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# Unitarian Universalist Church of the South Hills

building a more just and compassionate community

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://www.sunnyhill.org/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [Sunnyhill on Sunnyhill](https://www.sunnyhill.org/sunnyhill-on-sunnyhill/) - What Sunnyhillers have to say about Sunnyhill! Watch now!  
- [Now Hiring- Sunday Morning Childcare Provider](https://www.sunnyhill.org/now-hiring-sunday-morning-childcare-provider/) - Sunnyhill Religious Education is hiring a childcare provider for 2023-2024! Contact Jennifer McGlothin, dre@sunnyhill.org for more information. 2023 Job Description Nursery
- [June 2023 Events](https://www.sunnyhill.org/june-2023-events/) - Pittsburgh Pride June 3, Lineup Begins at 10 am Join Your UU Friends at Pride on June 3! Update from 5/31/2023: The Unitarian Universalists of Greater Pittsburgh will be marching in the Pride Parade this coming Saturday. There are NO assigned spaces, Just Zones. We are in Zone 3 – Liberty Ave from 13th street
- [Shop for Sunnyhill](https://www.sunnyhill.org/shop-for-sunnyhill/) - To add UUCSH as your beneficiary for Amazon purchases: https://smile.amazon.com/ch/25-1462443 Amazon Smile FAQ's How does my organization receive the donations? Each quarter, the AmazonSmile Foundation makes donations to eligible charitable organizations by electronic funds transfer. Donations will be transferred approximately 45 days after the end of each calendar quarter. To account for Product returns, a portion
- [COVID19 Updates](https://www.sunnyhill.org/re-opening-plan-2021-2022/) - The UUCSH Board is committed to the following principles when considering the health and safety of the congregation: (1) decisions are rooted in the values of inclusion and consent; (2) follow the science; (3) go slow and be flexible; and (4) be realistic with expectations of ourselves and others. Plan for Phased Lifting of Covid
- [](https://www.sunnyhill.org/11704-2/) - Academy Concerts has teamed with Sunnyhill for a 2022-23 concert series! Enjoy wonderful music throughout the year at Sunnyhill! First up on July 26 at 7:30 p.m. is Miguel Espinoza Fusion, a quartet that twists jazz, flamenco, Cuban and classical Indian musical forms into intoxicating journeys that thrill audiences. Miguel Espinoza Fusion has recorded and
- [Owen Chaffin Eagle Scout Service Project](https://www.sunnyhill.org/owen-chaffin-eagle-scout-service-project/) - Hello Sunnyhillers! I’m Owen Chaffin, a member of the Sunnyhill Youth Group. I am also a member of Scouts BSA South Park Troop 510. I am working on my Eagle Scout service project which will benefit the Pittsburgh Prison Book Project, a project of the Thomas Merton Center. They are a great local organization that
- [Giant Eagle Fundraiser](https://www.sunnyhill.org/giant-eagle-fundraiser/) - This fundraiser has been providing income to Sunnyhill for at least twenty years. Each month I accept orders for Giant Eagle gift cards. These come in three denominations: $25, $50 and $100. After I place the congregation's order and I receive the cards, I also receive an invoice. The way that the church raises funds
- [Submit Joys and Sorrows](https://www.sunnyhill.org/submit-joys-sorrows/)
- [Submit Announcements](https://www.sunnyhill.org/submit-announcements/) - Announcements should be: Clear and Concise Include the date, time, and location Have a direct connection to someone affiliated with the congregation
- [We are on our way!](https://www.sunnyhill.org/we-are-on-our-way/) - On June 5 the Unitarian Universalist Church of the South Hills (Sunnyhill) broke ground for a $2.6 million expansion to meet the needs of our growing congregation. The addition to the church’s 90 year-old building will include offices, classrooms, and a sanctuary that will accommodate 200 people, more than twice the capacity of our current

## Pages

- [Service Details](https://www.sunnyhill.org/location/service-recording/) - Quick Links Order of Service Sunnyhill Facebook Page Sunnyhill YouTube Channel Sunnyhill Service Podcast Submit a Joy/Sorrow (Please submit by noon on Friday to appear in the Sunday service) Give Online Worship Services take place on Facebook Live on Sunday Morning at 10:00 am during the summer months and 11:15 am during the regular church
- [Our Church Governance](https://www.sunnyhill.org/our-church-governance/) - The Unitarian Universalist Church of the South Hills is part of the Unitarian Universalist Association, which has a rich history of congregational polity. This means that UUCSH or "Sunnyhill" are responsible for the governing of our own congregation through membership in our faith community. UUCSH Members make all decisions for the church, including adopting bylaws,
- [About Us](https://www.sunnyhill.org/about-us/) - Congregational Details can be found in our most recent Annual Report! We are people of all ages, people of many backgrounds, and people of many beliefs. We are brave, curious and compassionate thinkers and doers. We create spirituality and community beyond boundaries, working for more justice and more love in our own lives and in
- [Annual Reports](https://www.sunnyhill.org/annual-reports/) - Annual Report Summary 2025 Annual Report Summary 2024
- [Children and Youth](https://www.sunnyhill.org/lifespan-re/children-and-youth/) - Quick links: Register a child for RE or Nursery Register a Youth for Youth Group Volunteer to teach an RE Class Religious Education Volunteer Clearance Information Visit Our RE Library Current Curriculum Religious Education Purpose and Mission The purpose of the Unitarian Universalist Church of the South Hills Religious Education Program is to provide: •
- [Community Service](https://www.sunnyhill.org/community-service/) - Sunnyhill ACTION! The Sunnyhill ACTION Team (Actions of Compassion for Transformation in our Neighborhood) exists to help our congregation live its values beyond our walls through acts of compassion, service, and justice. We coordinate opportunities for members, friends, children, and youth of the church to engage in meaningful service, build relationships with community partners, and
- [Fill-A-Bag Initiative](https://www.sunnyhill.org/community-service/fill-a-bag-initiative/) - UUCSH is joining Casa San José as a mission partner for their Emergency Food Assistance program! Here is how it works: Step 1: Raise funds! Our goal is $1500. Contribute here: Fill-A-Bag Fund Step 2: A representative from UUCSH will place an order and pick up all grocery items. Items will be brought to UUCSH
- [Little Free Food Pantry](https://www.sunnyhill.org/community-service/little-free-food-pantry/)
- [Sunnyhill Live! Concerts](https://www.sunnyhill.org/music-and-choir/sunnyhill-live/) - The Early Mays with Nicole Myers Friday, May 1st, 7:30pm Somewhere on the border between old-time music and modern American songwriting, The Early Mays have built a sound with harmonies that feel like home—and we are delighted to welcome them for an evening of beautifully crafted music. For more than ten years, their partnership has
- [COA/YG Coffeehouse](https://www.sunnyhill.org/coffeehouse/) - What is Sunnyhill Coffeehouse? The Sunnyhill Coffeehouse is an all-ages event where our sanctuary is transformed into an ultra-hip performance space featuring acts of all kinds. It’s a chance for fellowship, where you can sit back and enjoy a cup of Fair Trade joe, buy some home-baked treats, and watch our very own version of
- [Bylaw Revisions: General](https://www.sunnyhill.org/our-church-governance/our-elected-leaders/bylaw-revisions-general/) - The following are the changes to the bylaws as approved by the Board. To hopefully ease reading, the Articles and updated sections are bolded. In red are the draft changes. The current bylaws can be found here. We request that Members of the UUCSH review these changes so we can vote on them during the
- [Our Minister and Staff](https://www.sunnyhill.org/minister-and-staff/) - Ministry & Programs Rev. Jim Magaw (He/Him), Minister minister@sunnyhill.org 412-561-6277 Appointments Only “We do not think ourselves into a new way of living as much as we live ourselves into new ways of thinking,” Richard Rohr said. Similarly, my path of ministerial formation has been one of living my way into ministry, rather than thinking
- [Committees & Teams](https://www.sunnyhill.org/our-church-governance/our-governance/) - Board-appointed and Congregation-elected Leadership Development Personnel Membership & Outreach Membership Outreach & Promotion Community Life Caring Committee Facilities & Safety Art & Aesthetics Building and Grounds Garden Technology Toward a Safe Congregation Team Lifespan Religious Education Religious Education Adult RE Team Social Justice Social Justice Stewardship Sunday Services Worship Team
- [Be The Future!](https://www.sunnyhill.org/our-church-governance/our-governance/bethefuture/) - Building Design and Planning Updates Capital Campaign Updates
- [Board of Trustees](https://www.sunnyhill.org/our-church-governance/our-elected-leaders/) - Contact: board@sunnyhilll.org President: Carol Slomski Carol became a member of Sunnyhill in October 2019. She was called into this faith by its continuing search for truth and its commitment to social and environmental justice. She is a member of the Beloved Conversations Team, and has participated in and helped to lead a Sharing Circle. She
- [Bylaw Revisions: Welcome Statement](https://www.sunnyhill.org/our-church-governance/our-elected-leaders/bylaws-revisions/) - Bylaw Revision, Adopted April 2025 This religious community intentionally welcomes individuals of various life situations, abilities, and viewpoints. We celebrate human diversity in all its wonderful forms, including differences in age, race, ethnicity and national origin, abilities and disabilities, sexual orientation, gender identity, financial means, education, and theological and political perspectives. We affirm and respect
- [2026 Sunnyhill Service Auction Details](https://www.sunnyhill.org/service-auction/12054-2/) - BLACK & GOLD Pittsburgh’s UU Event of the Year Saturday, April 11, 2026 @ 5:00 pm Join us for Sunnyhill’s biggest party and largest fundraiser of the year! There will be fun, fellowship, dinner, robust live auction, party signups, and raffles. The evening includes a festive dinner, dessert, beverages and admission to the finest Sunnyhill
- [About the Sunnyhill Auction](https://www.sunnyhill.org/service-auction/) - Tickets now available! Click here. Want to check out a previous Auction Booklet? Click Here! Looking for Donation ideas? Click Here! Questions? Email: serviceauction@sunnyhill.org or see members of the Auction Team in the Fellowship Hall between services. Full Auction Details are available here.
- [Our Whole Lives (OWL)](https://www.sunnyhill.org/lifespan-re/children-and-youth/owl/) - OWL is a sexuality education program that UUCSH offers to children in grades 4-6 and 7-9. Children are taught in classes by Sunnyhill members who have completed OWL training. Caregivers who wish their children to participate are required to attend an informational meeting. OWL Classes are offered at Sunnyhill on a rotating schedule. 2023-2024 4th-6th
- [Our Whole Lives 4-6 Grade](https://www.sunnyhill.org/lifespan-re/children-and-youth/owl/our-whole-lives-4-6-grade/) - Our Whole Lives (OWL) is a comprehensive sexuality education curriculum for children of all faiths. This section of OWL was specifically designed for youth in grades 4-6. This ten-workshop curriculum is designed to help children ages nine through twelve to gain the knowledge, life principles, and skills they need to understand and express their sexuality
- [Be the Future! Building Planning and Design](https://www.sunnyhill.org/our-church-governance/our-governance/bethefuture/be-the-future-building-planning-and-design/) - December 2025 Updates New! Check out the Be the Future Website for ongoing updates from the planning and design team! November 2025 Updates Architect Presentation You can also review the most recent building plans in detail: Building Plans (PDF) 2025 Timeline with Rothschild Doyno Collaborative Be the Future Presentation 03.23.25
- [Be the Future! Capital Campaign](https://www.sunnyhill.org/our-church-governance/our-governance/bethefuture/capital-campaign-2024/) - Questions? Please send an email to capitalcampaign@sunnyhill.org A member of the Leadership Team will respond. June 2025 Update The Sunnyhill capital campaign began in May 2024. From May until December 2024 pledges of 3.1 million dollars were made. Here is a summary of the pledges made. The goal for the campaign was 4.4 million dollars.
- [Art at Sunnyhill](https://www.sunnyhill.org/art-at-sunnyhill/) - We celebrate the unique, eclectic, and exuberant artwork that enlivens our surroundings at Sunnyhill. To truly appreciate the beauty of these pieces, you'll have to visit in person! To learn more about each piece and its creator (or creators), click on a piece of art: Sunnyhill Quilts. Individual squares designed and/or sewn by Sunnyhill congregants and
- [One World Holiday Celebration](https://www.sunnyhill.org/one-world-holiday/) - Saturday, December 6 at Sunnyhill 4-7pm Doors open at 4pm RSVP Now! Pricing when you sign up online by midnight November 30: $10 (age 13 and up), $5 (age 3-12), free for little ones Due to fire marshal regulations and very high attendance last year, we will cap registration at 170 people this year or
- [Youth Group](https://www.sunnyhill.org/lifespan-re/children-and-youth/high-school/) - The Youth Group will start its year on September 14th and meet most Sundays from 10:45-12:15pm through the end of May. Register Here: 2025-2026 Youth Group Registration
- [What to Expect in RE](https://www.sunnyhill.org/lifespan-re/children-and-youth/nursery-preschool/) - What to Expect for Children on Sunday Mornings Upon arrival at Sunnyhill, families are welcome to go to the Sanctuary together to begin worship together. Nursery-aged children (6 months through age 3) are invited to stay with their parents/guardians or to play in our nursery, which is located right next door to the Sanctuary.
- [Religious Education](https://www.sunnyhill.org/lifespan-re/) - Children and Youth Religious Education "RE" provides opportunities for faith exploration for young Unitarian Universalists through activity and discussion on Sunday mornings for children and youth. In addition to Sunday morning classes, the Religious Education program includes holiday events and activities, rituals like Child Dedication and Coming of Age, and more. Contact DRE Jen McGlothin
- [Environmental Justice](https://www.sunnyhill.org/social-justice/environmental-justice/) - Unitarian Universalism's 7th Principle calls us to acknowledge and protect the interdependent web of existence of which we are all apart. We care for the planet and support sustainable communities so that life can be sustained for generations to come. We do this in solidarity and partnership with those most impacted by environmental destruction because
- [Pumpkin Party](https://www.sunnyhill.org/pumpkin-party/) - Date: Saturday, October 11 Time: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Location: Sunnyhill Lawn Fall is here, and so are the pumpkins! Join us for a day full of laughter, teamwork, and pumpkin-themed fun for all ages. We’ll start with unloading the pumpkin truck and end with contests, games, food, and fellowship. Schedule of Events:
- [Proud to Pledge!](https://www.sunnyhill.org/stewardship/pledge/) - Quick Links Pledging FAQ's
- [Pledging FAQ's](https://www.sunnyhill.org/stewardship/pledge/pledging-faqs/) - Congregational Stewardship Q&A Why do we pledge? This church belongs to each of us. We pledge to fund the daily operations and to ensure that the church and its resources are here for us and for others now and in the future. What is the money used for? Pledge and other revenue sources (rental, investment,
- [Stewardship](https://www.sunnyhill.org/stewardship/) - The Sunnyhill Stewardship Team encourages healthy financial support for the congregation. They develop and implement the annual canvass campaign, which enables UUCSH's daily operations. The 2025-2026 Stewardship Team includes Mike Farb and Greg Boris. Staff members Bethany Thornton and Rev. Jim Magaw support this team, as well as UUCSH Treasurer, Gabe Kooreman. To contact the
- [Giving Guide](https://www.sunnyhill.org/stewardship/giving-guide/)
- [National/Global Connections](https://www.sunnyhill.org/national-global-opportunities/) - Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) The UUSC is the human rights and social justice organization for all Unitarian Universalists. The UUSC is currently focusing on Rights for Women, Field to Fork and Economic Justice in locations around the globe where help is most desperately needed. Our church is a strong contributor to UUSC initiatives and
- [Community Partners](https://www.sunnyhill.org/local-opportunities/) - Pennsylvania Interfaith Impact Network (PIIN) UUCSH is a founding member of PIIN and the Social Justice Committee spearheads the church’s involvement with this valuable partner through public action meetings, government lobbying and congregational organizing. Several members of UUCSH sit on PIIN Task Forces focused on Gun Violence, Immigration, Education, Jobs/Economy and Transit Equity. South Hills
- [Share the Plate](https://www.sunnyhill.org/share-the-plate/) - “Share the Plate” Program In 2023, Sunnyhill raised more than $5,000 for social justice and charitable organizations in the larger community through our designated offering program. For quite some time, we have had designated offerings once or twice a month to benefit organizations aligned with our congregation’s values. In 2024 we shifted from designated offerings
- [Pumpkin Patch 2025](https://www.sunnyhill.org/pumpkin-patch-fundraiser/) - The Sunnyhill Pumpkin Patch is Back! Pumpkins arrive 9:00 a.m., Oct. 11, 2025! Pumpkin party to celebrate their arrival! Selling starts at 12:00 p.m., Oct. 11, and concludes Oct. 31 at 5:00 p.m. (or whenever we sell out!) Here's why we're selling pumpkins. Sunnyhill hosts a pumpkin patch because every pumpkin we sell helps Sunnyhill
- [Breeze Church Database](https://www.sunnyhill.org/breeze-church-database/) - All Sunnyhill Members have been invited to create an account in “Breeze”, our online church database. If you have not yet created an account, check your spam folder for instructions or Jen for a new invitation. Once your account has been created, you can utilize Breeze to manage your own directory listing, create a church
- [Facilities & Safety](https://www.sunnyhill.org/facilities-and-safety/) - Art & Aesthetics This committee was organized to work with the board to make sure that artwork donations are appropriate to the needs of the church, both aesthetically and with regard to available display space. The committee’s screening process for member artwork ensures that all donations are evaluated fairly. The Committee also manages a rotating
- [Climate Justice Revival](https://www.sunnyhill.org/climate-justice-revival/) - Sunnyhill Joins the First-Ever UU Climate Justice Revival! Sunday, April 20 Our service will shine a spotlight on climate justice. The sermon will explore the challenges we face through the lens of renewal—drawing inspiration from Spring’s arrival, Easter's promise, and the celebration of Earth Day. Fun fact: Sunnyhill hosted the very first Mt. Lebanon Earth
- [Visit Us](https://www.sunnyhill.org/location/) - Welcome Hello and welcome to Sunnyhill! We embrace many beliefs, welcome all genders and sexual orientations, and are accessible to people of all abilities. Joining us for worship? Learn about what to expect in our thought-provoking and soulful worship services. Interested in our programs for children and youth? Explore Religious Education. Wanting to find community? Check
- [UU Justice PA](https://www.sunnyhill.org/uu-justice-pa/) - A recent Zoom meeting of the UUJusticePA networking group demonstrated that UU activists are hard at work around the state on a variety of fronts to improve the state of our state and move us ever closer to our Beloved Community! Below are the links that open the doors to this work if you are inclined
- [RE Volunteer Training Portal](https://www.sunnyhill.org/re-volunteer-training-portal/) - Thank you for your interest in teaching RE at UUCSH! Here you will find resources to help you in your RE Classroom. Resources for RE Teachers RE Volunteer Covenant Lesson Planning Service Audio Archives Materials Request Form
- [New Home Blog](https://www.sunnyhill.org/new-home-blog/) - New Home Blog (2016-2017) Sunnyhill New Home Time Lapse Video
- [LGBTQIA+](https://www.sunnyhill.org/social-justice/lgbtqia/) - Sunnyhill LGBTQIA+ Team Covenant Our team is committed to the following: Reaching out to existing LGBTQIA+ groups in the area, seek out coordination and partnership opportunities with them, and gauge which groups and issues offer the most essential and fruitful partnership opportunities. To focus our efforts on one issue and partnership at a time, with
- [Reproductive Justice](https://www.sunnyhill.org/social-justice/reproductive-justice/) - The Reproductive Justice Team is committed to the following: 1. Collaborating with local reproductive justice organizations and support networks to facilitate community action and engage in direct support. 2. Raising awareness and advocating for policy changes in pursuit of reproductive justice. 3. Maintaining a confidential space where we prioritize deep listening and collective decision-making.
- [Criminal Justice](https://www.sunnyhill.org/social-justice/criminal-justice/) - Sunnyhill Criminal Justice Team Covenant Our team is committed to the following: To learn how the Allegheny County criminal justice system and related social services work — and do not work — and why — so that we can identify opportunities for improvements. To focus our efforts on one improvement goal at a time, accomplishing
- [Sunnyhill Calendar](https://www.sunnyhill.org/uucsh-events/sunnyhill-calendar/) -  To view the building calendar, which includes building rentals click here: UUCSH Calendar
- [Poinsettias](https://www.sunnyhill.org/poinsettia/) - Order Form Once again, we will sell beautiful locally-grown poinsettias at Sunnyhill in several unique varieties and 6- and 8-inch pots. More information coming soon!
- [Upcoming Worship Services](https://www.sunnyhill.org/worship/upcoming-worship-services/)
- [You are Not Alone](https://www.sunnyhill.org/new-member-form/you-are-not-alone/)
- [Current Volunteer Positions](https://www.sunnyhill.org/help-wanted/) - Want to help out at Sunnyhill? There is always a need for a helping hand, a smiling face, and a generous spirit! Current Needs: Ushers and Greeters Sign up here: Usher / Greeter Sign Up Coffee and Conversation Helpers Sign up here: Keep the Coffee Flowing! Religious Education Sign up here: Children/Youth Programming
- [Green Sanctuary](https://www.sunnyhill.org/social-justice/environmental-justice/environmental-justice-team/) - Contact: Susan McCarthy Sunnyhill is working toward our UUA accreditation as a Green Sanctuary. Occasionally, we will have opportunities for members of the congregation to get involved. Our action plans will include initiatives to counter climate change, advocate for environmental justice and make our church greener and more efficient. Interested? Contact the Green Sanctuary Team.
- [Social Justice](https://www.sunnyhill.org/social-justice/) - Putting Our Principles into Action! Contact socialjustice@sunnyhill.org for information and how to get involved! The Sunnyhill Social Justice Committee is split into teams that reflect where the congregation would like to focus its energy. This is our Social Justice Team structure: Goal of each team is to table after services to reach the congregation at
- [Events](https://www.sunnyhill.org/uucsh-events/) - CONTENTS Seasonal Events The Sunnyhill Calendar is full of events that focus on fellowship and fun! Our Annual Events are listed below. Events that state "Participation" are events that we partner with that may happen offsite. Winter One World (usually the second Saturday in December) Music of the Season Service Christmas Eve Candlelight Service Spring
- [Upcoming Events](https://www.sunnyhill.org/fall-2023/) - Fall & Winter 2023 Saturday, Nov. 11th: UUPittsburgh Cluster Assembly. This year's theme is "Exploring Transgender Lives and Issues" Sunday, Nov. 26: One Service at 10:00 am, Guest Minister Rev. Dr. Jay Abernathy Saturday, Dec. 9: One World Holiday Event, 4-7 pm Sunday, Dec. 10: "Hanukkah", Rev. Jim Magaw Sunday, Dec. 17: "Music of the
- [Accessibility](https://www.sunnyhill.org/location/accessibility/) - We welcome and affirm people of all abilities. We have taken the following steps to assure that no one is excluded from full participation in the life of our church. Sunday Morning Quick Links Plan your visit, either in person or virtually with ease using our Sunday Morning quick links, including an Order of Service.
- [Building Rental](https://www.sunnyhill.org/location/rental/) - Contact the church administrator for all building rental inquires. Email: admin@sunnyhill.org Phone: 412-561-6277
- [Ceremonies and Rites of Passage](https://www.sunnyhill.org/worship/holidays-and-traditions/) - Dedication or Naming Ceremony We celebrate life by affirming the importance of a child as we welcome him or her into the Sunnyhill extended family. Since ancient times, communities have attached both religious and communal significance to the act of dedicating or naming a child. Coming of Age (COA) Program COA recognizes the physical and
- [Small Groups](https://www.sunnyhill.org/small-groups/) - Soul Matters Sharing Circles Current Events (Randy Bellamy, contact) All are welcome who wish to exchange views on any and all topics arising in the news. Participants may state personal views without fear of censorship. At each meeting we take a poll to see which topics are of greatest interest to the greatest number of
- [Sharing Circles](https://www.sunnyhill.org/small-groups/chalice-circles/) - Sharing Circles Sharing Circles are an opportunity for members and newer attendees to participate in small groups that explore questions of life and faith. This small group approach to ministry offers a committed group in which you come to be known and to know others well. In this time when people's lives are rushed and
- [Our History](https://www.sunnyhill.org/about-us/history/) - The amazing former residence we now call home has a long and fascinating history! Learn all about it here: https://sites.google.com/view/uucsh-history/home
- [Our Mission](https://www.sunnyhill.org/about-us/our-mission-and-vision/) - Mission Statement of the Unitarian Universalist Church of the South Hills Our mission is to foster intellectual and spiritual growth by upholding a free search for truth within a liberal religious setting. In a warm, intimate, and diverse environment, we support one another on our lifelong journeys and through the transitions in our lives. Committed
- [Our Beliefs](https://www.sunnyhill.org/about-us/our-beliefs/) - In Unitarian Universalism, you can bring your whole self: your full identity, your questioning mind, your expansive heart. Together, we create a force more powerful than one person or one belief system. As Unitarian Universalists, we do not have to check our personal background and beliefs at the door: we join together on a journey
- [Using Breeze](https://www.sunnyhill.org/breeze-church-database/using-breeze/) - All Sunnyhill Members have been invited to create an account in "Breeze", our online church database. If you have not yet created an account, check your spam folder for instructions or email Jen at dre@sunnyhill.org for a new invitation. Once your account has been created, you can utilize Breeze to manage your own directory listing,
- [Contact](https://www.sunnyhill.org/about-us/contact/) - We look forward to hearing from you! Mailing Address Unitarian Universalist Church of the South Hills 1240 Washington Rd Pittsburgh, PA 15228 Phone To reach the minister or staff, please call 412-561-6277. Staff Office Hours Rev. Jim Magaw, Minister Appointments Only Jen McGlothin, Director of Religious Education Tuesdays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and by
- [Green Sanctuary Events](https://www.sunnyhill.org/green-sanctuary-events/) - Join Plastic Free July® Take the Pledge to Refuse Single-Use Plastic Drink Bottles. Visit the Green Sanctuary Table before, after the service on June 30 Sign a Pledge Card Enter a Raffle for a prize. Pledge Cards and Raffle Tickets will be available during July in Fellowship Hall. Bring Your Own Reusable water bottle instead
- [Now Hiring!](https://www.sunnyhill.org/now-hiring/) - Current Position(s) Collaborative Pianist Posted 7/12/24 Position Contact: Mary Pratt, musicdirector@sunnyhill.org
- [Gun Violence Prevention](https://www.sunnyhill.org/social-justice/gun-violence-prevention/) - Contact socialjustice@sunnyhill.org for information and how to get involved!
- [Beloved Conversations](https://www.sunnyhill.org/social-justice/beloved-conversations/) - This Month's Resource List Sunnyhill: Racial Justice Resources Beloved Conversations—the signature offering of The Fahs Collaborative at Meadville Lombard Theological School—is a program for Unitarian Universalists seeking to embody racial justice as a spiritual practice. In Beloved Conversations, we are here to heal the impact of racism on our lives, in order to get free
- [Summer](https://www.sunnyhill.org/lifespan-re/children-and-youth/nursery-preschool/summer-re/) - Meets at 10:00 a.m., main room downstairs During the summer (June, July, and August), there is one class on Sundays for children ages 4 to 10. Younger children are cared for in the nursery and older children are invited to become teacher’s assistants and help with the class. Every week two volunteer teachers from the
- [Two Lives in Pittsburgh- Sunnyhill Premiere](https://www.sunnyhill.org/two-lives-in-pittsburgh-sunnyhill-premiere/) - Sunnyhill will be screening the award-winning film, Two Lives in Pittsburgh, on Friday, March 8. Confronted by his mother's illness and his child's exploration of gender, a traditional blue-collar guy is torn between who he has always been and who his child needs him to be. You may recognize the setting as several key scenes
- [Racism Reading List](https://www.sunnyhill.org/racism-reading-list/) - Sunnyhill Racism – Proposed Reading and Book Club List (compiled by Valerie J.H. Powell) Books Rediker M, The Middle Passage: The Slave Ship (Penguin, 2007). Baptist EE, The Half has Never Been Told: Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism (Basic Books, 2016). Blight DW, Race and Reunion: The Civil War in American Memory (Harvard
- [Children's Songbook](https://www.sunnyhill.org/music-and-choir/childrens-songbook/) - Together in Harmony is a songbook to use with children in classrooms, homes, and congregations. It is made up of familiar, easy to sing, Unitarian Universalist Hymns that have been arranged with children in mind by Elise Reichenfeld.
- [Adults](https://www.sunnyhill.org/lifespan-re/adults-and-families/) - Soul Matters Sharing Circles Small groups of adults meeting twice monthly. Groups choose discussion topics. Sacred chanting Quiet reflection one Friday evening each month Quick Links: Sharing Circles Sacred Chanting
- [Together in Harmony: A Children's Songbook](https://www.sunnyhill.org/together-harmony-childrens-songbook/) - Edited and compiled by Elise Reichenfeld. Illustrated by Claire Pullen. Click for Compressed PDF. Click on a title to listen to a song! Building Bridges Building Bridges (karaoke version) Come, Come, Whoever You Are Come, Come, Whoever You Are (karaoke version) Come Sing a Song with Me Come Sing a Song with Me (karaoke version) Enter, Rejoice and
- [Sunnyhill Religious Education Chalice Lighting](https://www.sunnyhill.org/sunnyhill-religious-education-chalice-lighting/) - Chalice Lighting Words For children: We are Unitarian Universalists. (Make U’s by cupping each hand) We are the church of the open mind, (Touch your hands to your head) The loving heart, (Put your hands over your heart) And the helping hands. (Put your hands in front of you palms up) Together we care for
- [Religious Education Volunteer Clearance Information](https://www.sunnyhill.org/religious-education-volunteer-clearance-information/) - All Volunteers and Staff working with Children at Sunnyhill are required to obtain Clearances, as required by Pennsylvania State Law. Criminal History Clearance from the PA State Police (free for volunteers) https://www.dhs.pa.gov/KeepKidsSafe/Clearances/Pages/PA-Child-Abuse-History-Clearance.aspx Childline Background Check Verification Clearances (free for volunteers) https://www.dhs.pa.gov/KeepKidsSafe/Clearances/Pages/Criminal-Background-Check.aspx If you have lived in the State of Pennsylvania for the last 10 years,
- [Welcoming Congregation](https://www.sunnyhill.org/about-us/an-lgbtq-welcome-congregation/) - We are a Welcoming Congregation, recognized by the Unitarian Universalist Association. This means we affirm and include people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer at every level of congregational life—in worship, in program, and in social occasions—welcoming them as whole people. As a Welcoming Congregation we have pledged to: honor the lives of
- [history](https://www.sunnyhill.org/history/)
- [Music at Sunnyhill](https://www.sunnyhill.org/music-and-choir/) - Choirs Contact: Mary Pratt Adult Choir The choir rehearses and performs twice a month from September to May, usually rehearsing in between services. Small ensembles and soloists may also perform at other times, including June through August. Any member or friend of the church is welcome to join the choir. Children’s Choir All children are
- [Sunnyhill Racism – Proposed Reading and Book Club List](https://www.sunnyhill.org/sunnyhill-racism-proposed-reading-and-book-club-list/) - Sunnyhill Racism – Proposed Reading and Book Club List Books Rediker M, The Middle Passage: The Slave Ship (Penguin, 2007). Baptist EE, The Half has Never Been Told: Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism (Basic Books, 2016). Blight DW, Race and Reunion: The Civil War in American Memory (Harvard Univ Press, 2001). Ortiz P,
- [Sunnyhill Calendar](https://www.sunnyhill.org/calendar/)
- [Resources for UUs of Color](https://www.sunnyhill.org/social-justice/beloved-conversations/resources-for-uus-of-color/) - Black Lives of UU (BLUU) - Black Lives of UU provides information, resources, and support for Black Unitarian Universalists and works to expand the role & visibility of Black UUs within our faith. Diverse and Revolutionary UU Multicultural Ministries (DRUUMM) - a UU People of Color Ministry and anti-racist collective Finding Our Way Home - annual
- [About UU](https://www.sunnyhill.org/about-us/our-beliefs/about-unitarian-universalism/) - Unitarian Universalism creates change: in ourselves, and in the world. Seven days a week, UUs live their faith by doing. Whether in community with others or as an individual, we know that active, tangible expressions of love, justice, and peace are what make a difference. Unitarian Universalist congregations are committed to Principles that include the
- [Principles and Sources](https://www.sunnyhill.org/about-us/our-beliefs/uu-principles-and-sources/) - Unitarian Universalist congregations affirm and promote seven Principles, which we hold as strong values and moral guides. As Rev. Barbara Wells ten Hove explains, “The Principles are not dogma or doctrine, but rather a guide for those of us who choose to join and participate in Unitarian Universalist religious communities.” They are: The inherent worth and
- [Beloved Conversations Goals](https://www.sunnyhill.org/beloved-conversations/) - Beloved Conversations (BC) Team Members: Tim Dawson, Janie Elliott, Jennifer McGlothin, Patricia Murray, Carol Slomksi, Cori Vipperman Goals Education Provide programs and educational resources that encourage members to participate in the transformation of Sunnyhill into a Beloved Community. Examples can include Books or Documentaries for individual or group consumption, calendar of regional activities, and more
- [Sunnyhill Scouts](https://www.sunnyhill.org/scouts/) - UUCSH is proud to host both Pack and Troop 65 of the Laurel Highlands Council of the BSA! Please visit either Troop 65 or Pack 65 to learn more!
- [Welcome to Sunnyhill!](https://www.sunnyhill.org/new-member-form/) - Whoever you are, we welcome you! All Sunnyhill Services are currently multiplatform (in person and streamed online) Details for participating online can be found here: Stream the Service For more information please contact Bethany Thornton, our Membership and Outreach Manager. To learn more about what to expect on a Sunday morning, click here. Visitor Form
- [Lebo Pride](https://www.sunnyhill.org/lebo-pride/) - We are proud to sponsor this year’s annual Lebo Pride Celebration at the Mt. Lebanon Main Park on Saturday, June 17, 2023. All are welcome to join Lebo Pride from 8am to 3pm to celebrate the solidarity, resilience, and vibrancy of our queer and gender diverse community. Attendees of all ages will find something to
- [Kids' Principles](https://www.sunnyhill.org/about-us/our-beliefs/kids-principles/) - Unitarian Universalists have many ways of articulating our seven Principles in simpler language. Here’s the way our Tapestry of Faith children’s programs describe them: We believe that each and every person is important. We believe that all people should be treated fairly and kindly. We believe that we should accept one another and keep on learning
- [Spiritways CUUPS](https://www.sunnyhill.org/spiritways-cuups/) - This group is not currently meeting. More details will be shared when/if that changes. For information on the Spiritways CUUPs group, please send an email to spiritways@gmail.com. More information is available on the website by clicking here.
- [Spiritways CUUPs](https://www.sunnyhill.org/paganspirituality/) - This group is not currently meeting. More details will be shared when/if that changes. What is CUUPS? CUUPS (Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans) was chartered by the Unitarian Universalist Association at the General Assembly in 1987. CUUPS Chapters are connected to existing UU congregations. For more information, visit the CUUPS website and the UUA website. A CUUPS chapter was founded at
- [RE Resources for Teachers](https://www.sunnyhill.org/re-volunteer-training-portal/re-resources-for-teachers/) - 2019 Volunteer Training Powerpoint Sunnyhill Resources Sunnyhill RE Library Breeze Church Management Software RE Supplies Together in Harmony UUA Resources Tapestry of Faith Worship Web Inclusion Resources
- [Building the Beloved Community: How Faith Communities Can Do Their Part](https://www.sunnyhill.org/building-the-beloved-community-how-faith-communities-can-do-their-part/) - Discussion for Faith Communities with Dr. Ali Michael Educator, writer, TED Talk presenter and facilitator for racial understanding. FREE and Open to the Public Saturday, February 19, 2022, 3:00pm at Bower Hill Community Presbyterian Church, 70 Moffett Street, Mt. Lebanon, PA 15243 For childcare, call 412-561-4114 by 2/16. Masks required for all participants. Sponsored
- [Past Worship Services](https://www.sunnyhill.org/worship/past-worship-services/) - Access archived media here, including: • 318 Sunday Services (226 audio, 92 video) • 536 Minister’s Moments/Rays of Light since March 2020 (29 hours of video) • Other media, including Christmas and Vespers Services • 333 total hours of media (206 audio, 127 video) • Orders of Service included with each recording, plus one large
- [Policing and Racial Justice](https://www.sunnyhill.org/workshop/) - Policing and Racial Justice in the South Hills: A Five-Part Workshop Co-sponsored by Sunnyhill and St. Paul’s Episcopal, this workshop on Policing and Racial Justice in the South Hills will take place in a series of five two-hour weekly Zoom sessions. You are invited to participate in all or selected sessions. Each is scheduled
- [Workshop Descriptions](https://www.sunnyhill.org/workshop-descriptions/) - The Mt. Lebanon Community Workshop critically examines an issue of the day in a series of five two-hour weekly sessions. The first issue it will address is Policing and Racial Justice in the town and regionally. Future workshops will address other issues facing Mt. Lebanon and the region such as equity in education, health, food security, the digital divide and economic justice.
- [Sunnyhill Service Podcasts](https://www.sunnyhill.org/sunnyhill-service-podcasts/)
- [Virtual Auction 2020](https://www.sunnyhill.org/virtual-auction-2020/) - The Virtual Live Auctions and Raffle were a wonderful success! Thank you to everyone who participated. But now... its "party" time! Service Auction parties and events are still an option for summer fun! Click here to open a spreadsheet and discover another adventure for yourself! Some events will be virtual only through Zoom, such as
- [Support](https://www.sunnyhill.org/support/) - If you are in need of any special support (spiritual, emotional, or physical), please let us know. If you are willing to run errands or perform other tasks for those who may be quarantined or at-risk, also please let us know. Sunnyhilll Mask Share
- [Worship](https://www.sunnyhill.org/worship/) - We gather together in spiritual community because we need constant reminders of what matters most in life. In a world of heartbreak and dehumanization, our congregations and communities call us to our better selves. We learn to live with more wisdom, more connection, and more compassion. Our Worship Services are weekly reflections that weave together our own
- [Breeze FAQs](https://www.sunnyhill.org/breeze-church-database/breeze-faqs/) - FAQs Who is invited to create an account? At this time, all UUCSH members and friends are invited to create a Breeze account. Why should I create an account? This is the most up to date resource for membership information at UUCSH. This is where we store directory information, RE class attendance, and track pledges.
- [Giving Online](https://www.sunnyhill.org/breeze-church-database/giving-online/) - There are various ways to give to Sunnyhill online via Breeze. If you have created a Breeze Account (recommended): After logging into your account, click "Give Now" at the top of the screen. Payments could be set up as a one time gift or recurring to pay your pledge via the dropdown menu. Make sure
- [Financial Commitment Form](https://www.sunnyhill.org/draft-financial-commitment-form/)
- [Sunday Services](https://www.sunnyhill.org/sunday-services/) - Worship Team It is the role of the Worship Team to provide quality Sunday services for any services not conducted by the minister. These services may be conducted by a member of the congregation, a visiting UU minister, or by an outside speaker. The Worship Team coordinates these services with Sunnyhill’s minister to provide for
- [Green Sanctuary Photo Gallery](https://www.sunnyhill.org/social-justice/environmental-justice/environmental-justice-team/green-sanctuary-photo-gallery/)
- [Green Sanctuary Resources and Reference](https://www.sunnyhill.org/social-justice/environmental-justice/environmental-justice-team/green-sanctuary-resources-and-reference/) - UUA Green Sanctuary
- [Community Resources and Services](https://www.sunnyhill.org/community-resources-and-services/) - The Caring Committee compiles information about community and social service resources. This Community Resource Guide is intended to provide information only. Any member, friend, or visitor to Sunnyhill or our website is encouraged to seek counsel from professionals regarding their particular situation or need. To access a printable PDF of the guide, click here. In addition
- [The Flaming Chalice](https://www.sunnyhill.org/worship/what-to-expect-in-worship/our-symbol-the-flaming-chalice/) - A flame within a chalice (a cup with a stem and foot) is a primary symbol of the Unitarian Universalist faith tradition. Many of our congregations kindle a flaming chalice in gatherings and worships and feature the chalice symbol prominently. Hans Deutsch, an Austrian artist, first brought together the chalice and the flame as a
- [Audio Archives](https://www.sunnyhill.org/worship/what-to-expect-in-worship/audio-archives/) - The Complete Sunnyhill Audio Archives of 200 Services Now Available! It all began on September 6, 2015, during a service celebrating "The Life and Music of Pete Seeger". I noticed in the Order of Service that "Jacob's Ladder" was the Gathering Music. This being one of my favorite songs (especially after hearing Springsteen perform it
- [Green Sanctuary](https://www.sunnyhill.org/green-sanctuary-team/) - Sunnyhill is working toward our UUA accreditation as a Green Sanctuary. Occasionally, we will have opportunities for members of the congregation to get involved. Our action plans will include initiatives to counter climate change, advocate for environmental justice and make our church greener and more efficient. Interested? Contact the Green Sanctuary Team. greensanctuary@sunnyhill.org Visit the
- [Caring Committee](https://www.sunnyhill.org/caring-committee/) - Email our Caring Committee Team to find out what they do and how you can help! caring@sunnyhill.org Learn more here.
- [Sunnyhill's Playground](https://www.sunnyhill.org/sunnyhills-playground/) - Scouting (both Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts) have a long tradition with Sunnyhill. Many Eagle Scout projects were designed by Sunnyhill scouts to enhance our UU home. Simon Mortimer, graduating in 2019 from Mt. Lebanon High School, designed and built (with the support of his troop, family, and friends) the Sunnyhill Playground. Please click on
- [Community Life](https://www.sunnyhill.org/community-life/) - Caring Committee The Caring Committee acknowledges the joys and sorrows of the congregation through cards, calls, personal visits, and other feedback. It serves as a communication link between the congregation and members who have special needs or challenges. The Committee coordinates short-term help that may include visits, meal preparation, transportation, domestic chores, childcare, and shopping.
- [Facilities Team](https://www.sunnyhill.org/facilities-team/) - If cutting grass, raking leaves, or wielding a hammer or screwdriver interests you, send a note to our Facilities Team and see how your skills can help keep Sunnyhill in tip-top shape. facilities@sunnyhill.org Learn more here about all areas of Facilities, Grounds, and Safety.
- [How to Set Up Automatic Payments](https://www.sunnyhill.org/draft-financial-commitment-form/how-to-set-up-automatic-payments/)
- [Pledge Thank You](https://www.sunnyhill.org/pledge-thank-you/) - Thank you for your commitment to Sunnyhill! If you have any questions, please contact Melissa Hill, Treasurer, at mshill1984@yahoo.com.
- [Readings on Racism and Justice](https://www.sunnyhill.org/readings-on-racism-and-justice/) - Wilder CS (2013). Ebony and Ivory: Race Slavery, and the Troubled History of America's Universities. Washington BT (n.d.) The Booker T. Washington Collection: 8 Classic Works Chesnutt CW (n.d.) The Negro Problem: A Collection of Essays (Includes essays from Booker T. Washington, W. E. Burghardt DuBois, Charles W. Chesnutt, Wilford H. Smith, H. T. Kealing, Paul
- [Art & Aesthetics](https://www.sunnyhill.org/art-aesthetics-committee/) - Mission Statement The purpose of the Art & Aesthetics Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Church of the South Hills (UUCSH) is to exhibit spiritually enriching art work that supports the creative process in us all, while encouraging freedom of expression, diversity, and individuality. Purpose Art can move us emotionally, help connect us to others and
- [Board-appointed and Congregation-elected](https://www.sunnyhill.org/leadership-development-committee/) - Leadership Development Committee (LDC) The LDC consists of five (5) members of the congregation and shall be elected as follows: one member shall be the outgoing President of the Board of Trustees who shall have a two year term and who shall serve as Chair of the LDC. One member shall be appointed by the
- [Membership & Outreach](https://www.sunnyhill.org/membership-outreach/) - Membership Committee This committee welcomes, connects, educates, and invites. Priorities include ensuring that first-time attendees find a helpful greeter to “concierge” their first visit, helping newcomers connect with activities, refreshing the publications rack, working with the church membership outreach coordinator to maintain the database, and offering and publicizing Pathway orientation classes and social events. Outreach
- [Religious Education Committee](https://www.sunnyhill.org/religious-education-committee/) - The RE Committee, which includes the DRE, is primarily responsible for establishing a curriculum plan to support the goals of the program and reviewing it annually to include new materials, writing the program budget, writing appropriate policies, and working with the minister, DRE, and administrator on calendar scheduling. Responsibilities The Religious Education Committee has the
- [Sunday Morning Parking Map](https://www.sunnyhill.org/location/sunday-morning-parking-map/)
- [Rental Information](https://www.sunnyhill.org/rental-information/) - Sunnyhill is a congregation of brave, curious, and compassionate thinkers and doers. We are di-verse in faith, ethnicity, history and spirituality, but aligned in our desire to make a difference for the good. We stand solidly on the side of love, justice, inclusion and peace. In August 2017, Sunnyhill completed construction of a large addition
- [Credit Card Policy of UUCSH](https://www.sunnyhill.org/credit-card-policy-uucsh/) - The preferred transaction methods for the Unitarian Universalist Church of the South Hills (UUCSH) are cash or check. However, as a courtesy to members and visitors, we will accept payment by credit card for some goods and services. As selling goods and services is not part of the regular business of UUCSH, we do have
- [Treasurer's Report Nov. 2017](https://www.sunnyhill.org/treasurers-report-november-2017/) - Presented November 14, 2017. YTD October 31, 2017. Excluding Capital Campaign finances, the Church generated an operating net loss of ($7,242.97) on revenues of $268,228.76 during the 10 months ending 10/31/17. Please note, the YTD net loss includes a non-cash depreciation expense of $9,477.50. Excluding depreciation, the Church generated a net profit of $2,234.53. As
- [Treasurer's Report Dec. 2017](https://www.sunnyhill.org/treasurers-report-dec-2017/) - Presented December 12, 2017. YTD November 30, 2017. Excluding Capital Campaign finances, the Church generated an operating net profit of $28,365 on revenues of $323,264.87 during the 11 months ended 11/30/17. Please note, the YTD net profit includes a non-cash depreciation expense of $10,425.25. Excluding depreciation, the Church generated a net profit of $38,790.25. Year-to-date
- [Minister's Notes](https://www.sunnyhill.org/ministers-notes/) - December 2017 As you may have noticed, there's a lot going on at Sunnyhill these days! Since moving back into our newly rebuilt and remodeled church building, we have hit the ground running with a number of new programs, activities and events. In bygone days, when the congregation held just three or four major events
- [Black Lives Matter](https://www.sunnyhill.org/black-lives-matter-3/) - "Black Lives Matter is a movement and a stance in response to this reality: the United States was built on a legacy of slavery, racism, and oppression that continues to take new, ever-changing forms. To say that "black lives matter" doesn't mean that black lives are more important than other lives, or that all lives
- [September 2017](https://www.sunnyhill.org/september-2017/) - Whew! We finally made it back into our new and newly refurbished building, and it is so beautiful—it is a wonderful testament to this congregation's vision and dedication. Well done, all! There are still some rough edges here and there, and a few kinks that still need to be worked out, but the new space
- [August 2017](https://www.sunnyhill.org/august-2017/) - Thank you! I don't say it often enough, but I feel it and think it all the time. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Thank you, Sunnyhill, for being you, for being the loving, compassionate, justice-seeking community that you are and for living your values every day within our congregation and in the larger world.
- [July 2017](https://www.sunnyhill.org/july-2017/) - Minister's Notes As of the time of this writing, we are making plans to hold our first Sunday service in our new sanctuary at Sunnyhill on August 20. We are already in the process of moving furniture and equipment into our new and newly refurbished space, and it is fabulous! Even though the move back
- [June 2017](https://www.sunnyhill.org/june-2017/) - Minister's Notes As I pointed out in a recent sermon, the difference between the sacred and the profane is that the sacred always takes one deeper. Anything is profane at its surface and sacred at its depths. Transformative religion takes us on journey from shallowness to real depth. It is possible to be spiritual and
- [May 2017](https://www.sunnyhill.org/may-2017/) - In the months following last November's election, many of us experienced deep grief and anger. We were, in fact, terrified, amazed and afraid. We turned some of that anger we felt into action—the Women's March and other actions and rallies gave us ways to channel that energy that arose from our fear and anger. But
- [April 2017](https://www.sunnyhill.org/april-2017/) - While many institutions exist to maintain the status quo (or at least to remain relatively stable and unchanged), churches are different. In fact, churches that hope to be relevant, vital and thriving exist to facilitate continuous transformation. While our physical structure is being transformed, it might be good to think about other kinds of
- [March 2017](https://www.sunnyhill.org/march-2017/) - Over the past couple of years, we have been fortunate enough to welcome many new members to Sunnyhill-which is a sign that we are doing something right and that our presence is needed! Lately on Sunday mornings, I've heard some of you asking questions like, "Who are all these new people?" I would suggest that
- [February 2017](https://www.sunnyhill.org/february-2017-ministers-notes/) - When I was in my 20s (and occasionally since then), I was what I would call a lost soul. For me, that means being unable to imagine my life as a journey. There have been times in my life when everything seems to be a string of somewhat related but not deeply connected events. At
- [January 2017](https://www.sunnyhill.org/january-2017-ministers-notes/) - In a recent letter to UU ministers, UUA President Peter Morales wrote: "We are living in the midst of historic cultural turmoil. Long festering resentments are being unleashed, posing immediate threats to the most marginalized in our society and presenting long­term danger to our natural environment. People are understandably anxious." Morales goes on to say: "We must prepare
- [2017 Minister's Notes](https://www.sunnyhill.org/2017-ministers-notes/) - January 2017 February 2017 March 2017 April 2017 May 2017 June 2017 July 2017 August 2017 September 2017 October 2017 November 2017 December 2017
- [Stewardship Money Minutes](https://www.sunnyhill.org/money-minutes/) - Each month, Stewardship chair Chetan Chothani speaks briefly at a Sunday Service about reaching Sunnyhill's vision with time, taent, and treasure. Sunday, May 21, 2017: Click here for link to text of today's Money Minute. Watch the TED talk by Simon Sinek: "How Great Leaders Inspire Action." Sunday, June 15, 2017: Click here to watch the PowerPoint
- [Drummer Archives](https://www.sunnyhill.org/newsletter/) - The Drummer, the monthly newsletter of UUCSH, will be replaced in December 2017 with an expanded issue of The Beat the third week of each month. This third-week Beat will include the Minister's monthly message, CHIPS (highlights of the month's board meeting), the Treasurer's report, and Sunday services for the upcoming month. Current Newsletter 2017
- [2016 Drummer Archive](https://www.sunnyhill.org/2016-drummer-archive/) - 2016 Archive January February March April May June July August September October November December
- [2017 Drummer Archive](https://www.sunnyhill.org/2017-drummer-archive/) - 2017 Archive January February March April May June July August September October November
- [Staff](https://www.sunnyhill.org/staff/)
- [November 2017](https://www.sunnyhill.org/november-2017/) - Transformation requires loss. Transformative change simply cannot occur unless something is left behind—whether it’s an old way of relating to the world, or beloved friends, or a hometown, or a cherished home. But leaving the old things behind does not mean closing our hearts to them—such a thing isn’t really possible, even though it might
- [October 2017](https://www.sunnyhill.org/october-2017/) - During the month of October, we will be celebrating the renewal of our status as a "Welcoming Congregation," and we will also celebrate our new building with our dedication weekend (don't forget to RSVP!). We have much to celebrate at Sunnyhill! Not only are we getting settled into our beautiful facility, but our new church year is off to
- [Interweave](https://www.sunnyhill.org/interweave/) - Interweave is the UU name for a gay-straight alliance group that works to promote understanding, support, and compassion for those who are LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, or queer). Sunnyhill had such a group some years ago, but it faded as some persons left the church and interest waned. With the excitement over our
- [Oct. 21-22 is Sunnyhill's Dedication Weekend!](https://www.sunnyhill.org/oct-21-22-sunnyhills-dedication-weekend/) - Continued from home page: We’ll begin on Saturday evening Oct. 21 with an Hors d'Oeuvre Reception from 4-6 p.m., followed by the Building Dedication Service. On Sunday, Rev. Dr. Lee Barker, President and Professor of Ministry at Meadville Theological Seminary, will speak at our 10 a.m. service. We’ll end with a celebratory Coffee & Conversation.
- [Green Action](https://www.sunnyhill.org/green-action/)
- [Tags](https://www.sunnyhill.org/tags/) - CONTENTS
- [My Bookings](https://www.sunnyhill.org/my-bookings/) - CONTENTS
- [Locations](https://www.sunnyhill.org/locations/) - CONTENTS
- [Categories](https://www.sunnyhill.org/categories/) - CONTENTS
- [Second Saturdays](https://www.sunnyhill.org/second-saturdays/) - Bethany Thornton, Membership Coordinator, contact "Second Saturday at Sunnyhill" is a family friendly program that takes place on the second Saturday of most months. This program is designed as a way to build closer relationships with other members and friends while doing some deep sharing and listening around a particular topic each month. These events are both fun
- [Sacred Chanting](https://www.sunnyhill.org/sacred-chanting/) - Rev. Jim Magaw, contact. “Sacred Chanting at Sunnyhill” takes place on one Friday evening each month at 7 p.m. and lasts about one hour. This is a relaxed and informal event, and all who are interested are invited to attend–no background in music or chanting is required, only an interest and a willingness to try
- [RE: Three Core Themes](https://www.sunnyhill.org/religious-education-themes/) - The Religious Education curriculum at UUCSH is built on three core themes: Unitarian Universalist Identity, World Religions, and Social Justice. Each year, one of these themes provides the focus for RE, both in the classroom and for special events: 2016-17 Unitarian Universalist Identity (last taught, 2013-14; taught again 2019-20) 2017-18 World Religions (last taught, 2014-15)
- [Special Premiere of Walk with Me](https://www.sunnyhill.org/special-premiere-walk/) - Special Premier of Walk With Me Sunnyhill's Meditation Groups just requested to bring Walk With Me - A Journey Into Mindfulness with Thich Nhat Hanh to Pittsburgh on September 12 at 7:30 p.m. at The Galleria Theater in Mt. Lebanon. Let us learn together the ways of mindfulness and how Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings of healing and
- [2017-18 LifeCraft Hour](https://www.sunnyhill.org/lifecraft-hour/) - LifeCraft resumes on Sunday, August 27. Classes begin at 11:15. Date Choir Rm. Red Oak Rm. 08/27 Current Events 09/03 Science & Spirituality 09/10 Current Events Poetry 09/17 Pagan Spirituality 09/24 Current Events 10/01 Science & Spirituality 10/08 Current Events Poetry 10/15 Pagan Spirituality 10/22 Current Events 10/29
- [DRAFT JLE](https://www.sunnyhill.org/draft-jle/) - [upcoming-events]
- [Third Thursdays](https://www.sunnyhill.org/third-thursdays/) - The Adult RE Team* is excited to announce that beginning in September, we will hold Religious Education classes for all ages on the third Thursday of each month. Each evening will proceed as follows: 5:30 p.m.: Gather 5:45 p.m.: Potluck supper 6:30 p.m.: Vespers service 6:45-8:15 p.m.: Classes for adults and children We will offer
- [Families](https://www.sunnyhill.org/families/)
- [Multigenerational](https://www.sunnyhill.org/multigenerational/) - Film Screening October 8 On Saturday October 8th there will be a screening of the Ken Burn's documentary, DEFYING THE NAZIS: THE SHARPS' WAR the remarkable story about a Unitarian couple who went to Europe to do rescue work during WWII. Discussion and potluck to follow, separate children's activities available. Mt. Lebanon United Methodist Church
- [Young Adults](https://www.sunnyhill.org/younger-adults/) - The interests of Sunnyhill members 18-35 drive the Young Adult programming. In addition to their meetings, the young adults at Sunnyhill are very active in the larger community. You find young adults leading worship, advising the youth group, teaching Religious Education classes, and serving on the Board of Trustees.
- [Leadership Team](https://www.sunnyhill.org/leadership-team/) - Interested in learning more about the witches who lead Spiritways? Diana has been a leadership member of Spiritways since its establishment in 2004. She hails from Pittsburgh and is also a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of the South Hills congregation. Both priestess and ULC minister, Dianna has practiced Wicca for almost 30
- [Caring Committee](https://www.sunnyhill.org/connection/caring-committee/) - Community Resource Guide
- [Adult Programs](https://www.sunnyhill.org/adult-programs/) - Film Screening October 8 On Saturday October 8th there will be a screening of the Ken Burn's documentary, DEFYING THE NAZIS: THE SHARPS' WAR the remarkable story about a Unitarian couple who went to Europe to do rescue work during WWII. Discussion and potluck to follow, separate children's activities available. Mt. Lebanon United Methodist
- [Submit an Event](https://www.sunnyhill.org/submit-an-event/)
- [Transgender Day of Remembrance](https://www.sunnyhill.org/transgender-day-remembrance/) - From the Human Rights Campaign website: "Transgender Day of Remembrance was set aside in November to honor Rita Hester whose murder on November 28, 1998, kicked off the 'Remembering Our Dead' web project and a San Francisco candlelight vigil in 1999. Rita Hester’s murder, like most anti-transgender murder cases, is yet to be solved. "November
- [TEST](https://www.sunnyhill.org/test/) - Online pledge form.
- [New Home Update](https://www.sunnyhill.org/new-home-update/) - Continued from home page. Click the 'dozer to read the New Home Building Blog! Earlier in the month a new team was formed to oversee the construction of the building. The team meets every other Tuesday with our contractor, TEDCO, and our architect, Rothschild Doyno Collaborative (RDC), to review progress of the building, approve changes
- [Small Group Ministry](https://www.sunnyhill.org/connection/small-group-ministry/) - "People come to church longing for, yearning for, hoping for ... a sense of roots, place, belonging, sharing and caring. People come to a church with a search for community, not committee." — Glenn Turner A different way of doing church The Small Group Ministry program, "Chalice Circles", deepens and broadens personal spiritual growth. A
- [What to Expect in Worship](https://www.sunnyhill.org/worship/what-to-expect-in-worship/) - We gather in worship to find meaning and live more deeply. Worship creates connections within, among, and beyond us, calling us to our better selves, calling us to live with wisdom and compassion. Unitarian Universalist worship styles vary by congregation, and even within congregations. Some congregations’ worship is contemporary and high tech. Some congregations’ worship is traditional and
- [PDFs of Sermons](https://www.sunnyhill.org/pdfs-of-sermons/) - 2015 One Two Three Four Five Six
- [Member Register](https://www.sunnyhill.org/member-register/)
- [Member Profile](https://www.sunnyhill.org/member-profile/)
- [Quilts](https://www.sunnyhill.org/art-at-sunnyhill/quilts/)
- [Sample Page](https://www.sunnyhill.org/sample-page/) - This is an example page. It's different from a blog post because it will stay in one place and will show up in your site navigation (in most themes). Most people start with an About page that introduces them to potential site visitors. It might say something like this: Hi there! I'm a bike messenger
- [Terms and Conditions](https://www.sunnyhill.org/terms-and-conditions/) - (Create your own website terms and conditions. You may wish to base yours on the Terms of Service Agreement for UUA.org, pasted below.) When using the website of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), you agree to the terms and conditions listed on this page (the "Terms of Service Agreement"), which may be updated by us
- [Website Privacy Policy](https://www.sunnyhill.org/website-privacy-policy/) - To build your own privacy policy, see the sample policies, including the one below, on UUA.org. This website is owned and operated by ____________, referred to in this policy as “we”. We recognize that visitors to our site may be concerned about the information they provide to us, and how we treat that information. This
- [Website Accessibility](https://www.sunnyhill.org/website-accessibility/) - Information about the accessibility standards of your site will go here. See the website accessibility page on our documentation site for guidance and sample text.
- [Testimonials](https://www.sunnyhill.org/testimonials/) - [woothemes_testimonials limit="10" size="100" display_url="true"]
- [Volunteer](https://www.sunnyhill.org/connection/volunteer/)
- [Become a Member](https://www.sunnyhill.org/connection/become-a-member/)
- [Pastoral Care](https://www.sunnyhill.org/connection/pastoral-care/)
- [Connection](https://www.sunnyhill.org/connection/)

## Events

- [Social Justice Meeting](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/social-justice-meeting-2/) - Standing agenda * Share the Plate designations * Round Robin for Sunnyhill SJ Teams (Environmental Justice, LGBTQIA+, Criminal Justice, etc.) * Updates from partner organizations (PIIN, UU Justice PA, First Unitarian, etc.) * Other items/guests Click to join Zoom Meeting https://bcg.zoom.us/j/98772977467?pwd=aT9XIwwjjHG3RL9K5CPT6aLQNL4bFC.1&from=addon
- [Election Night Interfaith Vesper Service](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/election-night-interfaith/) - Join us for a service of meditation, singing, and prayer as we create a warm and welcoming space to hold our election night hopes and anxieties in community with one another. Sunnyhill UU will host this service that will also feature faith leaders from St. Paul’s Episcopal, Bower Hill Presbyterian, Temple Emanuel, and Sunset Hills
- [Election Night: Comfort Food and Company](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/election-night-comfort-food-and-company/) - Feeling anxious about election night? You're not alone! Join us on Tuesday, November 5 for some fun, engaging activities, a potluck supper (think cozy, comfort food) and a Vesper Service to help ease the tension. Let’s gather together, share delicious food, and take a break from the stress while staying connected with our community. 5-6pm
- [Pancake Breakfast and Native Plant Sale](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/pancake-breakfast-and-native-plant-sale/) - Please join us on Saturday, May 7 for a Pancake Breakfast and native plant sale. We will be serving delicious, made-from-scratch pancakes, eggs, hash browns, fruit and more. Adults $10, kids 12 and under $5 and kids 2 and under are free. Native plants will be provided by the Mt. Lebanon Nature Conservancy. We need
- [Seasons of Fun- Social Event FUNraiser](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/seasons-of-fun-social-event-funraiser/) - This year, we are spinning-off the parties and events from our annual Service Auction! The 2022 Season Of Fun Socials is ready for you to upload the details of your event here. For decades, Sunnyhill members, friends, and guests have depended on these fun get-to-know-you events in order to fill their calendar. Dinners, parties, hikes,
- [Virtual Service Auction](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/virtual-service-auction/) - Get Ready to Show We Are Sunnyhill Strong! Mark your social (distanced) calendar NOW for the evening of Saturday, June 27th! Log-In Time/Socializing: 6:30 PM; Auction begins at 7:00 PM Sharp More information and RSVP: https://www.sunnyhill.org/virtual-auction-2020/
- [POSTPONED, DATE TBA Service Auction](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/service-auction/) - EVENT POSTPONED, DATE TBA Mark your calendars for Sunnyhill's most anticipated social event of year and our largest FUNdraiser! Long-time members, new members, friends, and guests will have the time of their life, everyone is welcome. We can't do it without the generous donations of our congregants so begin thinking about what you'll donate ...
- [Plant Based Potluck](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/plant-based-potluck/) - Join us on Friday, February 21 for our monthly opportunity to do our part for the health of the planet - and for our own health, too. Just bring a plant-based dish to share (no meat, fish, fowl, eggs, dairy - you know the drill) and join us at 7 pm in the Fellowship Hall.
- [Sunnyhill Live Internationalite](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/sunnyhill-live-internationalite/) - Pittsburgh musicians celebrate our cultural and linguistic diversity Geña y Peña play songs of love and life, music that transports the audience to Latin America and the Caribbean. A sublime duet, Geña, born in Puerto Rico, provides vocals and percussion and Colombian-American Carlos Peña plays guitar. Since 2007, they have been playing boleros, montunos, bombas,
- [Sunnyhill Coffeehouse](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/sunnyhill-coffeehouse/) - Come enjoy an evening of entertainment by Sunnyhill’s finest performers! This evening of talent will support Sunnyhill's upcoming immersion learning experience in West Virginia this June. Would you like to perform? We’re looking for musicians, singers, poets, comedians to provide an evening of fellowship, entertainment, and good old fashioned fun. Performers signup here Coffeehouse Sign Up There
- [Plant-powered Potluck](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/plant-powered-potluck/) - Did Greta Thunberg inspire your resolution to eat more sustainably this year? Come see how delicious and nutritious plant-based eating can be at Sunnyhill's monthly Plant-Powered Potluck. Whether you're exploring the idea or committed to a life of veg eating, all are welcome. Just bring a dish that contains no animal products (meat, fowl, fish,
- [Sacred Dance and Potluck](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/sacred-dance-and-potluck/) - Sacred Dance and Potluck, Sat., Jan. 25, 4:00 and 5:30 At this sacred dance event, you are invited to experience the power, joy, and healing of moving your body however you wish to awesome music in welcoming community. No special abilities or skills needed, and people of all ages, from children to elders, are encouraged
- [Pathways](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/pathways/) - Interested in becoming a member of Sunnyhill? Please join us for a Pathways Orientation Class this Sunday, 1/12 from 11:30-2:30pm. Pathways is a great way to learn more about the church and is the first step toward membership. Childcare is available upon request and a light lunch will be served. Please sign up here if
- [The Longest Night Service](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/the-longest-night-service/) - The holidays are not always as cheerful as we might pretend. In fact, this time of year often brings painful memories and a profound sense of loss. This special service is for anyone who is struggling during this holiday season.
- [Sacred Chant](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/sacred-chant/) - Sacred Chant at Sunnyhill takes place on the first friday of every month at 7pm. We'll chant and sing simple songs in English, Sanskrit, Hebrew and other languages. If you are interested, please join us for a relaxed hour of singing together. If you have questions, contact Rev. Jim Magaw at minister@sunnyhill.org.
- [An Evening with Rob Rogers](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/an-evening-with-rob-rogers/) - Presentation and Book Signing (FREE event) Rob will talk about his current book, Enemy of the People: A Cartoonist's Journey, and discuss the state of cartooning in Trump's America. After 25 years as the award-winning editorial cartoonist for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Rob Rogers was fired in June of 2018. Rob recalls that the firing was
- [Christmas Eve Candlelight Services (5 and 7 p.m.)](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/christmas-eve-candlelight-services-5-and-7-p-m/) - The 5:00 service will feature our annual no-rehearsal Christmas nativity re-enactment and music from our children and youth. The 7:00 service will be more contemplative in nature. Both services will celebrate the 300th anniversary of the Christmas carol “Joy to the World".
- [Budget Meeting](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/budget-meeting/) - Congregational Meeting to pass the 2020 Budget
- [Budget Q&A Meeting](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/budget-qa-meeting/) - Questions about the upcoming budget meeting? Join us at 11:15 on December 8 to discuss the 2020 Congregational Budget.
- [One World](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/one-world-2/) - The evening is an intergenerational celebration of our outreach to the greater world and includes lots of multicultural holiday activities and fun twists. This wonderful evening is all about giving rather than receiving and this year we’ve expanded our Gallery of Good Giving, so come prepared to purchase your holiday gifts and to donate to
- [South City Jazz](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/south-city-jazz/) - ​South City Jazz has been playing Pittsburgh venues since 2005, showcasing the classic piano trio sounds of the 50’s and 60’s. The trio’s sound is rooted in the swinging tradition of Oscar Peterson, the contemplative classicism of Bill Evans, and the latin/calypso grooves of Sonny Rollins and Monty Alexander. Ralph Falbo is a classical/jazz pianist
- [Sacred Chanting](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/sacred-chanting-18/) - “Sacred Chanting at Sunnyhill” takes place on one Friday evening each month at 7 p.m. and lasts about one hour. This is a relaxed and informal event, and all who are interested are invited to attend–no background in music or chanting is required, only an interest and a willingness to try something new. For more
- [Pittsburgh UU Cluster Assembly](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/pittsburgh-uu-cluster-assembly/) - Details Here: 2019 Cluster Assembly
- [Pumpkin Patch Fundraiser 2019](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/pumpkin-patch-fundraiser/) - PLEASE NOTE THAT TIMES VARY FOR WEEKENDS AND WEEKDAYS. SEE SCHEDULE BELOW. Our pumpkins are scheduled to arrive at 9 a.m. on Saturday, October 12. We will start selling pumpkins at 10 a.m. and close the patch at 7 p.m. Last year we sold out of pumpkins on October 30! Be sure to shop
- [LGBTQ+ Resource Fair](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/lgbtq-resource-fair/) - State Representative Dan Miller's staff, Local Organizations, and Sunnyhill's Interweave team will be on hand to provide information and resources on community services and programs for LGBTQ+ residents and their loved ones, as well as provide an update on legislative efforts to promote equality. More information is coming! LGBTQ Fair Flyer
- [Soup & Chili Cook-Off](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/soup-chili-cook-off/) - Get your prize-winning recipes ready! The annual Soup and Chili Cook-off will be held on Saturday, October 12. Doors will open at 5:30 pm. Along with soup and chili makers, we need people to bring bread, salads, drinks and desserts. Please sign up here to join us for an evening of fun, fellowship, and great food.
- [Olga Watkins Acoustic Quartet](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/olga-watkins-acoustic-quartet/) - The Olga Watkins Acoustic Quartet is a Pittsburgh-based band with their own fresh sound and style that combines original soul, blues, funk, and jazz. Well-known and loved for their Steelers fight song "Drink up Yinz...", the quartet is characterized by irreverent and funny lyrics, powerful vocals, exceptional musicianship, and influences ranging from Etta James
- [All Church BBQ and Engagement Fair](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/back-to-church-picnic/) - Please join us on Sunday, September 8 after the service, as we kick off the new church year with an All-Church Engagement Fair and BBQ! Representatives from various Sunnyhill groups will have tables set up in Fellowship Hall to share information and recruit new members. You'll learn more about our Social Justice team, Caring team,
- [Environmental Justice Book Group-Sept. 11, 18, 25](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/environmental-justice-book-group-sept-11-18-25/) - Last year’s recommended “Common Read” from the UUA was “Justice on Earth: People of Faith Working at the Intersections of Race, Class, and the Environment.” We will read and discuss this collection of essays in a group facilitated by Rev. Jim and Ann Trondle-Price, on three consecutive Wednesday evenings: Sept. 11, 18, and 25, at
- [Green Sanctuary Allyship Training](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/green-sanctuary-allyship-training/) - Start the new church year in Green Sanctuary style as one of our Environmental Justice partners, the Center for Coalfield Justice, will be here to do “allyship training”. Working one-on-one with people impacted by environmental injustice will be the most important aspect of our Green Sanctuary certification. Plus, it’s a meaningful way to put our
- [Green Sanctuary Congregational Kickoff](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/green-sanctuary-congregational-kickoff/) - Join us as we officially kick off the Green Sanctuary program for the new church year. Meet representatives from our Environmental Justice partners: the Center for Coalfield Justice, Pittsburgh United and the Environmental Health Project. Learn what important work these groups do for those facing environmental injustice and discover how you can work with them
- [Religious Education Volunteer Training](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/religious-education-volunteer-training/) - Click the flyer for full event page and registration.
- [Police Review Board Forum](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/police-review-board-forum/) - A forum will be held at Sunnyhill on Tuesday, August 6 at 7 p.m. hosted by Paul Klein, a County Council member who is co sponsor of a County Police Review Board proposal. There are over 100 municipalities in the county with independent police forces, The City of Pittsburgh has has a Police Review Board
- [Our Whole Lives Training](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/our-whole-lives-training/) - Full Details Here: Our Whole Lives
- [BUUcs Night at the Ballpark](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/buucs-night-at-the-ballpark/) - Information Here:
- [All Ages Movie Night](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/all-ages-movie-night/) - Summer Movie Night on Friday, June 28 at 6:00 pm at Sunnyhill! RSVP by emailing Jen at dre@sunnyhill.org $15/family
- [RE Camping Trip](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/re-camping-trip/) - The Annual RE Camping Trip is scheduled for August 2-4! Families are welcome to come for the day or spend the night and enjoy the fun that Raccoon State Park has to offer! See this link for signup and more information: Camping Trip
- [Interfaith Prayer Meeting](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/interfaith-prayer-meeting/) - Interfaith Prayer Meeting: Sunnyhill is hosting a monthly hour of meditation and prayer for people of all faiths to come together as an antidote to some of the religious-based fear and hatred that currently exists in our world and in our community. Anyone is welcome to participate. Bring a meditation or prayer to share if
- [justseeds Artist Reception](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/9734/) - This exhibit features the work of the Justseeds Artist' Collective. The Collective includes thirty-five artists activist working in the US, Canada and Mexico. Justseeds members primarily produce handmade prints and publications which are distributed through their website and at conferences and events related to social and environmental movements. We are hosting a reception where the
- [Summer Institute 2019](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/summer-institute-2019/) - More information available here: http://www.cersiuu.org/
- [Sunnyhill Summertime Singles](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/sunnyhill-summertime-singles/) - Organizational meeting! Plan to attend and share your ideas! Are you interested in getting to know other singles at Sunnyhill this summer? Join us for an organizational meeting on Sunday, June 9, at noon in the lobby outside of Panera in the Galleria. We can buy our lunch inside first and eat while we plan.
- [Pancake Breakfast and Plant Sale](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/pancake-breakfast-and-flower-sale/) - Join us on Saturday, May 11, from 9 am-12 pm, for an all-you-can-eat homemade breakfast. We'll be serving fresh local eggs, pancakes made from scratch with real maple syrup, sausage, fruit, steel cut oatmeal with toppings, coffee, tea, and juice. Vegan and gluten-free options will be available. Adults $12, kids 12 and under $6, kids
- [Sunnyhill Live! The Exonerated](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/sunnyhill-live-the-exonerated/) - Real Stories of People Wrongly Convicted and Sent to Death Row Proceeds Benefit the Exonerated Fund and the Innocence Project The Exonerated, a 2002 play by Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen, combines first-person narrative with legal records to tell the stories of six wrongfully convicted inmates: Delbert Tibbs, Kerry Max Cook, Gary Gauger, David Keaton,
- [Sunnyhill Live! The Exonerated](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/sunnyhill-live-the-exonerated-2/) - Real Stories of People Wrongly Convicted and Sent to Death Row The Exonerated, a 2002 play by Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen, combines first-person narrative with legal records to tell the stories of six wrongfully convicted inmates: Delbert Tibbs, Kerry Max Cook, Gary Gauger, David Keaton, Robert Earl Hayes, and Sunny Jacobs, and their paths
- [Mister Rogers' Neighborhood Auction!](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/mister-rogers-neighborhood-auction/) - CLICK HERE FOR THE SERVICE AUCTION BOOKLET CLICK HERE FOR ADDENDUM **PLEASE PRINT THE BOOKLET AND ADDENDUM** Service Auction 2019: Saturday, April 13, 2019. Doors open 5:00 p.m. There will be raffles, silent auction, party signups, a robust live auction, and dinner! Feel free to come dressed to reflect the theme (a comfy cardigan--how easy
- [Sunnyhill Live! Buffalo Run](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/sunnyhill-live-buffalo-run/) - Buffalo Run features Levee Smith (vocals) and Keith Roberts (vocals and electric bass), formerly the duo Smith & Roberts, and Bob Shank (hammered dulcimer and banjo), Hank Schwartz (drums), and Michael Hall (upright bass). Buffalo Run grew out of Smith's songwriting for Smith & Roberts, who released two albums, Buffalo Run (1980) and By Accident
- [Workshop: Preparing for Advancing Years](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/workshop-preparing-for-advancing-years/) - PREPARING FOR ADVANCING YEARS - OUR OWN AND OUR LOVED ONES Join Registered Nurse and Senior Health Care Presenter Barbara A. Veazey for a comprehensive overview of important topics on Wednesday, April 3, 10 and 17th, 7:00 – 8:30pm. *Social Security, Medicare, Medigap, and Advantage Plans (4/3) *Long term care insurance, Health Care
- [Sunnyhill Live! Pittsburgh Chamber Players](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/pittsburgh-chamber-players/) - Ticket price includes wine and cheese reception, free CD, and chance to win PSO tickets! Experience the deeply moving and emotional chamber music masterworks of Johannes Brahms and Franz Schubert performed by the Pittsburgh Symphony Chamber Players: Mikhail Istomin, cello; Jennifer Orchard, violin; Victoria Luperi, clarinet; and Eugene Sirotkin, piano. Johannes Brahms--Trio for clarinet, cello
- [Workshop: Preparing for Advancing Years](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/workshop-preparing-for-advancing-years-3/) - Save the Date(s) ....The Caring Team is planning a series of workshops about preparing for advancing years - our own and our loved ones. Barbara A. Veazey will present a comprehensive overview of senior resources, health care, and living arrangement options.The three sessions will be held at Sunnyhill on Wednesday, April 3, 10 and 17, 2019
- [Workshop: Preparing for Advancing Years](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/workshop-preparing-for-advancing-years-2/) - Save the Date(s) ....The Caring Team is planning a series of workshops about preparing for advancing years - our own and our loved ones. Barbara A. Veazey will present a comprehensive overview of senior resources, health care, and living arrangement options.The three sessions will be held at Sunnyhill on Wednesday, April 3, 10 and 17, 2019
- [Youth Group Italian Dinner](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/youth-group-italian-dinner/) - You are invited to Bistro del Sole, aka the Sunnyhill Youth Group's Italian Dinner on March 9, 2019! Make Reservations now for the Italian Dinner! This dinner is organized and run by the Youth Group and they will be your wait staff for the evening. They transform the entire church into an Italian Bistro, serve
- [Building Bridges—Bhutanese/Pittsburghese Potluck Mixer](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/building-bridges-bhutanese-pittsburghese-potluck-mixer/) - The second principle of Unitarian Universalism promotes justice, equity, and compassion in human relations. In that spirit, on March 16 the Sunnyhill Social Justice Committee in collaboration with the Himalayan Foundation USA will be hosting an adult potluck mixer! This will be a great opportunity to get to know members of the adult Bhutanese refugee
- [Sunnyhill Live! Concert in the Round](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/sunnyhill-live-concert-in-the-round/) - Sunnyhill Live! has teamed up with four of Pittsburgh's favorite singer-songwriters--Heather Kropf, Christopher Mark Jones, Ben Shannon, and Brad Yoder--for an evening of musical collaboration. Each will be featured in a short set supported by the other musicians. The audience will have many opportunities to chat with the musicians, too. Heather Kropf (heatherkropf.com) has been
- [COA Coffee House](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/coa-coffee-house-2/) - Come enjoy an evening of entertainment by Sunnyhill's finest performers! Organized, planned and hosted by our Coming Of Age class, this evening will provide the bulk of fundraising for their pilgrimage to Boston where they'll explore our American Unitarian Universalist roots. Would you like to perform? We're looking for musicians, singers, poets, comedians to
- [Eight at Eight Dinners - Sign Up Now!](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/eight-at-eight-dinners-sign-up-now/) - 2019 Dinners will be held on these Saturdays: Jan. 26, Feb. 23, March 23, and April 20 Please sign up ASAP so hosts have lots of time to plan! Eight at Eight dinners have been a fun activity at Sunnyhill for years. The dinners took some time off, but they are back for 2019! The
- [A Day of Mindful Spirituality--Registration Required!](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/a-day-of-mindful-spirituality-registration-required/) - All are welcome to join us at Sunnyhill on Saturday, January 26, for "A Day of Mindful Spirituality." Stephanie M. Romero, EdD, will present the "How and Why of Mindfulness for Health and Well Being." Afternoon sessions include spiritual writing, massage tricks and tools, and life collage. Registration is $25.00 (includes lunch and all materials).
- [COA Day at Galleria Panera!](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/coa-day-at-galleria-panera/) - Invite your friends and family to Panera Bread at the Galleria in Mt. Lebanon, on December 13 from 4 to 8 p.m.! Whether you buy coffee or a salad or a sandwich, if you present this flyer (print PDF via link below or show on a mobile device), a percentage of our purchase will be donated to the
- [Tell Our Legislators: Do Not Separate Immigrant Families](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/tell-our-legislators-do-not-separate-immigrant-families/) - On Sunday, December 16, the Social Justice team will host a Holiday Service project directly after the service in Fellowship Hall. We will be writing out postcards to send to our legislators, telling them we do not support the separation of immigrant families. Please join us following Sunday service. We will need only 30 minutes
- [Red Oak Candle Holder Orders](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/red-oak-candle-holder-orders/) - Hey, Sunnyhill! Boy Scout Elliot Pullen here! As you know, during construction it was discovered our beloved red oak was terminally ill and had to be cut down. But the red oak will live on in handcrafted candle holders! I will be taking orders at One World this Saturday, December 8, and after service on
- [One World](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/one-world/) - Mark your calendars now for this festive evening where you get to fill your cup with some holiday spirit. There will be food, drinks, a fair trade market, an opportunity to learn about Sunnyhill Community partners and Social Justice teams, caroling, and activities that the whole family can enjoy together- as well as a visit
- [All-church Potluck and Mixer](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/all-church-potluck-and-mixer/) - Details to come!
- [Free Film Screening: This is Home](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/free-film-screening-this-is-home/) - "This Is Home" is an intimate portrait of four Syrian refugee families arriving in America and struggling to find their footing. As they learn to adapt to challenges, including the newly imposed travel ban, their strength and resilience are tested. It is a universal story, highlighted by humor and heartbreak, about what it's like to
- [Parents: Sign Up for COA Babysitting!](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/parents-sign-up-for-coa-babysitting-2/) - Have some holiday shopping to do or want to schedule a much-needed date night with your significant other? Drop the kids at Sunnyhill and the COA students (with adults on-site, too) will keep them entertained! Two dates available: Saturday, December 1, 1 to 4 p.m. Friday, December 14, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Cost: $20 per
- [Parents: Sign Up for COA Babysitting!](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/parents-sign-up-for-coa-babysitting/) - Have some holiday shopping to do or want to schedule a much-needed date night with your significant other? Drop the kids at Sunnyhill and the COA students (with adults on-site, too) will keep them entertained! Two dates available: Saturday, December 1, 1 to 4 p.m. Friday, December 14, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Cost: $20 per
- [Interfaith Thanksgiving Service](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/interfaith-thanksgiving-service/) - There will be an Interfaith Thanksgiving Service featuring members of the Sunnyhill Choir on Tuesday, November 20, at 7 p.m. at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church. 310 Kane Blvd. in Scott Township.
- [Sacred Chanting](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/sacred-chanting-17/) - “Sacred Chanting at Sunnyhill” takes place on the first Friday evening of the month at 7 p.m. and lasts about one hour. This is a relaxed and informal event, and all who are interested are invited to attend–no background in music or chanting is required, only an interest and a willingness to try something new.
- [Sacred Chanting](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/sacred-chanting-16/) - “Sacred Chanting at Sunnyhill” takes place on the first Friday evening of the month at 7 p.m. and lasts about one hour. This is a relaxed and informal event, and all who are interested are invited to attend–no background in music or chanting is required, only an interest and a willingness to try something new.
- [Sacred Chanting](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/sacred-chanting-15/) - “Sacred Chanting at Sunnyhill” takes place on the first Friday evening of the month at 7 p.m. and lasts about one hour. This is a relaxed and informal event, and all who are interested are invited to attend–no background in music or chanting is required, only an interest and a willingness to try something new.
- [Sacred Chanting](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/sacred-chanting-14/) - “Sacred Chanting at Sunnyhill” takes place on the first Friday evening of the month at 7 p.m. and lasts about one hour. This is a relaxed and informal event, and all who are interested are invited to attend–no background in music or chanting is required, only an interest and a willingness to try something new.
- [Sacred Chanting](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/sacred-chanting-13/) - “Sacred Chanting at Sunnyhill” takes place on the first Friday evening of the month at 7 p.m. and lasts about one hour. This is a relaxed and informal event, and all who are interested are invited to attend–no background in music or chanting is required, only an interest and a willingness to try something new.
- [Free Concert for a Loving Community](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/free-concert-for-a-loving-community/) - LOCATION: St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Washington Road in Mt. Lebanon Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/624759824588105/ This multi-faceted celebration of community, and love across difference features a free performance, including: WYEP Award-Winning Singer Songwriters Jess Klein Dan Stylslinger Award-Winning Slam Poet Sherrika Mitchell Jazz Artist in Residence Lee Robinson Co-sponsored by Temple Emmanuel of the South Hills NAT28
- [Free Film Screening: Raising Zoey](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/free-film-screening-raising-zoey/) - This award-winning documentary depicts an eventful year in the life of transgender 13-year-old girl Zoey, who wants nothing more than simply to go to school, learn, have fun with friends and be a kid. Unfortunately, ignorance and intolerance have made things challenging for her and her family. Zoey, with the help of her mother and
- [COA Poinsettia Sale!](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/coa-poinsettia-sale/) - Help send our eight grader COA students to Boston! Order now through December 2. Flowers delivered to Sunnyhill on December 7. Pickup that day (details to follow) or during One World on December 8. Printable order form here.
- [Budget Q & A](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/budget-q-a/) - Plan to stay after service on December 2 to ask questions about the proposed 2019 budget. Copies of the budget will be available.
- [Annual Budget Meeting](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/annual-budget-meeting-2/) - Quorum required! Members, please plan to attend!
- [Sacred Chanting](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/sacred-chanting-12/) - “Sacred Chanting at Sunnyhill” takes place on the first Friday evening of the month at 7 p.m. and lasts about one hour. This is a relaxed and informal event, and all who are interested are invited to attend–no background in music or chanting is required, only an interest and a willingness to try something new.
- [Sunnyhill Live! Amelia White US Album Tour](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/sunnyhill-live-amelia-white-us-album-tour/) - Raised In Virginia, and based in Nashville, Amelia White cut her musical teeth in the New England area, in the same scene that produced Mary Gauthier, Lori McKenna, and Aimee Mann. Her music has been described as rock-folk-alt-art-country. Fans and reviewers describe White as warm and approachable, and her songs like stories, rich in details
- [Sunnyhill Live! The Clarion Quartet](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/sunnyhill-live-the-clarion-quartet-2/) - The Clarion Quartet, an ensemble of world-class musicians who perform with the Pittsburgh Symphony, provides suppressed composers with a long overdue voice and celebrates their genius through performance, education, and advocacy. The inspiration to form the Clarion Quartet came when Tatjana Chamis, Associate Principal Viola for the Pittsburgh Symphony, was asked to perform a program
- [Chili & Soup Cook-off!](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/chili-soup-cook-off/) - Please RSVP on line. Let us know how many are attending and if you will be bringing soup or chili to share, bread and butter, drinks, salad, or a dessert. We can plan better when we know how many guests to expect! Please RSVP here!
- [Imbolc](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/imbolc/) - Hosted by Spiritways CUUPS. Food and drink contributions to cakes and ale are always welcome, especially seasonal items. Due to the powerful quality of rituals, children 12 and older only please. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
- [Full Moon](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/full-moon/) - Hosted by Spiritways CUUPS. Food and drink contributions to cakes and ale are always welcome, especially seasonal items. Due to the powerful quality of rituals, children 12 and older only please. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
- [Dark Moon](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/dark-moon-2/) - Hosted by Spiritways CUUPS. Food and drink contributions to cakes and ale are always welcome, especially seasonal items. Due to the powerful quality of rituals, children 12 and older only please. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
- [Yule](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/yule/) - Yule is observed on the day of the Winter Solstice. Also known as Jul, Yule predates the Christmas holiday by thousands of years. There is some debate as to the origin of the word Yule. Some linguists suggest the word is derived from “Iul”, the Anglo-Saxon word for wheel. This makes a connection to a Celtic calendar,
- [Samhain](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/samhain/) - Samhain is a Gaelic festival marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter or the "darker half" of the year. Traditionally, it is celebrated from Oct. 31 to Nov. 1, as the Celtic day began and ended at sunset. This is about halfway between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice. It
- [Mabon](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/mabon/) - Mabon is the Autumn Equinox, which divides the day and night equally. At Mabon, we pay our respects to the impending dark and give thanks to the waning sunlight. The Druids call this celebration, Mea'n Fo'mhair, and honor the Green Man, the God of the Forest, by offering libations to trees. Offerings of ciders, wines,
- [Litha](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/litha/) - The gardens are blooming, and summer is in full swing. Enjoy the celebrations of Midsummer! Also called Litha, this summer solstice Sabbat honors the longest day of the year. Take advantage of the extra hours of daylight and spend as much time as you can outdoors! Time: 7 - 9 p.m. Visit the Spiritways Facebook
- [Lammas](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/lammas/) - At Lammas, sometimes called Lughnasadh, it's time to begin reaping what we have sown throughout the past few months, and recognize that the bright summer days will soon come to an end. Time: 7 - 9 p.m. Visit the Spiritways Facebook page.
- [Ostara](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/ostara/) - Ostara marks the first day of spring, the turning over from long nights toward long days. It is also a time where germinated seeds move outdoors to the thawing soil. Keeping our spirits in time with the year, we challenge ourselves to new ideas. We invite you to Wonderland, a place where you can learn
- [Annual Cluster Assembly -- at Sunnyhill!](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/annual-cluster-assembly-at-sunnyhill/) - REGISTRATION IS OPEN!!! The time is NOW to register for the 5th Annual UUPittsburgh Cluster Assembly being held at Sunnyhill on Saturday, November 10. The theme is social justice and our keynote speaker is Rev. Kathleen McTigue, who will speak on social justice in our troubled times. Early registration discounts are available through October 10.
- [Sunnyhill Live! Christopher Mark Jones](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/sunnyhill-live-christopher-mark-jones/) - Christopher Mark Jones is a singer/songwriter--and he speaks five languages and once played professional basketball and taught French. The Roots Ensemble mixes originals from Jones' five albums and selected covers by artists such as Keb Mo, John Hiatt, The Band, Ry Cooder, Taj Mahal, the Neville Brothers, Mose Allison, Don Williams, Tom Waits, and Little
- [Meet Solar United of Pennsylvania](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/meet-solar-united-of-pennsylvania/) - Ever considered going solar? SAVE THE DATE! Stop by the sanctuary after the service on Sunday, September 16. The Sunnyhill Green Sanctuary Team will welcome Solar United Neighbors of Pennsylvania https://www.solarunitedneighbors.org –a non-profit co-op dedicated to helping local residents and businesses band together to enjoy bulk pricing on unbiased, vendor-neutral quality solar installation. This is simply an
- [Sunnyhill Live! The Diamante Trio with Lilly Abreu](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/sunnyhill-live-the-diamante-trio-with-lily-abreu/) - The Diamante Trio formed in 2016 to bring pop and classical music of South American composers to diverse audiences. The Trio plays tangos, sambas, laments, and choros, with the violin, clarinet, and cello at times imitating a Brazilian street band. In other pieces, they act as a classical string trio with the clarinet taking the
- [Sunnyhill Live! Gaelynn Lea Album Release Tour](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/sunnyhill-live-gaelynn-lea-album-release-tour/) - Sunnyhill Live! opens its 2018-19 performance series with Gaelynn Lea. Since winning NPR Music's 2016 Tiny Desk Contest, Gaelynn has played over 250 shows in 42 states and seven countries. The singer-songwriter and violinist has performed everywhere from coffee shops and bars to schools and festivals. She has taken the stage at Nashville’s Music
- [2018-19 Chalice Circle Signups](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/2018-19-chalice-circle-signup-begins/) - Chalice Circles Return! Sign-up after service on 8/26, 9/2, and 9/9 Chalice Circles are an opportunity for members and newer attendees to participate in small groups that explore questions of life and faith. This small group approach to ministry offers a committed group in which you come to be known and to know others well.
- [World Gratitude Day Pittsburgh Celebration](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/world-gratitude-day-pittsburgh-celebration/) - Uplifting event of music, poetry, video and reflection in coffeehouse format followed by reception and Thank-You-Note-athon. Features vocalist Ronni Weiss and poet Joan Bauer. Inspirational, non-religious focus. “Give what makes you feel good” donation for Literacy Pittsburgh. Co-sponsored by Litzinger Career Consulting. Details/Register: www.WorldGratitudeDayPittsburgh.com. Held at First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh, 605 Morewood Ave, Shadyside.
- [Yard Sale!](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/yard-sale/) - After a two year hiatus due to the renovation, the much-loved yard sale is back! Clean out your closets, basements and attic and bring them to the church! All proceeds will benefit the Social Justice Committee and your houses will be de-cluttered. It's a win-win! Drop off will be Thursday May 31st and Friday June
- [Pancake Breakfast](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/pancake-breakfast/) - Right here at Sunnyhill! All are welcome! Please invite friends, family, and neighbors! $10, age 13 and older $5, children 12 and younger What to expect: Tie-dye and "custom design" pancakes Eggs and sausage Fresh fruit Oatmeal with toppings and a "toast bar" (avocado, peanut butter and bananas, and more!) Coffee, tea, water, juice
- [Spring through the Ages- An Intergenerational Dance](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/spring-through-the-ages-an-intergenerational-dance/) - You do not want to miss this night of absolutely free intergenerational merriment hosted by the Sunnyhill youth group for the entire Sunnyhill community, featuring dance music from the 40s to the present! This event is for ALL AGES, from the littlest Sunnyhillers to our most respected elders. You might be asking yourself, "But what
- [Art as a Spiritual Practice Workshop](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/art-as-a-spiritual-practice-workshop/) - Please join us on Thursday, April 26 for our monthly Fourth Thursday event. This month, Sibyl McNulty will be teaching Art as a Spiritual Practice. We'll be trying something new for dinner and serving a baked potato bar at 5:30 pm, with a suggested donation of $5 for adults and $3 for children under 13 (no more than
- [SWPA Neighbors for Clean Air](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/swpa-neighbors-for-clean-air/) - Clean Air Council is launching its Southwest Pennsylvania Neighbors for Clean Air initiative on April 12 to raise awareness and recruit additional volunteers. This free event will feature Lois Gibbs, the primary organizer in Love Canal, winner of the Goldman Environmental Prize and Heinz award in the Environment, and Nobel Peace Prize nominee. The event is
- [Cluster picnic in Murrysville](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/cluster-picnic-in-murrysville/) - The cluster picnic will be held at a park in Murrysville. This event is coordinated by the East Suburban congregation, and details about exact location and exact times will follow. Make a note in your summer calendars now to hold this afternoon for a fun outing with other UUs.
- [Cluster Collaboration Workshop](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/cluster-collaboration-workshop/) - The Cluster Collaboration Workshop will be held at Allegheny UU Church. This is the follow up to last June's workshop as well as to work done at the November Cluster assembly. All are welcome. No charge!
- [Service Auction March 17!](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/service-auction-2017/) - A one-page sheet of "The Basics": click here. Directions for logging in to the dedicated Service Auction website: click here. RSVP: click here. Donation ideas: click here. Basket ideas: click here. Hello Sunnyhill! Sunnyhill’s biggest fun-raiser (and we do mean FUN-raiser) of the year is slated for St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2018.
- [Frack Gas: A Bridge Too Far](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/frack-gas-bridge-far/) - LEARN ABOUT THE IMPACTS OF FRACKING "FRACK GAS: A BRIDGE TOO FAR," will be presented at the Bradford Woods Conservancy by Larry J. Schweiger (President Emeritus and past CEO of Penn Future). WHEN: Tuesday, March 20, 7 PM WHERE: Bradford Woods Community Church, 4836 Wexford Run Road, Bradford Woods, Pa 15015 Free and Open to the Public The
- [Samhain](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/samhain-2/) - Hosted by Spiritways CUUPS. Food and drink contributions to cakes and ale are always welcome, especially seasonal items. Due to the powerful quality of rituals, children 12 and older only please. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
- [Dark Moon](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/dark-moon/) - Hosted by Spiritways CUUPS. Food and drink contributions to cakes and ale are always welcome, especially seasonal items. Due to the powerful quality of rituals, children 12 and older only please. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
- [Mabon](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/mabon-2/) - Hosted by Spiritways CUUPS. Food and drink contributions to cakes and ale are always welcome, especially seasonal items. Due to the powerful quality of rituals, children 12 and older only please. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
- [Lammas](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/lammas-3/) - Hosted by Spiritways CUUPS. Food and drink contributions to cakes and ale are always welcome, especially seasonal items. Due to the powerful quality of rituals, children 12 and older only please. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
- [Yule & Full Moon](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/lammas-2/) - Hosted by Spiritways CUUPS. Food and drink contributions to cakes and ale are always welcome, especially seasonal items. Due to the powerful quality of rituals, children 12 and older only please. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
- [Summer Solstice](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/summer-solstice/) - Hosted by Spiritways CUUPS. Food and drink contributions to cakes and ale are always welcome, especially seasonal items. Due to the powerful quality of rituals, children 12 and older only please. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
- [Retirement Support Group](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/retirement-support-group-9/) - Sunnyhill's Retirement Support Group meets the first and third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. at Sunnyhill. Watch Facebook and the Beat for meeting topics. Contact BK Kosmach with questions.
- [Retirement Support Group](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/retirement-support-group-8/) - Sunnyhill's Retirement Support Group meets the first and third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. at Sunnyhill. Watch Facebook and the Beat for meeting topics. Contact BK Kosmach with questions.
- [Sunnyhill Live! Love Letters](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/sunnyhill-live-love-letters-3/) - Love Letters, by celebrated American playwright A.R. Gurney, is an enduring romance about first loves and second chances. The two-character play about a 50-year romance remembered through letters brings two Sunnyhill members to the stage: actor/director Heidi Smith and Cotter Smith (currently appearing in the Nexflix production Mindhunter). Refreshments available for purchase before and after
- [Sunnyhill Live! Love Letters](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/sunnyhill-live-love-letters/) - Love Letters, by celebrated American playwright A.R. Gurney, is an enduring romance about first loves and second chances. The two-character play about a 50-year romance remembered through letters brings two Sunnyhill members to the stage: actor/director Heidi Smith and Cotter Smith (currently appearing in the Nexflix production Mindhunter). Refreshments available for purchase before and
- [Sacred Chanting](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/sacred-chanting-8/) - "Sacred Chanting at Sunnyhill" takes place on the first Friday evening of the month at 7 p.m. and lasts about one hour. This is a relaxed and informal event, and all who are interested are invited to attend--no background in music or chanting is required, only an interest and a willingness to try something new.
- [Sacred Chanting](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/sacred-chanting-7/) - "Sacred Chanting at Sunnyhill" takes place on the first Friday evening of the month at 7 p.m. and lasts about one hour. This is a relaxed and informal event, and all who are interested are invited to attend--no background in music or chanting is required, only an interest and a willingness to try something new.
- [Strengthening our Caring: Workshop](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/strengthening-caring-workshop/) - The goal of this training, led by Rev. Robin Zucker, is to help new and current Pastoral Care Associates (and others who are interested) own their passion and commitment to helping others and actualizing this energy into an effective Pastoral Care ministry. We will explore listening and communication skills, visiting and companioning, issues related to loss
- [Coffeehouse](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/coffeehouse/) - Music. Poetry. Story Telling. Comedy. Come enjoy an evening of entertainment by Sunnyhill’s finest performers! Organized, planned and hosted by our Coming Of Age class, this evening will provide the bulk of fundraising for their pilgrimage to Boston where they’ll explore our American Unitarian Universalist roots. Would you like to perform? We’re looking for musicians,
- [Interweave Social Justice](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/interweave-social-justice/) - The Interweave Social Justice team will have its next meeting on Sunday, Jan. 21, at 11:15 a.m. at Panera Bread in the Galleria. Newcomers are welcome. This group is for LGBTQ individuals and allies! And we will welcome a staff member from Persad. Join us! Contact Ron Smutny for further details.
- [Sacred Chanting](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/sacred-chanting-6/) - NOTE: This is the rescheduled date for the Jan. 5 chanting. We will meet in February on the first Friday of the month. "Sacred Chanting at Sunnyhill" takes place on the first Friday evening of the month at 7 p.m. and lasts about one hour. This is a relaxed and informal event, and all who
- [Unity in the Community](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/unity-in-the-community-2/) - Sunnyhill is hosting this community-wide workshop on Jan. 27 and Jan. 28 from 1 to 5 p.m. The same workshop is being held both days--attend whichever day is more convenient for you. This workshop follows up on last year's Unity Rally, which took place in response to several hate-based incidents in the South Hills. The
- [Unity in the Community](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/unity-in-the-community/) - Sunnyhill is hosting this community-wide workshop on Jan. 27 and Jan. 28 from 1 to 5 p.m. The same workshop is being held both days--attend whichever day is more convenient for you. This workshop follows up on last year's Unity Rally, which took place in response to several hate-based incidents in the South Hills. The
- [Retirement Support Group](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/retirement-support-group-7/) - Sunnyhill's Retirement Support Group meets the first and third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. at Sunnyhill. Watch Facebook and the Beat for meeting topics. Contact BK Kosmach with questions.
- [Retirement Support Group](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/retirement-support-group-6/) - Sunnyhill's Retirement Support Group meets the first and third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. at Sunnyhill. Watch Facebook and the Beat for meeting topics. Contact BK Kosmach with questions.
- [Retirement Support Group](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/retirement-support-group-5/) - Sunnyhill's Retirement Support Group meets the first and third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. at Sunnyhill. Watch Facebook and the Beat for meeting topics. Contact BK Kosmach with questions.
- [Retirement Support Group](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/retirement-support-group-4/) - Sunnyhill's Retirement Support Group meets the first and third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. at Sunnyhill. Watch Facebook and the Beat for meeting topics. Contact BK Kosmach with questions.
- [Retirement Support Group](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/retirement-support-group-3/) - Sunnyhill's Retirement Support Group meets the first and third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. at Sunnyhill. Watch Facebook and the Beat for meeting topics. Contact BK Kosmach with questions.
- [Retirement Support Group](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/retirement-support-group-2/) - Sunnyhill's Retirement Support Group meets the first and third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. at Sunnyhill. Watch Facebook and the Beat for meeting topics. Contact BK Kosmach with questions.
- [Retirement Support Group](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/retirement-support-group/) - Sunnyhill's Retirement Support Group meets the first and third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. at Sunnyhill. Watch Facebook and the Beat for meeting topics. Contact BK Kosmach with questions.
- [Third Thursday--RE for All Ages](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/third-thursday-re-ages-3/) - Please join us for Third Thursday and Religious Education classes for all ages. The evening will proceed as follows: 5:30 p.m.: Gather 5:45 p.m.: Potluck supper 6:30 p.m.: Vespers service 6:45-8:15 p.m.: Classes for adults and children Adults, choose from the following: Continuing discussion of the book “A House for Hope: The Promise of Progressive
- [Sunnyhill Art Gallery: William Pfahl Artist](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/sunnyhill-art-gallery-william-pfahl-artist/) - The art work of William Pfahl, which includes some of the most iconic images of Pittsburgh and surrounding communities, will be featured and for sale at the Sunnyhill Gallery. William is a plein eir painter who utilizes oil and pastel. He is a long time member of the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh (AAP). William is
- [Olga Watkins Acoustic Trio](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/olga-watkins-band/) - The Olga Watkins Acoustic Trio has been performing together since 2003. Their original music combines influences of blues, funk, soul, jazz, reggae and rock into a truly unique sound. They have been voted the Best Blues/Jazz Band of the year in the Pittsburgh City Paper on multiple occasions. They perform throughout the Pittsburgh and surrounding
- [Sunnyhill Live! An Evening with Chaplin](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/sunnyhill-live-evening-chaplin/) - An Evening with Chaplin Elegant music meets outrageous slapstick as Tom Roberts (tomrobertspiano.com) plays his original piano compositions for some of Charlie Chaplin's great films. Tom will be joined by clarinetist Mary Beth Malek. A treat for fans of the Little Tramp. The performance takes place in the 220-seat sanctuary of the Unitarian
- [Sunnyhill Live! The Jazz Conspiracy](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/the-jazz-conspiracy/) - The Jazz Conspiracy The Jazz Conspiracy is Pittsburgh's most entertaining and authentic big band, focused on providing a highly professional and high energy musical experience. The Jazz Conspiracy is a 16-piece ensemble dedicated to capturing the sound and spirit of the American big bands, from the Swing Era to the present day, cutting no corners
- [Annual Budget Meeting](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/annual-budget-meeting/) - PLEASE READ PRIOR TO MEETING: Minutes from the December 2016 Meeting Agenda for the meeting 2018 Budget for Congregational Review Notice of UUCSH’s Annual Budget Meeting: Sunday, December 10, 2017 The Annual Budget Meeting will be held on Sunday, December 10, 2017, at 11:15 a.m. in the Sanctuary at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the
- [One World Returns!](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/one-world-returns-2/) - Let us know you're coming! Click the world to RSVP for Sunnyhill's One World Multicultural Celebration Sunnyhillers young and old, newcomers and founding members – come one come all! We hope you’ll come to Sunnyhill's 7th annual One World Holiday Celebration on Saturday, December 9, 2017, 5-8 p.m. at Sunnyhill. Last year, we have over 100
- [Church-wide Social Justice Meeting!](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/church-wide-social-justice-meeting/) - Curious about what the Sunnyhill Social Justice Committee is up to? Want to learn more about how you can get involved? On Sunday, November 12, there will be a church-wide Social Justice Committee meeting in the sanctuary following the service. Headlining the event: the four Social Justice teams, of course! Please join us and learn how your
- [Sunnyhill Presents: A Night of Art + Jazz](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/night-art-jazz/) - A Night of Art+Jazz 5-7 p.m. Gallery show (admission free) 7-9 p.m. Das/Potter Jazz Duo. ($20 Adults // $8 Students) The eveing starts with a gallery show (5-7 p.m.) of Bob Willis Photography. Admission to the gallery show is free. Bob is a photographer and travel writer, formerly based in Fort Collins, Colorado. His
- [Sacred Chanting](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/sacred-chanting-4/) - "Sacred Chanting at Sunnyhill" takes place on one Friday evening each month at 7 p.m. and lasts about one hour. This is a relaxed and informal event, and all who are interested are invited to attend--no background in music or chanting is required, only an interest and a willingness to try something new. For more
- [Sunnyhill Book Group](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/sunnyhill-book-group-8/) - The Sunnyhill Book Group will meet at Sunnyhill on Mon., May 21, at 7:30 p.m. We will be discussing Hamlet by William Shakespeare. We will also arrange an outing to see Pittsburgh Public Theater's production of Hamlet! All are welcome!
- [Sunnyhill Book Group](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/sunnyhill-book-group-10/) - The Sunnyhill Book Group will meet at Sunnyhill on Mon., July 16, at 7:30 p.m. We will be discussing Empire of the Stars by Arthur I. Miller. All are welcome!
- [Sunnyhill Book Group](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/sunnyhill-book-group-9/) - The Sunnyhill Book Group will meet at Sunnyhill on Mon., June 18, at 7:30 p.m. We will be discussing Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout. All are welcome!
- [Sunnyhill Book Group](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/sunnyhill-book-group-7/) - The Sunnyhill Book Group will meet at Sunnyhill on Mon., April 16, at 7:30 p.m. We will be discussing The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro. All are welcome!
- [Sunnyhill Book Group](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/sunnyhill-book-group-6/) - The Sunnyhill Book Group will meet at Sunnyhill on Mon., March 19, at 7:30 p.m. We will be discussing The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. All are welcome!
- [Sunnyhill Book Group](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/sunnyhill-book-group-5/) - The Sunnyhill Book Group will meet at Sunnyhill on Mon., Feb. 19, at 7:30 p.m. We will be discussing The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett. All are welcome!
- [Sunnyhill Book Group](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/sunnyhill-book-group-4/) - The Sunnyhill Book Group will meet at Sunnyhill on Mon., Jan. 15, at 7:30 p.m. We will be discussing In a Sunburned County by Bill Bryson. All are welcome!
- [Sunnyhill Book Group](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/sunnyhill-book-group-3/) - The Sunnyhill Book Group will meet at Sunnyhill on Mon., Nov. 20, at 7:30 p.m. We will be discussing Hillybilly Elegy by J. D. Vance. All are welcome!
- [Pathways to Membership](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/pathways-class-2/) - Save the date. Interested in learning more about Sunnyhill and Unitarian Universalism? Join us for our next Pathways class on Oct. 25, 2017, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Sunnyhill. Contact Bethany Thornton, Membership and Outreach Coordinator, at sunnyhillmembership@gmail.com for more information or to reserve a spot.
- [Spuyten Duyvil in Concert!](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/spuyten-duyvil-concert/) - Send an email to Roy at admin@sunnyhill.org to reserve your tickets. $20 Adults/$10 Kids. Doors open 7:30 p.m. Concert starts promptly at 8 p.m. Refreshments available for purchase.
- [Annual Assembly UUs of Greater Pittsburgh](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/annual-assembly-uus-greater-pittsburgh/) - Join fellow Unitarian Universalists for a day of camaraderie, connection, and collaboration! Registration fee is $20 and includes lunch. Registration opens October 5. Everyone welcome! Child care available. You do not need to be a Unitarian Universalist or a member of a Unitarian Universalist congregation to attend. More info: http://uupittsburgh.org/assembly. Location: Unitarian Universalist Church of
- [MAJOR! A Film Event](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/major-film-event/) - "MAJOR!" chronicles the life and campaigns of Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, a 75 year old Black transgender elder and activist who has been fighting for the rights of trans women of color for over 40 years. In 2016, MAJOR! was shown at over 60 film festivals around the world and garnered 19 awards for best documentary.
- [Butanese-Nepali Foundation Fundraiser](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/butanese-nepali-foundation-fundraiser/) - The Himalayan Foundation-USA is having a fundraiser! Money raised goes to help those who are here from refugee camps in Nepal. Monies raised fund programs that help refugees integrate into the United States. Participants learn about American culture and share their culture with others. Most programs address the particular needs of adults and seniors, who
- [Pumpkin Patch Fundraiser](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/pumpkin-patch-fundraiser-9/) - The Sunnyhill Pumpkin Patch will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunnyhillers--please be sure to sign up to help with the Pumpkin Patch (Oct. 14-Oct. 31). Click here to go to the volunteer sign up.
- [Pumpkin Patch Fundraiser](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/pumpkin-patch-fundraiser-7/) - The Sunnyhill Pumpkin Patch will be open to visitors from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, Monday through Friday. Visitors, if you find a pumpkin and don't see a volunteer in the patch, please take your pumpkin inside to our administrative. Roy, our congregational administrator, has agreed to handle pumpkin sales in a pinch if
- [Pumpkin Patch Fundraiser](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/pumpkin-patch-fundraiser-4/) - Are you new to Sunnyhill? If you're planning to visit our pumpkin patch today, but haven't yet stopped by for a Sunday service, please think of of joining us at 10 a.m. for the service followed by coffee in our Fellowship Hall. Sunday Service: 10 a.m. Building Consecration Service Religious Education for children ages 4
- [Pumpkin Patch Fundraiser](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/pumpkin-patch-fundraiser-5/) - Are you new to Sunnyhill? If you're planning to visit our pumpkin patch today, but haven't yet stopped by for a Sunday service, please think of of joining us at 10 a.m. for the service followed by coffee in our Fellowship Hall. Sunday Service: 10 a.m. All Souls Day Religious Education for children ages 4
- [New Home Facility Training](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/new-home-facility-training/) - Learn how our new home works! Instruction in HVAC, AV, and electrical.
- [Third Thursday--RE for All Ages](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/third-thursday-re-ages/) - The Adult RE Team* is excited to announce that beginning in September, we will hold Religious Education classes for all ages on the third Thursday of each month. Each evening will proceed as follows: 5:30 p.m.: Gather 5:45 p.m.: Potluck supper 6:30 p.m.: Vespers service 6:45-8:15 p.m.: Classes for adults and children We will offer
- [Third Thursday--RE for All Ages](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/third-thursday-re-ages-2/) - Please join us for Third Thursday and Religious Education classes for all ages. The evening will proceed as follows: 5:30 p.m.: Gather 5:45 p.m.: Potluck supper 6:30 p.m.: Vespers service 6:45-8:15 p.m.: Classes for adults and children We will offer two different tracks for adults to choose from: A House For Hope: A discussion of
- [Second Saturday](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/second-saturday/) - “Second Saturday at Sunnyhill” is a family friendly program that takes place on the second Saturday of most months. This program is designed as a way to build closer relationships with other members and friends while doing some deep sharing and listening around a particular topic each month. These events are both fun and engaging.
- [Cold Moon-Full Moon](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/cold-moon-full-moon/) - In Native American cultures which tracked the calendar by the Moons, December’s full Moon was known as the Full Cold Moon. It is fittingly associated with the month when winter cold fastens its grip and the nights become long and dark. This Full Moon is also called the Long Nights Moon by some Native American tribes because it occurs near the winter
- [Second Saturday](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/second-saturday-8/) - “Second Saturday at Sunnyhill” is a family friendly program that takes place on the second Saturday of most months. This program is designed as a way to build closer relationships with other members and friends while doing some deep sharing and listening around a particular topic each month. These events are both fun and engaging.
- [Second Saturday](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/second-saturday-7/) - “Second Saturday at Sunnyhill” is a family friendly program that takes place on the second Saturday of most months. This program is designed as a way to build closer relationships with other members and friends while doing some deep sharing and listening around a particular topic each month. These events are both fun and engaging.
- [Second Saturday](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/second-saturday-6/) - “Second Saturday at Sunnyhill” is a family friendly program that takes place on the second Saturday of most months. This program is designed as a way to build closer relationships with other members and friends while doing some deep sharing and listening around a particular topic each month. These events are both fun and engaging.
- [Second Saturday](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/second-saturday-5/) - “Second Saturday at Sunnyhill” is a family friendly program that takes place on the second Saturday of most months. This program is designed as a way to build closer relationships with other members and friends while doing some deep sharing and listening around a particular topic each month. These events are both fun and engaging.
- [Second Saturday](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/second-saturday-4/) - “Second Saturday at Sunnyhill” is a family friendly program that takes place on the second Saturday of most months. This program is designed as a way to build closer relationships with other members and friends while doing some deep sharing and listening around a particular topic each month. These events are both fun and engaging.
- [Second Saturday](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/second-saturday-3/) - “Second Saturday at Sunnyhill” is a family friendly program that takes place on the second Saturday of most months. This program is designed as a way to build closer relationships with other members and friends while doing some deep sharing and listening around a particular topic each month. These events are both fun and engaging.
- [Second Saturday](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/second-saturday-2/) - “Second Saturday at Sunnyhill” is a family friendly program that takes place on the second Saturday of most months. This program is designed as a way to build closer relationships with other members and friends while doing some deep sharing and listening around a particular topic each month. These events are both fun and engaging.
- [Sacred Chanting](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/sacred-chanting-11/) - "Sacred Chanting at Sunnyhill" takes place on the first Friday evening of the month at 7 p.m. and lasts about one hour. This is a relaxed and informal event, and all who are interested are invited to attend--no background in music or chanting is required, only an interest and a willingness to try something new.
- [Sacred Chanting](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/sacred-chanting-10/) - "Sacred Chanting at Sunnyhill" takes place on the first Friday evening of the month at 7 p.m. and lasts about one hour. This is a relaxed and informal event, and all who are interested are invited to attend--no background in music or chanting is required, only an interest and a willingness to try something new.
- [Sacred Chanting](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/sacred-chanting-9/) - "Sacred Chanting at Sunnyhill" takes place on the first Friday evening of the month at 7 p.m. and lasts about one hour. This is a relaxed and informal event, and all who are interested are invited to attend--no background in music or chanting is required, only an interest and a willingness to try something new.
- [Sacred Chanting](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/sacred-chanting-5/) - "Sacred Chanting at Sunnyhill" takes place on one Friday evening each month at 7 p.m. and lasts about one hour. This is a relaxed and informal event, and all who are interested are invited to attend--no background in music or chanting is required, only an interest and a willingness to try something new. For more
- [Sacred Chanting](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/sacred-chanting-3/) - "Sacred Chanting at Sunnyhill" takes place on one Friday evening each month at 7 p.m. and lasts about one hour. This is a relaxed and informal event, and all who are interested are invited to attend--no background in music or chanting is required, only an interest and a willingness to try something new. For more
- [Sacred Chanting](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/sacred-chanting-2/) - "Sacred Chanting at Sunnyhill" takes place on one Friday evening each month at 7 p.m. and lasts about one hour. This is a relaxed and informal event, and all who are interested are invited to attend--no background in music or chanting is required, only an interest and a willingness to try something new. For more
- [SI 2017](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/register-april-1-si/) - Please visit the SI website for complete details on SI 2017.
- [Building Dedication Service](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/building-dedication-service/) - On Saturday, October 21, there will be a reception for Sunnyhill members and friends and special guests from 4-6 p.m. Immediately following the reception there will be a Building Dedication Service led by Rev. Jim Magaw. A save-the-date card was mailed in mid-June, and an invitation will be mailed in September. We hope every member
- [Dedication Weekend Reception](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/dedication-weekend-reception/) - On Saturday, October 21, there will be a reception for Sunnyhill members and friends and special guests from 4-6 p.m. A save-the-date card was mailed in mid-June, and an invitation will be mailed in September. We hope every member and friend has saved the date! This will be our time to come together and celebrate
- [History of LGBTQ Acceptance in the Religious Community](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/history-lgbtq-acceptance-religious-community/) - Rev. Jim and several other local religious leaders will appear at a panel discussion on LGBTQ issues and rights at the Mt. Lebanon Public Library on Thursday, June 29 at 7 p.m. It is terrific that this event is being held, and we strongly encourage your attendance to show your support!
- [UUs Greater Pittsburgh Summer Picnic!](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/uus-greater-pittsburgh-summer-picnic/) - Come out for the UUs of Greater Pittsburgh Summer Picnic at Riverview Park's Chapel Shelter on Sunday, July 30. This is a social gathering and all are welcome, including members and friends of local UU congregations and also "free-range UUs." There will be lots to do: walking and hiking trails, playground, pool, lawn games, kibitzing,and
- [Circle of Faith](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/circle-of-faith/) - Celebrating openness and welcome as part of October Gay History Month. A public interfaith witness of welcome and inclusion for LGBTQIA persons, their families and allies by varied faith communities. Check Circle of Faith Pittsburgh for details. Click here for a printable PDF of event information.
- [2017 Pittsburgh Pride Festival](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/2017-pittsburgh-pride-festival/) - Click here for more details!
- [Plant Pick-up](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/plant-pick-up/) - Plants ordered to support Simon Mortimer's Eagle Scout project can be picked up this Friday, May 12, at the Mortimer's home in Mt. Lebanon (65 Ordale Blvd.). Pick up hours are 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. If you need to make special arrangements for pick up, please contact Elizabeth Mortimer at themortimers@verizon.net. You can also text
- [Pittsburgh "Sister" People's Climate March in Oakland](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/pittsburgh-sister-peoples-climate-march-oakland/) - Our day is centered on addressing climate chaos locally and envisioning actions that will help us all become part of a sustainable future. We will begin at Bigelow Blvd near the Pitt Student Union (3959 Fifth Ave, Pittsburgh) at 10 am and march to Flagstaff Hill across from the Phipps Conservatory lawn (1 Schenley Hill)
- [March for Immigration Rights](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/march-immigration-rights/) - The Sunnyhill Social Justice team invites you to a march in support of immigration rights on May 1, 2017. The march is sponsored by Casa San José, a community resource center ​that advocates for and empowers Latinos by promoting integration and self-sufficiency. The march begins at 3 p.m. at the intersection of Hot Metal and Water Streets
- [Pathways to Membership](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/pathways-to-membership/) - Save the date. Interested in learning more about Sunnyhill and Unitarian Universalism? Join us for our next Pathways class on May 21, 2017, at 11:30 at Sunnyhill. Contact Bethany Thornton at membership@sunnyhill.org for more information or to sign up.
- [August Family Camping!](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/august-family-camping/) - Save the date! The Annual RE Family Camping Trip will be Friday, August 4 through Sunday, August 6. All Families are invited to join together at group tent site at Raccoon Creek State Park for all of the family friendly adventures it has to offer! More details to come!
- [IMPACT Thursdays](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/impact-thursdays/) - This week Erin Russell-Story and the crew will have materials to make signs for the coming March for Science Pittsburgh, which is happening on Saturday, April 22. We will also have postcards and letter-writing materials with scripts in support of the EPA. We need you, so please consider taking an hour or so to participate
- [Current Events Post-Service Discussion](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/current-events-post-service-discussion/) - The Current Events Discussion Group will meet after the April 23 service at the home of Sunnyhill member Kelly Bivens-Levin (111 Conewanta Drive in Upper St. Clair). All are welcome!
- [Sacred Chanting at Bower Hill Comm. Church](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/sacred-chanting-sunnyhill-returns-oct-7/) - Sacred Chanting will meet this month in the chapel at the Bower Hill Community Church on Moffett Street. "Sacred Chanting at Sunnyhill" takes place on the first Friday of each month at 7 p.m. and lasts about one hour. Our next session will take place Friday, May 5. This is a relaxed and informal event,
- [Second Saturday](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/february-second-saturday/) - "Second Saturday at Sunnyhill" is a family-friendly program that takes place on the second Saturday of most months. This program is designed as a way to build closer relationships with other members and friends while doing some deep sharing and listening around a particular topic each month. These events are both fun and engaging. At
- [General Assembly](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/general-assembly/) - General Assembly is Coming - Are you ready? General Assembly will take place in New Orleans, LA on June 21-25 this year. Registration and housing open on March 1. Volunteer applications are due March 31. Learn more about General Assembly at the UUA website. There will be a pre GA workshop - Resist and Rejoice:
- [Sunnyhill Book Group](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/sunnyhill-book-group-2/) - We will meet on the evening of April 17 to discuss The Fool's Progress by Edward Abbey. This year each meeting will be held at a different home. For time and location updates, please contact Dean Hazelton (dhazelton44@verizon.net) and join us!
- [Annual Congregational Meeting](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/annual-congregational-meeting/) - Please see Janie Elliott, Board Secretary, prior to the service to sign in as we will need to verify a quorum before the meeting can begin. Thank you!
- [Pathways Class](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/pathways-class/) - Interested in learning more about Sunnyhill and Unitarian Universalism? Join us for our next Pathways class on March 29, 2017 at 11:30 at Sunnyhill. Contact Bethany Thornton at membership@sunnyhill.org for more information or to sign up.
- [Racial Justice Book Group](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/racial-justice-book-group-4/) - Our next book in the series is "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander. We will meet to discuss this book on March 21st at 7:00pm at Sunnyhill so please read it beforehand. It's not to late to join the discussion. All are welcome!
- [COA Coffee House](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/coa-coffee-house/) - March 11 COA Coffee House Come one, come all to the 2017 Coming of Age (COA) Coffeehouse, which will be held on March 11 at 6:30 p.m. at the Bower Hill Community Church. Join us for a wonderful evening, highlighting the amazingly talented Sunnyhill community. Proceeds will benefit the annual pilgrimage of the COA class to
- [Sunnyhill Book Group](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/sunnyhill-book-group/) - We will meet on the evening of March 20 to discuss Out of This Furnace by Thomas Bell. This year each meeting will be held at a different home. For time and location updates, please contact Dean Hazelton (dhazelton44@verizon.net) and join us!
- [Sacred Chanting](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/sacred-chanting/) - Sacred Chanting will meet this month in the chapel at the Bower Hill Community Church on Moffett Street. "Sacred Chanting at Sunnyhill" takes place on the first Friday of each month at 7 p.m. and lasts about one hour. Our next session will take place Friday, February 3. This is a relaxed and informal event,
- [People of Faith, People of Change](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/people-faith-people-change/) - "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." - Martin Luther King Jr. John Henry: An American Legend who died with his hammer in his hand. His story is our story. Please join us on February
- [Book Group](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/book-group/) - We will meet on the evening of February 20 to discuss Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare. We will also see the Pittsburgh Public Theater's production of the play. This year each meeting will be held at a different home. For time and location updates, please contact Dean Hazelton (dhazelton44@verizon.net) and join us!
- [Habitat for Humanity](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/habitat-for-humanity/) - Sunnyhill will be participating in Habitat for Humanity projects in Washington County on Saturday, March 11, weather permitting. Please contact Joe Shaughnessy if you're interested in volunteering.
- [Habitat for Humanity](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/habitate-for-humanity/) - Sunnyhill will be participating in Habitat for Humanity projects in Washington County on Saturday, January 28, and March 11, weather permitting. Please contact Joe Shaughnessy if you're interested in volunteering.
- [10 Actions in 100 Days](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/10-actions-100-days/) - Let's Make It Happen! Join us this Thursday evening, January 26, at 7 p.m. in the Sunnyhill sanctuary to work on the first of the "10 Actions in 100 Days." We will gather together to make our voices heard and write letters to our Senators about the issues close to our hearts. Postcards will be provided
- [PIIN Public Safety Task Force](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/piin-public-safety-task-force/) - PIIN Public Safety Task Force. Held at Bidwell Church. Several Sunnyhill members attend this monthly meeting that focuses on relationships between police and the pubic it serves and general public safety issues. It is most interesting. Transportation available if you would like to come. Contact Pat Troell.
- [Sacred Conversations on Race (+ Action) RSVP Required](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/sunnyhills-sacred-conversations-race-action/) - PLEASE NOTE: Attendance at both sessions is important as this is a continuing dialogue. Your RSVP is confirming a spot at the Jan. 28 amd Feb. 11 sessions. Thank you! "Sacred Conversations on Race (+ Action)" is a series of congregation-based discussions designed to provide a safe space to discuss race and racism in our
- [Let Freedom Sing at the Byham](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/let-freedom-sing-byham/) - Let Freedom Sing: A 10th Annual Concert Celebration of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday celebrating unity and diversity through music. Two concerts: Sat., Jan. 14, 7 p.m. Ebenezer Baptist Church (2001 Wylie Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15219) Mon., Jan. 16 7 p.m. Byham Theater (101 6th St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222) Led by Kris Rust and Rev. Dr.
- [Let Freedom Sing at Ebenezer Baptist Church](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/let-freedom-sing-ebenezer-baptist-church/) - Let Freedom Sing: A 10th Annual Concert Celebration of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday celebrating unity and diversity through music. Two concerts: Sat., Jan. 14, 7 p.m. Ebenezer Baptist Church (2001 Wylie Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15219) Mon., Jan. 16 7 p.m. Byham Theater (101 6th St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222) Led by Kris Rust and Rev. Dr.
- [Then Comes Marriage](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/then-comes-marriage/) - Come discuss Roberta Kaplan’s 2015 book, Then Comes Marriage, which tells the story of the defeat of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) before the Supreme Court. This is the account of one of our nation’s most significant civil rights victories. The book was named a Ms. Magazine Top 10 Feminist Book of 2015 and a
- [The Bombadils House Concert (limited seating)](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/bombadils-house-concert-limited-seating/) - On January 15, 2017, Mike and Mary-Jo Hennessy are sponsoring a house concert featuring The Bombadils, a talented musical group from Toronto. This band visited Sunnyhill last year and everyone who attended loved them! Canadian maritimer Luke Fraser and prairie-girl Sarah Frank share a love of folk songs and fiddle tunes. Drawing from the Canadian,
- [One World Returns on Sat., Dec. 10!](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/one-world-returns/) - RSVP Here! Sunnyhillers both young and old, newcomers and founding members – come one come all! With over 100 congregants and families in attendance last year, we hope you’ll join us for our 6th Annual One World Holiday Celebration on Saturday, December 10, 2016, 5-7 p.m. at the Clubhouse on Brightwood in Bethel Park. The evening
- [Transgender Workshop--FULL--Waitlist ONLY](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/transgender-workshop-limited-space-rsvp-required/) - As an additional step in the Welcoming Congregation renewal process, Sunnyhill Interweave will present a workshop entitled “transaction," which is described as a transgender curriculum for churches and religious institutions. The curriculum is designed to help churches address the issue of understanding and welcoming by providing step-by-step training about the needs, apprehensions and fears of
- [Thanksgiving Potluck](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/thanksgiving-potluck/) - Click the corncucopia on the homepage to RSVP!
- [Volunteer at Jubilee Soup Kitchen](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/volunteer-jubilee-soup-kitchen/) - Volunteer at Jubilee Soup Kitchen.
- [Youth Worship and Check In](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/youth-worship-check/) - See you at the Rec Center!
- [Autopsy Session](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/autopsy-session/) - Discuss volunteer event and plan next event. We'll meet at the Lauver home.
- [Halloween Fundraiser to Support Cystinosis Research](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/halloween-fundraiser-support-cystinosis-research/) - Volunteering for the Lots of Love for Landon Halloween Fundraiser to support the Cystinosis Research Fund. See Jen for more information.
- [Youth Con, UU Church of the North Hills](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/youth-con-uu-church-north-hills/) - Advance registration required!
- [Sacred Chanting in November--New Location](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/sacred-chanting-november-new-location/) - Sacred Chanting will continue, but we will be changing location to the Bower Hill Community Church on Moffett Street. "Sacred Chanting at Sunnyhill" takes place on the first Friday of each month at 7 p.m. and lasts about one hour. Our next session will take place Friday, November 4. This is a relaxed and informal
- [Racial Justice Book Group](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/racial-justice-book-group-3/) - Our February meeting will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 21, at 7:00 p.m., when we will discuss Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson. Please direct any questions to Rev. Jim Magaw at minister@sunnyhill.com.
- [Racial Justice Book Group](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/racial-justice-book-group-2/) - Our second meeting will take place on Tuesday, Jan. 17, at 7:00 p.m., when we will discuss Ta-Nehisi Coates's Between the World and Me. Meetings will take place at Sunnyhill in the minister's office. For more information, contact Rev. Magaw at minister@sunnyhill.org. Future books will include Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson (Feb. 21). Books for March
- [LGBTQ Panel Discussion presented by PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays)](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/lgbtq-panel-discussion-presented-pflag-parents-friends-lesbians-gays/) - The Sunnyhill Interweave group has partnered with Bower Hill Community Church to present an LGBTQ speaker series. To help us fulfill the requirements of the Welcoming Congregation Renewal process, please plan to attend these no-charge events. All events will be held at Bower Hill Community Church, 70 Moffett St, Pittsburgh, PA 15243 and are open
- [2016 Cluster Assembly set for Nov. 5](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/nov-5-3rd-annual-cluster-assembly-open-uus/) - The 2016 Greater Pittsburgh Cluster Assembly of the Unitarian Universalists of Greater Pittsburgh will be on Sat., Nov. 5 at the First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh. Join together with local UUs as we worship, sing, connect, share, listen, learn, and grow in community! During the morning, we've assembled a panel of speakers who will
- [Current and Proposed LGBTQ Legislation presented by Equality PA](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/current-proposed-lgbtq-legislation-presented-aclu-pittsburgh/) - The Sunnyhill Interweave group has partnered with Bower Hill Community Church to present an LGBTQ speaker series. To help us fulfill the requirements of the Welcoming Congregation Renewal process, please plan to attend these no-charge events. All events will be held at Bower Hill Community Church, 70 Moffett St, Pittsburgh, PA 15243 and are open
- [Racial Justice Book Group](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/racial-justice-book-group/) - We are forming a racial justice book discussion group that will meet on the third Tuesday of each month in November, January, February, March, and April. Our first meeting will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 15, at 7:00 p.m., when we will discuss William Barber's The Third Reconstruction: How a Moral Movement Is Overcoming the
- [Cleaning house? Donate items to a flea market to benefit Pauline Juliet, Inc.](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/cleaning-house-donate-items-flea-market-benefit-pauline-juliet-inc/) - St. David's Episcopal Church at 905 E. McMurray Road in Venetia is hosting a community-wide Flea Market on Sat., Oct. 15 from 8-2 p.m. to benefit Pauline Juliet, Inc. Parking spaces must be reserved in advance, and the event will be held rain or shine. Come sell your goods, or call for a pick up and St.
- [LGBTQ 101 presented by PERSAD](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/2949/) - The Sunnyhill Interweave group has partnered with Bower Hill Community Church to present an LGBTQ speaker series. To help us fulfill the requirements of the Welcoming Congregation Renewal process, please plan to attend these no-charge events. All events will be held at Bower Hill Community Church, 70 Moffett St, Pittsburgh, PA 15243 and are open
- [Racial Justice Book Discussion Group--contact Rev. Jim if interested](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/racial-justice-book-discussion-group-contact-rev-jim-interested/) - Rev. Jim Magaw will be facilitating a book discussion group intermittently throughout the year (at dates to be determined). We will be reading and discussing such books as The Third Reconstruction by Rev. William Barber, Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson, Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates, and The New Jim Crow by Michelle

## Locations

- [Unitarian Universalist Church of the South Hills](https://www.sunnyhill.org/locations/unitarian-universalist-church-of-the-south-hills/)
- [First Unitarian Church](https://www.sunnyhill.org/locations/first-unitarian-church/)

## Services

- [There Will Be Enough](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/there-will-be-enough/) - How do we remain generous in a world that constantly tells us there isn't enough? Drawing from his experiences accompanying immigrant families and his Catholic faith, Jaime Martinez reflects on abundance, grace, and dignity, exploring how the way we relate to one another may be one of the defining spiritual questions of our time.
- [Democracy and Religion](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/democracy-and-religion-2/) - Separation of church and state does not mean that religion has no role to play in democracy. How has conservative religion been co-opted and perverted in order to bolster authoritarianism and how can liberal religion be a positive force in building a healthy democracy from the ground up?
- [Dugout Theologians](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/dugout-theologians/) - In his baseball novel “The Natural,” Bernard Malamud wrote: "We have two lives, Roy, the life we learn with and the life we live with after that. Suffering is what brings us toward happiness." Whether you agree with this sentiment or not, there's no doubt that baseball fans tend to be philosophical. This sermon will
- [Music as a Through Line](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/guest-speaker-sermon/) - Through personal stories, we'll explore how music can serve as a powerful through-line throughout our lives. Its remarkable ability to engage both the brain and body fosters healing, strengthens relationships, and creates a sense of belonging. Music also has a unique way of capturing emotions, preserving memories, and connecting us to people and moments long
- [What to Do When You Don't Know What to Do](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/creating-sacred-space/) - Most of us have experienced moments in our lives when we are caught off-guard by something big for which we were not prepared. In fact, over the past few years, some of us have experienced many such moments. This sermon will offer some suggestions about what to do when you don’t know what to do.
- [Flower Service](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/flower-service/) - We will celebrate the flower ritual, which was created by Norbert Capek, the founder of the Unitarian Church in Czechoslovakia, and which honors the beauty and uniqueness of each individual and the bouquet we create by joining together with one another to create communities of justice and compassion.
- [John 3:16 Revisited](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/the-summer-day/) - In recent decades, John 3:16 has become perhaps the most famous (or infamous) verse in the Bible, and has served as shorthand for a fundamentalist understanding of Christianity. But there are other ways of reading this Bible passage that might lead to a more expansive understanding of the life and teachings of Jesus.
- [The Summer Day](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/john-316-revisited/) - If contemporary Unitarian Universalism were to have its own Book of Common Prayer, it would almost certainly include some of the poems of Mary Oliver. This service will explore why one of Oliver’s poems, “The Summer Day,” is especially powerful and relevant.
- [The Voyage of Discovery](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/the-voyage-of-discovery/) - A reflection on how our lives are shaped by the surprises we never asked for — the wounds, the wonders, and the strange gifts along the way. Through story, science, and the poetry of Naomi Shihab Nye, Will invites us to see our journeys with new eyes.
- [Patriotism vs. Nationalism](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/patriotism-vs-nationalism/) - In recent decades, we have seen the rise of a new “religious” nationalism that presents itself in the guise of a particular brand of “patriotism.” As members of a liberal religious community, we are guided by values that transcend national interests, so it is important to examine the difference between true patriotism (a noble virtue)
- [First Contact](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/may-31-service/) - For generations, humanity has been fascinated with the question "Are we alone in the universe?" This fascination has recently been further piqued with the release of government files related to possible extraterrestrial life. In this service,we'll explore how humanity might change philosophically, existentially, and/or theologically in the event of first contact.
- [Transformation, Interdependence, and Justice](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/transformation-interdependence-and-justice/) - The Sunnyhill High School Youth Group will discuss the Unitarian Universalist Values that they connect with the most during their time together. We will also celebrate Bridging, which honors our high school seniors as they move into their next chapter of life.
- [Moralizing and Memorializing](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/moralizing-and-memorializing/) - National holidays in America have largely become occasions for shopping mall sales, sporting events and backyard barbecues. Many of these holidays have also become celebrations of materialism and militarism–and a good bit of narrow moralizing around these themes. How might we honor these holidays while resisting their less savory aspects?
- [Curiosity and Wonder](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/curiosity-and-wonder-2/) - Curiosity and wonder can be much-needed antidotes to feeling overwhelmed and stuck. Instead of remaining mired in frustration and anger, how might we cultivate a sense of curiosity and a sense of wonder, even in the most challenging of times?
- [The Unsung Path of Agnosticism](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/the-unsung-path-of-agnosticism/) - Much religious discussion focuses on the belief or disbelief in God or a higher power. Today, we shine the spotlight on “I don’t know,” the unsung path of agnosticism.
- [Coming of Age](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/coming-of-age-6/) - “Credo” is a Latin word, which is generally translated as "I believe," but its literal meaning is closer to "what I set my heart to." Sunnyhill's Coming of Age (COA) class will share what is close to their hearts in this service, which is a capstone of the COA curriculum.
- [Choir as a Spiritual Practice](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/spring-music-service/) - This service, led by Mary Pratt and featuring the Sunnyhill Choir, will explore the ways in which the choir functions within the church and how it is experienced by its members. The Sunnyhill Choir will perform repertoire from the past year alongside reflections on the significance and impact of the music. Our annual congregational meeting will take
- [Book of Awakening](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/book-of-awakening-3/) - Drawn from ideas in Mark Nepo’s book of the same name, this service will explore, in Nepo’s words “our ongoing need to stay vital and in love with this life, no matter the hardships we encounter.” How might we go about cultivating this love for life, even when the going is rough?“
- [Dry Bones & Empty Tombs](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/termites-starlings-and-possibility/) - One of the central themes of Easter is the ultimate triumph of life over death. Even when everything around us seems dry as dead bones and dark as the tomb, the potential of resurrection of various kinds still exists for us as individuals and for us as a society. How do we prepare to “rise
- [Even Stranger Things](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/book-of-awakening-2/) - The sci-fi/fantasy television series “Stranger Things,” set in the 1980s, explores a number of themes relevant to our own times and the challenges we are facing. What might it say to us about countering authoritarianism with radical solidarity?
- [Walking to Jerusalem](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/walking-to-jerusalem/) - On Palm Sunday, Jesus’ Passover pilgrimage brought him to Jerusalem. What does it mean to go on a pilgrimage? How do our own individual journeys (as well as our collective journey) relate to the pilgrimages and the stories of Passover?
- [Punk Theology](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/blues-theology-2/) - When most people think of the punk movement, they think of Mohawks, loud, chaotic music, and anarchy. But beneath the safety pins and distortion lies a profound "do-it-yourself" spirituality of resistance. We will explore Punk Theology - an ethos of authenticity, justice, and "questioning everything" that mirrors the radical, countercultural ministries of Jesus, the Buddha,
- [Love Beyond Belief](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/love-beyond-belief-2/) - As UUs, we honor any and all beliefs that respect the inherent worth of every individual while recognizing that we are in an interdependent relationship with one another and with the earth. But beneath and beyond any and all beliefs there is a more important commitment to a love that transcends belief.
- [Solidarity: Ruth and Naomi](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/solidarity-ruth-and-naomi/) - The biblical story of Ruth and Naomi offers a compelling example of true solidarity and what it means to be committed to being on the side of others who come from backgrounds different from our own but with whom our ultimate destiny is intertwined. This service will examine the meaning of this story for us
- [Blues Theology](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/blues-theology-3/) - Some of the best music you will ever hear has emerged from a place of persecution and oppression, and, rather than dwelling in hopelessness and despair, has proclaimed through its very existence and through its great beauty that there is something more. This service will explore theology as a genre of the blues.
- [Book of Esther](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/book-of-esther/) - The Jewish holiday of Purim is centered around the Book of Esther. How does this story of heroism in the face of vulnerability relate to our own time? What can we learn about Esther that might help us face our own personal and collective challenges?
- [Fire and ICE](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/groundhog-day-again/) - As we have seen in recent weeks, the United States is now a place where someone can be summarily executed on the streets by federal agents for merely observing their actions. There is no due process or justice for the victims and no accountability for the perpetrators of this heinous violence. How are we to
- [Love and Justice](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/love-and-justice-2/) - Almost everything we do as Unitarian Universalists is somehow related to our most enduring values of love and justice. What is the relationship between these two values, and how do we pursue them in an era when both love and justice are often scorned or given short shrift?
- [Rooting for the Underdog](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/rooting-for-the-underdog/) - There is a human tendency to root for the underdog in any competitive situation. In our current era, many of us find ourselves cast as underdogs as we pursue compassion and justice for all. Why do we root for the underdog, and how does the underdog sometimes win?
- [Punk Theology](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/punk-theology/) - When most people think of the punk movement, they think of Mohawks, loud, chaotic music, and anarchy. But beneath the safety pins and distortion lies a profound "do-it-yourself" spirituality of resistance. We will explore Punk Theology - an ethos of authenticity, justice, and "questioning everything" that mirrors the radical, countercultural ministries of Jesus, the Buddha,
- [Beloved Community](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/beloved-community/) - MLK popularized philosopher Josiah Royce’s concept of “Beloved Community” as “a global vision in which all people can share in the wealth of the earth.” How might this vision inform the work that is before us now?
- [Wicked Theology, Part 2](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/wicked-theology-part-2/) - The film “Wicked 2: For Good” arrives at an interesting time, given our current era of disharmony and discord. What lessons might this show’s underlying themes of kindness, understanding, and inclusivity offer us, and how might we implement these lessons in our own lives.
- [Fresh Start or Road to Hell?](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/fresh-start-or-road-to-hell/) - This sermon will explore how making New Year’s resolutions can be a double-edged sword. While stating one’s intentions is often a good thing, it’s also been said that “the road to hell is paved with good intentions.” How can we make the best use of our intentions for ourselves and our world?
- [Community of the Open Heart](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/community-of-the-open-heart-2/) - ONLINE ONLY Opening our minds to new ideas and opening our doors to diversity are often extolled as paramount virtues in a liberal religious community. But what might we gain by practicing opening our hearts together, and how do we go about such a task?
- [Stillness and the Season](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/stillness-and-the-season-2/) - Advent, the season leading up to Christmas, is meant to be a time of quiet expectancy, a time to contemplate mystery and possibility, a time to slow down, a time to make room in our lives for something new to enter and to change us. How do we make room for this spirit of stillness
- [Christmas Eve](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/christmas-eve-8/) - These services will feature music, reflections, and readings celebrating Christmas. Our children’s nativity reenactment will occur at the 4:00 service, and our Christmas Eve candle lighting ritual will take place at both services.
- [Longest Night](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/longest-night-4/) - The holidays are not always as cheerful as we might pretend. In fact, this time of year often brings painful memories and a profound sense of loss. This special vespers service is for anyone who is struggling during this holiday season or anyone who is looking for a reprieve from the holiday hullabaloo.
- [Music of the Season](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/music-of-the-season-9/) - This service will be comprised of holiday­-themed music from various Sunnyhill members and friends, including the choir and other individuals and groups of all ages and many different styles. Come celebrate music and the season!
- [Choosing Hope in Hopeless Times](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/choosing-hope-in-hopeless-times/) - Cynicism may be understood as an attempt to protect oneself from the heartache of unfulfilled hopes. While it may be effective in the short term, cynicism ultimately leads nowhere. But how do we go about choosing in hope in what seems like a hopeless time?
- [Liberating the Holidays](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/liberating-the-holidays/) - This holiday season brings many challenges. Some are personal–losses of loved ones, losses of relationships, illnesses, changes in employment status, and so on. Others are more political or societal—loss of a sense of safety, increased isolation, divisions among neighbors and organizations, etc. How do we deal with these challenges while still finding something to celebrate?
- [Bend the Road, Bend the Arc](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/stone-soup-stolen-soup-and-the-moon/) - As we engage in discernment about next steps for Sunnyhill’s “Be the Future” project, we will focus on how we live into two key aspects of our mission: creating compassion and creating justice. How do we go about living into these aspirations? (One service at 10:00, followed by congregational meeting at 11:00.)
- [Giving Thanks in Thankless Times](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/giving-thanks-in-thankless-times-2/) - One service at 10:00. The great Christian mystic Meister Eckhart famously said, “If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.” Of the various kinds of prayers, prayers of thanksgiving might be the most powerful. How do we practice giving thanks, even in challenging times?
- [Building Up in a Time of Tearing Down](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/democracy-and-religion/) - The book of Ecclesiastes famously states that there is “a time to tear down and a time to build up.” Sometimes both must occur simultaneously. In the current era of tearing down democratic processes and social safety nets, it is time to build something new. What are we building together in this congregation, and why
- [All Souls](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/all-souls-5/) - All Souls Day is a time to remember everyone who has died, everyone who has been part of the gathered community. The phrase "All Souls" has a particularly Unitarian connotation because of something that one of our own "saints," William Ellery Channing, said: "I am a living member of the great Family of All Souls;
- [Founders' Day 60 Years of Sunnyhill](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/founders-day-60-years-of-sunnyhill/) - This Sunday we will celebrate the founding of Sunnyhill 60 years ago in 1965. What has changed, and what has remained constant? And what might the next 60 years look like?
- [Pirates and Promises](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/pirates-and-promises/) - While we often trace our Unitarian Universalist concept of covenant back to our Puritan forbears, are there other ways of conceptualizing covenant that might be helpful as we create our own covenant? This sermon will consider pirate covenants of the 17th and 18th centuries.
- [Consumerism vs. Compassion](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/consumerism-vs-compassion/) - Jonathan Murray, intern minister. Our addictive American consumer culture has not only negatively impacted our finances and environment, but it has also damaged our spirituality and compassion for others. Can society transition from an endless pursuit of more stuff to an authentic pursuit of happiness?
- [Theology of Pumpkins](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/theology-of-pumpkins/) - As we prepare for our Sunnyhill Pumpkin Patch, what are the implied theological underpinnings of this task that builds community within the congregation while also reaching out into the larger community? How might this undertaking represent building alternatives to the dominant culture of self-centeredness and despair?
- [Power of Belonging](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/building-up-in-a-time-of-tearing-down/) - In an era of distrust of virtually all organizations and institutions, what does it mean to belong? How can a sense of belonging strengthen us as individuals and as members of a larger community?
- [Building a Boat](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/building-a-boat/) - According to theologian Timothy Gorringe: “[I]n the face of the present global emergency, ark-building might be the task to which theological ethics leads us.” Building an ark, in this context, does not mean giving up on addressing our current problems and simply floating away. Rather, it means making space “for the flourishing of those who
- [Covenant of the Ark](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/covenant-of-the-ark/) - In the Bible, when Noah built the ark and set out on the journey of a lifetime, what were the promises that were made among those who were on board? In our journey through the stormy seas of life in the 21st century, what are the most important promises we need to make, and how
- [The Quiet Strength of Kindness](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/the-quiet-strength-of-kindness/) - Personal stories will help illustrate the role that kindness plays in maintaining connection and creating community. Kindness is part of the foundation of Unitarian Universalist principles and is a common thread in the tapestry of our Sunnyhill community. This service will explore how we can all practice kindness to create a better world and support
- [Resistance is Living](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/resistance-is-living/) - In these times that are growing ever darker it is easy to feel like nothing we do is making a difference, and the energy to fight waning. So how can we resist while ensuring we are still able to live and thrive at the same time? Why is self care, self love and fellowship so
- [Why Going to Church Is Good for You](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/why-are-we-here-2/) - In a bygone era, it was assumed that almost everyone would belong to a religious community of one kind or another, but that assumption no longer holds, as more and more people are unchurched. What are the real benefits of going to church and what does it mean to belong to a church in our
- [What is Unitarian Universalism?](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/what-is-unitarian-universalism-6/) - Unitarian Universalism is sometimes wrongly described as not having its own theology. Although it's true that there is a great deal of theological diversity within our congregations, we do have our own unique theology—both historically and contemporarily. This service will provide an overview of Unitarian Universalist theology and why it is important to us and
- [Let America Be America](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/freedom-religion-and-covenant/) - Langston Hughes wrote a poem with this title in 1935 as a rallying cry for greater freedom and inclusion. 90 years later it has lost none of its power in calling for an as-yet unborn America that makes real the dream of justice and liberty for all. How can we help make this dream a
- [Should You Have? Could You Have?](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/should-you-have-could-you-have/) - We all have "should have dones" in our lives, and this sermon deals with whether you truly could have accomplished what you longed for. Whether you saw yourself as an Olympic figure skater or as an international financial expert, could you really have achieved those dreams if you could go back in time? Maybe what
- [The Long Road to Sunnyhill: A Faith Journey](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/the-long-road-to-sunnyhill-a-faith-journey/) - For those in our congregation who's spiritual beginnings were in a different faith tradition, the path to Unitarian Universalism can feel like an epic, and sometimes tumultuous, journey. Mary Pratt, Sunnyhill's Music Director, will share her own journey from Catholicism and reflect on the strength that comes from sharing our diverse spiritual paths and beliefs
- [Music - Companion, Connection and Energy for the Fight](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/music-companion-connection-and-energy-for-the-fight/) - Music can be a key companion when we are in our darkest hours, a source of magic in relationships, and a source to draw on when it is time to cause "good trouble". Paul will explore his life experiences through the lens of music and invites you to do the same.
- [Losing Eden, an Immigrant Story](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/losing-eden-an-immigrant-story/) - This sermon led by Carlos Alvare is based on his personal experience of immigration and assimilation and a reflection on its relevance to current conditions in U.S.
- [Why I Am a Christian (and a Humanist and Maybe a Heretic)](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/why-i-am-a-christian-and-a-humanist-and-maybe-a-heretic-2/) - Being a part of a non-creedal faith, does not mean that we can believe whatever we want—nor does it mean that we believe nothing at all. Rather, it means that we arrive at our own beliefs and religious identities through what Ralph Waldo Emerson called “life passed through the fire of thought.” In this sermon,
- [A Longer Table](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/a-longer-table/) - What does it mean to truly belong? Through personal stories and reflections, this service explores the lifelong work of welcome and building beloved community. As our congregation grows, so does our shared responsibility: to keep making room, to keep noticing who’s missing, and to keep building a table long enough for all. Led by Director
- [Transcending Time: Music of Erroll Garner](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/transcending-time-music-of-erroll-garner/) - This service, featuring the music of Pittsburgh native Erroll Garner, will explore the nature of time and primary sources of UU inspiration, including “direct experiences of transcending mystery and wonder . . . which open our hearts, renew our spirits, and transform our lives." Led by Rev. Jim Magaw and featuring Reni Monteverde and friends.
- [Love Is Love](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/love-is-love/) - This service will be a celebration of the tenth anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision affirming marriage equality. Having the right to marry (whether you choose to exercise that right or not) is an important step forward in the long struggle for LGBTQIA+ rights. At a time when many rights are in peril, it
- [The Flaming Chalice](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/the-flaming-chalice-2/) - The image of a flaming chalice, which has its roots in the Judeo-Christian tradition, has been the primary symbol of Unitarianism since the 1940s. This service will explore the meaning and history of this symbol, especially as it relates to the larger mission of Unitarian Universalism in the world.
- [Youth Group Service](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/youth-group-service-2/) - The Sunnyhill High School Youth Group will present the Sunday morning service, which includes a Bridging Ceremony.
- [Memorial Day and Julia Ward Howe](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/memorial-day-and-julia-ward-howe/) - The celebration of Memorial Day was greatly influenced by Julia Ward Howe (for whom Howe Elementary School in Mt. Lebanon was named), an early Unitarian feminist and trailblazer whose life and legacy can teach us a lot about moving forward in life despite adversity and personal challenges.
- [It's About Deep Time](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/its-about-deep-time/) - Sometimes in our justice and advocacy work we can become consumed by a sense of urgency that can lead to frustration and even hopelessness when we encounter major setbacks. What would happen if we imagined a different way of seeing ourselves and our work, one that was more hopeful and relational? This service will explore
- [Parenting in the Apocalypse, Part 2](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/parenting-in-the-apocalypse-part-2/) - Parenting is a challenging undertaking even in the best of times, but the chaos and uncertainty of our current era has turned parenting into an even more arduous and impossibly demanding task. What are the lessons learned from recent times for parents and everyone else?
- [Coming of Age](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/coming-of-age-5/) - Join us for a service led by Sunnyhill's Coming of Age class. Credo is a Latin word, which is generally translated as "I believe," but its literal meaning is closer to "what I set my heart to." Sunnyhill's Coming of Age (COA) class will share what is close to their hearts in this service, which is a capstone of the COA curriculum. Join
- [Music of Carol Karl](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/music-of-carol-karl/) - This service will honor the life and music of Carol Karl, one of Sunnyhill’s founding members who died last year. Carol served as the congregation’s music director for some five decades, and this service will celebrate her memory and her musical legacy.
- [Climate Justice Now](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/climate-justice-now/) - The earth, wounded as it may be, still holds immense healing potential, both for itself and for us. What lessons can we learn from the earth about healing and wholeness? And how are we called to bring climate justice into being here and now?
- [Intention, Impact and Covenant](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/intention-impact-and-covenant-2/) - There’s often a big difference between our good intentions and our actual impact on others’ lives—particularly if there is an imbalance between our levels of power, privilege, and influence. How can we work toward aligning our impact with our intentions,and how might the concept of covenant help us?
- [Wicked Theology Part 1](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/wicked-theology-part-1/) - The film adaptation of “Wicked” arrives at an interesting time, given our current era of disharmony and discord. What lessons might this show’s underlying themes of kindness, understanding, and inclusivity offer us, and how might we implement these lessons in our own lives.
- [A Time Such as This](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/religion-and-democracy/) - The Jewish holiday of Purim is centered around the Book of Esther. How does this story of heroism in the face of vulnerability relate to our own time? What can we learn about Esther that might help us face our own personal and collective challenges?
- [Vision and Voyage](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/intention-impact-and-covenant/) - (One service only, at 10:00) As we prepare for our upcoming capital project, what is the vision that we have for our church and for our community? How do we hold onto this vision while in the midst of the often rocky voyages of our lives and of the world? (This service will be followed
- [Trans Rights = Human Rights](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/trans-rights-human-rights/) - At a time when the U.S. administration is trying to take away civil rights from people who are transgender and erase their identities, our commitment to being radically welcoming and to working for equal rights for all has never been more important. What can we do to support our transgender friends and siblings?
- [Ritual, Religion and Belief](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/ritual-religion-and-belief/) - Participating in rituals–religious and other rituals–seems to be a deep and meaningful part of being human. Humans of every era and geographical location have developed rituals, which serve any number of purposes. This service will explore why rituals are so important and what they mean to us in our current era.
- [A Crisis of Trust](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/a-crisis-of-trust/) - Over the past 50 years, Americans' trust in institutions like the government and the church has steadily declined. At the same time, individuals' trust in each other seems to have eroded as well. Why have we moved from trust to distrust, and what, if anything, can be done about it?
- [A Container for Change](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/a-container-for-change/) - One of the ways of conceptualizing covenant is as a container for change–a kind of life laboratory that provides space for trying new ways of taking action in community while maintaining and strengthening relationships. How might our congregation be a container for change?
- [The Branch Will Not Break](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/the-branch-will-not-break-2/) - This sermon will explore such questions as: How do we find what we are meant to do, both as individuals and as members of a religious community? And once we have found those things that are most important, how do we go about doing them with joy and courage and invite others to do the
- [Healing Presence](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/the-gift-of-presence-4/) - Sometimes the best and greatest present we can give someone else, especially someone who is suffering, is simply our presence - not offering advice or platitudes - but just being there as a listening, caring presence. How do we go about doing this work with one another?
- [The Next Civil Rights Movement](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/the-next-civil-rights-movement/) - While it may not be clear to us, we are in the midst of an emerging new civil rights movement that builds on the desegregation movement of the 1950s and 60s and seeks to address lingering inequalities. What are the ways in which we might participate in this movement and not merely observe.
- [Unraveling Racism](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/exposing-and-dismantling-white-supremacy-culture/) - If we are to have any hope of addressing and undoing racism and other systemic oppressions, we must start at home- in our personal attitudes and behaviors, in our families, in our congregations, and in our larger association. Are we up to this task? If so, how do we start?
- [Hope, Not Hell](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/uu-values-justice/) - More than 250 years ago, John Murray, considered the founder of Universalism in America, extolled the value of preaching “hope, not hell.” What does it mean to lean into hope amid the challenges facing our country today?
- [Wisdom Stories](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/stories-of-creation/) - Featuring several short wisdom tales from Anthony De Mello, this sermon will explore the nature of wisdom, as opposed to knowledge. How do we go about discovering wisdom, especially when we seem to spend most of our time just trying to get through our lives?
- [The Story of Your Life](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/the-story-of-your-life-2/) - Often the stories of our lives are not told until after our deaths in the form of eulogies and obituaries. What is the story of your life, and why might it be important to embrace and tell the story now rather than later?
- [Christmas Eve](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/christmas-eve-7/) - These services will feature music, reflections, and readings celebrating Christmas. Our nativity reenactment will occur at the 4:00 service, and our Christmas Eve candle lighting ritual will take place at both services.
- [Hanukkah](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/hanukkah-8/) - Why is the ritual of lighting a candle or lamp (or chalice) so powerful? What does this simple act accomplish, and how does it connect us with others? What does it signify for us? We will explore these questions by means of several stories from the Jewish tradition in celebration of Hanukkah, which is taking
- [Music of the Season](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/music-of-the-season-8/) - This service will be comprised of holiday­-themed music from various Sunnyhill members and friends, including the choir and other individuals and groups of all ages and many different styles. Come celebrate music and the season!
- [Christmas Eve](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/christmas-eve-6/) - These services will feature music, reflections, and readings celebrating Christmas. Our nativity reenactment will occur at the 4:00 service, and our Christmas Eve candle lighting ritual will take place at both services.
- [Christmas Eve](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/christmas-eve-5/) - These services will feature music, reflections, and readings celebrating Christmas. Our nativity reenactment will occur at the 4:00 service, and our Christmas Eve candle lighting ritual will take place at both services.
- [Christmas Eve](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/christmas-eve-4/) - These services will feature music, reflections, and readings celebrating Christmas. Our nativity reenactment will occur at the 4:00 service, and our Christmas Eve candle lighting ritual will take place at both services.
- [Grace and Grit](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/the-gift-of-presence-3/) - Although we often take what we have for granted, it's relatively easy to be grateful when things are going our way. How do we go about living a grace-filled and grateful life even when times are hard? Sometimes grit is just as important as gratitude.
- [Dickens, Unitarians and Christmas](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/dickens-unitarians-and-christmas/) - Charles Dickens, the great 19th-century English novelist had a profound effect on how Christmas is celebrated. Many of his ideas about Christmas and social reform were influenced by his involvement with Unitarianism. This service will explore these ideas and their relevance today.
- [Longest Night](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/longest-night-3/) - The holidays are often not as cheerful as we might pretend. In fact, this time of year often brings painful memories and a profound sense of loss. This special service is for anyone who is struggling or feeling blue during this holiday season.
- [Christmas and Liberation](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/christmas-and-liberation/) - This season has, at its heart, a powerful, radical, and transformational message—namely, that each of us is called to bring into being the fierce and unrelenting love that unseats the unjust oppressors and lifts up the humble and the forgotten and marginalized people of the world.
- [Healing and Organizing](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/repair-and-healing/) - In the wake of a brutal election season, how do we go about repairing and healing the wounds that have occurred? What do we need to do to heal our own wounds, and how might we help others heal? And how do we move from healing to organizing for change?
- [Sanctuary](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/uu-values-pluralism/) - In the wake of this week's elections, many of us are feeling a deep need to be held in loving community, to acknowledge our grief, and to discern what we are to do next. This week's service will focus on the concept of sanctuary—as a place of respite from the whirlwind of fear and hatred,
- [Surviving the Holidays](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/surviving-the-holidays/) - This holiday season brings many challenges. Some are personal–losses of loved ones, losses of relationships, illnesses, changes in employment status, and so on. Others are more political or societal–loss of a sense of safety, increased isolation, divisions among neighbors and organization, etc. How do we deal with these challenges while still finding something to celebrate?
- [Election Vesper Service](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/election-vesper-service/) - As we all wait for the results from this historic election, we will gather together to breathe together, to sing together, and to remind one another that we are not alone.
- [Pray with Our Feet](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/pray-with-our-feet/) - While thoughts and prayers are often offered as gestures of support and empathy, what is often needed is prayerful action. How can we learn to pray with our feet, our hands, and our actions rather than just our hearts and minds?
- [All Souls](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/all-souls-4/) - All Souls Day is a time to remember everyone who has died, everyone who has been part of the gathered community. The phrase "All Souls" has a particularly Unitarian connotation because of something that one of our own "saints," William Ellery Channing, said: "I am a living member of the great Family of All Souls;
- [Listening Well](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/listening-well/) - In our current era of discord and strife, empathic understanding and loving-kindness seem to be in short supply. How can we develop these qualities and help share them with others? And how can deep listening help us get there?
- [What is Your Train Moment?](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/what-is-your-train-moment/) - Gandhi’s passion for justice was ignited after facing discrimination and being ejected from the train in South Africa. What fuels your passion for truth and justice? [Jonathan is a member of the UU Church of the North Hills and a second-year student at the Starr King School for the Ministry.]
- [UU Values: Generosity](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/uu-values-generosity/) - Our newly-articulated value of generosity suggests that “our generosity connects us to one another in relationships of interdependence and mutuality.” How can we cultivate this kind of generosity and practice it within and beyond our congregation?
- [Unity and Progressivism](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/unity-and-progressivism-2/) - Unitarian Universalists and other religious progressives tend not to conform to orthodox views and practices. How then can we expect to unite? This sermon will explore this question and others having to do with moving from a culture of identity to one of solidarity.
- [Love and the Immovable Stone](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/love-and-the-immovable-stone/) - Sometimes it seems that there is an immovable stone on the path before us, blocking the way toward any progress. Yet even the largest, most daunting barrier can be shifted, given enough patience, practice and leverage. How might we harness the power of transformative love to move the immovable obstacles before us?
- [Unity and Progressivism](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/unity-and-progressivism/) - Unitarian Universalists and other religious progressives tend not to conform to orthodox views and practices. How then can we expect to unite? This sermon will explore this question and others having to do with moving from a culture of identity to one of solidarity.
- [We Will Get There](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/we-will-get-there/) - In the words of the Ghanaian song “Woyaya,” “We will get there. Heaven knows how we will get there. We know we will.” This sermon explores how to navigate a journey when you don’t know all the twists and turns of path or even what the destination might look like.
- [Invitation to Joy](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/invitation-to-joy/) - Sometimes we dwell so much on the challenging and difficult aspects of our lives that we forget about all the joy that is available to us. In a world often filled with despair, struggle, and heartbreak, how can we hear and respond to the invitation to joy that the world offers?
- [Despair and Possibility](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/despair-and-possibility-2/) - It often seems as though we are living in an era of despair. There are signs of despair all around us—including increased self-harm rates, soaring rates of addiction in various forms, and a general sense of weariness and foreboding. What are the alternatives to despair, and how might we make the turn from despair to
- [UU Values: Love at the Center](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/uu-values-love-at-the-center/) - At this year’s UUA General Assembly, a major change in our bylaws included a new articulation of our “UU Values” that supersedes (and includes language from) our UU Principles, including the 8th Principle that our congregation ratified. This service looks at our central UU Value: love.
- [Delight, Connection, and Peace: Gifts of the Forest](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/sunday-service-10am/) - Barb completed the sermon writing class taught by Rev. Jim Magaw this spring. Delight, connection with ourselves and other beings, and peace can seem elusive in troubled times. Yet all are freely offered to us when we slow down and notice the gifts of the forest.
- [UU Elevator Speeches](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/uu-elevator-speeches/) - Because it is a creedless tradition that encompasses many different ways of believing, Unitarian Universalism is not easy to explain in just a few sentences. This sermon explores how we might articulate a UU “elevator speech”–a personal description of what UUism means to you that can be shared in the time it takes for an
- [What is the Issue? Social Justice](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/freedom/) - Rick completed the sermon writing class taught by Rev. Jim Magaw this spring. In his sermon, Rick reflects on the concept of social justice, what it means, and how it might best be approached if we are to be successful in our social justice efforts.
- [Reasons Not to Give Up](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/the-gift-of-presence-2/) - While there are many reasons to feel hopeless and despairing right now, there are also many reasons not to give up. What are the things that can help us keep the light shining even during the darkest of nights?
- [Gentle Transformation](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/gentle-transformation/) - Jeanne Lofgren completed the sermon writing class taught by Rev. Jim Magaw this spring. Her sermon explores Jeanne’s personal spiritual practices and the ways in which similar practices might benefit everyone.
- [Hope, Forgiveness, and Joy](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/hope-forgiveness-and-joy/) - Johna Gravitt completed the sermon writing class taught by Rev. Jim Magaw this spring. In her sermon, Johna reflects on lessons that her life has taught her about how to live with hope, forgiving oneself and others, and ultimately finding joy.
- [Free Hugs–or Not](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/free-hugs-or-not/) - Sometimes a hug is exactly what you need. Hugs release oxytocin and lower blood pressure. And hugs can often defuse tense situations. But hugs can also be awkward and problematic. This service will explore the science and theology of hugging.
- [Flower Celebration](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/flower-celebration-3/) - Dorothy Kohler completed the sermon writing class taught by Rev. Jim Magaw this spring. Her sermon will feature a reflection about Dorothy’s grandmother and a personal connection to the “Flower Celebration,” a tradition started by Norbert Capek in Prague just over 100 years ago. Everyone, please bring a cut flower or flowers with you this
- [Face to Face with the Circle of Life](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/face-to-face-with-the-circle-of-life/) - Mary Jo Sonntag completed the sermon writing class taught by Rev. Jim Magaw this spring. Her sermon reflects on the lessons about interdependence that Mary Jo learned on a trip to the Serengeti ecosystem, where she witnessed first-hand both the beauty and the brutality of the natural world.
- [Pride: Protest & Party](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/pride-protest-party/) - As we celebrate Pride, it is important to remember that it was and is both a celebration and a liberation movement, a party and an uprising rolled into one. It’s a time to look back with gratitude to some of the early leaders of the movement and to look at what still needs to be
- [Juneteenth for Everyone](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/juneteenth-for-everyone/) - Juneteenth is a federal holiday that commemorates the day when news of emancipation reached South Texas–more than two years after Lincoln’s Proclamation. As an affluent, mostly-white, suburban congregation, why and how is it important and appropriate for us to celebrate this holiday?
- [Youth Service](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/youth-service-2/) - The Sunnyhill High School Youth Group will present the Sunday morning service, which includes a Bridging Ceremony.
- [Imperfectly Happy](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/imperfectly-happy-2/) - Perfection is the enemy of happiness, among other things. How can letting go of having to be perfect enable us to live more fulfilling and productive lives?
- [How is Church Different from a Restaurant](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/imperfectly-happy/) - While religious communities share some things in common with commercial enterprises, there are also some fundamental differences. What are the similarities and differences and why are they important to us as members of a religious community?
- [Coming of Age](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/coming-of-age-4/) - Credo is a Latin word, which is generally translated as “I believe,” but its literal meaning is closer to “what I set my heart to.” Sunnyhill’s Coming of Age (COA) class will share what is close to their hearts in this service, which is a capstone of the COA curriculum.
- [The Truth About Parenting](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/the-truth-about-parenting/) - Parenting has never been more difficult and complex than it is today. What are the lessons that all of us might learn from the challenges of being a parent in a world filled with so many uncertainties and dangers?
- [Interdependence and Improvisation](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/interdependence-and-improvisation/) - The practice of improvisation gives us opportunities to observe and participate in interdependence–one of the most important theological concepts for Unitarian Universalists. What can we learn about interdependence from improvisation? This service will feature improvised live music from our own Reni Monteverde and her jazz combo.
- [Come Healing](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/come-healing/) - At a time when new wounds are inflicted on us daily–particularly for those of us who are members of oppressed and marginalized populations–when and how do we take the time for healing and restoration? How do we incorporate healing into our efforts to bring more justice into our world?
- [Everything is Holy](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/everything-is-holy/) - Ralph Waldo Emerson, one of our most famous Unitarian forbears, wrote: “all things are friendly and sacred, all events profitable, all days holy, all [humans] divine.” What does it mean to be part of a faith tradition that seeks the holy not just in certain places but everywhere?
- [Heaven on Earth](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/gospel-of-mark-kingdom-of-heaven/) - Our Universalist forbears believed that it was up to each of us to create something like the kingdom of heaven on earth–to work for justice, to act with compassion and mercy, to be generous in bringing abundance to all, and to love the hell out of the world. What are we doing today to fulfill
- [Faith, Doubt, and Mustard Seed](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/gospel-of-mark-sacrifice-and-prophecy/) - The gospel of Mark’s parable of the mustard seed challenges its readers to think about such issues as faith, doubt, and the power of community. What does this parable have to say to us about our own lives and our own era?
- [Risk-Taking, Failure and Success](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/risk-taking-failure-and-success/) - Any significant undertaking will almost certainly involve significant risk and the possibility of failure. Any venture that is not at least somewhat risky is probably not much of a venture. And vulnerability is a necessary part of any project that is worth doing and is an essential element of success. This sermon will explore risk,
- [Omnia Mutantur](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/omnia-mutantur/) - One of the central messages of Easter (and of most religious traditions) can be summarized in two words: everything transforms. Why is this such an important idea and how can it help us, no matter what our religious beliefs might be?
- [Gospel of Mark: Good News](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/gospel-of-mark-good-news/) - What is the good news of our current era? Is there such a thing as “good news” when we are facing so many grim challenges? This sermon–the first of four inspired by the Gospel of Mark–will explore what it means to be bringers of good news, even (or especially) in dark times.
- [My Cup Overflows](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/my-cup-overflows/) - The phrase “my cup overflows” is a translation of the Hebrew phrase kosi r’vaya from the 23rd Psalm. Our spiritual cup often overflows–with joy, with sorrow, with wonder, with worry. What does it mean to live life from a place of abundance and overflowing rather than scarcity and emptiness?
- [Attention Please!](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/attention-please-2/) - One of the greatest challenges in life is paying attention. Sometimes, when things are difficult to experience, we really don’t want to pay attention. Other times, we simply forget. However, when we do pay attention, we’re better able to cope with reality and to appreciate all that is good in our lives and in our
- [Dust and Ashes](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/dust-and-ashes/) - Repentance is one of the major themes of the Christian liturgical season of Lent. What does repentance look like in our contemporary context, and is it even a useful concept here and now?
- [Community & Connection](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/community-connection/) - What are the benefits of being part of a healthy, thriving community, and what does it take to create and sustain such communities? In this service, we will explore these questions and others.
- [Reproductive Justice Now](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/reproductive-justice-now/) - As part of a liberatory Reproductive Justice movement, we affirm our commitment to building a world in which all people are able to make choices about their bodies, their health, and their families within safe, thriving communities.
- [Prophetic Love and Rage](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/prophetic-love-and-rage/) - It has been said that “if you’re not outraged, you’re not paying attention.” While it’s true that outrage and anger are appropriate, necessary, and even productive emotions, it is also true that something more is needed to nurture and sustain social justice movements. How do we bring both our outrage and our love to this
- [Life and Legacy of Bayard Rustin](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/life-and-legacy-of-bayard-rustin/) - Until recently, Bayard Rustin was one of the lesser-known leaders of the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s. What can we learn from the life and work of Rustin, a gay Black man who was, in many ways, ahead of his time? And how might his example inspire all of us to carry
- [God Is Love](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/god-is-love-2/) - One of the most radical statements in the Christian gospels is expressed in three simple words: God is love. What are the real implications of conceptualizing God not as some distant all-powerful being but rather as something familiar and down-to-earth that manifests itself in countless life-sustaining, life-affirming ways?
- [Frozen and Liberating Love](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/frozen-and-liberating-love/) - The Frozen animated children’s film franchise explores the shadow side of the hero’s journey and collective identity. What are the implications of these themes for our own lives and our own culture? And how can courageous love lead to liberation, both for individuals and for society as a whole?
- [Christmas Eve](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/christmas-eve-3/) - These services will feature music, reflections, and readings celebrating Christmas. Our nativity reenactment and Christmas Eve candle lighting ritual will take place at both services.
- [Longest Night: Music of Leonard Cohen](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/longest-night-music-of-leonard-cohen/) - Rev. Jim Magaw. The holidays are not always as cheerful as we might pretend. In fact, this time of year often brings painful memories and a profound sense of loss. This special vesper service, featuring the music of Leonard Cohen, is for anyone who is struggling during this holiday season (or anyone who loves the
- [Seeds for the New Year (Online Service Only 11:15am)](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/seeds-for-the-new-year-online-service-only-1115am/) - In this pre-recorded service recently-elected UUA President Rev. Dr. Sofia Betancourt reflects on such questions as: What seeds are you planting for the new year? How are you weaving your magic into your relationships with others? And how can we center beauty and goodness and love in all that's ahead?
- [You Are Not Alone](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/you-are-not-alone/) - Drawing on the work of the transcendentalists and, more recently, Ursula Goodenough, this sermon will address issues of angst, anxiety, loneliness and hopelessness by focusing on the spiritual sense of being part of something larger than ourselves. What do natural theology and nontheist faith have to offer in response to these issues?
- [Prayer of Thanksgiving](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/prayer-of-thanksgiving/) - The great Christian mystic famously said, “If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.” Of the various kinds of prayers, prayers of thanksgiving might be the most powerful. How do we practice giving thanks, even in challenging times?
- [Prayer of Thanksgiving](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/prayer-of-thanksgiving-2/) - The great Christian mystic famously said, “If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.” Of the various kinds of prayers, prayers of thanksgiving might be the most powerful. How do we practice giving thanks, even in challenging times?
- [Hanukkah](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/hanukkah-7/) - Religious freedom and political resistance are major themes in the story of Hanukkah and the Maccabean revolt against the Seleucid Empire. In this service we will explore how and why these themes are just as relevant now as they have ever been.
- [Music of the Season](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/hanukkah-6/) - This service will be comprised of holiday­-themed music from various Sunnyhill members and friends, including the choir and other individuals and groups of all ages and many different styles. Come celebrate music and the season!
- [Into the Mystery](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/into-the-mystery/) - While we might like to think that everything that happens is somehow logical and understandable, the truth is that all of existence is shrouded in mystery. Carl Sagan said, “The universe will always be much richer than our ability to understand it.” How do we lean into, and learn from, a sense of the mystery
- [The Prophetic Imperative](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/the-prophetic-imperative-2/) - We live in an era that screams out for prophets—people who not only expose the evils of society but also offer a vision of hope and healing. How do we embody the prophetic vision and prophetic voice right now, right here?
- [Something About Rivers](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/something-about-rivers/) - Rivers–especially the confluence of two or more rivers–can provide rich metaphors for life and living, especially at a time when factionalism and violence are on the rise. How can we live in this place of coming together rather than coming apart?
- [Radical Theology of Fred Rogers](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/radical-theology-of-fred-rogers/) - Pittsburgh children’s television icon Fred Rogers preached and practiced a radical theology which advocated for cultivating empathy for all, making sure that every child was cared for, and loving your neighbor as yourself. What can we learn from Mr. Rogers today?
- [Diwali](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/diwali-2/) - Sunnyhill member Chetan Chothani will lead a celebration of Diwali, the Hindu "festival of lights" which takes place each fall. This holiday celebrates the victory of light over darkness and hope over despair.
- [All Souls](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/all-souls-3/) - In the Christian tradition, All Souls Day has been a time to remember everyone who has died, everyone who has been part of the gathered community. The phrase "All Souls" has a particularly Unitarian connotation because of something that one of our own "saints," William Ellery Channing, said: "I am a living member of the
- [Accidental Generosity (Services at 9 and 11:15am)](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/accidental-generosity/) - Acts of generosity–even those that are incidental or accidental–can trigger a chain reaction of unselfishness that reaches far beyond the original act. How can we harness the power of viral generosity to build a more just and compassionate community, within and beyond our walls?
- [Founders’ Day: Heritage & Future](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/founders-day-heritage-future/) - This service will celebrate our founding members, who, more than 50 years ago, made the bold decision to form a UU congregation in the South Hills of Pittsburgh. What can we learn from their example, and what’s in store for Sunnyhill in the years to come?
- [UU Revival](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/uu-revival/) - Unitarianism and Universalism arose in America as a backlash against the first major American religious revival movement, known as the Great Awakening, in the 18th century. But here in the 21st century American religion is in need of a new kind of revival movement, and UUism may have an important role to play.
- [Tikkun Olam: Repair of the World](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/tikkun-olam-repair-of-the-world/) - Entropy is real and inescapable–everything in the universe falls apart. But despite this fundamental drift toward brokenness, we can work to make things better, and—because of our interconnectedness—the repair work that we do, even on the smallest of scales, has an effect on the whole. (This service will feature music performed by the Silvia Bolognesi
- [Beyond Hopelessness](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/beyond-hopelessness/) - Cynicism may be understood as an attempt to protect oneself from the heartache of unfulfilled hopes. While it may be effective in the short term, cynicism ultimately leads nowhere. But how and where are we to find hope in what may seem like a hopeless situation.
- [Three Rules for Life](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/three-rules-for-life/) - Although we are not often called to articulate them, our most deeply held beliefs about life and the nature of the world can have a profound effect on how we live our lives. We will explore three of these beliefs or rules and how they might guide the way we live our lives.
- [Helped, Heard, or Hugged?](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/losing-our-religion/) - We all sometimes struggle with what to say or do when a friend, family member or church member is going through a hard time. This service will focus on a few specific guidelines for how to be truly helpful in such situations.
- [Losing Our Religion](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/down-from-the-mountain/) - As fewer and fewer Americans identify as religious or as members of particular faith communities, what are the implications for religion in America, for Unitarian Universalism, and for our own congregation?
- [Poems for Principles](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/to-be-announced-3/) - This service, led by longtime Sunnyhill member Dean Hazelton, explores and celebrates the Principles of Unitarian Universalism (including the Eighth Principle recently affirmed by Sunnyhill) through poetry.
- [The Summer Day](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/start-where-you-are/) - If contemporary Unitarian Universalism were to have its own Book of Common Prayer, it would almost certainly include some of the poems of Mary Oliver. This service will explore why one of Oliver’s poems, “The Summer Day,” is especially powerful and relevant.
- [Life is All about the Journey](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/service-to-be-announced/) - This sermon presents a spiritual journey over 70 years involving a search for a spiritual community that provides support, reflection, questions and challenges. This reflection provides an opportunity to consider, “Why am I at Sunnyhill?”
- [Patriotism](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/patriotism/) - In recent decades, we have seen the rise of a new “religious” nationalism that presents itself in the guise of particular brand of “patriotism.” As members of a religious community, we are guided by values that transcend national interests, so it is important to examine the difference between true patriotism (a noble virtue) and nationalism
- [Put Love at the Center](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/uu-values/) - Sunnyhill member (and former board president) Josh Broaded will explore Unitarian Universalists values, and the role that love plays in drawing together different people and ideas.
- [PRIDE](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/pride-3/) - Being a "welcoming congregation" is not merely an academic exercise or just a nice thing to do. Welcoming our LGBTQIA+ siblings is a life-affirming and potentially life-saving act. In this service we will examine what we can do to work for justice for LGBTQ people while becoming a more fully inclusive and welcoming congregation.
- [What Is Unitarian Universalism?](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/what-is-unitarian-universalism-5/) - Unitarian Universalism is sometimes wrongly described as not having its own theology. Although it's true that there is a great deal of theological diversity within our congregations, we do have our own unique theology—both historically and contemporarily. This service will provide an overview of Unitarian Universalist theology and why it is important to us and
- [Trusting the Call](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/trusting-the-call-2/) - In our current era, it is easy to lose our way amidst the sometimes overwhelming and painful chaos and confusion in our world. It is important in times like these to remember what we are called to do and the place where the world’s needs and our passions intersect.
- [Flower Celebration](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/flower-celebration-2/) - Everyone, please bring a cut flower or flowers with you this morning to share with others. We will celebrate this ritual, which was initiated 100 years ago by Norbert Capek, the founder of the Unitarian Church in Czechoslovakia, and honors the beauty and individuality of each individual and the bouquet we create by joining together with
- [UUA General Assembly Worship (Convention Center)](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/uua-general-assembly-worship-convention-center/) - No services will be held at Sunnyhill on this date, but we encourage everyone to attend the UUA General Assembly worship service at 11:00 a.m. on June 25, at the Convention Center in downtown Pittsburgh, free and open to the public. More information at: https://whova.com/embedded/session/PISMDKNnhGA9toqRIoSZAGFswTnlfNTyrOGv9YhLnSM%3D/2979447/:
- [Bridging](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/bridging/) - This is the time of year when graduations, commencements, and other transitions are celebrated. What does it mean to bridge from what has been to what shall be? Why is it important to commemorate such occasions? And what can be learned from occupying these liminal “in between” spaces? This service will include a bridging ceremony
- [What to Do When You Don't Know What to Do](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/theology-of-nick-cave/) - Most of us have experienced moments in our lives when we are caught off-guard by something big for which we were not prepared. In fact, over the past few years, some of us have experienced many such moments. This sermon will offer some suggestions about what to do when you don’t know what to do.
- [Coming of Age](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/what-to-do-when-you-dont-know-what-to-do/) - Credo is a Latin word, which is generally translated as "I believe," but its literal meaning is closer to "what I set my heart to." Sunnyhill's Coming of Age (COA) class will share what is close to their hearts in this service, which is a capstone of the COA curriculum.
- [Life and Music of Nina Simone](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/life-and-music-of-nina-simone/) - Singer, songwriter, pianist and civil rights activist Nina Simone (1933-2003) was one of the most influential performers of her time. Known for her unique musical style and her outspoken social commentary, Simone was one of the most provocative figures of the 1960s. What can we learn from her life and music that is relevant to
- [Resistance and Revolution Revisited](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/resistance-and-revolution-revisited/) - As a number of writers have recently noted, resistance in and of itself may not be enough. Our own Declaration of Independence notes that "whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends [life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness], it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it." When and
- [Improvisational Parenting](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/improvisational-parenting/) - In recent decades, there have been numerous theories and methods of parenting put forth by experts and others–many of which may be helpful, but none of which answers every conceivable challenge or circumstance. In the end, much of parenting involves making it up as one goes along. What are the important aspects of improvisational parenting
- [Memorializing and Moralizing](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/memorializing-and-moralizing/) - National holidays in America have largely become occasions for shopping mall sales, sporting events and backyard barbecues. Many of these holidays have also become celebrations of materialism and militarism–and a good bit of narrow moralizing around these themes. How might we honor these holidays while resisting their less savory aspects?
- [The Good Samaritan and Human Kindness](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/the-good-samaritan-and-human-kindness/) - In an era marked by hate-filled rhetoric and shouting matches, what does the story of the Good Samaritan tell us about the power and importance of simple human kindness, and why do we so often forget the power of kindness to heal both the giver and the receiver.
- [Why An 8th Principle: The The(y)ology of the Platinum Rule](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/radical-acceptance-and-the-platinum-rule/) - Unitarian Universalism has a long and complicated history working on anti-racism. In recent years, the 8th Principle has called congregations to not only proclaim countering oppression- particularly anti-racism- as a value, but to embody it in every aspect of the work we do. What does it mean to choose this work and what kind of
- [The Good Samaritan and Crossing Boundaries](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/the-good-samaritan-and-crossing-boundaries/) - At a time when extreme social and political polarization has become the norm, how do we motivate ourselves to reach out across lines of difference? When and how is it even desirable to do so without causing harm to those who are most vulnerable?
- [The Good Samaritan and Collective Liberation](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/the-good-samaritan-and-collective-liberation/) - While we often focus on some of the more obvious lessons of the Good Samaritan, what does the story tell us about systems of oppression? How might we view this tale as a case study in intersectionality and the struggle for collective liberation?
- [A Theology of Trees](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/a-theology-of-trees/) - Poet Wendell Berry suggests that we should “stand like slow growing trees / on a ruined place, renewing, enriching it.” How can we live more like trees, and what kind of theology is suggested by the life of trees. We’ll explore these questions and others in this service.
- [The Book of Esther](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/the-book-of-esther/) - The Jewish holiday of Purim is centered around the Book of Esther. How does this story of heroism in the face of vulnerability relate to our own time? What can we learn about Esther that might help us face our own personal and collective challenges?
- [Strength in Vulnerability](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/strength-in-vulnerability-2/) - Vulnerability has long been thought of as a weakness–something that we try to hide or deny. But how can embracing our vulnerability become a strength? And why is vulnerability an important part of everyone’s real life story?
- [Guardians of Being](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/guardians-of-being/) - What is it that many of us find so fascinating about animals, especially our pets? This sermon will explore the lessons that we can learn from animals who seem to live in a state of pure being, without the filters of thinking or judgment. How can recognizing this essence in others help us to be
- [Groundhog Day](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/groundhog-day/) - Groundhogs hibernate during winter and emerge in the spring. What occurs during these months of hibernation and why is it important? As human beings, how do the little choices we make–even during times when things are hardly moving–have an impact on our lives and our world?
- [Love Beyond Belief](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/love-beyond-belief/) - As UUs, we honor any and all beliefs that respect the inherent worth of every individual while recognizing that we are in an interdependent relationship with one another and with the earth. But beneath and beyond any and all beliefs there is a more important commitment to a love that transcends belief.
- [Principles and Values](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/principles-and-values/) - Unitarian Universalism is a religious tradition that emphasizes “deeds, not creeds.” Despite being non-creedal, we have depended on statements like our seven principles to describe who we are and what values are commonly shared among us. How might these articulations of principles and values be changing soon?
- [A Puritan Valentine](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/a-puritan-valentine/) - The Unitarian side of our UU heritage can be traced back to the Puritans–perhaps one of the most illiberal and intolerant religious groups in history. How do we reconcile our current commitments to liberation with this narrow-minded strain of our religious DNA?
- [Six Words for Love](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/six-words-for-love/) - The ancient Greeks used six different words for love, while contemporary English has only one. What are the differences among these various conceptions of love, and why is it important for us to understand and practice them today?
- [Freedom and Liberation](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/freedom-and-liberation/) - MLK famously said: "We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly." What King was describing was the idea of collective liberation. How might we implement this idea in our own time?
- [Christmas Eve](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/christmas-eve-2/) - This service will be an intergenerational, family-­friendly event featuring music from our children, youth and others, as well as stories and a brief re­enactment of the Nativity.
- [Longest Night](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/longest-night-2/) - The holidays are not always as cheerful as we might pretend. In fact, this time of year often brings painful memories and a profound sense of loss. This special service is for anyone who is struggling during this holiday season.
- [Does the Bible Matter?](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/does-the-bible-matter/) - A reflection on why it is important for religious liberals to study the Bible. Hint: it's not just to have fodder to use against the fundamentalists. It has to do with being both rooted and open. Aware of where we come from, with the willingness to be transformed by what we find in what might
- [Hanukkah](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/hanukkah-5/) - Why is the ritual of lighting a candle or lamp (or chalice) so powerful? What does this simple act accomplish, and how does it connect us with others? What does it signify for us? We will explore these questions by means of several stories from the Jewish tradition in preparation for Hanukkah, which begins later
- [Music of the Season](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/music-of-the-season-7/) - This service will include holiday-themed music from various Sunnyhill members and friends, including the choir and other individuals and groups of all ages and many different styles. Come celebrate music and the season!
- [Refuge & Resistance](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/refuge-resistance/) - In the wake of the elections, it is good to have this church as a place where we can draw strength from one another and where we can work to build resistance to the prevailing culture of fear and hatred in which we currently find ourselves. How might we continue to be a place of
- [Reverence, Wonder and Awe](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/reverence-wonder-and-awe/) - The Christian liturgical season of Advent is meant to be a time of reflection and experiencing reverence, wonder and awe. Rather than hurrying through this time of year in a mad rush of consumption and exhaustion, how might we make room for quiet reflection?
- [A Day of Mourning and Thanksgiving](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/a-day-of-mourning-and-thanksgiving/) - Giving thanks is always important, especially in challenging times when gratitude can sometimes be eclipsed by a sense of impending doom. At the same time, we must not turn away from the reality that a time of thanksgiving for some is a time of mourning for others. How do we hold together these two realities?
- [The Blessings of Imperfection](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/the-blessings-of-imperfection/) - Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to recognize that we give thanks--not always for exactly what we want, but rather for what we have received. The two are seldom the same. Imperfections in DNA are largely responsible for evolution, or so wrote Dr. Ursala Goodenough--yes, that's her name--in one of the best books for understanding how
- [Shallows and Depths](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/shallows-and-depths/) - One of the primary goals of religion is to take us from the profane shallows to the sacred depths of life. How do we undertake this challenging spiritual journey, which sometimes mirrors the path of ever-deepening relationships with life partners and close friends?
- [Whole and Brokenhearted](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/whole-and-brokenhearted/) - Writer Rita Nakashima Brock said: “Broken heartedness, when we can acknowledge it, reveals both the heart’s original grace and its virtually indestructible presence.” How can we become more whole through our brokenheartedness?
- [Why Fascism Is Wrong](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/why-fascism-is-wrong/) - With the rise of authoritarianism and neo-fascism not just among fringe groups but also in mainstream politics, it is important to understand and articulate the moral argument against fascism. This service will explore Unitarian Universalism’s historic and contemporary commitment to anti-fascism.
- [The Book of Job Revisited](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/the-book-of-job-revisited/) - The Biblical story of Job resonates deeply with our time as we experience various trials and tribulations–seemingly without end. How can an understanding of Job’s story help us understand our own predicament and chart a path forward?
- [All Souls](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/all-souls-2/) - In the Christian tradition, All Souls Day has been a time to remember everyone who has died, everyone who has been part of the gathered community. The phrase "All Souls" has a particularly Unitarian connotation because of something that one of our own "saints," William Ellery Channing, said: "I am a living member of the
- [Defying Hate, Then and Now](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/defying-hate-then-and-now/) - Several years ago, a Ken Burns documentary, “Defying Hate,” examined the courageous work of Unitarians Waitstill and Martha Sharp, who helped rescue hundreds of imperiled political dissidents and Jewish refugees fleeing the Nazi occupation in Europe. What does it mean to defy hate in our own time, and how do we go about this vital
- [Wild Geese and More Wild Geese](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/wild-geese-and-more-wild-geese/) - Why do wild geese keep finding their way into poems? This service will explore the meaning and significance of these creatures in the poetry of Mary Oliver, Wendell Berry and others.
- [What Binds Us Together](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/what-binds-us-together/) - This sermon will explore Unitarian Universalism's unique ecclesiology - how we are together as a religious community. We are rooted in the concept of covenant that traces its source to the Hebrew Scriptures and to the Puritans, but our idea of covenant is fluid and always changing and developing.
- [Why Theology Matters](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/why-theology-matters/) - Although most of us don’t spend a great deal of time thinking about theology, understanding the theological underpinnings of social and political movements helps us understand the roots and implications of these movements and the ways in which some are toxic and others life-giving.
- [The Meaning of Labor](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/the-meaning-of-labor/) - In celebration of Labor Day weekend, we’ll reflect on the meaning and nature of work. In what ways have working conditions improved and in what ways have things started to regress? And what can be done to improve work for all?
- [Why Church, Why Now?](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/why-church-why-now/) - In a bygone era, it was assumed that almost everyone would belong to a religious community of one kind or another, but that assumption no longer holds as more and more people are unchurched. What are the real benefits of going to church and what does it mean to be a member of a congregation
- [Third-Person Unitarian](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/third-person-unitarian-2/) - In the 19th-century, many Unitarians described themselves as "first-person Unitarians," meaning they emphasized only the first part of the idea of the Trinity – God the Father, but necessarily the Son or the Holy Spirit. However, in the 21st-century, it's possible that the concept of a "third-person Unitarian" may be more relevant. This service will
- [Sabbath Wisdom](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/wisdom-for-our-times-2/) - The idea of a "day of rest" may seem quaint and outdated–especially in a world that appears to be on fire. But, if we are to be functional and at least somewhat effective as bringers of justice and compassion, we need a day of rest more than ever before. How can we make room for
- [Time for an 8th Principle?](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/time-for-an-8th-principle/) - As Unitarian Universalists we covenant, affirm and promote seven principles. As we pursue the work of creating Beloved Community, can we benefit from the guidance and inspiration of a proposed 8th principle? Join the Sunnyhill Beloved Conversations Team as they share the history of the ever-evolving Seven Principles and introduce the proposed 8th Principle: “Journeying
- [The Wisdom of Trees](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/the-wisdom-of-trees/) - Especially during the pandemic, I have found myself reading more about trees and relating to them more deeply. What do trees have to teach us about community and how to live in healthy relationship with one another? Please join me for an exploration of trees’ quiet wisdom.
- [Imagine That!](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/imagine-that/) - Dean will explore the ways that we combine imagination, memory and creativity to bring meaning to our lives. The service will feature Dean's favorite storytelling form, poetry.
- [Because I Knew You](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/because-i-knew-you-2/) - Dolph reflects on his journey from a childhood poisoned by racial slurs and hate speech to the moments, interactions, and friends that guided him toward understanding and compassion for all.
- [What is Unitarian Universalism?](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/rev-janet-edwards/) - Unitarian Universalism is sometimes wrongly described as not having its own theology. Although it’s true that there is a great deal of theological diversity within our congregations, we do have our own unique theology—both historically and contemporarily. This service will provide an overview of Unitarian Universalist theology and why it is important to us and
- [Lost In America Again](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/jean-furlan/) - Longtime Sunnyhill member Jean Furlan will be sharing her experience of taking three solo road trips in celebrations of her 50th, 60th and 70th birthdays. Her service will describe the physical beauty of the United States and explore how Jean found meaning in solitude and nature- which is affirming risk-taking as a way to independence.
- [Butterflies and Dandelions: My Own Coming of Age](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/butterflies-and-dandelions-my-own-coming-of-age/) - DRE Jennifer McGlothin reflects on the last decade of service to Sunnyhill and her own path to spiritual awakening, which is grounded in the resilience and interdependence found in the natural world.
- [Beyond Self-Reliance](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/ballance/) - This sermon examines the tension between self-reliance, as famously espoused by Ralph Waldo Emerson, and the attributes needed to achieve the goal of the beloved community.
- [Turning Fear into Love](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/turning-fear-into-love/) - Vietnamese Buddhist teacher and activist Thich Nhat Hanh spoke of four mantras “effective for watering the seeds of happiness in yourself and your beloved and for transforming fear, suffering, and loneliness.” This service will examine those mantras and how they might be practiced. No RSVP required, masks optional for the in person service! PS- Sunnyhill
- [Decoration Day](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/decoration-day-3/) - Memorial Day began in the immediate aftermath of the Civil War when formerly enslaved African Americans conducted a series of commemorations to express their sense of the meaning of the war. This service will explore the deep roots of Memorial Day and how those roots might change the way we experience this holiday in our
- [Pride!](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/pride-2/) - Being a "welcoming congregation" is not merely an academic exercise or just a nice thing to do. Welcoming our LGBTQIA+ siblings is a life-affirming and potentially life-saving act. In this service we will examine what we can do to work for justice for LGBTQ people while becoming a more fully inclusive and welcoming congregation.
- [Book of Awakening](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/book-of-awakening/) - Drawn from ideas in Mark Nepo’s book of the same name, this service will explore, in Nepo’s words “our ongoing need to stay vital and in love with this life, no matter the hardships we encounter.” How might we go about cultivating this love for life, even when the going is rough?
- [Passover Journeys](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/passover-journeys-2/) - What does it mean to leave everything behind and unexpectedly set out on a journey toward some unknown promised land? How do our own individual journeys (as well as our collective journey) relate to the stories of Passover? RSVP for the Upcoming Service
- [Beloved Conversations](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/beloved-conversations/) - Beloved Conversations is a program for Unitarian Universalists seeking to embody racial justice as a spiritual practice. In Beloved Conversations, we are here to heal the impact of racism on our lives, in order to get free together. Sunnyhill’s Beloved Conversations Team will share their experiences of this program.
- [The Purpose of Beauty](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/the-purpose-of-beauty/) - The Navaho blessing “May you walk in beauty” seems to imply that beauty plays a central role in our lives, both as a path that we tread and as that which surrounds and enfolds us while we are on that path. In this sermon, we will explore how we might recognize, embrace and engage beauty
- [Mothers and Others](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/mothers-and-others/) - For various reasons, Mother's Day is not a holiday that everyone celebrates. Rather than beatifying or idealizing mothers, this service will look at the importance of supportive, nurturing relationships and how anyone can give or receive such nurturance.
- [Coming of Age](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/coming-of-age-3/) - Credo is a Latin word which is generally translated as "I believe," but its literal meaning is closer to "what I set my heart to." Sunnyhill's Coming of Age (COA) class (8th-grade youth) will share what is close to their hearts in this service which is a capstone of the COA curriculum.
- [Rise Up](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/rise-up-2/) - One of the central themes of Easter is the ultimate triumph of life over death. Even when everything around us seems cloaked in darkness, the potential of resurrection of various kinds still exists for us as individuals and for us as a society. How do we prepare to "rise up" when the time comes?
- [Awaken](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/awaken/) - Perhaps the most countercultural religious message ever is this one: “Awaken!” Our culture tends to lead us toward sleepwalking through most of our lives. This sermon will explore how bringing even the tiniest bit of real awareness to this very moment—in all its horror and beauty—can change us and lure us toward changing the world.
- [Amazing Grace: The Hour I First Believed](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/amazing-grace-the-hour-i-first-believed/) - John Newton’s words to "Amazing Grace" tell the story of his great change from a man who traded slaves to a man who fought against slavery. How can belief–and especially sudden changes in belief–guide our actions and transform our lives? RSVP for the Upcoming Service
- [Amazing Grace: Dangers, Toils, and Snares](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/amazing-grace-dangers-toils-and-snares/) - Our current era is certainly characterized by a plethora of dangers, toils, and snares. How can the concept and practice of grace help us meet these challenges and prepare us for an unknown and uncertain future? RSVP for the Upcoming Service
- [Amazing Grace: 10,000 Years](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/amazing-grace-10000-years/) - There are certain songs that resonate deeply, connecting us with generations that preceded us and those that will follow us. How can we benefit from experiencing these vital connections, even when facing difficult truths about both the past and the future? RSVP for the Upcoming Service
- [Courage and Improvisation](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/courage-and-improvisation-2/) - Jazz legend Miles Davis once famously said: "It’s not the note you play that’s the wrong note – it’s the note you play afterwards that makes it right or wrong." Jazz encourages and requires moving forward without entirely knowing where you are going. How might this kind of thinking play out in the rest of
- [The Myth of Polarization](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/the-myth-of-polarization/) - Conventional thinking puts forth the idea that our current political situation has been caused by the right going further to the right and the left going further to the left. But a closer look reveals a different truth. Why is it important to push back against calls for centrism for centrism’s sake? Service will be
- [Growing Orbits](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/growing-orbits/) - One powerful metaphor for growth has to do with living our lives in ever-growing orbits–passing over familiar territory again and again but gaining broader insights and perspectives with each orbit. How can we make use of this model for personal and institutional growth and transformation? Service will be streamed online and the church will be
- [Amazing Grace: How Sweet the Sound](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/amazing-grace-how-sweet-the-sound/) - Author Anne Lamott tells us, “Grace meets us where we are, but does not leave us where it found us.” In this first of four sermons on the theme of “Amazing Grace,” we will reflect on the meaning and implications of grace as a theological concept and as a way of living. Service will be
- [Widening the Circle from the Margins](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/widening-the-circle-from-the-margins/) - Older models of religion were based on assimilation–drawing people on the outside closer to the center. But today, as we grow the circle wider, we’re not necessarily all going to look alike or think alike, which means that our growing edges will always be on the margins. What does this kind of widening of the
- [Religious Freedom](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/religious-freedom/) - The recent hostage-taking situation at a synagogue in Texas illustrates some of the current challenges certain religious groups face in our country. Although our nation was founded on the principle of religious freedom, the reality has been less than free for many. Service will be streamed online and the church will be open for limited
- [Wisdom for Our Times](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/wisdom-for-our-times/) - In an era of uncertainty, disease, and social, political and economic volatility, it is good to remember some of the enduring wisdom that has helped inspire and sustain humankind. This service will look at several wisdom stories and what they might mean for us today. Service will be streamed online and the church will be
- [The Purpose of Life](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/the-purpose-of-life/) - In a world that often seems chaotic and sometimes pointless, is there any greater purpose to be found? If so, what might it be and how do we go about finding it for ourselves and our communities? Service will be streamed online and the church will be open for limited capacity with RSVP’s.
- [Abolition Then and Now](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/abolition-then-and-now/) - Our Unitarian and Universalist forbears were among the leaders of the abolitionist movement of the 19th century, though many were reluctant to get on board. What would it be like to be in the forefront of the abolitionist movements of the 21st century? Service will be streamed online and the church will be open for
- [Road to Hell or Fresh Start?](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/road-to-hell-or-fresh-start/) - Making New Year’s resolutions can be a double-edged sword. While stating one’s intentions is often a good thing, it’s also been said that “the road to hell is paved with good intentions.” How can we make the best use of our intentions for ourselves and our world? Service will be streamed online and the church
- [Giving Thanks in Thankless Times](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/giving-thanks-in-thankless-times/) - This online-only service will feature UUA President Susan Frederick-Gray, who provided this description of her message: “As we enter this season of holidays and holy days, we have an opportunity to draw our attention to what sustains us, to draw our attention to the sources of love and care and gratitude in our lives.”
- [Longest Night](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/longest-night/) - This special “Longest Night” vesper service, featuring the music of Leonard Cohen, is designed for anyone who is struggling or not feeling particularly cheerful during this holiday season. We will create and hold space for our individual and collective grief and longing.
- [Remembering and Letting Go of 2021](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/remembering-and-letting-go-of-2021/) - This service will feature a look back at both the challenging and encouraging aspects of this year. We’ll include some highlights from this year’s services as well as a “burning ritual” for letting go of everything we want to let go of from 2021.
- [Christmas Eve Contemplative Service](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/christmas-eve-contemplative-service/) - This service will feature music, reflections, and readings celebrating Christmas. The 5:00 service will be inter-generational, featuring many of our children and youth, and the 7:00 service will be more contemplative in nature.
- [Christmas Eve Intergenerational Service](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/christmas-eve-intergenerational-service/) - This service will feature music, reflections, and readings celebrating Christmas. The 5:00 service will be inter-generational, featuring many of our children and youth, and the 7:00 service will be more contemplative in nature.
- [Music of the Season](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/music-of-the-season-6/) - This service will include holiday­-themed music from various Sunnyhill members and friends, including the choir and other individuals and groups in many different styles. Join us in celebrating music and the season!
- [Joy and Liberation](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/joy-and-liberation/) - Christmas is celebrated as both a secular and religious holiday. We would do well to remember that two of the primary themes of Christmas as a religious holiday are joy and liberation--both of which are sorely needed today.
- [Hanukkah](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/hanukkah-4/) - Religious freedom and political resistance are major themes in the story of Hanukkah and the Maccabean revolt against the Seleucid Empire. In this service we will explore how and why these themes are just as relevant now as they have ever been.
- [Problematic Holidays](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/problematic-holidays/) - Although many of us have been looking forward to being able to gather with families and friends for holiday celebrations, the reality of these gatherings is often complicated and problematic. At a time of unprecedented polarization, how are we to celebrate with those whose values differ from our own?
- [Promises that Matter](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/promises-that-matter/) - What are the most important promises that we make to one another, and how do we call ourselves and others back to these promises when they are ignored or forgotten? This sermon will explore these questions and others related to the concept of covenant and how it might help us within our congregations and in
- [Let Justice Roll Down](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/uu-justice-pa/) - Reflections on justice in our US and UU histories and strategies for moving justice forward in our PA General Assembly. The service will include a call to join in our work and opportunities to take action. Guest Minister: Rev. Joan M. Sabatino, Director, UU Justice PA.
- [Water Is Life: Solidarity & Indigenous Activism](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/water-is-life-solidarity-indigenous-activism/) - The Water Protector movement and other indigenous resistance movements provide not only a useful model for environmental activism and environmental justice, but also a spiritual and religious grounding that can inform and sustain this crucially important work.
- [Why ‘Not Racist’ Is Not Enough](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/why-not-racist-is-not-enough/) - In his seminal work, “How to Be an Antiracist,” Ibram X. Kendi puts forth the idea that merely being “not racist” is not enough if we are serious about equity and justice for all. In this service we’ll explore why being “not racist” isn’t enough and what to do instead.
- [Possibility Under Pressure](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/possibility-under-pressure/) - Dealing with pandemic-related challenges, political chaos, economic uncertainty, and any number of personal issues, all of us are feeling some degree of stress and pressure. How can we cope with this pressure in such a way that it leaves us open to new possibilities? Welcome Back! This service will be outside on the Sunnyhill Grounds
- [How to Pray](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/how-to-pray/) - Prayer means different things to different people. What does it mean to Unitarian Universalist, both historically and contemporarily? Are there ways of praying that might be different from more traditional and orthodox approaches to prayer? What might they look like, and why is prayer worth thinking about?
- [All Souls](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/all-souls/) - In the Christian tradition, All Souls Day has been a time to remember everyone who has died, everyone who has been part of the gathered community. The phrase "All Souls" has a particularly Unitarian connotation because of something that one of our own "saints," William Ellery Channing, said: "I am a living member of the
- [What We Need Is Here](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/what-we-need-is-here/) - It has been said that, if all of the earth’s resources were shared fairly and equitably, there would be more than enough for all. Is the same true of our spiritual lives? Is there enough for us and for all others? If so, how do we experience this sense of having what we need and
- [F-Words, Part 2: Forbearance](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/f-words-part-2-forbearance/) - This year we will be examining the concept and practice of covenant from a variety of perspectives. This week’s service will focus on historic Unitarian and Universalist covenants and how they might provide some helpful perspective on our current challenges and how we might live in a covenantal way here and now.
- [What Is Unitarian Universalism?](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/what-is-unitarian-universalism-4/) - Unitarian Universalism is sometimes wrongly described as not having its own theology. Although it's true that there is a great deal of theological diversity within our congregations, we do have our own unique theology—both historically and contemporarily. This service will provide an overview of Unitarian Universalist theology and why it is important to us and
- [Rhythms of Life](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/rhythms-of-life/) - If we have learned anything in the last year and half, it’s that we never really know what’s coming next, either in the world at large or in our lives as individuals. Whatever our plans might be, life marches on, following the beat of its own drummer. How do we participate in the rhythms of
- [Stories and Songs of Labor](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/stories-and-songs-of-labor-2/) - In celebration of Labor Day weekend, we'll be singing songs about work and about the American labor movement as we reflect on the meaning and nature of work. In what ways have working conditions improved and in what ways have things started to regress? And what can be done to improve work for all?
- [Going for Bronze](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/going-for-bronze/) - There's something about winning third-place in a race or other competition that feels better than coming in second-place. As might have been noticed during this summer’s Olympics, bronze medal-winners are almost always happier than silver medal-winners. This service will explore this phenomenon as it relates to the concept of grace and how it plays out
- [Parenting in the Apocalypse](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/parenting-in-the-apocalypse/) - Parenting is a challenging undertaking even in the best of times, but the pandemic has turned parenting into an even more arduous and impossibly demanding task. What are the lessons learned from the last year for parents and everyone else? [This service will take place live on the Sunnyhill grounds and will also be livestreamed
- [Until Love Wins](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/until-love-wins/) - Today’s challenging times require a nimble and resilient spirituality. We need a demanding, inspiring faith and a love strong enough that it will not let us go. Join us as we draw the circle wide, gather our strength, and promise to stay in the struggle and joy until love wins. (This pre-recorded service is from
- [Hope, Not Hell](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/hope-not-hell/) - 250 years ago, John Murray, considered the founder of Universalism in America, extolled preaching “hope, not hell.” What does it mean to lean into hope amid the challenges facing our country today? [This service will take place live on the Sunnyhill grounds and will also be livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube.]
- [F-Words (Faith, Forbearance, etc.)](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/fwords/) - [This service will take place live on the Sunnyhill grounds and will also be livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube.] Faith and forbearance are words that tend not to be used much these days or are used only in very limited and narrow ways. What do these concepts mean to us as Unitarian Universalists, and how
- [Your Final Gift](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/your-final-gift/) - Judie Spiegel, a graduate of Rev Jim’s 2020-21 sermon writing class. While dying is one of the only certainties of living, it is a topic most of us avoid. Sharing some of what she has learned in 35 years of hospice work and volunteering, Judie will tell some very personal end-of-life stories and invite you
- [Reaching Beyond Ourselves](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/reaching-beyond-ourselves/) - The first of our UU Sources is “direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder . . . which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces that create and uphold life.” Though transcendent experiences often feel unique, they are quite common and tie us inextricably to each other.
- [Pride!](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/pride/) - Being a "welcoming congregation" is not merely an academic exercise or just a nice thing to do. Welcoming our LGBTQIA+ siblings is a life-affirming and potentially life-saving act. In this service we will examine what we can do to work for justice for LGBTQ people while becoming a more fully inclusive and welcoming congregation. [This
- [The Heart Is the Last Frontier](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/the-heart-is-the-last-frontier/) - This sermon will be delivered by Sunnyhill member Lynne Heltman, a recent participant in Rev. Magaw’s sermon-writing class. With increasing awareness of structural racism following the reaction to George Floyd’s death a year ago, could it be that posting Black Lives Matter signs isn’t enough? Lynne explores this issue, using her multicultural experience at All
- [Let America Be America](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/let-america-be-america/) - Langston Hughes wrote a poem with this title in 1935 as a rallying cry for greater inclusion. 86 years later it has lost none of its power in calling for an as-yet unborn America that makes real the dream of justice and liberty for all. How can we help make this dream a reality in
- [Disorienting Dilemmas](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/disorienting-dilemmas/) - Rev. McKinley Sims, UU Church of the Restoration, Philadelphia, Pa. Disorienting dilemmas may be thought of as times when new information causes a person to call into question their values, beliefs, or assumptions. What are the disorienting dilemmas of our times and of our lives, and how are we to face them? (This service is
- [Bridging Service](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/11137/) - Rev. Jim Magaw and Director of Religious Education Jennifer McGlothin are joined by members of the Sunnyhill High School Youth Group for our annual Bridging Service. "Bridging" honors and celebrates the transition from youth to adults of our high school seniors. Join us to mark this important time for these students and their families.
- [Hope, Fear, and Fatigue](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/hope-fear-and-fatigue/) - A recent newspaper article described a feeling many of us have had in recent months as “languishing,” which seems an apt descriptor. Fatigued by the pandemic, personal challenges, and political uncertainty, where and how do we find hope and joy?
- [Coming of Age](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/coming-of-age-2/) - Credo is a Latin word, which is generally translated as “I believe,” but its literal meaning is closer to “what I set my heart to.” Sunnyhill’s Coming of Age (COA) class will share what is close to their hearts in this service, which is a capstone of the COA curriculum.
- [Pittsburgh Apartheid](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/pittsburgh-apartheid/) - While Pittsburgh may be “America’s Most Livable City” for some, it is not for all. In fact, studies of housing, educational outcomes, income, policing, and other issues show that ours is a divided city. How did Pittsburgh become so divided along lines of race, and what can we do about it now?
- [Mercy and Moral Injury](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/mercy-and-moral-injury/) - The concept of moral injury has been described as "the damage done to one’s conscience or moral compass when that person perpetrates, witnesses, or fails to prevent acts that transgress their own moral and ethical values or codes of conduct." How are we seeing this concept play out in our world and what can we
- [The Story of Your Life](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/the-story-of-your-life/) - Often the stories of our lives are not told until after our deaths in the form of eulogies and obituaries. What is the story of your life, and why might it be important to embrace and tell the story now rather than later?
- [The Power of Heartbroken Community](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/the-power-of-heartbroken-community/) - Writer Rita Nakashima Brock said: “Broken heartedness, when we can acknowledge it, reveals both the heart’s original grace and its virtually indestructible presence.” What is the power of heartbroken community and how do we tap into it?
- [Healing Earth](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/healing-earth/) - The earth, wounded as it may be, still holds immense healing potential, both for itself and for us. What lessons can we learn from the earth about healing and wholeness? And how are we called to help the earth itself heal?
- [Forever Becoming](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/forever-becoming/) - As Unitarian Universalists, we believe that every human being has the capacity to bring more love, kindness, creativity and warmth into the world, but circumstances sometimes prevent us from focusing on becoming our best and truest selves. How do we engage in the process of forever becoming?
- [Rise Again](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/rise-again/) - On this Easter Sunday, we will consider what it means to rise again from the ashes of the spiritual and emotional fires that have been burning as a result of the pandemic and related social, economic and political crises. How will we rise again as individuals and as a religious community?
- [How to Help the Grieving](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/how-to-help-the-grieving-2/) - Our culture does not deal well with grief. Too often, we deny grief and/or consider it a weakness or a failing. In an era marked by intense grief, how can we best support one another, especially those who are grieving major losses?
- [One Year Later](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/one-year-later/) - This service will mark the one-year anniversary of the COVID pandemic affecting our communities, our congregations, and our lives. One year later, what have we learned about each other, about faith, life, and community?
- [Ida B. Wells and Black Activism](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/ida-b-wells-and-black-activism/) - Ida B. Wells was a suffragist, civil right activist, and anti-lynching journalist who helped spawn the anti-lynching movement in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th century. What can we learn from her story and how does it apply to our current situation?
- [Life and Times of Viola Liuzzo](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/life-and-times-of-viola-liuzzo-2/) - Viola Liuzzo was a Unitarian Universalist who was killed after participating in the march from Selma to Montgomery in 1965. Her story is compelling and offers inspiration for us today. What might we learn from Viola Liuzzo and the example of others from her era?
- [Stories of the Heart](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/stories-of-the-heart/) - Our deepest commitments to love and justice begin not with the human intellect but with the human heart. And it is our connection to our hearts that sustains our work. As Brené Brown has pointed out, “Courage is a heart word . . . the word courage meant ‘To speak one's mind by telling all
- [MLK and the Beloved Community](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/mlk-and-the-beloved-community/) - MLK popularized philosopher Josiah Royce’s concept of “Beloved Community” as “a global vision in which all people can share in the wealth of the earth.” How might this vision inform the work that is before us now?
- [Life and Times of Viola Liuzzo](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/life-and-times-of-viola-liuzzo/) - Viola Liuzzo was a Unitarian Universalist who was killed after participating in the march from Selma to Montgomery in 1965. Her story is compelling and offers inspiration for us today. What might we learn from Viola Liuzzo and the example of others from her era?
- [Islands of Sanity](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/islands-of-sanity/) - Author and activist Margaret Wheatley suggests that, in the midst of “the rise of hatred, violence, poverty, and ecological destruction” on a global level, we must work locally to create islands of sanity that will preserve the best of the human spirit. How do we go about this important work?
- [Love and Justice](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/love-and-justice/) - Unitarian Universalism puts forth love and justice as primary values to be nurtured and practiced as individuals and in covenant with others. No one is perfectly loving and just, nor is any community or organization. How do we keep these values front and center in all that we do?
- [Diversity, Inclusion, Equity, Justice](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/diversity-inclusion-equity-justice/) - For decades, many institutions and organizations—including the church—have emphasized diversity and inclusion as important values. We often talk of celebrating diversity and striving to be more inclusive. But are diversity and inclusion enough? This sermon will explore how an emphasis on diversity and inclusion may sometimes keep us from working for real justice and equity.
- [Power, Dignity, and the World that Can Be](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/uu-service-committee/) - For over 80 years, the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) has been advancing UU values by working with justice makers the world over confronting unjust power structures and challenging oppressive policies. Join us as we welcome the Rev. Mary Katherine Morn, president and CEO of UUSC. From UUSC’s origins in defying the Nazis to the current work of
- [Why You Can’t Placate Fascists](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/why-you-cant-placate-fascists/) - After this week’s events, it is clear that the social and political divide in our country is no longer between two sets of decent people who happen to have different opinions. Rather, the divide is between those who support democracy and those who do not, between those who value facts and those who do not,
- [Christmas Eve](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/christmas-eve/) - This service will feature music, reflections, and readings celebrating Christmas, as well as our Christmas Eve candle lighting ritual.
- [Imagine](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/imagine/) - Many of us have high hopes for 2021, particularly after the many struggles and sorrows that characterized 2020. How might the human imagination fuel and inspire the work that needs to be done in order to fulfill our hopes for this year and for our future?
- [Letting Go of 2020](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/letting-go-of-2020/) - This service will feature a look back at both the challenging and encouraging aspects of this year. We’ll include some highlights from this year’s services as well as a “burning ritual” for letting go of everything we want to let go of from 2020.
- [UU 101: Our History and Our Future](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/uu-101-our-history-and-our-future/) - This service will provide an overview of the historic roots and history of Unitarian Universalism and will place our movement in the larger American religious landscape of the 21st century. It will be a good service for people who might be new to UUism and will provide a useful review for others.
- [Songs and Stories of the Season](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/music-of-the-season-5/) - This service will be comprised of holiday­-themed stories as well as music from various Sunnyhill members and friends, including the choir and others. Join us to celebrate music and the season!
- [Hope is Commitment](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/thanksgiving/) - After an especially fraught election season and election itself, we wait to see what will happen next while the sitting president remains in office. Although many of us feel hope has won, clearly the work for justice and liberation for all must continue. What does it mean to commit to hope?
- [Transgender Day of Remembrance](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/transgender-day-of-rememberance/) - This holiday was founded in 2009 to celebrate transgender people and raise awareness of discrimination faced by transgender people worldwide. In this service we will examine what we can do to work for justice for transgender people while becoming a more fully inclusive and welcoming congregation.
- [What Now? Life After the Election](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/what-now-life-after-the-election/) - Now that the election is over, what's next? Even if all the votes have been counted, we'll still be living through a time of uncertainty and anxiety. What is most important for us to focus on? How do we stay centered in times like these?
- [Hanukkah](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/hanukkah-3/) - Why is the ritual of lighting a candle or lamp (or chalice) so powerful? What does this simple act accomplish, and how does it connect us with others? What does it signify for us? We will explore these questions by means of several stories from the Jewish tradition in preparation for Hanukkah, which begins later
- [Stillness and the Season](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/stillness-and-the-season/) - Advent, the season leading up to Christmas, is meant to be a time of quiet expectancy, a time to contemplate mystery and possibility, a time to slow down, a time to make room in our lives for something new to enter and to change us. How do we make room for this spirit of stillness
- [Addiction and Healing](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/addiction-and-healing/) - Addiction and abuse have been on the rise in recent months as everyone in our country struggles with the pandemic and political and social pressures. In many ways, we are a nation of addicts. Are healing and recovery possible for us as individuals and as a society? If so, what is the way forward?
- [All Souls Day](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/all-souls-day-2/) - In the Christian tradition, All Souls Day has been a time to remember everyone who has died, everyone who has been part of the gathered community. The phrase "All Souls" has a particularly Unitarian connotation because of something that one of our own "saints," William Ellery Channing, said: "I am a living member of the
- [RBG: Life and Legacy](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/sukkot-setting-the-table/) - In this service, we will celebrate the life and legacy of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, recently deceased supreme court justice and feminist icon whose work helped advance the cause of real equity and inclusion. We’ll examine how Ginsburg’s legacy is tied to the concept of radical welcome, which is at the heart of the Jewish festival
- [Can Anyone’s Mind Be Changed?](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/can-anyones-mind-be-changed/) - In our current era of deeply entrenched opinions and political views, is it possible to change anyone’s mind? How can we go about changing hearts and minds in our mission to build a more just and compassionate community?
- [From a Childhood Faith to an Adult's Beliefs](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/renew-or-release-forgiveness-and-relationships/) - Kristen, a graduate of Rev. Magaw's sermon writing class, shares the religious path that led her to Sunnyhill. Kristen says, "Like many, I was a faithful child, but grew disillusioned with age. This sermon is how found a gateway to belief in the power and glory of human connections, empathy, and love."
- [Renewed and Exhausted](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/renewed-and-exhausted/) - Under normal circumstances, summer is a time of relaxation and renewal for most people so we can start the new school year and church year feeling at least somewhat refreshed. However, amid the ongoing challenges posed by the pandemic and the upcoming election (among other things), is it possible to feel simultaneously renewed and exhausted?
- [Disability Rights: Community, Justice, Equity](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/disability-rights-community-justice-equity/) - Although it has not garnered as much media attention as other civil rights efforts, the disability rights movement is just as important if we are fully committed to justice and equal opportunities for everyone in our community and in our nation. What can we do to help this movement press ahead?
- [Stories and Songs of Labor](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/stories-and-songs-of-labor/) - In celebration of Labor Day weekend, we'll be singing songs about work and about the American labor movement as we reflect on the meaning and nature of work. In what ways have working conditions improved and in what ways have things started to regress? And what can be done to improve work for all?
- [What is Unitarian Universalism?](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/what-is-unitarian-universalism-2/) - Unitarian Universalism is sometimes wrongly described as not having its own theology. Although it's true that there is a great deal of theological diversity within our congregations, we do have our own unique theology—both historically and contemporarily. This service will provide an overview of Unitarian Universalist theology and why it is important to us and
- [Community of the Open Heart](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/community-of-the-open-heart/) - Opening our minds to new ideas and opening our doors to diversity are often extolled as paramount virtues in a liberal religious community. But what might we gain by practicing opening our hearts together, and how do we go about such a task?
- [Renewing (and Complexifying) Our Faith](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/renewing-and-complexifying-our-faith/) - In a time when organized religion is either transforming or dying, each faith tradition—including Unitarian Universalism—must engage in a process of re-defining and renewing our faith and including the complexities of multiple perspectives, especially those perspectives that have often been ignored or overlooked.
- [Listen!](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/listen/) - In a world where everyone seems to be shouting, have we forgotten how to listen? Or have we ever really known how to listen well? Why is this skill critically important, and what can we do to improve our listening--both to one another and to the many sounds that surround us? This service will address
- [Why I Am a Christian (and a Humanist and Maybe a Heretic)](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/why-i-am-a-christian-and-a-humanist-and-maybe-a-heretic/) - Being a part of a non-creedal faith, does not mean that we can believe whatever we want—nor does it mean that we believe nothing at all. Rather, it means that we arrive at our own beliefs and religious identities through what Ralph Waldo Emerson called “life passed through the fire of thought.” In this sermon,
- [Pandemic Heroes or Unwilling Martyrs?](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/pandemic-heroes-or-unwilling-martyrs/) - While some people are being hailed as heroes of the pandemic (food service people, medical and healthcare personnel, teachers, delivery people, etc.), they may more accurately be called unwilling martyrs. What is our responsibility toward those among us whose sacrifices and risks are much higher than what many others face?
- [Weaponized Kindness: Hopepunk and U(U)](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/weaponized-kindness-hopepunk-and-uu/) - This sermon will be delivered by Sunnyhill member Claire Pullen, a recent participant in Rev. Magaw’s sermon writing class. In a world turned upside down by a global pandemic, a government-sanctioned resurgence of white supremacist ideology, and a climate crisis, we need an optimism that acknowledges the world’s faults and demands we work to make
- [Finding Peace through Meaning](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/finding-peace-through-meaning/) - This sermon will be delivered by Sunnyhill member Ed Johnston, a recent participant in Rev. Magaw’s sermon writing class. In today's world of pandemic and so much stimulation, drama, anger, and meanness, how do we cope with anxiety? Ed will give personal reflections on how seeking peace through meaning has helped him.
- [The Next American Revolution](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/the-next-american-revolution/) - Recent protests and uprisings against racist police violence might be the beginning of the next American Revolution. What will this movement look like, where is it headed, and what is the role of our religious community in the changes that are happening?
- [Policing In America](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/policing-in-america/) - The way police operate in the U.S. is firmly rooted in our nation’s long and ugly racist history. This sermon will explore this history to provide some context for the current discussion about how to reform the way policing is done in the U.S. or to abolish it and replace it with something new.
- [Flower Celebration](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/flower-celebration/) - We will celebrate the flower ritual, which was created by Norbert Capek, the founder of the Unitarian Church in Czechoslovakia, and which honors the beauty and uniqueness of each individual and the bouquet we create by joining together with one another to create communities of justice and compassion.
- [Bright Lights, Dark Nights](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/bright-lights-dark-nights/) - Most, if not all, of us have experienced “dark nights of the soul” at some time in our lives—times when we feel utter despair and hopelessness. What can we do about such moments, and how might these challenging times prove transformative rather than merely painful.
- [Gotta Get My Cabin Head](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/gotta-get-my-cabin-head/) - Brad Convis, a recent participant in Rev Jim's sermon writing class, shares his spiritual journey that led him to the practice of daily meditation. Join us as he invites us to consider basic mediation practices to battle ego and fear-based self-destructive behavior and improve emotional health. He shows how he embraced his Unitarian Universalist upbringing
- [We All Need Inspiration](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/we-all-need-inspiration/) - This service will be led by Sunnyhill member Joe Barker, a recent participant in Rev. Jim's sermon writing class. Joe's sermon explores inspiration as an important and integral part of our shared humanity. How do we discover inspiration and what difference can it make for ourselves and others? Inspiration can often lead to a more
- [Youth Service](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/youth-service/) - The Sunnyhill High School Youth Group will present the Sunday morning service, which includes a Bridging Ceremony.
- [From Surviving to Thriving](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/from-surviving-to-thriving/) - Since the beginning of the pandemic, many of us have been in survival mode, just trying to do what we need to do to get by from one day to the next. How do we move from merely surviving to actually thriving in circumstances that continue to be challenging?
- [Decoration Day](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/decoration-day-2/) - The true origins of Memorial Day are rarely discussed, but the holiday began in the immediate aftermath of the Civil War when African Americans, newly freed from chattel slavery, conducted a series of commemorations to express their sense of the meaning of the war. This service will explore the deep roots of Memorial Day and
- [Grief and Healing](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/god-and-other-forbidden-words/) - For different reasons, and to varying extents, all of us are grieving because of the pandemic and the toll it has taken on our lives and the lives of our loved ones. Making space for this grief is an important part of the healing process that must take place at some point. How do we
- [Rise Together, Apart](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/easter-and-liberation/) - One of the central messages of Easter is re-birth, rising even from death itself to transform into something new. In a time of quarantine, death and disease, what does it mean to rise together? And how can we re-imagine and re-experience hope and new life in the midst of despair and suffering?
- [Why Are We Here?](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/why-are-we-here/) - For thousands of years, people have come together to form religious communities of various sorts. Why do we gather together in this way? What is it that can be accomplished in religious community that can't be accomplished any other way? This sermon will explore these questions and others having to do with that which binds
- [Justice and the Pandemic](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/justice-and-the-pandemic/) - There are a great many social justice implications to the current pandemic, and, unsurprisingly, the people most affected are those who are already oppressed and marginalized. During this time of social distancing, how can we continue to work together for justice for all? This service will be streamed online via Facebook and can be found
- [Surviving Isolation](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/be-here-now-the-wisdom-of-ram-dass/) - The outbreak of the COVID-19 virus presents us with a number of challenges, including learning how to survive extended periods of isolation without going batty. This sermon will explore practices and alternative ways of connecting that might help all of us survive or even thrive during this stressful time.
- [Plague and Panic](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/wisdom-of-plants/) - The current coronavirus outbreak poses a number of challenges, including how to stay safe while still staying connected with one another and not panicking. What do various responses to the emerging pandemic say about us as individuals and as members of larger communities? This Service will be ONLINE ONLY. More information here.
- [Here and Queer](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/here-and-queer/) - Sunnyhill is a “Welcoming Congregation”—meaning, we have gone through the process of attaining and renewing our status with the UUA as a congregation that is welcoming to all, especially LGBTQIA+ people. But what more can we do to be more fully inclusive and fully committed to working for the liberation of all?
- [Immigration and Colonization](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/immigration-and-colonization-2/) - Although the U.S. is a “nation of immigrants” (at least for many of us), we are also a nation that was founded by means of violent colonization and destruction of indigenous cultures. How do we live with this mixed legacy while working to become truly welcoming to all?
- [The Gospel of Star Wars](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/the-gospel-of-star-wars/) - The Star Wars film and television franchise is one of the most successful in entertainment history. What makes these films so popular and what are the underlying messages about life and living that are relevant to us today? And what the heck is the Force, anyway?
- [Solidarity: The Story of Ruth](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/solidarity-the-story-of-ruth/) - The biblical story of Ruth offers a compelling example of true solidarity and what it means to be committed to being on the side of others who come from backgrounds different from our own but with whom our ultimate destiny is intertwined. This service will examine the meaning of this story for us today.
- [Green is Good](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/green-is-good/) - This week marks the 50th anniversary of the celebration of the first Earth Day. How is our environmental situation different now than it was then, and what is our best way forward to work for environmental justice?
- [Gospel of David Sedaris](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/gospel-of-david-sedaris/) - Humorist, author, and radio commentator David Sedaris blends hilarity and heartbreak in his writings and offers a model of humor and humility which can serve as an example for all of us. We would all do well do treat ourselves and others tenderly but not too seriously.
- [Roots](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/roots/) - This sermon will look at the value of tradition in religion, and the healthy tension involved in keeping it balanced with seeking new forms, creative expressions, and original experience. Our tradition grounds us, gives us roots, so we can fly. (Rev. Thickstun serves as minister of the UU Church of the North Hills.)
- [Grace & Grit](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/grace-and-grit/) - Although we often take what we have for granted, it's relatively easy to be grateful when things are going our way. How do we go about living a grace-filled and grateful life even when times are hard? Sometimes grit is just as important as gratitude.
- [Sports Fandom](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/sports-fandom/) - Why do people care about sports, and what lessons can be learned from being a sports fan? While some people are true fanatics and others care little or nothing about sports, there are some interesting and instructive aspects of fandom that can reveal important truths about being human.
- [How Trees Grow in Rocks](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/how-trees-grow-in-rocks/) - What lessons about resilience can we learn from trees and shrubs that grow and thrive in even the most difficult circumstances? And how can we learn to have a symbiotic rather than hostile relationship with our own challenging circumstances?
- [Resilience](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/resilience/) - In this service, Rev. John Ballance will draw upon his experience as a chaplain at Allegheny County Jail to reflect on the meaning of resilience even in the midst of the most challenging situations.
- [Christmas Eve Candlelight Services (5 and 7 p.m.)](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/christmas-eve-candlelight-services/) - These services will feature music, reflections, and readings celebrating Christmas. The 5 p.m. service will be inter-generational, featuring many of our children and youth, and the 7 p.m. service will be more contemplative in nature. Both services will include our candle lighting ritual.
- [The Longest Night](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/the-longest-night/) - The holidays are not always as cheerful as we might pretend. In fact, this time of year often brings painful memories and a profound sense of loss. This special service is for anyone who is struggling during this holiday season. Nursery care and children's activities will be provided.
- [Liberals, Radicals, and MLK](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/liberals-radicals-and-mlk/) - In his own era, Martin Luther King, Jr., was a polarizing figure in American politics and religion. One of the primary tensions that existed both then and now is between mainstream liberalism and a more radical progressivism. What does this tension mean for us as Unitarian Universalists?
- [Integrity and Oppression](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/integrity-and-oppression/) - At a recent UU General Assembly, Cornel West challenged us to answer four questions originally posed by W.E.B. DuBois, the first of which was "How Shall Integrity Face Oppression?" Each of us strives to live a life of integrity. How can we be true to ourselves in the face of systemic oppression and injustice?
- [Theology of ‘Frozen'](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/theology-of-frozen/) - The animated film “Frozen” and its sequel raise some interesting theological issues, including individual autonomy versus belonging in community, love and fear, and betrayal and forgiveness, among others. This sermon will explore these themes and how they relate to our own life and times.
- [I Let Go -- Now What?!](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/i-let-go-now-what/) - This service will invite you to explore the often neglected and sometimes super-scary flip side of letting go . . . starting over. Just in time for the New Year -- and new you! Shane Freeman is a graduate of Rev. Jim's sermon writing class and a member and leader of the Beaver County UUs.
- [Hanukkah](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/hanukkah-2/) - Religious freedom and political resistance are major themes in the story of Hanukkah and the Maccabean revolt against the Seleucid Empire. In this service we will explore how and why these themes are just as relevant now as they have ever been.
- [Gratitude and Longing](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/gratitude-and-longing/) - One of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves is to fully experience gratitude and longing. As David Steindl-Rast said, gratitude is “the inner gesture of giving meaning to our life by receiving life as gift.” And longing enables us to identify those aspects of our lives that might need attention. Both are important.
- [Faith and Generosity](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/faith-and-generosity/) - On a holiday of generosity, we will explore an ancient term that sounds seriously clumsy today. Faith is a very useful term sketching out the form of religion in modern society. This sermon will draw out a sense of faith in modern terms. Another old concept, grace, shows up in the transition from Thanksgiving to
- [Pregnant Questioning](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/pregnant-questioning/) - In our hyper-busy lives, we rarely take the time simply to listen, wait, and seek in silence. Letting go of our cherished explanations and certainties can allow space for deep discernment through a process of experiencing awe and expectant questioning
- [Music of the Season](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/music-of-the-season-4/) - This service will be comprised of holiday­-themed music from various Sunnyhill members and friends, including the choir, children's choir, and other individuals and groups of all ages and many different styles. Come celebrate music and the season!
- [Attention Please!](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/attention-please/) - One of the greatest challenges in life is paying attention. Sometimes, when things are difficult to experience, we really don’t want to pay attention. Other times, we simply forget. However, when we do pay attention, we’re better able to cope with reality and to appreciate all that is good in our lives and in our
- [The Great Family of All Souls](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/the-great-family-of-all-souls/) - In the Christian tradition, All Souls Day has been a time to remember everyone who has died, everyone who has been part of the gathered community. The phrase "All Souls" has a particularly Unitarian connotation because of something that one of our own "saints," William Ellery Channing, said: "I am a living member of the
- [Won't Get Fooled Again](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/wont-get-fooled-again/) - The results of the 2016 presidential election and subsequent political and social developments caught a great many people by surprise. As 2020 approaches, how are we as people of faith prepared for the outcome—whatever it might be?
- [David and Goliath](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/david-and-goliath/) - The Biblical story of David and Goliath, in which a giant is slain with a sling and five smooth stones, provides an apt parable for our own times and suggests tools and methods for challenging systems of oppression. A close examination of this story provides a framework for individual and societal transformation.
- [Gospel of Queer Eye](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/gospel-of-queer-eye/) - The Netflix television series Queer Eye (a reboot of an earlier series) features a team of five gay men who provide a full-life makeover for a different individual in each episode. In subtle and not-so-subtle ways, the show challenges and transforms ideas of what it means to love yourself and love your neighbor. What lessons
- [The Power of Belonging](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/the-power-of-belonging/) - In an era of distrust of virtually all organizations and institutions, what does it mean to belong? How can a sense of belonging strengthen us as individuals and as members of a larger community? In a time and place where people are fleeing from belonging, how might it be counter-cultural to claim membership in certain
- [Navratri](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/navratri/) - Today's service focuses on Navratri, a nine-day long festival to celebrate the nine forms of Goddess Durga. This festival represents the victory of good over evil and symbolizes the idea of conquering one's evils with the goodness of one's soul.
- [What Now? What’s Next?](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/what-now-whats-next/) - Amidst the current political turmoil, Richard Williams, director of Unitarian Universalist Pennsylvania Legislative Advocacy Network (UUPLAN) will present simple steps to a more just and peaceful world. He will also offer thoughts about the current political climate, the spirituality of hospitality and the spirituality of advocacy.
- [Not the Life You Expected](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/not-the-life-you-expected/) - Sometimes our expectations are thwarted and we find ourselves in vastly different situations than we had imagined or hoped for. How are we to deal with expectations that do not come to pass or lead us in directions that we had not anticipated or desired?
- [The Prophetic Imperative](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/the-prophetic-imperative/) - We live in an era that screams out for prophets—people who not only expose the evils of society but also offer a vision of hope and healing. How do we embody the prophetic vision and prophetic voice right now, right here?
- [Great Expectations](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/great-expectations/) - According to recent studies, peoples’ expectations effect the outcomes of challenging situations, like looking for a job, taking a test or having surgery. While positive expectations are associated with positive outcomes, positive fantasies are not. What are our expectations for our church, our lives, and our world?
- [Only the Lonely](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/only-the-lonely/) - It's essential for humans to live in connection with one another in order to survive. How does current society promote or put roadblocks on connectedness? Jean will share thoughts and experiences on the importance of living and thriving together.
- [Trusting the Call](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/trusting-the-call/) - In our current era, it is easy to lose our way amidst the sometimes overwhelming and painful chaos and confusion in our world. It is important in times like these to remember what we are called to do and the place where the world’s needs and our passions intersect.
- [What is Unitarian Universalism?](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/what-is-unitarian-universalism-3/) - Unitarian Universalism is sometimes wrongly described as not having its own theology. Although it's true that there is a great deal of theological diversity within our congregations, we do have our own unique theology—both historically and contemporarily. This service will provide an overview of Unitarian Universalist theology and why it is important to us and
- [Change Sustains Us](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/change-sustains-us/) - When life presents the opportunity for change we can choose stasis and what we think is predictability, or creative chaos and the risk that life is not always affectionate when we don’t know the road by heart. John’s talk springs from his 50 years of looking for moments that beg for creative navigation through choices
- [The Privilege of Serving](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/the-privilege-of-serving/) - This sermon explores how recognizing one’s gratitude for privilege can lead to service for economic justice. John will reflect on how he and his wife were transformed by their College of Social Justice experience in Haiti; and he will urge Sunnyhill members to seek that same transformational experience next year in the Appalachian coal fields.
- [Choosing to Listen](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/mike-farb/) - When is life choosing a path for us and when are we consciously choosing that path? How can we find and listen for the crossroads in life? How can we reset when we pass those crossroads? Michael will explore these themes through personal experiences.
- [Someone's Knocking at the Door](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/someones-knocking-at-the-door/) - Why would a Christian choose to attend Sunnyhill? Why would a thinking person embrace Christianity? Is Sunnyhill ready to embrace Christians? Dawn will offer her perspective on these questions and more. Dawn Moeller took part in a year-long sermon writing class facilitated by Rev. Jim. Sermons by other members of the class will be presented
- [Three Rules to Live By](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/three-rules-to-live-by-2/) - Although there are countless rules to live by that have been devised over many centuries, this sermon will focus on three rules put forth by musicians Lou Reed and Laurie Anderson. These particular rules have to do with being fearless, discerning and kind.
- [The Flaming Chalice](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/the-flaming-chalice/) - The image of a flaming chalice, which has its roots in the Judeo-Christian tradition, has been the primary symbol of Unitarianism since the 1940's. This service will explore the meaning and history of this symbol, especially as it relates to the larger mission of Unitarian Universalism in the world.
- [I Found God in a Lightning Bug](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/i-found-god-in-a-lightning-bug/) - Service led by Sunnyhill member Krista Baselj. We all face challenges and emotional turmoil as humans. But how do we cope? Please join us for a nature centered service which discusses using our outdoor resources as a means of coping and grounding. It touches on anxiety and mental health and how we can find healing by
- [A Glove and a Ball](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/a-glove-and-a-ball/) - Resilience in life allows us to be able to thrive in the midst of change and loss. What is resilience and how do we cultivate it? Sunnyhill member BK Kosmach explores how childhood experiences such as baseball can lead to amazing discoveries and personal growth opportunities.
- [Good Enough](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/good-enough/) - Although there is certainly a place and time for striving and ambition, sometimes our quest for perfection and winning keeps us from living satisfying lives that are “good enough.” How can we embrace the good-enough lifestyle?
- [Because I Knew You](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/because-i-knew-you/) - Service led by member Dolph John Armstrong. Dolph reflects on his journey from a childhood poisoned by racial slurs and hate speech to the moments, interactions, and friends that guided him toward understanding and compassion for all.
- [Soda Pop Salvation](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/jeff-vipperman/) - “Salvation” can come in many forms, often in the small and surprising ways. It is there for the taking through everyday acts of love and kindness. A reflection on a trip to Maine provided the seeds to turn an incongruous religious upbringing into a people-centered view of salvation. Jeff Vipperman took part in a year-long
- [Youth Group Service](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/youth-group-service/) - The Sunnyhill High School Youth Group will present the Sunday morning service, which includes a Bridging Ceremony.
- [Curiosity and Wonder](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/curiosity-and-wonder/) - Curiosity and wonder can be much-needed antidotes to feeling overwhelmed and stuck. Instead of remaining mired in frustration and anger, how might we cultivate a sense of curiosity and a sense of wonder?
- [Church & All That Jazz](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/how-why-we-do-church/) - The way we “do church” is different in a larger congregation than it is in a small congregation. This service—which will feature a jazz ensemble—will focus on both the challenges and opportunities of being a church that is growing. Annual Meeting will follow service.
- [The Journey Toward Forgiveness](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/the-journey-toward-forgiveness-2/) - Forgiveness is one of the greatest challenges and most enduring themes of human existence. One way of conceptualizing forgiveness is as a continuum rather than a destination. How can this idea help us be forgiven and forgiving?
- [Coming of Age Service](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/coming-of-age-service-2/) - Credo is a Latin word, which is generally translated as "I believe," but its literal meaning is closer to "what I set my heart to." Sunnyhill's Coming of Age (COA) class will share what is close to their hearts in this service, which is a capstone of the COA curriculum.
- [Practice Resurrection](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/practice-resurrection/) - The cycle of the natural world is one of death and resurrection. Everywhere we turn we can see death and rebirth, especially during this time of year. How can we become practitioners of resurrection in our personal lives and in our world?
- [Passover Journeys](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/passover-journeys/) - What does it mean to leave everything behind and unexpectedly set out on a journey toward some unknown promised land? How do our own individual journeys relate to the stories of Passover?
- [The Earth: Whole & Broken](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/the-earth-whole-broken/) - The brokenness of the world is often all too easy to see. At times, it may seem that nothing in world is working as we hope it would. Still, in the midst of all this apparent brokenness, there is wholeness and beauty. How can our appreciation for the earth’s wholeness help us mend its brokenness?
- [No Justice for Antwon Rose](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/no-justice-for-antwon-rose/) - In the wake of Friday's verdict, we'll hold a special vespers service on Saturday, March 23, at 5 p.m. to grieve the lack of justice for Antwon Rose and to recommit ourselves to working to end race-based violence. This service will be followed by a potluck supper at 6 p.m.
- [A Tale of Two Freds](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/the-journey-toward-forgiveness/) - What are the lessons we can learn from the lives and legacies of Fred Rogers (of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood) and Fred Phelps (of the Westboro Baptist Church)? One was an exemplar of humility and compassion; the other, an infamous purveyor of callous hatred and thoughtless self-aggrandizement. Why does religion seem to create the very best
- [Transgender Day of Visibility](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/what-now-what-next-about-uuplan/) - This holiday was founded in 2009 to celebrate transgender people and raise awareness of the discrimination they face worldwide. In this service we will examine what we can do to work for justice for transgender people while becoming a more fully inclusive and welcoming congregation.
- [Intent, Impact, and Polarization](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/trusting-the-way-forward/) - There’s often a big difference between our good intentions and our actual impact on others’ lives—particularly if there is an imbalance between our levels of power, privilege, and influence. How can we work toward aligning our impact with our intentions, especially in our current era of polarization which makes it more difficult to bridge differences?
- [The Branch Will Not Break](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/prophecy-poetry-and-bob-dylan/) - This sermon will explore such questions as: How do we find what we are meant to do, both as individuals and as members of a religious community? And once we have found those things that are most important, how do we go about doing them with joy and courage and invite others to do the
- [Prophecy, Poetry, and Bob Dylan](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/the-branch-will-not-break/) - Singer-songwriter and Nobel Poetry Prize-winner Bob Dylan has been one of the leading prophets of our era. His work is rooted in the prophetic tradition of the Hebrew Bible, as well as the parable-telling tradition of the New Testament. This service will explore the work of Dylan in the context of religious truth-telling.
- [Border Crossing](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/border-crossing/) - Every great journey involves crossing borders of some kind—whether geographical, cultural, or intellectual in nature. What is the significance of borders in our personal lives and in the lives of our communities and nations? How do equip ourselves to become border crossers, and how do we welcome others who cross borders?
- [Vehement Disagreement . . . Constructive Conversation?](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/tba-7/) - How can we resist the echo chamber and polarization in our culture, and have conversations with those we disagree with? Guest minister Amanda Hays grew up in Mt. Lebanon and is now a ministerial intern at First UU Church of Columbus, Ohio, and a student in the M.Div. program at Meadville-Lombard Theological School.
- [Faith and Love](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/faith-and-love/) - Faith is sometimes described as "blind"--as accepting without question a set of propositions or beliefs. But from a liberal religious point of view, faith is more about a commitment to going forward with what we believe to be right while continuing to hold ambiguity, uncertainty and tension. This kind of faith might move us closer
- [Trust in an Era of Distrust](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/trust-in-an-era-of-distrust/) - Over the past 30-40 years, Americans’ trust in institutions like the government and the church has steadily declined. At the same time, individuals’ trust in each other seems to have eroded as well. Why have we moved from trust to distrust, and what, if anything can be done about it?
- [Mary Oliver & the Family of Things](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/prophecy-and-possibility/) - Poet Mary Oliver recently died, leaving behind a rich and enduring body of work that is both beautiful and challenging. What is it about her poems that resonates so deeply with so many of us, especially as Unitarian Universalists?
- [MLK and Racial Barriers: Then and Now](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/mlk-and-racial-barriers-then-and-now/) - For many people, the election of Barack Obama as president in 2008 seemed to indicate that we as a country were finally living into MLK’s dream of caring more about the content of someone’s character than about the color of their skin. In reality, how close are we to that dream? Or is such an
- [Working with What Is](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/working-with-what-is/) - No matter what we want to accomplish, no matter what we want to avoid, no matter what has happened in the past or what we hope will happen in the future—we must begin with what is right here and right now. This sermon explores how we might work to call ourselves back to the present
- [Termites, Starlings, and Human Possibility](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/termites-starlings-and-human-possibility/) - This sermon will explore what we can we learn from termites and starlings about how human beings might work together differently to create previously unimagined or even unimaginable possibilities.
- [Hanukkah](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/hanukkah/) - Religious freedom and political resistance are major themes in the story of Hanukkah and the Maccabean revolt against the Seleucid Empire. In this service we will explore how and why these themes are just as relevant now as they have ever been. (Budget Meeting)
- [Choose Something Like a Star](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/choose-something-like-a-star/) - In this sermon, poised between Christmas and Epiphany, we’ll follow the journey of the Magi in exploring what it means to choose the way of integrity, hope and personal accountability in an increasingly compromised world. As Robert Frost put it in his poem, “We may choose something like a star/To stay our minds on and
- [Christmas Eve Candlelight Service](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/christmas-eve-candlelight-service/) - This service will be an intergenerational, family-­friendly event featuring music from our children, youth and others, as well as stories and a brief re­enactment of the Nativity. We’ll also celebrate the 200th anniversary of the much-loved Christmas hymn “Silent Night.” (This service will take place Mon., Dec. 24, at 5:00 p.m.)
- [Dickens, the Unitarians, and Christmas](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/dickens-the-unitarians-and-christmas/) - Charles Dickens, the great 19th-century English novelist had a profound effect on how Christmas is celebrated. Many of his ideas about Christmas and social reform were influenced by his involvement with Unitarianism. This service will explore these ideas and their relevance today.
- [Blue Christmas Vespers Service](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/blue-christmas-vespers-service/) - The holidays are not always as cheerful as we might pretend. In fact, this time of year often brings painful memories and a profound sense of loss. This special service is for anyone who is struggling during this holiday season. (This service will take place Wed., Dec. 19, at 7:00 p.m.)
- [Music of the Season](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/music-of-the-season-3/) - This service will be comprised of holiday­-themed music from various Sunnyhill members and friends, including the choir, children's choir, string ensemble and other individuals and groups of all ages and many different styles. Come celebrate music and the season!
- [Expecting Mystery](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/expecting-mystery/) - Ultimately, we know much less about what will happen in the world and in our lives than we think we do. Cultivating an appreciation for mystery might help us get past disappointment and judgment and arrive at a sense of expectancy instead. How might a sense of mystery help us gain wisdom and much-needed perspective?
- [Trans Rights = Human Rights](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/memory-and-the-present-moment/) - At a time when the U.S. administration is trying to take away civil rights from people who are transgender and erase their identities, our commitment to being radically welcoming and to working for equal rights for all has never been more important. What can we do to support our transgender friends and siblings?
- [Walking Together: Connecting Past, Present, and Future](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/walking-together-binding-past-present-and-future/) - We UUs do not have a creed; rather, we agree to "walk together," a phrase as old as the oldest New England churches. The metaphor emphasizes our freedom but also delivers a much more subtle message about discipline and self-restraint. Let us walk together this Sunday after Thanksgiving. I suspect we all need the exercise.
- [#StayOutraged, #StaySane(ish)](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/a-lineage-of-love/) - In the aftermath of the mid-term elections, what are we to do, both to sustain the energy needed to bring about positive change and to take care of ourselves so that we can be effective in the long run? We’ll explore ways to take care of ourselves while taking care of business.
- [Sheltering God in the World](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/sheltering-god-in-the-world/) - A sanctuary is a sacred place—one often used as a safe space for people or animals or plants. What if instead of a place, we ourselves embodied the charge of sanctuary and imagined a practice of sheltering the holy in the world by the way we engage with it?
- [Diwali](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/diwali/) - Sunnyhill member Chetan Chothani will lead a celebration of Diwali, the Hindu "festival of lights" which takes place each fall. This holiday celebrates the victory of light over darkness and hope over despair. Please bring a journal or a book important to you and we will inscribe it with an auspicious message, during the service,
- [All Souls: How and Why We Remember](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/all-souls-how-and-why-we-remember/) - Each year around this time, we have a special service to remember loved ones and others who have died—especially in the past year. Why are such remembrances important, and how do we honor those who have died without becoming mired in grief?
- [What Matters Most?](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/what-matters-most/) - Stewardship Kickoff. One of the biggest challenges we face in this era of constant distraction is how to stay focused on the things that matter most in our lives. What can we do to make sure we are attending to those things that are of ultimate importance?
- [Sanctuary: Just and Holy](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/sanctuary-just-and-holy/) - Sanctuary can be a consecrated space set aside for worship and reverence; it can also be a place of refuge for those who face oppression and injustice. How do we, as a religious community, create space that is both holy and just?
- [Toxic Masculinity](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/vision-and-prophecy/) - The events of the past week or two—including allegations regarding Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and the sentencing of Bill Cosby for sexual assault—have once again raised the issue of the harm that is caused by unchecked toxic masculinity in our culture. How did we get to this point and what can we do about
- [The Vision of Unitarian Universalism](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/the-vision-of-unitarian-universalism/) - Unitarianism and Universalism, as they developed in nineteenth-century America, presented particular visions for what the world could be like. What is the current day vision of Unitarian Universalism for our world, and how do we put forth this vision?
- [Are We Doomed?](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/are-we-doomed/) - It might be too late to stop or even slow down the global environmental catastrophe that looms in our future. If it really is too late and we are doomed, what difference would it make in how we live our lives?
- [The Vision and the Voyage](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/the-vision-and-the-voyage/) - As we begin a new church year, what is the vision that we have for our church and for our community? How do we hold onto this vision while in the midst of the often rocky voyages of our lives?
- [Patriotism and Nationalism](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/patriotism-and-nationalism/) - In recent decades, we have seen the rise of a new “religious” nationalism that presents itself in the guise of particular brand of “patriotism.” As members of a religious community, we are guided by values that transcend national interests, so it is important to examine the difference between true patriotism (a noble virtue) and nationalism
- [God Is Love](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/god-is-love/) - One of the most radical statements in the Christian gospels is expressed in three simple words: God is love. What are the real implications of conceptualizing of God not as some distant all-powerful being but rather as something familiar and down-to-earth that manifests itself in countless life-sustaining, life-affirming ways?
- [Healing and Change](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/healing-and-change/) - One of the most powerful aspects of many contemporary social movements—including #BlackLivesMatter, #MeToo, and the March for Our Lives—is the way in which they are fueled by grief, but transform that grief into action. How do we go about the process of healing through change?
- [Finding Spirituality in Community](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/finding-spirituality-in-community/) - Our spiritual authority is rooted in community, and our individual journeys to finding spirituality within community are unique and many. But how does one begin to seek out their own, personal traditions when the ones handed down from our ancestors don't necessarily speak to us? Dianna, who has been at Sunnyhill since 2004, completed Rev.
- [I Am Not What I Think](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/i-am-not-what-i-think/) - This is a rumination on the social divisiveness we see today, and how social psychology can help us understand the problems we may have in fully embracing the UU first principle. Dennis, a long-time Sunnyhill member, completed the sermon writing class facilitated by Rev. Jim Magaw this past year.
- [Living Within the Constraints of Time](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/living-within-the-constraints-of-time/) - One of the primary challenges we face as human beings is the fact that we do not have an unlimited amount of time—there are only 24 hours in each day, and we are alive for only decades at best. How do we deal with this challenge in a positive and life-affirming way?
- [What is Unitarian Universalism?](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/what-is-unitarian-universalism/) - Unitarian Universalism is sometimes wrongly described as not having its own theology. Although it's true that there is a great deal of theological diversity within our congregations, we do have our own unique theology—both historically and contemporarily. This service will provide an overview of Unitarian Universalist theology and why it is important to us and
- [Life's Not Fair](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/lifes-not-fair/) - Life's not fair—everyone has felt this way. Is there a part of our Unitarian Universalist tradition that can help us get through the feelings that go with this thought process? (Julie Ann wrote this sermon as a member of the sermon writing class facilitated by Rev. Jim this year.)
- [Finding My Home at Sunnyhill](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/finding-my-home-at-sunnyhill/) - Martha was a member of this year's sermon writing class facilitated by Rev. Magaw. In this sermon, Martha will share reflections about her religious journey, from her Methodist upbringing in the South to eventually finding her spiritual home here at Sunnyhill.
- [The Gift of Presence](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/the-gift-of-presence/) - Sometimes the best and greatest present we can give someone else, especially someone who is suffering, is simply our presence—not offering advice or platitudes—but just being there as a listening, caring presence. How do we go about doing this work with one another?
- [Confessions of the Ordinary Kind](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/tba-6/) - What are your deepest, darkest secrets, those you shared with no one? It may be a "regret, fear, betrayal, desire, confession, or childhood humiliation"—these are the secrets sought by the amazing mail art project called post-secret. We'll explore such secrets, and what might happen if we do share them. (Kristina Spaude, our guest minister, recently
- [Form Follows Function](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/form-follows-function/) - In this service, longtime Sunnyhill member Bob Hedin will explore life lessons he has learned as a result of being involved in the environmental reclamation projects. These lessons have both scientific and philosophical implications.
- [My Pathway to Unitarian Universalism](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/my-pathway-to-unitarian-universalism/) - Angela was a member of this year's sermon writing class facilitated by Rev. Magaw. In this sermon, Angela will share some of the life experiences she has had that led her to UUism in hopes of inspiring others who are either newer or longer term UUs.
- [Meaning, Purpose, and an Indifferent Universe](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/meaning-purpose-and-an-indifferent-universe/) - While a sense of purpose is practically a requirement of being human, there is no irrefutable evidence of purpose existing outside human imagination. What does it mean to be a purposeful creature in a seemingly purposeless universe? (BLUU Offering)
- [Perspectives](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/perspectives/) - In this service our youth will explore how each of us has a unique and different perspective on life—and how it is through exploring these differences that we also find our underlying commonalities.
- [Failure](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/failure/) - There is no such thing as a life without failure. Failure is inevitable in both big and small ways. And there is an inextricable link between risk-taking, failure, and success. What can we learn from failure and how do we apply those lessons to our individual lives and our communities? (The Chothani family won the sermon in
- [Julia Ward Howe: American Feminist](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/julia-ward-howe-american-feminist/) - Julia Ward Howe (for whom Howe Elementary School in Mt. Lebanon was named) was an early Unitarian feminist and social justice trailblazer whose life and legacy can teach us a lot about moving forward in life despite adversity and personal challenges.
- [Coming of Age Service](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/coming-of-age-service/) - Credo is a Latin word, which is generally translated as "I believe," but its literal meaning is closer to "what I set my heart to." Sunnyhill's Coming of Age (COA) class will share what is close to their hearts in this service, which is a capstone of the COA curriculum.
- [Resilience: Turning from Negative to Positive](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/resilience-turning-negative-positive/) - A positive attitude is something that can be cultivated and can make a big difference in becoming more resilient, both on the individual and community levels. How do we make this switch without becoming Pollyanna-like or irrelevant and in denial of reality? This Sunday, our offering will benefit PIIN (Pennsylvania Interfaith Impact Network), our primary
- [Courage and Improvisation](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/courage-and-improvisation/) - Jazz legend Miles Davis once famously said: "It’s not the note you play that’s the wrong note – it’s the note you play afterwards that makes it right or wrong." Jazz encourages and requires moving forward without entirely knowing where you are going. How might this kind of thinking play out in the rest of
- [Earth Day](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/earth-day/) - On this Earth Day, we will consider what we can do here and now to honor our sacred connection to the earth and our responsibility to take care of it.
- [Are Physical Limits in Our Head?](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/physical-limits-head/) - As athletes continue to break previously unbreakable records, some physiologists argue that our physical limits are determined by our subjective sense of effort rather than the metabolic state of our muscles. How can our internal dialogue affect our achievements as individuals and as a community?
- [Three Rules for Life](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/three-rules-life/) - Although we are not often called to articulate them, our most deeply held beliefs about life and the nature of the world can have a profound effect on how we live our lives. We will explore three of these beliefs or rules and how they might guide the way we live our lives.
- [Rise Up](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/rise-up/) - One of the central themes of Easter is the ultimate triumph of life over death. Even when everything around us seems cloaked in darkness, the potential of resurrection of various kinds still exists for us as individuals and for us as a society. How do we prepare to "rise up" when the time comes?
- [Faithful Over a Few Things](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/faithful-over-a-few-things/) - Blind faith? Leap of faith? Free faith? How does the word “faith” strike you? For some, it is an uncomfortable vestige of a rigid religious past. For others, it remains a positive, re-imagined resource for moving through the joys and sorrows of life. What does it mean to be “faithful?”—not to everything or to what
- [Strength in Vulnerability](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/strength-in-vulnerability/) - If we have any hope of becoming resilient as individuals or as a culture or community, we must learn how to deal with our inherent vulnerability and the inevitability of failure. How do we go about this process so that we are able to act courageously rather than becoming stuck and overwhelmed?
- [March for Our Lives](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/march-for-our-lives/) - The recent school shooting in Parkland, Florida, has led to a renewed anti-gun violence movement in this country. Unlike other such movements in the past, this particular effort is being led by youth. How can we help this movement succeed? (Our designated offering this week will help support Sunnyhill's participation in the March for Our
- [Living All Along the Way](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/tbd-2/) - This service is about loss—how it makes us feel and how we cope with it. Sue Richmond is a long-time member of Sunnyhill and commissioned lay leader who is presenting this service as a service auction item purchased by Judy and John Armstrong.
- [This Is What Democracy Looks Like!](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/tbd/) - "This Is What Democracy Looks Like!" Since the 2016 general election, some say we are witnessing a decline in American democracy, and it's easy to become discouraged and even indifferent. Where do we find the necessary hope to keep us energized and engaged? This week we'll be focusing on some exciting grassroots movements that should
- [#MeToo, American Democracy and Collective Liberation](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/american-covenant-civil-religion/) - The current #MeToo movement has resulted in the toppling of many iconic male figures in America and the exposure of the sordid reality of misogyny and sexual abuse in our culture and in our country. Why is this movement important to our democracy and to our religious tradition, and what is our response to be?
- [MLK and Racism, Materialism and Militarism](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/theos-polis-oikos/) - In celebration of MLK Day weekend, we will consider what King called the "giant triplets of racism, materialism and militarism." King offered a challenging and radical message that resonates just as loudly today as it did 50 years ago. How will we respond to these challenges here and now?
- [The Limits of Tolerance & Free Speech](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/mlk-racism-materialism-militarism/) - As Unitarian Universalists, we value the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process, but does this championing of the rights of individuals and individual expression mean that we value all human expression equally? What are the limits of tolerance and free speech?
- [Christmas Eve Services (10 a.m. & 5 p.m.)](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/christmas-eve-services-10-m-5-p-m/) - Christmas Eve services: 10 a.m.: The Unitarians and Christmas. During the 19th century, Unitarians transformed Christmas from a minor holiday to a major cultural and religious event. Much of the music and many of our contemporary Christmas icons (including Santa Claus, Scrooge, Jingle Bells and more) came about because of the work of Unitarians who
- [Resistance and Revolution](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/resistance-and-revolution/) - As a number of writers have recently noted, resistance in and of itself may not be enough. Our own Declaration of Independence notes that "whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends [life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness], it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it." When and
- [Love and Resistance](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/love-and-resistance/) - Resistance to corrupt political systems is an important part of our identity as Americans and as religious liberals. But that resistance is only effective and sustainable if it is rooted in something bigger. What does Big Love have to do with resistance in our current moral and political climate?
- [Personal and Political Resistance](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/personal-political-resistance/) - Our radical religious roots challenge us to resist cultural norms that are opposed to our ideals of compassion and justice for all. In our current era, much has been said about resistance to oppressive political regimes, but, at the same time we need to deal with our personal resistance to change and conflict. How are
- [Ring Out the Old, Ring in the New](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/ring-old-ring-new/) - This reflective, end-of-year service will give us a chance to reflect on what has happened in our lives and in the world in 2017, to let go of those things we need to let go of, and to express our hopes, dreams and wishes for 2018.
- [Music of the Season](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/music-of-the-season-2/) - This service will be comprised of holiday­-themed music from various Sunnyhill members and friends, including the choir, children's choir, string ensemble and other individuals and groups of all ages and many different styles. Come celebrate music and the season!
- [Hanukkah: The Light Still Shines](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/hanukkah-light-still-shines/) - Why is the ritual of lighting a candle or lamp (or chalice) so powerful? What does this simple act accomplish, and how does it connect us with others? What does it signify for us? We will explore these questions by means of several stories from the Jewish tradition in preparation for Hanukkah, which begins later
- [Beauty in Darkness](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/beauty-in-darkness/) - During this darkest time of the year, we sometimes tend to see only the absence of light rather than the presence of beauty in the darkness itself. What are the gifts of experiencing darkness, and how can we find beauty in dark times?
- [Thanks, But No Thanks: Freedom and Discipline](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/thanks-no-thanks-freedom-discipline/) - This service will explore how freedom is not as much a right as it is a goal and a challenge. During this Thanksgiving holiday, perhaps it is appropriate not to be grateful for freedom but to be thankful for the opportunity to strive for freedom. As William Ellery Channing, one or our UU "saints," put
- [When Your Head and Heart Disagree](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/head-heart-disagree/) - We will be exploring how diversity in religious traditions, and how conflicting ideas within our own minds, can create greater compassion and understanding for people with whom we may disagree. Josh took part in a year-long sermon writing class facilitated by Rev. Jim, and this sermon is a result of that class.
- [The Promise and the Practice of Our Faith](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/promise-practice-faith/) - This service is our opportunity to address our own religious tradition's history of upholding racism and systems of white supremacy. Together, we can collectively work to dismantle it and amend a long-broken promise to the black lives within our association. The designated offering this Sunday will benefit Black Lives of UU.
- [How Is Church Different from a Restaurant?](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/church-different-restaurant/) - While churches share some things in common with commercial enterprises, there are also some fundamental differences. What are the similarities and differences and why are they important to us as members of a religious community?
- [Consecration Service](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/tba-4/) - As part of our building dedication weekend, we will consecrate our new sanctuary and consider: What does it mean to make a space sacred? How will we choose to bless this place? And how will we bless the world through this space? In keeping with this theme, Rev. Dr. Lee Barker, President of Meadville Lombard
- [Welcoming Congregation Celebration](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/welcoming-congregation-celebration/) - Last year our congregation renewed our status as a "Welcoming Congregation" with the Unitarian Universalist Association. We are grateful for the work of many in our congregation who engaged in this process. How do we continue to live into our status as a welcoming congregation? Interweave will assist with this service.
- [Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/setting-the-table/) - For decades, many institutions and organizations—including the church—have emphasized diversity and inclusion as important values. We often talk of celebrating diversity and striving to be more inclusive. But are diversity and inclusion enough? This sermon will explore how an emphasis on diversity and inclusion may sometimes keep us from working for real justice and equity.
- [Love the Stranger](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/love-the-stranger/) - What does it mean to "love the stranger"--a concept that is present in a number of different religious traditions? Do we really have to love people we don't even know or with whom we might not have anything in common? How do set about such a task? Designated Offering: American Red Cross of Southwestern Pennsylvania serves Allegheny, Greene,
- [Start Where You Are](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/stare-where-you-are/) - Each day or even each moment can represent a new beginning if we think of it that way. But, no matter what undertaking we start, we must begin where we are. It doesn't mean that we're happy about where we are, but it does imply some measure of acceptance and readiness to begin again.
- [First Ask Why](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/first-ask-why/) - Any time we start a new undertaking--or even a new cycle or phase of our life--it is good to start by considering why. Why are we doing this? What larger purpose, if any, do our actions serve? Is there an underlying reason what we are doing or are we just going through motions?
- [My Improvised Religion](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/tba-5/) - Unitarian Universalism is a creative religion, by its nature. That's why we affirm the importance of a free and responsible search for truth and meaning. An important part of this creative process is improvization. We share this practice with jazz and even comic improv. Dean took part in a year-long sermon writing class facilitated by
- [All Souls Day](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/all-souls-day/) - In the Christian tradition, All Souls Day has been a time to remember everyone who has died, everyone who has been part of the gathered community. The phrase "All Souls" has a particularly Unitarian connotation because of something that one of our own "saints," William Ellery Channing, "I am a living member of the great
- [In the Beginnings](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/in-the-beginnings/) - Using the two creations stories from Genesis, this service will focus on how most beginnings are ambiguous. Where did this new thing come from? What, if anything, is its purpose? What do our own institutional creation myths say about us?(After today's service, we will have an Involvement Fair, featuring the many ways people can become
- [Words and Music of Labor](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/words-music-labor/) - On this Labor Day weekend, we will reflect on the history and the current state of labor in the United States. How did we get to our current situation, and what, if anything, can be done to revive the labor movement. The Worship Team will assist with this service.
- [Six Words for Love](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/six-words-love/) - The ancient Greeks used six different words for love, while contemporary English has only one. What are the differences among these various conceptions of love, and why is it important for us to understand and practice them today?
- [Why Going to Church Is Good for You](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/going-church-good/) - In a bygone era, it was assumed that almost everyone would belong to a religious community of one kind or another, but that assumption no longer holds as more and more people are unchurched. What are the real benefits of going to church and what does it mean to belong to a church in our
- [Home Never Closes](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/home-never-closes/) - In one of her essays, the writer Annie Lamott tells the story of a girl who becomes lost and tells the police officer who stops to help that “if you can get me to my church, I can always find my way home from there.” As UUCSH prepares to move “home” to Sunnyhill ,
- [The Meaning of Death: What My Young Daughter Taught Me](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/tba-2/) - Children have a way of bringing us face-to-face with what matters most in life. In this, I am reminded of when my first child, my daughter, taught me how to deal with death, when she was just three-years-old. Carl Johnson took part in a year-long sermon writing class facilitated by Rev. Jim. Sermons by other
- [Stages of Life](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/tba-3/) - Each day, while just living our usual routines, we often have interactions with others. Regardless of who we are, or what our situations may be, one thing that each of us shares in common is our ability to "possibly" impact another person, no matter how simple the interaction may be. How can having access to
- [Despair and Possibility](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/despair-and-possibility/) - It often seems as though we are living in an era of despair. There are signs of despair all around us—including increased suicide rates, soaring rates of addiction to opioids, and a general sense of weariness and foreboding. What are the alternatives to despair, and how might we make the turn from despair to possibility,
- [Doing and Being](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/doing-and-being/) - We tend to define ourselves by what we do, what we have done, or what we plan to do. We ask children what they plan to do when they grow up, and when we meet new people one the first questions is often "What do you do?" But is all this "doing" what really gives
- [The Space Between](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/the-space-between/) - We live in a highly divided world, one where we are separated by politics, fear, the news media, and many other ways. It's hard to remember to look for points of connection and common experience sometimes. What if, in our interactions with others and ourselves, we focused on the relationship, thinking that it is in
- [What Comes After Your Ellipses?](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/what-comes-after-your-ellipses/) - Have you ever considered what comes after the words we use to describe ourselves? When we say we are mothers, fathers, siblings, and whatever other words we use, does it end there with a period, signifying that we are only our labels? Or do those descriptive sentences end with ellipses… those three dots that indicate
- [The Blessings and Challenges of Growth](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/blessings-challenges-growth/) - Sometimes we tire of "opportunities for growth" as they can be extremely challenging and exhausting. For us, both as individuals and as members of a larger community, growth can be difficult at times. But it is also rewarding and the only healthy way forward. This service will focus on both the blessings and the challenges
- [Dark Times and the Human Spirit](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/dark-times-human-spirit/) - There are certain times in human history which can seem dark with conflict and uncertainty. Our current era seems to be one of those times during which our moral fortitude and the resilience of the human spirit are put to the test. How will we respond?
- [Blues Theology](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/blues-theology/) - Some of the best music you will ever hear has emerged from a place of persecution and oppression, and, rather than dwelling in hopelessness and despair, has proclaimed through its very existence and through its great beauty that there is something more. This service will explore theology as a genre of the blues. (Our designated
- [Coming of Age](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/coming-of-age/) - Credo is a Latin word which is generally translated as "I believe," but its literal meaning is closer to "what I set my heart to." Sunnyhill's Coming of Age (COA) class (8th-grade youth) will share what is close to their hearts in this service, which is a capstone of the COA curriculum.
- [Decoration Day](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/decoration-day/) - The true origins of Memorial Day are rarely discussed, but the holiday began in the immediate aftermath of the Civil War when African Americans, newly freed from chattel slavery, conducted a series of commemorations to express their sense of the meaning of the war. This service will explore the deep roots of Memorial Day and
- [Alone Together](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/alone-together-2/) - According to a recent study, we check our cell phones an average of 221 times each day. How has our relationship with technology changed our relationship with one another? Do we really feel more connected with each other than we did years ago, or are we growing increasingly lonely despite being so thoroughly connected electronically?
- [Ritual, Religion, and Belief](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/ritual-religion-belief/) - Participating in rituals—religious and other rituals—seems to be a deep and meaningful part of being human. Humans of every era and geographical location have developed rituals which serve any number of purposes. This service will explore why rituals are so important and what they mean to us in our current era.
- [Exposing and Dismantling Supremacy](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/kindness-and-resistance/) - UUA President Peter Morales recently resigned amid a controversy about UUA hiring practices with regard to race. If we are to have any hope of addressing and undoing racism and other systemic oppressions, we must start at home—in our personal attitudes and behaviors, in our families, in our congregations, and in our larger association. This
- [Teaching Each Other to be Human](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/tba/) - This sermon will explore the ideas of influential Unitarian theologian James Luther Adams, who spent time in 1930s Germany when fascism was on the rise. At a time in which we're seeing a frightening resurgence of right-wing movements around the world, Adams' work couldn't be more relevant. This Sunday, we'll explore such questions as: What
- [Easter Sunday: Resurrection and Spirit](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/easter-sunday-resurrection-spirit/) - One of the great challenges of our current era is to see dark times not as indicative of an ever-downward spiral, but as a time for regeneration and rebirth. Why is this shift in thinking important, and how do we go about making it so that we are working to make the world whole rather
- [Why Superstition Works](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/why-superstition-works/) - Even those of us who consider ourselves not at all superstitious tend to hold onto certain superstitious beliefs, practices or habits. Many athletes go through elaborate rituals before competing, and, surprisingly, research shows that superstitions can actually be linked with improved performance. This sermon will explore why this phenomenon occurs and what it might mean
- [Third Person Unitarian](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/third-person-unitarian/) - In the 19th-century, many Unitarians described themselves as "first-person Unitarians," meaning they believed in only the first part of the idea of the Trinity—God the Father, but not God the Son or God the Holy Spirit. However, in the 21st-century, it's possible that the concept of a "third-person Unitarian" may be more relevant. This service
- [A UU Takes the Bodhisattva Vow: Working to Wake Up the World (or Maybe Just Pittsburgh)](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/uu-takes-bodhisattva-vow-working-wake-world-maybe-just-pittsburgh/) - Stephanie began exploring Buddhism and mediation in our church as part of her spiritual journey. In this service, she will explain how this path has led her to take vows to first become a Buddhist and most recently to be a bodhisattva. Stephanie will explain how this journey has also included quitting her job and
- [The Theology of Bruce Springsteen](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/theology-bruce-springsteen/) - Rock and roll superstar Bruce Springsteen has enjoyed enormous success in a career spanning five decades-at least in part because of his willingness to look unflinchingly at the human condition, to celebrate the goodness of life, and to point out where we fall short as individuals and as a society. This service will explore the
- [Mercy and Moral Injury](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/mercy-moral-injury/) - The concept of moral injury has been described as "the damage done to one's conscience or moral compass when that person perpetrates, witnesses, or fails to prevent acts that transgress their own moral and ethical values or codes of conduct." How are we seeing this concept play out in our world and what can we
- [One and Many: Connectedness](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/one-many-connectedness/) - We live in a world with many divisions and differences based on class, ethnicity, race, nationality, religion, region, gender, and more. Our challenge as religious liberals is to resist minimizing these differences, as many of them are very real and need to be respected-while at the same time recognizing some essential commonalities.
- [Struggle, Healing, and Moving On](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/struggle-healing-moving/) - In the wake of the tragedy and fear that many American citizens were met with in 2016, the youth group is sharing what we can on healing and moving on. In a three part service, we will examine anger, fear, and healing in an attempt to cope with a shared struggle and freshen our approach
- [Heaven on Earth](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/heaven-on-earth/) - Our Universalist ancestors believed that, in the end, everyone would go to heaven. They believed that any God who was loving would not damn anyone to eternal hell. And they believed that it was up to each of us to create something like heaven on earth—to work for justice, to act with compassion and mercy,
- [Zombie Theology](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/zombie-theology/) - Zombie books, movies, and television series have been on the rise in recent years. What does this phenomenon say about us as a society and where we are headed? To what extent do zombies represent a metaphor for our troubled times in which people can sometimes seem to be soulless bodies just going through the
- [The End of Civilization](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/the-end-of-civilization/) - Our worship service theme for the month of February is eschatology, meaning where we come from, where we are going, and what is our ultimate goal or endpoint. Despite great technological advances in recent decades, our current era can seem like the end of the world—as evidenced by irreversible climate change, the rise of authoritarian
- [What is it?](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/to-be-announced-2/) - What is this thing we call faith? Longtime Sunnyhill member Susan Richmond will offer her particular Unitarian Universalist perspective on faith. This service is a Service Auction presentation.
- [Shelter from the Storm: Soteriology of Bob Dylan](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/shelter-from-the-storm/) - Nobel Laureate Bob Dylan's music has been more influential than perhaps any other songwriter in American history. This service will feature music by Dylan and will focus on his vision of what might save us as individuals and as a society. (Our designated offering this week will help provide American Sign Languages classes for deaf
- [UUs and the Freedom Movement](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/mlk-sunday/) - Unitarian Universalists have a long and somewhat complicated history with the American Freedom Movement. This sermon will examine some of the twists and turns of our history and where we are today. (Our designated offering this week will benefit BLUU, Black Lives of Unitarian Universalists, which provides support, information and resources for Black UUs, and
- [What Saves Us](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/saves-us-walking-jesus/) - This month's worship them is "Soteriology," which is the study of religious doctrines of salvation. As Unitarian Universalists, what, if anything, do we believe saves us? Is the concept of salvation relevant to us in the 21st century? If so, how are we (and our world) saved. This sermon will consider these and other questions.
- [Letterboxing: Getting Lost and Found in the New Year](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/to-be-announced/) - Letterboxing is a quirky hobby combining orienteering, puzzle solving, journaling, and treasure hunting, dating back to the 1850’s in Dartmoor, England. As we begin 2017, with our well-intentioned resolutions in tow, we’ll explore Letterboxing as a spiritual metaphor for getting lost (in healthy ways) -- stepping off the well-worn paths from here to there in
- [Music of the Season](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/music-of-the-season/) - This service will be comprised of holiday­-themed music from various Sunnyhill members and friends, including the choir, children's choir, string ensemble and other individuals and groups of all ages and many different styles. Come celebrate music and the season!
- [Christmas Eve Services, 5 and 7 p.m.](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/christmas-eve-services/) - Christmas Eve Services will be held at 5 and 7 p.m. at the Clubhouse on Brightwood, Bethel Park. The 5 p.m. service will be an intergenerational, family-­friendly event featuring music from our children, youth and others, as well as stories and a brief re­enactment of the Nativity. The 7 p.m. service will be contemplative in nature
- [Yule, 7-9 p.m., First Church, Shadyside](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/yule-7-9-p-m-first-church-shadyside/) - The Spiritways Leadership Team cordially invites you to celebrate Yule on Sun., Dec. 18 at 7 p.m. at First Unitarian Church in Shadyside. Yule or Yuletide (“Yule time”) is a Pagan religious festival observed by the historical North Germanic peoples, later being absorbed into and equated with the Christian festival of Christmas. The earliest references to Yule are by way of indigenous Germanic month names meaning
- [A Light in the Darkness](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/a-light-in-the-darkness/) - We are in the midst of the holiday season, whether we feel like celebrating or not. But the holidays are about more than gifts and decorations and parties. Both Christmas and Hanukkah have resistance to the dominant culture as part of their histories. This service will explore how the holidays this year might represent an opportunity to work in solidarity with others
- [How the Light Gets In](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/how-the-light-gets-in/) - The recently deceased singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen wrote about the experience of darkness in profound and creative ways. But, at the heart of many of his songs and poems was a message of hope and perseverance in spite of the darkness all around. This service will explore the music and theology of Leonard Cohen.
- [Sanctuary](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/alone-together/) - Join us this Sunday at 10:00 am at the Mt. Lebanon Recreation Center for a service led by Rev. Jim Magaw entitled "Sanctuary." In the wake of this week's elections, many of us are feeling a deep need to be held in loving community, to acknowledge our grief, and to discern what we are to
- [Samhain Ritual, 6 p.m., First Church, Shadyside](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/samhain-ritual-sun-oct-30-6-p-m/) - The Spiritways Leadership Team cordially invites you to our Samhain ritual Sun., Oct. 30 at 6 p.m. at First Unitarian Church in Shadyside. Samhain, one of the four main seasonal festivals of the ancient Gaelic calendar, marks the end of the harvest season and the start of the dark half of the year moving into winter.
- [Imago Dei](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/imago-dei/) - Imago Dei means "image of God." Unitarianism and Universalism rejected the image of God as a wrathful, vengeful, punitive deity who sits in judgment of humans who are inherently sinful. But what, if any, are the images of God that are more in keeping with UU theology? And why might our image of God be
- [What Binds Us Together](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/binds-us-together/) - Our worship theme for the month is "Ecclesiology," and this sermon will explore Unitarian Universalism's unique ecclesiology—how we are together as a religious community. We are rooted in the concept of covenant that traces its source to the Hebrew Scriptures and to the Puritans, but our idea of covenant is fluid and always changing and
- [The Other Side of Thanksgiving: Humility](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/side-thanksgiving-humility/) - One of Sunnyhill’s many gifts to Eileen and me was the joy of giving thanks during worship, social activities, and personal connections. We found Sunnyhill to be a positive, affirming, and supportive group—on the whole. Before you pat yourselves on the back so hard you strain something, the other side of thanksgiving deserves mention. We
- [Defying Hate, Then and Now](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/defying-hate-now/) - The new Ken Burns documentary examines the courageous work of Unitarians Waitstill and Martha Sharp, who helped rescue hundreds of imperiled political dissidents and Jewish refugees fleeing the Nazi occupation in Europe. What does it mean to defy hate in our own time, and how do we go about this vital task?
- [The Heart of the Matter](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/the-heart-of-the-matter/) - One of the most important and worthwhile questions to ask oneself is "What do I value most?" Identifying and articulating our core values is more than an academic exercise— it can have a great impact on how we live our lives every day. We'll be considering this question in the context of Rosh Hashanah, a
- [We Begin Again in Love: Is Forgiveness Possible?](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/begin-love-forgiveness-possible/) - The topic for this service, forgiveness, was chosen by Lynne and Jim Heltman, winners of a sermon by Rev. Jim at last spring's Service Auction. What does it mean to really forgive someone? Does it change anything? This sermon will address these questions and others.
- [Partisanship and Polarization](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/partisanship-and-polarization/) - We are living in a hyper-charged, hyper-partisan political climate, especially during this presidential campaign season. There's a lot of bellowing going on, but very little real debate or reasoned discourse. How did we get to this point, and what, if anything can be done about it?
- [Free Hugs](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/free-hugs/) - Sometimes a hug is exactly what you need. Hugs release oxytocins and lower blood pressure, and hugs can often defuse tense situations. But hugs can also be awkward and problematic. This service will explore the science and theology of hugging. This Sunday will also be Commitment Sunday.
- [Theology of Welcoming](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/theology-of-welcoming/) - Our congregation is in the midst of our "Welcoming Congregation" renewal, a program that helps help congregations learn how to be truly welcoming to LGBTQ people, to undo homophobia and transphobia in our hearts and minds, our congregations, and our communities. This service will examine why welcoming is a key aspect of our Unitarian Universalist
- [South Hills Interfaith Ministry (SHIM)](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/south-hills-interfaith-ministry-shim-rec-center/) - Jim Guffey, Executive Director, will talk about what needs exist in the South Hills and how we can help provide help through SHIM, which has grown tremendously in recent years and now serves thousands of individuals and families in our area.
- [Kindness](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/kindness/) - Although it might seem overly simplistic or even naïve, kindness might be what makes life worth living and what might make the world a better place. As the Dalai Lama has said: “My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.” This service will examine what kindness means and how to live more kindly.
- [Meditation and Mindfulness](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/meditation-mindfulness-10-rec-center/) - Want to feel a sense of peace and contentment? If so, join the Tuesday Morning Meditation group at this service as they lead a few short guided meditations focusing on the breath, eating mindfully, and a standing/moving meditation. These will help bring our full attention into the present moment - the only moment we ever
- [Coming In Third](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/coming-third-rev-jim-magaw/) - There's something about winning third-place in a race or other competition that feels better than coming in second-place. Bronze medal-winners are almost always happier than silver medal-winners. This service will explore this phenomenon as it relates to the concept of grace and how it plays out in our lives.
- [Songs of Labor](https://www.sunnyhill.org/services/songs-of-labor/) - In celebration of Labor Day weekend, we'll be singing songs about work and about the American labor movement as we reflect on the meaning and nature of work. In what ways have working conditions improved and in what ways have things started to regress? And what can be done to improve work for all?

## Galleries

- [Sunnyhill Playground](https://www.sunnyhill.org/rl_gallery/sunnyhill-playground/)

## Categories

- [Uncategorized](https://www.sunnyhill.org/category/uncategorized/)
- [Take Action](https://www.sunnyhill.org/category/take-action/)
- [Building Blog](https://www.sunnyhill.org/category/building-blog/)

## Events Tags

- [Spiritways CUUPS Service](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/tags/spiritways-cuups-service/)
- [Youth](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/tags/youth/)
- [Intergenerational](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/tags/intergenerational/)
- [Multigenerational](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/tags/multigenerational/)
- [Dance](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/tags/dance/)
- [All Ages](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/tags/all-ages/)
- [Thurd Thursday](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/tags/thurd-thursday/)
- [Adult Religious Education](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/tags/adult-religious-education/)
- [Chalice Circles](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/tags/chalice-circles/)
- [Eight At Eight Dinners](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/tags/eight-at-eight-dinners/)
- [Potluck](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/tags/potluck/)
- [Sunnyhill Singles](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/tags/sunnyhill-singles/)
- [Summer Institute](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/tags/summer-institute/)
- [Religious Education](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/tags/religious-education/)
- [Family](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/tags/family/)
- [Event](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/tags/event/)
- [Training](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/tags/training/)
- [Sexuality Education](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/tags/sexuality-education/)
- [Cluster Assembly](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/tags/cluster-assembly/)
- [UUPitsburgh](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/tags/uupitsburgh/)
- [Meeting](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/tags/meeting/)
- [Social Justice](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/tags/social-justice/)
- [Green Sanctuary](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/tags/green-sanctuary/)
- [Environmental Justice](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/tags/environmental-justice/)
- [Family Event](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/tags/family-event/)
- [LGBTQ+](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/tags/lgbtq/)
- [spiritual practice](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/tags/spiritual-practice/)
- [new member](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/tags/new-member/)
- [Auction](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/tags/auction/)
- [Events](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/tags/events/)
- [Parties](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/tags/parties/)
- [Pancake Breakfast](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/tags/pancake-breakfast/)
- [Plant Sale](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/tags/plant-sale/)

## Event Categories

- [Not Sunday Service](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/categories/not-sunday-service/)
- [Book Group](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/categories/book-group/)
- [LGBTQ Education](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/categories/lgbtq-education/)
- [Pittsburgh UU Cluster Event](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/categories/pittsburgh-uu-cluster-event/)
- [Youth Group](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/categories/youth-group/)
- [Family Event](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/categories/family-event/)
- [Discussion](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/categories/discussion/)
- [Concert](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/categories/concert/)
- [Service Auction](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/categories/service-auction/)
- [PIIN](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/categories/piin/)
- [Take Action](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/categories/take-action/)
- [Habitat for Humanity](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/categories/habitat-for-humanity/)
- [Sacred Chanting](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/categories/sacred-chanting/)
- [Spiritways CUUPS Service](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/categories/spiritways-cuups-service/)
- [Sunnyhill Live!](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/categories/sunnyhill-live/)
- [Art Gallery Exhibition](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/categories/art-gallery-exhibition/)
- [Religious Education](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/categories/religious-education/)
- [Mindfulness Workshop](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/categories/mindfulness-workshop/)
- [Spirituality](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/categories/spirituality/)
- [Social Justice](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/categories/social-justice/)
- [Green Sanctuary](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/categories/green-sanctuary/)
- [Presentation](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/categories/presentation/)
- [Meeting](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/categories/meeting/)
- [Special Service](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/categories/special-service/)
- [Potluck](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/categories/potluck/)
- [Family Friendly](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/categories/family-friendly/)
- [Vesper Service](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/categories/vesper-service/)
- [Interfaith](https://www.sunnyhill.org/events/categories/interfaith/)

## Speakers

- [Rev. Jim Magaw](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/rev-jim-magaw/)
- [Jim Guffey](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/jim-guffey/)
- [Tues. AM Meditation Group](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/tues-am-meditation-group/)
- [Chuck Kenrick](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/chuck-kenrick/)
- [Rev. Jay Abernathy](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/rev-jay-abernathy/)
- [Spiritways Leadership Team](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/spiritways-leadership-team/)
- [Rev. Robin Zucker](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/rev-robin-zucker/)
- [Susan Richmond](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/susan-richmond/)
- [Youth Group](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/youth-group/)
- [Stephanie Maietta Romero](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/stephanie-maietta-romero/)
- [Stephanie Gannon](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/stephanie-gannon/)
- [COA Class](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/coa-class/)
- [Kelley Anderson](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/kelley-anderson/)
- [Kristina Spaude](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/kristina-spaude/)
- [Carl Johnson](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/carl-johnson/)
- [Mike Gravitt](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/mike-gravitt/)
- [Rev. Lee Barker](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/rev-lee-barker/)
- [Dean Hazelton](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/dean-hazelton/)
- [Josh Broaded](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/josh-broaded/)
- [Worship Team](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/worship-team/)
- [Rev. Robin Landerman Zucker](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/rev-robin-landerman-zucker/)
- [Rev. Jim and Green Sanctuary Team](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/rev-jim-and-green-sanctuary-team/)
- [Coming of Age Class](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/coming-of-age-class/)
- [Angela Klein](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/angela-klein/)
- [Bob Hedin](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/bob-hedin/)
- [Rev. Kristina Spaude](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/rev-kristina-spaude/)
- [Martha Sweeney](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/martha-sweeney/)
- [Julie Ann Sullivan](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/julie-ann-sullivan/)
- [Dennis Sweeney](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/dennis-sweeney/)
- [Dianna M. Burnett](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/dianna-m-burnett/)
- [Chetan Chothani](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/chetan-chothani/)
- [Amanda Hays](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/amanda-hays/)
- [Richard Williams](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/richard-williams/)
- [Dr. Jeffrey Vipperman](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/dr-jeffrey-vipperman/)
- [BK Kosmach](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/bk-kosmach/)
- [Dolph John Armstrong](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/dolph-john-armstrong/)
- [Krista Baselj](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/krista-baselj/)
- [Dawn Moeller](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/dawn-moeller/)
- [Michael W. Farb](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/michael-w-farb/)
- [John Graham](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/john-graham/)
- [John Luff](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/john-luff/)
- [Jean Furlan](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/jean-furlan/)
- [Shane Freeman](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/shane-freeman/)
- [Rev. John Ballance](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/rev-john-ballance/)
- [Rev. Jane Thickstun](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/rev-jane-thickstun/)
- [Brad Convis](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/brad-convis/)
- [Joe Barker](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/joe-barker/)
- [Ed Johnston](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/ed-johnston/)
- [Claire Pullen](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/claire-pullen/)
- [Kristen Estell](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/kristen-estell/)
- [Rev. Mary Katherine Morn](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/rev-mary-katherine-morn/)
- [2021 COA Students](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/2021-coa-students/)
- [Rev. McKinley Sims](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/rev-mckinley-sims/)
- [Lynne Heltman](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/lynne-heltman/)
- [Rev. Rachel Baker](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/rev-rachel-baker/)
- [Judie Spiegel](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/judie-spiegel/)
- [Karen Hutt](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/karen-hutt/)
- [Rev. Joan Sabatino](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/rev-joan-sabatino/)
- [Rev. Dr. Susan Fredrick-Gray](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/rev-dr-susan-fredrick-gray/)
- [Jennifer McGlothin (Director of Religious Education)](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/jennifer-mcglothin-director-of-religious-education/)
- [Sunnyhill Beloved Conversations Team](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/sunnyhill-beloved-conversations-team/)
- [Mary-Jo Hennessy](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/mary-jo-hennessy/)
- [Rev. Sunshine Jeremiah Wolfe](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/rev-sunshine-jeremiah-wolfe/)
- [UUA Speakers](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/uua-speakers/)
- [Dr. Sofia Betancourt](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/dr-sofia-betancourt/)
- [Mary Jo Sonntag](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/mary-jo-sonntag/)
- [Dorothy Kohler](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/dorothy-kohler/)
- [Johna Gravitt](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/johna-gravitt/)
- [Jeanne Lofgren](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/jeanne-lofgren/)
- [Rick Geiger](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/rick-geiger/)
- [Barb Schock](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/barb-schock/)
- [Jonathan Murray](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/jonathan-murray/)
- [Sunnyhill Choir](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/sunnyhill-choir/)
- [Reni Monteverde](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/reni-monteverde/)
- [Bethany Thornton](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/bethany-thornton/)
- [Carlos Alvare](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/carlos-alvare/)
- [Paul Lawson](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/paul-lawson/)
- [Mary Pratt](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/mary-pratt/)
- [Leslie Smith](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/leslie-smith/)
- [Meli Olsen](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/meli-olsen/)
- [Angela Joyce](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/angela-joyce/)
- [Mary Pratt and Sunnyhill Choir](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/mary-pratt-and-sunnyhill-choir/)
- [Sunnyhill Youth Group](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/sunnyhill-youth-group/)
- [Will Page](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/will-page/)
- [Erin Nath](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/erin-nath/)
- [Jaime Martinez](https://www.sunnyhill.org/speaker/jaime-martinez/)