Our guest, Sara Dorrien-Christians, Coordinator of Outreach Ministries at Idlewild Presbyterian Church in Memphis delivered this homily.

Church of the River member, Andy Branham, Esquire, delivered this homily. Enjoy his thought-provoking sermon.

Guest preacher, Rev. Beth Lefever, whose homily was called, "Even When it is not Shining", ponders the tough series topic and shares her perspective, "Faith is a decision we make. Faith is a choice. Believing is a choice." People do not always make the same choices or use their choices in good ways.

Rev. Summers shares stories and wisdom about the welfare of children all over the world. Both related and unrelated to world news, Rev. Summers points out our responsibility to be able to answer the question, "How are the children?" with the response, "The children are well." When, where, and how will we do this? "Whether you see an example in Jesus or in Mr. Rogers or literature, there is wisdom all around us that leads us to a path where we can answer that the children are well; and, it takes personal stories; it takes personal one-on-one relationships. As people of faith, start here."

In the homily, "The Untitled Sermon", Rev. Wells helps us explore, "What kind of faith does it take, in the face of everything going wrong, that God still loves us, that God is still powerful, that God is still able? What kind of faith does that take?"

Out guest preacher, Rev. Momberg says, "As you know, it takes courage to be that open and that honest about one’s racism or one’s sexism or any other ism from which we may be trying to recover. And yet, to be courageously vulnerable and transparent is what I believe is asked of us if we seek to be kin--a feeling, talking, trusting family.” In his sermon, Rev. Momberg shares insights about families and relationships, raising the idea of using words that can mean family without necessarily being related biologically.

In this week’s homily, "Kinship of God", Rev. Tom Momberg says, "As you know, it takes courage to be that open and that honest about one’s racism or one’s sexism or any other ism from which we may be trying to recover. And yet, to be courageously vulnerable and transparent is what I believe is asked of us if we seek to be kin--a feeling, talking, trusting family.” In his sermon, Rev. Momberg shares insights about families and relationships, raising the idea of using words that can mean family without necessarily being related biologically.

In his homily, Rev. Carlton Smith speaks about "times when we can’t see a way out of our circumstances; we wonder if we have the strength to hold on; we wonder if we have the endurance to hold out. In addition to empowerment to do great things, we need power to live from day to day.”. He shares Nobel Prize winner Tony Morrison’s compelling case for narrative as that which can help us, “keep holding on and keep holding out, even in times that feel desperate"

Why are we drawn to tragedy? "There has to be something that tragedy has to teach us as Unitarians and as people of faith -- something it can teach us about ourselves and each other and perhaps something it can teach us about how to respond to the times in which we live." In this week’s homily, "On Tragedy", Rev. Teitel talks about ancient literature, like Shakespeare, and our attraction to tragedy.

Why are we drawn to tragedy? "There has to be something that tragedy has to teach us as Unitarians and as people of faith -- something it can teach us about ourselves and each other and perhaps something it can teach us about how to respond to the times in which we live." In this week’s homily, "On Tragedy", Rev. Teitel talks about ancient literature, like Shakespeare, and our attraction to tragedy.