Please join us next Wednesday (27 October 2021) at 12 noon for our weekly Zoom lunch.

Bring your lunch and meet up with your All Souls friends, have lunch, and just catch up.

Please join us on Saturday (23 October 2021) at 10:30 AM for our weekly meditation group with Larry Androes.

This is a sitting Buddhist meditation including a brief introduction to mindfulness meditation, 20 minutes of sitting, and followed by a weekly teaching.

The group is free and open to all.

For more information, contact Larry via email or phone using (318) 272-0014.

Please join us on Sunday (17 October 2021) at 11:00 AM “The Enemy of the Good” by Rev. Barbara Jarrell.

Our service will be livestreamed on Facebook Live here.

Watch for our weekly email announcements for info on the next in-person worship service and other opportunities to gather in smaller groups in person.  You can sign up for these announcements using this link.

Our October 2021 give-away-the-plate recipient is Together Louisiana.

We will have a  virtual coffee hour after the service on Zoom.

While we are remaining physically distant, we want to know how you are doing, what you need, and what you are interested in.  You can let us know using these online surveys.

And you can contribute to All Souls using this online resource.

Our weekly adult religious education class is taking a break this Sunday (17 October 2021).

We will resume our Sunday morning classes next Sunday (24 October 2021) at 9:00 AM.

At that time, the group will review and reevaluate the anti-racism work we have done so far and determine how we want to move forward.

And — for those who wanted them — copies of the book Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad should be after 25 October 2021.  Watch for information on how and when you can pick one up.

Families — we hear you and realize how done you are with Zoom.

We will continue to watch the local COVID numbers and we feel encouraged by the cooling weather and the possibility of comfortable outdoor activities.

We hope to have news about some outdoor activities for children and youth soon.

Keep the faith.

Please join us next Wednesday (20 October 2021) at 12 noon for our weekly Zoom lunch.  Our host for this week’s lunch will be Susan Yellott.

Bring your lunch and meet up with your All Souls friends, have lunch, and just catch up.

Please join us on Saturday (16 October 2021) at 10:30 AM for our weekly meditation group with Larry Androes.

This is a sitting Buddhist meditation including a brief introduction to mindfulness meditation, 20 minutes of sitting, and followed by a weekly teaching.

The group is free and open to all.

For more information, contact Larry via email or phone using (318) 272-0014.

Please join us on Sunday (10 October 2021) at 11:00 AM for “Common Good and the Root of Evil” with Rev. Barbara Jarrell, Rebecca Tuggle, and Bennett Upton.

Our service will be livestreamed on Facebook Live here.

Watch for our weekly email announcements for info on the next in-person worship service and other opportunities to gather in smaller groups in person.  You can sign up for these announcements using this link.

Our October 2021 give-away-the-plate recipient is Together Louisiana.

We will have a  virtual coffee hour after the service on Zoom.

While we are remaining physically distant, we want to know how you are doing, what you need, and what you are interested in.  You can let us know using these online surveys.

And you can contribute to All Souls using this online resource.

Families — we hear you and realize how done you are with Zoom.

We will continue to watch the local COVID numbers and we feel encouraged by the cooling weather and the possibility of comfortable outdoor activities.

We hope to have news about some outdoor activities for children and youth soon.

Keep the faith.

Our weekly adult religious education class is taking a break this Sunday (10 October 2021) and next Sunday (17 October 2021).

We will resume our Sunday morning classes on Sunday, 24 October 2021, at 9:00 AM.

At that time, the group will review and reevaluate the anti-racism work we have done so far and determine how we want to move forward.

And — for those who wanted them — copies of the book Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad should be in some time this week.  Watch for information on how and when you can pick one up.

Please join us next Wednesday (13 October 2021) at 12 noon for our weekly Zoom lunch.  Our host for this week’s lunch will be Susan Yellott.

Bring your lunch and meet up with your All Souls friends, have lunch, and just catch up.

Please join us on Saturday (9 October 2021) from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM for our monthly building and grounds work day.

There are tasks indoors and out for all ages and abilities — come for the whole time or for whatever part of the day you can make it.

Vaccinated or not vaccinated — please wear your mask when you are working near others.  Hope to see you there.

Please join us next Wednesday (6 October 2021) at 12 noon for our weekly Zoom lunch.

Bring your lunch and meet up with your All Souls friends, have lunch, and just catch up.

Please join us on Saturday (2 October 2021) at 10:30 AM for our weekly meditation group with Larry Androes.

This is a sitting Buddhist meditation including a brief introduction to mindfulness meditation, 20 minutes of sitting, and followed by a weekly teaching.

The group is free and open to all.

For more information, contact Larry via email or phone using (318) 272-0014.

Please join us on Sunday (26 September 2021) at 11:00 AM for “Look Again” by Rev. Barbara Jarrell.

Our service will be livestreamed on Facebook Live here.

Watch for our weekly email announcements for info on the next in-person worship service and other opportunities to gather in smaller groups in person.  You can sign up for these announcements using this link.

Our September 2021 give-away-the-plate recipient is North Louisiana Interfaith.

We will have a  virtual coffee hour after the service on Zoom.

While we are remaining physically distant, we want to know how you are doing, what you need, and what you are interested in.  You can let us know using these online surveys.

And you can contribute to All Souls using this online resource.

Families — we hear you and realize how done you are with Zoom.

We will continue to watch the local COVID numbers and we feel encouraged by the cooling weather and the possibility of comfortable outdoor activities.

We hope to have news about some outdoor activities for children and youth soon.

Keep the faith.

Please join us on Sunday (26 September 2021) at 9:00 AM for our adult religious education class via Zoom.

We have completed our White Fragility book study group using the book by Robin DiAngelo.

This week we continue our exploration of the 8th principle and anti-racism as we look at how Southern socialites rewrote history.

With so much attention turned recently to the teaching of history in our schools (including all the erroneous assertions that critical race theory is taught in kindergarten through grade 12), it’s time to take a look at how our textbooks came to frame the history that many of us learned in school and the huge role that the United Daughters of the Confederacy played in the process.

Please join us next Wednesday (29 September 2021) at 12 noon for our weekly Zoom lunch.

Bring your lunch and meet up with your All Souls friends, have lunch, and just catch up.

Please join us on Saturday (25 September 2021) at 10:30 AM for our weekly meditation group with Larry Androes.

This is a sitting Buddhist meditation including a brief introduction to mindfulness meditation, 20 minutes of sitting, and followed by a weekly teaching.

The group is free and open to all.

For more information, contact Larry via email or phone using (318) 272-0014.

Please join us on Sunday (19 September 2021) at 11:00 AM for “Making Room for More Life” by Rev. Barbara Jarrell.

Our service will be livestreamed on Facebook Live here.

Watch for our weekly email announcements for info on the next in-person worship service and other opportunities to gather in smaller groups in person.  You can sign up for these announcements using this link.

Our September 2021 give-away-the-plate recipient is North Louisiana Interfaith.

We will have a  virtual coffee hour after the service on Zoom.

While we are remaining physically distant, we want to know how you are doing, what you need, and what you are interested in.  You can let us know using these online surveys.

And you can contribute to All Souls using this online resource.

We are holding additional opportunities for parent meetings this coming week via Zoom.

We want to determine what kind of religious education format and schedule will work best for your family and your children.

You only need to just one session though you are welcome to attend both if you want.  It is the same meeting at two different times.

The same Zoom link will be used for both meetings on the following dates:

• Tuesday, 21 September 2021 at 7:00 PM
• Thursday, 23 September 2021 at 12 Noon

Email Susan Caldwell to let her know which meeting you will attend.

If none of these times work for you, text her at 318-465-3427 to set up an appointment.

Please join us on Sunday (19 September 2021) at 9:00 AM for our adult religious education class via Zoom.

We have completed our White Fragility book study group using the book by Robin DiAngelo.

This week we continue our exploration of the 8th principle and anti-racism as we look at racial disparities in health care.

In just about every aspect of health care in the US, racial disparities are often stark.

Whether the inequities are present in access to care, in attitudes of medical personnel that impact the treatment of people of color, or in a lack of trust in the medical profession brought about how they treat people of color, the inequities are very real.

Come join us to learn more.

Please join us next Wednesday (22 September 2021) at 12 noon for our weekly Zoom lunch.

Bring your lunch and meet up with your All Souls friends, have lunch, and just catch up.

Please join us on Saturday (18 September 2021) at 10:30 AM for our weekly meditation group with Larry Androes.

This is a sitting Buddhist meditation including a brief introduction to mindfulness meditation, 20 minutes of sitting, and followed by a weekly teaching.

The group is free and open to all.

For more information, contact Larry via email or phone using (318) 272-0014.

Please join us on Sunday (12 September 2021) at 11:00 AM for “Even So, There is Sweetness” by Rev. Barbara Jarrell.

Our service will be livestreamed on Facebook Live here.

Watch for our weekly email announcements for info on the next in-person worship service and other opportunities to gather in smaller groups in person.  You can sign up for these announcements using this link.

Our September 2021 give-away-the-plate recipient is North Louisiana Interfaith.

We will have a  virtual coffee hour after the service on Zoom.

While we are remaining physically distant, we want to know how you are doing, what you need, and what you are interested in.  You can let us know using these online surveys.

And you can contribute to All Souls using this online resource.

We are holding a series of parent meetings this coming week via Zoom.

We want to determine what kind of religious education format and schedule will work best for your family and your children.

You only need to just one session though you are welcome to attend as many as you like.  It is the same meeting at several different times.

The same Zoom link will be used for all four meetings on the following dates:

• Tuesday, 14 September 2021, at 12 Noon
• Tuesday, 14 September 2021, at 7:00 PM
• Wednesday, 15 September 2021, at 8:30 PM
• Thursday, 16 September 2021, at 12 Noon

Email Susan Caldwell to let her know which meeting you will attend.

If none of these times work for you, text her at 318-465-3427 to set up an appointment.

Please join us on Sunday (12 September 2021) at 9:00 AM for our adult religious education class via Zoom.

We have completed our White Fragility book study group using the book by Robin DiAngelo.

This week we continue our exploration of the 8th principle and anti-racism as we look at racial disparities in health care.

In just about every aspect of health care in the US, racial disparities are often stark.

Whether the inequities are present in access to care, in attitudes of medical personnel that impact the treatment of people of color, or in a lack of trust in the medical profession brought about how they treat people of color, the inequities are very real.

Come join us to learn more.

Please join us next Wednesday (15 September 2021) at 12 noon for our weekly Zoom lunch.

Bring your lunch and meet up with your All Souls friends, have lunch, and just catch up.

Please join us on Saturday (11 September 2021) from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM for our monthly building and grounds work day.

There are tasks indoors and out for all ages and abilities — come for the whole time or for whatever part of the day you can make it.

Vaccinated or not vaccinated — please wear your mask when you are working near others.  Hope to see you there.

Please join us on Saturday (11 September 2021) at 10:30 AM for our weekly meditation group with Larry Androes.

This is a sitting Buddhist meditation including a brief introduction to mindfulness meditation, 20 minutes of sitting, and followed by a weekly teaching.

The group is free and open to all.

For more information, contact Larry via email or phone using (318) 272-0014.

Beth Casebolt

Continue reading "Honoring Our Covenant as Congregations"

Beth Casebolt

Continue reading "Honoring Our Covenant as Congregations"

Please join us on Sunday (5 September 2021) at 9:00 AM for our adult religious education class via Zoom.

We have completed our White Fragility book study group using the book by Robin DiAngelo.

This week we continue our exploration of the 8th principle and anti-racism as we look at environmental racism in the US.

Rev. William Barber of the Poor People’s Campaign calls on us to end the silos that have so often been characteristic of the movement to remediate climate change and other social justice movements.

If we Unitarian Universalists truly believe in the interdependent web of all existence, we need to take a hard and honest look at how climate change along with all the related threats to our environment affect us all but affect most severely those who are already most marginalized among us.

All Souls Director of Religious Education Susan Caldwell will be setting up parent meetings at various times next week with the goal of offering convenient times for everyone to participate.

We want to hear what works best for your family as we start the year in religious education.

Watch our website and the All Souls Religious Education Facebook Group for updates.

Our September 2021 Give-Away-the-Plate recipient is North Louisiana Interfaith.

North Louisiana Interfaith is a non-partisan political organization made up of religious congregations, non-profits, and other institutions throughout Northwest Louisiana.

All Souls has been a member congregation since 2005.

Interfaith leaders work together on issues that most concern the people in our institutions which arise out of house meetings where we listen to each other’s stories.

We work on issues at the local level and statewide level through our affiliate organization Together Louisiana.

Two ways to donate:

Online — Go to our donation site using this link.  If you are paying your pledge, select “2021 Pledges” and enter that amount for your pledge contribution.  Then select “Collection Plate” to give the amount you would like to give to North Louisiana Interfaith.  All online collection plate contributions for the month of September 2021 will go to North Louisiana Interfaith.

Offline — Please send your give away the plate contribution checks to All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church, 9449 Ellerbe Road, Shreveport LA  71106.  Please put “North Louisiana Interfaith” on the memo line of the check if  you want to have 100% of this check go to North Louisiana Interfaith.  If you want less than 100% of the check to go to North Louisiana Interfaith, please put the amount you want going to North Louisiana Interfaith on the memo line.

Melissa Lewis will be at the church parking lot this Sunday afternoon (5 September 2021) from 2:00 to 4:00 PM to collect food and other items for the Noel United Methodist Church Food Pantry.

Items requested this month are Jiffy cornbread mix, canned fruit (any kind), and cereal (both large boxes and single-serving assortments are welcome).

Please join us next Wednesday (8 September 2021) at 12 noon for our weekly Zoom lunch.

Bring your lunch and meet up with your All Souls friends, have lunch, and just catch up.

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, we have begun to broadcast a livestream video of our Sunday morning worship services.

This worship video will be available live and in recorded formats.

For our livestream video of our worship services, we are using Facebook Live.  One does not have to log into Facebook or have a Facebook account to view this video.

You can find the 29 August 2021 worship video here.

Please join us on Saturday (4 September 2021) at 10:30 AM for our weekly meditation group with Larry Androes.

This is a sitting Buddhist meditation including a brief introduction to mindfulness meditation, 20 minutes of sitting, and followed by a weekly teaching.

The group is free and open to all.

For more information, contact Larry via email or phone using (318) 272-0014.

Please join us on Sunday (29 August 2021) at 11:00 AM for “Live Into” by Rev. Barbara Jarrell.

Our service will be livestreamed on Facebook Live here.

Watch for our weekly email announcements for info on the next in-person worship service and other opportunities to gather in smaller groups in person.  You can sign up for these announcements using this link.

Our August 2021 give-away-the-plate recipient is YWCA’s Dialogue on Race.

We will have a  virtual coffee hour after the service on Zoom.

While we are remaining physically distant, we want to know how you are doing, what you need, and what you are interested in.  You can let us know using these online surveys.

And you can contribute to All Souls using this online resource.

Our Sunday afternoon Zoom religious education class for children will take a break on 29 August 2021.

As the COVID-19 Delta variant continues to spread in our community and seems to affect children more seriously, we are trying to be mindful in our planning of outdoor activities (taking into account the Louisiana summertime heat as well).

Watch our website and the All Souls Religious Education Facebook Group for updates on our 12 September 2021 religious education event.

Please join us on Sunday (29 August 2021) at 9:00 AM for our adult religious education class via Zoom.

We have completed our White Fragility book study group using the book by Robin DiAngelo.

This week we continue our exploration of the 8th principle and anti-racism as we look at environmental racism in the US.

Rev. William Barber of the Poor People’s Campaign calls on us to end the silos that have so often been characteristic of the movement to remediate climate change and other social justice movements.

If we Unitarian Universalists truly believe in the interdependent web of all existence, we need to take a hard and honest look at how climate change along with all the related threats to our environment affect us all but affect most severely those who are already most marginalized among us.

Please join us next Wednesday (1 September 2021) at 12 noon for our weekly Zoom lunch.

Bring your lunch and meet up with your All Souls friends, have lunch, and just catch up.

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, we have begun to broadcast a livestream video of our Sunday morning worship services.

This worship video will be available live and in recorded formats.

For our livestream video of our worship services, we are using Facebook Live.  One does not have to log into Facebook or have a Facebook account to view this video.

You can find the 22 August 2021 worship video here.

Please join us on Saturday (28 August 2021) at 10:30 AM for our weekly meditation group with Larry Androes.

This is a sitting Buddhist meditation including a brief introduction to mindfulness meditation, 20 minutes of sitting, and followed by a weekly teaching.

The group is free and open to all.

For more information, contact Larry via email or phone using (318) 272-0014.

Please join us on Sunday (22 August 2021) at 11:00 AM for our 2021 Water Communion worship service with Rev. Barbara Jarrell and member of the All Souls congregation.

Our service will be livestreamed on Facebook Live here.

Watch for our weekly email announcements for info on the next in-person worship service and other opportunities to gather in smaller groups in person.  You can sign up for these announcements using this link.

Our August 2021 give-away-the-plate recipient is YWCA’s Dialogue on Race.

We will have a  virtual coffee hour after the service on Zoom.

While we are remaining physically distant, we want to know how you are doing, what you need, and what you are interested in.  You can let us know using these online surveys.

And you can contribute to All Souls using this online resource.

Our Sunday afternoon Zoom religious education class for children will take a break on 22 August 2021.

As the COVID-19 Delta variant continues to spread in our community and seems to affect children more seriously, we are trying to be mindful in our planning of outdoor activities (taking into account the Louisiana summertime heat as well).

Watch our website and the All Souls Religious Education Facebook Group for updates on our 12 September 2021 religious education event.

Please join us on Sunday (22 August 2021) at 9:00 AM for our adult religious education class via Zoom.

We have completed our White Fragility book study group using the book by Robin DiAngelo.

This week we continue our 8th Principle and Anti-Racism exploration.

Watch the this week’s Saturday email to the class group and the #sundayadultre Slack channel for this Sunday’s details.

Not on either of these?  Reach out to Susan Caldwell by email or text message and she will fix that for you right away.

Please join us next Wednesday (25 August 2021) at 12 noon for our weekly Zoom lunch.

Bring your lunch and meet up with your All Souls friends, have lunch, and just catch up.

Please join us on Sunday (8 August 2021) at 11:00 AM for “And On That Note” by Rev. Barbara Jarrell.

Our service will be livestreamed on Facebook Live here.

Watch for our weekly email announcements for info on the next in-person worship service and other opportunities to gather in smaller groups in person.  You can sign up for these announcements using this link.

Our August 2021 give-away-the-plate recipient is YWCA’s Dialogue on Race.

We will have a  virtual coffee hour after the service on Zoom.

While we are remaining physically distant, we want to know how you are doing, what you need, and what you are interested in.  You can let us know using these online surveys.

And you can contribute to All Souls using this online resource.

Our Sunday afternoon Zoom religious education class for children will take a break on 8 August 2021.

As the COVID-19 Delta variant continues to spread in our community and seems to affect children more seriously, we are trying to be mindful in our planning of outdoor activities (taking into account the Louisiana summertime heat as well).

Watch our website and the All Souls Religious Education Facebook Group for updates on our 15 August 2021 outdoor religious education event involving water.

There will be no adult religious education class on Sunday (8 August 2021).

Please join us on following Sunday (15 August 2021) at 9:00 AM for our adult religious education class via Zoom.

More details will be posted on our web site as we get closer to that date.

Please join us on Saturday (7 August 2021) at 10:30 AM for our weekly meditation group with Larry Androes.

This is a sitting Buddhist meditation including a brief introduction to mindfulness meditation, 20 minutes of sitting, and followed by a weekly teaching.

The group is free and open to all.

For more information, contact Larry via email or phone using (318) 272-0014.

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, we have begun to broadcast a livestream video of our Sunday morning worship services.

This worship video will be available live and in recorded formats.

For our livestream video of our worship services, we are using Facebook Live.  One does not have to log into Facebook or have a Facebook account to view this video.

You can find the 1 August 2021 worship video here.

Please join us on Sunday (1 August 2021) at 11:00 AM for “Transform the Pain” by Rev. Barbara Jarrell.

Our service will be livestreamed on Facebook Live here.

Watch for our weekly email announcements for info on the next in-person worship service and other opportunities to gather in smaller groups in person.  You can sign up for these announcements using this link.

Our August 2021 give-away-the-plate recipient is YWCA’s Dialogue on Race.

We will have a  virtual coffee hour after the service on Zoom.

While we are remaining physically distant, we want to know how you are doing, what you need, and what you are interested in.  You can let us know using these online surveys.

And you can contribute to All Souls using this online resource.

Please join us on Sunday (1 August 2021) at 9:00 AM for our adult religious education class via Zoom.

We have completed our White Fragility book study group using the book by Robin DiAngelo.

Continuing our focus on living into the Eighth Principle, we will view and discuss two videos from Emmanuel Acho’s video podcast “Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man.”

His book by the same name grew out of this podcast series.

We will be viewing “Uncomfortable Conversations with the NFL” — Emmanuel Acho’s conversation with Roger Goodell (Commissioner of the National Football League – NFL).

They’ll be talking about the movement among players in the NFL and other sports leagues to engage in peaceful protest during the National Anthem.

The conversation is in two parts.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljgkEcc4B1k?feature=oembed&w=840&h=473]

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zH53upUQQE?feature=oembed&w=840&h=473]

We will all watch and discuss both videos together on Sunday.

Feel free to watch ahead and make notes on the points that most interest you that you want to discuss in the group.

Our August 2021 Give-Away-the-Plate recipient Shreveport YWCA’s  Dialogue on Race program in memory of Thomas Ratcliff.

Dialogue on Race is a program of structured weekly conversations in small groups of 10-15 people under the guidance of two trained facilitators who endeavor to create a safe environment for open and honest dialogue on specific questions around the issue of race.

Many of our members have been through the program and several are facilitators.

We dedicate our gift to the memory of Thomas Ratcliff who grew up in our church and was tragically killed in an apartment fire on 25 June 2021.

John Ratcliff (father of Thomas Ratcliff) is a Dialogue on Race facilitator.

John and his wife Joy have designated Dialogue on Race as one of the causes that would best honor Thomas’s memory.

Two ways to donate:

Online — Go to our donation site using this link.  If you are paying your pledge, select “2021 Pledges” and enter that amount for your pledge contribution.  Then select “Collection Plate” to give the amount you would like to give to Dialogue on Race.  All online collection plate contributions for the month of August 2021 will go to Dialogue on Race.

Offline — Please send your give away the plate contribution checks to All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church, 9449 Ellerbe Road, Shreveport LA  71106.  Please put “Dialogue on Race” on the memo line of the check if  you want to have 100% of this check go to Dialogue on Race.  If you want less than 100% of the check to go to Dialogue on Race, please put the amount you want going to Dialogue on Race on the memo line.

Our Sunday afternoon Zoom religious education class for children will take a break on 1 August 2021.

As the COVID-19 Delta variant continues to spread in our community and seems to affect children more seriously, we are trying to be mindful in our planning of outdoor activities (taking into account the Louisiana summertime heat as well).

Watch our website and the All Souls Religious Education Facebook Group for updates on opportunities for our children to get together.

Melissa Lewis will be at the church parking lot this Sunday afternoon from 2:00 to 4:00 PM to collect food and other items for the Noel United Methodist Church Food Pantry.

For this month, they are requesting travel size toiletries (shampoo, body wash, toothpaste, deodorant, and toothbrushes) – no mouthwash please.

They are also requesting breakfast cereal (any size).

We enjoyed a wonderful soft re-opening of the church on Sunday, July 4, 2021.

Please join us this Sunday (11 July 2021) at 11:00 AM for “A Place for the Spirit of Faith” by Rev. Barbara Jarrell.

Our service will be livestreamed on Facebook Live here.

Watch for our weekly email announcements for info on the next in-person worship service and other opportunities to gather in smaller groups in person.  You can sign up for these announcements using this link.

Our July 2021 give-away-the-plate recipient is Shreveport Green.

We will have a  virtual coffee hour after the service on Zoom.

While we are remaining physically distant, we want to know how you are doing, what you need, and what you are interested in.  You can let us know using these online surveys.

And you can contribute to All Souls using this online resource.

Please join us on Sunday (11 July 2021) at 9:00 AM for our adult religious education class via Zoom.

We have completed our White Fragility book study group using the book by Robin DiAngelo.

Continuing our focus on living into the Eighth Principle, we will have a conversation about what our group will do next.

Bring your ideas for books, videos, or other resources we might employ to deepen our knowledge and understanding of systemic racism and how we work to dismantle it within our institution, our wider community, and ourselves.

We will also watch part 2 of a video interview with Ibram X. Kendi.

Please join us at 11:00 AM on 18 July 2021 for our worship service where we will be honoring Breka Peoples and Omari Ho-Sang as our 2021 Ralph Waldo Emerson Award Recipients.

We will be presenting this award during our Sunday worship service using Facebook Live video.

We are honoring their work from the Summer 2020 organizing the 45 Days of Action Campaign in Shreveport / Bossier City, Louisiana along with their continuing work to dismantle systemic racism and create beloved community in Shreveport / Bossier City.

All Souls presents the Emerson Award each year to an individual, group, or organization in the wider community who best exemplifies Unitarian Universalist principles and the values of liberal religion.

Our Sunday afternoon Zoom religious education class for children will take a break on 11 July 2021.

Please check our social media and web site for future announcements on our next children’s religious education event.

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, we have begun to broadcast a livestream video of our Sunday morning worship services.

This worship video will be available live and in recorded formats.

For our livestream video of our worship services, we are using Facebook Live.  One does not have to log into Facebook or have a Facebook account to view this video.

You can find the 4 July 2021 worship video here.

Ndidi Achebe

Continue reading "Belonging"

Welcome Friends! The Church remains open in many ways during the pandemic. We remain together in our hearts and minds, as we carry on in a community of compassion and inquiry. However, the church building remains closed until further notice, and our meetings are virtual.

We need to do our part in caring for our community, especially the most vulnerable, and all signs point to strict adherence to social distancing to be the most effective possible step in preventing an overload on our health care system at this time. No one else should be in the building for any reason until further notice. The only exceptions at this point are staff, essential volunteers for worship, board members with check-signing authority, and any strictly necessary grounds care in groups of five or less.

• We have Remote Worship on Sundays now at 10:30 AM.
  • Check the Live! page for this content or we will post specific links. See also the latest YouTube content.
  • Sign the Virtual Guest Book and use our Virtual Prayer Book to light a virtual candle and include a message for the next online service.
  • Sign up for a Sanctuary at Home Box.
  • Other pastoral and religious education programming will be conducted over our ZOOM channel
• The Board would like to inform UCLA members and friends that we will initiate a “soft” re-opening of the sanctuary for video Sunday services starting July 4, 2021 @ 10:30 am. Attendance, including volunteers, will be capped at 50 for now.
  • To ensure that we don’t exceed this limit and have to turn people away, we have set up a reservation system. To reserve a seat or seats in the sanctuary for an upcoming service, please use the link shown at the top of the main page or included with the Service Description, labeled “Reserve Seats in the Sanctuary”.
  • Reservations need to be submitted by 8:00 AM on the day of the worship service. Services will still be available online as they are now. Virtual services (viewing the services on the sanctuary wall) will continue through the end of October when Rev. John returns. The Worship Committee has scheduled some fabulous speakers during that time.

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, we have begun to broadcast a livestream video of our Sunday morning worship services.

This worship video will be available live and in recorded formats.

For our livestream video of our worship services, we are using Facebook Live.  One does not have to log into Facebook or have a Facebook account to view this video.

You can find the 20 June 2021 worship video here.

Please join us on Saturday (3 July 2021) at 10:30 AM for our weekly meditation group with Larry Androes.

This is a sitting Buddhist meditation including a brief introduction to mindfulness meditation, 20 minutes of sitting, and followed by a weekly teaching.

The group is free and open to all.

For more information, contact Larry via email or phone using (318) 272-0014.

Please join us on Sunday (27 June 2021) at 11:00 AM for “Until Love Wins” presented by the First Universalist Church of Minneapolis MN.

This is the 2021 Unitarian Universalist Association General Assembly Sunday Morning Worship and will be streamed live through YouTube.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-VLMTPyE_U?feature=oembed&w=840&h=630]

All Souls members in Shreveport and Unitarian Universalists across North American and around the world will be watching this live-streaming worship service.

The order of service (PDF) for this worship service can be found here.

Our June 2021 give-away-the-plate recipient is Louisiana Trans Advocates.

Watch our weekly email announcements for info on the next in-person worship service and other opportunities to gather in smaller groups in person.

We will have a  virtual coffee hour after the service on Zoom.

While we are remaining physically distant, we want to know how you are doing, what you need, and what you are interested in.  You can let us know using these online surveys.

And you can contribute to All Souls using this online resource.

Our Sunday afternoon Zoom religious education class for children will take a break for 27 June 2021 while our religious professional staff are attending the 2021 Unitarian Universalist Association General Assembly.

Please check our social media and web site for future announcements on our next children’s religious education event.

Please join us on Sunday (27 June 2021) at 9:00 AM for our adult religious education class via Zoom.

We will resume our White Fragility book study group with Susan Caldwell and Barbara Deger (using the book by Robin DiAngelo).

This week we will concentrate on Chapter 12 — “Where Do We Go From Here?”

This final chapter in the book looks at the ways we can use what we’ve learned as we move forward in the work of antiracism.

Please join us next Wednesday (30 June 2021) at 12 noon for our weekly Zoom lunch.

Bring your lunch and meet up with your All Souls friends, have lunch, and just catch up.

Please join us on Saturday (26 June 2021) at 10:30 AM for our weekly meditation group with Larry Androes.

This is a sitting Buddhist meditation including a brief introduction to mindfulness meditation, 20 minutes of sitting, and followed by a weekly teaching.

The group is free and open to all.

For more information, contact Larry via email or phone using (318) 272-0014.

Please join us on Sunday (20 June 2021) at 11:00 AM for “From Generation to Generation” with John Allen and Steve Caldwell.

Our service will be livestreamed on Facebook Live here.

Two fathers from the All Souls community will speak on the the important things they hope to pass along to their own children and how that relates to the way they were parented.

Our June 2021 give-away-the-plate recipient is Louisiana Trans Advocates.

Watch our weekly email announcements for info on the next in-person worship service and other opportunities to gather in smaller groups in person.

We will have a  virtual coffee hour after the service on Zoom.

While we are remaining physically distant, we want to know how you are doing, what you need, and what you are interested in.  You can let us know using these online surveys.

And you can contribute to All Souls using this online resource.

Our Sunday afternoon Zoom religious education class for children will take a break for 20 June 2021.

Please check our social media and web site for future announcements on our next children’s religious education event.

Please join us on Sunday (20 June 2021) at 9:00 AM for our adult religious education class via Zoom.

We will resume our White Fragility book study group with Susan Caldwell and Barbara Deger (using the book by Robin DiAngelo).

This week we will concentrate on Chapter 11 — “White Women’s Tears.”

The chapter explores not only the history of white women’s tears as potentially damaging and even deadly to black men but also looks at the more current political issue of white women crying in multi-racial settings — once again diverting attention and comfort to themselves and centering whiteness.

Please join us next Wednesday (23 June 2021) at 12 noon for our weekly Zoom lunch.

Bring your lunch and meet up with your All Souls friends, have lunch, and just catch up.

Please join us on Saturday (19 June 2021) at 10:30 AM for our weekly meditation group with Larry Androes.

This is a sitting Buddhist meditation including a brief introduction to mindfulness meditation, 20 minutes of sitting, and followed by a weekly teaching.

The group is free and open to all.

For more information, contact Larry via email or phone using (318) 272-0014.

Please join us on Sunday (6 June 2021) at 9:00 AM for our adult religious education class via Zoom.

We will resume our White Fragility book study group with Susan Caldwell and Barbara Deger (using the book by Robin DiAngelo).

This week we will concentrate on Chapter 9 — “White Fragility in Action.”  We will explore the the various ways in which white people employ the “How dare you” response to any suggestion they may be complicit in racism.

We will look at a number of the faulty assumptions often made by white people conditioned by white supremacy culture and think about effective ways we might speak back to those in others and ourselves.

Please join us next Wednesday (9 June 2021) at 12 noon for our weekly Zoom lunch.

Bring your lunch and meet up with your All Souls friends, have lunch, and just catch up.

Please join us on Saturday (5 June 2021) at 10:30 AM for our weekly meditation group with Larry Androes.

This is a sitting Buddhist meditation including a brief introduction to mindfulness meditation, 20 minutes of sitting, and followed by a weekly teaching.

The group is free and open to all.

For more information, contact Larry via email or phone using (318) 272-0014.

Please join us this Sunday (30 May 2021) at 11:00 AM for “Too Many to Remember” by Rev. Barbara Jarrell.

Our service will be livestreamed on Facebook Live here.

Our May 2021 give-away-the-plate recipient is Louisiana Advocates for Immigrants in Detention (LA-AID).

More details and information on how to donate to LA-AID can be found here.

We will not have our usual virtual coffee hour after church on Zoom today.

We will have our Spring Congregational Meeting at 12:30 PM via Zoom here.  More details about the congregational meeting can be found here.

And plan now to join us in person — outdoors — at All Souls at 11:00 AM on 6 June 2021 for our Affirmation Sunday celebration when we will get together safely to celebrate our community and honor our graduates Eleanora Lawrence and Gretchen Upton.

Watch for church email announcements, Facebook news, Slack posts, and our website for more details.

While we are remaining physically distant, we want to know how you are doing, what you need, and what you are interested in.  You can let us know using these online surveys.

And you can contribute to All Souls using this online resource.

Our Sunday afternoon Zoom religious education class for children will take a break for 30 May 2021 and 6 June 2021.

On Sunday (13 June 2021), we will begin our summer fun activities with tie-dye on the church patio.

Please join us on Sunday (30 May 2021) at 9:00 AM for our adult religious education class via Zoom.

We will resume our White Fragility book study group with Susan Caldwell and Barbara Deger (using the book by Robin DiAngelo).

This week we will concentrate on Chapter 8 — “The Result: White Fragility.”  We will explore the way that white fragility — by turning the narrative around to portray white people as victimized — can ultimately be a form of bullying.

We will explore ways to recognize and interrupt that response in ourselves and others.

Please join us next Wednesday (2 June 2021) at 12 noon for our weekly Zoom lunch.

Bring your lunch and meet up with your All Souls friends, have lunch, and just catch up.

Please join us on Saturday (29 May 2021) at 10:30 AM for our weekly meditation group with Larry Androes.

This is a sitting Buddhist meditation including a brief introduction to mindfulness meditation, 20 minutes of sitting, and followed by a weekly teaching.

The group is free and open to all.

For more information, contact Larry via email or phone using (318) 272-0014.

Rev. John will hold open gathering time in the Memorial Garden circle every Tuesday afternoon starting at 2PM. Stop by and say hello, sit down for a chat. This time will be held open for drop-in visits now through the end of May.

Please join on Sunday (23 May 2021) at 11:00 AM for “Better Cry” by Rev. Barbara Jarrell.

Our service will be livestreamed on Facebook Live here.

Our May 2021 give-away-the-plate recipient is Louisiana Advocates for Immigrants in Detention (LA-AID).

More details and information on how to donate to LA-AID can be found here.

We will have a  virtual coffee hour after the service on Zoom.

And plan now to join us in person — outdoors — at All Souls at 11:00 AM on 6 June 2021 for our Affirmation Sunday celebration when we will get together safely to celebrate our community and honor our graduates Eleanora Lawrence and Gretchen Upton.

Watch for email announcements, Facebook, Slack, and our web site for more details.

While we are remaining physically distant, we want to know how you are doing, what you need, and what you are interested in.  You can let us know using these online surveys.

And you can contribute to All Souls using this online resource.

Please join us online for our family religious education class on Sunday (23 May 2021) at 1:00 PM via Zoom.

The Zoom link will be available on the All Souls Slack and on the All Souls Religious Education Facebook Group.

This Sunday — Caring for Your Spirit.

Spiritual practice is for everyone, regardless of age.

What are some of the things you do when you need to feel calmer and more connected to a source of love and support?

Please join us on Sunday (23 May 2021) at 9:00 AM for our adult religious education class via Zoom.

We will resume our White Fragility book study group with Susan Caldwell and Barbara Deger (using the book by Robin DiAngelo).

This week we will concentrate on Chapter 7 — “Racial Triggers for White People.”

We will explore some of the road blocks of defensiveness that can prevent white people from engaging in honest conversations about race or dealing with challenges to their own racial identity and position.

In accordance with the bylaws of All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church, the congregation will meet on Sunday, 30 May 2021, at 12:30 PM via Zoom.

On the agenda:

• A vote on the slate of officers for the Board of Directors (2021-22 term)
• A vote on the members of the Committee on Ministry (2021-22 term)
  Note — both slates will be finalized and publicized soon.
• Information on plans for regathering in person

Please join us next Wednesday (26 May 2021) at 12 noon for our weekly Zoom lunch.

Bring your lunch and meet up with your All Souls friends, have lunch, and just catch up.

Please join us on Saturday (22 May 2021) at 10:30 AM for our weekly meditation group with Larry Androes.

This is a sitting Buddhist meditation including a brief introduction to mindfulness meditation, 20 minutes of sitting, and followed by a weekly teaching.

The group is free and open to all.

For more information, contact Larry via email or phone using (318) 272-0014.

Beth Casebolt

Continue reading "Why Go to General Assembly?"

Please join us on Sunday (16 May 2021) at 11:00 AM for “Build Back Better” with Bennett Upton, Eric First, Claudia Harris, and Eleanora Lawrence.

Our service will be livestreamed on Facebook Live here.

“Build back better” is a phrase used often by the President of the United States.

Please join three of our own congregation’s Presidents (our current President and two past Presidents) along with one youth who grew up in the church to talk about what “build back better” might look like for us as a church community.

What do we want to preserve?

What do we want to let go or change?

Our May 2021 give-away-the-plate recipient is Louisiana Advocates for Immigrants in Detention (LA-AID).

More details and information on how to donate to LA-AID can be found here.

We will have a  virtual coffee hour after the service on Zoom.

Please join us online for our family religious education class on Sunday (16 May 2021) at 1:00 PM via Zoom.

The Zoom link will be available on the All Souls Slack and on the All Souls Religious Education Facebook Group.

This Sunday, we will continue the “Build Back Better” theme with a look at some of the different ways we can come back together safely in person and how that will look different from before.