Join us each Sunday ONLINE as we celebrate and worship as a community.
We as Unitarian Universalists look forward to being with you virtually and in spirit on Sunday morning. We continue to develop our new spiritual practice of co-creating beloved community together in the midst of a global pandemic. We’re finding ways to spiritually prepare and fortify ourselves and to support others in uncertain times. If you need help getting to the online services, please contact board member Eileen McCormack for assistance.
Join our online Sunday service broadcast on the church’s Facebook page UUSantaMonica on Sunday mornings and join the conversation on Facebook. You can also watch it live here on the UUSM Newsletter site on the main page (news.uusm.org). You don’t need to have a Facebook account or be logged in to watch on Facebook or here. The video will also be available on our YouTube channel shortly after the end of the service so tune in anytime to catch up and worship with your community.
Sunday, April 5, 2020
“Spiritual Liberation”
Rev. Jeremiah Kalendae, preaching
Natalie Kahn, Worship Associate
ONE SERVICE AT 10:00 am online
The Israelites are freed from oppression in ancient Egypt, Jesus seemingly defies death, and Muslims fast from the comforts of the world — these are among the many traditions of spiritual freedom we will explore this month. Our theme for community reflection this month is liberation. Join us this Sunday as we explore what spiritual liberation means to our liberal faith.
Sunday, April 12, 2020
“Easter Celebration”
Rev. Jeremiah Kalendae, preaching
Kikanza Nuri-Robins, Worship Associate
ONE SERVICE AT 10:00 am online
The radical Jesus of the liberal spirit preached a message of spiritual freedom, non-violence, economic justice, healthcare, and women’s rights as he challenged the dominant powers of his time. Beneath the revolutionary social activism that led to his death was a path of spiritual renewal beyond the simplistic “death and resurrection” stories. Join us this Sunday as we explore that spiritual path and re-imagine an Easter worthy of the great spiritual teacher.
Sunday, April 19, 2020
“Honoring Earth: Solidarity and Resilience”
Rev. Jeremiah Kalendae, preaching
Alison Kendall, Worship Associates
ONE SERVICE AT 10:00 am online
Our Seventh Unitarian Universalist Principle affirms: “Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.” This Earth Day we are especially mindful of our interdependence in the midst of a global pandemic. Join us this Sunday as we meditate on this liberal religious principle and our responsibility to our beautiful planet home.
Sunday, April 26, 2020
“You Have to Ride the Wave”
Rev. KC Slack, preaching
ONE SERVICE AT 10:00 am online
“… you had to constantly try to understand what was going on and how to survive in this space…and how not to…go under. You’re on your own, and then, politics is in your life. You have to ride the wave.” ~ Arundhati Roy
Born and raised in small-town North East Ohio, our guest preacher, the Rev. KC Slack, comes from a large extended family and what they will tell you are “very rust belt” roots. The grandchild of factory workers and the child of factory managers, KC received a B.A. in Political Science from Case Western Reserve University. After graduation in 2016 from Starr King School for the Ministry, KC completed a year-long Clinical Pastoral Education residency at a mid-sized hospital in Burbank. KC was highly regarded by their peers and supervisors, as well as by medical and administrative staff throughout the hospital. They brought their broad education in world religions and their knowledge of liberatory theologies to their patients and classmates, and worked within the peer group to help future chaplains better understand how to care for LGBT+ patients.
Rev. KC serves as the minister of our neighboring UU Church of the Verdugo Hills, and continues their work as a hospital chaplain, their work as a sex educator, and as an individual spiritual director. In addition, KC is a UU scholartivist (scholar, artist, activist, and spiritual leader). They’re about all multiple everything: bi/pansexual, polyamorous, and pantheistic. Their work blends their mystic UU Pagan faith (don’t worry, they’ll happily tell you too much about it if you ask), ministry, radical politics, heavy theory, joy, art, and living a queerly fabulous life in LA. Let’s welcome them by participating in today’s service.
Generous Congregation Recipient: UUA’s COVID-19 Pandemic Response
Supporting Our People and Our Communities
In this time of national crisis, the Unitarian Universalist Association is working alongside our congregations, and supporting our UU religious professionals and administrative staff, who are tirelessly leading our communities through the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact is widespread, but some will be hit harder than others.
Gifts to the UUA’s COVID-19 Pandemic Response allow our UU faith community to financially support those religious professionals and communities for whom the pandemic will create the greatest need.
Grants will be awarded via the Disaster Relief Fund to congregations and UU entities partnering with local organizations to provide assistance in their community to people who are at significant risk to health and livelihood because of COVID-19. Grants to meet the extraordinary financial needs of ministers, religious professionals, and congregational staff impacted by COVID-19 will be disbursed through the Living Tradition Fund.
Please donate today and join in our appreciation for those who are being impacted even as they continue to lead. Your support of the COVID-19 Pandemic Response is a concrete way to show your support and love to the staff and communities that are being most impacted by this health emergency.
Our service in the world continues.
