This service was written by Rev. Clyde Grubbs and Mary Jane Holden, and adapted by Erika Hewitt. It uses readers—as many as ten, plus the Worship Leader—to tell the story of the Civil Rights movement as it unfolded over the course of a decade. This story is a sacred one; a powerful one. The worship … Continue reading “The Man, the Dream, the Movement”
Because we expect this weekend will be bitterly cold, with the possibility of heavy snow, we have decided to cancel our in-person service and all in-person programming this Sunday, 1/14. Instead, we invite you to watch our January 16 2022 MLK Day service: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCxO9bj9XOw and then join us at noon for a brief Q&A with … Continue reading In-Person Service Canceled Due to Weather
Direct link to YouTube stream HERE. “There is a quiet courage that comes from an inward spring of confidence in the meaning and significance of life. Such courage is an underground river, flowing far beneath the shifting events of one’s experience, keeping alive a thousand little springs of action.” — Howard Thurman ‘Quiet’ and ‘courage’ … Continue reading “Quiet Courage” (Part One)
Direct link to YouTube stream HERE. As people of a liberal and liberating faith, we need not choose between spiritual and social liberation. In fact, rising from our core theology, the two are inextricably linked. We go back to our Unitarian and Universalist history, and remember why we are called to work for the liberation of all, not … Continue reading “Tongues of Fire: On Spirit and Social Justice and Why It’s Not Either/Or”
Direct link to YouTube stream HERE. Bullies don’t just go away. Their legacies don’t just disappear. The bully must be confronted intentionally, his impact named and addressed. Even so, it seems there’s no clear consensus on how to deal with the bully on our blocks. – DeRay McKesson How do we respond to the grown-up … Continue reading “The Bully on Our Block”
Our faith holds that truth is never sealed. Our understanding is always expanding. This includes our understanding of the past, and our goals for the future. We must always be asking ourselves, “who and what do we remember, and how, and why?” Today, we lift up the memories of four Unitarian Universalists who have been … Continue reading Pedestals, Prophets, and Regular People
It isn’t MLK’s death day but his birthday that we celebrate each year, and yet, there is a tendency to focus on his martyrdom and on the trials and travails of civil rights leaders. We might think that MLK, Fannie Lou Hamer, Bayard Rustin, and other leaders were only ever deadly serious, were only ever … Continue reading Pleasure Activists and Love Evangelists
Direct link to YouTube stream HERE This year would be the 100th birthday of Clara Luper, Oklahoma’s beloved activist and educator. In a 2003 interview about the challenges she faced, Mrs. Luper stated: “My biggest challenge, I think, was within myself – to believe that I could continue in spite of conditions.” It was in the halls … Continue reading Freedom’s Classroom
Direct link to YouTube stream HERE. At this time in our country’s history, First Unitarian’s social justice mission is essential. Join us for our first lay-led service of the summer to learn about the goals and purposes of our different social justice teams and find out how you can get involved!
Direct link to YouTube stream HERE. Given the recent mass shootings in Texas and New York, we are shifting from the planned topic for this Sunday to address the emotions that so many of us are feeling now: rage and despair. How can we talk about horrific events with children and let them know that … Continue reading “Rage and Despair”
