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  Sermons Delivered in 2008 & 2009

Available sermons are bright blue

Past Sermons Menu
Sunday 17 January “The Other G Word” Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 10 January  “The G Word” Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 3 January “Ignite!” – Our Annual Fire Communion Service Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 27 December  “The Year in Review” Lay
Chaplains Peter Brydon, Margaret Kohr, &
Margaret Rao
Thursday 24 December: 7:00pm  “This Shining Night” Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 20 December “The Light of Truth” Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 13 December “The Fire of Commitment” Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 6 December  “The Glow of Love” Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 29 November “The Warmth of Compassion ” Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 22 November “The Urban Menace” Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 15 November “Test of Faith” Angela Klassen, Director of Lifespan Religious
Education
Sunday 8 November “Unimagined Change or Delayed Journey”
Above Sermon in Streaming Audio
Doug Buck
Sunday 1 November “What They Dreamed Be Ours to Do”
Above Sermon in Streaming Audio
Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 25 October “Connecting the Dots”
United Nations Sunday
Above Sermon in Streaming Audio
Reflection by Elaine Harvey in Streaming Audio
Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 18 October “For Giving and For Getting”
Above Sermon in Streaming Audio
Reading by Barbara Kingsolver
Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 11 October “Giving Thanks for Small Miracles” Annual Bread Communion Service
Above Sermon in Streaming Audio
The Rev. Dr. Peter Hughes
Sunday 4 October “It’s Up to Us!”
Above Sermon in Streaming Audio
Kalvin Drake President of the Canadian Unitarian
Council
Sunday 27 September “Why Bother?!”
Above Sermon in Streaming Audio
Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 20 September “Text Appeal” Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 13 September “In the Moment” – A Celebration of Water
Communion
Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 6 September “Beyond Belief: Confessions of a Religious Naturalist” Michael Battenberg
Sunday 30 August “Is Faith Meant to be Kept?"
Above Sermon in Streaming Audio
Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 23 August “Is There Unity in Our Diversity?” Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 16 August “Is There Meaning in Suffering?” Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 9 August “Is Happiness Our Aim?” Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 2 August “Is All the World a Stage?” Tracey Erin Smith
Sunday 26 July “The Liberal Heart of Islam” Rev. John McCarthy
Sunday 19 July “Love and Intimacy in Community” Rev. John McCarthy
Sunday 12 July “Fortune Favours the Brave” Rev. John McCarthy
Sunday 5 July “Emerson in Our Lives” Rev. John McCarthy
Sunday 28 June “Born in Heresy” Dr. Marvin Anderson
Sunday 21 June “Pride & Prejudice” Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 14 June “For Work That Is Real” Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 7 June Flower Communion
A multigenerational celebration of spring and our Partner Church. Bring a flower!
 
Sunday 31 May: 10:30 am “Phoenix Rising: Finding Renewal Within" Youth Led Worship
Sunday 24 May: 10:30 am “This I Believe” Coming of Age Sunday Coming of Age R.E. Group
Sunday 17 May: 10:30 am (AM only) “Refusing to Shame, Choosing to Claim” Dr. Marvin Anderson
Sunday 10 May: 10:30 am and 5:30 pm “A Wing and a Prayer” Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 3 May: 10:30 am and 5:30 pm “Be the Voice of Hope” Dallas Bergen, Director of Music
Sunday 26 April, 10:30 am & 5:30 pm “We Are the Change ” Robbie Brydon and Worship Team
Sunday 19 April 10:30 am and 5:30 pm "A Celebration of Earth Day " First Unitarian Green Team
Sunday 12 April 10:30 am and 5:30 pm “Our Saving Message ” Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 5 April 10:30 am and 5:30 pm “What Makes for a Meaningful Day”
(Shawn will be in ministry with children and youth )
Barb Wentworth
Sunday 29 March, 10:30 am & 5:30 pm “What Price Perfection?” Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 22 March, 10:30 am & 5:30 pm  “Would I Shelter You? Would You Shelter Me?: A Conversation About Sanctuary ” Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 15 March 10:30 am "Fried Fish Last Night Dear?" Rev. House is a UU minister from Rochester and a former Summer Minister at Toronto First.  Rev. Peter House
Sunday 15 March 5:30 pm  Rev. Katherine Britain, minister of our neighbouring congregation, St. Matthew’s United Rev. Katherine Britain
Sunday 8 March: The Unitarian ministers of Southern Ontario will be exchanging pulpits this morning to honour the interdependence at the heart of our congregational polity. Shawn will preach this morning in Peterborough and return to preach the same sermon in Toronto in the evening. Rev. Kathy Sage is minister of Kingston Unitarian Fellowship.  
Sunday 8 March: 10:30 am “Talking Our Walk”  Rev. Kathy Sage
Sunday 8 March: 5:30 pm “Talking Our Walk”  Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday March 1: 10:30 am “Moving Boulders in an Age of Climate Change": Farming a Future in the Hidden Himalayas” (Shawn will lead Children’s Chapel)
Dr. Walsh is Executive Director, Unitarian Service Committee of Canada
Dr. Susan Walsh
Sunday 1 March : 5:30 pm “The Increasing Light," a simple Pagan ritual, facilitated by members of Our Pagan Grove and Womynspirit. The theme will be Finding Hope in the Cold Time. Join us for meditation, song, spiral dance and drumming. Bring along your drums or other percussion instruments. Kate Chung
Sunday 22 February, 10:30 am & 5:30 pm “Explaining Our Faith With Three Words” Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 15 February, 10:30 am & 5:30 pm “Evolving Toward Enlightenment” Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 8 February, 10:30 am & 5:30 pm "The Many Faces of Love" Beth Ann McFadden and Vicky Sanderson
Sunday 1 February, 10:30 am & 5:30 pm “The Adventures of Reverend X” Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 25 January, 10:30 am & 5:30 pm “The Sacrament of Small Groups” Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 18 January, 10:30 am & 5:30 pm “Life Passages: Reflections on Life as a Lay Chaplain” Our Lay Chaplains
Sunday 11 January, 10:30 am “Photography of the Spirit” Cameron Linton
Sunday 11 January, 5:30 pm "To Act or Shut Down? An Exploration of Pain and Interdependence” Melina Bondy
Sunday 4 January, 10:30 am & 5:30 pm “Our Annual Fire Communion Service” Rev. Shawn Newton
Wednesday 24 December, 7:00 pm “Sure On This Shining Night” Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 28 December, 10:30 am “365 Days, How Do You Measure a Year?” Tracey Erin Smith
Sunday 28 December, 5:30 pm “Enlightenment-Endarkenment: Reflections on
Gifts of the Light and Gifts of the Dark”
All are invited to a Hanukkah potluck dinner following the service
Diane Bosman and Paul Bognar
Sunday 21 December, 10:30 am & 5:30 pm “Light in the Darkness”
Congregational holiday potluck after evening service
Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 14 December, 10:30 am & 5:30 pm “Of Human Bondage” Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 7 December, 10:30 am & 5:30 pm  “Paradise Lost & Found” Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 30 November
10:30 am &
5:30 pm
“Unplugging the Holiday Machine” Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 23 November
10:30 am &
5:30 pm
“The Great Good Place” Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 16 November
10:30 am &
5:30 pm
“Honour System” Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 9 November
10:30 am &
5:30 pm
“Control Issues” Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 2 November
10:30 am &
5:30 pm
Part I: “Standing in our Choices”
Part II: Transforming the Impasse”
Carol Wilson
Sunday 26 October
10:30 am &
5:30 pm
"The Family of All Souls"
Second annual celebration of Diade los Muertos/Day of the Dead. All are invited to bring photographs of those who have died for this poignant service to remember and honour our beloved dead.
 Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 19 October
10:30 am &
5:30 pm
"Change the World before the Other Guys Do"
We are joined by longserving U.S. diplomat and new executive director of the Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office for United Nations Sunday.
Bruce Knotts
Sunday 12 October
10:30 am &
5:30 pm
"Leavened Living"
A celebration of Thanksgiving with our annual Bread Communion service. A potluck Thanksgiving Dinner  will follow the evening service; bring a dish to share!
 Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 5 October
10:30 am &
5:30 pm
"What Shall We Give the Children?"
Our minister and DLRE trade places as Shawn leads our children's chapel and Angela addresses the adult congregation
DLRE Angela Klassen
Sunday 28 September
10:30 am &
5:30 pm
 "To Build Temples of the Heart"
A celebration of the work and meaning of our Central America Project
 Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 21 September
10:30 am &
5:30 pm
 "Edifice Complex"
The Rededication of Sunderland Hall and Reception of New Members
Rev.Shawn Newton
Sunday 14 September
10:30 am
 "Blame It On Our Youth"
A free and responsible search for our congregation's “fountain of youth”
Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 7 September
10:30 am
 "Taking the Tide"
Intergenerational Ingathering and W ater Communion
Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 31 August
10:30 am
Awaken the Ape Within Michael Battenberg
Sunday 24 August
10:30 am
"Service is Our Prayer" Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 17 August “The Quest for Truth Is Our Sacrament” Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 10 August "Love Is Our Doctrine" Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 3 August "To Be Famous, To Be Free" Rev. Jessica Purple Rodela
Sunday 27 July "On Being Born Again and Again" Rev. Jessica Purple Rodela
Sunday 20 July "Seven Ways of Seeing" Rev. Jessica Purple Rodela
Sunday 13 July  "Life , Liberty, and the (non)
Pursuit of Happiness”
Rev. Jessica Purple Rodela
Sunday 6 July  "Stranger Territory" Rev. Jessica Purple Rodela
Sunday 29 June "Proudly Riding Pride's Coattails"

Our summer minister (and newly-called minister of the Waterloo congregation) begins her six weeks with us by leading our annual Pride Day Service.
Rev. Jessica Purple Rodela
Sunday 22 June "Counting Time"

On this bittersweet day, we will bid adieu to our longtime Director of Sunday Music, Peter Tiefenbach, as well as celebrate the enduring commitment of our many wonderful volunteers who make Toronto First all that it is.
Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 15 June "A Life at the Improv "

A Father’s Day reflection on the many wonderful complications of parenting and being parented. This service will also include a reception of new members and a Bridging Ceremony for two who are graduating from our youth group into adulthood.
Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 8 June "Sweet, Impossible Blossom "

Our annual intergenerational Flower Communion service will also include our farewell to our Interim DLRE, Renate Belzing. Bring flowers to share in this beloved Unitarian spring ritual
Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 1 June "My Grandmother's God, My Father's God & My God"

Rev. James Ishmael Ford will explore the use of traditional sacred language by UUs.
Rev. James Ishmael Ford
Sunday 25 May "A Month of Sundays"

Having given 30+ sermons at Toronto First, Shawn offers some reflections, in advance of our AGM on where we've been, where we're at, and where we might be headed as a congregation.
Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 18 May "What's Love Got To Do With It?

A Personal Journey to Green Action" Judy Vellend—Judy advances our congregation's conversation about living our commitment to the Interdependent Web.
Judy Vellend
Sunday 11 May "We Need One Another"

Teaming up with the Pastoral Care Team, Shawn offers a call to strengthen the bonds of community by caring for one another "for better or for worse. . . in sickness and in heath".
Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 4 May  "On Babies & Bath Water"

With some 90% of Unitarians coming from other faith traditions (or none), a timely sermon on owning our religious past as a crucial step in our development as happy, healthy Unitarians
Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 27 April  "Messages from the Animal Kingdom"

Animals, too, have a stake in the fate of the earth. Ilene continues her creative exploration of the UU seventh principle

Ilene Cummings
Sunday 20 April "It's Not Easy Being Green"

An Earth Day celebration examining eco-spirituality versus ego-spirituality. (Hint: one is sustainable, the other is not.)

Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 13 April "Beauty Contest"

In a world where so much competes for our attention, true beauty is too often missed. This morning, we'll "praise the sublime" with the 50 voices of the All Souls Unitarian Youth Choir from Tulsa, Oklahoma

Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 6 April "The Unitarian Genome Project"

A look at our liberal theological DNA as we celebrate our Partner Church in Budapest with a Hungarian guest choir - and strudel to follow at Coffee Hour

Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 30 March  “Do We Know How to Work Together?"

As in historical practice, 8 Ontario UU ministers and congregations will exchange pulpits, sharing the same topic and readings. Rev. Urbanski of First UU Congregation of Waterloo, will fill our pulpit, while Shawn preaches at Don Heights

Rev. Felicia Urbanski
Sunday 23 March "Being the Resurrection"

A celebration of the many meanings of Easter

Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 16 March: “Shopping for a Messiah"

When the palms are laid down and the guy passes by on the ass, do we cheer, jeer, or stop our ears? A bystanders' guide to Palm Sunday

Rev. Peter Hughes
Sunday 9 March: "Natural Burial"

Have you thought about your final resting place? Natural burials allow people to rest in nature as part of the interconnected web of all existence

Janet McCausland
Sunday 2 March: "Are We There, Yet?"

Reflections on the status and achievements of women on the eve of the 99th celebration of International Women's Day

Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 24 February:
10:30 am
 “Only the Lonely”  

Thoughts on how to leverage the loneliness that sometimes touches our lives.

Rev. Shawn Newton
Sunday 17 February
10:30 am
 “Simultaneous, Yet Different: The Prism of Our Faith”

As Unitarians, we are of one faith, but many beliefs. Under one roof, we worship together. Let's celebrate our infinite ways of being human.

 Rev. Jessica Purple Rodela
Sunday 10 February
10:30 am
"Punctuated Equilibrium"  

On this "Evolution Sunday" we'll celebrate the ever-unfolding ways our faith is shaped by science.

Shawn Newton
Sunday 3 February
10:30 am
"Mercury in Retrograde"

II've never met Murphy, but am well acquainted with Murphy's Law, "if something can go wrong, it will." I wonder how Murphy would reconcile the false romanticism often accompanying religion when faced with disappointment? This morning we'll take a light-hearted look at life's less than golden moments and explore the Unitarian alternatives.

Rev. Roger Peltier, Minister of the UU Church of Sarasota, Florida
Sunday 3 February
4:00 pm:
A celebration and Service of Installation of the Reverent Shawn Newton as 23rd minister of Toronto First, with reception  
Sunday 27 January  “Worthship”
Shawn Newton and the Worship Leader Team/ A worship service on the meaning and art of Unitarian worship
Shawn Newton
Sunday 20 January  “Beware of Safety”
Norma McPhee/ The harder we try to keep ourselves safe, the
more freedom and independence we stand to lose
Norma McPhee
Sunday 13 January Lay Chaplains:  Reaffirmation, Rededication and Tales from the Road

Our Lay Chaplains will be reaffirmed by the congregation and will rededicate themselves to their ministry.  They will share with us some of their experiences over the last year.

 
Sunday 6 January  “The Fire of Commitment”
The Rev. Shawn Newton/Intergenerational
service of reflection, ritual, and recommitment
to our highest values
Shawn Newton
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