Category: Celebrations of Life

“Calling In For Human Rights”

Loretta Ross is a Visiting Associate Professor at Smith College teaching “White Supremacy in the Age of Trump.” She started her career in the women’s movement in the 1970s, working at the D.C. Rape Crisis Center, the National Organization for Women, the National Black Women’s Health Project, the Center for Democratic Renewal (National Anti-Klan Network), the National Center for Human Rights Education, and SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective. Her forthcoming book is Calling In the Calling Out Culture. Her most recent publications are Reproductive Justice: An Introduction and Radical Reproductive Justice.

“Transitions: Loss and Opportunity”

Major transitions can involve our families, work life, personal life, and social context. While many afford growth and opportunity, they can also be tinged with sadness and loss. We are wise to mourn the loss even as we embrace the new. 

Rev. Kim Palmer is an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister serving as an affiliated community minister with the Unitarian Universalist Metro Atlanta North congregation. She is also a board-certified chaplain and has most recently been serving Emory University in the dual role of chaplain and spiritual health researcher, although she is currently transitioning to a very part-time contracting position as she and her wife Marty step into retirement beginning July 1.

The Paradox of Independence—or, I, too, Dream America

Anthony Knight is the Founder, President & CEO of The Baton Foundation—a Georgia nonprofit organization that serves the emotional, intellectual and cultural needs of Black boys ages 10-17. Before founding the Foundation, Mr. Knight worked for twenty-two years as a museum educator and consultant. Mr. Knight has extensive experience with and interest in African American history and culture, public and living history, informal education and Black youth. Mr. Knight’s work with The Baton Foundation reflects his ongoing interest in the issues and practices related to the collecting, preservation and interpretation of information about and material culture from the African Diaspora.  Mr. Knight’s undergraduate work was in Spanish and English (Ohio Wesleyan University), and his graduate work was in museum education (The George Washington University).  Mr. Knight also holds a degree in Spanish-to-English translation from the Núcleo de Estudios Lingüísticos y Sociales, Caracas, Venezuela.  Mr. Knight is a New York City native.

“Coming Out of Covid”

Franklin Abbott has been a practicing psychotherapist in Atlanta for nearly forty years. He is also a poet, musician, community organizer and amateur oral historian. His connection to the Congregation and Old Stone Church goes back more than forty years to early urban radical faery gatherings held in the sanctuary before First E became its steward. He has spoken at First E many times, performed music and poetry there, coordinated events and memorials. He and First E founding minister Lanier Clance were close friends and co-hosted an eclectic existential radio program on WRFG for over five years in the mid-1980s. His most recent project is a double CD of 44 original poems and 14 original songs titled Don’t Go Back To Sleep. He lives near Decatur with two cats who assisted him with mental health and amusement during the bad times of Covid before vaccinations

“Father’s Day for the Modern Spirit”

We’ll reflect together on the joys and challenges of this holiday, as well as sharing from my own journey towards being a parent.

Rev. Kimble Sorrells is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and a graduate of Candler School of Theology (Emory University) and Berry College. Kimble’s interests are in using spirituality and contemplative practices to equip us with the peace and resolve to be justice makers in the world. They are also a Registered Yoga Teacher and draw on this and other spiritual traditions to inform their ministry. Kimble has experience in 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. Kimble is also dedicated to civic engagement and is a member of the Civil Air Patrol and Alumni of Americorps Program.

“Sound of Life”

Millions of Brood X cicadas have emerged after 17 years underground to swarm in at least 15 states, including quite likely the far north corner of Georgia. While we will very likely escape their noise, we have plenty of other welcome and invasive summer sounds – natural and human created. And our unique soundscapes. This is an exploration of the hugely important – and often overlooked sense of hearing.

Rev. Marti Keller has served as a Unitarian Universalist minister for more than 23 years, most recently as the co-transition minister for the UU Church of Jacksonville Florida and prior to that in Auburn Alabama. She has been both a parish and social justice minister, and a guest speaker in many pulpits, including internationally in Edinburgh, Scotland, Ireland and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. She is spending more time researching, reflecting on and writing personal essays and immersion journalism piece, having spent the first 20 years of her professional life as a reporter and editor (graduate of the UC Berkeley School of Journalism).

“What about the Invisible Children? The Impact of Parental Incarceration on Our Nation’s Youth”

Sandra Barnhill is an attorney and founder and CEO of Foreverfamily (formerly AIMAid to Children of Imprisoned Mothers), a 34-year-old nonprofit that strengthens the bonds between children and their incarcerated parents. She is also an Encore Public Voices Fellow with The OpEd Project.

“Remembering is Important to Existing in the Now”

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.

“Connection and Choice: Ask yourself, ‘Does it Dance?‘”

“Does it dance? Does it affirm life here and now?” (from Friedrich Nietzsche cited in article by Kimerer LaMothe, www.bigthink.com, April 15, 2021)

Consider ‘connection and choice’ as a privilege, for sometimes we have freedom to choose where and when we will connect and, sometimes we do not. Even so, freedom remains to make a choice about “how,” a choice about our values, thoughts, attitudes, and guidepost questions. We do have freedom to choose how to respond to circumstances and that freedom needs to be nourished. Please join my considerations and, a lovely question to guide one’s choices, “Does it dance?”

Dr. Jean Heinrich, longtime member of the First Existentialist Congregation, is a moving human being, musician, licensed clinical psychologist, sometimes philosopher and dancer.

Kate is an ordained UCC minister, yoga teacher, writer and speaker. Six years ago, she moved from her beloved Atlanta community of 32 years to live closer to her 96 year-old mother in Ohio.

Always an avid dancer, she’s resumed international folk dancing in Columbus and is a docent at the Columbus Museum of Art. She has missed all of you and looks forward to (virtually) sharing her reflections on life these days with you soon.