June 2019
When I discover who I am, I’ll be free. ―Ralph Ellison
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Join our hosts Rev. Meg Riley, Aisha Hauser and Rev Michael Tino, and guest host Rev Dawn Fortune for a live Unitarian Universalist talk show discussing today’s topics from an anti-racist, anti-oppressive and multicultural perspective. The VUU streams live on Facebook every Thursday at 11 am ET.
On The VUU this Week (May 23rd), Meadville Lombard Theological School New President, Dr. Elias Ortega-Aponte, chatted about his vision for Meadville as an institution training future ministers and leaders in the UU faith.
Dr. Ortega-Aponte is an innovative leader, a committed Unitarian Universalist, a celebrated educator, a social justice activist, an accomplished scholar, and an experienced community organizer. He is gifted with the skills, attributes, knowledge, experience, and vision needed to lead Meadville into the future.
Dr. Ortega-Aponte received his MDiv and PhD (Religion and Society, Magna Cum Laude) from Princeton Theological Seminary. He also holds a BA in Communications Arts & Sciences and Philosophy and Religion from Calvin College. Since 2011, he has served as Associate Professor of Social Theory and Religious Ethics at Drew University Theological School. At Drew, he also serves as the Theological School Deans’ Council Chair, is a member of the Digital Humanities Advisory Committee and the Title IX Committee.
In addition to his academic accomplishments, Dr. Ortega-Aponte is firmly grounded in his Unitarian Universalist identity and has assumed transformative and leadership roles within and beyond the movement. He currently serves as a member of the UUA’s Commission on Institutional Change and the Religious Education Credentialing Committee.
Production support provided by Margalie Belizaire.
The VUU is brought to you by the Church of the Larger Fellowship.
“Everyday Spiritual Practices” (ed. Scott Alexander) changed how I looked at all the various activities I undertook, but most profoundly service on boards and committees, especially at church.
The book is a wonderful compilation of examining our lives by engaging our mind (through contemplation), our body (through activity and nourishment), our hearts (through relationships), our will (through right action) and our soul (through creativity).
This together with a sermon writing class (given by my minister at the time), challenged my actions, thoughts, body, relationships, and soul. Through intentionality, Rev. Alexander asserts, our actions become a spiritual practice.
I used to view board service, or committee work, or even church related tasks, as “something I’m doing to help”. But not any longer. Now, I view anything I have given my will to do, I do with right actions, right intentions.
I realize this is not earth-shattering, or life-changing, but is very much life-affirming!!
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Join our hosts Aisha Hauser, Christina Rivera and Rev Michael Tino, and guest host, Julica Hermann de la Fuente, for a live Unitarian Universalist talk show discussing today’s topics from an anti-racist, anti-oppressive and multicultural perspective. The VUU streams live on Facebook every Thursday at 11 am ET.
On The VUU this Week (May 16th), The UUMA Executive Team members, Janette Lanier, Rev. Melissa Carvill and Rev Darrick Jackson, chatted with us on What’s New with the UUMA and What’s Next – The VUU #261
Janette Lallier is the Director of Operations and member of Executive Team, Pro Tem for the UUMA. She works from her home office in NYC where, in addition to her work for the UUMA, she pursues a career as an opera singer. She enjoys finding new ways to include exercise in daily life – bike outings on the NYC Greenway currently top the list!!
Rev. Melissa Carvill Ziemer is currently the Director of Collegial Practice and member of Executive Team, Pro Tem for the UUMA and Minister Affiliated with First Parish, in Northfield, MA. Melissa was initially drawn to ministry with the UUMA by her interest in supporting ministerial formation through the new Ministerial Formation Network. In less than three years she has had three job titles as the UUMA has found itself in a period of organizational change. Melissa came to the UUMA from the Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent, OH where she served as the settled minister for over eleven years. Melissa is married to Rev. Evin Carvill Ziemer (who serves on the UUA’s Congregational Life staff) and they currently live in Easthampton, MA with their two young children Rylan and Owen and two older dogs, Migo and Zoey.
The Rev. Darrick Jackson comes to the UUMA after spending 5 years as the Director of Contextual Ministry at Meadville Lombard Theological School. Prior to that, he served congregations in Monson, MA and Storrs, CT. With the UUMA, Darrick has served on the CENTER Committee and is a contributor to Centering: Navigating Race, Authenticity and Power in Ministry. He has been involved denominationally with DRUUMM and the UUA Nominating Committee. He is also the treasurer and Workshop Leader for Healing Moments (a ministry for caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s). Darrick likes to knit and to be involved in theatre. He lives in Chicago with his husband, Rev. James Olson (a United Church of Christ minister) and their two cats, Merlin and Morgana.
Production support provided by Margalie Belizaire.
The VUU is brought to you by the Church of the Larger Fellowship.
Podcast: Download (Duration: 53:39 — 73.7MB)
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Join our hosts Rev. Meg Riley, Aisha Hauser, Christina Rivera, and Rev Michael Tino for a live Unitarian Universalist talk show discussing today’s topics from an anti-racist, anti-oppressive and multicultural perspective. The VUU streams live on Facebook every Thursday at 11 am ET.
On The VUU this Week (May 9th), DeReau Farrar chatted with us on UU Music, Part II – The VUU #260DeReau K. Farrar is director of music at First Unitarian Church of Portland, Oregon, and a member of the board and conference planning committee of the Unitarian Universalist Musicians Network. Before moving to Portland in 2016, he served UU congregations in Santa Monica and Los Angeles, California, led an interfaith community gospel choir, and worked as a freelance music director, vocal contractor, consultant, and arranger. He worked on HBO’s All the Way (2016) and Jordan Peele’s Get Out (2017).
Production support provided by Margalie Belizaire.
The VUU is brought to you by the Church of the Larger Fellowship.
Podcast: Download (Duration: 59:28 — 81.7MB)
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Join our hosts Rev. Meg Riley, Aisha Hauser, Christina Rivera, and Rev Michael Tino for a live Unitarian Universalist talk show discussing today’s topics from an anti-racist, anti-oppressive and multicultural perspective. The VUU streams live on Facebook every Thursday at 11 am ET.
On The VUU this Week (May 2nd): Matthew Johnson, Rev Kim D Wilson, Paul Langston-Daley, Jonalu Johnstone Christana Wille McKnight and Wendy Williams chatted with us on What’s New with UUMA Accountability – The VUU #259
Wilson is the chair of the Ethics Guidelines Committee. Langston-Daley is the chair of the Accountability team. McKnight is the UUMA Board Liaison. Johnstone and Johnson are of the members of the Accountability team. Wendy Williams is the UUMA President Designate
Production support provided by Margalie Belizaire.
The VUU is brought to you by the Church of the Larger Fellowship.
Podcast: Download (Duration: 59:53 — 82.3MB)
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Join our hosts Rev. Meg Riley, Aisha Hauser, Christina Rivera, and Rev Michael Tino for a live Unitarian Universalist talk show discussing today’s topics from an anti-racist, anti-oppressive and multicultural perspective. The VUU streams live on Facebook every Thursday at 11 am ET.
On The VUU this Week (April 25th): Julie Taylor and Karen Hutt talked about what’s new and what’s next with Trauma Ministry – The VUU #258
Rev. Julie Taylor, Senior Director of Contextual Ministry at Meadville Lombard, is a Unitarian Universalist community minister specializing in critical incident response, community crisis and pastoral care. Julie is an affiliate professor at Meadville Lombard and has been an adjunct professor at Starr King School for the Ministry and Eden Theological Seminary. Julie serves as a chaplain (Capt) with the New York Air National Guard and on the board of the UU Trauma Response Ministry. An ordained minister since 2001, Julie has served UU congregations in New York City and St. Louis and volunteered with multiple crisis and disaster response organizations. A sought-after speaker and teacher, Julie has contributed chapters to several books on the subject of spiritual care and crisis. Agitating, preaching, and working towards dismantling systems of White supremacy are key in Julie’s theology and work. Currently, Julie lives in St. Louis and Chicago with wife, Laurel, and their two children. (Meadville Lombard website)
The Rev. Karen Hutt is an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister, a credentialed Clinical Pastoral Educator, and a Board Certified Chaplain. Currently, she is the Vice President of Student Experience and Culture at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities. She was a co-founder and co-pastor of Church of the Open Door, a dual-affiliated United Church of Christ/Unitarian Universalist congregation that served Chicago’s Black LGBTQ population from 1997-2005. Rev. Hutt went on to serve as a chaplain and Clinical Pastoral Educator in several large hospital systems in both Chicago and Minneapolis. She is widely regarded as one of the most innovative educators in the Clinical Pastoral Education field, and her work has been published in the Journal for Reflective Practice and Supervision.
Production support provided by Margalie Belizaire.
The VUU is brought to you by the Church of the Larger Fellowship.
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Jesus and his people were on overload. They had been working day and night, healing the sick and helping whoever needed help. Read more →
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The invitations were elegant. They announced a hunger banquet. And as soon as people began receiving these invitations, I began getting calls. Read more →
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It’s possible to be surrounded by abundance and never notice. Read more →
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Quest for Meaning is a program of the Church of the Larger Fellowship (CLF).
As a Unitarian Universalist congregation with no geographical boundary, the CLF creates global spiritual community, rooted in profound love, which cultivates wonder, imagination, and the courage to act.