Weekly Sermon Topics
February's Theme: Passion
Sunday, February 5, 9:30 & 11:15
Inner Jihad
Service offered by Rev. Kathleen Rolenz
The distortion of the Islamic teaching of "jihad" into a word that means "terrorism" in the minds of Americans is tragic. The spiritual meaning of the word is by far the most important meaning for Islam, and it refers to the spiritual struggle with needs, wants, passions, commandments and aspirations - a familiar struggle to us all - as we try to be the best people we can be. This Sunday, we will celebrate a Welcoming Ceremony for West Shore's new members.
Morning Forum, 10:30 am: Stretching Out and Staying Fit with Plain Dealer columnist Zachary Lewis.
Sunday, February 12, 9:30 & 11:15
Standing on the Side of Love: Immigration
Service offered by Ellen Carvill-Ziemer, Intern Minister
The politics of immigration remain for many of us a tangled mess. The way through to a solution which is just and fair for everyone is not at all clear. How can we stay true to our Unitarian Universalist values and theology of love while remaining realistic and effective?
The Social Action Offering will be received for the Ohio Meadville District's Phoenix Initiative, supporting participation by OMD congregation members at the 2012 Justice General Assembly in Phoenix, Arizona. Morning Forum, 10:30: Justice General Assembly, Phoenix 2012. with David Petras, member of the Ohio Meadville District Board.
Sunday, February 19, 9:30 & 11:15
When Jesus Became God
Service offered by Revs. Wayne Arnason & Kathleen Rolenz
When Cil Knutsen bought the Service Auction sermon last spring, she knew immediately that in some form, she wanted the ministers to preach a sermon on the Nicene Creed. Does that sound boring? The early centuries of Christian belief and the process by which the Trinitarian creed about who Jesus was became formalized is actually an amazing soap opera of passions, personalities and intrigues. It's a story that aslo reminds us of why the Unitarians still cling to the Jesus we knew before he became God.
Sunday, February 26, 9:30 & 11:15
An Intergenerational Service
Pass the Passion
Service offered by Rev. Kathleen Rolenz &
Ellen Carvill-Ziemer
When you sit at the dinner table, you might ask to pass the salt or pass the peas but it's doubtful that anyone says "hey, can you pass me some passion?" Where do you find your passion? What if you find it and then, like pesky peas, it rolls on the floor and you can't find it anymore? Through music, story and song, we'll explore how to find your passion - and when you've lost it - how to get it back! The Junior choir will sing "The Gospel Beat of West Shore" at both services.
Morning Forum, 10:30: Time Banking: Building an Economy of Abundance to Serve Needs Greater than Our Own. Tony Gudak and Ed D'Amato will talk about an alternative currency that helps build communities by exchanging time instead of dollars.