Before the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King became a civil rights leader, he was a pastor, a man of faith who knew that faith was key to resistance.

His legacy asks us to reflect on our own deepest roots, the faith that carries us through the trying times and asks us to envision greater possibilities.

Written by: Rev. Laurel Gray

Music by: Kala Farnham

Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall

Unitarian Universalism is a living tradition, which means we are always adapting and learning, trying to get clearer about who we are together. Our UUA constitution requires that we periodically reconsider even our seven principles and six sources, and we are currently in the midst of that process. Today we’ll reflect on the suggested changes to our principles and the process for making changes to our core documents. You can read more about this process here: https://www.uua.org/new-england/blog/revision-faithful-practice

Written by: Rev. Laurel Gray

Music by: Kala Farnham

Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall

The Christmas eve story, the biblical one that we read, it’s actually really messy. Which isn’t just a fun costuming choice by the storytellers, it’s the point of the story.

Emanuel means “God with us” so when we sing “O Come, O Come Emanuel” we’re asking the god of the heavens to meet us in the flesh and reality of being human. From a Christian theological perspective, Jesus, that babe born in the manger, wrapped in rags, he is God coming into the world to experience human suffering in order to be with us in our human suffering. Liberation theologians call this accompaniment, this being with in the fullness of human pain. Nothing about that is glossy or sugar coated or filtered. The mess is the point. The intimacy of knowing and loving someone in their hardest moments is the point.

And when you look at this story, there is a whole lot of humanity.

Written by: Rev. Laurel Gray

Music by: Kala Farnham

Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall

There’s a vulnerability to waiting, to hopes that have not yet been fulfilled, to the possibility in the unknown. Advent is the time leading up to Christmas, celebrated in many Christian denominations as a time of waiting. Amidst the bustle of mid-December, we’ll make space for this quiet wonder.

Written by: Rev. Laurel Gray

Music by: Kala Farnham

Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall

Amanda and Rev. Gray discuss: holding in the sky; separation of church and state and our nonprofit status; rules of engagement for justice work; making space for sadness among the holly jolly; affirming the holiness of being queer

Sermons written by: Rev. Laurel Gray

Theme music: Antidepresseur by Patchworker | https://soundcloud.com/patchworker

Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall

Change can be a joyful thing, but there are also times that remind us of how much has changed or been lost. The holidays can bring up feelings of grief and absence, longing for connection amidst broken relationships, or the let down of a gathering gone sour. We’ll make space this Sunday for the sadness and complexity that can get hidden this time of year.

Written by: Rev. Laurel Gray

Music by: Kala Farnham

Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall

It is part of our tradition at UUCSW to celebrate All Souls on the first Sunday in November. This is a time for remembering our loved ones who have died, holding grief and memory together as a congregation.

*We will not be discussing any particular deaths in detail – this service is appropriate for all ages.

Written by: Rev. Laurel Gray

Music by: Kala Farnham

Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall

Amanda and Rev. Gray reflect on this month's themes.

Topics of discussion: disentangling anger and violence; risk tolerance survey summary (DATA!)

Risk scale survey can be viewed at bit.ly/riskscales

Sermons written by: Rev. Laurel Gray

Music by: Kala Farnham

Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall

This Sunday we’ll lean into the joy of movement with dances from Phyllis Barrett and her dance teacher during service. Dance is often overlooked as a spiritual practice in our tradition and today we’ll reflect on how movement can help us feel more fully, courageously ourselves.

Written by: Rev. Laurel Gray

Music by: Kala Farnham

Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall

There is a good and important impulse to want to work for justice, especially after a tragedy or significant event. The question is how to proceed, how to approach justice work effectively, how to ground ourselves in our relationships and deepest values so that our efforts are not in vain and we are sustained along the long road to a better world. Our reproductive rights group will share reflections and learnings from a series of organizing trainings we attended over the summer, which were led by Side With Love.

Resources:

Take the survey! bit.ly/riskscales

Southern Unitarian Universalists in the Civil Rights Era: https://www.uua.org/ga/past/2000/99499.shtml

How Clergy Set the Standard for Abortion Care: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/05/how-the-clergy-innovated-abortion-services/484517/

Written by: Rev. Laurel Gray and Amanda Hall

Music by: Kala Farnham

Hosted and Edited by: Amanda Hall