Auckland Unitarians

Speaker & Worship Leader:- Keola Whittaker

Instead of preaching about queer folks as people who need support, I’m inverting it to what can queer and trans people teach the rest of us about being fully human? Especially now, when authoritarianism and even AI are trying to flatten us all into simple categories. I’ll be weaving in the story of the Kapaemahu stones in Waikiki – four healing stones connected to mahu (Hawaiian gender-diverse) practitioners that were literally buried under concrete for decades and then uncovered in the 90s.

Recorded @ Auckland Unitarian Church 8 February 2026

For more information see:-
https://aucklandunitarian.org.nz/the-stones-that-testify/

00:00 Titles

00:31 Prelude

03:15 Welcome

04:06 Opening Words

05:29 Chalice Lighting

06:17 Covenant

06:53 Joys and Concerns

08:12 Reading

10:12 The Stones That Testify

27:18 Rainbow Cake Communion

29:16 Closing Words

30:27 Extinguishing the Chalice

31:09 Meditation / Discussion Questions

Speaker & Worship Leader:- Ruby Johnson

Speaker & Worship Leader:- Rachel Mackintosh

Why do we repeat this ritual every year? It isn’t just to brag about our travels. When we share our water in the common bowl, it reminds us that while we are separate people, we are also part of an interdependent community.

For more information see:-

https://aucklandunitarian.org.nz/water-communion-2026/

Feeling a bit Grinchy this year? You’re not alone. This sermon is for everyone who has ever wanted to skip Christmas, escape the forced cheer, or hide from a holiday that asks too much. It’s also about what happens when love finds us anyway, in forms we didn’t expect, and in places we didn’t think to look.

Speaker & Worship Leader:- Keola Whittaker

Keola Whittaker © 21 December 2025

For more information see:-

https://aucklandunitarian.org.nz/the-grinch-who-found-christmas-anyway/

Saunoama’ali Dr Karanina Sumeo is the immediate past Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner and will speak about her experience leading the Pacific Pay Gap Enquiry.Speaker:- Karanina Sumeo
Worship Leader:- Rachel Mackintosh ⁠Karanina Sumeo © 7 December 2025For more information, see:-

https://aucklandunitarian.org.nz/pacific-pay-gap-enquiry-and-human-rights/

A third space is neither home, school nor work but a space where people can be themselves, be with friends. A café, a bar, a museum, even a park. may be places where many of our most vulnerable communities do not feel welcome or feel they need to be out of sight. Similar to a church, Merge Community and Café is a space where all communities are welcome. 

Speaker:- Margaret Lewis
Worship Leader:- Shirin Caldwell

Margaret Lewis ©30 November 2025

For more information see:-

https://aucklandunitarian.org.nz/merge-cafe-making-a-community-minded-third-space/

Neurodivergence. What does it mean – what are the challenges faced, and how can neurotypical individuals assist in mitigating these challenges and ensuring neurodivergent people are included, respected and accommodated?Speakers:- Nikki Smith-Eklund (she/they) M Hum Rts
& Dr. Tof Eklund (they/them)
Worship Leader:- Rachel Mackintosh

Nikki Smith-Eklund & Tof Eklund © 23 November 2025For more information see:-

https://aucklandunitarian.org.nz/navigating-neurodivergence-and-the-neurodiversity-paradigm/

20 November is International Day of Remembrance of all those in the transgender community murdered in hate crimes in the previous 12 months. The transgender community have become the target of disinformation and vilification by politicians and the far-right. Perhaps it is time for the rest of us to stand up to transphobia.Speaker & Worship Leader:- Maria HaywardMaria Hayward © 16 November 2025For more information see:- https://aucklandunitarian.org.nz/transgender-day-of-remembrance/

A look at Rutger Bregman’s book, Humankind: A Hopeful History, with an in-depth look at a real life shipwreck incident, similar to Lord of the Flies but with a very different outcome. How might we look at humanity and ourselves differently, if we were aware that people in emergencies tend to be very generous and caring, rather than self-centered and panicky?Speaker & Worship Leader:- Joel Hildebrandt

Joel Hildebrandt © 9 November 2025

For more information see:- https://aucklandunitarian.org.nz/the-real-lord-of-the-flies/

On 21 February 2023 Archimedes’ arrow of time is released, to speed over 254 days to its destination: death.

On 21 February we receive news of Clay’s terminal diagnosis and driving home from the hospital appointment I begin sobbing. This is not a problem for my driving, actually, but Clay suggests I pull over. Which I do into the side of a car minding its own business in the next lane. The kindness of the stranger in that car, who is not angry but concerned, sets the tone of the next 254 days.Rachel Mackintosh © 2 November 2025For more information see:- https://aucklandunitarian.org.nz/in-and-out-of-time/