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)

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 … Continued

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.  

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 … Continued

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?

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.

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?

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?

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 … Continued

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 … Continued