With so much going on, from autocracy to the climate, an individual might be forgiven for losing faith in the value of taking action. What can one person do in the face of overwhelm? Fortunately, we have a say in how these times change us and our communities.

Too often lately many of us find ourselves feeling homeless in a nation and world we hardly recognize, groping for a way forward in the midst of unprecedented events. We want a map that shows us the road to get back ‘home’ to a place that feels, if not safe, at least familiar.

In her book, The Journey Is Home, theologian and educator Nelle Morton wrote that “There is no road ahead. We make the road as we go.” In this service we’ll ask if current events really are unprecedented and explore the massive leap of faith required to set off on a journey knowing only that we must build the road as we walk it. We’ll look for wisdom from many sources: Wendell Berry, Rainer Maria Rilke, Aurora Levins Morales, and more. And we’ll explore some ideas about how to prepare for the uncertain journey ahead.

In a world that constantly feels overwhelming, how can we create change in the small interactions and moments of our lives? And how can those small changes be part of our larger vision for a transformed world?

Saying “bless you!” after a sneeze began as a protection ward against evil spirits. How can blessing protect us today? In these trying times of grief and struggle, counting our blessings, turning our attention to gratitude can protect us against the evil spirits of cynicism, nihilism, and despair. Practicing blessing, both through expressing gratitude for the beauty in our lives, and through choosing to bless the world, can fuel us with resilience for the resistance.

2025-07-20 ● The Rev. Kelly Asprooth Jackson ● A Battle of Imagination by First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee

Black futurist and leader adrienne maree brown says we are in a battle of imagination. What does she mean and how do we fight this good fight? Join us to explore future possibilities and avenues for resistance and hope.

We are a nation divided by fear. Some say it is an existential fear of those who have a fundamentally different understanding of truth and reality. Others say it is a manufactured fear, generated by those seeking power playing on the unconscious prejudices of a distracted people. We will explore the various relationships that exist for us in the personal, social, and political dimensions. We’ll take a look at where our current divisions may have originated. We’ll wrap it all up with a reflection on how UU values can become a source for resolving our differences and bringing our nation back to its highest aspirations.

Realizing that holiness/wholeness is not tied to a specific place or person or belief is profoundly liberating. Recognizing that wholeness isn’t something bestowed on us, but is, instead, something we create brings tremendous freedom. In these troubled times, how will we use that freedom?

Our liberation is interconnected. If I am not free, then you are not free, if we truly walk in solidarity. America will only become the “land of the free and home of the brave” when we are all liberated.

LGBTQ+ communities have a lot to teach people about being free. It takes courage and strength to live authentically in a world that does not want you to do so. It also offers a vision of liberation for everyone, and a living challenge to authoritarianism. Join us in this Pride Celebration service where we explore the liberation of authenticity and the power of diversity.