UUMAN Unitarian Universalist Metro Atlanta North Church

Descartes said, “I think therefore I am.” Couldn’t he have said, “I breathe therefore I am”? What is the breath? What is its relationship to life? What is its relationship to the natural world? What does it connect us to?

Why might a written language such as Hebrew have only consonants and no vowels? As Reverend Dave describes, many might think that it's because it would be blasphemous to attempt to put the breath of the spirit of God on a page. One might conclude that "the wind within us is not autonomous."

Per usual, you'll also hear important messages, announcements, and musical accompaniment that are part of the Sunday UUMAN service experience. If you listen until near the end, you'll have an opportunity to participate in Tonglen breathing practice as well.

"Authentic Heart," "Listen With Your Heart," and "Dance of the Moon" composed by Alex Pietsch. Copyright 2023. All rights reserved.
All piano accompaniment by Music Director Alex Pietsch. Intro and outro background music by Tim Moor at Pixabay.

UUMAN is a welcoming congregation and we thank you for taking the time to get to know us a bit better. You can learn more about us by visiting our website at www.UUMAN.org

Unitarian Universalism is a religion based on seven moral principles which promote the inherent worth of all people and each individual's search for truth and meaning. Learn more at uua.org

UUMAN is a 501(c)3 organization under the Internal Revenue Code. Your contribution is deductible to the full extent provided by law.

https://www.uuman.org/donate/

UUMAN - Unitarian Universalist Metro Atlanta North

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Who among us does not enjoy ridiculous, sometimes silly mishaps experienced by our political enemies? Anything wrong with having a bit of fun? Only when it keeps us from focusing on what we need to do to neutralize these enemies. With the likes of someone such as DeVos, her school privatization scheme is part of a nationwide effort to finance our public education by what, our guest speaker posits, is a deliberately cruel method.

We need to address the structural financing of American public schools--specifically, through local property taxes--and see it for what it is, an inherently unbalanced, unsustainable, dishonest and discriminatory mechanism.

"ABC's," "One, 4, Five, One," and "Sword & Shield Postlude" by Alex Pietsch. Copyright 2023. All rights reserved.

All piano accompaniment by Music Director Alex Pietsch. Intro and outro background music by Tim Moor at Pixabay.

UUMAN is a welcoming congregation and we thank you for taking the time to get to know us a bit better. You can learn more about us by visiting our website at www.UUMAN.org Unitarian Universalism is a religion based on seven moral principles which promote the inherent worth of all people and each individual's search for truth and meaning. Learn more at uua.org

UUMAN is a 501(c)3 organization under the Internal Revenue Code. Your contribution is deductible to the full extent provided by law.

https://www.uuman.org/donate/

UUMAN - Unitarian Universalist Metro Atlanta North

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcRwJlKGVhksTvxKeCXhxeQ

#UUMAN

Pretty much all of your big, billion-member-type world religions require fealty. Submission. Put your own personal stuff aside and obey something greater than oneself. Yeah, not us UUs, though... right?

Maybe not. Consider: Among the dances we do, of joy, and love, and yes, a dance of death, do we do a "dance of supplication"?
Is such obedience actually the path to true freedom?

Plus fidget-corner narration, superbly curated Announcements from our dedicated Worship Associate, a Zen master's guidance, and occasional auditory punctuation from those for whom the prospect of a fidget corner was insufficiently enticing.

"Low Tide," "Oceanic Prayer" and "Turning of the Tides" by Alex Pietsch. Copyright 2023. All rights reserved.
All piano accompaniment and choir direction by Music Director Alex Pietsch.

Intro and outro background music by Tim Moor at Pixabay.

UUMAN is a welcoming congregation and we thank you for taking the time to get to know us a bit better. You can learn more about us by visiting our website at www.UUMAN.org Unitarian Universalism is a religion based on seven moral principles which promote the inherent worth of all people and each individual's search for truth and meaning. Learn more at uua.org UUMAN is a 501(c)3 organization under the Internal Revenue Code. Your contribution is deductible to the full extent provided by law.

https://www.uuman.org/donate/

UUMAN - Unitarian Universalist Metro Atlanta North

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcRwJlKGVhksTvxKeCXhxeQ

#UUMAN

After the announcements and comedy skits (pretty sure Rev. Dave's Top Ten List qualifies for the latter group), comes the serious question. What kind of commitment are we making to ensure the safety of those whose very lives are threatened by the right wing's culture war? How can we adequately support them, as America's individual states pass legislation and impose regulations deliberately intended to harm its own citizens?

Also, information on how to procure an "ugly yellow 'Side With Love' T-shirt. And re-framing what it means to "burst your bubble" with a new communion, intended to help everyone be free to be who they are.

With Worship Associate Sasha Greyenbuhl, and musical accompaniment by John Pruitt.

Intro and outro background music by Tim Moor at Pixabay.

UUMAN is a welcoming congregation and we thank you for taking the time to get to know us a bit better. You can learn more about us by visiting our website at www.UUMAN.org Unitarian Universalism is a religion based on seven moral principles which promote the inherent worth of all people and each individual's search for truth and meaning. Learn more at uua.org UUMAN is a 501(c)3 organization under the Internal Revenue Code. Your contribution is deductible to the full extent provided by law. https://www.uuman.org/donate/

UUMAN - Unitarian Universalist Metro Atlanta North

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcRwJlKGVhksTvxKeCXhxeQ

Thirty-six who are righteous and hidden? Are they among us? This question, among other lessons from the Kabbalah, are an integral part of this week's service, along with gratitude for those willing to be imprisoned for their beliefs.

"Chromium Attic" composed by John Pruitt, and performed with Dave Dunn. Copyright 2023. All rights reserved.
Intro and outro background music by Tim Moor at Pixabay.

Unitarian Universalism is a religion based on seven moral principles which promote the inherent worth of all people and each individual's search for truth and meaning. Learn more at uua.org

UUMAN is a 501(c)3 organization under the Internal Revenue Code. Your contribution is deductible to the full extent provided by law. https://www.uuman.org/donate/

UUMAN - Unitarian Universalist Metro Atlanta North

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcRwJlKGVhksTvxKeCXhxeQ

#UUMAN

In this annual sacrament, we recognize the selfless contribution made by our beloved animal companions, as well as remembering those dear souls who were once part of our lives. These are the creatures "whose only mood seems to be, 'I want to be with you always.'"

You'll hear stories about butterflies and songbirds, and of course, "Amens" punctuated by unscripted barks and growls.
Postlude composed, and all music performed, by Alex Pietsch. Copyright 2023. All rights reserved.

Intro and outro background music by Tim Moor at Pixabay.

https://www.uuman.org/donate/

UUMAN - Unitarian Universalist Metro Atlanta North

(770) 992-3949

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcRwJlKGVhksTvxKeCXhxeQ

#UUMAN

Just what is "Covenant" supposed to be, anyway? Rev. Dave notes that in 2018 UUMAN gathered to determine what shared values we had, and came up with "Love, Connection, Wonder & Awe, Courage, and Justice." And then he asks: "So what do those words mean to you? Do they mean the same to me?"

But before the digging, there's a short skit about the Hand... no the Elbow, no the Fist-bump, no, rather, the Wave, of Friendship, which may or may not be a "freak show", that we experience in-person, in service.

"Peace in the Forest" and "Circle Within a Circle" composed and performed by Alex Pietsch. Copyright 2023. All rights reserved.
Intro and outro background music by Tim Moor at Pixabay.

Unitarian Universalism is a religion based on seven moral principles which promote the inherent worth of all people and each individual's search for truth and meaning. Learn more at uua.org

UUMAN is a 501(c)3 organization under the Internal Revenue Code. Your contribution is deductible to the full extent provided by law. https://www.uuman.org/donate/

UUMAN - Unitarian Universalist Metro Atlanta North

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcRwJlKGVhksTvxKeCXhxeQ

#UUMAN

Join us this week as lay preacher and educator extraordinaire Rollin Mathis introduces us to the first of what will become a Second Hour Adult Enrichment course this year.

Where else can you not only find the holy grail, but hear a musical jingle performed on the spot to promote its search? Also, the usual announcements, readings, and musical accompaniment.

A note about the sound--we apologize for the occasional flashes of static from wireless connections, that aren't caught by our noise filter. While hopefully not too distracting, we recognize the issue and should be able to contain this in future episodes.

"The Beginning, The Middle, The End" and all additional original music composed and performed by Alex Pietsch. Copyright 2023. All rights reserved.
Intro and outro background music by Tim Moor at Pixabay.

UUMAN is a 501(c)3 organization under the Internal Revenue Code. Your contribution is deductible to the full extent provided by law. https://www.uuman.org/donate/

UUMAN - Unitarian Universalist Metro Atlanta North

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcRwJlKGVhksTvxKeCXhxeQ

#UUMAN

"For-profit prisons. Guns. Exploited domestic and migrant workers. Children workers. Our economic system!"

People should not have to face crisis alone. May we have the courage to resolve, and use our muscle, to nurture our spirit.

This episode also includes an appearance by Freedom University's Gabriela Solis. This organization is devoted to empowering undocumented youth and fulfilling their human right to education. Also, an appearance by three hundred thirty million gods and goddesses.

"Soul Seeking Justice" performed and composed by Alex Pietsch. Copyright 2023. All rights reserved.

Intro and outro background music by Tim Moor at Pixabay.

"You've now seen one, then you do one, and then after a year of being President, you get to teach one." Past President Miriam Patanian answers everything you always wanted to know about how UUMAN is governed but were (maybe!) afraid to ask. She also shares how she came to "find our tribe" here in Georgia, why she felt called to this three year tour of duty, and what it how it was to be "unchurched" as an adult, after some years of being "Christmas and Easter-type Catholics."

And, of course, some thoughts on how her experience with the Our Whole Lives program shapes her vision of the future for what we call "sex education" in the public sphere. Were her kids' experience with GA Public Schools' attempts to educate about sexual health quite as cringeworthy-slash-ignorant as one might imagine?

Intro and outro background music by Tim Moor at Pixabay.

UUMAN is a welcoming congregation and we thank you for taking the time to get to know us a bit better. You can learn more about us by visiting our website at www.UUMAN.org Unitarian Universalism is a religion based on seven moral principles which promote the inherent worth of all people and each individual's search for truth and meaning. Learn more at uua.org

UUMAN is a 501(c)3 organization under the Internal Revenue Code. Your contribution is deductible to the full extent provided by law. https://www.uuman.org/donate/

UUMAN - Unitarian Universalist Metro Atlanta North

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcRwJlKGVhksTvxKeCXhxeQ

#UUMAN