Our nation has so much turmoil within it now.  Maybe it always did and some of us if not many of us weren’t listening.  Beginning with the initial colonial period extending through our separation from Great Britain and moving past the Civil War, Jim Crow, into the present time we’ve failed each other in so many ways.  Deep listening to our indigenous peoples of the world;  America, Australia and Africa would begin to alter many of our views about life if we could really hear them?  Join us at UUCLV as we deep dive into ideas and narrative from other sources and hopefully listen well.

In order to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus, the UUCLV congregation has suspended most in-person programs and events for the time being.

UUCLV will be holding Virtual Worshipful Gatherings on Sundays until such a time that we can come together in-person again.

You can join us at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84823621393 on Sunday morning starting at 10:20 AM to stay connected with the local congregation. Please send a message for the password. admin@uuclv.org

​See the event invite on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/events/3508398962546939/

#UUCLV #UU #UnitarianUniversalist #UnitarianUniversalism #UUCLVEvent #SundayService #Brother #BrothersKeeper #IndigenousPeople

National Hispanic Heritage Month traditionally honors the cultures and contributions of both Hispanic and Latino Americans as we celebrate heritage rooted in all Latin American countries. During this service let us acknowledge, share the history, heritage, and accomplishments of Hispanic and Latino Americans of the Unitarian Universalist world, past and present.

#UUCLV #UU #UnitarianUniversalist #UnitarianUniversalism #UUCLVEvent #SundayService #Connections #HispanicHeritage #LatinX #LatinoAmericans

Ringing the Bell
Welcome
Invocation (Rev. Gordon)
Opening Words

In our society today, so many people are in pain.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all of us could practice deep listening so we could begin the journey towards healing a broken world.  Join us as we engage our active listening skills and begin yet again to hear our heart's yearnings and maybe come to understand each other a bit better by practicing a skill so many need to learn.

#UUCLV #UU #UnitarianUniversalist #UnitarianUniversalism #UUCLVEvent #SundayService  #Listening #DeepListening

​Chalice Lighting
Singing Together: #1054, “Let This Be A House of Peace”

Of Our Hearts
Pastoral Reflection & Silence
​Pastoral Hymn: #354, “We Laugh, We Cry” 

We Laugh, We Cry
Words & Music by Shelley Jackson Denham
​
We laugh, we cry, we live, we die; we dance, we sing our song.
We need to feel there’s something here to which we can belong.
We need to feel the freedom just to have some time alone.
But most of all we need close friends we can call our very own.
And we believe in life, and in the strength of love;
and we have found a need to be together.
We have our hearts to give, we have our thoughts to receive;
and we believe that sharing is an answer.

A child is born among us and we feel a special glow.
We see time’s endless journey as we watch the baby grow.
We thrill to hear imagination freely running wild.
We dedicate our minds and heart to the spirit of this child.
And we believe in life, and in the strength of love;
and we have found a time to be together.
And with the grace of age, we share the wonder of youth,
and we believe that growing is an answer.

Our lives are full of wonder and our time is very brief.
The death of one among us fills us all with pain and grief.
But as we live, so shall we die, and when our lives are done
the memories we shared with friends, they will linger on and on.
And we believe in life, and in the strength of love;
and we have found a place to be together.
We have the right to grow, we have the gift to believe
that peace within our living is an answer.

We seek elusive answers to the questions of this life.
We seek to put an end to all the waste of human strife.
We search for truth, equality, and blessed peace of mind.
And then, we come together here, to make sense of what we find.
And we believe in life, and in the strength of love,
and we have found a joy being together.
And in our search for peace, maybe we’ll finally see:
even to question, truly is an answer.

Lyrics from https://farfringe.com/stlt354-we-laugh-we-cry/

Offering and Invitations
Offertory by Sky
​Story
Sermon by The Reverend Gordon Clay Bailey
     How to Deep Listen
          1. Put yourself inside the mind of the speaker.
          2. Listen for meaning.
          3. Pay attention to body language.
          4. Cultivate empathy
          ​5. Avoid making judgements
          6. Pay attention to the feelings associated with the words.
          Deep Listening is a process of listening to learn.
​
Musical Interlude by Sky
Let’s Talk About It
     1. •  Have you been a person that seeks to understand before being understood?
     2. •  Do you have experiences of being given undivided attention?
     3. •  What would it take to become a nonjudgmental person?  Is it possible? 
Closing Song #318, “We Would Be One” 

A Note from Our Minister
Continuing Conversations
Fall 2020

"People don’t notice whether it’s winter or summer when they’re happy." — Anton Chekhov

Greetings dear UU’s, family, friends, and soon to be acquaintances.  

Welcome to the first of four seasonal columns.  My continuing conversations have been offline since summer and I'm finally ready to delve back into the dialogue about subjects ranging from Unitarian Universalist theology to interpersonal relationships.  Along with the usual and very UU things I’d like to engage in this late summer and fall.  I’m looking at the political issues facing our state and nation.  I can't help but pay attention to climate change and the effects that the changing realities are bringing us. Lastly I’m trying the thematic approach to monthly worship and engagement and here are some headings to keep in mind-

September: Renewal, 
October: Deep Listening and 
November: Healings.  

As always I've got lots to say maybe, in fact, too much, but nevertheless here we go - let's have a deep and abiding time engaging our faith, seeking more connections with our partners in seeking justice and in this time of Covid 19, finding ways to stay healthy, have fun, and stay connected to one another.

So, here we go.  Yes, this is new.  Yes, this is strange.  Yes, we will survive even the worst of times if we hold onto the light;  Hold onto our joys;  Hold onto the love and promise of better days ahead.  

As I sit here now, I’m learning of Ruth Badger Ginsburg's death.  Our nation has sustained a great loss.  She has been a tower of strength and resilience; a caretaker of our precious Constitution.  She will be missed, but she has shown us by her actions, by her grace, by her indomitable will, that if you keep your resolve you can persevere in the midst of mind-numbing ignorance.

I'm giving my time this season to getting to know you, Las Vegas, Clark County, and Nevada.  I am involved with DRUUMM (Diverse and Revolutionary Unitarian Universalist Multicultural Ministries) and hope to open a chapter here in our beautiful community for POC who feel UUism is for them.  I am on the CENTER Committee of the UUMA (Unitarian Universalist Minister Association). The Mission of C.E.N.T.E.R. is to design and deliver excellent continuing education that inspires, nurtures, and transforms members of the UUMA (our ministers).

I am honored to serve CENTER as it is a resource for the UUMA and the UUA in its mission to organize, plan and support collegial networks of education and training for our UUA clergy.

I am a member of CPSP (College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy). This is a credentialing body of clergy and chaplains, psychotherapists and pastoral counselors that teach, preach, provide mental health services and offer care in the midst of the lives of people far and wide, rich and poor, and people of all faith across our country.  I will be looking to develop a connection for this body within our fair city.

So dear UU’s and friends, your willingness to engage with me is critical for my immersion into our beloved UUCLV and into this region.  I've got to be on point about how I learn, grow and absorb knowledge about each of you and about the needs of our community.

So, let's look at each other via zoom and in small groups and let's dance a bit with each other; maybe on a monthly zoom dance party, and let's get to building the very best UUCLV we can possibly create and live into the wonderful mission of this congregation that says -

As a beacon in the desert,
we gather as a multi-generational, spiritual community
to build a place of love, acceptance, and justice
dedicated to worshiping, learning, and working together here and throughout southern Nevada.

We started the year at UUCLV (the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Las Vegas) with our opening service last Sunday with the Water Communion.

So, let's go!  Let's dance!  Let's engage!  Let's bring about a new season for UUCLV.  One in which we go beyond our wildest imaginations.  A renewed connection to our vision, mission, and covenant for our beloved congregation.  

All in all, we are on the move and we are offering worship services, volunteer opportunities, and fun that should excite children and families and bring our community closer together.  Ours is a faith that goes out into the world offering hope. Let's keep Hope, Faith, and Love alive as we remember our relationships, stay mindful of all around us, and find ways to express gratitude for the lives we share.

In faith,
Rev Gordon Clay Bailey

If you were able to attend the worship meeting last Sunday and stayed for the vote afterwards, you know that UUCLV has a new minister! The Reverend Gordon Clay Bailey will be joining the congregation in September 2020! We are all very excited and look forward to the new road we will travel upon together moving forward! 

Growing up in NYC, the Reverend Gordon Clay Bailey spent his early adult life searching for a job where he could make the most difference: a home for abused boys, Catholic Charities, Job Corps, the New York City Public School System, and ultimately,ministry. His call to ministry in his thirties led him to serve in the Unitarian Universalist denomination due to its rich tradition in social justice and its non-dogmatic approach to worship.

Rev. Bailey is a Board-Certified Clinical Chaplain and Pastoral Counselor with a dual BA in Anthropology and Sociology and a Master of Divinity, with a focus in Urban Ministry.

Rev. Bailey is married to Lisa Stiffler Bailey and between them they have four children (Jennifer, Devin, Ethan, and Darien) and one granddaughter (Kai).