Recorded Services — Sierra Foothills Unitarian Universalists

Building Beloved Community in Placer County and the World

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Recorded Services and Sermons

Scroll down to find recorded services from the last year at SFUU. If interested in other services from this and other years, go to our YouTube channel.


December 24, 2024

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

Rev. Sangye Hawke

Illuminating the mystery of the season with song and reverence.

Click here for the Order of Service


December 22, 2024

Reclaiming JOY in a Time of Uncertainty

Rev. Sangye Hawke, Amy Evans, Joan Harris, and SFUU musicians

A musical celebration of the empowering state of Joy, especially during this time of uncertainty. Help us spread the joy of a Christmas Holiday! Join us for a cookie/cocoa party after service.

Click here for the Order of Service


December 15, 2024

Creating Joy for the Season

Rev. Sangye Hawke, Val Bowman, and Josh Lydon

The Holidays can make us sad. How do we find joy in a world intent on destroying it? Join us for a Buddhist view of cultivating and keeping joy in your life.

Click here for the Order of Service


December 8, 2024

Illuminating Faith During a Holiday Season

Rev. Sangye Hawke, Hank Florence, Amy Evans, and Amy Hansen

Winter holidays are celebrated in many faith traditions. Warmth and light during this time of cool darkness reminds us that we can survive. Climate change heightens the need to survive against the odds. How can we keep the faith that all will be well during this time?

Click here for the Order of Service


December 1, 2024

Preparing for Winter: Lighting the Candle of Hope

Rev. Sangye Hawke, Meg Dorsey, Janet Russell and Joan Harris

How do we greet our winter season? How do we help others prepare? Fear, loneliness, and short days highlight our losses and our gains. What strategies does our faith offer to navigate the season of darkness?

Click here for the Order of Service


November 24, 2024

Oh, We Give Thanks

Rev. Sangye Hawke and Vicky Jungers

Join us for a multigenerational worship filled with the bounty of inspiration that is our community. Stay for a cornucopia of lunch food following worship.

Click here for the Order of Service


November 17, 2024

What Makes Us a Church?

Amy Evans, Suzanne Borth, Amy Hansen, and Janet Russell

Join us for a fun and interactive exploration of what makes SFUU a church. Where do our building blocks come from and how do they support our faith?

Click here for the Order of Service


November 3, 2024

Honoring our ancestors!

Rev. Sangye Hawke and Mercedes McWilliams, with special guest musician Juan Javier Del Valle Orta

Join us for a special service honoring the tradition of celebrating ancestors on this day with music and reflection.

Click here for the Order of Service


October 27, 2024

Ghosts

Rev. Sangye Hawke, Vicky Jungers, and Eliza Baldi

A reflection on the supernatural and the natural. Join us for a spooky time.

Click here for the Order of Service


October 20, 2024

Hope for the Future

Joan Harris, Vicky Jungers, the Badertscher Family, Tyler Baldi, Sam Florence, and Milo Florence

Join us this Sunday as our children and youth share hopeful inspiration with us, guided by our Director of Religious Education, Joan Harris.

Click here for the Order of Service


October 13, 2024

Legacy Day

Rev. Sangye Hawke, Maureen Bauman, and Amy Hansen

Thomas Starr King is not the only Unitarian to spread the good news of our faith. Join us for an exploration of California's Unitarian gold and what it means for us in Gold Country.


October 6, 2024

The Power of the Past

Rev. Sangye Hawke, Val Bowman, Janet Russell, and Joan Harris

What stories do we tell ourselves to justify our actions? How do we shape our narratives in our everyday lives? Are you the hero or the victim? The power of story can alter history. As the Jewish Holiday of Rosh Hashanah takes place let us also remember that we have a choice on how to tell our stories and which stories to believe. Stories are a havest of wisdom or a horn of hate. Let us celebrate This is and harvest our stories of success. We will celebrate the fall season's gifts with a unique and first ever Apple Communion!


September 29, 2024

The Roots of UU Worship

Amy Evans, Joan Lacktis, Bonnie Dahl, Val & John Bowman, Stevie Rea, and Joan Harris

Join our Worship Team for an exploration of how - and why - we engage with the spirit of love and life on Sundays!


September 22, 2024

CYRE Presents!

Joan Harris, Maureen Bauman, Jennifer Warner, and the CYRE Children

Come play games, sing, and do a special community project in this very special launch of our All Ages Service.

Note - we experienced video camera issues at this service. Apologies for the poor quality stream.


September 15, 2024

Miraculous Mistakes

Rev. Sangye Hawke

"When one door closes, another opens." This quote recognizes how our perceptions of a mistake can often be miraculous. How many times have we encountered delays, upsets, errors, and accidents that end up creating unexpected and wonderful opportunities? "If I hadn't gone to the wrong event, I would have never met my current boss." Come and explore the search for meaning as we travel through life. Perhaps we can redefine what mistakes can really be as a tool for living well. What mistakes in your life have yielded unexpected and joyful change?


September 8, 2024 - Water Service

Filling Our Cups: Refresh, Restore, Release

Rev. Sangye Hawke and Suzanne Borth

Water is our most precious resource. Let us honor its power in a Unitarian Universalist ritual known as a "Water Communion". Come and join us for this ceremony of release and revitalization as we share our concerns and our hopes for the future of our community and beyond. Please bring a stone from home or travel to help build our new small welcoming fountain that will be filled with our waters of hope."

Click here for the Order of Service


September 1, 2024

Honoring the Work

Rev. Sangye Hawke and Amy Evans

Finding a path forward after a large transition can be daunting. Working together can help clear a trail through this wilderness of disruption, pain, and opportunity. Join us as we explore what is next for this faith and this congregation as we begin the new church year.

Click here for the Order of Service


August 18, 2024

Small Steps and Big Dreams

Vicky Jungers and Joan Lacktis

Since it's inception in 1982 with just 14 members, SFUU has set its roots into our community and our hearts for 42 years. Join us this Sunday as we explore our history, the amazing ministers who have walked the journey with us, and most importantly all the members and friends who committed their love, money, time and energy to building the dream that continues to be SFUU.

Click here for the Order of Service


August 11, 2024

Something Out of Nothing (SOoN)

Jeff Chamberlain and John Bowman

Most creation stories, including our current scientific models, tell the story of everything coming into being from a void: the entire universe around us started as... nothing. Every moment we breathe an invisible air that is little more than... nothing. There is more nothing than something in the atoms in the physical objects around us, and we merely need to look up at the night sky to catch a glimpse of so little something and a whole lotta... nothing. Through music and words, come explore with us what we most share: nothing.


August 4, 2024

Toward the Beloved Community of Unitarian Universalism

The Rev. Kevin Alan Mann, Amy Evans and Joan Harris

Late civil rights activist John Lewis called us to: “Not get lost in a sea of despair and to never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.” How can our new UUA Article II values of Justice, Equity, Transformation, Pluralism, Interdependence, Generosity and Love guide us towards good trouble and widening the circle to serve the LGBTQ community, Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and faith refugees who have nowhere else left to turn? What does collective liberation mean for us as Unitarian Universalists?


July 28, 2024

Joy Amidst the Angst

Vicky Jungers, Joyce Sanders, and Patricia Leftridge

It's Summertime! Join us this Sunday as we create a time of respite from the burdens we bear, and share in love and laughter together.

Click here for the Order of Service


July 21, 2024

In The Beginning Was The Word

Joan Lacktis and Suzanne Borth

The Unitarian Universalist Association Has Just Completed The First Major Revision Of Our 7 Principles Since 1987. How Did They Do It? And What Is A JETPIG? Join Us And Find Out.

Our apologies, we were unable to record this service, please click here for the Order of Service.


July 14, 2024

Karen Morse, Stevie Rea, Dean Metzner, Joan Harris and Amy Evans

Grace

You are invited to join us as we reflect on Grace in our lives, how it has touched us and how we live it.

Our apologies, we were unable to record this service, please click here for the Order of Service.


July 7, 2024

The Art Of Belonging: How Our Connectedness Will Get Us Through

John and Val Bowman, Hank Florence

John & Val Bowman will share about the gifts Joanna Macy explores and offers in her book Active Hope.

Please note that this recording begins during the Story for All Ages.

Click here for the Worship Bulletin.


June 30, 2024

Past, Present, and Future

Rev. Alex da Silva and Vicky Jungers

Three years ago, our beloved Rev. Alex stepped into our pulpit and SFUU was never the same. Join us this Sunday as we say farewell and celebrate with them, the new adventures ahead for us all.

Click here for the Worship Bulletin.


June 23, 2024

Beloved Bridging

Rev. Alex da Silva, John Bohland, Meg Dorsey. Vicky Jungers, Richard Martin, Joan Harris, Hailey Martin, and Alex Harris

Bridging takes commitment, naming, and claiming this moment of transition. The Bridging Ceremony celebrates the transition of our youth from their high school experience into young adulthood.

Click here for the Worship Bulletin.


June 16, 2024

Father's, Friends and Faith 

Hank Florence, Sam Florence, John Armstrong, and Vicky Jungers

As UU's we work for gender recognition and acceptance, engage deeply in the work of understanding our relational differences and continue the constant fight for freedom of religion and the separation of church and state. Join us this Sunday to explore how these elements strengthen the work we do in the world.


June 9, 2024

The Gift of Renewal

Rev. Alex da Silva, David Bessler, Eric Howe, and Michael Haynes

Life is short... the world is hurting... the future uncertain... Still we can renew... still we can heal... still we can engage in beautiful and joyous manifestations. Can't we?!?!

Click here for the Worship Bulletin.


June 2, 2024

CYRE Youth Sunday

CRYE Team, SFUU Children and Joan Harris

All are invited to join us for a special Sunday service, presented by the children of SFUU!

Click here for the Worship Bulletin.


May 26, 2024

Pluralism III

Rev. Alex da Silva and Michael Haynes

Join us for our last May exploration of pluralism.


May 19, 2024

Pluralism and Love

Eric Howe, Joan Lacktis, Meg Dorsey, and Vicky Jungers

UU's have often heard the phrase "we need not think alike, to love alike", but is this so? In the same way we do not all think alike, it is also true that we do not all "love" alike. Join us this Sunday as we explore love and it's many languages and how that pluralism might unite vs divide. 

Our apologies, we had no one to run tech during this Sunday service, so it was not recorded.


May 12, 2024

Pluralism and Motherhood

Amelia Zuver

As we celebrate Mother's Day, let's celebrate ALL of the ways that mothering shows up in our lives! What does mothering or parenting from a pluralistic view mean and how does that tie into our UU values?

Note: this service was not recorded, but you can click here for the order of service.

This is one of Amelia’s favorite TED Talks, which she referred to during this service.


May 5, 2024

UU's and Pluralism I

Rev. Alex da Silva and Amelia Zuver

Pluralism is defined as the celebration that "we are all sacred beings, diverse in culture, experience, and theology.”
How do we do that?


April 28, 2024

Interbeing in Discomfort and Joy

Rev. Alex da Silva, Vicky Jungers, and Natalie Zapata

How can we distinguish between Transformative and Performative social justice practices?

Click here for the Worship Bulletin.


April 21, 2024

Let's Celebrate: Putting Love at the Center of Earth Care

Joe Medeiros and the Mission Earth Team

SFUU has done some work to care for the Earth over the past year. What better time to explore these achievements along with why we love the Earth, than on the eve of Earth Day? Please join SFUU’s Mission Earth team in a celebration of the Earth on April 21st. This worship service will include a reflection from local botanist and ecologist, Joe Medeiros, love notes to the Earth, and the Ukaladies (aided by Sam Florence and John McCall).

Click here for the Worship Bulletin.

See below for the love notes we wrote to the earth during this worship service.


April 14, 2024

Our Interdependent Web

Vicky Jungers

In school we are taught about the "cycle" of life, and our UU principles encourage our respect for the interdependent web of life. What does it really mean to be interdependent and how can it strengthen our independence?


April 7, 2024

This I Believe

Amy Evans and Stevie Rea

"This I Believe" -  Join us to learn and experience the profound meaning of encountering each other - through a powerful, well known method.


March 31, 2024

Joan Lacktis, Vicky Jungers, and Milo Florence

Flower Communion Springtime Easter Celebration

Join us this Easter Sunday as we explore the meaning of the UU Flower Communion Service, past, present and future. You are invited to bring florals to share and decorate the altar.

Click here for the Worship Bulletin.


March 24, 2024

Comfort as a Drug - Joy as Resistance

Rev. Alex da Silva, Vicky Jungers, and John McCall

Comfort feels safe, resistance often feels the opposite. What is it that calls us to work through discomfort in order to live out our talk and exercise our values with authenticity and integrity?

Click here for the Worship Bulletin.


March 17, 2024

We All Live on this Earth Together: Understanding Native American Culture, Developing Positive Relationships

Rev. Alex da Silva, Stan Padilla, Bella DeLaTorre, and Amy Hansen

We welcome Stan Padilla to the pulpit this morning. He is a Native American Artist, Indigenous Educator and cultural activist. As an artist he has been recognized with the prestigious Master Artist Legacy Fellowship 2024, as an educator he is currently Artistic/Cultural Mentor for the United Auburn Indian Community Tribal School and as an activist he is dedicated to many causes. Currently he is focused on fulfilling the promise of a multi-racial democratic republic.

Click here for the Worship Bulletin.


March 10, 2024

Stewardship Sunday

Stevie Rea, Cynthia Stubblbine, Maureen Bauman, and Jeff Chamberlain

Come and celebrate the history of SFUU and consider the impact of bountiful thinking on our lives and church community.

Click here for the Worship Bulletin.


March 3, 2024

BLIZZARD FACING BISON

Rev. Alex da Silva, Vicky Jungers, Milo and Sam Florence

As this winter comes to a close, how have you weathered these seasonal storms?

Click here for the Worship Bulletin.


February 25, 2024

Nourish the Spirit through Social Justice

Carol Koons, Maureen Bauman, and Barb Munn

Do you find value in making a difference in the lives of others? Do you wish to cultivate a spirit of gratitude and hope through generosity?  Have you discovered that justice work is transformative, feeding your spirit as you offer a helping hand?  During our worship service today, you will hear the stories of real people helped by the work of grassroots organizations partnered with the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee.  And you can help them too through the Guest at Your Table (GAYT) program.

Click here for the Worship Bulletin.


February 18, 2024

Facets of Justice: Peace with Justice

Rev. Alex da Silva Souto and David Beseler

Are there critical distinctions between interpersonal practices and experiences of peace versus the ones of institutional scale?


February 11, 2024

Love Will Guide Us

Joan Lacktis, Suzanne Borth, and Val Bowman

Our need for love drives us to connect with the world in many ways- through personal relationships, care of the Earth, working for justice and equity. Sometimes people we love and feel connected to let us down or disappoint us. How do we work through conflicts in a loving way so that we stay in relationship?

Click here for the Worship Bulletin.


February 4, 2024

Rev. Alex da Silva Souto and Vicky Jungers

Facets of Justice: Negative Peace vs Positive Peace

Click here for the Worship Bulletin.


January 28, 2024

Rev. Tet Gallardo and Joan Lacktis

Love in the Time of War

Rev. Tet Gallardo will present her reflections as a person from the former colony of the United States and Spain and how Filipinos have created a culture of beloved community that persisted throughout the difficult colonial period and prevailed as an independent nation. If we are not sustaining a counterculture that prevails in times of highs and lows, are we a beloved community?

Click here for the Worship Bulletin.


January 21, 2024

Liberation as a Verb: Look It Up

Rev. Alex da Silva Souto, Vicky Jungers, David Beseler, John and Val Bowman

Click here for the Worship Bulletin.


January 14, 2024

The Gift of a Liberating Love

Rev. Alex da Silva Souto, Amelia Zuver, and Vicky Jungers

"Though I do not believe that a plant will spring up where no seed has been, I have great faith in a seed. Convince me that you have a seed there, and I am prepared to expect wonders." ~Henry David Thoreau

Click here for the Worship Bulletin.


January 7, 2024

A Messy Heart

Rev. Alex da Silva Souto and Vicky Jungers

What is a word you would use to speak of your own human heart today? ~Nadia Bolz-Weber

Click here for the Worship Bulletin.


December 31, 2023

Hope-y New Year!

Joan Lacktis and Val Bowman

You are invited to join us as we look to a New Year with hope!

Click here for the Worship Bulletin.