"Fire, like truth, is something that we can never fully control...We are called to breathe fire." Rev. Sam speaks about the Pentecost and the Holy Spirit and how we can redefine terms to all speak the same language. Learn how this concept ties to today’s most serious issues, and what our calling is, in this week’s homily, "Breathing Fire".

Listen to Rev. Teitel explain how we keep our congregation and our faith, in general, vibrant and healthy and so very, very alive. It takes all of us. This week’s homily is "On Mom’s Flowers and Heavy Metal".

Listen to Rev. Teitel explain how we keep our congregation and our faith, in general, vibrant and healthy and so very, very alive. It takes all of us. This week’s homily is "On Mom’s Flowers".

With great joy and fanfare, Rev. Sam Teitel was installed as the Minister for Church of the River on Sunday, May 6, 11 a.m. Listen to the sermon, Dry Ground, by The Rev. Dr. Adam Hearlson, Assistant Professor of Preaching and Worship at Andover Newton Theological School.

"Every religious community of which I am aware could stand to do a better job having these conversations. If the Me Too movement has taught us anything, it is that every community needs to be having better, braver conversations about sex, consent, safety, and communication... How do we deal with this difficult history and how the church has dealt with human sexuality?" Rev. Sam speaks about the comprehensive sexuality curriculum, sponsored by UUA and United Church of Christ, and taught in our 8th grade’s Our Whole Lives (OWL) curriculum. Learn how it is tied to biblical times in this week’s homily, "Let’s Talk About...".

"In our moments of deepest pain and isolation, one of the most comforting things is that we are not alone. It happens when someone says to us, "I am right here with you." Do you know who would be there for you? And, do you know who you would be there for?" Rev. Carlton Smith, Unitarian Universalist Association, Southern Regional Staff, speaks about the relationship and commitment between Naomi and Ruth as it is reflected today in the commitment we make to another person or another group of people in this week’s homily, "Where You Go, I Will Go".

Listen to the wisdom of The Rev. Dr. William (Bill) Sinkford, our 2018 guest for the Reverend Burton D. Carley Noted Speakers Series.

"The valley of the dry bones is a real place. The valley of the dry bones exists inside of every human being. We all have some part of us that feels like this; that feels dead and dry and hopeless and what brings that part of us back to life? It isn’t fact; it isn’t what is logical and sensible and real. What brings this back in us is prophecy. It’s poetry, it’s compassion and comfort and hope what allows people to connect to what is beyond them and breathe." Rev. Sam speaks about Ezekiel and the valley of the dry bones and how that story reflects situations in our world today in this week’s homily, "From a Certain Point of View".

"Unitarian Universalism has long been a safe place for people to go when they are feeling so hurt and angry about the religious tradition that raised them; that anything that reminds them of that tradition can be very upsetting and triggering for them. Those experiences are real and they are important. And, they deserve to have the safe space that they have created for themselves, here." Rev. Sam talks about atheism, belief, and helping others in this week’s homily, "On Atheism, Hope, and Free Coffee".

A special service of remembrance and reflection held on the eve of the 50th anniversary of the assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Memphis. The service includes reflections by the Rev. Michael Crumpler, Edie Love, and the Rev. Carlton Smith and a sermon by the Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray, president of the Unitarian Universalist Association.