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.

Facilitator:  D. Patton White
Musician:  William Chelton

Existentially

Rather than a speaker addressing a topic this week, Reverend Marsha Mitchiner will read selections from members and friends.

We invite You to bring in a short poem, quotation, paragraph, or similar writing, that is meaningful to you.  If possible please print and bring your selection. If you don’t have a way to print it out, please send it to Robert Stewart or to the Office (office@firstexistentialist.org) and Robert will print and bring it (if received by 9 AM Sunday morning).

Rev. Marsha will choose selections to read and comment on, as time allows. (Note that there may not be time to read every selection.)

Our Celebration of Life will be on Sunday, October 7 from 11 – 12:15. Come and hear words that are meaningful,

Facilitator: Rev. Marsha Mitchiner
Accompanist: Alan Dynin

September 2 ~ Franklin Abbott:  “Love’s Labor’s Lost”:  

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 40 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, and coordinated events and memorials. He and First E founding minister Lanier Clance were close friends and co-hosted an ecclectic existential radio program on WRFG for over five years in the mid ’80’s. His current project is a double CD of 44 original poems and 14 original songs titled Don’t Go Back to Sleep. He will be performing some of the songs with Ken Gregory and Vlamir Abbud at the Ponce Library on Wednesday 9/12 at 7:30. The event is free and open to all. He will also facilitate another Circle of Healing at the Congregation on the Fall Equinox on Sunday, 9/23 from 3:00-4:30.

Facilitator – Dr. Pauline Rose Clance
Musician – Bill Chelton

Marti Keller: Life Lessons from Middle School

Rev. Marti Keller will be the featured speaker at First E’s Celebration of Life this Sunday, presenting on “Life Lessons from Middle School”. Back to school comes early here, for many kids as early as August 1 this year, inspiring nostalgia for that very first day ever, with new shoes and crayon boxes. Or perhaps dread, most especially for what school can feel like at 12 or 13. “Eighth Grade,” a summer critical hit movie, took on one girl’s honest experiences and what they taught her. What were yours and how do they continue to inform your life in these times?

Rev. 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.

Marti is also 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- Robert Stewart
Musician- Jez Graham

Social Period before and after the service – come have Pastries & Coffee with Friends.

My Word is My Creation Power

Mona Reeves will speak at the First Existentialist Congregation’s Celebration of Life this Sunday on “My Word is My Creation Power”.

Due to the many spirit-filled connections she has at First E, Mona claims First E as one of her spiritual homes. For instance, she participated in the year long anti-racist and multicultural pilot curriculum entitled “Building The World We Dream About” (BTTWDA), a joint effort between First E and Universalist Unitarian Church of Atlanta (UUCA).

Mona Reeves is currently being developed in the Landmark
Introduction Leaders Program. She believes that people engaging with each other across communities is the key to creating a world that works for everyone.

Mona studied at California State at Dominquez Hills, and Tuskegee Universitie where she earned a Mechanical Engineering degree in 1990 and worked in that field for several years.

She is also a professional Artist Model at Universities and various Art Centers and and enjoys singing jazz standards at open mics around town, and is a New Thought Examiner. Check her out on-line at “Internet Fabulous TV”, and “Tune Into Connections” on MOSA Radio Network.

Facilitator: Ted Pettus Musician/Accompanist: Alan Dynin

Social Period before and after the service – come have Pastries & Coffee with Friends.