Speaker: Richard McLeod
Richard McLeod has been a member of UUCC since 2013. He was born in downtown Columbia, raised a Baptist and a Seventh-day Adventist, but gave up organized religion about halfway through college in Tennessee. His doctoral degree from THE USC is in education, specifically curriculum and instruction. His career as an educator was mostly spent as a public school administrator until he retired in 2004. His hobbies are studying family genealogy, making home movies, performing as a keyboard musician, and traveling the world with his wife, Linda.
Music Has Charms
The title is from a poem by William Congreve, 1697: “Musick has charms to soothe a savage breast, to soften Rocks, or bend a knotted oak.” Our lives without music would be barren indeed. Music can be a vehicle for peace, understanding, healing, and love.
Bumper Sticker Theology
Inspired by the bumper stickers on the van of Bud and Chuck Ashley, this talk is about the everyday slogans and clichés that intrigue us to curiosity, cause us to question, and urge us to think and act. Special emphasis will be on what inspires us to follow the golden rule in this holiday season. … Continue reading Bumper Sticker Theology
A World Without Religion.
In the broadest definition, religion means a person’s own belief system, paradigms individually unique. That means that everybody has a religion, which suggests that there must be as many religions as there are people. How we use the word more commonly is to indicate something organized, something traditional, and something indicating belief in the supernatural. … Continue reading A World Without Religion.
Works for Me
What we believe changes over the years. Or does it? Or should it? What your mother told you when you were a child may not be what works for you as you grow into adulthood and need to adjust your own belief system. Select the Play button for an audio version of this sermon.
We Are Easter People
As individuals and as a church, we can all use an Easter every now and then. At UUCC we are Easter people, rising from whatever darkness that befalls us, conquering whatever adversity that confronts us, and creating a sunny day from whatever storm that may rain on our parade.
The Boy in the Mirror
Since this is the first Sunday of the New Year, I thought this might be an appropriate as well as traditional time to have a look at ourselves. As individuals and as a congregation where we are, how we got here, and where we’re going from here. The congregational conversation we had on December 2 … Continue reading The Boy in the Mirror
Talk to the Animals
Somehow animals, insects, and all sorts of life forms seem to have senses and skills we don’t. So are we really the dominant species?
My Brother’s Keeper
Keeping My Brother Richard McLeod Unforgettable Character Probably the most unforgettable character of my high school years was my principal, Professor Lewis E. Nestell. He was simultaneously loved and feared by all. I was called into his office on more than one occasion to explain something I shouldn’t have done, and was never sure he … Continue reading My Brother’s Keeper