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Jade Hoke-Smith will read a sermon by UU Rev. Andrew Weber, who reminds us, “Our religion tells us that we are valuable and that we have worth and dignity. That doesnât mean our work is done. We also believe in justice, equity, compassion, peace, liberty and justice . . . aspirations which come at a cost. Progress … Continue reading No Struggle, No Progress
Gaia Davis will share how she eventually reinvented herself and found joy again after the loss of her beloved husband, Kurtland. With her friendsâ help, she started healing and created a new, exciting life. Her story interlaces the good, the bad, the uglyâand the beautifulâwith laughter and hopefulness. For 25+ years, she studied the psychology, sociology and … Continue reading Grief to Gratitude
Mel Browning will tell the story of UU Minister Waitstill Sharp and his wife Martha who saved thousands of refugees during WWII in Czechoslovakia and France and started the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee. Mel is a retired attorney who served 23 years in the 6th District Court of Appeals in Ohio. Before that, he owned and managed radio stations. With a … Continue reading Defying the Nazis: UU Waitstill & Martha Sharp
In celebration of International Women’s Month, the UUDeLand Book Club will introduce us to several important, often overlooked, female inventors. Dr. Lillian Evelyn Gilbreth is the first industrial/organizational psychologist and pioneer of ergonomics. Cheaper by the Dozen (1948) was written about her. Actor, Hedy Lamar was an Austrian/American inventor, who co-invented a radio guidance system for Allied torpedoes during WWII. Murasaki Shikibu, at … Continue reading Overlooked Female Inventors in History
Are Scouts Unitarian Universalists? Many of us have been Scouts or parented children through scouting. A lifelong scouter and UU for 40 years, John Cupak will explore what it means to follow the Scout Oath and Law from a UU perspective. John is a retired computer scientist and software engineer. A lifelong ScouterâCub Scout, Boy Scout, Explorer, and … Continue reading Living the Scout Oath and Law: A UU Perspective
Jade Hoke-Smith will read a sermon by Rev. Andrew Mason, who critiques Emersonian individualism in Unitarian Universalism, naming it âiChurch,â and calls for an upgrade toward communal, love-centered, interconnected faith grounded in justice, ubuntu, and emergent collective practice. Rev. Weber is a UU, who received a Master of Divinity degree from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Jade Hoke-Smith is UUDeLandâs President, a retired … Continue reading “iChurch” Needs to be Upgraded
Our country is more divided than ever, with many of us isolated from those with different views. This division damages our communities, disrupts our families, and stops us from working together for the common good. Braver Angels is leading the nationâs largest cross-partisan, volunteer-led movement to bridge the partisan divide and strengthen our democratic republic. Our speaker, Chuck … Continue reading Braver Angels: Bridging America’s Political Divide
The UU Luminescence service is a winter holiday celebrating UU identity, focusing on inner light, diversity, and spiritual growth through candle-lighting rituals that symbolize recognition, reflection, refocusing, and renewal. It is often held in late January/February, when the dark days of winter are replaced with the light of spring. Sue Habel will be the Service Leader and … Continue reading Luminescence
Carol Swarbrick Dries will present the “Spirituality of Service” sermon, with a ritual to honor the changing of UUDelandâs Board. The sermon, by Erik Wikstrom, argues that people come to church not only for belonging but for transforming lives. He invites congregations to see lay leadership and committee work as spiritual practice, not mere administration. Erik is the … Continue reading Spirituality of Service
Paul Garfinkel will read the sermon âUniversal-ishâ by UU Rev. LĂłre Stevens, which explores the roots of “Universalism. Paul will add his own views on the relevance of this philosophy to these “interesting” times, our community and congregation. Sermon author, LĂłre Stevens, is a queer Mexican-American atheist woman and minister at Oak Ridge UU Church in Oak Ridge, … Continue reading Universal-ish
