Sermons/Talks/Lectures/Remarks

2007 Sermons

Growing Together
Rev. Mark Stringer
First Unitarian Church of Des Moines
12/15&16/07

UU minister Charlie Kast shared an exchange he had with one of the children in a congregation he served early in his ministry. He writes:

A little girl approached me in the church kitchen shortly before the morning service. She asked me to give her a cookie. So, I reached up to a top cabinet and fetched her a cookie.

“I want to be a minister,” she said.

Immediately, I launched into my “Girls can be ministers these days” lecture/sermon. (It was 1981 and women in ministry was still a relative rarity). I noticed her eyes glaze over.

When I (finally) finished, she looked up at me and said, “I want to be a minister so I can reach the cookies!”

Connected Despite the Separations

--a service for Bowen Theory weekend--

Rev. Mark Stringer

First Unitarian Church of Des Moines

November 10 & 11, 2007

For six years now, I have devoted a weekend of services here to a consideration of an aspect of Dr. Murray Bowen’s Family Systems Theory. I was first introduced to this theory when, as an intern minister, I was encouraged by my supervisor, the Rev. Barbara Pescan, to join her for a day-long Bowen theory training session. I was instantly drawn to what I still perceive as the wisdom this theory offers for how to thoughtfully reflect upon and participate in the relationships of our lives. In fact, I consider my continued study and application of Bowen theory to my developing understandings of the my relationships and my functioning within them to be not only a spiritual discipline for me, but one of the more meaningful religious endeavors of my life.

True to What We Can Together Become

Rev. Mark Stringer

First Unitarian Church of Des Moines

November 3 & 4, 2007

During the time the UUs were at Seabeck, a Trident nuclear missile was scheduled to be delivered up the Hood Canal, right by the conference center. Many of those attending the camp were distraught by this and decided that their UU values demanded that they speak up. So they organized a protest. However, not everyone at the camp shared their view. There were many present at Seabeck that week who believed that these soon-to-be protestors had it all wrong…that without the build-up of the very nuclear weaponry they were protesting, the world would actually be a much more dangerous place. Their UU values demanded that they not protest.

All Different Yet the Same

Rev. Mark Stringer

First Unitarian Church of Des Moines

October 6 & 7, 2007

Studies have shown that people, on average, devote 12 percent of their daily thoughts to considerations of the future. This means that each of us generally spends a minimum of one hour of every eight imagining, thinking, maybe even obsessing about the future. Now we all know that thinking about the future can be fun, and in itself a source of pleasure. But I would venture to say that in times of stress, times when we are most fearful or under-pressure or generally challenged by life, most of us probably spend even more time than usual focused on the future and, if you are anything like me, your thoughts in those circumstances are anything but joyful.

Prepared to Serve

Rev. Mark Stringer

First Unitarian Church of Des Moines

September 22 & 23, 2007

The most helpful thing I grasped while waitressing was that some tables are my responsibility and some are not. A waitress gets overwhelmed if she has too many tables, and no one gets good service. In my life, I have certain things to take care of: my children, my relationships, my work, myself, and one or two causes. That’s it. Other things are not my table. I would go nuts if I tried to take care of everyone, if I tried to make everybody do the right thing. If I went through my life without ever learning to say, “Sorry, that’s not my table, Hon,” I would burn out and be no good to anybody.

Expecting to Love

Rev. Mark Stringer

First Unitarian Church of Des Moines

September 15 & 16, 2007

You see, when I moved to Iowa six years ago, I was stunned (and embarrassed) by the realization that the people here never seemed to beep their horns at each other. I had moved here from Chicago, and New York City before that, where horn honking is not only a form of communication. It is a way of life.

Open to Life

Rev. Mark Stringer

First Unitarian Church of Des Moines

September 8 & 9, 2007

The fact is, I knew that unlike many if not most of my colleagues in other denominations, I could preside over this wedding with the blessing of most of the people in this congregation and in UU congregations all over the U.S. I did not have to wonder if I was going against the doctrine of the church, of if I would jeopardize my ministry. I believe that any UU minister would have done what I did that day, given the same circumstances. Ever since I began my ministry, I have been happy to accept the call to this church and to the Unitarian Universalist ministry. But I doubt I will ever be as proud as I was that morning to be a UU minister in Des Moines, Iowa!

Give ‘Em a B
Rev. Mark Stringer
First Unitarian Church of Des Moines
8/26/07

...

The fact is this sermon could be perceived differently than how I want or expect it to be perceived…despite my intentions, despite my earnest hopes and careful (or not so careful) use of the English language, despite my yearning to be as honest as I can be about my perceptions, despite my desire to say something to you that might be used to stimulate positive change in your life beyond this morning, beyond this hall.

The fact is, you may hear and/or interpret what I say this morning in ways that I wouldn’t want you to.

FITZ’S APHORISMS

Dr. Earl Fitz

First Unitarian Church of Des Moines

Sunday, August 19, 2007

The authentic is here used as indicating the truth when truth is understood as being verifiable by common agreement as to that which accords with fact or reality. To many people, truth is based upon what disguises their low opinion of themselves. In this sense, the untruth is a deliberate attempt to conceal. But the majority of untruths are due to plain old ignorance as to what constitutes how best to live and breathe. All truths are not molded in stone. We remain in ignorance about many things. The progressive acquisition of wisdom, as against mere knowledge, alters what is deemed the truth as we view it today.

Is There Enough God Here?
Rev. Mark Stringer
First Unitarian Church of Des Moines
8/12/07

The liberal religious mindset throughout time, particularly in our Unitarian Universalist tradition, is grounded in some basic commitments that encourage that each of us be willing to take our own individual perceptions of the mystery seriously…but not too seriously…and to give others the room to do the same. These commitments include an emphasis on free and open intellectual inquiry, respect for the authority of individual experience and reason, and consideration of any religious claim in the light of our ever-changing understandings, knowledge and life experiences. In a nutshell then, liberal religion contends that an ever-evolving “faith without certainty” is not only possible, but can be an ethically tenable, intellectually credible, and socially relevant approach to religion.

In The Peace of Wild Things

Diane Shelby Churchill

First Unitarian Church of Des Moines

Small miracles are all around us. We can find them everywhere—in our homes, in our daily activities, and hardest to see – in ourselves.

Most of us are like old begging bowl—uneven, cracked, imperfect. And our harsh judge keeps wishing we were perfect.

Our imperfections are a gift, the very qualities that make us unique. If we make the shift to see them that way – we can value ourselves, as the monks value their bowls – just as we are, which opens our hearts to value others with all their imperfections … to see their gray … their rainbows…

Our Nation Needs a Field Trip
Rev. Mark Stringer
First Unitarian Church of Des Moines
7/1/07

My friends, our nation needs a field trip. We need a collective trip to Washington, to walk the mall, to recall the stories of our past, to see for ourselves, carved in stone, the wise words of our national heroes. We need to be reminded of what truly makes our nation great, even when our nation isn’t acting so great.

Gifts from My Son

Jon McAlister

A couple of months ago I told my six-year-old daughter, Ellery, that I would be up in front of the church, giving the same talk that that tall guy with the tie usually gives. She paused for a second or two, looking half puzzled and half amused, and said, “Do you know how to do that? I think you’d better ask someone.”

What if You Accepted that YOU are God?

Jon Royal

07/29/07

God’s will for you is perfect happiness, and that can only be fulfilled if the Gifts of God are eternal.

The only Gift you are seeking is love, and love has no beginning and no end. It does not rise as your emotions rise, and fall as disappointment enters.

Love is fulfilled every moment equally and completely, and is fully revealed to and for you. The instant you realize that love cannot be lost is the instant you remember who you are.

What if our brain’s came with a User’s Guide?

Elaine Rockwell

06/24/07

The last decade has been touted as “the knowledge economy,” which disturbs me. Even as an undergraduate, I bristled at the idea that the reason for my education was in any way related to the economy. It wasn’t that I didn’t expect to work for a living; rather I have just always felt very strongly that I own my intellect and what I do with it. Being a person is more than being a unit of economic productivity.

Honoring the Sacrifice
--a service for Memorial Day Weekend--
Rev. Mark Stringer
First Unitarian Church of Des Moines
5/27/07

How can we allow our fellow citizens to return dead or injured from a war zone, where they were fighting in our country’s name, without more acknowledgement? How can we talk about supporting our troops and be content to allow these women and men to make the ultimate sacrifice when most of the rest of us have not been asked to make any sacrifices for this war at all?

When Your Heart Goes Walking
--a service for Mother's Day--
Rev. Mark Stringer
First Unitarian Church of Des Moines
5/13/07

Mother’s Day is a time to recognize the paradox of our existence: that as separate as we might view ourselves, we all are intimately connected to another; while at the same time, as connected as we sometimes are or want to be, we are forever separate. We cannot escape this endless cycle of connection and disconnection, a pattern mirrored in the changing seasons, the tidal flow of the oceans and the repetitive exchange of day with night. Each of us is a product of connection and each of us is headed for separation. That is the rhythm of life: a continual process of holding on and letting go.

LOST AND FOUND IN THE LIBRARY

By Priscilla S Witke

First Unitarian Church of Des Moines
4/14 and 4/15/07

When I agreed to do this service last November my intention was to tell you where I had been in my religious journey. Then last month I picked up THE SPIRAL STAIRCASE for a little easy reading and found new directions to go. We do not have enough time for me to tell the whole story today. That’s ok. John Isom always wanted us to keep on with our personal exploration of the world so unfinished feels ok to me.

Choosing to Live
--a service for Easter Weekend--
Rev. Mark Stringer
First Unitarian Church of Des Moines
4/7 and 4/8/07

Choosing to live, truly possessing all we have been and done, becoming fierce with reality, carrying on despite all the reasons not to, not turning away from the dark, but not turning away from the light either. These are the themes that are embedded in the Easter story, no matter what we might believe about what happened to Jesus, because these are the themes of what it means to be human.

DRUMBEAT FOR DARFUR

Rev. Mark Stringer
First Unitarian Church of Des Moines
3/25

Reason and Religion: Faithful Doubt

Rev. Mark Stringer

First Unitarian Church of Des Moines

March 10 and 11, 2007

What can we say about our collective “faith” when some of us bristle at the mere mention of the word, believing that the most common definition of it, “religious adherence”, is in direct opposition to our shared emphasis on individual religious freedom?

Good Fences, Good Neighbors

Rev. Mark Stringer
First Unitarian Church of Des Moines
3/02& 3/03

"Something there is that doesn't love a wall... "

Another Letter to Sam Harris

Rev. Mark Stringer
First Unitarian Church of Des Moines
2/17& 2/18

Dear Sam Harris,

I didn’t think I was going to write you again…at least not so soon. In fact, I had intended to work with the ideas of faith and doubt in a different context this week. But, alas, I can’t resist writing you again.

Letter to Sam Harris

Rev. Mark Stringer
First Unitarian Church of Des Moines
2/10& 2/11

There are millions—maybe hundreds of millions—of Muslims who would be willing to die before they allow your version of compassion to gain a foothold on the Arabian Peninsula. How can interfaith dialogue, even at the highest level, reconcile worldviews that are fundamentally incompatible and, in principle, immune to revision? The truth is, it really matters what billions of human beings believe and why they believe it.

Location, Location, Location

Dr. Darcie Vandegrift
First Unitarian Church of Des Moines
1/20 & 1/21/07

Where we live sets the parameters for what we can do, what we experience, and with whom we associate. I’m a sociologist, a discipline that by definition believes that social conditions shape individuals. We may believe that we’re completely free agents, making all of our own choices and living guided only by our and intentions values. To some extent this is true. But it’s not the whole story. Location matters.

Content of Our Character

Rev. Mark Stringer
First Unitarian Church of Des Moines
1/13 & 1/14

A while back I was chatting with a friend about the break-up of her daughter’s marriage, which had only lasted a couple of years at the most. My friend shared with me how bad she felt for the couple and how sad she was to see them both so upset. I asked her what, if anything, she had said to her daughter in response to her decision to end the marriage. My friend said, “I told her to be kind.”