Selected Sermons

by

Rev. Ellen Rowse Spero and/or guests

First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church, Chelmsford, MA

Selected First Parish sermons are recorded and made available in a number of formats.

Click here for more information on available formats and for getting started with one of the downloadable formats.


Current Church Year (2009-2010)

Subscribe to sermons via iTunes:
For other software cut/paste this: 
http://www.uuchelmsford.org/sermons/audio/sermons.xml
Date Title Speaker(s) Audio Duration
June 6, 2010 Why Pride? Several Proud Parishioners MP3 26m02s
May 30, 2010 War and Memory Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 16m25s
May 23, 2010 (evening service) Hokmah-Sophia: Woman Wisdom and the Image of God Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 18m43s
May 23, 2010 Religious Education Sunday - Reflections Sadie Kahn-Greene MP3 8m12s
May 16, 2010 (evening service) The Sermon I Gave at Pastor Ella's Church Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 16m19s
May 16, 2010 Admirable Friends Reverend Barbara McKusick Liscord MP3 17m42s
May 9, 2010 Take Joy! Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 17m26s
May 2, 2010 More than a Voice: Living Our Congregational Polity Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 24m50s
April 25, 2010 Return Journey: Reflections from New Orleans Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 24m03s
April 18, 2010 Earth Day: The Story of the Clearwater (adapted from Janeen K. Grohsmeyer), and What Can We Do? Sadie Kahn-Greene and Sally Seekings MP3 14m31s
April 11, 2010 For the Sake of What are We Here? Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 13m16s
April 4, 2010 The Story of Easter Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero and Sadie Kahn-Greene MP3 17m26s
March 28, 2010 When We Were Strangers: Bearing Witness Through Memory Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 19m23s
March 21, 2010 Do We Want to be Made Whole?: Thickening the Story Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 19m13s
March 14, 2010 Beauty and Resistance Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 18m17s
March 7, 2010 Why We Sing Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero and Cyndi Bliss MP3 22m45s
February 28, 2010 Why We Worship Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 15m53s
February 21, 2010 On Mindfulness Brenda Rogers MP3 15m03s
February 21, 2010 For All Ages: Sara's Meditation Rock Sadie Kahn-Greene MP3 6m32s
February 14, 2010 Symbols of our Spirits Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero and the congregation n/a
February 7, 2010 The Flaming Chalice: The Story of the Symbol of our Faith Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 18m33s
January 31, 2010 Muhammad: The Prophet of Islam Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 20m11s
January 24, 2010 Leading in a Time of Fear Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 16m21s
January 17, 2010 Voices Inconvenient to Their Season: The Vision of Sojourner Truth and Jarena Lee Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 16m48s
January 10, 2010 Winter Pageant RE classes n/a
January 3, 2010 (service canceled due to storm)
December 27, 2009 Turning the Wheel of the Year Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero n/a
December 20, 2009 (service canceled due to storm)
December 13, 2009 Whose Hope is Being Born? Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 13m15s
December 6, 2009 Discernment: Waiting on the Sacred Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 14m52s
November 29, 2009 More than Bricks and Mortar Franklin Wolf MP3 7m36s
November 22, 2009 Thanksgiving Service: A Meditation on Gratitude Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 6m09s
November 15, 2009 On Being a Welcoming Congregation Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 24m09s
November 8, 2009 Why Be Grateful? Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 15m44s
November 1, 2009 Circles of Return Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 12m10s
October 25, 2009 Blue Boat Home: Exploring Eco Theology Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 17m46s
October 18, 2009 The SHIFT Coalition Brent Rourke, and Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 11m14s
October 11, 2009 Honoring and Celebrating the Spirit of Life Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 16m13s
October 4, 2009 Chaos and Creativity Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 14m16s
September 27, 2009 More Love, More Hope, More Peace, More Joy: Going to New Orleans Erin, Fred, Rosie, Warren Flewellen, Johan Mackenzie, Ellen Spero, Pastor Ella, & Bishop McSwain MP3 33m12s
September 20, 2009 The Fruit of the Land: Returning From Sabbatical Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 15m58s

Previous Church Year (2008-2009)

Subscribe to 2008-2009 sermons via iTunes:
For other software cut/paste this: 
http://www.uuchelmsford.org/sermons/audio/sermons_2009.xml
Date Title Speaker(s) Audio Duration
May 24, 2009 Reflections on Small Group Ministry Linda Shubert, Jeanne Thompson, and Yoko Taylor MP3 10m39s
May 17, 2009 The Price of Assimilation - The Life and Times of Felix Mendelssohn Cyndi Bliss MP3 17m40s
May 10, 2009 What Does Peace Require of Us? Matt Meyer MP3 7m22s
May 10, 2009 For All Ages: The Story of Brazil Matt Meyer MP3 8m27s
May 3, 2009 Honestly! Being! Reverend Jonathan Rehmus MP3 17m36s
April 26, 2009 Taking Care Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero and Reverend Jonathan Rehmus MP3 23m37s
April 19, 2009 Harvey Milk, a Different Patriot Dee Halzack MP3 12m52s
April 12, 2009 Spirit of Life, Spirit of Love Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 8m33s
April 5, 2009 Stewardship Sunday: Economy of Trust, and other Reflections Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero and Kathy Deschenes MP3 18m53s
March 29, 2009 Something So Precious Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 15m16s
March 22, 2009 "My Body, My Faith" Part II Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 23m06s
March 15, 2009 "My Body, My Faith" Part I Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 16m32s
March 8, 2009 Liberation Theology and Unitarian Universalism, Part II Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 18m27s
March 1, 2009 Liberation Theology and Unitarian Universalism, Part I Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 17m07s
February 22, 2009 Woman Wisdom: The Divine Feminine in Judaism and Christianity Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 18m51s
February 15, 2009 Love Makes a Family: "We Are..." Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero, Sadie Kahn-Greene, and First Parish Families MP3 17m32s
February 8, 2009 Courage: Standing in Our Core Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 13m20s
February 1, 2009 Stony the Road We Trod Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 21m00s
January 25, 2009 Of Sabbatical and Sacred Trust Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 12m25s
January 18, 2009 (service canceled due to storm)
January 11, 2009 Please Don't Save My Soul Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 13m56s
January 4, 2009 Four Voices of Good News Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 23m36s
December 28, 2008 Turnings Service Worship Committee n/a
December 21, 2008 Annual Pageant 3rd & 4th grade classes n/a
December 14, 2008 Special Music Service First Parish Choirs n/a
December 7, 2008 Fatherhood Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 9m36s
November 30, 2008 New Orleans Service Reflections Sadie Kahn-Greene, Carla Corey, Emma Buckley, and Aine Sweetnam MP3 13m14s
November 23, 2008 Ingathering Thanksgiving Service Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero n/a
November 16, 2008 Grace Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 17m11s
November 9, 2008 A Poet of War Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 20m11s
November 2, 2008 Of Earthly Dust and Divine Breath Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 15m02s
October 26, 2008 "Nurture Your Spirit, Help Heal Our World": Unitarian Universalist Spirituality Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 20m55s
October 19, 2008 Not Partisan but Prophetic: Towards a More Responsible View of Religion and Politics Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 21m13s
October 12, 2008 Forgiveness: Pressure or Grace Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 15m21s
October 5, 2008 Our First Principle and the Reality of Evil Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 18m24s
September 28, 2008 What is so funny about Peace, Love and Understanding The Firehouse Band n/a n/a
September 21, 2008 Beyond Belief: Trust and Religious Community Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 16m46s
September 14, 2008 Celebrating our Congregational Covenant Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero, Wendla Windt, Tim O'Hara, and John Fisher MP3 21m57s

Previous Church Year (2007-2008)

Subscribe to 2007-2008 sermons via iTunes:
For other software cut/paste this: 
http://www.kaffine.com/uuchelmsford/audio/sermons_2008.xml
Date Title Speaker(s) Audio Duration
June 15, 2008 Flower Communion Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 7m11s
June 8, 2008 Membership Recognition Sunday Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 5m07s
June 1, 2008 Religious Education Sunday: The Bremen Town Musicians Story Bonnie Rankin, Nina, Sierra Rose, and the 1st-6th RE classes MP3 14m01s
May 25, 2008 Abide with Me: The Weaving of Memory Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 13m35s
May 18, 2008 The Natures of Power Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 19m38s
May 11, 2008 The Secret of Music Matt Meyer MP3 22m17s
May 4, 2008 A Powerful Love Story: The Story of David and Jonathan Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 21m50s
April 27, 2008 Reflections On Sacred Spaces Martha Sherburne, Jennifer Almeida, and Amanda Miller MP3 20m02s
April 20, 2008 Moses or David: Liberation or Royal Power Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 17m54s
April 13, 2008 Reflections on Small Group Ministry Bryan Grad, Dave Kaffine, and Jonathan Crockett MP3 16m42s
April 6, 2008 Stewardship Sunday: "Our Needs and Hopes" and Reflections on Treasures Carrie Little & Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 20m12s
March 30, 2008 Five Years In: Reflections on the "War on Terror" in Iraq and Afghanistan Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 20m13s
March 23, 2008 Celebrating Easter: Reflections on Rebirth and Resurrection Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero and Sadie Kahn-Greene MP3 28m01s
March 16, 2008 What is Healing? Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 22m50s
March 9, 2008 Reflections on the Worth and Meaning of Covenant John Schneider, Sally Seekings, Ron Deschenes, Carla Corey MP3 18m51s
March 9, 2008 For All Ages: Grandpa Alan's Wonderful Loaves (a story by Beryl Aschenberg) Sadie Kahn-Greene MP3 6m39s
March 2, 2008 A Good Epidemic? Reverend Amy DeBeck MP3 21m10s
February 24, 2008 Breathing the Sacred into the Ordinary: Our Unitarian Universalist Rites and Rituals Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 17m45s
February 17, 2008 Love Makes a Family Collins Family, Clifford Family, Mellen Family, Taylor Family MP3 11m55s
February 10, 2008 Sex, Society and Religion Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 19m20s
February 3, 2008 The UU Mass Action Network Nancy Banks, Coordinator MP3 19m13s
February 3, 2008 For All Ages: The Fox and the Crane Bonnie Rankin MP3 5m36s
January 27, 2008 The Privilege of Leadership Sally Seekings and Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 19m13s
January 20, 2008 About the Reverend Joseph Jordan Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 21m45s
January 13, 2008 Congregational Life Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 17m14s
January 13, 2008 For All Ages: Covenants Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero and Sadie Kahn-Greene MP3 6m14s
December 9, 2007 Wonders and Miracles Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 14m39s
December 9, 2007 For All Ages: The Story of Our Flaming Chalice Sadie Kahn-Greene MP3 5m04s
December 2, 2007 Bring A Friend Sunday: Why We Are Here Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 20m05s
November 25, 2007 What Worship Means to Me Marcia Allison, Walter Cole, and Deirdre Heck MP3 16m40s
November 25, 2007 For All Ages: The Map Maker Bonnie Rankin MP3 3m47s
November 18, 2007 Reflections for the Ingathering Service Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 4m21s
November 18, 2007 Guest at Your Table Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero and Sadie Kahn-Greene MP3 4m48s
November 11, 2007 With Reason and Reverence: Humanism for a New Age Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 21m17s
November 11, 2007 For All Ages: Our Fifth Source Sadie Kahn-Greene MP3 3m37s
November 4, 2007 What's In a Name? Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 16m15s
October 28, 2007 What's in the Dark? Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 17m17s
October 21, 2007 On Being Unitarian Universalist and Christian Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 13m43s
October 14, 2007 A Larger Fellowship Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 16m10s
October 7, 2007 What is Your Perception of God? Sadie Kahn-Greene with Aleric, Zoe, and Peggy MP3 15m10s
October 7, 2007 For All Ages: Hide & Seek with God Sadie Kahn-Greene MP3 7m05s
September 30, 2007 Reverence: Exploring the First Source Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 13m22s
September 23, 2007 A Sacred Break: Taking Time to Open the Book of Life Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 12m42s
September 16, 2007 The Spirit of this Place: Covenant and Coherence Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero MP3 19m52s

Previous Church Year (2006-2007)

Subscribe to 2006-2007 sermons via iTunes:
For other software cut/paste this: 
http://www.kaffine.com/uuchelmsford/audio/sermons_2007.xml
Date Title Audio Speaker(s) Duration
May 27, 2007 Sacrifice and Support MP3 Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero 16m58s
May 20, 2007 The Khasi Hills Church: Unitarianism in India MP3 Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero 15m55s
May 13, 2007 A Celebration of Mothering MP3 Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero and Sadie Kahn-Greene 8m16s
May 6, 2007 Reflections on Becoming a Welcoming Congregation MP3 Betty Keddy and Karen Johnson, from First Parish of Groton 25m18s
April 29, 2007 Imaging the Sacred and the Divine MP3 Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero 11m03s
April 22, 2007 Voluntary Simplicity: Why is it so difficult and complicated? MP3 Athena DeGangi 14m11s
April 15, 2007 The Three Margas: One Harmony and the Spiritual Practice of Hinduism MP3 Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero 17m30s
April 8, 2007 Elijah and the Still-Small Voice MP3 Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero 9m19s
April 1, 2007 Fighting for Justice: Darfur and the work of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee MP3 Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero 17m21s
March 18, 2007 Religious Fundamentalism and the Lives of Women MP3 Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero 20m01s
March 18, 2007 For All Ages: A folk tale from Japan MP3 Sadie Kahn-Greene 3m31s
March 11, 2007 Foundations of Beloved Community: Balancing Justice and Joy MP3 Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero 18m16s
March 4, 2007 The Life and Work of Basho MP3 Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero 19m54s
February 11, 2007 Love Makes a Family MP3 Reyna Family, Fraser-Mines Family, Deschenes Family, Hillman Family 26m48s
February 4, 2007 In Search of the True MP3 Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero 17m14s
January 28, 2007 Friendship and Faith MP3 Aine and Heather 21m39s
January 21, 2007 Checking the Compass MP3 Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero 16m36s
January 21, 2007 For All Ages: Pillars of Islam and UU MP3 Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero 9m25s
January 7, 2007 The Journeys of Hagar in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam MP3 Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero 18m34s
November 12, 2006 Journey Toward Welcoming Congregation Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero & C. Russell
October 29, 2006 To Welcome and to Witness: Welcoming Congregation and Beyond Reverend Ellen Rowse Spero

For earlier sermons, see our Sermon Archive

Formats

 Recordings are available in the following formats:

Click here for some other questions and answers about the recorded sermons.

Contact Dave Kaffine at (978)667-3690 or dave@kaffine.com for comments or more information.

Last modified: Sun Jun 6 19:27:49 EDT 2010