theme: Responsibility
Unless otherwise noted, services include sermons preached by the Rev. Andrew Clive Millard
and take place on Sundays at 11:00 a.m. via Zoom.
August 2: “How was it for you?”
This year’s UUA General Assembly was the first to be fully virtual. Our delegates and attendees will reflect on this unique experience: what was most meaningful to them; how it felt to be part of the UUA's decisions; and what inspired, comforted, surprised or otherwise affected them.
August 9: “Don't Sleep Through the Revolution”
In 1966, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. addressed Unitarian Universalists as Ware Lecturer at General Assembly. Dr. King spoke of the interdependence of our world, the moral imperative that requires churches to dismantle white supremacy, and the importance of the love ethic.
August 16: “The Long Haul”
“The prayer of our souls is a petition for persistence…” W.E.B. DuBois got it right. We need a movement, not just a moment. That’s true in our personal lives, not just out on the streets. We need to be long haul people in dismantling racism. But how do we find joy in the struggle and the strength to persevere? We should not do this work alone but together in community.
The Rev. Dr. William G. Sinkford is Senior Minister at First Unitarian in Portland, OR. Bill, as he prefers to be called, is well known for his service as President of the Unitarian Universalist Association (2001–2009). His tenure was marked by strong public witness for social justice and support for marginalized communities. Bill was the first African American to lead any traditionally white denomination, and was named one of the ten most influential Black religious leaders in the US in both 2005 and 2006. He and his wife Maria have four adult children, and one grandchild, William Rider Sinkford, born in July 2008.
August 23: “The Next Right Action”
We do not know how the moral universe will evolve, but, as Unitarian Universalists, we have faith that it bends toward justice. Though we cannot see the curve of its arc, we apply the weight of our souls to bend it. The way ahead is unclear, but we can always find one more step forward.
August 30: “Widening the Circle of Concern”
The UUA’s Commission on Institutional Change presented a momentous report at this year’s General Assembly. Our delegates and attendees will reflect on the impact of this report at GA, why it matters to our faith, and what difference it will make to who we are as a congregation.