Sermons given at UUCB, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley

Self-Compassion or Selfishness?

The term "self-compassion" has gotten some traction in recent years, prompting the question, is "self-compassion" an oxymoron? Even worse, is it selfish? Buddhist teachers counsel us that in fact, for us to cultivate compassion in ourselves, we need to cultivate compassion for ourselves. We'll practice that this morning.

We’ve been exploring the spiritual themes of faith and trust through the lens of games of play. However stacked the odds may be against you, however disastrous the situation on the game board, your turn is bound to come around once again. The stakes are high, the situation is dire, the choices seem limited—yet still, what move will you make?

HOW TO LOSE Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley September 21, 2025

ODDS ARE

There is essential mystery in the fabric of reality. Whatever choices we make, whatever odds we calculate, we are always rolling the dice. When the stakes are high, how do you decide when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em?

Most of the time, transformation happens incrementally—a subtle process of things changing bit by bit. But moments arrive when a leap to the next level is required. As we live through a moment that demands a global level up in our species' ability to prioritize the common good, what do we know about the joys and challenges of leveling up from our own personal lives?

Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley August 17, 2025 THE RULES OF THE GAME

If the rules of the game you're playing don't leave you with moral choices, cheat. Play by your own rules. Mingle your roots with others who want to play the game you want to play and let us grow

together.

IT’S YOUR MOVE

In our first worship series of the church year we'll explore the spiritual themes of faith and trust through the lens of games of play. However stacked the odds may be against you, however disastrous the situation on the game board, your turn is bound to come around once again. The stakes are high, the situation is dire, the choices seem limited—yet still, what move will you make?

Rabbi Zvika Krieger at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley August 3, 2025

The Place Where We Are

We all have our own special places that bring us joy. How do we hold that joy as we also face the grief of climate change?

Rev. Wakoh Hickey

Doing It Wrong

Spiritual exploration is often built on the solid and well-worn foundations of tradition and ritual. What might we discover when we allow wisdom to take a backseat, and follow along with the journeys of those doing it "the wrong way?"

Faith

A journey from dogma or nothing to finding a source of strength and support.

This is an Uprising

Sometimes received wisdom says change is impossible. And then, boom. All that wisdom gets turned upside down. The Stonewall riot helped to create a cultural and institutional revolution, reminding us that when common wisdom comes from the mainstream, maybe we need to listen to the margins for new understandings.

Love's Saving Power

If we believe that no one is beyond the reach of love, that belief transforms how we see ourselves and how we engage with a world desperately in need of revolutionary joy.

Flower Communion

We celebrate our annual ritual of Flower Communion, the tradition Unitarians have practiced for over 100 years to honor beauty and diversity as sources of a community’s strength.