"Revisiting Stories: The Prodigal Son and Belonging"
Sunday, September 14, 2025

We talk about the importance of sacred stories. They come in many forms. The gentle ones whose wisdom goes down sweet and easy and the ones that require a lot more work. In my experience the Prodigal Son, a story told in the Gospel of Luke, is one that a lot of people want to toss aside. It pricks our notions of fairness, our own sibling rivalries. On Sunday we will roll up our sleeves and lean into it and see what wisdom it has to offer. It is a story particularly relevant to the question of belonging. This Sunday we will also ritual confer on the Rev. Alyson Jack the title of Minister Emerita with a reception to follow!  

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister, preaching; Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Rev. Margot Campbell Gross, Minister Emerita; Rev. Alyson Jacks, Minister Emerita; Carmen Barsody, Worship Associate; Mark Caswell, Ministerial Intern; Linda Enger, Vice Moderator, Board of Trustee; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; UUSF Choir led by Mark Sumner, Music Director; Wm. García Ganz, pianist

Shulee Ong; Camera Operator; Desired Effect, Sound; Jonathan Silk, Order of Service; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Judy Payne, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

The message was delivered on Sunday, September 14, 2025, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Nicole Kirk, Program Minister. DESCRIPTION: What happens when midnight falls across a nation's soul, and darkness seems so deep we can barely see which way to turn? An ancient parable about a friend's desperate knock at midnight becomes a powerful lens for understanding our current moment—where fear builds, divisions widen, and people push one another away. Yet in this darkness comes an urgent plea not for simple charity, but for something far more transformative: the bread of love that affirms every person's worth and dignity. From the 1963 March on Washington to an 80-year-old woman's determined climb up 342 steps to the crown of the Statue of Liberty, discover how ordinary people make extraordinary choices to unfold their hearts rather than fold them closed. When the world profits from our isolation and feeds on our fear, what does it mean to choose unfolding as the ultimate act of resistance? SUBSCRIBE TO AUDIO PODCAST: WATCH THIS MESSAGE ON YOUTUBE: 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:

2025 is a dangerous time in the world. When the foundations of so many of institutions and assumptions shake, we embrace the power of words to heal, as well as to harm. Even as we recognize the danger in language used to hurt, we use our own dangerous language to imagine a different way of being. 

 

This service begins with a reflection by worship associate Veronica Nordeng DeVillez.

"Raindrops, Rivers, Oceans: An Annual In Gathering to Community"
Sunday, September 7, 2025

We will be regathered into community for another year in our annual Water Communion Service this Sunday. Separateness is an illusion. We were meant to meet and merge and make a life together. And so we begin our new year. Bring your waters from your travels, your garden spigot, or the ocean around the corner, or use some of ours. 

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Rev. Seanan Fong, Community Minister; Mark Caswell, Ministerial Intern; Galen Workman, Moderator, Board of Trustee; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; Morgen Warner, Kate Offer, soloists; UUSF Choir led by Mark Sumner, Music Director; Wm. García Ganz, pianist

Jonathan Silk, Communications Director; Dan Barnard, Facilities Manager; Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Judy Payne, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

Recorded live at Arlington Street Church, Sunday, September 7, 2025.

Recorded live at Arlington Street Church, Sunday, August 31, 2025.

Recorded live at Arlington Street Church, Sunday, August 24, 2025.

Recorded live at Arlington Street Church, Sunday, August 17, 2025.

Recorded live at Arlington Street Church, Sunday, August 10, 2025.

Recorded live at Arlington Street Church, Sunday, August 3, 2025.

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

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

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

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

Recorded live at Arlington Street Church, Sunday, June 29, 2025.

The message was delivered on Sunday, September 7, 2025, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister. DESCRIPTION What does it truly mean to find a place where you belong? In a world filled with diverse experiences and perspectives, the quest for connection and understanding is more vital than ever. Explore the depths of vision and community as we delve into the essence of shared humanity. Are you ready to discover the transformative power of belonging and the bonds that unite us all? 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:

We begin our congregational year joined by representatives from our partner church in Homoródszentpéter. Together we reflect on the long journey from our first meetings to now, and look forward to what comes next in our friendship. 

This podcast begins with a reflection by Rev. Dr. Oscar Sinclair and is followed by a refelction from Rev. Kinga Réka Székely, the minister of Unity's partner church in Homoródszentpéter.

The sermon was delivered on Sunday, August 31, 2025, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Randy Lewis, Assistant Minister. DESCRIPTION What happens when sacred trust is traded for political gain? History shows us that whenever the pulpit bends to empire, the church loses more than its conscience—it loses its witness. From Constantine to segregation, the temptation to exchange integrity for influence has left scars on faith communities and society alike. Now, with the IRS stepping back from enforcing guardrails, the question is urgent: will pulpits become campaign platforms, or will they remain sanctuaries of truth, conscience, and love beyond belief? SUBSCRIBE TO AUDIO PODCAST: WATCH THIS SERMON 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:

A hot cup of coffee. A firm handshake. A sincere conversation. As we continue to wade in the waters of polarization and binaries, the temptation to let our differences keep us apart is strong. Yet our Unitarian Universalist roots ask us to continue rethinking and reimagining what Beloved Community can and should look like. Could being foolishly vulnerable and honest with each other provide us with a key to a different world?

 

This sermon podcast begins with a reflection by Nelson Moroukian.

"The Power and Draw of Wonder"

Sunday, August 24, 2025

Dacher Keltner, Professor of Psychology and expert in the study of emotion, has been focusing on the human experience of wonder. What is its power? Where and how do we find it? Why is it worth making room for? His book "Awe" will be our September Minister's Book Group book!

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Carmen Barsody, Worship Associate; Carl Cade, Trustee; Larry Chinn, pianist; Mark Sumner, songleader

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

The message was delivered on Sunday, August 24, 2025, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister. DESCRIPTION What if your doubts weren’t silenced but embraced as part of the journey? Picture a community where people gather not to conform, but to wrestle honestly with questions of purpose, faith, and truth. Here, stories unfold—a mother finding healing after loss, an artist discovering belonging for his free-thinking spirit—reminding us that no path is too different to be welcomed. In this space, science and scripture, reason and wonder, diversity and unity live side by side. And at its heart lies a powerful question: with one life to live, how will you shape yours? SUBSCRIBE TO AUDIO PODCAST: 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:

In the last of our series on membership at Unity Church, we consider our work beyond the congregation, as we ask each other to “let the compassion that rises from doing your work within and among lead you to bless the world.” In this anxious age, what does it mean to be a blessing?

 

This sermon podcast begins with a reflection from Worship Associate Ollie Stocker.

"Crossing the Threshold: A service on death and dying... and a life informed by both."
Sunday, August 17, 2025

Our musicians this Sunday have a ministry companioning those through death and dying. So we will sit with what it means to be with those on the journey across the threshold to death. How can music be a part of it? How does our sense of dying inform the way we live in ways that are liberating and joyful and wise?

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Gregory Stevens, Worship Associate; Linda Enger, Trustee; Akane Ota, songleader; Bill Ganz, pianist; Joel Karabo Elliott, Dr. Aditi Sethi & Jay Brown, Ways of Remembrance ensemble

Alicia Cover; Eric Shackelford; Shulee Ong; Eli Boshears, Camera Operators; Kelvin Jones, Jose Matias Pineda, and Francisco Castellanos, Sextons; Judy Payne, Flowers; Linda Messner, Head Usher

The message was delivered on Sunday, August 17, 2025, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Nicole Kirk, Program Minister. DESCRIPTION In a world filled with noise, how do we recognize the first time we truly hear? When fear, hunger, and uncertainty cloud our senses, what does it take to discover something as unexpected as music—and where do we turn when that source seems lost forever? Through a whimsical tale of cheddar and change, we’re reminded that beauty can emerge in the most surprising places, and that perhaps what we seek on the outside has always been waiting within. What happens when you dare to create, even after everything is gone? 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 second expectation of membership at Unity Church is that our members will “develop the skills of small group intimacy that let you go deep quickly with strangers.” Among this community, the skills of connection deepen our ties and begin to connect our personal practices and lives with the broader world.

 

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

"Love at the Center Part 2"
Sunday, August 10, 2025

We will pick up our conversation from July and explore the remaining themes from the book, "Love at the Center." Participants from the class will share their reflections on what they learned about and what they currently believe about love.

Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Mari Magaloni Ramos, Worship Associate; Anne Diaz, Riki Panganiban, Niko Gomez-Guhde, Chelsea Thomas; Galen Workman, Moderator, Board of Trustees; Stephen Cox, pianist; Mark Sumner, songleader

Eric Shackelford; 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, August 10th, 2025, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister. What if unity didn't require uniformity? While fundamentalist religions across the globe insist that harmony comes through conformity to one doctrine, a different path emerges—one where Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, and Christians can pray under the same roof without abandoning their distinct traditions. Can an 80-year-old woman stumble into the wrong classroom and emerge transformed, her heart opened to people she never thought she'd understand? When the human family stands divided by prejudice and ignorance, what does it truly mean to be "one with everything"? 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

Members of Unity Church are asked to “develop a personal practice that helps you find and keep your balance.” What is it about practice that improves balance? Is there value to these practices outside of an instrumental result? How does personal practice set up the rest of our lives together as a community?

“All for One & One for All”
Sunday, August 3, 2025

Matt has led music and worship for hundreds of services in congregations all over the U.S. and Canada. Matt has a degree in hand drumming from Berklee College of Music and has studied abroad in Cuba, Ghana, and Central America. In addition to music, Matt is also an active community organizer and educator. His service will be on the work for justice and inspiration on the journey. More info at https://www.rhythmrevelations.com/.

Matt Meyer, Guest Preacher; Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Asani Seawell, Worship Associate; Mark Sumner, pianist

Eric Shackelford; 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, August 3rd, 2025, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Molly Housh Gordon, Visiting Minister. What happens when grief becomes the catalyst for transformation? In a world where brutality seems to overshadow beauty, where mothers count ribs instead of blessings, a powerful truth emerges: our broken hearts hold the very power needed to resist cruelty. Can communities built on shared sorrow become crucibles for change? When the walls around our hearts finally fall, will we discover that love grows strongest in the spaces between us—in Monday's gardens, Tuesday's repairs, and Wednesday's tears? 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

What does it mean to be Unitarian Universalist in this moment? In an anxious age, it is not sufficient for us to retreat from the world into intellectual contemplation. Instead, our faith calls us to engage, fully, with our souls, each other, and the world around us.

"Poetry in Times of Reverie"
Sunday, July 27, 2025

Poetry is a moment distilled. Sometimes it is life pressed into the pages of a book or, more vividly, as Robert Frost said, it is a way of "taking life by the throat." And Alice Walker said, "Poetry is the lifeblood of rebellion, revolution, and the raising of consciousness." In the deep valley of summer, we will sit with some poetry.

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Kathleen McClung; Galen Workman, Moderator, Board of Trustees; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; Rami Bar-Niv, pianist; Mark Sumner, songleader

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 message was delivered on Sunday, July 27th, 2025, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister. DESCRIPTION: What if the greatest wisdom about love came from children? When 4 to 8-year-olds were asked "What does love mean?" their answers revealed profound truths that adults often miss. From a grandfather painting his arthritic wife's toenails to a little boy who simply sat and helped his grieving neighbor cry, these stories illuminate love's true nature. But here's the deeper question: Are you truly listening to where love is leading your life? This message explores how love becomes our most reliable compass through life's toughest decisions - from family conflicts to impossible choices. What happens when we make love our lens for every situation? Through the touching story of "Chicken Farmer, I Love You" painted on a small town rock, discover how authentic love persists even when circumstances change, people move away, or others try to paint over it. The message that appeared years later - "Chicken Farmer, I Still Love You" - reveals something eternal about love's nature. Why do some people carry deep regrets while others find peace in their choices? The answer might surprise you. When facing your most difficult decisions, there's one question that cuts through confusion and brings clarity: What would love have you do? Will choosing love always guarantee the outcome you want? What happens when love demands sacrifice, patience, or forgiveness? How can we live with "indiscriminate love" in a world full of conflict and pain? 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

Alana Howey | Anna Newton | Lisa Burke Unity's Act for the Earth Community Outreach Ministry Team With chaos all around us, action grounded in spiritual practice can help us move forward. Anna Newton, Alana Howey, and Lisa Burke, members of Unity’s Act for the Earth Team, will share their approach to this work.

 

This service begins with a reflection by Anna Newton which is followed by a collage of voices from members of Unity's Act for the Earth Team, and concludes with a refelction by Lisa Burke.

The message was delivered on Sunday, July 2Oth, 2025, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister. DESCRIPTION: When you're struggling upside down like a fly on a windowsill, what force might come along to help you right yourself? Ancient stories like David and Goliath reveal timeless truths about facing seemingly impossible challenges with nothing but smooth stones and unwavering resolve. A single photograph of two girls in green dresses becomes a lifeline that transforms three lives across sixteen years, proving that small acts of kindness ripple forward in ways we never imagine. Sometimes the most profound courage isn't blind certainty, but the willingness to act when doing nothing feels like its own kind of death. What if the wind that saves us comes not from above, but from the love we dare to give each other? 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

The question we need to be asking in our justice efforts is what are we building together, not what are we doing. Weaving relationships, growing capacity, grounding in our values — these are what build power and make a difference over the long-haul of change. Rev. Terri Burnor (she/her) is

Executive Director of MUUSJA (the Minnesota Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Alliance). She also serves the St. Croix Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Wisconsin as their quarter-time minister and has been a member at Unity Church since 2005. Terri is a lifelong Minnesotan who lives in St. Paul with her spouse, Brian, and their two dogs, Marvin and Betty.

The message was delivered on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Randy Lewis, Assistant Minister. DESCRIPTION If you could whisper one truth to your younger self, what would it be? Would you tell them how to avoid heartbreak, or remind them they were always enough? In a world rewriting reality faster than we can keep up, how do we stay grounded without giving in to fear? History shows us that even unfinished work matters. Maybe the real time machine we need isn’t a DeLorean, but the kind that brings us fully alive, here and now. 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:

As the world around us changes at a rapid and discouraging pace, how do we keep ourselves grounded and continue to build resilience for the years ahead? What practices both spiritual and otherwise do we need to establish and maintain in order to continue to live lives of integrity, service, and joy?

This sermon podcast begins with a reflection by Worship Associate Dick Buggs.

 

Most summer Sundays, Peggy Lin can be found at "dirt church": digging around in the dirt in her home gardens. Called two winters ago by Act for the Earth to overwinter pollinator perennials, she hasn't looked back. This Sunday, she'll reflect on the spiritual practice of noticing what you notice and how that practice can shape your religious journey at Unity Church.

Recorded live at Arlington Street Church, Sunday, Jun 22, 2025.

Recorded live at Arlington Street Church, Sunday, Jun 15, 2025.

Recorded live at Arlington Street Church, Sunday, Jun 8, 2025.

Recorded live at Arlington Street Church, Sunday, Jun 1, 2025.

After five decades of ministry, what compels a leader to share one final, unfiltered truth? In the high desert of Ghost Ranch, New Mexico, a young graduate heard a voice that would redirect his entire life's trajectory—but what did that voice demand of him? Now, as Rev. Gerald Davis prepares to step away from the pulpit, he delivers a raw, uncompromising message about justice, truth, and the courage required to speak out when silence would be easier. Can we truly claim to live with purpose if we turn away from the work that calls us? Some truths are too urgent to whisper. 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

It is no secret that mainline churches are rapidly losing members. In fact, research shows that, religiously speaking, the only category where there is growth is among the "Nones" — those who have no church affiliation and don't want one. Yet Unity Church–Unitarian is growing. What are we doing that is different? What are we offering that people want to join with us?

 

This sermon podcast from Rev. George Anastos begins with a reflection offered by Worship Associate Chris Russert.

"Spirituality and Inner Freedom"
Sunday, June 22, 2025

These days, as basic human rights and freedoms are under constant attack, the battle for our attention is relentless. What if the real locus of our freedom is within each of us? What if we put greater attention there? Our former senior minister returns to our pulpit to speak about the vital role of spiritual practice and discipline in renewing the progressive soul of America.

Rev. John Buehrens, Preacher; Sam King, Worship Associate; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; Allen Biggs and Tommy Kesecker, percussionists; Nancy Munn, songleader

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

"Lessons from our Fathers"

Sunday, June 15, 2025, 10:50 am

We learn from their words and their actions, from how they succeeded and where and how they stumbled. What are some of the lessons from our fathers that carry us forward with grace and courage?

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Daniel Jackoway, Worship Associate; Eric Hamilton, guitarist; Akane Ota, songleader; Mark Sumner, pianist

Eric Shackelford; 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, June 22nd, 2025, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Celeste Lebak, Guest Minister DESCRIPTION:  What happens when collapse doesn’t look like a catastrophe—but instead wears ordinary clothes, lives behind closed doors, and passes for normal? From whispered griefs to quiet survivals, explore what it means to witness the overlooked, name the wounds we’ve hidden, and honor the sacred mess of being human. Can healing unsettle us more than brokenness ever did? And what if the act of tending—to ourselves, to each other—isn’t just restorative, but revolutionary? 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

The message was delivered on Sunday, June 15, 2025, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Randy Lewis, Assistant Minister. DESCRIPTION In a world where vulnerability is rare and strength is too often confused with silence, what does it mean to be a father? What do we do with the legacy of the ones who raised us, the joyful, the steady, the absent, and the broken? We honor the cool dads, the calm dads, and the complicated ones, and we name the truth: fatherhood, like freedom, is never simple. 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 is a reflection on Father's Day through a series of stories by Worship Leader Ari Giles and Worship Associate Veronica Nordeng DeVillez.

 

Find the whole service on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/live/ZyPcmo-d_3w?si=3jhjHdkr3TlFC6j3

“Celebrate! Our Annual Flower Communion Sunday”
Sunday, June 8, 2025

I had a coach once who said when you are going up the mountain, you have to take time to go to the overlooks, take in how far you have come, celebrate and enjoy the view, and rehydrate before you move on. We will look back this Sunday, engage in our annual Flower Communion ritual to end our year, and prepare for our annual meeting. Bring a flower from your garden (or from your neighbors!) and come join in a time of taking in the view.

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern, Senior Minister; Rev. Laura Shennum, Minister of Congregational Life; Carmen Barsody, Worship Associate; Reiko Oda Lane, organist; UUSF Choir led by Mark Sumner, director; Wm. García Ganz, pianist

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

The service was conducted on Sunday, June 8th, 2025, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar What if the disconnect in your closest relationships isn’t about love lost, but about love spoken in a language you don’t understand? Dive into a powerful exploration of how we can move beyond surface-level reactions and learn to truly hear one another—not just with our ears, but with the heart. What might shift if, instead of responding to someone’s anger, we recognized the fear underneath? Discover the quiet strength of compassion, the clarity of mindfulness, and a new kind of freedom born from deep connection. Because sometimes the truth we’ve longed to hear has been there all along—whispered, not spoken. 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: All Souls Church Website: 

At Rev. Lara Cowtan’s final worship service as Unity Church’s Minister of Congregational Care, we gather to reflect on her ministry in Saint Paul, to celebrate community and care, and to practice opening to what comes next.

 

View the whole service on Unity's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/live/Cf2KCcHW0qk?si=vDNdJG5fIHqX3IlY

"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.