Past Sermons

Retelling and Retilling

What do we do with the traditions and texts that wound us? How do we know when to abandon the field—and when to dig in our trowels and replant? Eli invites us into his least favorite parable in the Bible, to see if there's any ground so rocky it can't give rise to new life. Guest Preacher, Eli Hardwig, is preaching.

A Faith of Inclusion

As we listened to our leaders describe a war of choice as a "holy war", we witnessed a version of Christianity known as "Christian Nationalism", where anyone who disagrees is considered an enemy and a traitor. What is it that separates us, with our own Christian heritage, from the rage-filled rhetoric of this extremist ideology? Historically, Unitarian Universalists have upheld values of radical welcome and love for all of our neighbors, working to end the oppression of immigrants, the poor, and the disenfranchised; values we believed were enshrined in our constitution 250 years ago. As a "faith of inclusion", how do we reach toward others of faith, whose values seem very different from our own? Rev. Lisa Perry-Wood is preaching.

Finding Meaning in Being Lost

Feeling lost is a sensation we are taught from a young age to fear, a sensation that lives directly alongside turbulence and confusion. But when we are able to live safely in that state of being lost, there can be something beautiful about it. It is only in our moments of knowing the least that we can learn the most and see the world in new and unexpected ways. Join us this Sunday to explore the feeling of facing questions so deep that we don't even know where to begin. Ministerial Intern Valentin Frank preaching.

Though Dwelling in a Land of Freedom

This Juneteenth Sunday Rev. Rob and the First Parish Gospel Choir invite us to confront legacies of enslavement and liberation right here at First Parish. What do these stories mean for us today? As we approach the nation’s 250th birthday, how can these stories point us forward to a more faithful expression of our democratic ideals? Rev. Hardies preaching.

To Become Our True Selves

It is getting harder to find the spaces where we can courageously explore what it means to be our true selves, and be celebrated on that journey. First Parish is one of those places. 

Join us for our Pride celebration this Sunday as we celebrate the joy of being unapologetically and wholly us! With music from our choir and reflections from congregants and Rev Sophia. Rev. Sophia Doescher is preaching.

How To Preach a Sermon with Flowers

Legend has it that the Buddha once “preached” an entire sermon without speaking. Instead, he held up a lotus blossom and let the flower speak for itself. Similarly, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus invited his followers to consider the meaning of “the lilies of the field.” Once a year we celebrate a communion of flowers. If these flowers could speak, what would their urgent message be to us?  Rev. Rob Hardies preaching.

Coming of Age Service

In Unitarian Universalism, we celebrate the capacity in all of us to form our own beliefs in the lifelong journey of the spirit. Because of this, one of our most closely held traditions is that of our Coming of Age service, an opportunity where we invite teens in our congregations to share their own Credos with the community. Please join us for this special service where celebrate the young people in our congregation, learn from their wisdom, and reaffirm their welcome place in the First Parish Cambridge community.

To Mourn Is To Resist

What does it mean to be free as democracy crumbles? How might our mourning instruct our resistance? Join us this Memorial Day Sunday to remember the liberation at the center of our faith, with powerful music from the First Parish Gospel Choir. Rev. Sophia Doescher preaching.