"A Child is Born, the Old Must Die"

 

(Note to Reader: This sermon is a part of Rev. Jane Page's “Let it be a Dance” series based on phrases from that popular song from our Unitarian Universalist hymnal.)

Ric Masten’s popular UU hymn “Let it be a Dance” includes the words – “A child is born, the old must die.”  And we understand that this is the way it has been from the beginning of time. Stars are born ----and eventually – they will burn out and die and their star dust gives life to something new. Similarly, new cells emerge in our bodies as others die – so it is with all of life. But we’ve evolved with reproduction and survival as strong, primary needs. And, folks, that has resulted in increasing population growth that we’ve only relatively recently been able to put up some speed bumps on and slow it down.

I’m going to be sharing some ideas this morning that you may deem as controversial and you may well disagree with my views regarding these matters,  but that’s okay because we are Unitarian Universalists, and we do not have to think alike to love alike. But first, before I share these views, I’d like to remind you of some basic information

First – population growth

Here’s a graph.

You can see that it is in our lifetime where we’ve seen the most dramatic rise and though we have thankfully begun to reduce population rates in many countries (alarming some folks), the experts do not see a peak until 2084.  We can be proud that in the last two centuries our healthcare has enabled more people to survive childbirth, illnesses, injuries and live longer lives.

And, at the same time, we must acknowledge the results of overpopulation.

Increasing world population throughout history has led to major problems including strain on natural resources like food and water, environmental degradation from pollution and habitat destruction, increased poverty and unemployment due to strain on economic systems, and challenges in providing essential services like healthcare and education. These issues have contributed to climate change, biodiversity loss, and conflict over scarce resources.

Now, some have raised the alarm about declining birth rates in the U.S.  To them I say, unless we can provide better healthcare, education, and resources to help working families, why would they want to have lots of children?  There are other ways to bring more young people here. It’s called Immigration.  Now, I love children but not only are they very expensive, there can be so much of an emotional toll that comes with being a parent.  Young people who truly want children should have them with as much support as we can provide. But they should certainly not be persuaded or incentivized to have them 

All of this leads me to what I suppose is a statement of the main message of this sermon – and it’s one that may be somewhat controversial. Some of you may agree with this message and others may not. And that’s okay – because we are Unitarian Universalists and as the Unitarian martyr Francis David said, “We do not have to think alike to love alike.”

So here it is:

Human beings must stop having so many babies and stop the insanity of prolonging life no matter what.

Fortunately, much of the world has caught on to the idea of limiting births.  In fact, the birth rate has been declining for years in some parts of the world including the United States 

Now of course, you can also find information on the internet which says that we don’t have to worry – that if we just use more nuclear energy, etc., everything will be all right and that our earth CAN support a population of up to 15 billion. But that’s just one retired scientist with a blog – and frankly, although he *could* be right, I don’t see us moving in that direction anyway, and I’d prefer to err on the side of those hoping for population limits – just in case.

One big problem we face is feeding people.

According to a recent International Food Policy Research Institute report:

‘The challenge of reaching sustainable food security and delivering on it through 2050 is daunting.  Progress will be made more difficult by two looming challenges: a growing world population and increasingly negative productivity effects from climate change.’

While food production kept pace with, and at times exceeded, population growth in the last century, satisfying the world’s demand for food is getting tougher and tougher. The report warns that higher food prices are here to stay and they provide some specific data to back this up. Now, of course, this analysis and these predictions by this research institute could be wrong. The experts have a lot of difficulty predicting things like this.

Another huge problem with population growth is clean water and air. While some Green organizations like “Friends of the Earth” and “Greenpeace” steer away from the population factor because it is controversial, the Sierra Club makes no bones about their stance on this. They provide some pretty heavy data about this and then state:

"All of our environmental successes may be short-lived if they do not include efforts to address population growth."

So – what can we do?

The United Nations Population Fund estimates that it would cost just $3.6 billion a year more to provide family planning services to the estimated 215 million women in the world who want to avoid a pregnancy, but who are not using a modern method of birth control. So making more efforts to fund that (rather than wars) would be a start.

And of course, we ourselves need to continue, I believe, limiting births here in the United States. Then perhaps we wouldn’t be so concerned about folks immigrating here. Now you say – but we Americans are not the ones having way too many babies. Perhaps not – but our babies are the ones who grow up to use up way too many of the world’s resources leaving huge carbon footprints. And if we are not going to do a better job with pre-natal care, then our babies are going to be having lots of difficulties too.

Another reason I’m bringing this up is my concern of our glorification on television of returning to large families by some like Robert Kennedy, Jr. and Elon Musk.  Of course, they can afford large families, and some believe that if you can afford it, you should be encouraged to have more children.  I have family members who think this way. Their idea (and probably many folks would agree) is that if you are poor – you should have these limits placed on you, but if you are rich – you can have all the children you want because you don’t have to have food stamps, etc. I disagree – because the rich family still has all their kids – and then the multiplied grandkids, etc. using our highways, polluting our air, needing our public services, etc. They ARE a cost to our society. And, it would only be FAIR to limit everyone.

Now I know that this is an extreme position and will probably NOT happen. But, we could at least have INCENTIVES for limiting births or undergoing sterilization procedures after having the babies you want – hopefully just a couple. At the very least, sterilization should be FREE and easy to access.

I knew after I had two children that two was enough for me. And I would like to be able to tell you that it was because of all these concerns I’m lifting up today. But basically – it was because I knew of my own limitations. Well, I had a hard time finding a doctor who would do my tubal ligation – simply because I was in my twenties. And some of my family members gave me a hard time. My grandmamma told me that I might change my mind and want more – or that something might happen to one of mine – then I’d want another. I don’t think so!! And then there were those who asked, “But, don’t you want a little girl?” “Well, yeah – but I’m not going to keep having boys till I get one!” This was back in the70’s – but you hear the same kinds of things today.

SO --- While I love that we have these wonderful children here – and I love my great grandchildren as well as some some bonus children who have arrived  – and enjoy rocking all your babies, I’m just sayin….. You know? Let’s begin to lift up the goodness and value of limiting childbirths – instead of heralding the family with 19 children.

So a Child is born – hallelujah! And what is that other part of Masten’s phrase? “The old must die.”

Now I know I need to be careful with this. There are those here who may be dealing with terminal illnesses with family members or even yourself. And all end-of-life discussions can be painful. So, I need for you to know that it is not my intention to stimulate any frustration or anxiety for you related to this subject. But I sort of made a pact with the Divine within me – that I would follow through with these topics that I listed from Masten’s song this year – and see where they led me. And this particular phrase leads me… to lift up our need to let go of life – for our loved ones and ourselves. Now I know this may be easy for ME to say now – standing up here relatively healthy. And I may well change my mind when I feel death closing in on me. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me if I didn’t feel differently since we are SO programmed to survive. But I surely hope that I can be like the Rev. Forrest Church who died in September 2009, – and be content with my death.  Here are a couple of quotes from Forrest Church that I especially like.

1st,

"The one thing that can never be taken from us, even by death, is the love we give away before we die."

And 2nd,

"The purpose of life is to live in such a way that our lives will prove worth dying for."

I believe it is necessary for us to start educating ourselves and others to think in these terms of accepting and embracing death– rather than grasping at the idea of finding any way possible to stay alive.

I saw part of a documentary on CNN called, “Cheating Death.” And it was about a special group of folks who had died with heart attacks -- -but who had been brought back to life. One of the folks they interviewed was in a situation where her heart had stopped for 56 minutes – with people continually trying to bring her back with the defibrillator at her work site and then with shocking her heart in the hospital emergency room. The emergency room doctor said, “We’ll try three more times.” Then the next one worked. And this woman seemed to be fine. But she was certainly the exception – in that MOST people doctors brought back after that length of time would have severe brain damage. Yet that doctor kept trying? Why? And another doctor said that even though he eventually quits, he thinks – “you know, ten years from now, I probably could have saved him.” What is this emphasis on keeping folks alive – even at the extreme risk of brain damage? Sange Gupta asked the woman what message she would give folks from her experience, and she said, “Never give up. Never, never give up.” Really?

Maybe part of the problem is with our vocabulary around death and the end of life. We don’t like to “give up.” We’re Americans. We’re in a battle with death and we have to WIN. And I do understand the need to have a positive view of outcomes when you are treating disease. But, if we are viewing death as an enemy – then yes, of course we are not supposed to give up. But death is not my enemy. Hopefully she will be my last good friend. My bff.

I am so glad that many folks are now completing advanced directives and living wills and accepting hospice care – where health care professionals provide services that address the symptoms of end of life issues and provide comfort – rather than trying to cure you. My dad was under hospice care when he died, and I’m very grateful. But he should have been under their care a whole lot earlier. I mean – the doctors were still going to some pretty unusual lengths to keep his heart working as well as possible -- even after he had advanced Alzheimer’s. I think my mom would have opted for hospice for my dad earlier – but it wasn’t brought up as an option by the doctors. And my mom basically followed the direction of the doctor. Finally, after they had to switch doctors because my dad’s primary physician moved, the new doctor asked my mom, “What are your goals for your husband? What are you hoping for? “She responded – “I’d just like him to be as comfortable as he can.” And the doctor said, “Then you need to consider hospice care,” – and explained it to her. Now my mom KNEW something about hospice – but I think she would have felt guilty bringing it up herself. She NEEDED for a doctor to initiate these end of life issues with her. And that is why I was so glad to hear that the “end-of life counseling” part of Obama’s original health care plan.  Of course, that was dropped due to political backlash.

Now please know – I have no problem with the idea that people are trying to be healthy – and that coupled with good medical practices means that people ARE living longer. I delight in being around folks in their 90’s who are still enjoying life.  We all were amazed by Bill Smiih who continued to drive from Darien to our services here till he passed his100th birthday.  How wonderful! And thankfully Bill retired in great financial shape.  But a new problem we are facing with living longer now – and this is a special concern with all of those in my generation – is that you will outlive the money you may have been planning on using for your retirement years. And that the current entitlements that older folks depend on – may not be there for you. So – if we are going to continue to encourage this idea that medical science find ways to help folks live on and on and on, we are going to need to address the question of where those supportive resources are going to come from. I don’t have answers to this – I’m just saying, we can’t have our cake and eat it too.

But living long, healthy, lives is not my primary concern – it’s living long lives with lots of pain and struggle and great sorrow for both you and your family members.

Now while, I’m sticking my neck out, I’ll go ahead and put it right on the chopping block for some of you and say: I am totally supportive of not only of assisted suicide, but also of euthanasia when the individual is not capable of carrying this out themselves, but has expressed this possibility in a legal document or to their power of attorney. 

Nine states now legalizing death with dignity are shown on this map in blue. Those in red are considering legislation. Georgia is not one of them.

But my understanding from reading up on this is that it sometimes takes as long as 11 hours to die after you take this prescribed medication. What’s up with that? I KNOW it can be done quickly in the right way. I’ve witnessed that – and so have some of you. I had the experience of being with my son John and his dog, Welcome, at her last visit to the veterinarian. I wrote these words in my blog after that visit.

John and I shared our love with Welcome as the doctor administered the sacred, wondrous medication that would take her so gently and quickly away. And I sang one of our favorite UU songs: “Go now in peace, go now in peace. May the spirit of love surround you, everywhere, everywhere, you may go.” And she was gone.

And my last statement in that article was this:

I am so very grateful that we were able to allow Welcome to have this welcome relief and not suffer anymore. Oh, wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could be as humane with our human family members? May it one day be so!

Ric Masten said: “A child is born, the old must die.” Similarly, in days of old, the teacher from Ecclesiastes reminded his students of these inevitabilities. He wrote: “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven! “ -- Then listed the possibilities, and the first thing listed was ….

“A time to be born, and a time to die.”

And what about between those two sacred moments?

Slide-(Lead Singing)

 

AMEN and BLESSED BE.

A Eulogy Shared on Constitution Day

 

Beloveds, I share with you this afternoon, Constitution Day, a eulogy for our democratic republic and for many of the rights and freedoms that have been upheld by our constitution through the ages.  

We are gathered here today not to mourn in silence, but to speak—because these losses deserve more than quiet grieving. They deserve defiance. They deserve our voices, raised in protest against the betrayal by those who support a regime that is determined to kill and bury the values that have really make our nation great for all and replace these with policies that diminish our very humanity. 

Our republic was based on the ideals of representation, accountability, and the notion that power must serve the people, not subjugate them. She was never perfect. From her birth, America bore the scars of contradiction—freedom proclaimed while people remained in chains. But still, she grew. She learned to walk when women marched for the vote, to speak when civil rights leaders refused to be silent, to breathe more fully when the people demanded more from those in power.

But in recent years, we have seen her bruised, battered, and beaten—not by foreign foes, but by the very hands sworn to uphold her. Especially under the policies and decisions of the current president and his minions, the America we know and love has suffered many blows to her integrity:

Among the losses we mourn are –

Jobs – many in our own community slashed down with the machetes from DOGE or lost at our port with the uncertainty of world trade with see-sawing policies on Tariffs.

Services and funds for the most vulnerable among us – due to the closing and defunding of important programs.

Due process – especially for our immigrants who are now removed with no due process and places in concentration camps – sometimes in foreign lands.

Freedom of Speech at our Universities and beyond.

The teaching of TRUTH – with the banning of books and materials that lift up the true history that those who want us to return to an America dominated by patriarchy and white supremacy are trying to erase. 

LGBTQ + rights that we finally were seeing come to light!

Easy Access to Vote for All Citizens – and a loss of power through increased gerrymandering

A Good education for all – never really achieved but now hindered more through the dismantling of the Department of Education and it’s related federal mandates and funding.

We mourn the loss of Healthcare since someone is now in charge who doesn’t believe in science. And especially the loss of reproductive health care and bodily autonomy – with horrible stories of the consequences of these actions that make us shudder.

We mourn the loss of A Sustainable Environment – with this administration’s return to misguided policies that hasten Climate Change – even removing standards for clean air and water.

But let us be clear: though we gather in mourning, we do not come in surrender.

For every protester in the street, our republic breathes again.
For every vote cast against injustice, she stirs in her grave.
And for every truth spoken in the face of lies, she rises.

So today, we weep. But tomorrow -- we continue to organize. We resist. We rebuild.  We Rise, renewed, in protest and in power. We RISE!

Just Jane's Sermons

The Reverend Dr. Jane A. Page
Minister Emerita of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Statesboro 

and Minister -  Unitarian Universalists of Coastal Georgia

 

Please note:  These sermons were scripted similar to the sermons that were delivered.  My delivery style is somewhat "folksy" and informal.  Therefore, you may see incomplete sentences, prepositions at the ends of sentences, regional (South Georgia) phrases, etc.  Many of these have been videoed and include a script as well.  Some were done without a script.  Please feel free to "borrow" any stories or examples from these sermons and to share the videos with your congregations.  I only request that you let me know how you used them.  I would also appreciate any feedback.  Just email me ! 

 

A Child is Born, the Old Must Die - N0v 3, 2025 UUs of Coastal GA - Sermon Script 

 

Take it as it passes by  - video of sermon shared OCT 18, 2025 in Brunswick, GA 

 

A Eulogy Shared on Constitution Day - Brunswick 9-17-25 

 

"May I Have This Dance?" Script of sermon delivered 8/17/25; UU Brunswick 

 

"Where Have All the Flowers Gone" - A Lamentation (text of sermon shared 4-6-25

 

I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free:  Yearnings of Women - Video - 3-16-25

 

                   I Wish I knew How..... - Sermon Script

 

The Passing of LOVE Notes (Double Meaning Intended) - Video - February 16, 2025 

                

                The Passing of Love Notes - Sermon Script

 

The Times They are a Changin' - Video - January 19, 2024 

                Times They are a Changiin' Sermon Script

 

ThanksLiving in 2024 - Video - November 24, 2024

 

Election Reflection:  For What It's Worth - Video, Novembe 17, 2024

 

Bohemian Rhapsody:  An Exploration of Relationships, Life, and Death - Video, Oct. 20, 2024 

    Time for All Ages - We will LOVE you - Oct 20, 2024 (based on Queen's We Will Rock You)

    Text of Bohemian Rhapsody Sermon

 

Answering the Call:  Celebrating 10 Years of Ministry with UUCG  - Video - Sept. 1, 2024

Sunshine and Showers - Video - April 28, 2024 in Statesboro

      Flowers and Showers Script - April 14, 2024 in Brunswick

Lessons from The Diary of Anne Frank - Video

        Text with Slides of Lessons from the Diary of Anne Frank

 

Lessons from The Color Purple - video - February 25, 2024 - UU Fellowship of Statesboro

 

           Sermon Text with Slides - February 4, 2024 Unitarian Universalists of Coastal GA

 

Lessons from The New Jim Crow - (Video) - January 28, 2024

 

Lessons from The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. (Video) November 26, 2023, UU Fellowship of Statesboro.

Wisdom of the Wizards: Lessons from the Harry Potter Series and what J.K.Rowling should have Learned! - Video - October 22, 2023 - UU Fellowshiip of Statesboro

                Sermon Script

  A Brief History of Book Burning and Banning - Viveo - 9-10-23

 

Can You Say GOD?  2023 Remix - Video- 8- 27-23 UU Fellowship of Statesboro. 

Big Questions:   What is the Right Thing to Do? - Video - 4-23-23 

          What is the Right Thing to Do - Sermon Text

 

Are We Free to Choose? - Video - 3-23-23 

               Are We Free to Choose? - Sermon Text

 

Big Questions:  And What of Death? - Video - 3-12-23 ( Statesboro)

          

                 Big Questions:  And What of Death - Script - 3-19-23 (Brunswick)

 

Big Questions:  Who Am I - An Exploration of Identity - Video -  2-26-23

                 

                  Who Am I:  An Exploration of Identity - Sermon Script

 

Big Questions:  How do we know?  Video - 2-14-23 

                 

                 How do we know? - Sermon Script

 

Big Questions:  Who or What is God?  Video - Statesboro, Jan 22   

                 Who or What is God?  Sermon Script - Brunswick, Feb 5

Big Questions:  Why Religion?  Video - January 8, 2023

         

                 Big Questions:  Why Religion? - Sermon Text

 

Exloring UU Values:  LOVE - Video - November 28, 2022 

                 

                Exploring UU Values - Love - TEXT

 

Exploring UU Values:  Justice -- Video - November 13, 2022 

 

               Readings and Sermon Text

 

Exploring UU Values:  Interdependence - Video - October 23, 2022 

     

             Sermon TEXT:  Exploring UU Values:  Interdependence

 

Exploring UU Values:  Pluralism/Diversity - October 9, 2022 - video

 

Exploring UU Values:  Evolution - October 2, 2022 - video

 

Exploring UU Values:  Generosity - September 11, 2022 - video

 

Exploring UU Values:  Equity - August  28, 2022 - video

 

Celebrating Unitarian Universalism with Song!  April 24, 2022 - video   

 

Celebrating Statesboro and Bulloch County - March 27 - video

 

Celebrating Gender Inclusion - March 13, 2020 (video)

 

Family - It's Complicated! - February  20, 2022 (video)

 

Celebrating Our Bodies!  January  30, 2022 (video)

 

Celebrating Equity:  A Sermon in honor of MLK Day and the 8th Principle of UU. Jan 22

 

 Celebrating Transitions - A sermon for the  New Year.  January 2022 (video)

          Text for "Celebrating Transitions"

Red - the video!  Dec. 5, 2021

Regret, Repentance, Redemption, Reconciliation, and Reparations - video - Nov. 2021

               Sermon Script (text)

Return of the Living Dead - online - 10-31-21 (about our attraction to horror stories and films)

Resurrection, Reincarnation and other ways to Resist the Reaper! - online - 10-24/21

Romance and Love in a More Welcoming World - online 10-17-2021

Responsibilities and Rewards:  A Stewardship Sermon - online Brunswick 0 10-3-21

            Responsibilities and Rewards:  (Sermon Text) - Statesboro - 9-26-21

           

Rosh Hashanah and the High Holy Days - online video 9-19-2021

           Rosh Hashanah and the High Holy Days - Sermon Script

Renewal and Rebirth - online video 9-5-21

          Renewal and Rebirth - Sermon text

The 8th Principle - online video - 8 -1 -21

              8th Principle - Sermon Script

Sustaining the Biodiversity of our Blue Boat Home!  online video - 5-23-21

            Sermon Text

We Are... (sermon text)  4-25-21

Resurrecting Joy - (sermon text) - 4-4-21 (Easter)

The Fire of Commitment - online video 3-28-21

Building a New Way - online video 3-7-21

         

    Building a New Way Sermon Text

When our Heart is in a Holy Place (message on our common humanity) - online video 2-7-21

        When Our Heart is in a Holy Place - sermon text

There's a River Flowing in my Soul (message on self-worth) - online video 1-31-21

Restoring the Soul of America ( a post inaugural message) - online video - 1-24-21

       Script

The Ancestors' Breaths - online video - 1-10-21

What Time is it?  online video - 1-3-21

Living in the Twilight Zone - 2020 - online video - 12-27-20

Good Ally - Religious Differences (focus on celebrations of light - online video - 12-13-20

Being a Good Ally - Economic Differences - online video - 11-22-2020

Jane's Election Reflection - online video - 11-8-2020

Being a Good Ally - Differing Abilities - online video - 10-25-2020

LGBTQ+ Ally Sermon with a Focus on Allies for Transgender - online video - 10-11-2020

Committing to Tomorrow! - online video - 9-27-20

Being a Good Ally - Race &Ethnicity - online video - 9-13-20

Being a Good Ally - online video - 8-23-20

Sea Change Soliloquy - online video - 8-16-20

 

The Trade-Ins (Twilight Zone Series) - online video -  8-9-20

In the Time of Pandemic - The Interdependent Web - online vide0 - 3-17-20

"Ask Mama Jane" - Question Box Sermon online video - 5 10- 20

Imagine - Peace, Liberty, and Justice for All - online sermon - video - 5-3-20

 Crisis in Democracy - online sermon on 5th Principle - video 4-26-20

Free and Responsible Search for Truth and Meaning - online sermon - video - 4-19-20 

Can I Get a Witness - my Easter 2020 online sermon - video - 4-12-20

The Monsters are Due on Maple Street - video March 8, 2020

The Obsolete Man - video 2-23-2020

The Eye of the Beholder - video - 2-9-2020

Rod Serling:  His Life and Lessons -video- 1-12-20

A Eulogy for my son, Fred Page, III  - delivered January 2, 2020

Rohatsu:  A Celebration of Enlightenment - Video - 12-8-2019

A Place to Grow Gratitude - Video - 11-24-2019
    The text for this message can be found HERE

A Place to Share Love - Video - 11-10-2019
       The text for this message can be found HERE

A Place to Honor Life and Death - Video - 10-27-2019
      The text for this message can be found HERE
       
Gender and Sexuality: Understanding and Celebrating Who We Are - Video - 10-13-19

A Place to Respond to the Injustices of the World - Video 9-8-19
                               The text for this message can be found HERE

A Place for Community - Video 8-25-19

Moving to the Beloved Community - Audio 7-28-19

The Soul of Democracy - A Readers Theater Conversation - 7-7-19 

We Belong to the Earth - Video 4- 28-19

Amazing Grace - Video - 3-31-19

A New Manifestation -  Video - 3-10-19

This is my Song - Video 2-24-2019

A Firemist and a Planet (Evolutions Sunday) - Video - 2-10-19


African American Spiriuals as Sacred Text  - Video  1-27-1

A Litany on Atonement - Video - 1-13-19


Light  One Candle (a Hanukah Sermon ) - Video - 12-9-18

To Live Deliberately (based on Thoreau's life and writings) - Video - 11- 11-18
 

We Laugh, We Cry  - Video - 10-28-18

Once to Every Soul and Nation - Video - 10-14-18

The Idea of Democracy (based on words of Lincoln) - Video - 9-23-18

The Answer is YES! - Video - 9-8-18

To Worship:  An Exploration of the Reading by Jacob Trap.  Video - 8-26-18

Ysaye Barnwell:  Her Life and Her Music.  Video - 4-22-2018 

Rev. William F. Schulz and Human Rights - Video - 3-25-2016

Answering the Call:  James Reeb & Viola Liuzzo - Video - 2-25-2018

Mary White Ovington:  Co-Founder of NAACP - Video - 2 -11-2018

Whitney Young:  Bridgebuilder - Video - 1-28-18

Francys Ellen Watkins Harper:  Video - 1-14-18

Clara Barton:  Founder of the American Red Cross - Video - 11-19-17

Margaret Fuller:  The Girl in the Transcendentalist Boys Club - Video - 10-22-17

William Ellery Channing and the Emergence of Unitarianism in America - Video -  10-8-17

Wake Now Our Vision:  Supporting UUFS i 2018 and Beyond - Video - 9-14-17

Hosea Ballou and Universalism:  Loving the Hell Out of Folks!  - Video - 8-27-17

Oh, the Possibilities - Video -  April 23, 2017

Purposely Living and Loving - Video - March 26, 2017

Purple Rain and Other Purple Thangs!  Video -  February 26, 2017

Passion for Goodness Sake - Video - February 12, 2017

The Power of the Prophetic Message - Video - January 29, 2017

Promises to Make, Promises to Keep - Video - January 8, 2017

ThanksLiving - Video - November 27, 2016

What Democracy Looks Like?  A Reflection on the Election.  Video - November 13

(Cry Me A) River Musings - Video - 10-23-16; A Lamentations Message

Up UUrs!  A Canvass Sermon - Video - 10-9-16

Answering the Call:  Past, Present, Future - Video - 9-25-16, on the weekend celebrating 10 years of Ministry at UU Statesboro

Ministry on the Side of Love - Script of sermon shared 9-18-16 on the morning before my installation at the Unitarian Universalists of Coastal Georgia.

The Sexuality of Terrorism - Video - 9-11-16 

Our Sixth UU Source:  Earth-Centered Traditions - Video - 4-24-16

Our Fifth UU Source:  Humanist Teachings - Video - 4-10-16

An Easter Celebration of our 4th Source:  Jewish and Christian Teachings - Video -  3-27-16

Our Third UU Source:  Wisdom from World Religions - Video - 3-13-16

Our Second UU Source:  Words and Deeds of Prophetic Women and Men - Video - 2-28-16

Our First UU Source:  Direct Experience - Video - 2-14-16

The Goal of World Community with Peace, Liberty and Justice for All -  6th Principle - Video - 1-10-16

A Free and Responsible Search for Truth and Meaning - 4th Principle - Video - 12-13-15

 Acceptance of One Another and Encouragement to Spiritual Growth in Our Congregations- 3rd Principle - Video - 11-22.15

The Right of Conscience and the Use of the Democratic Process- 5th Principle - Video, 10-25-15

Justice, Equity, and Compassion in Human Relations -  2nd Principle - Video - 10-11-15

Inherent Worth and Dignity?  First Principle Sermon.  Video  September 27

Nurturing Our Congregation with Enthusiasm (a canvass sermon) video  Sept. 13, 2015

The Interdependent Web of Life - 7th Principle   - text of homily for Ingathering - Aug. 23, 2015

Palm Wavers or Naysayers  (text - including Children's Story)  March 29

Crossing Bridges (video)  February 22 

Promises and Problems of Unearned Privilege (video)  February 8, 2015

Who Goes There?  An Exploration of Identity (video)  January 25, 2015

Building the World We Dream About  (video)  January 11, 2014

Just Simply Living  (video)    November 23, 2014

In Democracy We Trust?   (video)   November 9, 2014

Come and Go With Me!  My Message at Eno River    October 26, 2014

Listening to the Dead  (Video)  October 12, 2014  

Standing on the Side of Love with Our Time, Talents, and Treasure      September 14, 2014

New Beginnings  (A video)   August 24, 2014

Fathers Day:  A Belated Eulogy for My Dad       June 15, 2014

Ultimate Reality:  Creating an Honest Theology       March 9, 2014

It’s Human Nature      February 23, 2014

Have You Been to the Mountaintop?      Feb 9, 2014

Just Jane:  A Spiritual Odyssey         January 26, 2014

Building Your Own Theology         January 12, 2014

Celebrating Rohatsu:  The Enlightenment of the Buddha             December 8, 2013

SKELETONS:  (In our Buildings, In our Bodies, and In our Closets)    October 27, 2013

Tearing Down Walls    October 13, 2013

Building on the Foundation of our Liberal Faith:  Five Smooth Stones    September 22, 2013

Building Our Church; Building Our Faith  September 8, 2013

Let Go and Grow    (Ingathering) August 11, 2013

A Visit from John Dewey       June 7, 2013

Spiritual but not Religious?   April 14, 2013

I Know This Rose Will Open    March 31, 2013 – An Easter Sermon (audio link included as well as text)

Standing Up to Gundamentalism.  March 10, 2013

The Evolution of Love!  Feb. 10, 2013.  A sermon honoring both Darwin and Valentine.

Building the Beloved Community in Statesboro – Jan. 20, 2013 (sermon delivered at the Magnolia Missionary Baptist Church at a joint MLK Sunday worship service with their congregation). This link contains an audio and a text version.  (I recommend the audio – about 15 minutes.)

The New Jim Crow:  Mass Incarceration in an Age of Colorblindness – Jan. 13, 2012 (sermon based on Michelle Alexander’s book of the same name)

Blue Christmas, White Christmas, It’ll be all right Christmas – Video – Dec. 23, 2012

            Blue Christmas, White Christmas….. – Text – Dec. 23, 2012

No Room in the Inn; No Room in the End – Audio – Dec. 9, 2012

No Room in the Inn; No Room in the End – Text – Dec. 9 2012

Rev. Jane’s Election Reflection: The Price of Politics – Nov. 11, 2012

Farewell for Now – June 24, 2012

Flowers or Crosses? (Easter Sermon) – April 8, 2012

Faith Wars – March 28, 2012

Four Agreements and More – February 26, 2012

Why Marriage Matters – February, 19 2012

Moving to the Beloved Community – January 22, 2012

The Art of Happiness: Lessons from the  Dalai Lama – January 8, 2012

Wait Wait….Don’t Tell Me!  (An Advent Sermon) – December 11, 2011

Lessons from THE TAO OF WILLIE NELSON – November 13, 2011

Knowing Why We Knock:  A Sermon on UU Evangelism for Association Sunday – October 23, 2011

Lessons from the Life of John Lennon, on Our Shared Birthday – October 9, 2011

Simply Living and Giving – September 25, 2011

These Three…Lost in the Debris of 9/11: America’s Ten Year Search for Faith, Hope, and Love – September 11, 2011

To Be of Use – July 17, 2011

My General Assembly Testimony – June 24, 2011

Round and Round We Go Again – May 29, 2011

         Video of homily and labyrinth walk

Celebrating Resurrection – April 24, 2011

Let Your Body Learn to Bend – April 10, 2011

Let the Sun Shine, Let It Rain – March 27, 2011

Play the Music – March 20, 2011

If Nothing’s Wrong, Then Nothing’s Right – February 27, 2011

Share the Laughter, Bare the Pain – January 16, 2011

A Child is Born; The Old Must Die – January 9, 2011

Without the Dark, There is No Light – December 5, 2010

Everybody Turn and Spin - November 14, 2010

Take It As It Passes By – Oct 24, 2010

An Old, Old Story of a Man Called Job – Oct 24, 2010 (story for all ages)

What Time Is It? – October 10, 2010

To Reap the Harvest, Plant the Seed – September 26, 2010

Learn to Follow, Learn to Lead – September 12, 2010

May I Have This Dance – August 22, 2010

This I Believe – June 20, 2010

The Blooming of UUFS – April 4, 2010

Palm Sunday – March 28, 2010

Jane and Julia – February 28, 2010

Facing Your Demons – January 24, 2010

Oh My Soul! – January 10, 2010 

A “Mary” Christmas – December 13, 2009

Come, Come, Whoever You Are… -- A sermon exploring our theological diversity.

God, Sex, andPolitics – October 18, 2009 (Reflecting on my participation in the March for Equality in Washington, October 10-11)

Envisioningthe Future of Our Fellowship – September 27, 2009

The Power of Three Cups of Tea – September 13, 2009

Can You Say COVENANT? – August 23, 2009

Mama’s Mottos – (A Mother’s Day Sermon) – May 10, 2009

Can You SayHALLELUJAH? – (An Easter Sermon) – April 12, 2009

Spring Forward – (A Canvass Sermon)  February 29, 2009

The Dance of the SevenVeils – February 22, 2009

Can You Say HOPE? – January 25, 2009

Wrestling withGod – January 11, 2009

Shall We PRAY? – November 23, 2008

Human Rights:  Dignityand Justice for All – October 26, 2008 (United Nations Sunday)

Love and Death  -- September 28, 2008

White inAmerica:  Can I Get A Witness? – September 14, 2008.

Ingathering Service –Sea Change Soliloquy – August 17, 2008.

In Praise of Evolution – February 24, 2008.  A sermon shared as part of a celebration of Charles Darwin and the wonder of evolution.

The New Atheists – January 27, 2008.  An exploration of the writings of Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchins, Sam Harris, and Daniel Dennett.

Living with Privilege – December 9, 2007. 

Elizabeth Cady StantonSpeaks on Religion and Women – November 11, 2007.  This “sermon” is taken from various writings of Elizabeth Cady Stanton.  On November 11, Stanton was portrayed by Jane Page at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Statesboro.

Jesus, UU, and You – October 28, 2007

The Theology ofHospitality – October 14, 2007. 

CanYou Say ATONEMENT? – September 23, 2007.  Part of the “Can You Say” series addressing traditional religious language.

The Freedom to Marry – September 9 2007.  A sermon promoting marriage as a civil right for all loving couples – with a surprise ending!

Lest We Forget – April 15, 2007.  A Yom Hoshoah homily remembering the Holocaust

Hallelujah Sunday – Easter 2007!

Tending the Flame      March 18, 2007.  My first canvass sermon (sometimes humorously called, “The Sermon on the Amount”)  The accompanying Story for All Ages entitled, “The Little Red Hen and Her Friends” is also included.

Wake, Now, My Senses:  The Embodiment of Spirituality   March 4, 2007.  A sermon encouraging openness to the unity of body and soul.

If I Had a Hammer    February 4, 2007.  A sermon inspired by Pete Seeger and Millard Fuller.

A Greener Faith   January 28, 2007.  A sermon on religious environmentalism with a proposal for our congregation.

Just Living Simply  December 3, 2006.  A sermon on living justly and simply with compassion with "Plain Jane" suggestions.

Can You Say GRACE?  November 5, 2006.  Part of the "Can You Say" series addressing traditional religious language.

Can You Say AMEN?  October 15, 2006.  One of my "Can You Say" sermons addressing religious language.  This particular sermon also challenges UU's to be more comfortable with participatory worship styles.

Becoming the Beloved Community.  October 1, 2006.  (This was the first sermon delivered by me after my ordination by the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Statesboro.)

The Sacred Depths of Nature.  September 17, 2006.  (This sermon is an exploration of Religious
Naturalism and an examination of my own theology.)

Unveiling Jezebel: The Queen Defends Herself - March 12, 2006 (This is the powerpoint presentation that “Jezebel” – portrayed by Rev. Jane – used to defend herself)

Can You Say Resurrection? - March 27, 2005 (A sermon delivered as part of our UU Resurrection Celebration on Easter Sunday.  The Flower Communion service is also included.)

In Times Like These:  A Theological Spin - November 7, 2004  (A sermon delivered the Sunday after the election)

In Democracy We Trust? - October 3, 2004

Religious Naturalism:  Is it for Me - September 5, 2004   (Note:  The "sermon" that was delivered on this date was a "Readers Theater" production based on the paper that I have posted.)

What Time is It?  A Post-Menopausal Reading of Ecclesiastes 3 - October 5, 2003

Imagine:  The Goal of World Community with Peace, Liberty, and Justice for All (Our Sixth Principle) - March 2, 2003

Can You Say GOD? - February 9, 2003

Can You Say UU Evangelism? - December 1, 2002

Marry, Marry, Quite Contrary - October 6, 2002

The UU Church as Mother - May 12, 2002

Congregational Polity:  How Unitarian Universalists Govern Themselves - April 28, 2002

Reflections on my Journey toward Ministry:  Part I - February 17, 2002

Who is Santa - December 23, 2001

ThanksLiving - November 17, 2001

Same-Sex Unions :  A Journey from Our Early Christian Roots to Sarah's and Suzie's Wedding at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Statesboro  -  June 3, 2001

TEAM-me:  A Concept Bigger than Sports - December 17, 2000