No matter what you call it – sestercentennial, semiquincentennial, bicenquinquagenary, or just plain 250th – 2020 is a big year for Universalism. It will be the 250th anniversary of John Murray’s famous 1770 sermon in Thomas Potter’s chapel in Good Luck, New Jersey. We celebrate 2 and ½ centuries of Universalist contributions.
The full array of Sestercentennial Universalist Celebrations will be in 2020.
An endearing performance based on the reading of love letters written by Judith Sargent Murray to her husband Rev. John Murray has been commissioned. The performance provides a touching insight into the lives of Rev. Murray and his wife Judith, as well as tell tells the larger story of the birth of Universalism in America.
The Universalist Convocation will begin the celebration with a kick-off event at Murray Grove (May 17 – 19, 2019). Dynamic speakers, including Rev. John Buehrens, former UUA President, will provide the background on the arrival of Universalism in America. And . . . there will be a performance of Love Notes.
The Unitarian Universalist History Convocation (October 17 – 20, 2019) to be held in Baltimore will celebrate TWO significant events in UU history. The first celebration is the 200th anniversary of Rev. William Ellery Channing’s delivery of his “Unitarian Christianity” sermon that is better known as the Baltimore Sermon. The next celebration is the 205th anniversary of Rev. John Murray preaching his first Universalist sermon in Murray Grove in 1770. Murray Grove is a sponsor of this History Convocation.
Rev. John Murray
Plans are evolving to celebrate the 250th anniversary of John Murray’s epic sermon in Thomas Potter’s chapel in Good Luck, New Jersey September 30, 1770. This was the beginning of the thread of Universalist History in “the new world.” And the place where it happened is our oldest historic site. The full array of Sestercentennial Universalist Celebrations will be in 2020.
If you would like to contribute to the planning of the celebration, please use our Contact Us page to express your interest and talents.