“Love, The Final Frontier”

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You may download the morning program here or you can read it w/o downloading below

In 1966 Gene Roddenbery introduced the world to Star Trek, a series that continues to light up our imaginations almost 60 years later. I avoided watching the show for one reason: the word Frontier. Do we really need another TV show praising the evils of colonization, only in space?  I recently gave the show a chance and realized that my assessment might have been wrong. So, I ask two questions: What if frontier was redefined?  And how can the UU faith lead the way in navigating this frontier?

Introducing our guest speaker…

Ashley Newlin (she/her) is entering her fourth and final year as a Masters of Divinity student at Brite Divinity School. Where she just completed her 1 year term as Moderator of the Brite Student Association (BSA). During this term BSA implemented a mentoring program, which helped connect new students connect with students further along in their studies to help them transition into the seminary environment. As well as her continued work on structurally reforming the student government to be more representative of all student groups on campus, which is due to be completed by August of this year. She also continues to serve as a Resident Assistant at Leibrock Village, which provides affordable housing for graduate students at Brite and TCU. Before beginning her seminary career at Brite she served as a Youth Pastor in a couple of Nazarene Churches in Oklahoma, as well as serving as a Child Welfare Specialist for Oklahoma Department of Human Services. Some of her hobbies include playing guitar and playing rugby. 

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“Transgender in Comon Usage and Jurisprudence”

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“Transgender in Comon Usage and Jurisprudence” Dr. Rachel Tudor, guest speaker

Download the Morning Program or read it below

Of her discourse, Dr. Tudor writes:

Names and labels are used to identify and, all too often, exclude, marginalize, and literally demonize people who are different or see the world differently. Through the use of the power of naming, individuals and communities are deprived of their rights and dignity as human beings. The neologism “transgender” is one such name/label. I will share my experiences with this label in reference to employment justice and our culture.

Introducing Dr. Tudor:

The 10th Circuit ordered Dr. Tudor’s reinstatement as a tenured professor at Southeastern in the Fall of 2021 after a decade of litigation. She is the first tenured Native American professor in her department in its 125+ year history. Her undergraduate degree was developed by a collaboration between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the University of Houston emphasizing analytical future studies and environmental earth science. The curriculum provided a robust foundation in natural science to juxtapose with her Master’s degree in Humanities with an emphasis in philosophy. She earned her PhD at the University of Oklahoma concentrating on literature.

 

TMP 05-29 - v.1

“Going Local”

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Download the Morning Program HERE or just read it below.

Marks comments about his upcoming discourse:

Going Local

OF HIS UPCOMING DISCOURSE MARK WRITES:  2000-mile salads, money streaming out of our local communities, dependence on global corporations, living in debt, little to no connection and commerce with the people around us, over-dependence on fossil fuel, depopulation and impoverishment of rural communities – these are the hallmarks of a global economy with little concern for the flourishing of our local communities. But there is a movement that is working to transform our systems in a more local direction.

INTRODUCING OUR GUEST MINISTER: Leading today’s morning assembly is the Rev. Dr. Mark Y.A. Davies.  Mark is the Wimberly Professor of Social and Ecological Ethics at Oklahoma City University where he has worked in both teaching and administration for 25 years. He is an ordained elder in the Oklahoma Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Mark’s Ph.D. is from Boston University in the area of Social Ethics, and he has served Boston University School of Theology as a member of its Dean’s Advisory Board and as the alumnus representative their Green Team as part of the Green Seminary Initiative.

Mark engages in advocacy and activism in the areas of peace, social justice, and ecological sustainability. Locally this is expressed through his work with the Human Community Network, which works to create non-violent systemic change for a just and flourishing human and ecological community through collaboration, education, innovation, and action. See www.humancommunitynetwork.org.

He and his wife Kristin live in Edmond, OK in the United States, and they have two daughters who attend Oklahoma City University.

THE MORNING PROGRAM:

TMP 05-22

Pernicious Propaganda

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Download The Morning Program here or read it embedded below.

Marks comments about his upcoming discourse:  Everywhere we turn we are immersed in propaganda that is being used to persuade us to believe and act in ways others wish us to believe and act, often with little regard for the truth or the common good. Are there ways for us to weaken the pernicious power that propaganda has in our lives?

INTRODUCING OUR GUEST MINISTER: Leading today’s morning assembly is the Rev. Dr. Mark Y.A. Davies.  Mark is the Wimberly Professor of Social and Ecological Ethics at Oklahoma City University where he has worked in both teaching and administration for 25 years. He is an ordained elder in the Oklahoma Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Mark’s Ph.D. is from Boston University in the area of Social Ethics, and he has served Boston University School of Theology as a member of its Dean’s Advisory Board and as the alumnus representative their Green Team as part of the Green Seminary Initiative.

Mark engages in advocacy and activism in the areas of peace, social justice, and ecological sustainability. Locally this is expressed through his work with the Human Community Network, which works to create non-violent systemic change for a just and flourishing human and ecological community through collaboration, education, innovation, and action. See www.humancommunitynetwork.org.

He and his wife Kristin live in Edmond, OK in the United States, and they have two daughters who attend Oklahoma City University.

TMP 05-15

“Strong Families – More than Cards and Flowers”

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Strong Families – More than Cards and Flowers –

The Worship Team, leading

Download The morning program here or read it immediately below.

There are reasons the worship team decided to focus on history of Mother’s Day and Flower Communion today.  Both Unitarian women invented events, both carry intriguing messages about families and connections. One is still predominately a UU celebration while the other was  co-opted by the Methodists and Hallmark.   Both speak to our hearts, and both can challenge us to deepen our connections with one another and in the larger world. 

Bring a flower, or two as together we remember the creation stories of both events, along with introducing ourselves to the Strong Family Network, of which the UUA is a member.

 

 

 

 

 

 

TMP 05-08 v.2 FINAL

Strong Families – More than Cards and Flowers

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“Strong Families – More than Cards and Flowers”
Flower Communion Sunday & Mother’s Day, too!

The Worship Team, leading

There are reasons the worship team decided to focus on history of Mother’s Day and Flower Communion – both events were invented by Unitarian women, both carry intriguing messages about families and connections.  One is still predominately a UU celebration; the other was co-opted by the Methodists and Hallmark.   Both speak to our hearts, and both can challenge us to deepen our connections with one another and the larger world.

Bring with you a flower, or two as together we remember the creation stories of both events, along with introducing ourselves to the Strong Family Network, of which the Unitarian Universalist Association is a member.

“Right Belief or Right Living” – The Rev. Dr. David Usher

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The Rev. David Usher, guest minister (video message)

Download the morning program or read it below.

David was the hula hoop champion Manchester before going on to write one of the greatest books of knock knock jokes and it’s probably most famous for his art exhibition at the Guggenheim of cotton candy sculptures.  He was raised a Unitarian in Adelaide, Australia. After four years as a jackaroo in the outback of Australia and then traveling solo around the world he studied for the ministry in Oxford, England, where he gained a Master’s degree in Philosophy & Theology. He subsequently earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Andover Newton Theological School. He has ministered in the UK and the USA, finishing his thirty-six-year career as Interim Minister in Grass Valley, California. He was the founding President of The International Council of Unitarians and Universalists (ICUU) and is the author of two books. He is now retired and lives in San Mateo.

TMP 05-01 V.3“Right Belief or Right Living”

The Importance of Diversity for Human and Ecological Communities

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The morning program (appears here on Saturday)

The Importance of Diversity for Human and Ecological Communities.

The Rev. Dr. Mark Y.A. Davies, leading

The most sustainable and resilient ecological communities are those with greater biodiversity.  What lessons might we learn from nature about the significance of diversity for the well-being of our human communities.

Returning again this morning is the Rev. Dr. Mark Y.A. Davies.  Mark is the Wimberly Professor of Social and Ecological Ethics at Oklahoma City University where he has worked in both teaching and administration for 25 years. He is an ordained elder in the Oklahoma Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Mark’s Ph.D. is from Boston University in the area of Social Ethics, and he has served Boston University School of Theology as a member of its Dean’s Advisory Board and as the alumnus representative their Green Team as part of the Green Seminary Initiative.

Transcendence and Enlightenment: A New Take on the story of Easter

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Title and Description: Transcendence and Enlightenment: A New Take on the story of Easter

We’ve all heard the story about Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, but is it fact or is it an allegory for something else?

DOWNLOAD the morning program or read it below w/o having to download it.

ABOUT OUR GUEST SPEAKER:  Beth Ferree is currently serving as President at the UU Church of Oak Cliff in Dallas. She is also a certified life coach and bereavement counselor who combines tarot, mediumship, and counseling to help others reach beyond their trauma and grief to discover their power.

 

 

 

 

 

TMP 04-17

Building Resilient Community in Times of Chaos

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The morning program or read it below without downloading.

Building Resilient Community in Times of Chaos
The Rev. Dr. Mark Y.A. Davies, leading

It might be tempting to give up on building community in chaotic times, but that is precisely when we need community the most, and building community is one of the most important ways to move through and beyond the chaos.

Leading today’s morning assembly is the Rev. Dr. Mark Y.A. Davies.  Mark is the Wimberly Professor of Social and Ecological Ethics at Oklahoma City University where he has worked in both teaching and administration for 25 years. He is an ordained elder in the Oklahoma Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Mark’s Ph.D. is from Boston University in the area of Social Ethics, and he has served Boston University School of Theology as a member of its Dean’s Advisory Board and as the alumnus representative their Green Team as part of the Green Seminary Initiative.

Mark engages in advocacy and activism in the areas of peace, social justice, and ecological sustainability. Locally this is expressed through his work with the Human Community Network, which works to create non-violent systemic change for a just and flourishing human and ecological community through collaboration, education, innovation, and action. See www.humancommunitynetwork.org.

He and his wife Kristin live in Edmond, OK in the United States, and they have two daughters who attend Oklahoma City University.

TMP 04-10