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Rev. Chris Jimmerson and Rev. Carrie Holley-Hurt
November 8, 2026
First UU Church of Austin
4700 Grover Ave., Austin, TX 78756
www.austinuu.org
Unitarian Universalists inherit a tradition that has (imperfectly) challenged traditional assumptions, popular status-quo beliefs, systemic injustice, and harmful cultural norms (the definition of heretics). It’s been a bumpy road for heretics lately, and, even with recent wins, no doubt, we have more challenges ahead. How do we keep ourselves grounded in both times of celebration and stress?
Welcome
Prelude: “Rondo alla Turca” (W.A. Mozart) – Valeria Diaz, piano
Chalice Lighting
This is the flame we hold in our hearts as we strive for justice for everyone. This is the light we shine upon systems of oppression until they are no more. This is the warmth we share with one another as our struggle becomes our salvation.
Call to Worship
“If you have a chest full of clothing and leave it for a long time, the clothing will rot inside of it. It is the same with the thoughts in our heart. If we do not carry them out by physical action, after a long while they will spoil and turn bad.”
– Abba Poemen
A Christian monk and influential figure in the early desert monasticism living around 340 to 450 AD.
Affirming Our Mission
Together we nourish souls, transform lives, and do justice to build the Beloved Community.
Anthem
“I Can See Clearly Now” (Johnny Nash) – The First UU Vocal Ensemble & Band; Noah Reinhuber, lead vocal; Valeria Diaz, piano; Efrain Davila, bass; Brent Baldwin, drums
Reading
AN ALTAR IN THE WORLD
“What is saving my life now is the conviction that there is no spiritual treasure to be found apart from the bodily experiences of human life on earth. My life depends on engaging the most ordinary physical activities with the most exquisite attention I can give them. My life depends on ignoring all touted distinctions between the secular and the sacred, the physical and the spiritual, the body and the soul. What is saving my life now is becoming more fully human, trusting that there is no way to God apart from real life in the real world.”
– Barbara Brown Taylor
An American Episcopal priest, academic, and author known for her influential writings on spirituality and faith.
Centering
Music for Meditation: “In Paradisum” (Glover Gill) – The First UU Vocal Ensemble; Brent Baldwin, conductor
Sermon Notes
SPIRITUAL PRACTICES FOR HERETICS
Rev. Chris Jimmerson and Rev. Carrie Holley-Hurt
WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITION OF SPIRITUAL PRACTICES?
Chris:
That which grounds me. Shuts down the “chattering monkey”, the overthinking
– meditating at night.Ultimately that which connects me with something greater than myself which for me is an ineffable sense of our vast interconnectedness, held together with the presence of a fierce love that I call God.
Carrie:
Intentional practices that bring me home to myself
– the core of who I am And/or bring me back to that which is greater than me. They are the foundation of how, whenever I am successful of living into my values.
WHAT ARE THINGS YOU CONSIDER YOU DO THAT ARE SPIRITUAL PRACTICES THAT OTHERS MIGHT NOT IDENTIFY AS SPIRITUAL PRACTICES?
Chris:
The gym – working out (sometimes meditative).
Doing small but kind romantic things for Woodrow – this is new for me and something that I think arose out of my grief for Wayne and what I learned from it.
That even small acts of love become a spiritual practice because love itself is a practice and these help keep it alive and growing stronger.Same idea more broadly. The things we do here at church. Joining with others for justice.
Also realizing that letting my grief come and letting myself feel it is actually a powerful spiritual practice.
Carrie:
Sessions with the many people I am privileged to work with my anti-racism, SD, Therapist, and mentor.
SO EVERYTHING WENT BETTER THAN EXPECTED ON TUESDAY. WHY ARE SPIRITUAL PRACTICES STILL IMPORTANT?
Chris:
Not over -Stephen Miller. Holding the newly elected accountable.We need them during times of celebrations and stress, otherwise, we can lose our faithful vision.
Also, we have to remember that celebration, joy, play, fun are spiritual practices, especially when done in relationship/community
Carrie:
Because we are still human and being human is hard even in the best of times.Because its easier to react to things that happen with all this programming we have been given
– from society like White supremacy, hetero-patriarchy.
– From our family, like the trauma we have inherited or the other lovely stuff we get from our family.
– Want to act from my values
– Stimulus and response (Viktor Frankle)
IS IT HARD FOR YOU TO BE CONSISTENT WITH SPIRITUAL PRACTICES?
Chris:
Yes, and tend to become undisciplined about them exactly when I need them the most.
Scheduling time for themCarrie:
Yes – Over functioner/work ethic (inherited) / productivity
– I have to schedule it in.
When I am most consistent it’s because I give myself times to do it
– Emergency spiritual practices
WHAT ARE SOME SPIRITUAL PRACTICES THAT YOU ARE CURRENTLY RELYING ON?
Chris:
Walking meditations, a daily reminder to not just give love but to accept love – let it embrace me. Let Woodrow take care of me.
Ask for help and support when I need it.Carrie:
Prayer beads, g-d box, wednesday ritual, and journaling
WHAT PROOF DO YOU HAVE THAT SPIRITUAL PRACTICES ACTUALLY DO ANYTHING?
Chris:
– so many actual studies – neurology studies – prayer/meditation rewire the brainCarrie:
– Emergency practices like prayer bead- calm
– Because I am more aware and more open to living into the seasons of my life. Example This week
WHAT IF MY SPIRITUAL PRACTICE STOPS WORKING FOR ME?
Chris:
– find another one that does. Data on long-term use of spiritual practicesCarrie:
Agreed. I think there are seasons of our lives and our spiritual practices need to adjust. During seminary, I went to a christian seminary, I found it important to center my studies in Unitarian Universalism so that I could get the most out of my experience, even if I was a heretic in so many ways, so I would write a chalice lighting and a prayer that went with it almost everyday
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SPIRITUAL PRACTICE AND A SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE?
Chris:
– discipline to keep doing the practice but also the practice fortifies our spiritual discipline
– staying true to our values even when it is hard, even when our feelings get hurt. Haley Stevens/Al-Sayed example.Those with privilege can too easily fall into betraying our own values when the going gets tough or our sense of privilege gets challenged
Carrie:
Spiritual discipline: to me is operating from my values. Not my whiteness, christian supremacy, or hetero-patriarchy, or even the over-functioner in me, but what I believe at the core – liberationsMy spiritual practices are the tools that get me there.
Extinguishing the Chalice
We extinguish this flame, but not the light of truth, the warmth of community, or the fire of commitment. These we hold in our hearts until we are together again.
Benediction
BELOVED IS WHERE WE BEGIN
by Jan RichardsonIf you would enter
into the wilderness,
do not begin without a blessing.Do not leave
without hearing
who you are:
Beloved,
named by the One
who has traveled this path
before you.Do not go
without letting it echo
in your ears,
and if you find
it is hard
to let it into your heart,
do not despair.
That is what
this journey is for.I cannot promise
this blessing will free you
from danger,
from fear,
from hunger
or thirst,
from the scorching
of sun
or the fall
of the night.But 1 can tell you
that on this path
there will be help.I can tell you
that on this way
there will be rest.I can tell you
that you will know
the strange graces
that come to our aid
only on a road
such as this,
that fly to meet us
bearing comfort and strength,
that come alongside us
for no other cause
than to lean themselves
toward our ear
and with their
curious insistence whisper our name:
Beloved.Beloved.
Beloved.
Go in peace
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