UCCA Sermons
The Pastor's Weekly Sermon
IS THIS YOU
August 30, 2026
Isaiah 58:10: If you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness, and your gloom be like the noonday.
Long before Jesus, Isaiah spoke truth to the Israelites. He spoke of how they were to live, not what they should believe. He spoke of the tangible things of life, not the myths of religion. Jesus heard this message, revived it, preached and taught it, and lived it for all to follow.
Some of us today say we “follow the teachings of Jesus.” The question is: “Do we really?” Sadly, the answer is evident in the chaos, divisions, judgments, and hatred that still pit us against one another in sects of selfishness and greed. Few know the truths Jesus taught, and even fewer seek to learn them. To do so is to put yourself aside, see others as Jesus did, feel their pain, suffering, and separation, live in their loneliness and undeserved shame, and know that you were the cause of it all. Like Isaiah, Jesus knew the truth; he said that all you have to do is accept it and let it free you from your life of sin. And yes, you are living in sin if you aren’t living in godliness, at any level. How are you doing with that truth?
Matthew 25:35–36, 35 for I was hungry, and you gave me food, I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger, and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing, I was sick, and you took care of me, I was in prison, and you visited me.’
Like Isaiah, Jesus told the people the truth. He spoke to those around him all those centuries ago, and his words are just as true today as they were then. And just as then, most chose to be too deaf to hear and too blind to see. They snubbed him, rejected him, chose the pomp and arrogance of the rich and powerful over him. And in the end, they lost it all. Not because of an “act of God,” or “God’s retributions,” but because they blindly followed false hopes and reaped the true fruits of what they had sown. This makes me wonder. What will we reap when our time comes? Who will we blame when our walls come tumbling down, and the “temple” of our self-righteousness is torn down? Like those who cried “crucify him,” and watched his life end, then walked away with pride and joy, we too will reap what we have sown. What will your harvest be?
Matthew 25:40, And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.’
“Do unto others.” That statement rings true throughout humanity. It is found in the moral teachings of all nations. When we realize that the “least of these” are our equals in the eyes of God, we recognize that we are only one of God’s Children, one among many, one among all. When we learn and accept in our hearts that God created each of us to be who we truly are, we stop demanding that others conform to our demands and live as we say. It is then that we begin to understand and accept this truth: when we live by doing to others as we would have them do to us, we are living as God created us to live. Do you?
This message is universal and applicable to all faiths, or even to those who don’t believe they have any. It doesn’t take faith, religious dogma, rites, or rituals to live in godliness. It only requires that you find it in your heart to do so, determine that you will, and let your life be a witness to that reality. Empathy, compassion, and unconditional love are the foundation for a godly life. They are the witness to who you truly are, to all who might know you or know of you, and to God. We truly honor God when we live in such a manner that the love God has for us is a witness to all others in all we say and do. Is this you?
Rev. Dr. Shannon Rogers, DDiv
Sr. Pastor and President, Unitarian Christian Church of America (UCCA)
A CHOICE
August 23, 2026
Micah 6:8: He has told you, O mortal, what is good, and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?
A question all of humanity has asked since the beginning is: “What does God require of me?” If we are honest with ourselves, we can admit we have asked this at some point. It might have been a fleeting thought when we felt our life had reached a definitive point. It might have been a silent prayer, with hopes for answers. It might have been at a time when we felt ourselves at a crossroads, seeking direction. Or it might have been a fleeting thought as our mind wandered. But we all have had this thought; all have asked the same question. Did you get an answer?
The answer we should have received is found in these simple verses from the book of Micah. It begins with a question. It echoes the thoughts we all have had, or even a quote or paraphrase of words we have said. What does the LORD require of me? This reflects a truth within each of us: we want to do what is right, what pleases our God, what God wants us to do. It also acknowledges that we have “fallen short” of being the godly child God wants us to be, and we hope to return to the way that pleases our Creator, to that path of righteousness. Is this how you see yourself?
The simple answers Micah gives us are hard to truly understand and even harder to accept and apply to our lives. Yet the truths he conveys are universal, eternal, and the only true way to godliness. He begins by telling us we must do “justice.” That may seem odd to our modern, Western way of thinking. We think of “justice” as something legal, more associated with courts of law than with a “way of life.” But to Micah, it applies to every individual who lives. We are to look upon all others in a proper and equitable way, neither looking down on some nor elevating ourselves or others. To live in a “just” manner is to live within the love of God toward all others, without exception, accepting them as equals in the eyes of God and in their place in our lives. Each of us should take inventory of where we have placed “justice” in our own lives. Do you live in “justice”? Do you do “justice” to all others as God would be pleased with?
Micah continues, telling us we are to “love kindness.” This too is a difficult term in today's world. Our “kindness” seems selective, if it exists at all, especially toward those who are different from us or those we approve of and accept. We replace our “kindness” with indifference, condemnation, rejection, and even hatred. That isn’t what God “requires of you.” The kindness God wants to see in you comes from your heart. It does not judge, condemn, ridicule, examine, or hate others simply because they aren’t “just like me.” The eyes of kindness see all others as God does: His creation, living as He created them to be, and loved unconditionally as He loves us all. When we fail to “love kindness,” we fail God; we reject the purpose for which we were created; we embrace ourselves and ungodliness, and turn our backs on what God requires of us. Have you turned your back?
No matter what we do, our life is a journey we must walk. But we do not have to walk it alone. We can go our own way, or we can “walk humbly with your God.” God is ever-present, whether we want Him there or even recognize His presence. Too often, we reach for God only when our lives are falling apart, in our hour of need, when all else has failed or abandoned us. In our time of despair, God is always there, but He desires that we recognize and acknowledge His presence at all times, not just when we are in need. This means that as we walk through life's journey, we set our selfish ways aside, let go of our pride, and, with all the humility we can muster, take God’s hand and walk “with Him.” No longer alone, no longer wandering, or destitute in our purpose. When we humble ourselves, we see God as our Creator and the force that sustains our being. When we make God’s Love our way of life, God then walks with us along life's pathways, leads us beside still waters, restores our soul, and fills our life with goodness and mercy. Are you walking alone? You don’t have to.
Let today be the first day of the rest of your life. Resolve to take God’s hand and walk the rest of your days in God’s love, allowing that love to shine through all you say and do. Know what God requires of you. It isn’t a confession of faith, church membership, belief in a particular religion, or adherence to a creed. All God wants from you is found in this simple message. All you have to do is live in true justice toward all others, love and be kind without exception, and put yourself aside, take God’s hand, and walk humbly with your God. It’s that simple, and no one can do it for you; it’s something you must choose from your heart to God. What will you choose?
Rev. Dr. Shannon Rogers, DDiv
Sr. Pastor and President, Unitarian Christian Church of America (UCCA)
A GOOD PERSON
August 16, 2026
“Being a good person is not only related to the way we treat the person standing right in front of us. It bears on how we make the social world, too, and how we work together to change it when it needs fixing.” - Michael Brownstein and Alex Madva, philosophers
This is a universal truth found across the world, in every society, and in every heart. We too often refuse to see “others” unless they are part of our inner circle. We know there are people who are less fortunate than we are, who live differently from us, and who are different from us. And we choose to push them behind us and refuse to accept them as they are. The “social world” we live in is much larger than just our “social circle,” but we refuse to acknowledge or accept it. We believe we are “better” in some way than others and choose to look down on them, even going out of our way to disparage, ridicule, mock, and hate them. This is not the way of a truly “good person.”
I have lived long enough to see the world around me shift from one of mutual respect and open compassion to a self-centered, ego-driven, hate-filled people. A people who have replaced the “good” with the affluent, successful, rich, and powerful. We live in a world focused on selfishness and greed, dedicated to promoting “me, myself, and I” above all else. We are no longer a “united people”; we are a divided herd determined to take all we can, caring nothing for the needs of those less fortunate. Our divisions and turn toward individuality have led us to lose sight of what is most important and to focus on what we want now. We ignore the future and bask in the moment, not accepting that if we aren’t united, if we reject compassion, we will, in the end, lose it all.
The change and correction begin with you, one person at a time. We made this mess, and it is up to us to fix it. The teachings of Jesus tell us to “love one another,” which implies no exceptions or conditions; he meant “everyone.” He said we should “do to others as we would have them do to us.” Again, there are no exceptions or conditions. This same teaching is found around the world in all the major religions. Perhaps we should stop focusing on the myths, miracles, and stories about Jesus or other religious figures, stop blindly bowing to the dogmatic theologies of our religious institutions, and just live as we should. Jesus said that when you do, you have fulfilled all the laws and surpassed the teachings of all the Prophets. How are you living?
You don’t need church membership, a prayer book, or a Bible; nor do you need creeds, liturgies, rites, or rituals. All you need is to live the love of God openly, with conviction and purpose, not to impress anyone but because it’s the godly thing to do. The world is what we make it. Don’t wait for someone else to do it for you; step up, do your part, and live the love of God in all you say and do, with every ounce of your being. Perhaps someone will see your example, take your hand, and walk life's path with you. Together, you can change the world. Will you try?
Are you locked into an “inner circle,” locking out all others and rejecting those who are not like you? Do you follow the leader even though you know that leader is less than godly? Does the thought of taking what is yours and sharing it with those less fortunate cause you anxiety and concern? When we reject the good of the masses for the benefit of the few, we will truly perish as a species. Such a paradigm always leads to harm, heartache, and destruction. We reap what we sow, and that is true in how we live more than anything else. Nothing says we should change anything about our lives to be like someone else. But we aren’t to force those who are different to conform to our norms, or let the less fortunate suffer while we live wastefully. There is no such thing as “identical twins”; every person is different from any other. It may not be physically visible, but it is there.
If God created us all to be different, surely, He did so for a reason. I believe it was to see if we would accept each other just as God created us to be. History tells us that when we came together, embraced our differences, and learned from each other, we advanced to where we are today. If we hope for a tomorrow, we need to get back to basics, back to being good people and living in a way that the world will see our goodness. Will you?
Rev. Dr. Shannon Rogers, DDiv
Sr. Pastor and President, Unitarian Christian Church of America (UCCA)
STOP WANDERING, SPEAK UP
August 9, 2026
Jeremiah 50:6 “My people have been lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray and caused them to roam on the mountains. They wandered over mountain and hill and forgot their own resting place.”
This verse calls those who follow misguiding “shepherds” “wanderers.” A wanderer is one who has lost their way, strayed from the correct path. This is where some derive the phrase “lost in sin.” Sin means not living in a godly manner. This has been true for much of human history and remains so today. We are still lost in our sins, being led astray by our religious leaders and others, roaming through our lives, unaware. We understand this condition when we ask ourselves, “Am I living a truly godly life?” What will you answer?
The problem is that our culture and religious institutions typically do not know how to support the journey of the “Wanderer.” They claim a path to salvation that seldom, if ever, involves a change in how one lives. It’s more of a “join our group,” and all is well, instead of “stop wandering in sin and live in godliness.” It isn’t a creed you recite, a pledge you make, the offerings you give, or your name in the book. Godliness is a way of living that projects the love of God in all you say and do. It is living with the determination that “God’s Love” is your focus, your reason for living, and the source of your being. It is manifest when you look at all others, without exception, conditions, judgments, or condemnations, and love them as God does, not just in words but more so in your deeds. You embrace them with your compassion, empathy, and understanding. You do not have to be as they are; you aren’t supposed to be, but you are to let them know that you accept them as they are and love them in such a manner that they will love you too. Then you join with them and walk the way of righteousness, no longer wandering but traveling through life together as God’s children, one family on one path toward one direction. Have you found your way?
Ezekiel 34:6 “My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them.”
Like the sheep in today's scriptures, we are all “Spiritual Wanderers”; we are in search of that “place” where we can put down our “Spiritual Roots, our Spiritual Foundations.” The wandering Spirit isn’t a natural state for us to remain in; we long for a sense of belonging and desire the spiritual presence not only of God but, more so, of the collective spiritual essences of the Spirit of God within us all. We achieve this, in most cases, when we share life's journey with others and "wander life's path" together. Many who share my faith long for a time when we can be with others of like beliefs and share time and fellowship with them, yet we still exist in our solitudes. We grasp at small interactions online in hope of something better, in an effort to fill the emptiness and solitude we endure, but with little solace. Indeed, we live in a world of “wanderers,” existing among “lost and misguided sheep,” speaking softly with the truths God has revealed to us, waiting for a reply, hoping it will come soon. We must stop waiting; it will not be until we make it so, until we tell our world who we are, the truths we hold in our hearts, and boldly proclaim our message. What are you waiting for?
Jesus and all the other “Prophets” and “founders of religions” called the “wanderers” to join together, speak to one another, and invite all others to hear their message, accept it, and turn from the path they had walked to follow the “Way.” Not just a way to anywhere, but a way of living, loving, and true godliness. A way of being together as one family, one species of being, for the good of all, not just a chosen few or the rich and powerful. We hear that call today, but are you listening? Will you answer it, live it, and share it with all others? Godliness is living the love of God; when we do, the world will be a better place, peace will come to our earth, and God will truly reign over all His Kingdom. What will you choose?
Rev. Dr. Shannon Rogers, DDiv
Sr. Pastor and President, Unitarian Christian Church of America (UCCA)
IT BEGINS WITH YOU
August 2, 2026
Matthew 7:12, “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
This is perhaps the most profound statement Jesus ever made. He was a Jewish Rabbi, a teacher of the Torah. That meant he was an expert in Jewish laws, commandments, and the teachings of the many ancient Prophets. That was what a Rabbi did. He didn’t quote the “Commandments of Moses” or spout the dictates of the Pharisees; he saw the Scriptures for what they were. His teaching was simple and straightforward, and every Jew who heard him understood.
He spoke in absolutes, without exceptions or ambiguous qualifications. He said, “in everything,” which leaves nothing out. It means in every aspect of your life, in all you say and do, with every beat of your heart and every breath you take, treat everyone as you would hope they would treat you. Speak to them as you would have them speak to you. See them as you would hope they would see you. Live with them in peace, unity, acceptance, with empathy, and compassion, just as you would have them live with you. Don’t judge, condemn, reject, or treat them in any way you yourself would not want to be treated. Do you?
Somewhere along the way, we have become lost. We replaced this simple message with cannons, creeds, councils, presbyteries, institutions, and governments that promote the “laws, commandments, rules, and regulations” over the simple truth Jesus taught. We replaced his simple message with a vision of miracles and myths, the veneration of a book we are told was “God’s Word,” and thousands of misguided interpretations. We are people of creeds and memberships, yet we fail to know the truth that would free us to live in godliness. This is the same sin as that of the first-century Jewish leaders, the ones Jesus spoke against, who had to silence him to save themselves and preserve their lies. Things today haven’t improved much. But just as in the time of Jesus, there are still those who know the truth and are passing it on. What message are you following?
This premise is among the clearest pieces of evidence that this is the foundation of what it means to live a godly life, as Jesus taught: it is universal to all humankind. All the major religions of the world proclaim this same message. All the great Prophets, at some point and in some manner, made this same proclamation. This is what Jesus meant by living in the “Kingdom of God.” It was a “way of living” founded on unconditional love, respect for all humankind, and the unity of all of God’s Children, regardless of any circumstances and without exception. Jesus called for change, but only a few heard his message. Will you?
"The world doesn’t change when you expose others’ flaws; it changes when you improve your own." Buddhist Saying
All the religions of the world are fragmented. As in the time of Jesus, there were then and are today several differing Jewish sects. Today we have over 35,000 different Christian denominations around the world, all claiming to be the “only way,” the “correct doctrine,” the “truth and the light,” yet all falling short of true godliness. The same is true for Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and all the others. What a better world this would be if they accepted the simple message Jesus and others taught and taught their followers to make it their way of life. That truly would be heaven on earth. That begins with each of us; that begins with you. How are you doing with this task?
"Those who spend their time looking for the faults in others have no time to correct their own." Buddhist Saying
Your task in life has nothing to do with others; it is up to you and to who you are, how you live, and what is in your heart. Our religious institutions teach us to look at others, examine them until we find faults or invent them, and then to judge, condemn, and hate those who aren’t like what we say they should be. We fail to understand that when we do these things to others, they see us just as we see them. They see us as wrong, sinful, ungodly, and perhaps with more justification than we have toward them. We waste the short time we have in this life looking at others and failing to look at ourselves. We spend our days hating those who aren’t just like us instead of living in godliness and accepting everyone as God created them to be. In doing so, we miss all that God created us to be. Is this you?
Jesus didn’t do anything for anyone except show us how to live in true godliness. He was an example for us to follow and taught truths meant to change our lives. Salvation begins when we decide to turn from our current ways toward a life of godliness, one lived by loving all others as we would want them to love us. It isn’t a creed you can recite or a book you must read, but a path you must choose to walk. Just like Jesus. Will you?
Let this be the day you hear the words of Jesus, accept them for what they truly mean, and make them your way of life from this day forth. And perhaps someone will notice how you are living and ask you to help them do the same. I hope you will.
Rev. Dr. Shannon Rogers, DDiv
Sr. Pastor and President, Unitarian Christian Church of America (UCCA)
WHAT DID JESUS TEACH
July 26, 2026
Matthew 5:20, For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Look around you. How many “scribes and Pharisees” do you see? Most will say, “none.” But is that true? The scribes and Pharisees Jesus referred to were the religious leaders of his time; we have the same today. Though they aren’t called by the same names Jesus used, many of our religious leaders today act the same way as those Jesus was speaking of. They, too, lack true “righteousness.” The “Kingdom of Heaven” isn’t what you have been told. It is a state of living in which your focus is on exemplifying the love of God in all you say and do. A life centered on becoming all that God would have you be. On being a reflection of “His Essence on Earth” as a help and example to all humankind. Are you?
To Jesus, being righteous meant living in a truly godly manner. It meant doing more than reciting the laws and commandments that many say are paramount and truly living a life that God would approve of. A life that others did not envy but saw as marked by goodness, unconditional compassion, and true concern for all people and all of God's creation; it was so very impressive; all who realized it desired to make it their own. This is what those who saw Jesus saw, why they chose to follow him, and what we today should see as well. Do you?
Most today don’t bother to know the truths of Jesus; they are lost in dogma, creeds, and liturgical recitations, and the “Book” to see or know the truth. Jesus was a Jewish Rabbi, a “Teacher of the Torah.” The difference in his teaching from that of others was that, instead of forcing the laws and commandments that exceeded 600 upon all but themselves, Jesus taught the truth. The Torah is the first five books of the Bible, but they contain much more than just laws or commandments that rule over anyone. The Torah, the Pentateuch, and even the New Testament are collections of ancient writings, and the Torah represents the true intent of these writings. Not to ascribe hard-and-fast rules, laws, and commandments that should govern our lives, but a deeper and fundamental reality: these writings are instructions and teachings to guide us in how to live godly lives, lives that are in a right relationship with our God, and to instill peace, unity, and compassion for all. They do what Jesus tried to do; they teach a way of life not under the demands, threats, and iron fist of laws but within the unconditional love of our Creator, so that when the world saw us, they saw the ‘Image of God” that dwells within.
Today's “scribes and Pharisees,” those who would be our “religious leaders,” are just as misguided as those Jesus spoke of. They seek power, dominion, control, and false respect, as others before them did. They teach false dogmatic doctrines and baseless creeds, recite liturgies, and preach sermons that are hollow of the true, simple teachings God would have us know. Few messages from today's religions teach a way of living in godliness; most do not even broach the subject. Jesus taught the Torah as it was meant to be taught, not as a set of laws and commandments that lacked substance for everyday life, but as a call to live it or not have it. He never said any of the things we are told to conform to, but he offered a simple message of godliness: “love one another.” That didn’t mean just certain Jews, or certain anyone; it meant everyone at any time, without exceptions or qualifications.
Do you?
Psalms 1:1-2, 1 Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked or take the path that sinners tread or sit in the seat of scoffers, 2 but their delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law they meditate day and night.
What is the “law of the LORD?” That is simple. All the LORD asks of you is to live in a way that reflects the love God has for all humankind to see, so that those who have lost their way might see your light of hope and return to Him. Is this what you do? Or are you lost in the wilderness, wandering through life, believing that following as closely as you can a list of laws and commandments will be your salvation? Those in the days of Jesus did the same; many today still do so. Are you one of them?
Rev. Dr. Shannon Rogers, DDiv
Sr. Pastor and President, Unitarian Christian Church of America (UCCA)
Psalms 1:1-2, 1 Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked or take the path that sinners tread or sit in the seat of scoffers, 2 but their delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law they meditate day and night.
What is the “law of the LORD?” That is simple. All the LORD asks of you is to live in a way that reflects the love God has for all humankind to see, so that those who have lost their way might see your light of hope and return to Him. Is this what you do? Or are you lost in the wilderness, wandering through life, believing that following as closely as you can a list of laws and commandments will be your salvation? Those in the days of Jesus did the same; many today still do so. Are you one of them?
Rev. Dr. Shannon Rogers, DDiv
Sr. Pastor and President, Unitarian Christian Church of America (UCCA)
THE DECISION
July 19, 2026
"Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean."
Ryunosuke Satoro, Japanese author, (1892–1927)
I revisited this quote this week after being reminded of the divisions emerging among people in my life, across our nation, and around the world. We are indeed a “sea of individuals.” A vast “ocean” that is rising and falling in a tide of hope, yet refusing to join ourselves into that endless expanse that defines humanity. We complain about our progress as a people and wish for more success, but fail to realize that we are what holds us back. Our greed, selfishness, wantonness, and lust for wealth and power cloud our vision of all that we could be. We fail to look past ourselves and accept others’ differences, demanding that they change and become, as we say, as we are, or be ridiculed, shamed, judged, and condemned. We place ourselves upon the “Thorn of God” and declare our self-righteousness and conceded glory.
I am reminded that the vast number of religious teachings, when properly understood, all reflect a purpose of unity for all humankind. They all teach the same lessons, lost within the stories, myths, mysteries, and supernatural tales that defy logic and reason. They all serve as a guiding light toward a reality that, from our beginning, the creation of humanity itself, our Creator has guided us to become a united species. Like the drops of water that form an ocean, all are individuals, all are different, but all are unfulfilled until united. God is still waiting for His creation to become what they were created to be. Waiting for us to put our differences aside, join together, accept each other as they are created, and move forward in unison. How much longer will you make Him wait for you?
“We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”
Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968), Baptist Minister
These words from the great preacher ring truer today than ever before. Just look at the news, listen to our leaders and those who would be so. We can even hear the rejection of these truths from those who call themselves our “religious leaders.” Families are divided and growing more so each day. Old friendships are no longer what they once were. Neighbors no longer know or even recognize one another. And countrymen no longer share the same sentiments, visions, or hopes. Will you be one of the “fools,” or will you come together as we are created to do?
“You are never alone. You are eternally connected with everyone.”
Amit Ray (1960-), Indian author
Another non-Christian making a truly godly declaration. Many will ignore and reject such a declaration simply because he isn’t “one of them.” They all fail to understand that God will use whomever He chooses, and most often it will be the “least of these,” meaning the ones you would selfishly reject. God will let you falter alone if that is what you choose to do, but that isn’t God’s plan. We are indeed “eternally connected” to everyone else, regardless of how much you reject them, dislike who they might be, or look down on them. God loves them just as they are, just as He created them to be, and will bless them even though you won’t. Ask yourself, who is right?
"Remember, upon the conduct of each depends the fate of all."
Alexander The Great (656 BCE-323 BCE), King of Macedon
The great king lived up to his name. He saw beyond individualism and envisioned the reality that would shape the future. He emphasized the unity needed for a society, a people, a nation to be all it could be, and accepted that it could not exist without each member living as they should for the good of all. This is seen in the accounts in the Book of Acts, which record that all the followers of Jesus came together as one and shared what they had for the good of the many. History records the successes of people who set their differences aside and united as one to overcome the hardships they faced. And over and over, we fail to see that without the unity of the diverse people who came together, none of us would be here. This is most obvious in this place I call home today. When you look around at the life you are living, what do you see?
Psalm 133:1, How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!
This verse of Scripture was written centuries ago. Sadly, God is still waiting for His children to learn to live together in unity, waiting for a time when He will look upon our earth and say, “How good and pleasant” it is. God is waiting for us to learn the lesson, accept the truth, embrace our differences, and unite as one family. When will you learn? When will you accept the truth and decide to live as God created us to live? That decision is yours alone; no one can or should be allowed to make it for you. It begins when you accept God’s love as your own and determine to let that love guide your every thought, word, and action. What will your decision be?
Rev. Dr. Shannon Rogers, DDiv
Sr. Pastor and President, Unitarian Christian Church of America (UCCA)
IT’S A DECISION YOU MAKE
July 12, 2026
Matthew 15:8-9, 8 ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; 9 in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines.’”
This passage contains a quotation from Isaiah 29:13. Just as Isaiah spoke to the Jews of his time, Jesus did the same. He had to, because they were living in the same sins as their ancestors. This passage rings true today just as it did then, and the warning remains the same.
Churches, places of worship, and our lives are filled with people, even our spiritual leaders, honoring God with their words. They teach that membership is the same as righteousness and that all that needs to be done has already been accomplished. And just as they did in the times of Isaiah and Jesus, the people worship in vain, living the precepts as doctrines and not realizing that their hearts, indeed their souls, were far from the truths of God’s love.
Jesus and the Prophets tried to lead the people to the path of righteousness and to the salvation of their lives, which can only be found in living a godly life, but the people ignored them, just as they do today. They sought teachings that fed their selfishness and lust for wealth and power over others. They left the “Way of God” for the “ways of the world.” They believed the lies of those they followed, the reports of the misguided, and chose the ungodliness of a life without the truth of godliness and love.
As Isaiah and Jesus did in their day, I will do the same today. I ask you to examine your life and take a long, hard, and honest look at who you truly are and what you present to the world. Are you reflecting the godliness that is the “Image of God”? Are you living a life of righteousness, and does the world see the love of God in you? Do you have the courage to look into this mirror and see the truth of the reflection that looks back? Or will you continue to wear the mask you want others to see and be unwilling to accept the truth that God already knows? Are you living the dogma you are told to believe blindly, or is your life filled with the fruits of the Spirit of God, the life force within you, and the true purpose of your being?
Galatians 5:22–23, “22 By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things."
The teachings of Jesus and all others who have tried to guide humankind convey the same message. There is a “Spirit” within each of us. The “Image of God” we are to project in our lives is rarely seen. When we live in a godly manner, the “Fruits of the Spirit” become the fruits of our being and are known by all the world. Not that we might exalt ourselves, but that God and His Love are exalted and passed on to others, compelling them to do the same. What does the world see in you?
Look at your life. What fruits does it bear? When the Spirit produces love, it has no qualifications or exceptions; it is unconditional. When we live in true godliness, our lives are filled with peace, and we have patience for all that comes our way. When we live as the Spirit of God compels us, our lives are marked by kindness, generosity, gentleness, and self-control. The chaos that drives the world we live in is replaced by faithfulness that surpasses and overcomes all the lies and turmoil we must face. Is this you?
As long as divisions, bigotries, judgments, condemnations, and hatred remain in our lives, our Spirit is incomplete, and we have fallen short of what God intends for us to be. As long as we refuse to accept that we are designed and created to be one people, God’s Children, His family, and make that our way of life, we will continue to follow the lies, chaos, divisions, and hatred that are the foundation of sin and are against all that God wants us to be. It’s a decision you make. What will yours be?
Rev. Dr. Shannon Rogers, DDiv
Sr. Pastor and President, Unitarian Christian Church of America (UCCA)
ARE YOU WILLING
July 5, 2026
2 Timothy 3:1-5, 1You must understand this, that in the last days distressing times will come. 2 For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unfeeling, implacable, slanderers, profligates, brutes, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to the outward form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid them!
These are words Paul used to warn those of his time that godliness is everything. He says there would be “distressing times,” and indeed we are living in them today, as other generations have in the past. I don’t understand the “last days” as a prediction of the “end of time”; it is obviously the days we are living in, the mess we call life, and how it has devolved into what it is. The predictions made long ago are blatantly obvious in our lives today.
Truly, we have become lovers of ourselves, money, and arrogance; boastful, abusive, ungrateful, unfeeling, implacable, slanderous of others, treacherous, reckless, filled with conceit, lovers of pleasures, unholy, filled with hate, and blinded by our greed and lust for more and more power and wealth. We have replaced our godliness with ourselves and the obsession that “me, myself, and I” are all that matter. We fail to see our sins, fail to live as we were designed and created to do, fail to project godliness in our lives, and fail to see that each day we have might be that “last day” God gives us to fulfill His commandments. Is this you?
We are designed and created by our God to live in godliness and to let “its power” touch our lives and those of all others. We are to project godliness in all we say and do, so that God’s loving presence might manifest across His creation. Our godliness is God’s way of being with us and with His creation. When we fail to do our part, when we fail to live in godliness, we fail to fulfill the purpose God gave us life to do. Our time on Earth is limited; why do we waste it pursuing our “ways” when it is “God's Way” that brings us true happiness and is the salvation our lives seek? It is ours for the doing, not for the taking. God has instilled in each of us the ability to live in true godliness and to love as God loves. We all have the ability to put aside our judgments, condemnations, hatreds, and divisions and accept that we are all members of God's family. One people, all reflecting God's image, all filled with the same Spirit, all walking the same path. We will never be all that we can be, do all we can do, or fulfill God’s plan for humankind until we set ourselves aside and resolve to live the rest of our time in godliness, reflecting a love for all God's children and His creation. Doing His will above our own to show the world a love unspeakable and filled with His glory. Will you?
This isn’t something any particular “religion” leads us to do. One doesn’t even need a “religion” to live a godly life. All the great world religions teach this way of life when their teachings are properly understood. They all teach the same thing. It is “godly” to live in acceptance and peace with all others, to see others not as enemies or “different,” but as “other human beings,” though different in many ways, still the same in essence. For the “Essence of God” is the lifeforce that gives every human being their being, causes us to have life, and longs to be manifest in who we are. When we reject that truth and follow another path, we have strayed from the “Path of Righteousness” God desires us to follow. God designed and created us to live in a “right relationship with Him.” When we do, the love of God leads our every moment; that “Way of Righteousness” is planned and laid out before us. Until we accept this, we will continue to struggle, stumble, and fail. What path is your life on?
“When we discover the reality of Jesus of Nazareth, we see a living vision and example of true godliness.”
I don’t proclaim “I am a Christian” because of what any institution says I should be, nor do I condone any oaths taken or rites observed. I do as Jesus himself did and do my best to live in true godliness. I am not perfect; no one is, but my righteousness is found in the trying, in the effort, in not giving up or caving in. It is in looking around me at a people who are truly “lost” and in need of saving. Not because the “church” tells me to, but because God placed His love in my heart and told me to share it with the world. That is my message for today. If you read this far, I hope you will comment and let's have a little talk and ask Jesus to join us. And perhaps we can each find our way to a life of godliness that tells the world that “God is Love,” and that we should be too.
Are you willing?
Rev. Dr. Shannon Rogers, DDiv
Sr. Pastor and President, Unitarian Christian Church of America (UCCA)
WHAT WILL YOU DO
June 28, 2026
Genesis 9:12, God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations.”
This passage from the Hebrew Bible records the covenant God made with Noah and reflects the scope of God’s intent. Note that God speaks to Noah, saying this covenant is between Noah and God, but then states that it also includes “every living creature that is and all generations to follow.” That means you and me.
God's concern and love extend to all humanity. It has always been this way. There is no one “chosen” person or group, only God’s family. One family, all children of the One Creator. That is who each of us is. We create the divides, we build the walls between us, we divide the family, and we fuel the discourse that feeds the chaos we face daily. It has always been our choice, and we have always chosen ourselves over God's will, our way instead of God’s way. That is what is wrong with our world and our lives, and why we are not what God designed and created us to be.
Jesus said in Matthew, Mark, and Luke: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” He said that among all the commandments we have, this is the greatest. He said it for a reason, and even after all these years, we still don’t live it. You call yourself a “Christian,” but do you live this truth? You say you believe in God, but do you do as He commanded? If you kept this one Commandment, you would not have to be concerned about the others, for the love it requires would guide your life toward the righteousness that God wants to see in you. How are you doing with this?
"If you want to love God, you must love people. They are His children. You can be helpful materially by giving to the needy; and mentally by giving comfort to the sorrowful, courage to the fearful, divine friendship and moral support to the weak". Paramahansa Yogananda (1893-1952), Hindu monk
“They are His children.” Let that sink in for a moment. “All” are His children, which means you and everyone else. We don’t love as God wants us to until we love as God loves. Without conditions, without exceptions, without all the things we use to reject those who are not “just like us.” God loves you just as you are, with all your faults, the mistakes you’ve made, and regardless of what you’ve done. You don’t truly love until you do the same. Do you?
“Believe not because some old manuscripts are produced, believe not because it is your national belief, believe not because you have been made to believe from your childhood, but reason truth out, and after you have analyzed it, then if you find it will do good to one and all, believe it, live up to it, and help others live up to it.” Gautama Buddha
Our religions are not doing what God wants them to do if they are dividing God’s children. You are not living a godly life when you refuse to accept others because they are not just like you or because you are following a divisive teaching. In the love of God, there is no room for divisions, judgments, condemnations, or hatred. There is no love in such things; thus, they are ungodly. Which path will you take?
"Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world. For, indeed, that's all who ever have." Margaret Mead (1901-1978), anthropologist
Margaret is right. We need a few “caring people” because our world is crying out and begging for change. And now we stand at the crossroads. Do we pick up our cross and follow the love Jesus directed us to, or do we turn and walk away? Do we wait for someone else to do it for us, believe in old manuscripts, in dogmatic theologies that have never worked, in beliefs that leave out the love of God for empty hopes of nothing? Or do we accept our part in the covenant God called us to and decide to live loving all, just as God loves us? What will you do?
Rev. Dr. Shannon Rogers, DDiv
Sr. Pastor and President, Unitarian Christian Church of America (UCCA)