“Imani Rituals: African Spirituality for Unitarian Universalists”

UU congregations must be culturally pluralistic to become a religious home to all who cross their threshold. Imani (Swahili for “faith”) Rituals, a book that was recently published by Skinner House, coauthored by Dr. Tony Stringer, Ayanna Kafi, and Rev. Duncan Teague, centers the African American experience and the African Diaspora as the inspiration for rituals to enrich religious and spiritual life for UUs  Dr. Tony and Rev. Duncan will discuss what motivated them to write this book and how it can enrich your UU religious life.

Facilitator: Cindy Lou Who
Musician: Craig Rafuse

“Founder’s Day: Learning from Lanier”

Four congregation members, Rev. Marsha Mitchiner, Jean Heinrich, Bill Laney, and Bill Read, tell us what they learned from Rev. Lanier Clance.

Facilitator: Rev. Marsha Mitchiner
Musician: Jean Heinrich and Shanti Price (Magic Flute)

“Lesson #1 from My Time in Prison”

One of the most challenging and impactful experiences of my life so far was serving as an intern chaplain at the Arrendale Women’s Prison in Alto, Georgia in the fall of 2019 until Covid hit in 2020. In a place where so much of our societal pain and suffering converge – where there is so much work to be done within and outside the walls – my first and biggest lesson was a paradoxical epiphany.

Facilitator: Roelf Slopsema
Musician: Charli Vogt

“The Power of Positive Pizza”

Richard will link pizza with existentialism – yes indeed there is a relationship – and discuss his evolution with his favorite food.

Facilitator: Wade Marbaugh
Musician: Craig Rafuse

“Adversity as a Gateway to Empathy and Compassion”

Making visible how we can cultivate compassion in the midst of challenging times.

Facilitator: Sara Drew
Musician: Jean Heinrich

“Ancestors”

How can we recognize and interact with our ancestors?

Facilitator: Rev. Marsha Mitchiner
Musician: Alan Brown

“Hospitality and the Search for Meaning”

An exploration of how our inward and outward expressions of hospitality might affect the ways we understand ourselves and each other. Could reframing of the way we understand hospitality help us to co-create a kinder and more just existence?

Facilitator: Jan Lister
Musician: William Chelton

What is a Good Death?

Facilitator: Wade Marbaugh
Musician: Mick Kinney

Stardust Revolutionaries: Act Like It!

In the current state of the world, what do we do? Do we sink into feelings of dread and hopelessness? Do we ignore it and hope it all “comes out in the wash”? Do we engage in performative allyship while patting ourselves on the back? Do we martyr ourselves? The answer is not clear. But what is clear is that we are made of stardust…now we must act like it! 

Facilitator: Cindy Lou Who
Musician: Craig Rafuse