This episode of the Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (AUUF) podcast features our recent Easter service on April 20, 2025.

Rev. Marti Keller plumbs the early history of Christianity, describing a theological shift from creating paradise on Earth to emphasizing the crucifixion, with paradise delayed until after death.

Rev. Marti summarizes the scholarship of Rita Nakashima Brock and Rebecca Ann Parker, from their book Saving Paradise. By surveying the art adorning churches throughout the Middle East and Mediterranean, they found Christian sanctuaries from the first millennium filled with images of Christ as a living presence: a shepherd, teacher, healer, and an enthroned god. He is serene and surrounded by lush scenes, depictions of this world as paradise. By the Middle Ages, however, the art had shifted to Jesus crucified and the earth no longer a paradise. Does this shift in art also reflect a change in Christian theology?

Jim Newton served as the service associate and gives the opening words.

AUUF is a faith community of shared values: equity, justice, pluralism, interdependence, generosity, and transformation, all in the service of love. We believe each of us has the right to seek spiritual truth and develop our own theology instead of accepting a religious creed. Our members represent all religious and non-religious beliefs. We join to build the Beloved Community, sharing our joys and sorrows as we walk together along the spiritual path.

AUUF is one of more than 1,000 Unitarian Universalist congregations around the U.S. If you’re in the Auburn-Opelika area, we invite you to 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, available from Pixabay.

In this episode of the Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (AUUF) podcast, Rev. Marti Keller discusses the story and significance of Passover, a story she describes as “a moving truth that is simply not true.” Yet even if not factual, the story is compelling because it reveals an inherent truth. The lesson at the heart of Passover is appreciative mindfulness of what we already have, recognizing that we are given what we need.

Richard Shelby was the service associate and presented the morning’s candle lightings.

The podcast was recorded at AUUF’s service on April 13, 2025.

AUUF is a faith community of shared values: equity, justice, pluralism, interdependence, generosity, and transformation, all in the service of love. We believe each of us has the right to seek spiritual truth and develop our own theology instead of accepting a religious creed. Our members represent all religious and non-religious beliefs. We join to build the Beloved Community, sharing our joys and sorrows as we walk together along the spiritual path.

AUUF is one of more than 1,000 Unitarian Universalist congregations around the U.S. If you’re in the Auburn-Opelika area, we invite you to 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, available from Pixabay.

In this episode of the Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (AUUF) podcast, we continue exploring spirituality. Sylvia Rogers compares making the spiritual journey solo with walking our path as part of a religious community. Melanie Rains served as the service associate and shared the opening words.

Sylvia and Melanie are aspirants in AUUF’s lay ministry program.

The podcast was recorded at AUUF’s service on April 6, 2025.

AUUF is a faith community of shared values — love, equity, justice, pluralism, interdependence, generosity, and transformation. We believe each of us has the right to seek spiritual truth and develop a personal theology instead of accepting a religious orthodoxy. As such, our members come from all religious and non-religious beliefs. We come together to build the Beloved Community, sharing our joys and sorrows and walking together along the spiritual path.

AUUF is one of more than 1,000 Unitarian Universalist congregations around the U.S. If you’re in the Auburn-Opelika area, we invite you to 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. We also heard Billy Ziogas, from “Me and My Guitar.” Both artists are available through Pixabay.

In this episode of the podcast, recorded on March 2, 2025, Gary Lerude explores the practices that lead to a spiritual life: transcendence, gratitude, compassion, service, and humility.

Gary is among the first class of aspirants training to serve as lay ministers for the Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (AUUF).

Sylvia Rogers, also an aspirant for the lay ministry, served as the service associate and shared the opening words for the service.

AUUF, located in Auburn, Alabama, is a faith community of shared values: love, equity, justice, pluralism, interdependence, generosity, and transformation. We believe each of us has the right to seek spiritual truth and develop a personal theology. Our members come from all religious and non-religious beliefs. We join together to build the Beloved Community, sharing our joys and sorrows and walking together along the spiritual path.

AUUF is one of more than 1,000 Unitarian Universalist congregations around the U.S.

Our theme music is "A Call to the Soul" by Folk Acoustic Music. We also heard Billy Ziogas, from “Me and My Guitar.” Both artists are available through Pixabay.

In this episode, which honors Women’s History Month, Rev. Marti examines the phrase that well-behaved women rarely make history. As Rev. Marti notes, women’s contributions are overlooked and undervalued.

Sylvia Rogers, a lay minister aspirant, served as the service associate and selected the chalice lightings.

The Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (AUUF) in Auburn, Alabama, is a faith community of shared values: love, equity, justice, pluralism, interdependence, generosity, and transformation. We believe each of us has the right to seek spiritual truth and develop a personal theology. Our members come from all religious and non-religious beliefs. AUUF is one of more than 1,000 Unitarian Universalist congregations around the U.S. We invite you to attend our services, Sunday mornings at 10.

Our theme music is "A Call to the Soul" by “Folk Acoustic Music.” We also heard Billy Ziogas, from “Me and My Guitar.” Both artists are available through Pixabay.

In this episode, we explore our Beloved Community at AUUF and how it builds from the history and traditions of the building where we gather. The episode begins with a reflection by the president of the fellowship, Randy Melius, followed by the sermon from our minister, the Rev. Marti Keller.

The Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (AUUF) in Auburn, Alabama, is a faith community of shared values: love, equity, justice, pluralism, interdependence, generosity, and transformation. We believe each of us has the right to seek spiritual truth and develop a personal theology. Our members come from all religious and non-religious beliefs. AUUF is one of more than 1,000 Unitarian Universalist congregations around the U.S. We invite you to attend our services, Sunday mornings at 10.

Our theme music is "A Call to the Soul" by “Folk Acoustic Music.” We also heard Billy Ziogas, from “Me and My Guitar.” Both artists are available through Pixabay.

The Sunday before Valentine's Day (February 9), Rev. Marti explored friendship and how important it is to our physical and mental health, particularly during times when the future is uncertain. She suggests friendship is core to our mission as a Beloved Community.

The Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (AUUF) in Auburn, Alabama, is a faith community of shared values: love, equity, justice, pluralism, interdependence, generosity, and transformation. We believe each of us has the right to seek spiritual truth and develop a personal theology. Our members come from all religious and non-religious beliefs. AUUF is one of more than 1,000 Unitarian Universalist congregations around the U.S. We invite you to attend our services, Sunday mornings at 10.

Our theme music for the podcast is A Call to the Soul by Folk Acoustic Music, from Pixabay.

Following the unrestrained first week of President Trump’s second term, Rev. Marti raises the example of prophetic Unitarian minister Theodore Parker, a 19th-century abolitionist and social reformer, who first stated that the arc of the moral universe bends toward justice. As the new government seeks to deny the basic human rights of so many, Rev. Marti calls on us to help bend the arc of justice.

The sermon was preached on January 26, 2025. Melanie Rains assisted with the service.

The Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (AUUF) in Auburn, Alabama, is a faith community of shared values: love, equity, justice, pluralism, interdependence, generosity, and transformation. We believe each of us has the right to seek spiritual truth and develop a personal theology. Our members come from all religious and non-religious beliefs. AUUF is one of more than 1,000 Unitarian Universalist congregations around the U.S. We invite you to attend our services, Sunday mornings at 10.

Our theme music for the podcast is A Call to the Soul by Folk Acoustic Music, from Pixabay.

January 12, 2025 — Sometimes, a single word captures the significance of a national moment, feeling, or cultural shift. In this episode of the Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship podcast, Rev. Marti Keller and Chris Basgier explore the word of 2024 selected by various dictionaries and add a few of their own.

The Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (AUUF) in Auburn, Alabama, is a faith community of shared values: love, equity, justice, pluralism, interdependence, generosity, and transformation. We believe each of us has the right to seek spiritual truth and develop a personal theology. Our members come from all religious and non-religious beliefs. AUUF is one of more than 1,000 Unitarian Universalist congregations around the U.S. We invite you to attend our services, Sunday mornings at 10.

Our theme music for the podcast is A Call to the Soul by Folk Acoustic Music, from Pixabay.

In this podcast episode from the Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Auburn, Alabama, our member Carter deShazo speaks about the Advent theme of joy. Her insight into finding glimmers of joy in our daily lives is a mindful practice to continue throughout the year.

Our theme music is A Call to the Soul by Folk Acoustic Music, from Pixabay.