“Holiday Thoughts – Little Women and Why It Matters”:
“One of the most famous holiday lines in a novel may be this one, ‘Christmas won’t be Christmas without any present,’ grumbled Jo, lying on the rug.
In this 150th anniversary year of the publication of what has been described as equal parts thinly disguised family memoir, complex social chronicle, and young adult novel. we will look at its American Christmas holiday messages, what is said and still says about growing up female– and whether it will survive the 21st century as a popular classic book.”
Marti still ranks Little Women among her favorite books, and arguably her first favorite book, has seen most if not all of the film adaptations, and is eagerly awaiting Greta Gerwig’s much anticipated remake with Meryl Streep, Saoirse Roman, and Timothee Chlamet, scheduled for a Christmas 2019 release.
Marti Keller graduated from David Starr Jordan Junior High in Palo Alto, California, and went on to degrees in journalism and theology. This is her 20th year as a Unitarian Universalist parish and social justice minister. She is the consulting minister for the UU Fellowship of Auburn, Alabama and the minister with the Unitarian Universalist Women’s Federation for whom she carries the gender equity and justice portfolio. She is a published poet and creative non-fiction author, and the project director for Decatur Haiku, a year of focus on this Japanese micro verse form.
Facilitator: Jan Lister
Musician: Alan Dynin
“Light in the Darkness: A Meditation on Winter Holidays” 
“Power, American History, and Black Bodies”
On September 23, 2018, Rev. Angela Denise Davis will speak at First Existentialist on the topic “On Death.” Angela Denise Davis, M.Div., M.S., is an ordained minister, writer, public speaker, and digital media creator interested in the life tasks of work and spiritual issues located at the intersection of race, class, gender, sexual identity, and disability. Her call in life is to facilitate conversations and theological reflections along the fence line of those differences. She is a black, blind, lesbian clergywoman who understands how all of her identities gift her presence in the world. She wants to share what her presence in this world brings, and celebrate the gifts of others as we hold space for the emergence of peace and grace in the world. In May 2010, she founded a spiritual collective called Sister Harriet. This was a spiritual landing pad for “holy rollers, heretics, heathens, hell raisers, and all other persuasions.” In addition to monthly gatherings, Sister Harriet offers listeners inspiring messages via a weekly podcast. Angela is also the creator, host, and producer of the ZAMI NOBLA Podcast, a bi-weekly digital offering targeted at black lesbians 40 years and older. Angela speaks to educational institutions, communities of faith, conferences, and organizations on topics ranging from personal motivation, career development, spiritual reflection, spiritual activism, social justice, LGBT and religion, Black lesbian health and well-being, and disability awareness and advocacy. In addition, she will wax poetically on all things related to the ukulele if given the chance. She is a graduate of Clark Atlanta University where she earned a B.A. in Art. She also holds a master of divinity from Vanderbilt University Divinity School, and a master of science in rehabilitation counseling from Georgia State University. The service facilitator will be Robert Stewart, and the musician will be Bill Chelton. We hope you can attend.
Peace a Chance! Venezuela