Rev. Michael Walker, preaching; Johnny Canales, Worship Associate. Many UU churches affirm, "Love is the Spirit of this Church." Looking for wisdom, understanding service as a spiritual practice.
Rev. Liz Murphy, preaching; Karen Hsu Patterson, Worship Associate. We'll explore together Hildegard of Bingen’s spiritual teaching of the creative, greening power of truth.
James Witker, preaching; Michael McCormack, Worship Associate. Why is social justice work so deeply intertwined with identity and congregational life for Unitarian Universalists, and has it always been so? Let’s reflect on the life and legacy of James Luther Adams, the 20th Century’s most influential Unitarian thinker and theologian. JLA’s thought was informed by war, social upheaval, and a never-ending search for truth and meaning. As a minister, professor, and community activist, he mentored generations of liberal religious leaders and helped UUs see an intimate connection between faith and action.
Rabbi Shira Freidlin. the spiritual leader of The Santa Monica Synagogue. is our 2022-2023 Honored Guest Teacher. Each year of developmental ministry, Rev. Jeremiah has brought one teacher from the broader community to lead worship that enhances our multi-religious inclusion and/or anti-racism and counter oppressive efforts.
Rabbi Shira Freidlin. the spiritual leader of The Santa Monica Synagogue. is our 2022-2023 Honored Guest Teacher. Each year of developmental ministry, Rev. Jeremiah has brought one teacher from the broader community to lead worship that enhances our multi-religious inclusion and/or anti-racism and counter oppressive efforts.
“I’ll bring you hope, when hope is hard to find…” Poetry can offer words of encouragement for all the difficult times in our lives. Join Rima Snyder and Judith Martin-Straw for an exploration of poems that can help us find hope and reassurance.
"Stories We Leave Behind" is the theme by Chaplain Bronwen Jones. Inspired by the lives of her oncology patients at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, she explores the notion of legacy, that we create our legacy whether we want to or not. Every moment we are alive has the potential to be remembered by our loved ones and friends, our colleagues and peers. It is a subject rich for contemplation and creativity. We can harness our awareness of what is most important to us and have some potency in how we are remembered. Worship Associate: Jo An Peters.
Inspiring Songs for Centering Love. Listen to the music, where the song lyrics are incorporated into the sermon itself. Feel free to sing along during this Soulful Sunrise. Each song represents an emotional/spiritual turning point in our lives when, in wisdom, hope, and faith, we may collectively turn to embrace love as a personal centering act of caring, sharing, serving, and forgiving. Johnny Canales, MDiv, MTS, Lay Community Minister, is an accomplished musician and a member of our congregation. Patrick Meighan, Worship Associate.
In April, James was officially designated a "Distinguished Alumn" at his seminary, the Pacific School of Religion. When he visited, he witnessed some of the consequences of the steep decline in mainstream religions, especially Christianity. He also witnessed some things that gave him hope for a vital and useful spirituality in our perilous times. We welcome back the Rev. James Ishmael Ford, who is a Unitarian Universalist minister, a Zen teacher and retreat leader, a blogger, and an author. He is minister emeritus at the First Unitarian Church of Providence, RI. For the past three years he has served as a consulting minister with the First Unitarian Church of Los Angeles. He is also an active member of the teaching circle of the Empty Moon Zen community. Sue Bickford, Worship Associate.
Amy Brunell explores the topic, "Your Body Is Welcome Here." We have been led to believe that only certain bodies are healthy and therefore valuable. We have been inundated with what "health" looks like. If we do not match the ideal, then we are called lazy, considered uneducated, and lacking self-care strategies. In addition, many of our Liberal folks still struggle with the unconscious bias of tattoos and piercings! Now our Trans folks, including children, are being attacked and denied medical care and acceptance. Let's gently consider some of the bias of bodies we may encounter or we ourselves have. Johnny Canales, Worship Associate
Pastor Stephen "Cue" Jn-Marie, preaching. Misplaced Love destroys the balance of the universe and throws everything off track & out of whack, it inhibits us from loving our neighbor effectively! We welcome Pastor Stephen "Cue" Jn-Marie this morning. Cue is the Pastor and founder of The Row LA – “The Church Without Walls” founded in 2006, in Downtown Los Angeles’ Skid Row community. Pastor Cue is also a faith-rooted organizer with Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE), since 2015 and is co-lead organizer of the Black Jewish Justice Alliance (BJJA) as well as Co-convener of the Black and Brown Clergy and Community coalition and is dedicated to helping address issues of public policy that are affecting the most vulnerable citizens and residents in the City & County of Los Angeles. Sue Bickford is our Worship Associate.
Rev. Jeremiah Lal Shahbaz Kalendae and Rev. Amelia Mumina Marie, preaching. "Shall we gather by the river... the beautiful, beautiful river?" asks the hymn we sang at the Unitarian Universalist Association General Assembly and will sing again this morning — a reflection upon all people gathering at the river of life. Like General Assembly, a time when congregations from all across the nation join together in worship, this annual service is a time for us to come together to inaugurate a new church year. We will pour libations of water and offer our hopes and dreams into the well of our common life. You may bring a small container of water that is sacred to you for the ceremony. We will also warmly welcome our newest members, so be sure to join us on this special Sunday morning! Johnny Canales is our Worship Associate.