Blue Boat of Youth and Young Adult MinistriesPost-Hope
This homily was delivered by intern minister and UU young adult Joseph Boyd after the murder of Terence Crutcher at All Souls Unitarian Church, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. – Ed. by Joseph Boyd In the aftermath of Terence Crutcher’s death, this has been a busy week at All Souls. For many of us, these last couple weeks have felt very heavy, even exhausting. You may be thinking: I’d love to be more involved, but I’m already overwhelmed with my own ordinary problems. I work a stressful job, I’ve got kids, my relationship with my partner feels shaky. I’m overwhelmed. I can’t even imagine doing anything about racism in Tulsa, let alone America. I’ll leave that to…
VIDEO: The Bigger Heart – by Isaac Prier
Watch as Isaac Prier Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) Summer Seminary 2016 Grad delivers his homily, “The Bigger Heart”, during Sunday Worship at First Unitarian Church of Oakland, CA. Learn about Summer Seminary, a program of the UUA Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries. Read the transcript of Issac’s homily: ISAAC PRIER: There is salvation in this life. This is one of the five jagged rocks of Unitarian Universalism, a statement of faith created by Nancy Bowen. There is salvation in this life. But if there is salvation, is there not also damnation? For a long time, I struggled with this jagged rock and saw many others struggle with it because of the implication…
For Dealing With the Again and Again and Again
again. it happened again on Monday, news spreading on social media today. this time he was a therapist trying to help his autistic patient. this time the “gun” was a toy truck. this time he survived the shooting. again. beloveds it is all too much and has been too much. it was too much when George Zimmerman was acquitted of Trayvon Martin’s murder and the #blacklivesmatter hashtag came into being. it’s been hundreds of years of again and again and too much. so if you need something today, something to deal with the again, here are a few offerings, gathered with love. for those who need to just stay with the pain for now, here is “a…
Lessons From Youth Group
Everything I Know About Parish Ministry I Learned in Youth Group By Alex Haider-Winnett I grew up UU in Southern California in the 90s. My home church in Orange County had an excellent religious education program and a vibrant youth group. Some of my best friends were people I met at cons. I married my wife at the summer camp where we met. My greatest allies, mentors and cheerleaders were adult advisors I had. I found my calling to serve Unitarian Universalism (UU) at General Assembly Youth Caucus. Instead of going to my Senior Prom, I went to a training on youth empowerment and leadership. I credit YRUU with saving my life and giving me…
Small But Mighty: UU Campus Ministry
“Small but mighty” is a phrase I enjoy. Possibly because I am a petite woman of short stature, yet I like to think I’m relatively powerful. But more than that it’s because that’s how I see our faith. Unitarian Universalism (UU) is a tiny religion and a young one too, though our roots go back centuries and indeed millennia. Yet we are powerful, making big impacts in our communities with our yellow shirts and our comprehensive sexuality education, our inclusive communities and our radical love. Small but mighty also describes our Unitarian Universalist campus ministries. We are small. Like, super small. In the fall of 2015 we did our second campus ministry census and we…
Love set Ablaze
In honor of the Standing on the Side of Love 30 Days of Love 2016 campaign, Phebe Hawes speaks up about being a light of love in a time of hate. In order to love alike, we need not think alike ~Francis David. This quote got me thinking. I come from a suburban, mostly white, community. For the most part, we look alike. But we certainly do not think alike. And there’s not a whole lot of love either. So I turn to social media. Like many millennials, I spend most of my time online. I, however, spend a majority of that time defending my beliefs to people who don’t agree. I get the feeling…
Fiercely UU: Universalism and the Disinherited
Fiercely UU is a new blog series where Unitarian Universalist young adults tell stories about what our faith requires of us and how they follow that call. To be fiercely UU is to proclaim human worth and interdependence. In an individualist, greed-based, shame and fear fueled white supremacist patriarchy, we say no to isolation and oppression and yes to radical love and covenanted connection. – Ed. Read more stories of Fiercely Unitarian Universalist Faith here. The Disinherited by Joseph Boyd Will is a friend of mine. We met at Rikers Island Correctional Facility in a two acre garden space, a little Eden in the midst of bars, blood, and stinky socks. Will sat in a corner and…
Too Many Holes
Thanks to @KennySWiley for bring to our attention this thoughtful collection of reaction to the spate of violence we have witnessed in recent weeks. We encourage you to read, reflect, and respond (either in the comment section of this post, or by submitting your own thoughts or reflections in a post. UU Voices from Black Friday by Nancy Bentley, Jill Forney, Steve Nye, Marianne Sheldon, Deb Donley, Lori Sly, Robin LaBorde, Sheila McElroy, Rev. Dana Lightsey Within the space of a month this fall, the city of Colorado Springs fell victim to two mass shootings. In the first, four people were killed: a passing bicyclist, two women, and the shooter. In the other incident,…
Love, Without “But”
“Wow. You may not be ordained, but you’re doing ministry already.” – Rev. Peter Morales, President, Unitarian Universalist Association(UUA). Watch as Eliana Okeson, UUA Summer Seminary 2015 graduate, delivers her “preach-off” sermon at First Universalist Church of Denver. Watch Lou Whiting’s sermon, “You Are Allowed to Say Things Like This”, here Watch Halley Norman’s sermon, “The First Principle”, here Watch Audrey Havelah Laughrey’s sermon, “On the Meaning of Life”, here Watch Nelson Moroukian’s sermon, “We Love in a Community of Constant Change”, here READ THE TRANSCRIPT: ELIANA OKESON: Hello, my name is Eliana Okeson. I attend Jefferson Unitarian Church in Golden, Colorado. Dark night, path of lights, chalices illuminating. Mind by many souls, one by…
You Are Allowed to Say Things Like This
“Wow. You may not be ordained, but you’re doing ministry already.” – Rev. Peter Morales, President, Unitarian Universalist Association(UUA). Watch as Lou Whiting, UUA Summer Seminary 2015 graduate, delivers her “preach-off” sermon at First Universalist Church of Denver. Watch Halley Norman’s sermon, “The First Principle”, here Watch Audrey Havelah Laughrey’s sermon, “On the Meaning of Life”, here Watch Nelson Moroukian’s sermon, “We Love in a Community of Constant Change”, here READ THE TRANSCRIPT: LOU WHITING: Hello. I am Lou. I am from outside of Chicago. And I attend the Unitarian Universalist Society of Geneva, Illinois. Two years ago I remember trying to catch a train out to see a friend a couple towns over. Now…
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