"Show Tunes and Tee-Shirts"
Sunday, June 1, 2025

A story (maybe two) of life on its own terms, bold, joyful, and that left the world better than they found it. Come, and be ready to smile and sing.

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Dennis Adams, Worship Associate; Emma Wakeling, Membership and Young Adult Manager; Judith Stoddard, Membership; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; UUSF Choir; Mark Sumner, director; Wm. García Ganz, pianist

Eli Boshears, Camera Operator; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Judy Payne, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

The service was conducted on Sunday, June 1, 2025, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar and All Souls Worship Team, with a special presentation by Krystal Reyes, Deputy Mayor of the City of Tulsa. DESCRIPTION: On the anniversary of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, the congregation of All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa remembers, recalls and recommits itself to work to repair the ongoing impacts of this tragic history. As part of the Sunday services we share a ritual of “promises made, promise kept, promises broken and promises renewed.” Each person will have a chance to think about the promises in their own lives, and we will also acknowledge ways our collective history as a church and community have intersected with the events and aftermath of 1921. Join us for a colorful, heartfelt service that will be both personal and universal. Most of all, join us in remembering and in our commitment to do whatever we can, to be a source of restoration through love and service. We are not only promise-making creatures. We are also people of great promise. Together we can live into the promise of our times — the promise of life, liberty and justice for all. *A Ritual of Promise crafted by Jamila Batchelder and Rev. Molly Housh Gordon and adapted for ASUC Tulsa  SUBSCRIBE TO WATCH OTHER VIDEOS: @allsoulsunitarian  WANT TO LISTEN? SUBSCRIBE TO AUDIO PODCAST: GIVE A DONATION TO HELP US SPREAD THIS LOVE BEYOND BELIEF: http://www.allsoulschurch.org/GIVE or text AllSoulsTulsa to 73256  LET'S CONNECT: Facebook: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allsoulstulsa All Souls Church Website: http://www.allsoulschurch.org

Meg Riley serves as co-moderator of the Unitarian Universalist Association, the Chief Governance Officer of the Association. Come hear how the practice of improv has shaped her service, and become a spiritual practice.

Watch the full service on our YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/live/_RmTQBA4-GE

Recorded live at Arlington Street Church, Sunday, May 25, 2025.

Recorded live at Arlington Street Church, Sunday, May 18, 2025.

Recorded live at Arlington Street Church, Sunday, May 11, 2025.

Recorded live at Arlington Street Church, Sunday, May 4, 2025.

Recorded live at Arlington Street Church, Sunday, Apr 27, 2025.

Recorded live at Arlington Street Church, Sunday, Apr 20, 2025.

"Imagine a World Without War"
Sunday, May 25, 2025

On this Memorial Day weekend, let us imagine a world without war. War is the act most antithetical to our values. Right now, it may be hard to imagine a positive future at all, but without imagining what we truly want, not just knowing what we oppose, we remain stuck with what others decide for us. 

Rev. Millie Phillips, Affiliated Community Minister; Sam King, Worship Associated; Jill Brindel, cellist; Mark Sumner, pianist

Eli Boshears, Camera Operator; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Athena Papadakos, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

The message was delivered on Sunday, May 25, 2025, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Randy Lewis, Assistant Minister. DESCRIPTION What if the word “godless” wasn’t a curse—but a catalyst? When love, justice, and honesty are branded as threats, who really gets to decide what’s sacred? From quiet family exiles to courtroom crusades, this reflection cuts through the noise and asks: Is a faith built on fear still faith at all? Journey through history, hypocrisy, and healing—and discover what grows when judgment is laid down and love is lifted up. SUBSCRIBE TO AUDIO PODCAST: WATCH THIS MESSAGE ON YOUTUBE: SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: GIVE A DONATION TO HELP US SPREAD THIS LOVE BEYOND BELIEF: or text AllSoulsTulsa to 73256 LET'S CONNECT: Facebook: Instagram: All Souls Church Website:

This sermon podcast begins with a reflection offered by Worship Associate Sarah Cledwyn. 

Memorial Day marks the beginning of summer, as school graduations start and Unity Church moves to a single service on Sunday mornings. This morning we’ll explore the holiday’s origins as Decoration Day, a ritual of remembrance created in the aftermath of the American Civil War.​

Complete Sunday services are on Unity's YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/@unitychurchunitarian

"Minds Wide Open"
Sunday, May 18, 2025

I've been reading more about things like "flow" and right brain/left brain functioning. Anne Lamott speaks of the power of imagination and what it opens up, as opposed to the gifts and limits of rationality. How do we channel the creative, and where can it take us?

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Gregory Stevens, Worship Associate; Galen Workman, Moderator, Board of Trustees; Nancy Munn, soprano and pianist

Eric Shackelford; Camera Operator; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Athena Papadakos, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

What happens when love becomes not just a feeling but a way of leading? In a world that often rewards fear and force, one story shows the transformative power of presence, service, courage, and connection. From California Girls in a sanctuary to music that held space for both weddings and war, a legacy unfolds—not in accolades, but in acts of deep care. What if the most powerful leadership begins not with authority, but with a heart wide open? SUBSCRIBE TO WATCH OTHER VIDEOS: @allsoulsunitarian WANT TO LISTEN? SUBSCRIBE TO AUDIO PODCAST: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/all-souls-unitarian-church/id193096943 GIVE A DONATION TO HELP US SPREAD THIS LOVE BEYOND BELIEF: http://www.allsoulschurch.org/GIVE or text AllSoulsTulsa to 73256 LET'S CONNECT: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/allsoulstulsa Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allsoulstulsa All Souls Church Website: http://www.allsoulschurch.org

This podcast begins a reflection by Worship Associate Dick Buggs, continues with excertps from Unity's All Our Fullness project, and concludes with a homily from Rev. Oscar.

Unity’s annual Flower Ceremony was developed over a century ago by Unitarians in Prague, who created a ritual to affirm the beauty and diversity of community in a time of rising authoritarianism and fear. At Unity Church, we aspire to know each other "in all our fullness," seeing the beauty and complexity of each individual and our community. 

Complete Sunday services are on Unity's YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/@unitychurchunitarian

"Holding Open Possibilities for Each Other"
Sunday, May 11, 2025

In this month when we look at the power of imagination, it is interesting to explore how we do that for one another in our personal relationships. How do parents use imagination (for good and ill) in the shaping of their kids' lives? How can we do that for one another, aware of the ways that are life-giving, second-chance-offering, and liberating?

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Dennis Adams, Worship Associate; UUSF Bell Choir led by Reiko Oda Lane, organist; UUSF Choir led by Mark Sumner, director; Robin May, oboist; Wm. García Ganz, pianist

Eric Shackelford, Camera Operators; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Carrie Steere-Salazar, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

"Oh the Possibilities! Annual Youth Worship Service"
Sunday, May 4, 2025

Join our youth this Sunday to hear what they imagine as possible futures. We will be recognizing our High School Seniors as well.

Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Julia Wald, Trustee; Sammy Alden; Eli Boshears; Max Dubler; Davia Ferree; Anakin Gupta; Kenley Gupta; Oriana Joos-Moren; Lucas Keeley; Hannah Murray; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; UUSF Choir led by Mark Sumner, director; Wm. García Ganz, pianist

Eric Shackelford; Shulee Ong; Eli Boshears, Francisco Castellanos, Camera Operators; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Carrie Steere-Salazar, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

The message was delivered on May 11th, 2025, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Nicole Kirk. What does it mean to truly let go, even as we hold on with all our hearts? In a world that asks us to prepare children for a future we cannot see, how do we nurture without control, and love without possession? Drawing from the timeless words of Khalil Gibran and the chaotic grace of everyday parenting, this reflection explores how the raw, imperfect moments of care and connection reveal the deepest truths about growth, justice, and love. What if the most sacred path to transformation isn't found in stillness, but in the noise, mess, and unrelenting presence of those we raise? SUBSCRIBE TO WATCH OTHER VIDEOS: @allsoulsunitarian WANT TO LISTEN? SUBSCRIBE TO AUDIO PODCAST: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/all-souls-unitarian-church/id193096943 GIVE A DONATION TO HELP US SPREAD THIS LOVE BEYOND BELIEF: http://www.allsoulschurch.org/GIVE or text AllSoulsTulsa to 73256 LET'S CONNECT: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/allsoulstulsa Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allsoulstulsa All Souls Church Website: http://www.allsoulschurch.org

This podcast begins with a reflection offered by worship associate Veronica Nordeng DeVillez. The sermon is delivered by Rev. Lara Cowtan.

The promotion of gender equality was woven into the fabric of the United Nations from its beginning in 1946 with the establishment of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). The CSW is instrumental in promoting women’s and girls' rights, documenting the reality of their lives throughout the world, and shaping global standards on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. How are we doing, as a society, as a community, as individuals, as we try to live into the values and future our foremothers dreamed of?​

Complete Sunday services are on Unity's YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/@unitychurchunitarian

Recorded live at Arlington Street Church, Sunday, April 13, 2025.

Recorded live at Arlington Street Church, Sunday, April 6, 2025.

  What if the truths we cling to are just fragments of something much larger—something we can only glimpse through others? When misperception feels as real as fact, and confidence masks misunderstanding, how do we move beyond argument or avoidance to real connection? From the story of the blind men and the elephant to the quiet revelations of a marriage, this exploration uncovers how truth, love, and humility intersect. It challenges us to ask: are we truly listening—or just waiting to be right? In a world fractured by differing realities, maybe the path forward isn't about knowing more, but loving better. The message was delivered on May 4th, 2025, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar. SUBSCRIBE TO WATCH OTHER VIDEOS: @allsoulsunitarian WANT TO LISTEN? SUBSCRIBE TO AUDIO PODCAST: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/all-souls-unitarian-church/id193096943 GIVE A DONATION TO HELP US SPREAD THIS LOVE BEYOND BELIEF: http://www.allsoulschurch.org/GIVE or text AllSoulsTulsa to 73256 LET'S CONNECT: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/allsoulstulsa Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allsoulstulsa All Souls Church Website: http://www.allsoulschurch.org

Arthur Foote Music Sunday will include selections by Francisco Guerrero, Osvaldo Golijov, Ernani Aguiar, Johann Sebastian Bach, Craig Hella Johnson, Abbie Betinis, and Alysia Lee. To hear the music please visit our YouTube channel. This podcast is the reflection offered by worship associate Lorelee Wederstrom. 

Complete Sunday services are on Unity's YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/@unitychurchunitarian

"Fair Earth!"
Sunday, April 27, 2025

Ecophilia, Pagan rituals and roots carried forward, hiking, eating—all that ties us to our love and relationship and responsibility to earth. We root ourselves in this (reground ourselves in it) to stay whole and joyful. Let’s do that regrounding together. See you Sunday!

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Christine Patch-Lindsay, Pagan Interest Circle Chair; Liz Strand, Trustee; Haruka and Yuki Ota, cellists; Akane Ota, songleader; Jon Silk; drummer; Mark Sumner, pianist

Eric Shackelford; Eli Boshears, Camera Operators; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Judy Payne, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

The message was delivered on Sunday, April 27, 2025, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Sophia Cross, Charles 'Chaz' Hall, Graciela 'Max' Moreno and Eliana Peluso-Verdend DESCRIPTION: What happens when a young life shaped by community, challenge, and personal discovery faces the vast unknown of adulthood? Through the highs of new friendships, the pain of unexpected loss, and the quiet power of music and self-belief, a new path emerges—one built not just on survival, but on the courage to thrive. How do you carry the lessons of yesterday into a future still unwritten? Explore a journey where hope defies fear, and authenticity reclaims its rightful place. SUBSCRIBE TO WATCH OTHER VIDEOS: @allsoulsunitarian WANT TO LISTEN? SUBSCRIBE TO AUDIO PODCAST: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/all-souls-unitarian-church/id193096943 GIVE A DONATION TO HELP US SPREAD THIS LOVE BEYOND BELIEF: http://www.allsoulschurch.org/GIVE or text AllSoulsTulsa to 73256 LET'S CONNECT: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/allsoulstulsa Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allsoulstulsa All Souls Church Website: http://www.allsoulschurch.org

This sermon podcast begins with a reflection by Nelson Moroukian, Unity's Religious Education Program Assistant, and excerpts of the credos of Unity's Coming of Age class of 2025 read by Coming of Age Facilitators Claire Cooke, Stu Alger, and Kelley Loughrey. The sermon is delivered by Rev. KP Hong, Minister of Faith Formation.

Coming of Age Sunday celebrates the signature yearlong journey of our ninth grade youth, transitioning from the inherited faith of childhood to the adult journey of faith, and marked by youth sharing their statement of faith or credo. 

Complete Sunday services are on Unity's YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/@unitychurchunitarian

"What Does Resurrection Look Like?"
Sunday, April 20, 2025

Easter is upon us, the Sunday we talk about resurrection—of hope, of life, against all odds. In our Good Friday world, especially these days, how about some stories about resurrection and a reminder of how often it shows up... against the odds?

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Mari Magaloni Ramos, Worship Associate; UUSF Bell Choir led by Reiko Oda Lane, organist; UUSF Choir led by Mark Sumner, director; Wm. García Ganz, pianist

Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Eli Boshears, Camera Operator; Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Judy Payne, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

  The message was delivered on Sunday, April 20, 2025, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Nicole Kirk. DESCRIPTION: A foggy morning, a missing horse, and an unexpected miracle—what can a moment like this teach us about fear, hope, and the quiet beauty that surrounds us? In a world often overwhelmed by noise and urgency, what does it mean to truly pay attention? From a sun setting over the Pacific to a woman planting bulbs she may never see bloom, this journey explores how wonder, memory, and transformation sustain us when everything else seems uncertain. How do we build lives rooted in possibility—especially when the future feels impossibly out of reach? SUBSCRIBE TO WATCH OTHER VIDEOS: @allsoulsunitarian WANT TO LISTEN? SUBSCRIBE TO AUDIO PODCAST: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/all-souls-unitarian-church/id193096943 GIVE A DONATION TO HELP US SPREAD THIS LOVE BEYOND BELIEF: http://www.allsoulschurch.org/GIVE or text AllSoulsTulsa to 73256 LET'S CONNECT: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/allsoulstulsa Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allsoulstulsa All Souls Church Website: http://www.allsoulschurch.org    

This sermon podcast begins with A Story for All Ages by Rev. KP Hong, continues with a reflection offered by worship associate Ari Giles, and ends with a sermon by Rev. Dr. Oscar Sinclair.

Wendell Berry writes:

Expect the end of the world.

Laugh. Laughter is immeasurable.

Be joyful though you have considered all the facts… practice resurrection.

On Easter Sunday, how do we practice joy, not despite but in the midst of heartbreak?

 

 

The message was delivered on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister. DESCRIPTION What if the story you believed in shattered before your eyes? What if resurrection wasn’t a spectacle—but a quiet decision to hope again? As a world once caught between betrayal and belief teetered toward despair, something unexpected began to stir. It didn’t roar. It whispered. From behind locked doors to breaking bread with strangers, a movement reignited—not because the storm passed, but because people stood up in the middle of it. What might rise in you? SUBSCRIBE TO AUDIO PODCAST: WATCH THIS MESSAGE ON YOUTUBE: SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: GIVE A DONATION TO HELP US SPREAD THIS LOVE BEYOND BELIEF: or text AllSoulsTulsa to 73256 LET'S CONNECT: Facebook: Instagram: All Souls Church Website:

"Joy in the In Between"
Sunday, April 13, 2025

It's the week when we begin the celebration of Passover in the Jewish tradition and Holy Week in Christianity—hard stories with important and ultimately triumphant endings. And this is a month when we are supposed to talk about joy?! How perfect! What is our relationship to joy—our right to it, our ability to access it when things are hard? This we need to be clear on!

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Sam King, Worship Associate; Galen Workman, Moderator, Board of Trustees; Rochelle Fortier Nwadibia and Don Shearer; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; UUSF Choir led by Mark Sumner, director; Wm. García Ganz, pianist

Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Athena Papadakos, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

"Attempted Poetry and Other Misdemeanors, Oh Joy!"
Sunday, April 6, 2025, 10:50 am

Joy is a little word with an expansive definition. There is Joy in the hard work of trudging towards Justice. And there is the pure joy of celebration. With a spring in your step, a poem in your heart, and companions by your side, the fraught world becomes a little lighter. Sure, we hear that there is danger everywhere: Danger to the right of us, Danger to the left. Danger within and Danger without. How Foolish it is to enter the fray wearing only armor plated with rhyme, padded with a quilt of verse, and carrying shields as light as any song. Come, let us gird ourselves with a little wry humor, a bit of dry wit, and let us join the poets in defending joy even in these dark days!

Carmen Barsody and Sam Dennison, Faithful Fools; Kirsten Hove-Darr; Lori Lai, Trustee; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; UUSF Choir led by Mark Sumner, director; Maria Gonzalez Gomez, soloist; Wm. García Ganz, pianist

Eric Shackelford; Shulee Ong; Eli Boshears, Francisco Castellanos, Camera Operators; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Athena Papadakos, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

  The message was delivered on Sunday, April 13th, 2025, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar. What if a fleeting note of music or a silent statue could say more about grief, love, and transcendence than words ever could? Explore the quiet power of mythos—the stories, sounds, and symbols that reach where logic cannot. From concert halls to ancient texts, from grief to joy, we are constantly being invited into deeper ways of knowing. Can imagination, art, and emotion be as essential to our understanding as facts and science? You might find that the answer isn’t just in the mind—but in the marrow of human experience. SUBSCRIBE TO WATCH OTHER VIDEOS: @allsoulsunitarian WANT TO LISTEN? SUBSCRIBE TO AUDIO PODCAST: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/all-souls-unitarian-church/id193096943 GIVE A DONATION TO HELP US SPREAD THIS LOVE BEYOND BELIEF: to give digitally, text LOVEBB to 73256 LET'S CONNECT: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/allsoulstulsa Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allsoulstulsa All Souls Church Website: http://www.allsoulschurch.org

This sermon podcast begins with a reflection offered by worship associate Charlie Caswell.

Unitarian Universalist ministry is "called out from among" the membership of our congregations. Our tradition celebrates shared ministry, and we recognize and commission a whole range of ministries, from newly installed ministers to groups of volunteers doing the work of the church every day. This Sunday we join in a celebration of that shared ministry.

  The message was delivered on Sunday, April 6th, 2025, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by 19 of our all Souls 9th graders. Remarks by Rev.Dr. Marlin Lavanhar. What if the search for meaning isn’t about choosing the “right” path, but understanding the many ways people find purpose? How does belief—or disbelief—shape how we live, love, and leave a legacy? Through raw honesty, humor, ancestral reverence, and unexpected wisdom from sources like Kanye West and Mr. Rogers, a group of young thinkers share what they’ve discovered about spirituality, morality, and the complexity of being human. Each voice offers a distinct lens, yet together they ask the same enduring question: what truly connects us?    

This week's sermon podcast begins with a reflection from worship associate Betsy Hearn, which is followed by a guided meditation led by Rev. Oscar.

Grounding ourselves in embodied spiritual practices in order to find our balance, heal and engage with the world has long been a role of religious community. Once central to Christian self-understanding and spiritual expression, our bodies have been relegated to an inferior position relative to intellect and reason. What is a spirituality of embodiment? What reflections in theological anthropology might explain the absence of the body in modernity and a lot of Western Christianity? Moving forward, what practices can we adopt that help foster embodied activities as tools for spiritual formation and spiritual practices?

Recorded live at Arlington Street Church, Sunday, Mar 30, 2025.

Recorded live at Arlington Street Church, Sunday, Mar 23, 2025.

Recorded live at Arlington Street Church, Sunday, Mar 16, 2025.

The message was delivered on Sunday, March 30th, 2025, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar.  What does it mean to take a stand when the stakes are high? One man, faced with corruption and intimidation, chose integrity over compromise, setting a powerful precedent for generations to come. His story, rooted in the fight for justice and equality, remains eerily relevant today as we navigate challenges to democracy, inclusion, and moral courage. How do we ensure that our values withstand the tests of our time? The answer lies in the legacy of those who came before us—and in the choices we make now. SUBSCRIBE TO WATCH OTHER VIDEOS: @allsoulsunitarian  WANT TO LISTEN? SUBSCRIBE TO AUDIO PODCAST:  GIVE A DONATION TO HELP US SPREAD THIS LOVE BEYOND BELIEF: to give digitally, text LOVEBB to 73256 LET'S CONNECT: Facebook:  Instagram: allsoulstulsa All Souls Church Website:  

"Trust in the Wild"
Sunday, March 30, 2025

Robin Wall Kimmerer, who writes about the natural world, writes about a world undergirded by trust, reciprocity, and generosity. But this is the same natural world that also has predators and prey and scarcity. Which do we put our trust in and why, and how does that shape life in our safe harbor?

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Mari Magaloni Ramos, Worship Associate; Lori Lai, Trustee; David Jones Stewardship Moment; Mirjam and Harry Moren, Canvass Chairs; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; UUSF Choir led by Mark Sumner, director; Wm. García Ganz, pianist

Shulee Ong; Eli Boshears, Francisco Castellanos, Camera Operators; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Amy Kelly, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

This sermon podcast begins with a reflection by worship associate Anna Newton.

Courage, to Aristotle, is a virtue located between two vices: cowardice and recklessness. In times that call for great courage, but also great discernment, how do we chart a course between obstacles, and in doing so live courageously?

  IN A WORLD THAT NEVER STOPS TALKING, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE TRULY LISTEN? A SWELTERING SUMMER WEDDING, AN UNEXPECTED MISUNDERSTANDING, AND A PROFOUND LESSON IN SILENCE UNDOLD IN WAYS NO ONE COULD HAVE PREDICTED. WHAT IF THE KEY TO DEEPER CONNECTION, INNER PEACE AND EVEN HAPPINESS LIES NOT IN SPEAKING, BUT IN THE SPACE BETWEEN WORDS? EXPLORE THE POWER OF SILENCE, THE RICHNESS OF LISTENING, AND THE UNEXPECTED WAYS THEY SHAPE OUR LIVES.

“Trusting In Community”
Sunday, March 23, 2025

Join us for this All-Ages Worship to hear a sweet story about how a cat helped calm a scary storm and brought a community together. Interactive opportunities to build trust in our community, both within our walls and outside our walls, will be part of the service.

Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Maria, Worship Associate; Sam Hamner, Miles Cunningham, Liam Hamner, Chantel Boshears and Eli Boshears, Stewardship Moments; Galen Workman, Moderator Board of Trustees; Rami Bar-Niv, pianist; Mark Sumner, songleader; Wm. García Ganz, pianist

Eric Shackelford; Eli Boshears, Camera Operators; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Judy Payne, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

This sermon podcast begins with a reflection from worship associate Chris Russert.

On the precipice of World War II, a time when most Americans were turning a blind eye to the growing social injustice and totalitarian threat in Europe, the Unitarian Universalist Association — alerted to the dire situation by their fellow congregation in Prague — was committed to saving as many people as possible. The story of Unitarian Universalists Rev. Waitstill and Martha Sharp is one that bears retelling today, to explore what message the past has for our future.

Recorded live at Arlington Street Church, Sunday, Mar 9, 2025.

Recorded live at Arlington Street Church, Sunday, Mar 2, 2025.

"Trust the Body"
Sunday, March 16, 2025, 10:50 am

What does it mean to live an embodied life, to treat the body as a shrine and as a source of wisdom? What happens when we don't? Maybe trust isn't just between two people or out in the world, but in one of the most fundamental relationships to ourselves?

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Gregory Stevens, Worship Associate; Linda Enger, Trustee; Kathleen Quenneville, Reflection; Lila Bailey, Reflection; Oriana Jooss Moren, Worship Associate; UUSF Bell Choir led by Reiko Oda Lane, organist; organist; UUSF Choir; Mark Sumner, Music Director; Wm. García Ganz, pianist

Eric Shackelford; Shulee Ong; Eli Boshears, Francisco Castellanos, Camera Operators; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Carrie Steere-Salazar, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

The message was delivered on Sunday, March 16, 2025, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Randy Lewis, Assistant Minister. DESCRIPTION What does it mean to remember? And what does it mean to forget? In a world where history is being rewritten, censored, and erased, we must ask: Who holds the pen? From the echoes of prayers at the Western Wall to the solemn silence of Dachau, this journey confronts the uncomfortable truths that shape our present. What happens when one nation chooses to reckon with its past while another buries it? As history teeters on the edge of repetition, will we stand as witnesses to truth, or let power dictate what remains? SUBSCRIBE TO AUDIO PODCAST: WATCH THIS MESSAGE ON YOUTUBE: SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: GIVE A DONATION TO HELP US SPREAD THIS LOVE BEYOND BELIEF: or text AllSoulsTulsa to 73256 LET'S CONNECT: Facebook: Instagram: All Souls Church Website:

This podcast includes a reflection offered by worship associate Sara Ford.

If you would like to listen to the musical piece by Elizabeth Alexander that Rev. Oscar refers to at the beginning, please visit our  YouTube channel.

dJohn Lewis and the other leaders of the American Civil Rights movement were clear about the relationship between power, relationship, and organized action. In the midst of storms, we reach for each other’s hands. ​

Recorded live at Arlington Street Church, Sunday, Feb 23, 2025.

Recorded live at Arlington Street Church, Sunday, Feb 16, 2025.

Recorded live at Arlington Street Church, Sunday, Feb 9, 2025.

"Leaning In"
Sunday, March 9, 2025, 10:50 am

Anxiety and a feeling of ungroundedness can erode trust in ourselves and in our community. How do we lean into relationships during challenging times? Are there ways we can build trust instead of diminish it?

Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Daniel Jackoway, Worship Associate; Emma Wakeling, Membership and Young Adult Manager; Gino Fortunato, Membership Chair; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; UUSF Choir; Mark Sumner, Music Director; Wm. García Ganz, pianist

Eric Shackelford; Shulee Ong; Eli Boshears, Francisco Castellanos, Camera Operators; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Carrie Steere-Salazar, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

LIVESTREAM
https://youtube.com/live/7X7io5Bhdvc

OOS:
https://t.ly/20250309OSWeb

PLAYLIST:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGWIRF9Pinfzy7Gq-Zmvzk7TAHle5ZSbE

"Safe Harbors in Stormy Times"
Sunday, March 2, 2025

Someone teaches you about the ocean. Someone shows you how to swim for the joy of it, or maybe so you can be safe. Each of us will face storms, and what someone taught us about the water, about swimming, and about what will get us through is relevant now. And relevant to why generations have invested in the First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco, this port in the storm, for almost 175 years! 

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Dennis Adams, Worship Associate; Mirjam and Harry Moren, Canvass Chairs; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; UUSF Choir; Mark Sumner, Music Director; Dr. Joachim Reinhuber, pianist

Eli Boshears, Camera Operator; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Amy Kelly, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

"Inclusion"
Sunday, February 2, 2025

Who's in? Who's out? Belonging? Exclusion? Making room? Accommodations. Drawing the circle wider. Stretching beyond what we know, what and who is familiar. What does inclusion mean, and what does it ask, and why bother! 

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Carmen Barsody, Worship Associate; Galen Workman, Moderator, Board of Trustees; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; UUSF Choir; Mark Sumner, Music Director; Wm. García Ganz, pianist

Eric Shackelford; Shulee Ong; Eliot Boshears, Francisco Castellanos, Camera Operators; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Jose Matias Pineda, Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Judy Payne, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

   WHAT IF THE VERY THING WE'VE BEEN CONDITIONED TO SEE AS WEAKNESS IS ACTUALLY OUR GREATEST SOURCE OF POWER? IN A WORLD THAT GLORIFIES PRODUCTIVITY AND ENDLESS HUSTLE, REST IS OFTEN TREATED AS AN AFTERTHOUGHT-SOMETHING TO BE EARNED, DELAYED, OR SACRIFICED. BUT WHAT IF REST IS MORE THAN JUST SLEEP? WHAT IF IT'S A RADICAL ACT OF RESISTANCE, A WAY TO RECLAIM OUR HUMANITY FROM THE FORCES THAT SEEK TO GRIND US DOWN? THROUGH PERSONAL REFLECTION AND HISTORICAL INSIGHT, THIS EXPLORATION CHALLENGES THE MYTHS WE TELL OURSELVES ABOUT REST AND DARES US TO IMAGINE A DIFFERENT WAY OF BEING-ONE WHERE REST ISN'T A LUXURY, BUT A NECESSITY FOR JUSTICE, JOY, AND LIBERATION.

In his landmark "Rules for Radicals," Saul Alinsky cautions organizers to practice the skills of being heard. “Lacking communication,” he writes, “I am in reality silent; throughout history silence has been regarded as assent — in this case assent to the system.” Organizing, like any spiritual practice, is a discipline with tools and methods developed over time. What lessons do those tools hold for this moment? ​​

THIS SERMON WAS GIVEN ON SUNDAY MARCH 3RD BY REV.DR. MARLIN LAVANHAR WHAT IF THE THING HOLDING YOU BACK ISN'T YOUR PAST, BUT YOUR GRIP ON IT? WE ALL CARRY BURDENS-GRIEF, ANGER, REGRET-BUT ARE WE HOLDING THEM, OR ARE THEY HOLDING US? SOME THINGS CAN BE RELEASED, BUT OTHERS MUST BE CARRIED DIFFERENTLY. HOW DO WE KNOW THE DIFFERENCE? AND WHEN WE CAN'T LET GO, HOW DO WE ENSURE THE WEIGHT DOESN'T DEFINE US?

For years, Unity Church has joined with other congregations around the Twin Cities and the world is proclaiming the dignity of each person, and the need for fair and affordable housing in our community. Housing is an issue that lives at the intersection of the individual and collective: what makes a house a home is deeply personal, but we all have a stake in creating a community of homes. 

 A visionary leader, a faith reimagined, and a movement ahead of its time. In the face of racial and theological barriers, Lewis McGee forged a new path-one that embraced reason, human dignity, and the fight for justice. From a fateful discovery of Unitarianism to the creation of a groundbreaking, multiracial congregation, his journey was one of courage, conviction, and a relentless pursuit of higher ground. The road was never easy. What happens when institutional resistance meets and unstoppable call to service?  

This sermon podcast begins with a Story for All Ages by Rev. KP Hong.

The word in Hebrew for truth, emeth, is related to the verb amam: to support and make firm. Emeth is inherently relational; we depend on each other for support, and to understand the world. Can we understand truth in isolation, or are we dependent on each other?

SERMON BY MARY KATHERINE MORN, GUEST MINISTER AT ALL SOULS UNITARIAN CHURCH FEBRUARY 16TH, 2025 AMIDST OPPRESSION AND UNCERTAINTY, A VISION FOR JUSTICE AND RESILIENCE EMERGES. FROM THE EMBATTLED STREETS OF BURMA TO COMMUNITIES RESISTING TYRANNY ACROSS THE GLOBE, PEOPLE ARE DEFYING SYSTEMS THAT SEEK TO ERASE THEIR DIGNITY. WOMEN WHO HAVE ENDURED DECADES OF VIOLENCE STILL GATHER IN PURSUIT OF DEMOCRACY. REFUGEES STRETCH THEIR ARMS ACROSS BORDERS FOR LIFESAVING AID. ACTIVISTS IN THE U.S. AND BEYOND STAND TOGETHER AGAINST FORCES THAT DENY THEIR VERY EXISTENCE. LOVE ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH-POWER IS NEEDED, TOO. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN LOVE AND POWER MOVE AS ONE?

This podcast begins with a reflection from worship associate Meg Arnosti.

Indigenous communities around the world were gravely impacted by The Doctrine of Discovery, a pronouncement by the Catholic Church and the policies of colonial domination by European countries that were used to justify dominion over lands that were not inhabited by Christians, and the right to subjugate and exploit non-Christian people. What is our role, as Unitarian Universalists, in furthering the process towards healing and repair? Towards Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery?

Recorded live at Arlington Street Church, Sunday, Feb 2, 2025.

Recorded live at Arlington Street Church, Sunday, Jan 26, 2025.

Recorded live at Arlington Street Church, Sunday, Jan 19, 2025.

Recorded live at Arlington Street Church, Sunday, Jan 12, 2025.

Recorded live at Arlington Street Church, Sunday, Jan 5, 2025.

Recorded live at Arlington Street Church, Sunday, Dec 29, 2024.

Recorded live at Arlington Street Church, Sunday, Dec 22, 2024.

Recorded live at Arlington Street Church, Sunday, Dec 15, 2024.

Recorded live at Arlington Street Church, Sunday, Dec 8, 2024.

Recorded live at Arlington Street Church, Sunday, Dec 1, 2024.

 IN TIMES OF CHAOS AND UNCERTAINTY, HOW DO WE STAY GROUNDED WITHOU BECOMING NUMB? HOW DO WE TAKE ACTION WITHOUT BURNING OUT? DRAWING FROM THE WISDOM OF SPIRITUAL LEADERS, CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS, AND THE RESILIENCE OF MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES, THIS POWERFUL EXPLORATION REVEALS FOUR ESSENTIAL PRACTICES THAT CAN HELP US NAVIGATE INJUSTICE, FIND STRENGTH, AND STAY ENGAGED. WHETHER COOLING THE FIRES OF ANGER, REIGNITING OUR PASSION, STRENGTHENING OUR BODIES, OR CONFROMTING OUR INNER SHADOWS, THESE TOOLS ARE VITAL FOR ANYONE SEEKING BALANCE AND PRUPOSE THE WORLD NEEDS VOICES, NOT ECHOES-ARE YOU READY TO STEP INTO YOUR POWER?

This podcast begins with a reflection by worship associate Charlie Caswell.

Truth is not simply a dry recitation of facts. The Greek word for truth, aletheia, suggests an unveiling; it was used to describe a curtain coming up at a play, revealing the truth of the story. What truths are revealed to us today? 

History is rarely as simple as heroes and villains. What happens when those we admire-family, leaders, even icons of progress-also hold beliefs or take actions we find deeply troubling? Through personal ancestry and historical figures, this exploration reveals the complexities of legacy, the weight of contradictions, and the uncomfortable truths we must face. Can we honor the good while acknowledging the harm? What do we do when those who shaped our world weren't the people we hoped they were?  

This sermon podcast begins with a reflection offered by worship associate Anna Newton.

The first generation of Unitarians in America preached that reason was the primary tool for understanding the truth of the world around us. Veritas, the Latin word for truth, gives us “verifiability,” the idea that truth is a description of external reality that can be understood by observation and experimentation. What role does this understanding of truth hold for us in 2025? 

"Story: Wine, Weddings, and a Coming Out"
Sunday, January 26, 2025

The theme of January is “Story.” One of the things I love about a tradition—religious, cultural, or literary—is that the community starts to repeat and value certain stories as worth revisiting, as worth revising in light of the interpretations we bring to them based on where we are in our lives. I’ve long been fascinated and horrified by the story of the wedding in Cana, one scene in the life of Jesus. It takes place in the Gospel as told by John, Chapter 2, verses 1-12. It’s about wine. It’s about a wedding. It is about a moment of coming out and the frightening and powerful inevitabilities that can be part of a life too. 

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Daniel Jackoway, Worship Associate; Galen Workman, Moderator, Board of Trustees; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; UUSF Choir; Mark Sumner, Music Director; Morgen Warner, Maggie McGrann soloists; Jon Silk, drummer; Wm. García Ganz, pianist

Eric Shackelford; Eli Boshears, Camera Operators; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Thomas Brown, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Amy Kelly, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

"MLK"
Sunday, January 19, 2025

Jonathan Eig won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography in 2024 for his biography King: A Life. People who previously refused to be interviewed told their stories, government documents that were newly released, and lots of research present a rich perspective on more of the layers of the story of Martin Luther King Jr., his gifts, theological commitments, and his struggles. In the full story of a life, we know the heroic for what it truly is. Let's unpack some more layers of the story of this hero.

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Mari Magaloni Ramos, Worship Associate; Hanna Hart, Winter Shelter; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; UUSF Choir; Mark Sumner, Music Director; Eric Shackelford, soloist; Stephen Saxon, soloist; Wm. García Ganz, pianist

Shulee Ong; Francisco Castellanos, Camera Operators; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Thomas Brown, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Carrie Steere-Salazar, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

The message was delivered on Sunday, January 26, 2025, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister. DESCRIPTION What does it mean to truly be part of the “family of things”? This message takes us on a journey to explore our profound connection to the cosmos, our role in sustaining the only planet we call home, and the sacred interplay between energy, matter, and consciousness. By weaving together ancient wisdom, science, and a call to action, it challenges us to live in ways that honor all existence—not out of fear, but out of love for the extraordinary world that sustains us. SUBSCRIBE TO AUDIO PODCAST: WATCH THIS MESSAGE ON YOUTUBE: SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: GIVE A DONATION TO HELP US SPREAD THIS LOVE BEYOND BELIEF: or text AllSoulsTulsa to 73256 LET'S CONNECT: Facebook: Instagram: All Souls Church Website:

The questions answered in this sermon were posed by the congregation at the beginning of the service.

Music and ministry both exist in the relationship between structure and improvisation. This Sunday we will consider both, in an extemporaneous reflection from piano and pulpit.

HWOW DO WE NAVIGATE THE TENSION BETWEEN CHAOS AND COMMUNITY? REFLECTING ON THE WORDS OF LEADERS LIKE DR.MARTIN LUTHER KING JR., THIS EXPLORATION BY REV. DR. MARLIN LAVENHAR DELVES INTO THE INTERSECTIONS OF DEMOCRACY, EQUALITY AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO TRULY PARTICIPATE IN SHAPING A GOVERNMENT 'OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE"? AS THE DIVIDE BETWEEN WEALTH AND OPPORTUNITY WIDENS, AND QUESTIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS GROW URGENT, THE CALL TO ACTION HAS NEVER BEEN CLEARER. COULD THIS BE A MOMENT OF PROFOUND REBIRTH FOR OUR NATION?

Founded in 1940, the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) has served as a beacon of liberal religion in the world, and the possibilities that exist when we connect faith with action. On the day before the 2025 United States presidential inauguration, we will hear from Rev. Mary Katherine Morn, president of UUSC, about the work of the committee and the possibilities of this moment.

This sermon podcast begins with a reflection offered by worship associate Chris Russert

"Look well to the growing edge! All around us worlds are dying and new worlds are being born; all around us life is dying and life is being born." — Howard Thurman 

Often this phrase is used to explain a painful moment or failure, an uninvited or unwelcome “opportunity for growth.” Yet, it is from these places of challenge that we do, indeed, emerge and develop, whether as planned or, more often, with an unexpected or creative outcome. We grow from places of strength, of hope and resilience, that once were edges themselves. Let us look to these edges together, that we may commit to a generative practice of being transformed.

"Build Strength Through Our Stories"
Sunday, January 12, 2025

Stories are powerful and offer us lessons to help resource ourselves. By looking at historical figures, ancestors, and our own lives, we can remember the stories that have given us resilience and have helped us build community in challenging times. Let's come together to tell these stories and share the lessons we have learned.

Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Sam King, Worship Associate; Liz Strand, Trustee; Linda Harris, UUSC; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; Shannon Warto, Singer

Eric Shackelford; Francisco Castellanos, Camera Operators; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Thomas Brown, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Carrie Steere-Salazar, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

LIVESTREAM
https://www.youtube.com/live/eMG0YSpzo3s

OOS:
https://t.ly/20250112OSWeb

PLAYLIST:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGWIRF9PinfwEr0s89S7ybLIupNeewPp5

 THIS REFLECTION, DELEVERED WITH HEARFLET GRATITUDE AND VULNERABILITY, CENTERS ON THE THEME OF GRACE AND THE INTERCONNECTEDNESS OF RELATIONSHIPS. PHIL HANEY OPENS BY ACKNOWLEDGING THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY AND THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT HAVE SUPPORTED AND SHAPED HIM THROUGHOUT LIFE.

THIS REFLECTION BY CHAD JOHNSON ON BOARD OF TRUSTEES SUNDAY EXPLORES THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF GRACE, DEFINED AS UNMERITED FAVOR, LOVE, AND FORGIVENESS. GRACE IS PRESENTED AS A FORCE THAT HEALS BROKENNESS AND REVEALS BEAUTY IN THE WORLD. CHAD EXAMINES GRACE THROUGH THREE LENSES: CHRISTIAN TRADITION, EXISTENTIAL PHILOSOPHY, AND GREEK MYTHOLOGY.

"The Stories We Tell"

Sunday, January 5, 2025, 10:50 am

Humans are storytellers, and stories have the power to influence us, for better or worse. Our affiliated community minister, Rev. Mille Phillips, will address what stories we tell ourselves or others. Do they empower us or hold us back? Which do we need to rewrite or retell? What stories do we need in 2025?

Rev. Millie Phillips, Affiliated Community Minister; Santana Gonzalez-Gomez, Worship Associate; Stephen Cox, pianist; Jon Silk, drummer; Akané Ota, songleader

Shulee Ong; Eric Shackelford; Francisco Castellanos; Eli Boshears, Camera Operators; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Thomas Brown, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Athena Papadakos, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

The message was delivered on Sunday, January 5, 2025, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Randy Lewis, Assistant Minister. DESCRIPTION In a world consumed by noise, division, and a relentless demand for judgment, where can we find hope? Beyond the headlines and viral moments lies something quieter, yet infinitely powerful—grace. Grace doesn’t scream for attention; it whispers through acts of kindness, forgiveness, and courage, transforming our lives and relationships. What if the good hasn’t disappeared but is simply waiting for us to notice it? What if we choose grace over retribution? Through profound stories of human connection and compassion, discover how grace has the power to reshape hearts, reconcile differences, and inspire us to create something better together. SUBSCRIBE TO AUDIO PODCAST: WATCH THIS MESSAGE ON YOUTUBE: SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: GIVE A DONATION TO HELP US SPREAD THIS LOVE BEYOND BELIEF: or text AllSoulsTulsa to 73256 LET'S CONNECT: Facebook: Instagram: All Souls Church Website:

Join us for Unity Church’s annual service of remembrance for the members of our community who have passed away in the last year. This sermon podcast begins with eulogies offered by Rev. Lara Cowtan and Rev. Oscar Sinclair.

The message was delivered on Sunday, December 29, 2024, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Randy Lewis, Assistant Minister. DESCRIPTION What would it take to turn the page on the pain, mistakes, and struggles that have held you back? Through the lens of Nelson Mandela’s extraordinary journey, we explore the profound act of forgiveness—not as a passive release but as a powerful declaration of freedom. Imagine facing your greatest hardship and using it to write a new chapter, one shaped by courage and compassion. As you navigate life’s challenges, will you remain confined to the roles of victim or villain, or will you rise as the hero of your story? The next chapter is unwritten—what will you choose to write? SUBSCRIBE TO AUDIO PODCAST: WATCH THIS MESSAGE ON YOUTUBE: SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: GIVE A DONATION TO HELP US SPREAD THIS LOVE BEYOND BELIEF: or text AllSoulsTulsa to 73256 LET'S CONNECT: Facebook: Instagram: All Souls Church Website:

This podcast begins with a reflectin offered by worship associate Peggy Lin.

The story of the Maccabean revolt is the inspiration for the Jewish festival of lights, Hannukah. The miracle at the heart of the story is simple: lamp oil that appeared to only be enough for a night lasted for eight days. But even in simplicity, the story holds meaning for what it means to live sustainably, hopefully, and what it means to rededicate ourselves to a cause.

At the start of the Christmas story, Mary and Joseph are internally displaced refugees, traveling from their home in Nazareth to be counted in a census for a far-away imperial capital. By the end of the story, they are fleeing their homes as refugees, looking to start a new life in Egypt, away from political violence and oppression. In 2024 in St. Paul Minnesota, where do we locate ourselves in this story? Are we the innkeeper, telling the young family there is no room? Or are we the shepherds, called from the fields to witness and provide what help they can?

This sermon by Rev. Dr. Nicole Kirk reflects on the themes of winter, both as a literal season and a metaphor for the challenging phases of life. Drawing on the symbolism of the winter solstice, the message emphasizes the cyclical nature of life, the importance of introspection, and the quiet preparation for renewal and growth. It concludes with a call to embrace the "winters" of life as opportunities for clarity, healing, and rediscovery, reminding listeners of the enduring hope that spring will come again.

"Hanging of the Greens"
Sunday, December 15, 2024

Join us for the annual Hanging of the Greens Service. This all-ages service has us begin together in the sanctuary and then move around the church, decorating garlands and wreaths and making pomanders, learning a winter song, and coming together at the end in that age-old ritual in pre-Christian Europe of bringing evergreens into the winter halls, a reminder that life continues through winter into spring. Come join the fun!

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Eli Boshears, Worship Participant; Oriana Moren, Worship Participant; Calder Law, Worship Participant; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; UUSF Choir; Mark Sumner, director; Wm. García Ganz, pianist

Shulee Ong, Camera Operator; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Thomas Brown, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Linda Messner, Head Usher

"How Do We Lead?"
Sunday, December 8, 2024

Church has always been a place (and houses of worship in general) where the definition and understanding of how leadership shows up among us is broader and fuller than the world sometimes defines it. It's not so much that we loosen the definition but that we see so clearly how it takes so many different skills and gifts to make the whole of what we want to do together possible. This Sunday we will ask three leaders, in different tenures of leadership, to reflect on what calls them into the work and what they have learned and reflect on our own notion of and call to lead. The service is created and led with our Nominating Committee -- the group charged at UUSF not just of identifying leaders but equipping and developing and celebrating their leadership.

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Courtney Young-Law; Ruth Grace Wong; John Meliska; Linda Enger; Gino Fortunato, Emma Wakeling, Membership; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; UUSF Choir; Mark Sumner, director

Shulee Ong; Eric Shackelford, Camera Operators; Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Thomas Brown, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Amy Kelly, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

 IN THE BROADWAY MUSICAL WICKED, WE FIND A NEW TWIST ON THE OLD CLASSIC, THE WIZARD OF OZ. IT TURNS OUT THE GOOD WITCH IS NOT SO GOOD AFTER ALL AND THE WICKED WITCH, WELL, SHE AIN'T SO BAD. IN THIS DELIGHTFUL TALE THE COMPLEXITIES OF WHAT CAUSES ONE PERSON TO BE DEEMED GOOD AND ANOTHER TO BE SEEN AS EVIL IS BROUGHT TO LIFE IN AN UNFORGETTABLE WAY.

This sermon podcast begins with a reflection offered by worship associate Sara Ford.

In the Christian calendar, Advent is a time of waiting and preparation for the coming of the Christ child. The story from first century Palestine tells us that with the birth of Jesus comes hope, love, the undoing of the status quo: a new reign of peace on earth. In times of fear and uncertainty, where is hope to be found in these ancient stories? In our own stories?