Each of us has a profound desire to be known—deeply known—by another human being. To have someone bear witness to our lives gives them added significance and meaning.  At some level, then, to love another is to know and be known by them.

Rev. Newman delivers the first of her two Candidating Week sermons.

The Latin word “tenebrae” means “darkness” or “shadow.” Join us for a service of music, poetry, silence, and darkness as we remember the crucifixion of Jesus and the brokenness of our world. A simple communion will be served.

We may find clarity around living when mortality is made evident, through our own health crisis or the loss of family or friend. What do we leave behind after death? An exploration around writing your own ethical will, at any stage of life.

It's spring! All around us wildflowers emerge from the earth and trees bloom. That which lay dormant now finds new life. But what about us? How do we muster the courage to uncover our own buried lives? Join us for this special service led by Rev. Hardies, with music by New Orleans jazz clarinetist Evan Christopher.

The young people of Egypt have recently shown the world what kind of courage it takes to confront fear and claim a brighter tomorrow. What can they teach us about courage in our own lives.

Salt is one of the primary elements of the human body. It adds flavor to our food and serves as both a preservative and an irritant (“salt in the wound”). Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth.” What can this simple yet powerful element teach us about the spiritual life?

It’s Valentine’s Day—the season of love. What do you mean when you say, “I Love You?” What does your love look like beyond candy, candles and flowers? Let’s consider how sufficient our love is for our relationships, our community, and our world.

"Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you!" What does this mean? How do we begin? Where do we begin? Start where you are!

Rev. Newman leads our annual celebration of the life of Dr. King.

As we begin the New Year and monthly theme of Spiritual Practice, the sermon will explore Rabbi Abraham Heschel’s short and elegant book, The Sabbath. What is the architecture of time in our lives, and how do we make space for the still, the holy, and the sacred? Due to the holiday schedule, we will celebrate one service only at 10:15.

Our ministers and the All Souls Choir welcome Christmas into the world and into our hearts during this candlelit service of readings and carols.

This year our children present the Christmas story from a different perspective, sharing with us the Central American story of La Posada. What happened on that day when Mary and Joseph found no room at the inn?

One of the messages of the winter holidays is that there is a path through the darkness that leads to light and hope. This so-called via negativa demands that we embrace the darkness and its shadows, not avoid them.

Traditionally, Thanksgiving is when we gather with family and friends and the focus of the day is the “feast.” Isn’t there more to Thanksgiving than turkey and tofu?

The light of autumn doesn’t shine as brightly as that of spring or summer, but it is beautiful nonetheless. Similarly, our Inner Light—our Spirit—changes with time and with loss. What are the lessons of a soul seasoned by loss?

Often times we don’t realize how one good act can have a ripple effect—how a gift, once given, keeps on giving. This morning we explore this generative property of gifts, and celebrate the particular gift of All Souls Church. Today is Generosity Sunday, when we make our annual pledge to support the ministry of All Souls Church. Please join us for a lively and joyous celebration.

Sometimes it’s harder to receive than to give. What prevents us from gratefully accepting life’s blessings? How can we receive them with a gracious and open heart?

Having a friend is just as important as being a friend.

Although as Unitarians we affirm the unity of the human family, the truth is that, as human beings, we often feel utterly alone. Join us on Homecoming Sunday as we celebrate the importance of belonging and the power of community. We return to two services: 9:30 and 11:15.

Bring your dear pets, leashed or in containers, as we celebrate all creatures in the interdependent web.

Where do we find the deepest hope, one that heals our wounds, recharges our spirits, and gives us purpose? Sermon talkback at 11:45.

How does celebration help define living? Creating space for honoring accomplishments, connections, and possibilities.

Third in the series, What is Prophetic Church? Sermon talkback at 11:45.

First in the series, What Is Prophetic Church?

Some believe that doubt is a sign of weak faith. On the contrary, there can be no faith without doubt. What are the spiritual fruits of our doubting and our questioning? This is Rev. Hardies' last sermon before his summer vacation. Join us after the service in Rock Creek Park for our annual church picnic.

In a world of increasingly brief connection, electronic interaction is the daily norm for many. Our service explores the generational divide on technology use, and the creative tension between efficiency and deep relationship. Our musical text will be a Chopin piano piece under two minutes, informally titled the Minute Waltz, with guest pianist Ana Russell.

This Sunday we celebrate Pentecost, the day long ago when a radically diverse group of believers got together and each spoke in his or her own language, yet was understood by all. Skeptics dismissed that first Pentecost as a drunken celebration. And who knows? I'll bet it was a party of sorts. If so, that ancient party provides a prophetic challenge to a "party"--the so-called Tea Party--that seems to be sweeping across America. What's at stake for us as a people and a nation?

Sometimes our love and care for the individual place us in tension with our love and care for the community. How do we respect the worth and dignity of the individual while also honoring the community that supports and sustains us? Second in the series, Living in Love's Shadow.

In a time of climate change and habitat disruption, potential harm will not be distributed equally. How do we align our multiple individual and collective choices with the plumb line for Earth justice? Celebrate Earth Day’s 40th anniversary.

Despite what Simon and Garfunkel said, most of the time we don’t get to take a bridge over troubled waters. Usually we have to wade right in. What happens when the waters of our lives become turbulent?

Each year we ponder the symbolism of the Christian story of the death of Jesus before the coming of the Easter light. The format of this service will have some changes from previous gatherings. It will include musical contemplation, two texts from the Christian and Buddhist traditions, a story of contemporary suffering, and a communion liturgy with bread and juice open to all. We will leave the Sanctuary in darkness and silence, before returning to celebrate together on Easter Sunday.

Sometimes our suffering and despair bring us to a crisis of faith that feels like an attack on our very being. How do we endure such crises? And how do we find our way back to “Hallelujah”?

How do we affirm life in the midst of sorrow, suffering and brokenness? Joined by blues singer Cheryl Jones, Rev. Hardies searches for answers to this question in the Psalms and the Blues, two traditions that share an ability to praise life amidst suffering. What do these “Broken Hallelujahs” have to teach us?

Again and again in ways both subtle and overt we are told that strength, power, and aggressiveness are virtues. This morning we’ll look at the gifts that vulnerability and weakness have to offer.

Why is it that love is always a struggle? Always more complicated than we imagined? How do we find the patience to endure love’s messiness?

Last minute change to Sermon in response to the lack of leadership in Washington to secure Health Care for All in the wake of the Mass election result.

Winter has a way of simplifying the world, of revealing its hidden structures. A wintry faith sees the world as it truly is. What do we see when we look at the world through the eyes of a wintry faith?

Join us for our annual honoring of Kwanzaa. This year in addition to our regular celebration in music, word, and feast we will explore how service and reflection might deepen our sense of community.

Impromptu sermon due to snow emergency cancellation of originally planned service.

"The extraordinary thing that is about to happen," writes the minister and author Frederick Buechner, "is matched only by the extraordinary moment just before it happens. Advent is the name of that moment." What is the extraordinary thing that is about to happen in your life? And how might you prepare for it?

We built a wall between Israel and the Occupied Territories, and we want to build one between the United States and Mexico. What’s behind this penchant for building walls? And what about the walls we build closer to home?

In June, 15 members of the congregation and I went on an extraordinary journey along 73 miles of the Camino de Santiago. This famous pilgrimage route in Spain taught or reminded us of many important life lessons. Come here how the northwest corner of Spain speaks to the journey of life in all places and times.

The present, quite simply, is all that there is. All we ever have is now. How can we live fully into the promise of the present? Today is Generosity Sunday, when we make our annual financial pledge to support the ministries of our church community.

On the occasion of the largest gay rights march on Washington in two decades, UUA President Peter Morales discusses the church’s prophetic call to stand consistently on the side of love.

We all wish to live in a way that is meaningful, and yet we frequently feel adrift or unsure that we are on the right path. This morning we’ll examine what calling means for our individual lives and our larger church community.

On Homecoming Sunday we celebrate the power of spiritual community to see us through difficult times, and recommit ourselves to the spiritual practice of solidarity.

When Rev. Hardies spent time in Assissi, people shared many stories of the ministry of St. Francis to the animals and the Earlth. We will share some of those tales on this special Sunday, as we celebrate our own Blessing of the Animals. Please bring your friendly leashed or crated pets!

Dialogue sermon on building the progressive UU movement, from the vantage points of 50-something and 20-something participants in the arena of social justice.

Time out, play with our friends and family, special gifts, celebratory meals--why not keep it going all year long? We will celebrate all birthdays as an invitation to more joyous living.

In situations of tension, suffering, and loss, it is easy to find enemies. When we move towards compassion for each being, our clear categories of right and wrong break down. How might we open our hearts to all, even if inconvenient?

Living in the tension of the world as it is and the world as it should be, in our country, congregation, and families.

Rev. Hardies, just back from the Coming-of-Age trip to Boston, draws inspiration from Thoreau's peaceful retreat.

How do we go the distance when many competing demands of life surround us? What images might inspire us to stay centered while remembering that the arc towards justice is very long indeed?

When we see a new born baby, we know this child requires human care. As adults, we're expected to be self-sufficient and often lose sight of our need for others. Today we'll explore our need for community and what that might look like.

If there’s any place we should be able to bring our whole selves, it’s the church. If there’s any place we should be able to speak the truth about who we are, it’s the church. Yet we still keep silent about many of the struggles we face. How can we break the silence and bring our whole selves to church?

America and the world are at a precipice--a breaking and breakthrough point. Times of anxiety, change, and hope open us to opportunities where new paths can be laid that lead us toward a more just society. "Do you see what I see?" Guest minister, the Rev. John T. Crestwell, Jr. is with us again while our Minister of Social Justice, Rev. Louise Green, visits Davies Memorial in our continued collaboration.

"Weeping may endure for the night," says the Psalmist, "but joy comes in the morning." This is the promise of Easter. Join us for this celebration of hope and resurrection.

In the aftermath of the US bombing of Japan, the children of All Souls Church reached out to the children of Hiroshima with a gesture of a peace and reconciliation. The exchange that ensued is a remarkable story that can provide insights into our work today for peace and restorative justice. Today’s service includes guest appearences from the All Souls Tulsa Children’s Choir, the Shizumi Kodomo Dance Troupe, and koto player, Kyoko Okamoto. After worship you are invited to a free reception and exhibit of the newly restored All Souls’ Hiroshima Children’s Drawings. DONATE! Children from the intermediate classes (3rd-5th grades) will collect school supplies (washable markers or preschool crayons only) to help support our neighbors who attend the after-school activities at Martha's Table. Place your donations in the baskets at the 16th Street and Harvard Street entrance.

The poet, W.H. Auden wrote, “When shall we learn what should be clear as day, we cannot choose what we are free to love.” If freedom isn’t about choice, then what is it? If we don’t choose what we love, then where does love come from? At the intersection of freedom, grace and love we discover how profoundly all three ground our lives.

We are encouraged regularly to see the elements of our lives in simplistic either/or terms. And yet we live with many tensions—needing to hold and manage the complexities and gray areas of our lives. This morning we’ll explore the gifts of life’s paradoxes.

The wheel goes round and round and it seems as if you are fighting the same wars and having the same arguments again and again. Are you dizzy, bewildered, and tired of this endless cycle? Would you like to get off of the wheel? Guest minister, the Rev. John T. Crestwell, Jr., from Davies Memorial Unitarian Church in Camp Springs, MD, is with us again to share ancient Hindu teachings with a postmodern prescription.

Many of us were taught as children not to talk to people we don’t know, but does that really serve us well? If we are to grow to care about others beyond differences we may have to reach outside of our circle of friends and relations. What do strangers have to teach us?

Our guest preacher this Sunday is the Rev. Dr. Thandeka, a UU minister, theologian, and research professor at Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago. She is the author of The Embodied Self and Learning to Be White, as well as a forthcoming book on Unitarian Universalist theology. She was given the !Xhosa name Thandeka, which means "one who is loved by God," by Bishop Desmond Tutu in 1984.

Failure is a fact of life, especially in difficult times. But our attitudes toward failure often damage us. How can we come to see failure as a teacher? And what spiritual lessons does it offer us?

This year’s Kwanzaa service will reflect on Ujima, the principle of Collective Work and Responsibility. All generations will gather to celebrate the power of collective work to transform our lives and world. Then stay for our Kwanzaa Potluck Feast. Please bring a dish to share!

Revs. Hardies and Lynngood join the children of the church to tell a very special story set to very special music. An All Souls tradition.

In his simple and famous prayer, St Francis of Assisi asked God, 'Make me an instrument of your peace…' He asked for his life to be used in service to a higher calling. On the Sunday of our annual congregational meeting, we will ask, 'What is our calling as a spiritual community in the 21st century?'

Every year on the Sunday before Thanksgiving we take a special collection of food and money to help those in need in our neighborhood. But are we asking the deeper questions of justice that lurk around the holiday table? Who harvests our food? And why won’t many of them be gathering at the holiday table with their families this year?

After a long and intense campaign season we’ll take the opportunity this Sunday to reflect on what insights can be gleaned from the national conversation this race provoked. Whatever the outcome, it is clear there is much work to be done to improve the fractious mood in our country.

Several powerful stories from the Hebrew Bible tell of the moment when someone with both courage and humility presents themselves to the Spirit. What does it mean to offer ourselves to the Spirit? What can we learn from these wisdom stories?

During this all-encompassing political season we have been asked by the candidates many times over to reflect on the role each of us plays in contributing to our common life as Americans. This morning we’ll bring that notion both closer to home (who are we as family members and neighbors?) and further away (what kind of citizen of the world are we?).

Rev. John Crestwell. What does it mean to see ourselves in others? What does it mean to hold others in our care? What does it mean that we look at our past so that we can manifest our greatness in the future? The answers to these questions will guide us to discovering again what it means to be human. Repeated at 11:15 am. Rev. Crestwell is the minister of Davies Memorial Unitarian Church in Camp Springs, Maryland.

Dr. Melissa Harris-Lacewell. During this election season, we reflect on whether our nation can build bridges across divisions of race and gender. Repeated at 11:15 am. A lifelong Unitarian Universalist, Dr. Harris-Lacewell is professor of political science and African American studies at Princeton University. The Religious Education program begins today.

Rev. Louise Green. A look at direct service projects in the All Souls community, including new initiatives for the next church year. What are the ways service can challenge us and change our lives for the better?

Leaders from our

Rev. Joyce Palmer To honor the victims and witnesses of the shooting at the Tennessee UU church, we will make paper cranes and write cards of sympathy to the congregation. Please bring magazines for the paper to construct the cranes. Volunteers will be available to assist with creating the cranes.

Matt Meyer, Special Guest. This UU percussionist brings his music and sense of how it informs our faith to All Souls.

Rev. Shana Lynngood. In this second part in a series on religious language, we explore one of the seven deadly sins. What are the ways in which we need pride in order to avoid low self-esteem? What are the ways in which pride gets in our way?

Rev. Shana Lynngood. One of spiritual practice

Rev. Louise Green, Minister for Social Justice. At All Souls we have a very full social justice menu of organizing, education, advocacy, direct service, and funding. What is the foundation of our action, and how does it relate to building the multi-cultural, multi-racial congregation? What

The Rev. Joyce Palmer gives her first sermon as an ordained UU minister. Remember: All Souls moves to one Sunday service (10:15 am) for the summer.

Rev. Robert M. Hardies. What do we mean when we ask every Sunday, �Spirit of Life, come unto me�? The Spirit can work in powerful, transformative and unwieldy ways. Do we know what we�re getting ourselves into when we beckon the Spirit to enter our lives?

Rob Keithan. How we see ourselves - as individuals, as Unitarian Universalists, as a church, and as a larger religious community - has a profound impact on how we go about living our values. In this service we will reflect on identity, inspiration, purpose, and potential. Rob Keithan serves as Director of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations Washington Office for Advocacy. He is a candidate for Unitarian Universalist ministry and a member of All Souls Church,

Rev. Robert M. Hardies and friends. On the anniversary of the emancipation of slaves in the District of Columbia, we celebrate freedom with a service of music, poetry, and drama, highlighting the voices of Unitarian abolitionists and freed blacks.

Rev. Louise Green. What does it mean to honor the sanctity of life? How might we reflect with integrity on two contentious political and ethical debates of our time: abortion and the death penalty?

Rev. Hardies. Join us for a service of music, poetry, silence and darkness as we remember the crucifixion of Jesus and the brokenness of our world. A simple communion will be served.

Rev. Hardies. �Seek the welfare of the city� wrote the prophet Jeremiah, �for in its welfare you will find your welfare.� On Neighborhood Justice Sunday we explore the role of the church in the city. What is the role of the prophetic church in DC? DC Mayor Adrian Fenty will join us at the second service.

Rev. Robert Hardies. Forgiveness is one of the scarcest commodities on earth, and not an easy task. How do we forgive? How are we forgiven? The last in a three-sermon series on guilt and forgiveness. Repeated at 11:15.

Rev. Robert Hardies. Many people come to All Souls Church glad to leave behind what they think of as \"a religion of guilt.\" But just because we\'ve left guilt-based religion behind doesn\'t mean we don\'t still struggle with a guilty conscience. What is our guilt telling us, and how do we cope with it? The first in a three-sermon series on guilt and forgiveness. Repeated at 11:15.

Rev. Robert Hardies. Many of us - believers or not - have struggled at one time or another with our relationship with God. Some theologians have suggested that this is a good thing; that God must first be our enemy before God can be our friend. How can this be? Repeated at 11:15.

Rev. Shana Lynngood. We talk a great deal at All Souls about our aspiration to grow the racial/ethnic diversity of our congregation. We do so because it gets to the very heart of our self-image, of how we see ourselves as a community. This morning I

Rev. Shana Lynngood. In this year\'s participatory Kwanzaa celebration, we express gratitude for our ancestors, hear stories of remarkable lives, sing, and look closely at the principle of the day: Nia (purpose). Note: only one service, at 10:15

Joyce Palmer. Ancients rejoiced in the growing light, and a star led wise men to a holy child. Where does the light lead us today? By what path do we find that which is worthy of worship and praise? Repeated at the 11:15 service.

Rev. Hardies. The holidays are a season of hope and possibility. How would our understanding of God change if we took the season seriously and understood God not as the cause of all things, but as the possibility in all things? Repeated at the 11:15 service.

This Sunday, we will reflect on what can be learned from the artist\'s eye view of life. Having spent a day with some members at the Edward Hopper exhibit, Rev. Lynngood will look at the role of beauty and light and shadow in our daily living as reflected in Hopper\'s canvasses. 11:15 am: Nuance and Vision, Rev. Lynngood (please see description above)

What are our leadership choices as we seek to build and sustain a multi-cultural and anti-racist community? 11:15am: Leading from the Future, Rev. Louise Green (please see description above)

Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote of the young American Nation: We stand on tiptoe looking for a brighter age. I believe his statement describes our nation even now that our innocence has been shattered. But what might that brighter age look like, and how can this church help lead us there? 11:15am: A Brighter Age, Rev. Hardies (please see description above)

Earlier this year, my childhood pastor called me out of the blue. He saw that I had become a minister and wanted to know why I had left the Presbyterians for the Unitarians. In this open letter to my pastor, I share my response. This Sunday we explore our many paths to a progressive faith. 11:15 am: Why I am a Unitarian, Rev. Hardies (please see description above)

Reverence is a feeling of deep respect and devotion, a sense of awe and wonder. How do we imbue our daily lives with reverence? What spiritual practices can reinforce this sense of respect and awe? 11:15am The Practice of Reverence, Rev. Hardies (Please see description above)

Since January, the word surge has become a staple of the Washington vocabulary. But exactly what kind of surge do we need to bring an end to the war in Iraq? 11:15am Surge, Rev. Hardies (Please see description above)

Reverend Rob Hardies will return from sabbatical. This morning Rev. Hardies will share the moments he felt closest to the congregation during his sabbatical. He will reflect back to us the prayers we gave him in January in celebration of our shared concerns and hopes.

In this People\'s Voices service, several members of the congregation talk about what living generously means to them, both at All Souls and beyond.

One of my first sermons at All Souls was about the meaning of prayer. As we begin to explore spiritual development more deeply, it seems like a good time to revisit the goal of this central spiritual practice. What do we get out of prayer? Does it make a difference?

In our constant motion culture we seem to have forgotten how to be still. How can we find a sense of satisfaction with what is? What is it exactly that we hope to find by constantly going?

This morning Rev. Louise Green, ASC Minister of Social Justice, will preach.

Neil Chethik is a UU from Lexington, Ky, and author of two books about men

The work of mending the world in our times must include a response to U.S. policies and global violence, as people of faith.

Two years ago this spring we adopted a covenant of right relations for our congregation. This morning we will look at how we are doing in agreement and disagreement

By way of a curious-but-true story from Calcutta, India, Rev. Alexander will explore the spiritual value of having an adaptable heart.

On this day when we celebrate Emancipation Day in DC we will explore the many ways in which freedom is still elusive. In what way is freedom something we are given? Is it a birthright? When and how do we limit our own freedom?

Rev. Schulz's sermon will address why UU values are so critical at this particular point in American history.

Bishop John Selders is an ordained minister serving in the United Church of Christ and the organizing pastor of Amistad United Church of Christ in Hartford, CT. He was consecrated to the office of Bishop in the Church of God and presides over a new religious body, the Inter-Denominational Conference of Liberation Congregations and Ministries--an interfaith, ecumenical fellowship of radical inclusivity. Bishop Selders is a member of the Human Rights Campaign Religion Council where he has helped create safe-space conversations with African-American clergy on issues of same gender relationships in the African-American church.

Melissa Harris-Lacewell is a Professor at Princeton University. More details to follow.

What might we Unitarian Universalists learn from the Hindu faith?

Amidst the swirl of personal identity, cultural influences, and societal pressures how do we chart a path that is simultaneously authentic and connected? How do we experience the world and not see it as simply the set for the events and happenings of our days?

One of the most difficult ways to love someone is to draw boundaries to our love. Sometimes what our loved ones need most is for us to help them to learn to love themselves and rely less on us. Another sermon in the occasional series,

New parenthood has brought new thoughts and insights about the meaning of family. How do we love those to whom we are related but are not always in agreement with? How have we been shaped by and how do we impact those who are closest to us? When it comes to family life, what really matters?

At 9:00 pm: We welcome Christmas into the world and into our hearts during this candlelit service of readings and carols. (Don't forget to bring a bell to ring every time we sing 'Alleluia'). An All Souls tradition.

On this Sunday before Christmas, Revs. Hardies and Lynngood join with the children of the church to tell the story of the birth of Jesus, all set to beautiful music and the voices of the DC Children's Choir. The Annual ASC Christmas Pageant is directed by Gabrielle Farrell, Director of Religious Education Ministries.

It

As we give thanks for the many gifts of our lives, we also turn our hearts to those who are in need. Join us for our Annual Thanksgiving Collection of Foods and Funds to support All Souls Social Justice Ministries. The Rev. Alma Faith Crawford is professor of preaching at Starr King School for Ministry.

Many religious tradiions teach that a frank acknowledgement of our finitude is a key to spiritual breakthrough. On All Souls Day, when we remember and honor those in our community who have died in the last year, we will also reflect on the meaning of death for us, the living.

One of the most important questions of the spiritual life is how we recover from hardship and loss. What are the sources of spiritual resilience? What makes for a resilient soul? Today is Generosity Sunday, when we make our annual pledge to support the ministry of All Souls Church. Please join us for a lively and joyous celebration.

On Homecoming Sunday, I preached a sermon with this same title, and talked about love and its demands. Many of you noticed that I didn\'t get around to speaking of its limits. Is there a line we can draw when love demands too much? I will respond to this difficult question this morning.

What will it take and what are we doing in our efforts to grow the racial diversity of All Souls? Come celebrate the diversity of our community and dream about making it more so.

Homecoming Sunday! Fall schedule resumes with services at 10:50 a.m. At All Souls, it is our hope that all members discover the source of love in their lives and act on that love in ever-expanding circles. But what does

Hospitality is a precious and powerful spiritual gift. How do we embody hospitality in our lives and what difference can it make?

What do you hope to get when you come to church on Sunday? If you receive something important here, how do you pass it along? Join Amanda Poppei, All Souls member and a candidate for the Unitarian Universalist ministry, as she celebrates the many gifts she has received from All Souls -- and explores the gifts we each bring when we join a congregation. Amanda currently serves as the ministerial intern at River Road Unitarian Church.

At the retreat Sunday morning this year, I spoke about living in such a way that it will leave its mark as something of which we are proud. How do we live in a way that uplifts all we value?

A wise colleague said one of the reasons to regularly attend church is because it is the equivalent of getting a spiritual check-up. When difficult life experiences come, what are the spiritual wellsprings you draw from? How do you make sure they are accessible when you need them?

This Fourth of July weekend, we will explore what it means to be a leader (in any setting). How much is leadership about personal traits and how much of its is rooted in the goals being reached for?

There are moments and places in our lives when the worldly and sacred realms seem to brush up against one another. The Celts called these moments

On the day after All Souls hosts a major conference of religious progressives, Rev. Hardies and conference participants will reflect on the future of progressive religion in America.

Five years ago this month, this congregation called Rev. Hardies to be our senior minister. In this sermon, Rev. Hardies reflects on where we\\\'ve been over the last five years, and shares a vision for our future.

What do two Biblical women and a turn of the century Italian immigrant have in common? Come hear how each of their their stories reaffirms our need for balance within oursleves and within our communities. The Rev. Louis V. Schwebius is minister of the Mt. Vernon Unitarian Church in Alexandria, VA.

Join Rev. Hardies in the sanctuary for All Souls' annual Good Friday Tenebrae service.

The longer we live the more we see "both/ands" rather than "either/ors." What are some of the central paradoxes of the spiritual life and how do we live with paradox without being paralyzed?

The second in a series of sermons exploring the link between our religious values and our social and political commitments. Rev. Hardies will show how, since the 19th century, Unitarian-Universalist values have supported a progressive social vision for our nation.

The work of ministry (to our families and friends or to the world) is too central to our vocation as human beings to be left to ordained clergy alone. What ministry does each of us have to offer? What do we feel called to do and whom do we feel called to become?

To understand the current divide among progressives and conservatives -- between red states and blue -- scholars increasingly point to theological differences that date back 200 years. How does theology affect politics? What role have our UU ancestors played in this theological debate?

Ultimately, our search brings us to an affirmation of life's preciousness and its meaning. (Last in a series of three sermons.)

"What is the meaning of life?" This is, perhaps, the fundamental human question... and the fundamental religious question. Today we embark on a three-week journey through the wisdom of the ages in search of clues to life's meaning.

Our capitalist and consumer-driven culture push us to confuse needs and wants. As we begin a new year, we will reflect on how we can better align our lives with our values. How can we live what we believe and what is most important to us?

5:00 p.m.: Family Candlelight Service The early service includes all the richness of the later Christmas Eve service, as well as a few special features for families with young children. The DC Children

As we approach the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, we are reminded of the Earth

It is an odd tendency in our culture to simultaneously emphasize fear and preparedness through vast amounts of information. How in the midst of a constant barrage of disaster and news of possible doom do we keep our balance?

The purpose of the spiritual life is to grow a spacious soul, a soul capable of withstanding the contradictions and complexities of the modern world. How do we grow such a soul? What does a spacious soul look and feel like?

Several years ago I preached a sermon about the theological meaning of our church name, All Souls. Like any good symbol, though, the more you sit with it, the deeper it makes its way into your soul. This Sunday will be about the deeper meanings in this symbol that is so central to our faith.

Yom Kippur is the Jewish Day of Atonement, when people are asked to repent of their sins and seek out those with whom they must reconcile. Today, Revs. Hardies and Goodwin will explore the spiritual discipline of reconciliation through the lens of race in America.

No matter how large our sphere of influence, each of us contribute something to the world. The question that remains is whether what we contribute to the world is a blessing or a curse. Learn how to be a blessing this Sunday.

We are so often pushed to our breaking or burn-out points by deadlines and demands. When this happens, we lose sight of the good that comes from giving of ourselves to others, to worthy causes. How do we give, not til it hurts, but til it nourishes?

What is living wage and living well? A Labor Day reflection on issues of social justice, work, and looking for fulfillment.

Rev. Hardies was the keynote preacher at the Unitarian Universalist Association's General Assembly in June, in Fort Worth, TX. This Sunday, he shares his GA sermon with us at All Souls.

Mr. Sabater, a dynamic speaker, is the founder and director of MOMIES, TLC, an Afro-centric child-development program based at All Souls Church.

In this culture, we are pushed to define ourselves over and over again -- sometimes, in less than productive ways. How do we hold on to a sense of self while remaining open?

Often we find ourselves searching for something more, rather than appreciating the blessings we have. How can we be less jaded and hold on to child-like wonder?

In mid-life, most of us are beginning to experience the first signs of aging. It is a time of transition, perhaps transformation, as losses give way to new possibilities.

Do you spend too much time doing things that are soul-deadening? Is your day "busy," yet unfulfilling? Time is our most precious asset, and we have a religious obligation to use it well. This Sunday we explore how.

In the New Testament Gospels, Jesus asks, "Who do you say that I am?" Our country is embroiled in debate about the power or peril of evangelical Christianity. This Sunday, we will look at different interpretations of Jesus, and hear one United Church of Christ minister's testimony as it relates to being a social justice director in a UU congregation.

On Mother's Day, we will reflect on how environment can encourage (or stunt) us in our growth as a person and support us in our efforts to be compassionate. How is our capacity to deepen our spiritual selves impacted by what and whom we surround ourselves with?

The controversy surrounding Terri Schiavo's death raises many issues about the meaning and nature of life. This Sunday Reverend Hardies will help us look at the religious issues that are fundamental to this question. As this Sunday is also Earth Day, we will put the question of the meaning of human life in the larger context of all Creation.

Last November's election prompted much self-reflection among both political and religious liberals. I've been examining my own faith since the election, and have come to some conclusions about how our faith must grow and change to meet the challenges of the times. Today I want to share my thoughts with you.

Easter Sunday Sometimes, our sense of the Holy is re-awakened in unexpected ways. A stone is rolled away, and our world is suddenly suffused with the light of mystery and grace. This morning, we say Alleluia to these surprising revelations, and to what they disclose about the nature of the Holy.

Neighborhood Justice Sunday Violence in our neighborhood and world make me recall Jesus' Palm Sunday lament: "If only you had recognized the things that make for peace. But now they are hid from your eyes." Today, we celebrate the things that make for peace. Dr. Juan Romagoza of Clinica del Pueblo will be honored with the ASC Just Soul Award, honoring those who make our neighborhood more just and compassionate.

This Sunday, we will honor the ministry and 40-year anniversary of the loss of Rev. James Reeb. Rev. Reeb was the Associate Minister of All Souls from 1959-1964. He was killed in Selma when he went to join the civil rights struggle. What does it mean to stand for something you believe in? What are the rewards and the cost of the stand?

You can tell a lot about a religion by what its paradise looks like. You can tell even more about a religion by when its paradise is coming. What about Unitarian Universalists? Where is our paradise? And when is it coming?

We spend a great deal of time in our lives trying to express ourselves as authentically as possible. There are many pressures to "pass" ourselves off as someone we are not. How do we find wholeness?

One of the most moving parts of every service is when the congregation together sings the hymn "Spirit of Life." Why do we find such power in these words and in this melody? What is the history of this prayer? And what does it mean?

Join us for a special morning of singing with Dr. Ysaye Barnwell. Ysaye is a member of All Souls Church, and in manager of the Grammy-Award Winning African-American a capella ensemble, Sweet Honey in the Rock. This morning, she will teach us abou thte power that a community can muster when it gathers in song. No matter what your vocal ability, don't miss this spirit-filled, intergenerational experience!

Join us for a celebration of Kwanzaa.

On this Sunday before Christmas, Revs. Hardies and Goodwin are joined by some special guests to tell a story set to extraordinary music. Please join us.

Someone once said that Americans don't know how to savor things, we only know how to consume them. Why do we so often want to possess that which we desire? How can we learn to love without crushing that which we love?

Annual Thanksgiving Collection of Food and Funds Once upon a time in New England, Unitarian churches were called "parishes." The notion of the parish signified the church's concern not only for its own members, but also for the entire neighborhood. We will revisit this "parish" ideal on the Sunday when we share non-perishable food and much-needed funds with those in our neighborhood.

On this Sunday after the election, we will reflect on how we manage to keep going through triumphs and defeats. What are the sources of our strength? How do we remember them when we struggle?

We all want our lives to make a difference, whether in the tiny sphere of our family, or on a larger scale. Today, as we celebrate how All Souls Church makes a difference in our lives and in our community, we ask how people of faith can make a difference in the world. This Sunday is also Generosity Sunday, the day that we make our financial pledge to support the work of the church in the upcoming year.

Why do we grieve? How do we do it well? What is the spiritual significance of our grief?

In the centuries-old Unitarian churches of Massachusetts, it was customary for the minister, during an election season, to offer a faith-based perspective on the issues facing the Massachusetts Bay Colony. This year we will revive that old Unitarian practice here at All Souls.

As we gather as a community for the formal beginning of the new church year, we will explore one of the fundamental tragedies of the human condition: We need people, yet we push them away. We can't survive without community, yet we are lousy at forming it. How do we live in community with integrity? This is also "Homecoming Sunday." That means the choirs and ministers will be back, and religious education classes for children will resume. The sanctuary will also be cooler, thanks to the new air conditioning system installed over the summer. Please note that services will now start at 10:50 a.m.

It's August in D.C. again. How do we cope with the "dog days" of summer and the "dog days" of life?

Manish Mishra, a member of All Souls Church and a UU Seminarian at Harvard Divinity School, will preach on the topic of change. We are all confronted with changing circumstances in our lives. How does change affect us? How do we understand and relate to change? Manish will share his thoughts on dealing with change as an individual and in the context of community.

Each of us frequently gets caught up in "what if" and "if only" thinking. Regret holds a great deal of power over us. If we let go of some of this way of thinking or feeling, what difference would it make?

As busy modern people, we don't often slow down enough to revere anything. How does the virtue of reverence add meaning to the otherwise mundane? What is reverence, anyway?

Some think that America IS the world's hope. But hope is transcendent. As William Sloane Coffin says, "Hope criticizes what is, hopelessness rationalizes it. Hope resists, hopelessness adapts." Our guest preacher will be the Rev. John Buehrens, immediate past president of the UUA and a co-founder of the Clergy Leadership Network for National Leadership Change.

Each of our lives bear the imprint of those who have gone before us. How does a sense of legacy affect us? At All Souls? In our personal lives? During the service today, we'll also hold an older children dedication and a new member ingathering.

Different people. Different beliefs. One faith. What's the secret of this community called All Souls?

How do we have the conversations that are so hard and so important with those who have hurt us, and between the experiences of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and class? It is part of our spiritual work to try, to improve, and to stay in it for the long haul.

Someone once defined spirituality as a "thoughtful, passionate love of life." Neitzsche admonished us to live life "overflowing." How do we live and love out of a sense of abundance?

To celebrate the march for Women's Lives, we will be joined this Sunday by hundreds of UUs from around the country. (Overflow seating with closed circuit television will be provided in Pierce Hall). The Rev. Dr. Parker, a leading feminist theologian and preacher, will deliver a stirring and theologically grounded sermon that looks at the issue of reproductive freedom fromt eh perspective of liberal theology. To facilitate travel to the march, our service will begin at 9:50 a.m. Rev. Parker is a feminist theologian and president of Starr King School for the Ministry.

One of the most difficult and necessary skills in life is our ability to affirm life and joy after suffering and loss. Easter is a story about such a transformation. Celebrate our capacity for rebirth and renewal on this joy-filled Sunday.

Having taken a pilgrimage of sorts to many removed art history and spiritual sites. I was left wondering what it is that makes a place feel sacred. How and why is it that some places and spaces evoke the Spirit? Are there ways that we might bring the beauty and inspiration of those places with us wherever we go?

In our UU context, it is sometimes a challenge to figure out what role prayer plays in our lives. Can you pray without knowing to whom or what? How and why do you pray?

Revs. Goodwin and Hardies will each offer their perspectives on the category of race and the problem of racism, and how they can inhibit our ability to live as members of "one great family of all souls."

I happened to be visiting San Francisco last weekend and witnessed the act of 'municipal disobedience' that that city committed by issuing marriage licenses for gay and lesbian couples. I want to tell you what I witnessed there, what it taught me about 'family values,' and what our vision is for how All Souls Church can minister to all the families and children of our church and city. Nursery care will be provided for the service, but older children are asked to worship with their families in the sanctuary.

One of my favorite phrases of Alice Walker is: "Expect nothing. Live frugally on surprise." In The Color Purple, Celie writes of God or the world: "It always making little surprises and springing them on us when us least suspect." This morning, we'll sing for joy and reflect on surprises. Rev. Gage is a UU minister in Joliet, Ill. and a friend of Rev. Shana Goodwin, who today will be installed as Associate Minister at All Souls.

Have you been waiting for a sermon on "Unitarian Universalism 101?" Have you hoped for a simple way to talk about your faith? Are you looking for a good Sunday to bring a friend? Then this one's for you. Rev. Hardies will articulate our faith using two prominent symbols in our sanctuary: the Flaming Chalice and the "All Souls Are Mine" table.

Frequently, we get so caught up in each individual event in our lives that we forget to pay attention to the larger whole. What does it mean to see our lives whole? Or to see our All Souls community in its fullness?

In this service, we will honor the African-American community celebration of Kwanzaa. How do its principles (faith, self-determination, collective economics, etc.) speak to our spiritual lives?

On this Sunday before Christmas, Revs. Hardies and Goodwin will be joined by some very special guests to tell a special story set to some special music. Please join us.

We live in the most powerful city in the most powerful nation in the world. How can we use power to increase the good and confront evil?

The Annual Thanksgiving Service and Collection Every once in a while life breaks through the layers of habit and routine and provides us with glimpses of life in the raw: exhiliration, profound loneliness, desperation. A sensitive soul incorporates these glimpses back into daily life. Join us for our annual Thanksgiving Service and Collection of food and money to serve our neighborhood.

The first in a two-part sermon series: The Fundamental Experiences of the Religious Life, UU minister and author Forrest Church says, "Religion is humanity's attempt to cope with the dual reality of living and having to die." Skeptics often deride religion as a crutch for people who fear death. Much religious thought stems from death, but how can the knowledge of our death be a positive experience for religious life?

You can't read the newspaper these days without noticing what's going on in the Episcopal Church. Next Sunday -- if all goes as planned -- Episcopalians in New Hampshire will ordain the Rev. Gene Robinson as the first openly gay bishop in the worldwide Anglican Communion. The impending ordination has conservative churches in America preparing for secession, threatening to split off and pledge their allegiance and their money to more theologically conservative bishops from Africa.

From African-American spirituality to Taoist traditions, the river has been a powerful metaphor of the religious life. We will explore how various traditions have used the image of the river, and learn what the river can teach us about the way Spirit moves in our lives.

Many of us despair of our city, our nation, and our world. The values we hold dear -- peace, justice, compassion, tolerance -- increasingly seem like "lost causes." Drawing on his tragic love of the Boston Red Sox, Rev. Hardies will articulate an embracing and feisty "spirituality of the underdog." Love of baseball is not a prerequisite for this service.