2023 Sermons

"Wishes for 2024"

On the eve of a new year, Tapestry members speak about their wishes for the coming year. We hear a vision of hope from multiple perspectives as we prepare to ring in 2024.

Tapestry Members
December 31, 2023
"A Hope for Peace?"

In our annual Candlelight Christmas-Eve service, we recall a story of hope in a time of violence and despair. In this darkest time of year with so much on the line, we choose to share the light of hope.

Rev. Kent Doss
December 24, 2023
"The Night Shift"

As the seasons turn us toward the Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year, what is shifting in you and in the world we share? Rev. Rebecca Benefiel Bijur explores what this darkness might hold for each of us, and for our life together as Unitarian Universalists.

Rev. Rebecca Renefiel Bijur
December 17, 2023
"Pass the Mic"

We know that a variety of ideas helps us seek the truth in love. Sometimes the voices that have the clearest understanding belong to people who have been most marginalized. As we dig into our value of pluralism this Sunday, we consider some of the limits of diversity of opinion, and some of the ways our own assumptions might be getting in the way.

Rev. Dr. Kent Doss
December 3, 2023

"Lessons from Winter Holidays"

With all of their blessings, challenges, and lessons the holidays are upon us. Sharing personal stories, three Tapestry members will reflect on life lessons they have learned from winter holidays of years gone by.

Tapestry Members
November 26, 2023
"Soil, Seed and Sun"

This Sunday we celebrate the web that creates and sustains life on our planet. Recognizing our fundamental interdependence is an invitation to broaden our sometimes narrow human perspective. Also, this Sunday we will hold a child dedication ritual for Lila Guy and her family.

Rev. Dr. Kent Doss
November 5, 2023

"Making Love"

Ursula Le Guin writes, “Love doesn’t just sit there, like a stone, it has to be made, like bread; remade all the time, made new.” This Sunday we consider old and new ways to make more love in the world.

Rev. Kent Doss
October 29, 2023
"Non-binary in Our Own Words"

Archer Gothard and Cole Ellsworth, two Tapestry young adults, share what being gender non-binary means to them, and Liz Bear speaks from a parent and ally perspective. This service we be presented by the LGBTQ+ Action Group, and features several members of the committee.

LGBTQ+ Action Group
October 22, 2023
"The Center of Our Faith"

As we acknowledge Indigenous People’s Day, we ask what it means to place Love at the center of our Unitarian Universalist faith. This sermon will deal in part with the proposed revision to our 7 Principles and 6 Sources.

Rev. Dr. Kent Doss
October 8, 2023
"Listening with the Heart"

Some animals understand a few words, mostly people and pets are left to intuit each other's needs. This Sunday is Tapestry’s annual blessing of pets, and we explore the power of listening deeply. Well-socialized pets are welcome to participate in person. If your pet is not suited for a large gathering, please send a picture so that they can be included in the service.

Rev. Dr. Kent Doss
October 1, 2023

"Peeling the Orange"

Orange County writer and social critic Gustavo Arellano speaks about his contributions to the recent book, “A People’s History of Orange County.” It is an alternative travel guide that tells the lesser known stories of oppression and resistance, painting our region as a diverse, contested and historically significant space.

Gustavo Arellano
September 24, 2023
"Unitarian Universalism in Symbols"

This Sunday we explore the images and symbols that are meaningful to Unitarian Universalism and to Tapestry in particular. This service is especially designed to welcome newcomers and friends.

Rev. Dr. Kent Doss
September 17, 2023
"'Seeing Clearly' & Water Communion"

This Sunday we celebrate the variety of perspectives and experiences brought together in our one community. None of us has perfect vision. Together, through sharing what we have found, we can begin to understand our world.
Water Communion is a beloved annual UU ritual that celebrates our joining together as a community. If you have collected water from your adventures over the past year, please bring it to contribute. Water will be provided for others so that everyone who chooses can participate.

Rev. Dr. Kent Doss
September 10, 2023
"The Beauty of Becoming"

As we begin our month’s focus on beauty, this Sunday we look beyond perfection to recognize the beauty that in growth and evolution.

Rev. Dr. Kent Doss
September 3, 2023

"Passing and Speaking Up"

Tapestry member, Jeff Gothard, will reflect on his experience as a bi-racial person growing up in America. As someone who has been seen as the outsider and the insider, the choice of how to speak up can sometimes be confusing.

Jeff Gothard
August 27, 2023
"Are We Activists?"

Unitarian Universalism has a long history of leading social change and today many of our members are involved in justice efforts. What about everyone else? This Sunday we consider the link between activism and our faith, and just what is required of a good Unitarian Universalist.

Rev. Dr. Kent Doss
August 20, 2023
"The Head Triad"

This Sunday we dive a little deeper into understanding the enneagram, and focus on the head triad, types 5 (investigator) , 6 (loyalist) , and 7 (enthusiast). They are sometimes called the head triad because they are especially driven reason and facts. We will also look at some of the multiple types come to influence every individual personality.

Rev. Dr. Kent Doss
August 13, 2023
"Praying for Justice?"

In many ways faith has fueled justice movements in America. This Sunday we explore a little of that history and how our own deepest convictions can inspire our actions.

Rev. Dr. Kent Doss
August 6, 2023

"What Does Alabama Mean? Bearing Witness to Racism in the United States"

Unitarian Universalism calls us to move beyond casual tourism, to witnessing and owning history in our bones. Interfaith Chaplain, Rev. Celia Young will share insights gained from her recent pilgrimage to Alabama.

Rev. Celia Young
July 30, 2023
"Spiritual Report Cards"

How many of live our lives as if there will be a report card at the end of the term? What would constitute an "A" in your book, spiritually speaking? And does it matter? Oncology chaplain and popular guest speaker, Michael Eselun explores these questions.

Michael Eselun
July 23, 2023
"What’s Your Type?"

The enneagram is a system of nine interconnected personality types. The origins of the enneagram are disputed, but the system is used today in business, psychological, and spiritual development. This Sunday we will have quick overview of the enneagram and get a closer look at three of the types, the challenger (8), the peacemaker (9), and the reformer (1).

Rev. Dr. Kent Doss
July 16, 2023
"A World of Play"

Play is not just for children. It is an important behavior shared by a wide range of species. This Sunday we look at the playground of our world and why joining the fun is the smart thing to do.

Rev. Dr. Kent Doss
July 2, 2023

"Pride and Gratitude"

Members of the LGBTQ+ Action Group lead a service celebrating the anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion. Hiroshi Yamaguchi and Peter Mathews deliver the sermon, reflecting on their experience of the history of the LGBTQ+ rights movement.

Peter Mathews
June 25, 2023
"Juneteenth"

Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of enslaved Black people in the United States. This Sunday we learn about the holiday and look at the power behind deciding which holidays matter.

Rev. Dr. Kent Doss
June 18, 2023
"The Power of Ritual"

Unitarian Universalism tends toward the simple and straightforward, yet some rituals are very important to us. This Sunday we explore some of the rituals of our community and our individual lives.

Rev. Dr. Kent Doss
June 11, 2023
"The Flower Ritual"

This Sunday is the 100th anniversary of the beloved Unitarian Flower Communion that originated in Prague. This Sunday we recreate the powerful ritual and consider what it offers us 100 years later in a land far away.

Rev. Dr. Kent Doss
June 4, 2023

"Returning Home"

When we talk about being in community together, at the heart, it’s always a choice to create a faith home together. Today, we take a look at why we “covenant” – its history, how we came to embrace it in our Unitarian Universalist circles, and how we can use it to shape our future.

KC Marie Pandell
May 28, 2023
"Full-Circle Nurturing"

Mothers Day is a great time to celebrate moms and all that they can be. This Sunday we look at how each of us can embody aspect of nurturing, wisdom and caring throughout our life, regardless of gender or parental status.

Rev. Dr. Kent Doss
May 14, 2023
"Dignity of our Enemy"

This Sunday we explore the moral imperative and strategic value of honoring the dignity of our enemies. This sermon will reflect on our first Principle and the wisdom of the Civil Rights Movement’s preservation of dignity for all people, including the enemy.

Rev. Dr. Kent Doss
May 7, 2023

"Private and Universal"

Each of us experiences grief in our own way, yet it is a hardship that touches everyone’s life. This Sunday we explore some of the key components of grief and how to accompany one another, even when we may not understand the details of the experience.

Rev. Dr. Kent Doss
April 30, 2023
"Blessed Eid"

Intern minister KC takes us on a journey exploring the Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr: Its history, importance, and how we may find inspiration for ourselves in their expressions of faith in this wonderful celebration.

KC Marie Pandell
April 23, 2023
"Yom HaShoah - Remembering the Holocaust"

Shoah, which means “catastrophe” or “utter destruction” in Hebrew, refers to the atrocities that were committed against the Jewish people during World War II. Holocaust Remembrance Day is a memorial to those who died, and a refusal to allow history to be erased. Together we find the courage and hope required to face the ugliest realities of history.

Rev. Dr. Kent Doss
April 16, 2023
"The Return of Love — Easter"

This Sunday we remember the story of Easter and honor the choice of building beloved community as a response to political violence. In addition to springtime and hope, Easter is a story of resistance and fierce love.

Rev. Dr. Kent Doss
April 9, 2023
"Growing Deep and Reaching Out"

This Sunday we celebrate the conclusion of our annual pledge campaign. Thank you to all the Tapestry members and friends who make a commitment to financially support Tapestry in the coming year. Your gift helps make our liberal faith available to people of all ages in South Orange County and beyond.

Rev. Dr. Kent Doss
April 2, 2023

"The Trust Account"

Trust is a slippery thing. There are many more ways to squander it than there are to build it. This Sunday we celebrate the importance of trust in our lives and consider how we might build it effectively with the people we love.

Rev. Dr. Kent Doss
March 26, 2023
"Horizontal Faith"

We UUs generally place more trust in a wise friend next to us than in a divinity that is high above. This Sunday we reflect on the importance of horizontal relationships in our faith, and both the strengths and shortcomings of such a focus.

Rev. Dr. Kent Doss
March 19, 2023
"We Are the Weirdos, Mister"

Unitarian Universalism is a faith as diverse as the people who practice it, or at least we are on paper. When we talk about being radically welcoming, we hope it extends to every part of all of us. Join intern minister KC on what it means to be genuinely, authentically US, and what that means for our communities and our faith.

KC Marie Pandell
March 12, 2023

"Adaptation Wins"

Often we think of strength and power as the ability to force your own way. Looking at natural history and human behavior we realize that adaptability is the key to resilience. This Sunday we dig into some strategies for staying flexible even while we stay rooted in our deepest values.

Rev. Dr. Kent Doss
February 26, 2023
"The Web Bounces Back"

This Sunday we examine the role of relationship in our own resilience. We will also take a close look at the way various communities have supported each other in the face of profound challenges.

Rev. Dr. Kent Doss
February 19, 2023
"London Calling"

Unitarian Universalist and five Episcopalians walk into a pub… Intern Minister KC shares her experience on Bexley-Seabury seminary’s “Learning from London” course, and the unexpected faith journey it brought.

KC Marie Pandell
February 12, 2023
"Powered by Meaning"

Despite suffering for years in Nazi concentration camps, Victor Frankl fought to survive because he came to believe that his suffering had a purpose: to teach others about his experiences. He wrote that he gained the opportunity to exercise inner strength and be ‘brave, dignified, and unselfish.’ This Sunday we look at the importance of staying focussed on the meaning of our own lives as a resource for getting through the struggle.

Rev. Dr. Kent Doss
February 5, 2023

"Here We Go Again"

Many of us set expectations for the new year and find the only thing that changed was a number on the calendar. This Sunday we consider what we can do when life feels like it is stuck in a loop. It’s Groundhog Day!

Rev. Dr. Kent Doss
January 29, 2023
"Becoming Us / Bring a Friend"

Everyone is invited to bring a friend in person or online this Sunday. The worship service will touch on some of our core UU values and a vision for Tapestry in the coming year.

Rev. Dr. Kent Doss
January 22, 2023
"Another Principle"

You have likely heard murmurs of adding an eighth principle to our Unitarian Universalist Principles. This Sunday we begin to explore what the eighth principle says, where it comes from, and how Tapestry will navigate it. While the principle may seem obvious, the journey of dismantling racism is anything but simple.

Rev. Dr. Kent Doss
January 15, 2023
"Radically Rested"

This Sunday we explore how other faith traditions embrace the spiritual practice of rest, and how we can make rest a more meaningful and regular part of our UU lives.

Marie KC Pandell
January 8, 2023
"Wintering and the Need to Lie Fallow"

This month, we begin to lean into resolutions we have made for this year even as we continue to navigate the winter season. This Sunday, we will consider how important it is to give ourselves space for rest and regeneration in these resolutions.

Greg Cline
January 1, 2023

Watch sermons from 2024.

Watch sermons from 2022.