At the Core of Our Living Tradition 

multicolour flaming chalice with figure of human in flame center.

What are the values and guiding principles at the core of our liberal religious tradition? The statement of principles and sources that Unitarian Universalists in North America cherish are but the latest institutional articulation of our evolving understanding, and they are arguably as much the product of political compromise as they are a precise distillation of what’s really at the heart of liberal religion.

Acknowledging the inherent ambiguity of the liberal way, theologian James Luther Adams identified five guiding principles that he saw at the core of the free faith.

Service Coordinators: Sarah Cummings, Jill Moats

Sermon Video


Order of Service

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Centering Thought

“An unexamined faith is not worth having, for it can only be true by accident. A faith worth having is faith worth discussing and testing.”

― James Luther Adams

Centering Music

Lyric Pieces, Op. 12, No. 3 “Watchman’s Song” by Edvard Grieg, played by Daniel Clark 

Welcome

Jill Moats 

Gathering Hymn

# 108 My Life Flows On In Endless Song

Chalice Lighting

Words by Rev. Steve Stock

Opening Words

Words from The Case for Liberal Religion by Waldemar Argow

Affirmation

Love is the Spirit 

Sharing and Caring

Esmat Elhami

Unison Words

To troubled hearts, to spirits over-brimming, we offer our ministry of listening. For stories that need to be told, we open our hearts and offer the care of our attention, and the support of this, our faith community.

Pastoral Hymn

#286 A Core of Silence

Offering

Sarah Cummings

Offertory

“Sarabande” from Cinq Pieces, Op. 6, No. 3  by Arthur Foote, played by Daniel Clark

Meditation

“The Rhodora” by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Reading

“The Loss of Dimension” by James Luther Adams

Hymn

#288 All Are Architects  

Sermon

“At the Core of our Living Tradition” Stefan Jonasson

Closing Hymn

# 300 With Heart and Mind

Announcements

Jill Moats

Closing Words

“Ours is a Faith” by Mary Ann Evans (a.k.a. George Eliot)

Chalice Extinguishing

Carry the Flame

Gratitude

Gratitude for our staff and our lay leaders who made this service happen:

  • Leader: Stefan Jonasson
  • Coordinators: Sarah Cummings, Jill Moats
  • Tech Team: Ashlyn Noble, Arthur Burstow, Christina Swindells-Nader
  • Candles of Caring Host: Esmat Elhami
  • Piano Accompanist: Daniel Clark
  • Website support: Karin Carlson

To contact the Sunday Services Team please email worship@uuwinnipeg.mb.ca