Today at 2:00 – Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra Performance
First, today, Tuesday, February 25th , the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra will offer a live performance of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony to mark the three years since Russia invaded Ukraine. The Schiller poem “Ode to Joy” will be sung in Ukrainian. I believe the start time for our location will be 2pm EST. This article has a hot link to the concert and other important information. Click here for the link.
Empowerment Video
Two, on Sunday I addressed the monthly theme of inclusion on several levels. I spoke about When the novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire came out 1995 and how it addressed issues such as evil, nature vs nurture, the use of propaganda to gain power, tyranny, terrorism as well as challenging gender roles and racial bias and violence. The movie Wicked and the book also explores the power of friendship, particularly that between Elphaba (Wicked Witch of the West) and Glinda (Good Witch of the North).
I showed the following 2 minute clip during the worship service which embodies how we all have the potential to change, transform, and create places of inclusion where there was once exclusion. Remember, Glinda had given Elphaba the pointy black hat because she knew people would make fun of Elphaba. Then she invited her to the dance to further embarrass her. In this scene, we experience what happens when Elphaba becomes empowered (through dance) and Glinda has a change of heart. But the scene is oh so much more.
Two Books
On Sunday I mentioned two books, 2023 and 2024) written in by author and leadership scholar and teacher, Margaret J Wheatley 2023 Who Do We Choose To Be: Facing Reality, Claiming Leadership, Restoring Sanity and 2024 Restoring Sanity: Practices to Awaken Generosity Creativity and Kindness in Ourselves and our Organizations.
The Spiritual Work of Trans Justice and Safety
Lastly, I wanted to share, once again, my minister’s remarks from Sunday along with a statement from Jill Sampson on behalf of the Board of Trustees of the First Unitarian Church of Louisville.
At least five of us from this congregation attended a five hour workshop online yesterday with many other Unitarian Universalists from our MidAmerica Region. It was entitled “The Spiritual Work of Trans Justice and Safety.” The presenter was Zr. Alex Kapitan. As someone who was around when some of the early organized education started in the UUA around these issues, I learned a lot. The topic of safety and belonging came up a great deal. This congregation has done some good work around this—-the choice of whether to have pronouns on your nametags, non-gendered bathrooms available, education, recognition and more. While I have attended and witnessed at interfaith Trans Remembrance Vigils in our Louisville community (with some of you present), I did not do a vigil or worship service here. My apologies. I hope to do more ministry in this area before I leave in June. We are all in this together.
Safety and Belonging.
These values have been part of your Board of Trustees in recent meetings. What does it mean for anyone to feel safe here? To feel they belong? Has our country’s current administration changed our overall sense of safety and belonging? As a citizen? As a member or friend of this congregation? The Board was pondering how to let you know about some of their safety pro-active work. I said, “Please share this in a worship service.” We are all in this together.
|
|
|
|
|