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Responsible Religious Freedom

Responsible Religious Freedom – the Rev. Dr. Mark Y.A. Davies, speaking

TMP - 01-17-DMS-study

Join us online Sunday @ 11:15 on our YouTube channel or our Facebook Page

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

In this discourse, I will be looking at the ways in which our lives our enhanced by religious freedom while noting the ways religious freedom has been misused and abused throughout history and in the present day.

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.

Another Fine Apocalypse

January 10, 2021: “Another Fine Apocalypse”   the Rev. Dr. M. Christine Tata, speaking

THE MORNING PROGRAM


69 second promo about Sunday’s discourse

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjPZlrEwikY

Well, here’s another fine apocalypse we’ve gotten into! An “apocalypse,” from the Greek apokálypsis, just means disclosure and revelation, as when the events of 2020 “revealed” how our society was built on toxic racism, violence, and inequality. But here’s a twist: apparently this isn’t our first apocalypse. Let’s just take it one epiphany at a time.

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.

 

A Ritual for the New Year

A RITUAL FOR THE NEW YEAR

The Worship Team
Marla Loturco, leading

Sneak Peek:  https://youtu.be/bZlpRkOJDuI

A Ritual for the New Year – For five thousand years, or more, more than fifteen thousand generations of human beings have been invoking spiritual power. We will be touching that spiritual power by letting go, metaphoric cleansing, setting of intentions and, celebrating new beginnings, It is a service of words, music and ritual. At each stop around the circle of flame, water, oil, and light each one of you becomes your own healer, priest/priestess, minister, and teacher. It is your circle of release, cleansing, intention, and hope to walk. Please join us at Red River UU on January 3, 2021 where we will begin the New Year with a ritual of celebration.

A Time to Share

DOWNLOAD the morning program:  https://test.redriveruu.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/TMP-12-27-DMS-study-CORRECTED.pdf

 TMP - 12-27-DMS-study (1)

Join us online Sunday @ 11:15 on our YouTube channel or our Facebook Page

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

Sneak Peek:

 

A Time to Share

The Entire Congregation!

Our annual sharing Sunday is time for everyone to bring a 3-5 minute reading you feel the rest of us would enjoy hearing.  A poem, a joke, a story, or even a song if you wish.  We need one another and being a virtual congregation, for now, makes it nearly impossible to “bring a reading to share” as we have for many years.

Here’s our virtual approach:  1) Find what you want to share.  2) Read the details on the next page how the Worship Team will record what you want to share.  3) Schedule your time with Dan Althoff.  4) Read from your home and then join us on Sunday to listen to what other have shared.

How to record what you want to share on December 27:

Deadline to submit a video is MONDAY, DECEMBER 21 – 4 pm.  Make your video using your cell phone – hold it or set it horizontally, NOT VERTICALLY.  Time limit is no more than 5 minutes.  Contact Marla or Doug for help uploading your video if you don’t know how.  (IF you use gmail, you can upload it to your google one drive and email the link to rruuworship@gmail.com.

Holy Is The Longest Night

DOWNLOAD the morning program (arriving here on Saturday)

Join us online Sunday @ 11:15 on our YouTube channel or our Facebook Page

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

Sneak Peek about Dr. Tata’s upcoming morning with us:

Holy Is the Longest Night  – the Rev. Dr. Christine Tata

Dark energy, scientists have recently discovered, accounts for more than two-thirds of the total energy in the observable universe; dark energy drives the expansion of creation. Now it’s time for earthlings to celebrate the rich and varied beauty of darkness: in our language; in our persons, both on the surface and at our cores; and in our dreams, when we inhabit the darkness of healing sleep. Join the Rev. Dr. Christine, on the eve of the longest night of the year, to honor the dark.

 

Existentialism in a Time of Existentialist Threat

DOWNLOAD the morning program:

Join us online Sunday @ 11:15 on our YouTube channel or our Facebook Page

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

Sneak Peek about his remarks:

In this discourse I will explore the philosophical perspective known as existentialism which found popularity in the thought of thinkers like Simone de Beauvoir, Albert Camus, and Jean Paul Sarte. Existentialists claim that our existence as persons precedes our essence and that we are the creators of our own meaning and value. To live as genuine or authentic persons, we must will ourselves to be free while also willing the freedom of others. What might the existentialists be able to teach us as we live into authentic freedom in a time of growing existential threats?

“The Once and Future Tabernacle”

THE MORNING PROGRAM

SNEAK PEEK ABOUT CHRISTINE’S DISCOURSE:

In these pandemic days, our congregations have changed, challenged to find new ways of being together and of remaining faithful. We are becoming more like loosely knit communities of prophets crying in the wilderness, relying only on the spirit–and adequate bandwidth–and some of our churches may never physically reopen. Although that may feel like the end of everything, Rev. Dr. Christine believes it could be just the beginning. The question is: beginning of what?

“What Is My Duty?”

DOWNLOAD the morning program: https://test.redriveruu.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/TMP-11-30.pdf

What is my Duty? –  To whom do we owe obligations? What is the difference between direct and indirect duties? Do we have duties to non-human life? To future generations? To people we don’t even know?  Should we do our duty no matter what the consequences may be?

Join us online Sunday @ 11:15 on our YouTube channel or our Facebook Page

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

Sneak Peek about his remarks:

DOWNLOAD the morning program: https://test.redriveruu.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/TMP-11-30.pdf

TMP - 11- 30

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.

“One Thing at Once”

“One Thing at Once”   The Rev. Dr. Christine Tata, speaking

The blessing of contemplating the vastness of our world is that it keeps us from taking ourselves too seriously. But when we see this hurting world in all its complexity, it’s easy to despair—what difference can we make? How can our tiny presence possibly make a difference? But somehow, it does; somehow, the smallest of actions done with love and purpose and thanksgiving can shine a light in the darkness. Join the Rev Dr Christine on November 22 for a program of gratitude and grace.

Sneak Peek:

THE MORNING PROGRAM: TMP - 11- 22 FINAL

“The Land Ethic and the Importance of Soil”

the Rev. Dr. Mark Y.A. Davies, speaking

Soil degradation is not on too many people’s radar screen, much less high on their list of most pressing ecological problems facing our world today, but that being said, soil degradation is still one of the most significant ecological challenges of the 21st Century whether we recognize it or not. The good news is that there are practical, fun, and healthy ways we can all work together to regenerate our soil for the sake of all life.

Sneak Peek about Sunday’s Discourse:

Join us online Sunday @ 11:15 on our YouTube channel or our Facebook Page

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.

THE MORNING PROGRAM:  TMP - 11-15