Ministry & Worship
Preaching by Parishioners

Each spring a small group of volunteers meet and work for several months on presenting summer services for our congregation. Under the volunteer guidance of Chris & Marlana Barry, participants develop their ideas together to create something unique and spiritual.

These members or friends of the UU Church of Amherst are folks who feel they have something to say. Their inspiration begins with our Sources & Principles. Their gift is a special one, born of our cherished belief in the 'freedom of the pulpit'.

The UU Church of Amherst offers a rare opportunity to put this belief into action. Participants work together to help each other formulate, develop and present a sermon over the summer months. Guest musicians, friends and family are called in to assist with creating a sacred moment.

Link to our monthly events calendar.

Preaching by Parishioners 2010
Some of you have participated in the past in our Preaching by Parishioners program/workshop and some of you might be interested in learning about giving a Sunday morning service this summer.

The first information meeting is this coming Wednesday, February 24, at 7:30pm at the church. At this time we will give you the basics and get to know each other.

The following meetings will be focused on getting your title, blurb, and sermon ready for delivery. We will continue to meet on most Wednesday evenings until the process is complete and everyone has a sermon ready.

Preaching by Parishioners 2009 schedule & topics:

June 28, A Peace Offering - Sue Dempsey, (audio)

July 5, Where's the Center & What's Right? - Jerry Kent, (audio)

July 12, On Original Sin - Ted Lightfoot (audio)

July 19, From the Mouths of Babes - Marlana Barry, with music by Fran Landis

July 26, If You Don't Stand for Something, You Will Fall For Anything - Michelle George (audio)

August 2, It's Never Too Late, Nor a Moment Too Soon - Mehdi Kizilbash (audio)

August 9, An Independent Thinker - Doreen Park with music by Kathy Moriarty (audio)

August 16, There IS a Free Lunch, Milton Friedman - Peter Diachun (audio)

August 23, Becoming the People the World Needs Today - Yvonne Stocker

August 30, Of Babies & Bathwater: A Humanist Spiritual Journey - Scott Harrigan (audio)

 August 17, 2008  The Ghosts of the Past are Calling You!
We owe a great debt to those who came before. I'd like to share how certain acts of creativity connect to the UU principles and timelessness.
Jake Marek (audio 1.58MB)

August 24, 2008  UU Evangelism
Many think that 'UU Evangelism' is an oxymoron. Critics think UUs don't believe in anything worth evangelizing about and UUs don't evangelize people into our faith. Come find out if these words can ever make sense together and whether you can become a UU evangelist without becoming a moron, oxy- or otherwise.
Scott Harrigan (audio 2.39MB)