Join us this Sunday for our annual Water Communion Service! Bring a small amount of water from a place meaningful to you—whether from your travels, your backyard, or your kitchen tap. Together we will pour our waters into a common bowl, symbolizing the many streams of our lives flowing into one shared community. All are welcome to this special Unitarian Universalist tradition of connection and renewal.
The use of the word “heresy” in any context is in itself problematic, especially given the historical violence connected with this word through the violent enforcement of a doctrinal purity created by all men and backed by the force of Empire. It has become a clobber concept to enforce one patriarchal version of Christianity, much like certain passages in the Bible have been used to clobber persons with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. It has nothing to do with living out the way of love and justice for the transformation of the world for good.
The Ten Commandments have long served as a foundation for how many Jews and Christians strive to live their lives. As Unitarian Universalists, we come from many different backgrounds and beliefs—we may or may not accept all of the Ten Commandments as our own. So if we don’t follow those commandments, what values or principles do guide our lives?
Join us this Sunday as we explore together what truly matters to us—what inspires our choices, shapes our ethics, and helps us live with intention and integrity.
Everything around us, the air we breathe, the rivers and streams we drink from, the food we eat, every institution, relationship, and connection with others, is a string supporting a world of 8 billion people. What happens when those strings are cut, one by one? What happens when our rivers and fields are poisoned; when the wealth gap becomes a chasm; when people lose agency over their own bodies; when governments are actively working against their citizens and institutions have failed us? Will those strings that remain be able to withstand the weight of the collected burden, or will the whole world come crashing down? Explore these questions and what we can do as individuals to add more strings to distribute the load for the future.
So much of how we define success and well-being in our society revolves around the money we make and the things we accumulate, and it is clear this acquisition and consumption culture where the quantity of stuff counts more than the quality of our relationships is leading to a dead end for humanity. How can we move away from an overemphasis on acquisition accumulation, and consumption and movetowards a life of qualitative meaning and purpose?
If you tell someone you are a Unitarian Universalist, sometimes the question is asked – what does that mean? Are you prepared to answer? This morning Rev. Tim Kutzmark prepares us for what is commonly called an “Elevator Speech”, a way to define what we believe in the time it might take to go several floors in an elevator.
In an interview with Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, design justice pioneer Bryan C. Lee Jr. defines “design justice” as “what love looks like in public spaces,” and he describes it as “an active display of care for beloved communities.” What would our communities look like if we designed them in ways that create space for culture and opportunities for persons to be in connection with the things we love and care for?
The UUA holds a General Assembly every year in June. UU’s from all over the country meet in person or virtually during this time. The closing Sunday Service this year was extremely powerful and featured Rev. Dr. Nicole Kirk, Program Minister at All Souls UU Church in Tulsa, OK. Join us in watching this moving service. Note: this service will last longer than our normal service, (approximately 1:40) please attend, even if you must leave early.
The Heresy Trial of Borden Parker Bowne
The Rev Dr Mark Y.A. Davies, leading
Download the morning program here later in the week, where you can also read it below without having to download it.
The Heresy Trial of Borden Parker Bowne – In 1904, the founder of the philosophical school of thought known as Boston Personalism was put on trial for heresy by the Methodist Church. He was unanimously acquitted in what would be a major victory for academic freedom and freedom of thought within Methodism. Bowne’s philosophy and theology would go on to have a profound effect on the thought of Martin Luther King Jr. who shared Bowne’s views concerning the dignity and value of all persons.
Mark Davies is the Wimberly Professor of Social and Ecological Ethics and Director of the World House Institute for Social and Ecological Responsibility at Oklahoma City University. He is the Executive Director of the Leadership, Education, and Development (LEaD) Hub North America of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church and an Oklahoma Humanities State Scholar. Mark has published in the areas of Boston personalism, process philosophy and ethics, and ecological ethics. Dr. Davies serves on the United Methodist University Senate, which is “an elected body of professionals in higher education created by the General Conference to determine which schools, colleges, universities, and theological schools meet the criteria for listing as institutions affiliated with The United Methodist Church.” He and his wife Kristin live in Edmond, OK in the United States, and they have two daughters. The views expressed by the author in this blog do not necessarily represent the views of Oklahoma City University or the United Methodist Church.
Join us for a very special Sunday with George Ensle. He says of his service, “My songs will reinforce a message of building bridges, appreciating God’s natural beauty, reaching out to those in need, and wanting what we have over having what we want
George Ensle is a Songwriter-Performer-Producer-Educator.
During the 60’s Houston Folk Music scene George was sharing stories, songs and stages with Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark and Billy Joe Shaver. After more than five decades he still brings forth the essence of the folk tradition, the story song. A member of the Texas Arts Commission Touring Roster, George has taught songwriting and performed for schools, libraries, and the special needs community. He was inducted into the Houston Folk Music Archives and is an ambassador for Soldier Songs and Voices, teaching songwriting to veterans and active duty personnel. He has released 15 albums in the US and Europe, had songs included in several movies, and was nominated 2018 Songwriter of the Year by the Texas Music Academy. His song, Build A Bridge was adopted by the Build a Bridge Foundation for Healing through the Arts, and included in the Music to Life CD. His concerts are filled with wit, wisdom, hope and grit, along with his intricate fingerstyle guitar playing and keyboard.
”He has the ability with a song like a leather artisan, carving, crafting and coloring to create something both beautiful, flexible and strong enough to stand the test of time.” Rich Warren
Read more about him and check out his songs at georgeensle.com.
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