In this episode of the Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (AUUF) podcast, Sylvia Rogers, a lay minister at AUUF, reflects on the night sky, how the stars, planets, and an occasional meteor shower can stir a sense of wonder and awe within us. Even more so when we realize that each person who has lived and will live is bound together beneath the same vast sky.

The service was recorded on August 9, 2026. Anastasia Cooper served as the Service Associate and provides the opening words.

AUUF is a faith community standing for love and reflected by the shared values of equity, justice, pluralism, interdependence, generosity, and transformation. We believe each person has the right to seek their own spiritual truth rather than accepting a religious doctrine or creed.

AUUF is one of more than 1,000 Unitarian Universalist congregations around the U.S. and Canada. If you're in the Auburn-Opelika (Alabama) area, we hope you'll join us Sunday mornings at 10:00. Visit our website at auuf.org.

Our theme music is "A Call to the Soul" by Folk Acoustic Music. It's available on Pixabay.

In this episode of the Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (AUUF) podcast: Christine Freeman advocates for changing the laws governing capital punishment in Alabama. Even with new laws, prisoners unfairly sentenced to Death Row need clemency. While it's unlikely the legislature will ban the death penalty, our state can take formative steps to redress its unfair application — but only if we the people speak up. She outlines seven actions we can take, advocating with our representatives and governor.

Before her retirement, Christine Freeman led the Middle District of Alabama Federal Defender Program and the Alabama Post-Conviction Relief Project. In 2022, she was named a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, one of the most prestigious honors in the legal profession.

The service was recorded on August 2, 2026.

AUUF is a faith community standing for love and reflected by the shared values of equity, justice, pluralism, interdependence, generosity, and transformation. We believe each person has the right to seek their own spiritual truth rather than accepting a religious doctrine or creed.

AUUF is one of more than 1,000 Unitarian Universalist congregations around the U.S. and Canada. If you're in the Auburn-Opelika (Alabama) area, we hope you'll join us Sunday mornings at 10:00. Visit our website at auuf.org.

Our theme music is "A Call to the Soul" by Folk Acoustic Music. It's available on Pixabay.

In this episode of the Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (AUUF) podcast, recorded on Mother's Day, Rev. Marti Keller celebrates mothers and all the nurturers and advocates who improve the lives of children. While parents feel totally responsible for their children's growth, development, and success, Rev. Marti reminds that parents don't have total control.

The service was recorded on May 10, 2026. Amy Kaiser served as the service associate and started the service with the chalice lighting.

AUUF is a faith community standing for love and reflected by the shared values of equity, justice, pluralism, interdependence, generosity, and transformation. We believe each person has the right to seek their own spiritual truth rather than accepting a religious doctrine or creed.

AUUF is one of more than 1,000 Unitarian Universalist congregations around the U.S. and Canada. If you're in the Auburn-Opelika (Alabama) area, we hope you'll join us Sunday mornings at 10:00. Visit our website at auuf.org.

Our theme music is "A Call to the Soul" by Folk Acoustic Music. It's available on Pixabay.

In this episode of the Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (AUUF) podcast, we share a powerful message of welcoming and hope, presented by Anton Flores-Maisonet. Anton is the founding director of Casa Alterna. Based in Atlanta, Casa Alterna provides vulnerable immigrants with short- and long-term housing, wrapped in a welcoming and supportive community that fosters healing and a safe space for new beginnings. Casa Alterna has opened its doors to hundreds of people from more than 50 countries. In this inspiring service, Anton says that hope is a practice, practiced even more the more challenging life gets.

The service was recorded on May 3, 2026. Sylvia Rogers, one of AUUF's lay ministers, provided the opening and closing words.

AUUF is a faith community standing for love and reflected by the shared values of equity, justice, pluralism, interdependence, generosity, and transformation. We believe each person has the right to seek their own spiritual truth rather than accepting a religious doctrine or creed.

AUUF is one of more than 1,000 Unitarian Universalist congregations around the U.S. and Canada. If you're in the Auburn-Opelika (Alabama) area, we hope you'll join us Sunday mornings at 10:00. Visit our website at auuf.org.

Our theme music is "A Call to the Soul" by Folk Acoustic Music. It's available on Pixabay.

In this episode, Rev. Marti Keller tells how current religious scholarship recognizes Mary Magdelene as the Apostle to the apostels and the first witness of Jesus' resurrection — not as a prostitute forgiven by Jesus.

The service was recorded on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026.

AUUF is a faith community standing for love and reflected by the shared values of equity, justice, pluralism, interdependence, generosity, and transformation. We believe each person has the right to seek their own spiritual truth rather than accepting a single religious doctrine or creed.

AUUF is one of more than 1,000 Unitarian Universalist congregations around the U.S. and Canada. If you're in the Auburn-Opelika (Alabama) area, we hope you'll join us Sunday mornings at 10:00. Visit our website at auuf.org.

Our theme music is "A Call to the Soul" by Folk Acoustic Music. It's available on Pixabay.

In this episode, guest minister Rev. Kalen Fristad discusses universalism, a theology that believes a loving and merciful God would not condem his creation to hell. Universalism ideas predate Christianity, at least to Zoroastrianism in the 6th century before the Christian era. Beyond a history lesson, Rev. Fristad explains why universalism is important today, serving as a North star shaping our culture and government toward love and peace.

Rev. Fristad is a United Methodist minister. For more than 30 years, he served churches in Iowa, retiring from the parish ministry in 2013. He now travels the country speaking on universalism.

The service was recorded on February 15, 2026.

AUUF is a faith community based on the shared values of equity, justice, pluralism, interdependence, generosity, and transformation, all in the service of love. We believe each person has the right to seek their own spiritual truth rather than accepting a single religious creed.

AUUF is one of more than 1,000 Unitarian Universalist congregations around the U.S. and Canada. If you're in the Auburn-Opelika (Alabama) area, we hope you'll join us Sunday mornings at 10:00. Visit our website at www.auuf.org.

Our theme music is "A Call to the Soul" by Folk Acoustic Music. It's available on Pixabay at pixabay.com.

In this episode, Rev. Marti Keller shares stories of bravery from the fight for Civil Rights.

Jim Newton, lay minister, served as the service associate and gives the opening words. The service was recorded on February 8, 2026, Super Bowl Sunday.

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AUUF is a faith community based on the shared values of equity, justice, pluralism, interdependence, generosity, and transformation, all in the service of love. We believe each person has the right to seek their own spiritual truth rather than accepting a single religious creed.

AUUF is one of more than 1,000 Unitarian Universalist congregations around the U.S. and Canada. If you're in the Auburn-Opelika (Alabama) area, we hope you'll join us Sunday mornings at 10:00. Visit our website at auuf.org.

Our theme music is "A Call to the Soul" by Folk Acoustic Music. It's available on Pixabay.

In this episode, Rev. Marti Keller asks how can we control our vulnerability to blind hatred in an environment filled with attacks on human dignity and rage baiting while not losing the righteous, moralistic anger needed to move the world toward much-needed justice.

The service was recorded on January 25, 2026. Ralph Banks served as the service associate and gives the chalice lighting.

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AUUF is a faith community based on shared values, including equity, justice, pluralism, interdependence, generosity, and transformation, all in the service of love. We believe each person has the right to seek their own spiritual truth rather than accepting a single religious creed.

AUUF is one of more than 1,000 Unitarian Universalist congregations around the U.S. and Canada. If you're in the Auburn-Opelika (Alabama) area, we hope you'll join us Sunday mornings at 10:00. Visit our website at auuf.org.

Our theme music is "A Call to the Soul" by Folk Acoustic Music. It's available on Pixabay.

In this episode, Rev. Marti Keller speaks about the annual tradition adopted by dictionaries of picking a word that best reflects the past year. Rev. Marti shares her own pick, a word that reflects the doldrums we often feel at the start of the year, when winter challenges us with shorter and colder days punctuated with snow or a chilling-to-the-bone rain. During this time, how do we keep our spirits buoyed?

The service was recorded on January 11, 2026. Gary Lerude served as the service associate and gives the chalice lighting.

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AUUF is a faith community based on shared values, including equity, justice, pluralism, interdependence, generosity, and transformation, all in the service of love. We believe each person has the right to seek their own spiritual truth rather than accepting a single religious creed.

AUUF is one of more than 1,000 Unitarian Universalist congregations around the U.S. and Canada. If you're in the Auburn-Opelika (Alabama) area, we hope you'll join us Sunday mornings at 10:00. Visit our website at auuf.org.

Our theme music is "A Call to the Soul" by Folk Acoustic Music. It's available on Pixabay.

This episode of the Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (AUUF) podcast answers the question, "What exactly is a Unitarian Universalist?" Lay minister Gary Lerude weaves the historical threads from the Unitarian and Universalist traditions leading to today's faith based on loving values. Since Unitarian Universalism doesn't answer the religious questions about the meaning of existence and our relationship to it, he invites listeners to discern their own answers.

The service was recorded on January 4, 2026. Aryana Pratt served as the service associate and gives the chalice lighting.

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AUUF is a faith community based on shared values, including equity, justice, pluralism, interdependence, generosity, and transformation, all in the service of love. We believe each person has the right to seek their own spiritual truth rather than accepting a single religious creed.

AUUF is one of more than 1,000 Unitarian Universalist congregations around the U.S. and Canada. If you're in the Auburn-Opelika (Alabama) area, we hope you'll join us Sunday mornings at 10:00. Visit our website at auuf.org.

Our theme music is "A Call to the Soul" by Folk Acoustic Music. It's available on Pixabay.