“Dr. Rachel Remen: The Life Work of a Wounded Healer”

Leon has wandered for 86 years. Good and bad things have happened to him in this journey. The best things have been a wonderful wife of 63 years, three great adult children, seven beautiful grandchildren, and some spiritual and philosophical growth along the way. Leon has had four careers: Christian missionary, pastor, computer programmer, and addictions counselor, but he says that a part-time job of teacher of English to immigrants was the most fun (8 years). He has gone from fundamentalist Christian to evangelical, to liberal Christian, to agnostic/atheist. His goal now is to learn to love more and better.

• Facilitator: D. Patton White
• Musician: Mick Kinney

2022 MacArthur Fellow

Title: TBA

”Not letting success go to my head or failure go to my heart is one of the timeless lessons I hope my life’s journey offers others. What I’ve gone through has been the crucible to prepare me for future challenges. It’s not that I’m never scared; I’ve just learned never to let my fears stop me from becoming more than what’s happened to me. Activism has been the art of making my life matter.” – Loretta Ross

Loretta J. Ross received a BA (2007) from Agnes Scott College and pursued doctoral studies (2008–2009) at Emory University. Since 2019, she has been an associate professor in the Program of the Study of Women and Gender at Smith College. Ross has held previous appointments at Hampshire College (2017–2018) and Arizona State University (2018–2019). From 2005 to 2012, she was the National Coordinator for SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective. Ross is the co-author of Undivided Rights: Women of Color Organizing for Reproductive Justice (2004) and the co-editor of Radical Reproductive Justice: Foundations, Theory, Practice, and Critique (2017). Her forthcoming book, Calling in the Calling Out Culture, is due out in 2023.

• Facilitator: Libby Ware
• Musician: Charli Vogt

“Going to New Zealand as metaphor for marriage”

Reading from and talking about a selection of poems that use the idea of traveling to and in New Zealand as a metaphor for preparing for marriage.

Alice Teeter studied poetry at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida, with Peter Meinke and has taught poetry to Emory University undergraduates in Atlanta, Georgia. In addition to three poetry books, her poems have appeared anthologies and journals including Oberon Poetry Magazine, the Atlanta Review and Per Contra. A Florida native, she lives with her wife Kathie deNobriga in Pine Lake, Georgia.

• Facilitator: Wade Marbaugh
• Musician: Bill Chelton

Now on Zoom due to inclement weather – we will not be meeting in person 12/25 only

“Light One Candle: Winter Holidays, Memories, and Songs”

Originally hailing from San Antonio, Texas, Kathy is a lifelong learner with diverse interests, holding degrees in psychology, biomedical sciences, music performance and public administration. She and her family live on a small farm in the woods in Conyers, Georgia, where they enjoy the company of chickens, quail, ducks, rabbits, cats, and dogs. During the work week, you can find her at Oxford College of Emory University, where she serves as the Director of Institutional Research.

Clint McGuire is a man of many talents. He has been a professional actor, an award-winning photographer, and is a burgeoning podcaster. Born in Louisville, GA, Clint grew up in the mountains of North Carolina before attending college at the University of South Carolina at Aiken, where he earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. His passions are the arts, history, alternative music, and the intricacies of professional wrestling. Kathy, Clint and their son, Ian, live on a small farm in the woods in Conyers, Georgia, where they enjoy the company of chickens, quail, ducks, rabbits, cats, and dogs

• Facilitators: Clint and Kathy McGuire
• Musician: Kathy McGuire and others

“Seeking Inspiration During Troubled Times”

Jon Herman is a recently retired associate professor of religious studies at Georgia State University, where he taught classes in Asian religion, comparative mysticism, and critical theory in the study of religion. He is the author of Taoism for Dummies, and several articles on topics such as interfaith dialogue, contemporary conceptions of “spirituality,” religious studies and public education, environmentalism, Neo-Confucian mysticism, and the late science fiction author Ursula K. Le Guin. He is currently researching for a book on the Jewish existentialist author Martin Buber’s unpublished lectures on the Taoist classic, the Tao Te Ching.

During his retirement, Jon has been authoring “Herman’s Toteboard,” a (liberal) blog offering election analysis and political commentary. You can find the blog at www.thetoteboard.org.

Jon’s wife Ellen has recently retired as the coordinator of Threshold Ministry, an organization providing assistance to the homeless and those suffering other effects of poverty. She had previously worked in religious education, and university, prison, and hospital chaplaincy, and is still working tirelessly to combat homelessness. Jon and Ellen are the parents of two young adult daughters, both adopted from China. Molly is the director of communications and children’s ministry at St. Martin in the Fields Episcopal Church in Brookhaven, and Carly is a student at UGA, studying public health.

• Facilitator: D. Patton White
• Musician: Jean Heinrich

“Rest as Resistance: what do a Word of the Year, the December holidays and International Human Rights Day have to do with the liberating power of rest?”

Rev. Marti Keller describes her Big Life Goal as beholding life and bearing prophetic witness to what she discovers. She has done this through her short verse poetry, her creative nonfiction essays and blogs, her critical and immersion journalism, her justice advocacy for women and girls, and her 25 years of parish and community Unitarian Universalist ministry.

• Facilitator: Cindy Lou Who
• Musician: Mick Kinney

“Cross Culturally Affirming Our Kinship With Heretics: The Non-Dogma of Jainism”

Like Unitarian-Universalism, Jainism began as a kind of heretical movement. In this talk, I will focus on some distinctive aspects of Jain thought that I see to be particularly compatible with UU principles. I will specifically discuss aspects of Jainism that have helped me better appreciate the UU faith.

Sanjay Lal is senior lecturer of philosophy at Clayton State University. Sanjay’s research focus is on non-Western philosophy and Peace Studies (he is current president of Concerned Philosophers for Peace). He along with his wife Bhawna and their son Shrey have been regulars at 1st E since 2011.

• Facilitator: Kathy McGuire
• Musician: William Chelton

“Keeping Your Peace in Contentious Times.”

Whatever the results from the election from this week, we are likely to have navigated a week of political divide, conflicts, and anxiety about the future. Lets focus our intentions on cultivating our own inner peace and strength to continue our work for justice.

Rev. Kimble is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. They are a graduate of Candler School of Theology at Emory University and Berry College. Kimble serves bivocationally- working with Emory University’s Center for Contemplative Science and Compassion Based Ethics as well as in their Contemplative Ministry that intentionally reaches outside the church walls. Their ministry focuses on using spirituality and contemplative practices to equip us with the peace and resolve to be justice makers in the world. Kimble has experience in a 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, community chaplain, and house chaplain for Candler’s formation communities.

• Facilitator: D. Patton White
• Musician: Mick Kinney