Is religion for universal health care or against it? That question probably won’t get us the answers we need. But both religious and secular traditions have views to contribute to our culture shaking national debate. What do the religions say? Do they all say the same thing? Their voices are surprisingly powerful.

The great native prairies of the Midwest were intimately dependent on fire, and even now fires are set to renew and nourish prairie preserves. In the spring after a fire, wildflowers blaze bigger and brighter than before. What can we learn from this about our own capacities for resilience and renewal when the fires of change sweep through us – personal, societal, or national? Rev. Florence Caplow is a UU minister, Zen priest, writer and editor.

In times of division, many of us are seeking justice. That is a natural thing to do. But many of us also want to build bridges with those who disagree. These others may be our friends, our family or even our partners. How do we balance the needs for justice and for community, needs which may sometimes seem at odds?

As our country goes through a difficult transition mixed with chaos, disappointment and many forms of resistance, people everywhere are joining together in novel and previously unimagined ways. Rev. William Barber calls these groups fusion coalitions and they are popping up everywhere. What makes this technique of fusion so powerful and how can we find new energy and hope in unexpected alliances for justice?

Today is the birthday of Charles Darwin who changed the world with his theories about how life works. While some few still want to go back to a pre-Darwinian view of things, our UU tradition has taken the path of incorporating his insights into a liberal religious world view. Can religion coexist with Darwin? Our culture still struggles with this idea.

As our world is undergoing a troubling movement toward more tension and less safety, what is it that would actually make us more safe? How can we be agents for true safety in the world? Lunch with the Minister will be offered after church for all who want to know more about our community.

Our guest today, Rev. Jim Powell, is the minister of the Richwoods Community Church. Along with Rabbi Daniel Bogard and Iman Kamil Mufti, he is the third religious leader in the No Joke film and book that you may have heard about. These three religious leaders entered into dialogue over a period of several years and found new ways of being able to talk together across the boundaries of religion. Rev. Powell shares some of this insights with us today.

As women (and men) in Washington and all over the United States (including Peoria) are marching this weekend, including many from our church, it makes sense to try to hear what all these women (and men) are saying. And why is it especially women who feel there is something crucial to proclaim at this moment in history? We need to know.

Today we join with millions of others all over the world to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday. We are a people urgently in need of Dr. King's insight and his determination.

Every new year brings changes but sometimes the shift is major. Today we honor what has been accomplished and reflect on how to meet the challenges with courage and hope.