Reflections on “Life After Doom”

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Reflections on Life After Doom

Rev. Dr. Mark Y.A. Davies, guest minister

You can download the morning program – or read it below without having to download it – here.

This discourse will explore Brian McLaren’s most recent book, Life After Doom. McLaren believes that we cannot ignore that “unpeaceful, uneasy, and unwanted feeling” that the world is not as it should be, and we have to be awake to the reality of the peril of our current situation in order to experience and engage life more fully even in the midst of doom.

 

About Mark:

Mark Davies is the Wimberly Professor of Social and Ecological Ethics and Director of the World House Institute for Social and Ecological Responsibility at Oklahoma City University. He is the Executive Director of the Leadership, Education, and Development (LEaD) Hub North America of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church and an Oklahoma Humanities State Scholar. Mark has published in the areas of Boston personalism, process philosophy and ethics, and ecological ethics. Dr. Davies serves on the United Methodist University Senate, which is “an elected body of professionals in higher education created by the General Conference to determine which schools, colleges, universities, and theological schools meet the criteria for listing as institutions affiliated with The United Methodist Church.” He and his wife Kristin live in Edmond, OK in the United States, and they have two daughters. The views expressed by the author in this blog do not necessarily represent the views of Oklahoma City University or the United Methodist Church.

 

 

THE MORNING PROGRAM:

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Glimpses of Grace

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Glimpses of Grace

Recently both Jana and Marla completed a UUA course “The Shared Pulpit” in which each student was required to prepare and present a Sunday morning assembly – including the discourse.  Marla shared hers last week.  Jana will lead today’s  morning assembly to share her discourse.

About our guest speaker

Jana Norris is a member of Red River UU Church. She earned her law degree from U of California Davis, practiced family law mostly in Dallas and Rockwall Counties, and retired to Grayson County, with a stint in MidCoast Maine.

She grew up Methodist, tried the Episcopal Church for a few years, then found a spiritual home in the California neopagan community. Since returning to Texas, she has found fellowship and delight in the UU Church.  She serves on the Worship Team and was elected to the minister search committee in 2022.

Invisible Bricks

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Invisible Bricks

Marla Loturco, leading

You can download the morning program here or read it below without having to download it.

During the recent UUA Shared Pulpit Class which Marla attended, each participant explored how  sermons differ from lectures.  Crafting a sermon often starts by the preacher stumbling on a random quote that becomes the foundation of the resulting discourse.  On Sunday, a sermon Marla crafted germinated by a quote in “Blessed Are the Weird” by Jacob Norby: “When you no longer need approval from others like the air you breathe, the possibilities in life are endless. What an interesting little prison we build from the invisible bricks of other people’s opinions.” 

 

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 Moving Forward with Love at the Center

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The Worship Team, Marla Loturco Leading

Download the morning program here or read it below without having to download it.

At the last General Assembly, delegates voted to approve the new
Article II of the UUA Bylaws.
Six one-word values are highlighted in Article II that
replaces our previous seven principles to broadcast
our core values to the world.

This morning a brief exploration of these six values:
Equality, Generosity, Justice, Interdependence,
Pluralism, and Transformation that when practiced
– individually or together – form the core of who we are
as Unitarian Universalist:  People with Love at the Center.

 

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Science of Mind: A Philosophy, Science, or Way of Life?

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Download the morning program here or read it below without having to download it.

Our guest speaker  will provide us with an overview of how Ernest Holmes (1887-1960) developed what is today known as the Center for Spiritual Living, with communities around the Globe, as well as what Science of Mind is. Your questions after his short talk are invited and will be appreciated.

 

Jim Berrong is a Religions Science certified Practitioner with the Center for Spiritual Living in Dallas (CSLDallas).  He increased his exploration of spirituality through New Thought organizations starting in 1997 at Kansas City’s Unity on the Plaza. In 2000, when he moved back to Dallas, he engaged with the First Unitarian Church of Dallas and as of 2008 Jim’s been highly involved with CSLDallas, Science of Mind and Religious Science.  He’s looking forward to meeting our congregation, learning about our community, and answering all your questions.

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May You Live in Interesting Times

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May You Live in Interesting Times
Byron Miller, leading

Download the morning program here later in the week.

Of his discourse, Byson writes …

It’s been said “May you live in interesting times” is an old Chinese curse.  Most probably not.  But such times tend to be those of major change and challenge.  They can be demanding, full of surprises and sometimes containing risk and peril, unexpectedly changing the course of
life as we’ve known it. Decades later the mere mention of such events conjures memories of where we were when we lived through them.  Today we are living in “interesting times” … and we can see them coming.

Byron Miller’s Bio

Byron has spent half his adult life in the mid-west and half on the west coast.  He took his BA specializing in religious studies, the Greek language and Philosophy, his M.Div. with an emphasis in Hebrew bible studies and three and one half years of graduate studies toward a PhD in Ancient Near Eastern Studies at Claremont Graduate School and University Center in Claremont, California. A decade later he was advanced to candidacy for a PhD in History of Religions in America at the University of Chicago.

He has also been active in the Unitarian Universalist Congregations in Long Beach, California, Grand Junction and Colorado Springs, Colorado, Houston, and Waco Texas.  He has spoken in Unitarian Universalist congregations in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, and Iowa and served in numerous capacities at the Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago. and taught at Pasadena College in Pasadena, California, California State University in Northridge, California and Butte County Community College in Chico, California.  He has been a guest lecturer for classes in California, Colorado, Illinois, and Texas.  He also served in leadership capacities in the Central Mid-west District and the Mountain-Desert District of the UUA in Colorado and New Mexico.

He is currently active in research and writing projects and developing a private library and research center as part of that endeavor.

Education for Beloved Community

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Of his discourse, Mark writes:

We often focus on education as preparation for a job or for a career, but if that is all education is about, we lose the opportunity for education to not only help us be employed, but to also help us more fully and responsibly participate in the work of making beloved community a reality in our world.

 

Download the morning program here or read it below without having to download it.

 

About Mark:

Mark Davies is the Wimberly Professor of Social and Ecological Ethics and Director of the World House Institute for Social and Ecological Responsibility at Oklahoma City University. He is the Executive Director of the Leadership, Education, and Development (LEaD) Hub North America of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church and an Oklahoma Humanities State Scholar. Mark has published in the areas of Boston personalism, process philosophy and ethics, and ecological ethics. Dr. Davies serves on the United Methodist University Senate, which is “an elected body of professionals in higher education created by the General Conference to determine which schools, colleges, universities, and theological schools meet the criteria for listing as institutions affiliated with The United Methodist Church.” He and his wife Kristin live in Edmond, OK in the United States, and they have two daughters. The views expressed by the author in this blog do not necessarily represent the views of Oklahoma City University or the United Methodist Church.
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Being Loving and Just in an Unloving and Unjust Society

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“Many societies past and present fall into patterns and practices that are not healthy are good for persons or the planet. This discourse will explore what can be done at the local community level to express love, do justice, and provide support for one another during such challenging times.”   See the Morning Program below.

About our visiting minister

Mark Davies is the Wimberly Professor of Social and Ecological Ethics and Director of the World House Institute for Social and Ecological Responsibility at Oklahoma City University. He is the Executive Director of the Leadership, Education, and Development (LEaD) Hub North America of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church and an Oklahoma Humanities State Scholar. Mark has published in the areas of Boston personalism, process philosophy and ethics, and ecological ethics. Dr. Davies serves on the United Methodist University Senate, which is “an elected body of professionals in higher education created by the General Conference to determine which schools, colleges, universities, and theological schools meet the criteria for listing as institutions affiliated with The United Methodist Church.” He and his wife Kristin live in Edmond, OK in the United States, and they have two daughters. The views expressed by the author in this blog do not necessarily represent the views of Oklahoma City University or the United Methodist Church.
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Rejecting the Hubris of “America First” 

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Sunday, June 30, 2024 – 11:15 am

Rejecting the Hubris of “America First”
The Rev Dr Mark Y.A. Davies, leading

Regarding his discourse, Mark writes, As we reflect on our existence as a nation, let us move beyond the hubris of an “America First” mentality and instead ask ourselves what our country can do to contribute to a more beloved community throughout the world.

You can download the morning program here or read it below without having to download it.

TODAY IS THE 5th SUNDAY! Did you know that we have an all-church potluck lunch on every 5th Sunday.  Hope you will plan on bringing a dish to share and stay for lively conversations and yummy calories😏.

 

About Mark:

Mark Davies is the Wimberly Professor of Social and Ecological Ethics and Director of the World House Institute for Social and Ecological Responsibility at Oklahoma City University. He is the Executive Director of the Leadership, Education, and Development (LEaD) Hub North America of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church and an Oklahoma Humanities State Scholar. Mark has published in the areas of Boston personalism, process philosophy and ethics, and ecological ethics. Dr. Davies serves on the United Methodist University Senate, which is “an elected body of professionals in higher education created by the General Conference to determine which schools, colleges, universities, and theological schools meet the criteria for listing as institutions affiliated with The United Methodist Church.” He and his wife Kristin live in Edmond, OK in the United States, and they have two daughters. The views expressed by the author in this blog do not necessarily represent the views of Oklahoma City University or the United Methodist Church.

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Working to End Homelessness

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11:15 am –  The Morning Assembly

Working to End Homelessness
Leigh Walker, guest speaker

You may download The Morning Program here later in the week.

We welcome to the free pulpit this morning Leigh Walker who works with helping reduce homeless families in Grayson County.  She is the executive director of Family Promise, a nonprofit organization serving families in transition.  Its mission is intersecting faith and community to empower Grayson County families to end child homelessness by helping families facing or experiencing homelessness.

Leigh Walker, our guest speaker on Sunday, June has been the Executive Director of Family Promise of Grayson County since the organization began serving guests in 2018.  Prior to that, she worked for the District Courts, doing home studies for adoptions and disputed custody cases.  She has enjoyed being a social worker for over 40 years.  She, her husband (Jim), and their two grown daughters (Sarah and Hannah), share a love of hiking, camping, reading, traveling, and playing games.