Now on Zoom due to inclement weather – we will not be meeting in person 12/25 only

“Light One Candle: Winter Holidays, Memories, and Songs”

Originally hailing from San Antonio, Texas, Kathy is a lifelong learner with diverse interests, holding degrees in psychology, biomedical sciences, music performance and public administration. She and her family live on a small farm in the woods in Conyers, Georgia, where they enjoy the company of chickens, quail, ducks, rabbits, cats, and dogs. During the work week, you can find her at Oxford College of Emory University, where she serves as the Director of Institutional Research.

Clint McGuire is a man of many talents. He has been a professional actor, an award-winning photographer, and is a burgeoning podcaster. Born in Louisville, GA, Clint grew up in the mountains of North Carolina before attending college at the University of South Carolina at Aiken, where he earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. His passions are the arts, history, alternative music, and the intricacies of professional wrestling. Kathy, Clint and their son, Ian, live on a small farm in the woods in Conyers, Georgia, where they enjoy the company of chickens, quail, ducks, rabbits, cats, and dogs

• Facilitators: Clint and Kathy McGuire
• Musician: Kathy McGuire and others

“Seeking Inspiration During Troubled Times”

Jon Herman is a recently retired associate professor of religious studies at Georgia State University, where he taught classes in Asian religion, comparative mysticism, and critical theory in the study of religion. He is the author of Taoism for Dummies, and several articles on topics such as interfaith dialogue, contemporary conceptions of “spirituality,” religious studies and public education, environmentalism, Neo-Confucian mysticism, and the late science fiction author Ursula K. Le Guin. He is currently researching for a book on the Jewish existentialist author Martin Buber’s unpublished lectures on the Taoist classic, the Tao Te Ching.

During his retirement, Jon has been authoring “Herman’s Toteboard,” a (liberal) blog offering election analysis and political commentary. You can find the blog at www.thetoteboard.org.

Jon’s wife Ellen has recently retired as the coordinator of Threshold Ministry, an organization providing assistance to the homeless and those suffering other effects of poverty. She had previously worked in religious education, and university, prison, and hospital chaplaincy, and is still working tirelessly to combat homelessness. Jon and Ellen are the parents of two young adult daughters, both adopted from China. Molly is the director of communications and children’s ministry at St. Martin in the Fields Episcopal Church in Brookhaven, and Carly is a student at UGA, studying public health.

• Facilitator: D. Patton White
• Musician: Jean Heinrich

“Rest as Resistance: what do a Word of the Year, the December holidays and International Human Rights Day have to do with the liberating power of rest?”

Rev. Marti Keller describes her Big Life Goal as beholding life and bearing prophetic witness to what she discovers. She has done this through her short verse poetry, her creative nonfiction essays and blogs, her critical and immersion journalism, her justice advocacy for women and girls, and her 25 years of parish and community Unitarian Universalist ministry.

• Facilitator: Cindy Lou Who
• Musician: Mick Kinney

“Cross Culturally Affirming Our Kinship With Heretics: The Non-Dogma of Jainism”

Like Unitarian-Universalism, Jainism began as a kind of heretical movement. In this talk, I will focus on some distinctive aspects of Jain thought that I see to be particularly compatible with UU principles. I will specifically discuss aspects of Jainism that have helped me better appreciate the UU faith.

Sanjay Lal is senior lecturer of philosophy at Clayton State University. Sanjay’s research focus is on non-Western philosophy and Peace Studies (he is current president of Concerned Philosophers for Peace). He along with his wife Bhawna and their son Shrey have been regulars at 1st E since 2011.

• Facilitator: Kathy McGuire
• Musician: William Chelton

“Keeping Your Peace in Contentious Times.”

Whatever the results from the election from this week, we are likely to have navigated a week of political divide, conflicts, and anxiety about the future. Lets focus our intentions on cultivating our own inner peace and strength to continue our work for justice.

Rev. Kimble is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. They are a graduate of Candler School of Theology at Emory University and Berry College. Kimble serves bivocationally- working with Emory University’s Center for Contemplative Science and Compassion Based Ethics as well as in their Contemplative Ministry that intentionally reaches outside the church walls. Their ministry focuses on using spirituality and contemplative practices to equip us with the peace and resolve to be justice makers in the world. Kimble has experience in a variety of ministry settings. They have worked in LGBTQ advocacy for many years including as staff for Reconciling Ministries Network and the Atlanta Pride Committee, and organizing with Atlanta’s Trans and Queer community. They have also served in local congregations and as a hospital chaplain, community chaplain, and house chaplain for Candler’s formation communities.

• Facilitator: D. Patton White
• Musician: Mick Kinney

“History By Word Of Mouth”

Clint talks about his experiences and thoughts on the importance of oral history, from his hearing family stories as a child to his current work with StoryCorps Atlanta.

Clint McGuire is a man of many talents. He has been a professional actor, an award-winning photographer, and is a burgeoning podcaster. Born in Louisville, GA, Clint grew up in the mountains of North Carolina before attending college at the University of South Carolina at Aiken, where he earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. His passions are the arts, history, alternative music, and the intricacies of professional wrestling. He lives on a farm just outside of Conyers GA with his wife, son, and a menagerie of animals.

• Facilitator: Jan Lister
• Musician: Kathy McGuire

“Celebrating Life Through Those We
Have Loved and Lost”

Our Fellowship Minister, Rev. Marsha Mitchiner, has served the Congregation for over two decades, since ordination by us, following her study with Lanier Clance. She counsels, connects, and contacts members and friends, and for those who need it, performs the laying-on of hands in her role as a massage therapist. Many of us can vouch for the quality of her work, and appreciate the wisdom, restraint, and compassion she brings to the job of caring for our Congregation. Marsha speaks once each quarter, and helps smooth the functioning of the Congregation innumerable times in between.

• Facilitator:  Jan Lister
• Musician: Jean Heinrich