The World is my Parish – reflections on what we might learn from the founder of Methodism, John Wesley, in our current global context. We will also be exploring the universalist themes within Wesley’s understanding of grace. Mark Davies is the Oklahoma State Humanities Scholar for the Smithsonian Institute Museum on Main Street Water/Ways exhibit. … Continue reading The World is my Parish
Dr Tudor filed a complaint of discrimination against Southeastern University when she was denied tenure solely because she is transgender. They retaliated by firing her. She sued and won (unanimous vote of the jury). She is now asking a federal appeals court to allow her to return to Southeastern with tenure. The State of Oklahoma … Continue reading An Instinct for Kindness: Being an Ally in Times of Crisis
Robert and Lanan Shelton are long time members of Red River UU. Robert began his love affair with elephants when he was a child. His grandmother traveled extensively, and when she visited a country with an elephant population, she brought a figurine representing an elephant indigenous to the area. Robert’s sister moved to southern India, … Continue reading Why We Love Elephants
Toulouse T’ Care, the singing duo of Fenton Rood and Mark Christian, brings us a morning filled with songs Woody Guthrie Wood wrote, along with a couple of songs about the man. Guthrie was a lot of things. He was an activist during the depression and all the way through World War II. As Unitarian Universalists … Continue reading In The Spirit of Woody Guthrie with “Toulouse T’ Care”
“Teams” The morning worship from The First Parish in Bedford, MA The Rev. John Gibbons, speaking We go to movies to become engrossed with what we see, hear and feel. We know it is a film and yet we feel the emotions. We laugh or cry, are happy or sad. We leave often deeply touched by the … Continue reading Teams (video message)
During February we honor National Black History month. Often the remarks focus on Dr. King. Marco’s mom Adrian suggested to the worship team that we create an assembly on Bayard Rustin. None of us knew the name, the man, nor anything about his life. We agreed that looking at this fascinating character is worth a … Continue reading Bayard Rustin ~ the Gay Socialist Pacifist Who Planned the 1963 March on Washington
What can we hope for even in times that seem hopeless? What are the ways we can express hope that will cultivate positive transformation in ourselves and in our communities? Are there still reasons to hope in our world today? These questions and others will be explored as we look for hope in a time … Continue reading Hanging onto Hope
FINNISH SINGING DUO “VELLAMO” IN CONCERT Vellamo is led by the performing and songwriting team of Pia Leinonen and Joni Tiala. Their eight visit to the US will include a Sunday morning concert will be in our chapel. Their music features ethereal Finnish folk with gorgeous vocals and memorable melodic hooks, “baptized by trolls and … Continue reading An All Music Sunday: Finnish Singing Duo “Vellamo”
Those with “affluenza” are said to have an inability to understand the consequences of their actions because of financial privilege. How we evaluate others’ actions and what consequences are appropriate seem to be more and more related to what degree we identify with them and their political leanings. How do these things inform our covenants … Continue reading Good Fruit, Affluenza and The Good Samaritan
The teaching of eternal damnation is not merely a harmless untruth that we might appropriately ignore and allow to stand, but it has serious consequences. It leads to the possibility, perhaps even the inevitability, of wars, bigotry, oppression, and abuse. On the other hand, the teaching of universalism leads to equality, respect, love, and dignity … Continue reading Universalism: Past, Present and Powerful
