Imperfectly HappyRev. Jim Magaw Perfection is the enemy of happiness, among other things. How can letting go of having to be perfect enable us to live more fulfilling and productive lives? www.sunnyhill.org ..read more

How is Church Different from a Restaurant Rev. Jim Magaw While religious communities share some things in common with commercial enterprises, there are also some fundamental differences. What are the similarities and differences and why are they important to us as members of a religious community? www.sunnyhill.org ..read more

The Truth About Parenting Rev. Jim Magaw Parenting has never been more difficult and complex than it is today. What are the lessons that all of us might learn from the challenges of being a parent in a world filled with so many uncertainties and dangers? www.sunnyhill.org ..read more

Interdependence and Improvisation Rev. Jim Magaw The practice of improvisation gives us opportunities to observe and participate in interdependence–one of the most important theological concepts for Unitarian Universalists. What can we learn about interdependence from improvisation? This service will feature improvised live music from our own Reni Monteverde and her jazz combo. www.sunnyhill.org ..read more

Everything is Holy Rev. Jim Magaw Ralph Waldo Emerson, one of our most famous Unitarian forbears, wrote: “all things are friendly and sacred, all events profitable, all days holy, all [humans] divine.” What does it mean to be part of a faith tradition that seeks the holy not just in certain places but everywhere? www.sunnyhill.org ..read more

Any significant undertaking will almost certainly involve significant risk and the possibility of failure. Any venture that is not at least somewhat risky is probably not much of a venture. And vulnerability is a necessary part of any project that is worth doing and is an essential element of success. This sermon will explore risk, failure and success in the context of our congregation’s proposed capital campaign as well as in our personal lives. www.sunnyhill.org ..read more

Omnia Mutantur, Rev. Jim Magaw One of the central messages of Easter (and of most religious traditions) can be summarized in two words: everything transforms. Why is this such an important idea and how can it help us, no matter what our religious beliefs might be? www.sunnyhill.org ..read more

Our Universalist forbears believed that it was up to each of us to create something like the kingdom of heaven on earth–to work for justice, to act with compassion and mercy, to be generous in bringing abundance to all, and to love the hell out of the world.  What are we doing today to fulfill this same vision? www.sunnyhill.org ..read more

The gospel of Mark’s parable of the mustard seed challenges its readers to think about such issues as faith, doubt, and the power of community. What does this parable have to say to us about our own lives and our own era? www.sunnyhill.org ..read more

What is the good news of our current era? Is there such a thing as “good news” when we are facing so many grim challenges? This sermon–the first of four inspired by the Gospel of Mark–will explore what it means to be bringers of good news, even (or especially) in dark times. www.sunnyhill.org ..read more