2020 is a year that will be vividly remembered by most eve of the world. Here in the US we have faced an uncontrolled pandemic and uncontrolled president. How do we move forward to recover physically, mentally, economically, and emotionally? How do we heal? How will you?
Our Fellowship Minister, Rev. Marsha Mitchiner, has served the Congregation for over two decades, since ordination by us, following her study with Rev. 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.
This year of pandemic has been a rollercoaster. Some days we may feel almost normal, while other days bring us to our knees. Drawing upon scripture, spiritual practice, and original music, Unitarian Universalist Rev. Erin Walter will reflect on how we can face pain and struggle faithfully while also embracing moments of joy and gratitude where we find them.
Rev. Erin Walter serves as the Affiliated Community Minister for Wildflower Church, a Unitarian Universalist congregation in Austin, Texas. Originally a newspaper journalist, Rev. Erin earned a Masters of Divinity at Meadville Lombard Theological School, won UU Women’s Federation Sermon Award in 2017 (preached at GA), and is a board member of the Texas UU Justice Ministry. Her work is rooted in the powerful connection between the arts, justice movements, and multicultural community in her engaging roles as ordained minister, nonprofit director, writer, musician, and Zumba instructor. You can find her band Parker Woodland and her music at ParkerWoodland.com.
“Freedom is a Constant Struggle: Facing Alienations with Radical Acceptance”
Janna Nelson currently lives with her husband, Scott Hooker, and her younger son, David Nelson-Hooker in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where they have now lived for almost six years. They moved there after 40 years in Atlanta to be closer to family, and they have always preferred the New Mexican climate and open skies and country.
Rev. Janna Nelson
For Janna, it is a return to a land and people of her youth. Born the youngest of six in rural Alabama in 1958, she moved with her family to New Mexico in 1963. Her father, a Southern Baptist missionary, and the family spent the next seven years in various locations on the Navajo Reservation before moving to Albuquerque. Witnessing and being part of several traumatic and life-changing events left her a seeker.
She moved with her parents to Atlanta in 1975 and culture shock ensued. Due to accessibility issues with high schools at that time, she took a GED and went to Clayton Junior College, then GSU, taking whatever she wanted, working various interesting jobs until she started working at Sevananda, where she worked for seven years. During this time she had her older son. At age 25, she returned to GSU and graduated with a teaching degree three years later, starting a career in education that was deeply satisfying. She also started performing music solo and with others, starting her lifelong partnership in song and love with Scott.
She discovered First Existentialist Congregation in 1981 and it was the first place that felt open enough for her mind and spirit, as she had left religion behind at this point. After years of involvement in various aspects of the community, she entered into a five-year Existential Ministerial Studies Program with Rev. Lanier Clance and was ordained as a minister by the Congregation in 1999, which she continued to serve in a varying capacity until moving to Albuquerque in 2014. She is delighted to see the flourishing of this intentional community and still calls it one of her homes.
“Fraudulent Elections and the Peaceful Transfer of Power in American History”
Dr. H. Robert Baker is Associate Professor of History at Georgia State University and is the author of Prigg v. Pennsylvania: Slavery, the Supreme Court, and the Ambivalent Constitution (2012) and The Rescue of Joshua Glover: A Fugitive Slave, the Constitution, and the Coming of the Civil War (2006). His scholarly articles have appeared in the Law and History Review, Common-Place, and the Journal of Supreme Court History. He holds a Ph.D. in History from UCLA, where he studied with Joyce Appleby. He has received a Fulbright Fellowship and been a fellow at the Institute for Constitutional Studies. He also writes about wine, law, and contemporary culture for the blog Tropics of Meta.
“A Question of Fear: The Rule of Law and Human Rights in the United States.“
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.
“Calling Out, Calling In- An Election Perspective”
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.
“KARMONY – Finding Harmony in Our Collective Karma.”
The message is: true unity is in relationships.
Scruples in Any Language:Culture, Class, or Personality?
Paula Larke is a storyteller, motivational speaker, spoken word/vocal innovator, bassist and percussionist.
She has used her music, passion, and humor nationally, for over 38 years, to unite, chide, inspire, and restore faith in the human potential for harmony. Her primary work is in community – schools, churches, state fairs, businessmen’s luncheons, workplace employee training – every kind of community gathering allowing her access.
Most recently, Paula has been teaching artist in Eastern Kentucky and Clarkston, GA, adapting her delivery for Appalachian and international refugee audiences. “It has been an enriching experience, seeing through eyes so different from my own” she affirms.
Her CD, “ UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY”, produced with activist/percussionist Kim Nimoy, is a performance libretto, designed for use in schools and colleges.
“Individual Experience and Personal Meanings: Dread and Curiosity”
Dr. Jean Heinrich is a licensed clinical psychologist, musician, longstanding member of the First Existentialist Congregation of Atlanta.
Grateful for this opportunity, she notes, “I’ve been struck by the many ways we individuals are facing traumas and tragedies in our country, the variety of individual experiences, and meanings we create. I marvel at the impact of attitude and how attitudes fluctuate. Please join me as I present a consideration of this via our Facebook page, and please leave comments and tell me what you think and how you fare. Or text me. Thanks.”
On this Yom Kippur Day, as human beings in progress, we will look at the challenges and joys of this particular year and time of accountability, renewal and charity in Jewish religious tradition.
