 [View Text] [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
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. S