What does Collective Liberation mean for us as Unitarian Universalists? Poet June Jordan told us

          “we are the ones we’ve been waiting for.”

What does our faith tell us in times such as these? How do we widen the circle until no one is left behind? All of us worthy. All of us saved. All of us free! Join Rev Kev as we explore the foundational values of Unitarian Universalism as expressed through Justice and Equity with Love at the center.

Rev. Kevin Mann (REV KEV) (he/him/siyá) was ordained by the First Unitarian Church of Oakland on October 1st, 2023, the first day of both Filipino American and LGBTQ History Months. He serves as a Chaplain at Sequoia Hospice, Faculty Advisor at Starr King School for the Ministry, and Consultant for Partnership with the UU Church of the Philippines. Rev Kev founded the California statewide chapter of DRUUMM (Diverse Revolutionary UU Multicultural Ministries), hosting quarterly retreats for BIPOC UUs. His ministry is rooted in Collective Liberation, where none of us is free until all of us are free.

About The Service
In Unitarian Universalism we often hear terms such as "Spiritual Growth," but what exactly does spiritual growth mean? What is it to be spiritual? These are questions that can be difficult to answer for anyone, but that can be particularly difficult for folks that grew up unchurched, or those who left or were traumatized by their religions of origin, and those who identify as nontheists. We'll explore some definitions of spirituality, and look at the ways a spiritual identity can be accessible to everyone. We hope you'll join us as we explore how spirituality and theology are separate, and how being in a multi-religious community can help us freely explore and find meaning for ourselves.

But joy counters that, enlivens us, and reminds us what we’re fighting for. How do we get more joy in ourselves and our communities, so survive and thrive together?

​How do we find moments of rest, times of peace, in a fast-paced, crisis-torn world? In a passage from the Four Quartets, T. S. Eliot writes: “Between melting and freezing / The soul’s sap quivers. / The dumb spirit stirs.” This poet, who is part of our UU tradition, has wisdom to offer us about living in the “between” times.

About Rev. Jeanne Foster
Rev. Dr. Jeanne Foster grew up in New Orleans.  She received her Master of Divinity degree from Starr King, was ordained by the Monterey Peninsula UU Church, and served as minister of the UU Fellowship in Modesto. She earned her Ph.D. from the Graduate Theological Union in the interdisciplinary area of Religion, Literature, and the Arts. She is Professor Emerita at Saint Mary's College in Moraga, where she taught Literature and Creative Writing for many years.  Her primary focus now is on her own writing. A Music of Grace is a critical work, which asks the question, Is there still sacred ground to stand on?  Her poetry books include A Blessing of Safe Travel; Goodbye, Silver Sister; and most recently, Your Form Became My Own.  She is co-translator with Alan Williamson of The Living Theatre: Selected Poems of Bianca Tarozzi, which won the Northern California Book Award for Poetry in Translation.  Her new manuscript is called From a Tuscan Farmhouse Window.  Her selected poems translated into Italian are scheduled for publication this year by Molesini, Venice. Her passion is ballroom dancing and, in particular, ballroom dancing in Tuscany.

​In this month of March, UU’s do have martyrs who can inspire us in these times of trepidation and sorrow. Let us celebrate those we trust and who inspire us to move through these changing times and move us forward into a path of justice and compassion. Join us this Sunday to receive that inspiration and drive we need to move through these changing times.

About The Reverend Joe Green
The Reverend Jo Green came to ministry as a third career after years teaching art to 7th Graders and working in the corporate world later on.  She graduated from Starr King School for the Ministry with a Master of Divinity degree and completed her Internship and Residency at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Cherry Hill under the guidance of Rev. Manish Mishra-Marzetti where she was also ordained.  She completed her Chaplaincy Residency in Central Pennsylvania at Geisinger Health Center in Danville PA.  Pastoral Care is an integral part of ministry, she feels, and is grateful that she had this opportunity. She is currently acquiring her Facilitator certificate with the Alternatives to Violence Project.  She is semi-retired and returning to Chaplaincy and Community Ministry after serving 5 different congregations and is excited to now also be the Affiliate Minister at the UU Congregation of Santa Clarita Valley.

The Grammar of Inclusion
We live in a culture that tends to recognize just two genders, male and female. The idea that there are only two genders is sometimes called a “gender binary.” Yet, non-binary identities have been recognized for millennia by cultures and societies around the world. While our culture is starting to deconstruct the gender binary, our linguistic structure reinforces the very division and discrimination that we seek to end. Together, we will explore how we as Unitarian Universalists--and as a church community--can create a culture of belonging through pronouns and a new grammar of inclusion.

About the Service
Hope could be considered an act of resistance. It can energize us to continue in the work of social transformation. Hope says we believe that change is possible. Yet, with the inauguration, Hope can feel absurd. This week we’re going to explore the complexity of Hope. Deciding to have Hope, we can continue to work for justice.  ​​

About Amy Brunell
​Amy Brunell is a third year Seminarian at Starr King School for the Ministry. Amy has been in the health and wellness industry for over two decades and currently teaches adults topics concerning developing a wider Emotional Intelligence. Amy is also a performer who studied Musical Theater in college. Amy is hoping to become ordained as a Family Minister in the Unitarian Universalist Tradition. Amy lives in the Los Angeles area and has two adult sons.

​See Order of Service below or HERE

This past week marked nearly four years since nearly 2,500 people, including people of faith, stormed the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to violently overturn a Democratic process, causing nearly a dozen needless deaths and injuring countless others. Four years later, our society is still in a state of peril; with Christian Nationalists and other extremist groups continuing to erode the bedrock of our Nation's democracy. In times such as this, it can be nearly overwhelming to find the light of love in a world marred by injustice. Join us as we examine lessons from a historic figure who also lived and loved in difficult times such as this.

Jacob King (He/Him) is a UU Christian and Neurodivergent Bi-sexual White cis-gender male (cognizant of the privilege this provides. Jacob first came to UU over six years ago after witnessing UU's conducting Social Justice in the public square down in the Southern Border. Jacob is married to a loving partner (Karmen King) and has three cats, a dog, and a bearded dragon! Jacob has been actively pursuing UU Ministry for several years and is currently a second year Doctor of Ministry (DMin) student at Meadville Lombard. 


​​You are welcome to join us in-person at our physical location:

3616 East Lake Mead Boulevard
Las Vegas, NV 89115

​If you are unable to join us live because of concerns for your health or other reasons, please join us online at Zoom.

You can join us at Zoom here: ​https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84823621393 
The password is chalice.
​
The Zoom room opens at 10:25 AM.
​Worship begins at 10:30 AM

​Click here to submit your announcement

We post-Christian UU’s sometimes feel estranged from the baby in the manger, the Holy Night, and the ever-present Christmas Carols, but we need not be, because, all this is ours!  Yes!  Unitarians wrote some of the world's  favorite carols, championed the Christmas tree, re-thought the babe in the manger, and made Peace an enduring Christmas theme.  Our Guest Minister will tell this story as we sing along. 

The Rev. Christine Robinson served as Senior Minister of the First Unitarian Church of Albuquerque, New Mexico, for 29 years before retiring in 2017.  She worked part time in various ministries for five years and now engages in short-term gigs and mentoring new ministers and ministers needing assistance with the administrative side of their ministries. ​

You are welcome to join us in-person at our physical location:

          3616 East Lake Mead Boulevard
          Las Vegas, NV 89115

If you are unable to join us live because of concerns for your health or other reasons, please join us online at Zoom.

You can join us at Zoom here: ​https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84823621393 
The password is chalice.
​
The Zoom room opens at 10:25 AM.
​Worship begins at 10:30 AM

​Click here to submit your announcement

This service will be followed afterwards with our Friends-Giving Potluck Event.