“The Seeker’s Guide to Miracles, Magic, Justice, Terror, and Truth”

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Curious about Sunday?  Watch Christine’s Promo video here.

Hard question: Is “truth” even a thing anymore? How about facts? Do we even know what our opinions really are? Join the Rev Dr Christine on September 13 for a special time of spiritual reflection specifically designed to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. Come away ready to give the world a peace of your mind.

Join us Sunday @ 11:15 on our YouTube Channel or our Facebook page

download The Morning Program

TMP - 09-13 DMS-study

Online Coffee Hour:  Join is via Zoom, starting immediately following the Morning Assembly here

The Rev. Dr. M. Christine Tata

We welcome back to our pulpit the Rev. Dr. Christine Tata who has enjoyed visiting Red River from time to time through the years to preach, lead workshops, and appreciate the growth and sincerity of this congregation. She brings a lifelong interest in religion and spirituality, a variety of academic and professional credentials, and pastoral experience as ordained minister for several progressive congregations. Christine now writes on Medium.com as Rev Dr Sparky, continuing in her mission to inspire courage in the face of absurdity.

 

Is Religion Good?

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Join us Sunday @ 11:15 on our YouTube Channel or our Facebook page

Here’s a 1 minute sneak peek from Dr. Davies regarding his upcoming remarks.

Direct link to the morning assembly

To what extent is religion a force for good in the world and why does it so often seem to be used in ways that contribute to so much human suffering? Are the ways to ensure that religion remains a way to cultivate human flourishing rather than a way that leads to unending human conflict?

Online Coffee Hour:  Join is via Zoom, starting immediately following the Morning Assembly here

The Rev. Dr. Mark Davies is the Oklahoma State Humanities Scholar for the Smithsonian Institute Museum on Main Street Water/Ways exhibit.  He is also the Wimberly Professor of Social and Ecological Ethics; Director of the World House Institute for Social and Ecological Responsibility; and Executive Director of the Leadership. Education, and Development Hub North America for the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry at Oklahoma City University where he has worked in both teaching and administration for 24 years.  He is a United Methodist minister and holds a Ph.D. in Social Ethics, from Boston University.

Mark is a regular contributor to various online publications, including “The Oklahoma Observer”, “The United Methodist Insight“, and “One World House” and he 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.

 

Fur Babies

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Join us on our YouTube channel

Here’s a sneak peek about this morning assembly:

Robert Shelton – 2nd file IMG_0168

During this time of isolation and uncertainty, our furry, feathery, or scaly friends provide joy and comfort for those of us lucky enough to have them in our homes.  Today we’ll look at the history of those relationships and the benefits from having a pet. I hope you will share video or photos of your friends as we take a loving look at our companions.

NOTE: This is a participatory morning assembly!  Show off your pet with fun photos and video clips (up to one minute in length) that we will show during the assembly.  Be creative, think of intriguing ways to snap a photo or capture a video clip.  You can send in as many as you want to.  You are most definitely NOT limited in how many images you can send.  Email your contributions to worship@test.redriveruu.org.  Deadline is August 23.

Everyone is invited to participate:

Members, Friends, Newcomers and First Time Visitors!

“John Lennon Sees a UFO.”

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Join us Sunday @ 11:15 am on our YouTube channel or our Facebook page.

“John Lennon Sees a UFO.”

The World Council of Churches is formed. East and West Germany announce their reunification. Hurricane Katrina forms over the Bahamas. The “hashtag” is invented. Russia launches the first floating nuclear power station. The only thing these events have in common is the date of August 23. Join the Worship Team in an exploration of how every humdrum day is full of memorable events—sometimes with historic consequences.

This morning assembly, A Sunday in Ordinary Time, is the creation of our Worship Team.

THE MORNING PROGRAM:

“Failure is Not An Option–It’s Included”

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Join us Sunday @ 11:15 on our YouTube Channel or our Facebook page

Direct link to the morning assembly

People who say “Failure is not an option” may think they are being inspirational, but the Rev Dr Christine Tata suspects they’re just trying to sound tough. We understand the urge, but let’s get real: Failure is the only way human beings can evolve, or learn, or do anything worthwhile. Join Christine and the Red River UUs on August 16 for an advanced seminar in some epic fails that may make you wish you could go back and redo some of your successes.

Online Coffee Hour:  Join is via Zoom, starting immediately following the Morning Assembly here

The Rev. Dr. M. Christine Tata

We welcome back to our pulpit the Rev. Dr. Christine Tata who has enjoyed visiting Red River from time to time through the years to preach, lead workshops, and appreciate the growth and sincerity of this congregation. She brings a lifelong interest in religion and spirituality, a variety of academic and professional credentials, and pastoral experience as ordained minister for several progressive congregations. Christine now writes on Medium.com as Rev Dr Sparky, continuing in her mission to inspire courage in the face of absurdity.

The Morning Program:

TMP - 08-16-DMS-study

 

“Loving Persons We Don’t Like”

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Join us on Sunday @ 11:15 on either our Facebook Page or our YouTube Channel

“Loving Persons We Don’t Like” – in a society that is increasingly divided, where vitriol seems to find its way into every room of our shared world house, what does it mean to love one another when we do not like one another?

The Rev. Dr. Mark Davies is the Oklahoma State Humanities Scholar for the Smithsonian Institute Museum on Main Street Water/Ways exhibit.  He is also the Wimberly Professor of Social and Ecological Ethics; Director of the World House Institute for Social and Ecological Responsibility; and Executive Director of the Leadership. Education, and Development Hub North America for the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry at Oklahoma City University where he has worked in both teaching and administration for 22 years.  He is a United Methodist minister and holds a Ph.D. in Social Ethics, from Boston University.

Mark is a regular contributor to various online publications, including “The Oklahoma Observer”, “The United Methodist Insight“, and “One World House” and he 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.

Online Coffee Hour:  Join is via Zoom, starting immediately following the Morning Assembly here

The Morning Program:

TMP - 08-09-DMS-study

“When At Last I Sang Hallelujah”

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Watch and comment on this video  –  Visit our YouTube channel for other videos

For years Christine gritted her teeth whenever she heard Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah”—and she heard it playing everywhere for a while, as it became one of his mainstream successes. As much as she wanted to love the song, she didn’t, no matter how many times she listened to it and tried to figure it out.  It wasn’t till she saw the lyrics printed on a page that the mystery began to come clear. Join the Rev. Dr. Christine Tata on Sunday as she talks frankly about the power of words to inform us, imprison us—or to set us free. late 2018.


We welcome back to our pulpit the Rev. Dr. Christine Tata who has enjoyed visiting Red River from time to time through the years to preach, lead workshops, and appreciate the growth and sincerity of this congregation. She brings a lifelong interest in religion and spirituality, a variety of academic and professional credentials, and pastoral experience as ordained minister for several progressive congregations. Christine now writes on Medium.com as Rev Dr Sparky, continuing in her mission to inspire courage in the face of absurdity.

The Morning Program

TMP - 08-02-DMS-Study revised

“The Charred House & The Rising Moon”

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Watch the Morning Assembly premiering at 11:15 AM here

The Morning Program is below.

 

Right now, our world is being harshly confronted with two pandemics.   First, a once in a hundred-year physical virus and the other a 600-year-old systemic spiritual cancer called Racism.  Both are ravaging the globe with death, metaphorically and literally burning down the house of the world’s failed systems.

We can claim the insurance and rebuild with the same design flaws or transform our structures with rising moon consciousness.  UU’s and all people of good heart and good faith can lead the way.  Will we obsess over the obsolete ashes or will we reach to the rising moon?

Rev. Chuck Freeman has been in the ministry since 1977 serving Church of Christ and now Unitarian Universalist congregations. He is the founding minister of the Free Souls Church in Round Rock,Texas. Chuck is a founding member of the Texas Unitarian Universalist Justice Ministry (TXUUJM) and its Executive Director.  He is the co-founder & organizer of Undoing Racism Round Rock working for systemic racial equity in the community. Chuck is also an active leader in Shut Down Hutto which is a sustained campaign to close the T. Don Hutto immigrant prison in Taylor, Texas.  

https://test.redriveruu.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/TMP-07-26-DMS-study.pdf

“Truth and Reconciliation”

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Watch this morning assembly here

 

In developing the myth of American Exceptionalism, our society has not fully come to terms with the most problematic aspects of our history – systemic racism and the genocide of our indigenous siblings. What might we learn from other societies that have more thoroughly confronted and repented from the worst of their past as we explore ways forward in Beloved Community?

The Rev. Dr. Mark Davies is the Oklahoma State Humanities Scholar for the Smithsonian Institute Museum on Main Street Water/Ways exhibit.  He is also the Wimberly Professor of Social and Ecological Ethics; Director of the World House Institute for Social and Ecological Responsibility; and Executive Director of the Leadership. Education, and Development Hub North America for the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry at Oklahoma City University where he has worked in both teaching and administration for 22 years.  He is a United Methodist minister and holds a Ph.D. in Social Ethics, from Boston University.

Mark is a regular contributor to various online publications, including “The Oklahoma Observer”, “The United Methodist Insight“, and “One World House” and he 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.

Online Coffee Hour:  Join is via Zoom, starting immediately following the Morning Assembly here

The Morning Program:

TMP - 07-19 -DMS-study

 

“Revival of Relations, Revolution of Values”

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“Revival of Relations, Revolution of Values”

The Rev. Danielle Di Bona, preaching  (video message)

Our sermon this morning was given at the Service of the Living Tradition during last month’s UU General Assembly. The Rev. Danielle Di Bona has served UUism for 30 years and is the 2019 recipient of the Award for Distinguished Service to the Cause of Unitarian Universalism.  In her retirement she serves as the Palliative Care chaplain at South Shore Hospital in Weymouth, MA.

The Morning Program:

TMP - 07-12 -DMS-study