Flower Communion
Flower Communion
The Worship Team, leading
DOWNLOAD THE MORNING PROGRAM HERE
Archives
“Amazing Young Peace Activists”
Amazing Young Peace Activists
Marla Loturco, leading
DOWNLOAD THE MORNING PROGRAM HERE OR READ IT BELOW W/O HAVING TO DOWNLOAD IT
Many times, we think of people who have made a difference in the arena of peace as older and wiser. Today I want to challenge that perception by talking about three young women of color who have been making a difference despite their age, or maybe because of it.
These three women are:
- Amanda Gorman (24),
- Malala Yousafzia (25), and
- Ameriyanna Copey (15).
Come join me for a refreshing and hopeful look young people are offering humankind.
About our Morning leader:
About Sunday’s Worship Leader:
Marla Loturco is a lay leader of our congregation who first visited us in April 2008. Although she hadn’t set foot inside a church for forty years, she surprised herself by realizing this was a faith community that spoke to her heart. Marla has not taken her membership lightly as she has served on the bylaw revision committee, is the church (and the Texoma Earth Day Festival) webmaster, the church database guru, and our representative to North Texas UU Congregations (NTUUC). She joins in church social events and has been elected to the Committee on Ministry and President of the Board of Trustees. She is the recipient of NTUUC Marty Robinson Award for volunteerism as well as Red River Unitarian Universalists’ Bruce Cameron Distinguished Service Award. She currently is part of the AV team and a longtime member of the Worship Team where she creates meaningful and insightful worship experiences.
Beyond the church Marla is a Certified Laughter Leader, a Database Consultant, Quilter, creator of stained-glass art and devoted dulcimer player.
TMP - Apr 30 - v.1“Earth Day is Over, Now What?”
Sunday, April 23, 2023 – 11:15 am
Earth Day Is Over, Now What?
Jana Norris, leading
You can download the morning program here or read it below without having to download it.
A morning to gather our tired and tattered energies, pulling inward to a place of rest, where our hearts and hands, usually filled with reusing, repurposing, recycling, saving butterflies, saving water, might relax. Instead of doing, let us take time to concentrate on being, on quieting our busy minds so we once again can breathe deeply and begin again.
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.
TMP - April 23 - v.4
“The Ambiguity of Our Existence”
The Ambiguity of Our Existence
The Rev Dr Mark Y.A. Davies, leading
You can download the morning program here
Of his discourse, Mark asks…
How do we know what we ought to do in a world of ambiguity and complexity when easy answers and moral absolutes will not suffice?
About our guest minister:
Mark’s Ph.D. is from Boston University in the area of Social Ethics, and he has served Boston University School of Theology (BUSTH) as a member of its Dean’s Advisory Board and as the alumnus representative on BUSTH’s Green Team as part of the Green Seminary Initiative.Mark has led and implemented a number of initiatives in coordination with the Division of Higher Education of the United Methodist Church including a Methodist Higher Education Global Ethics Initiative from 2008 to 2012, a United Methodist Higher Education Interfaith Initiative from 2015 to present, and a Global Methodist Higher Education Social and Ecological Responsibility Initiative from December 2016 to the present. Mark has published in the areas of Boston personalism, process philosophy and ethics, and ecological ethics.In 2017, the General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church selected Dr. Davies to serve as the convener of the writing team tasked with revising “The Natural World” section of the Social Principles of the United Methodist Church. This is the first time the Social Principles have undergone a thorough revision since their adoption by the denomination in 1972.Mark is one of the inaugural members of the New Room Books Editorial Board. New Room Books is a reviewed academic monograph series that offers scholars from the Methodist tradition and their students a way to share their work. Since 2015, Mark has served 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.”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 - April 16 - v.1
The Hope for Regeneration
The Hope for Regeneration
The Rev Dr Mark Y.A. Davies, leading
You may download the morning program here, or read it below without having to download it.
Of his discourse, Mark asks …
Is it possible for us to bring new life and hope to the world in the midst of so many complex and sometimes seemingly insurmountable challenges?
Mark’s Ph.D. is from Boston University in the area of Social Ethics, and he has served Boston University School of Theology (BUSTH) as a member of its Dean’s Advisory Board and as the alumnus representative on BUSTH’s Green Team as part of the Green Seminary Initiative.Mark has led and implemented a number of initiatives in coordination with the Division of Higher Education of the United Methodist Church including a Methodist Higher Education Global Ethics Initiative from 2008 to 2012, a United Methodist Higher Education Interfaith Initiative from 2015 to present, and a Global Methodist Higher Education Social and Ecological Responsibility Initiative from December 2016 to the present. Mark has published in the areas of Boston personalism, process philosophy and ethics, and ecological ethics.In 2017, the General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church selected Dr. Davies to serve as the convener of the writing team tasked with revising “The Natural World” section of the Social Principles of the United Methodist Church. This is the first time the Social Principles have undergone a thorough revision since their adoption by the denomination in 1972.Mark is one of the inaugural members of the New Room Books Editorial Board. New Room Books is a reviewed academic monograph series that offers scholars from the Methodist tradition and their students a way to share their work.Since 2015, Mark has served 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.”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 - April 9 - v.1
Rise of Religious Fundamentalism in the 20th Century
Rise of Religious Fundamentalism in the 20th Century
Walter Norris, leading
Download the Morning Program here later in the week.
Of his discourse, Walter writes:
My last message was related to indicators during the 19th Century of an impending world-wide phenomenon known as Religious Fundamentalism. My current message relates to the rise and evolution of this religious circumstance during the 20th Century, with most of us present today, witnessing this rise in the last half of the 20th century. It will consider the start of this abnormality which began in the United States and particularly with evangelical denominations. In addition, we will consider how this reality evolved into a political powerhouse along with its spread internationally.
About our guest minister:
I am a former Southern Baptist. I have a BA and a MDiv from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. I rejected Baptist views and am a retired social worker in mental health issues. I am passionate about civil and human rights. Currently I am a docent educator with the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum.
I took a sharp left turn from my religious training and left evangelicalism. I am very interested with oriental traditions and like to focus on a spiritual life rather than a religious one.
Walter and Susie Norris joined our congregation in August 2022.
“Polish The Silver”
A Very Special Morning for RedRiverUU
Polish The Silver
The Worship Team, leading
You can download the morning program here (or read it below without having to download it)
Join the Worship Team as we put a final shine on the Silver Anniversary of the founding of our liberal religious congregation. We held our very first meeting on March 26, 1997, and it is a beautiful symmetry to celebrate our founding on another March 26th. In the past year, we have seen various “glimmers of silver” in our Sunday Morning Assemblies, and now on the final Sunday of this 25th anniversary year, we will put our silvery history on full display as we reflect upon our past and anticipate a golden future.
Followed by the Appreciation Dinner,
postponed from last month. You are warmly
invited to share this special day with us.
TMP - Mar 26 - v.2
“What’s Your Story”
What’s Your Story?
Elena Westbrook, leading
You can download the morning program here (or read the program below without having to download it.)
As soon as we can talk, humans ask for stories. Stories are how we make sense of our world. But have you ever thought about the story you tell yourself about yourself? In this service, we’ll look at how the stories we tell shape our experience, and how changing them can perhaps reshape our future.
About our guest speaker:
Elena
The UUA Worship Web has published several submissions written by Elena. You can read them here.
TMP - Mar 19 - v.1
“The Wisdom and Dangers of Religious Myths”
The Wisdom and Dangers of Religious Myths
The Rev Dr Mark Y.A. Davies, leading
Download the Morning Program here or read it below without having to download it.
The Wisdom and Dangers of Religious Myths- the scriptures of the world’s religions contain great wisdom for humanity, but they are products of their context, and when we attempt to take them literally and apply them without critical interpretation, they can be used in unhealthy, dangerous, and even deadly ways. the salvation of the whole ecological community.
About our visiting minister:
Mark’s Ph.D. is from Boston University in the area of Social Ethics, and he has served Boston University School of Theology (BUSTH) as a member of its Dean’s Advisory Board and as the alumnus representative on BUSTH’s Green Team as part of the Green Seminary Initiative. Mark has led and implemented a number of initiatives in coordination with the Division of Higher Education of the United Methodist Church including a Methodist Higher Education Global Ethics Initiative from 2008 to 2012, a United Methodist Higher Education Interfaith Initiative from 2015 to present, and a Global Methodist Higher Education Social and Ecological Responsibility Initiative from December 2016 to the present. Mark has published in the areas of Boston personalism, process philosophy and ethics, and ecological ethics. In 2017, the General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church selected Dr. Davies to serve as the convener of the writing team tasked with revising “The Natural World” section of the Social Principles of the United Methodist Church. This is the first time the Social Principles have undergone a thorough revision since their adoption by the denomination in 1972.Mark is one of the inaugural members of the New Room Books Editorial Board. New Room Books is a reviewed academic monograph series that offers scholars from the Methodist tradition and their students a way to share their work.Since 2015, Mark has served 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.” 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.
“What is Our Responsibility?”
What is Our Responsibility?
The Rev. Dr. Mark Y.A. Davies, leading
Download the morning program TMP - Mar 5 - v.2.
The social and ecological challenges facing the world today are far too complex for any one person to solve or fully address, so what then is our personal responsibility in a world where so much seems to be going wrong. In this discourse, we will reflect on wisdom from the Jewish religious text Pirkei Avot, which offers these words: “You are not obligated to complete the work but neither are you free to abandon it.”
About our visiting minister:
Rev. Dr. Mark Y. A. Davies is 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 (LEaD) Hub North United States for the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) 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 where he has served as Chair of the Board of Church and Society from 2015 to 2018.
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