You Took My Childhood Away: Child Abuse and the Grayson County Epidemic

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Child abuse comes in different forms: neglect; physical/emotional/sexual abuse; childhood experiences; shaken  baby syndrome; domestic violence; trafficking & exploitation.  On Sunday, our speaker will explain the depth of the epidemic that is currently effecting Grayson county, but it is no different in Bryan County.  What our children are facing and how we can be part of the solution will help us better understand one of the most shameful experiences any child can have.

Originally from Abilene, Texas; Crystal attended Abilene Christian University followed by Texas Tech University School of Law. She practiced law in both Kentucky and Texas before moving to Sherman in 2013.  Crystal joined the CASA Board of Directors in the spring of 2014, before becoming staff in 2017. Married to her husband Stephen for 11 years they were blessed to add a son James to their family in June of 2016.

Children and Art

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Stephen Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park with George is a musical inspired by Seurat’s painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. In the second act, an elderly character, Marie, makes the observation, “There are only two worthwhile things to leave behind when you depart this world of ours: children and art.”

Perhaps those valuables are two of the few things that also have the ability to change our worldview. How and why does our worldview transform over time, and how is that reflected in our ability to be a force for change and good in the world?

Scott is on the final stretch of a year-long Chaplaincy Residency at Parkland Hospital in Dallas and has just begun preliminary fellowship as a UU minister. Scott graduated in 2016 with his Master of Divinity degree from Brite Divinity School and completed his Ministerial Internship at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento. Scott will begin serving the First UU Church of Houston as Assistant Minister for Congregational Life in September.

 

Salaam Supper: The Refugee Journey

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There are more displaced people worldwide today than ever before, with the most current number at 70.8 million people. Simultaneously, the number of refugees permitted into the United States is a record low, leaving millions of individuals in life-threatening situations, unable to return to their homes and seeking safety. You have the ability to help.

Understand how someone becomes a refugee, where people are fleeing from, and how they journey to the U.S. Join us for a Salaam Supper to learn how you can help refugees in your community, across Texas and be a voice for refugees around the world.

Emily Tetsch is the Advancement Specialist at Refugee Services of Texas. She received her B.A. in International Studies & Humanitarian Development at the University of North Texas where she studied migration and displaced populations. Emily began working in refugee resettlement over 2 years ago. 

In This Delicate Turning

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Note Time Change:  Because we will live stream the largest gathering of UUs as together we worship; we in our chapel, they at the General Assembly in Spokane, Washington, OUR ASSEMBLY WILL BEGAN AT 12:00 PM AND CONCLUDE AT 1:30 PM.

The Adult Forum will start at 10:45, and end at 11:45.

After exploring el poder de nosotros/the power of we, what are we ready to do/¿que estamos listo para hacer?  Let’s not be servants of the past in new cups. Let’s all get free by planting faithful seeds of change and together turn to free the faith we love.

Rev Valentín is minister with the Unitarian Universalist Church of Medford, MA.

 

From Ignorance to Astonishment: Schoolings from Our Fathers

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In our culture, it always feels like Father’s Day is an afterthought of Mother’s Day.  No tents in Kroger’s parking lot filled with tools, gadgets or ties; it isn’t the busiest day for restaurants.  Yet fathers comprise 50% of our existence.  This year a morning for dads, living or not.

Mark Twain once wrote, “When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years.” 

How much did you learn from your dad?  What have you intentionally rejected?  What life changing words of wisdom do you carry with you?  When did you last look at a picture of him?

On this Father’s Day Sunday, we will reminisce about our male parent and look at their faces, maybe even try to guess whose father’s image is on the screens.

Take time right now to find a photo of your dad (hopefully a face shot, but all images will be used) and email it to worship@test.redriveruu.org.  Or bring photos to the AV desk to have a copy made.  Deadline for photos is June 20.

The morning will unfold as it will, with light-hearted and profound stories from those willing to speak, seeing their faces and hearing some music about fathers.

Education for Human and Ecological Good: Why Our World Needs the Liberal Arts

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Education may not be the answer to all of our problems, but without access to good and holistic education for all persons, our problems will be exponentially more difficult to overcome.

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 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.

On This Beautiful Morning: A (Very) Sung UU Assembly

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Inspired by such diverse sources as pop, rock, country, opera, Black gospel, Broadway musicals, as well as the sung liturgies from his Catholic background, Dan Althoff presents his original music based on the usual Sunday morning format here at Red River UU Church, including our Call to Community, Candles of Community, Chalice Lighting, Spoken (and Sung!) Affirmation, and Extinguishing the Chalice. With spoken commentary, readings, and remarks, along with several familiar and favorite UU tunes, this will be a very different type of musical Sunday assembly!

In Memoriam

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Our assembly this Sunday, In Memoriam, focuses on remembering the women and men who have given their lives in service to the Republic during the 83 wars or other conflicts involving the United States.  Over one and a half million people have died.   It is easy to forget events that have happened “over there” which is why Americans began honoring the fallen shortly after the civil war.  Strange that Memorial Day was not declared a federal holiday until 1971.

 

What’s the Big Idea?

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Unitarian Universalism is a big idea, emerging from the depths of our beings. It is one thing to describe it with careful, prosaic words that skip like small stones along the surface of the deeps. But if we want the world to really know this big idea, we must dive below the prose into the poetry, prophesy, and power that lies beneath.

Christine Tata has enjoyed visiting Red River from time to time through the years to preach, lead workshops, and appreciate the growth and sincerity of our fellowship. 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.

Mothers and Flowers

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In 1872 Unitarian Julia Ward Howe began advocating the creation of a “Mother’s Day for Peace.”  Her original concept has completely died out. The history of Mother’s Day reminds us that it is more than a day for flowers and pancakes. It’s a time to highlight the aspects of motherhood that are not usually visible in the greeting card aisles.   In 1923 Unitarian minister Norbert Capek of Prague, Czechoslovakia created a symbolic  ritual to bind people more closely.  His original concept has flourished and spread throughout Unitarian Universalism as a living tradition celebrated each spring.  On Sunday, we ask that you bring a flower or two as together we remember a “Mother’s Day for Peace” and symbolically bind people together with our Flower Communion.