POPULARITY
The Ridgewood Arts Foundation is a marvelous organization that celebrates the arts in and around Ridgewood. They host a variety of events to help fund grants and scholarships to benefit deserving artists and organizations. Their signature event and most significant fundraiser of the year is the Honors Showcase. It will be held on Friday, April 5, at 7:30 PM at the Unitarian Society on Cottage Place. The evening will include live musical performances by honored musicians, an art gallery featuring their celebrated grantees, and cocktails and tasty bites will also be served. To learn more, tune in and hear from three board members: Lorraine Haskins, Chris Sargente, and Kristen Plumley. Visit their website RidgewoodArtsFoundation.org – and follow them on Instagram and Facebook
“We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere… hatred and bitterness can never cure the disease of fear, only love can do that.” These words, written by Martin Luther King, beckon us to a search for truth and meaning in the quest for racial justice and human rights everywhere. Two of our guests today, Ken Hill and Gina Whitaker, spent three weeks traveling the U.S. Civil Rights Trail this past October through Mississippi and Alabama. Everywhere they went, everyone they met and all the stories they heard added pieces of the puzzle that eventually formed a picture of our single garment of destiny, and highlighted our network of mutuality. What they learned was that we are all connected, and that Martin Luther King had it right…only love can overcome hate. The Deep South. A place neither Ken Hill nor Gina Whitaker ever thought they would visit, was the scene. People like Terry Chestnut, our third guest today, filled in many missing pieces of the puzzle with his deep love for Selma, Alabama–his hometown–and all the people and all the places in Selma where major battles of the American Civil Rights movement of the 1950's and 1960's took place and are recorded in history. Terry will share his story today, and we are certain that his perspective will move our listeners. So, welcome to the People of Faith for Justice 26th podcast and to our guests, Gina, Ken and Terry. RELEVANT LINKS PFJ Unitarian Universalists San Luis Obispo (UUSLO) United Church of Christ (Congregational) of San Luis Obispo (UCC) MLK People of Faith for Justice Service - 1/15/23 (Video) Living Legacy Project - Civil Rights Pilgrimages to the South Selma Interpretive Center - US Civil Rights Trail Edmund Pettus Bridge Selma, Alabama Hancock's BBQ - Selma, AL Live Oak Cemetery - Selma, AL National Voting Rights Museum - Selma, AL Selma Voting Rights Memorial Park St. James Hotel - originally The Gee House Hotel - Selma, AL Benjamin Sterling Turner - AL's first Black Congressional Representative Brown Chapel AME Church - Selma, AL Dallas County Voters League - Selma, AL “Courageous Eight” Rev. James Reeb (Video) Jimmie Lee Jackson (Video) March Selma to Montgomery - 50th Anniversary (Video) Tabernacle Baptist Church - Selma, AL Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth Rev. C.T. Vivian Rev. James Bevel Rev. James Lawson J.L. Chestnut, Jr. - Black Author, Attorney and Civil Rights Activist; Terry Chestnut's father Black in Selma: The Uncommon Life of J.L. Chestnut, Jr. (Book) MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS Gina Whitaker is a board member of People of Faith for Justice and a member of the Unitarian Universalists San Luis Obispo. Social justice concerns in 1960 brought her to the Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara as a teenager, and she's never looked back. A social justice activist for 64 years, Gina went on a pilgrimage to the Deep South in October, 2022 with her husband, Ken. Her experiences there transformed her, and brought her attention to the fact that though life in the Deep South is better than it was during the 50's and 60's, the job is not yet finished. Gina continues her work for racial justice, immigration justice and voting rights in between spending time with her two granddaughters, Jimi, 2 1/2, and Rubi, 7 months. She lives in Arroyo Grande with her husband, Ken Hill, and their cat, Sufi. Ken Hill is Gina Whitaker's husband and resident of the Central Coast for the last three decades. Ken is now retired from a long engineering career in electronics, computers and software in Southern California and on the Central Coast. He has rooted himself in relationship to family, community and the quest of grounding our communities in love and grace; without these, all else is for naught. At the heart of that community are his wife, stepsons, grandchildren, sister, brother in-law and extended family bonded in blood relation and shared purpose. Ken is a passionate member of Unitarian Universalists San Luis Obispo, participates in People of Faith for Justice (PFJ) through the Central Coast Center for Ecological Civilization and can be found at many events around the Central Coast trying to transform us all into a beloved community. Terry Chestnut was born and raised in Selma, Alabama, the 4th of six children, to J.L. Chestnut, Jr. and mother Vivian Chestnut. J.L. was the first Black attorney in Selma, and was also Dr. Martin Luther King's attorney, of which Terry is very proud! Terry graduated from Dillard University in New Orleans with a double major in Mass Communication/Criminal justice, and a minor in Music. Terry has a great love for Selma Alabama, and has spent the last three and a half years working as a tour guide for groups from all over the world who visit Selma, Alabama to learn about the 1960's American civil rights and voting rights movement. With Terry as their guide, however, they learn much more than facts, and experience Terry's great love for his hometown and the people in it. In addition to the many tours he conducts year round, Terry finds time to host a daily radio show, The Cool Jazz Cafe, as well as organize all the entertainment at the historic St. James Hotel in downtown Selma. He is available to speak nationwide. SUPPORT PFJ We greatly appreciate your financial support so that we can continue to educate, advocate and pray for the things that matter to our organization. Please consider donating through PayPal. People of Faith for Justice is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. CREDITS The People of Faith for Justice Podcast is produced and edited by Jeff Manildi Music for the People of Faith for Justice Podcast is provided by Andrew Gorman
Here is an audio file of a sermon I gave at the Unitarian Society of Amherst on July 11, 2021.
UUCWC will be holding one virtual service at 10am. Please check here for details. Listen Here Reverend Karen G. Johnston is the settled minister at The Unitarian Society in East Brunswick, NJ. She is a member of the board of UU FaithAction NJ, ... read more.
In this live podcast event hosted by the Santa Barbara Science Salon in conjunction with the Skeptics Society and the Unitarian Society, co-hosted by Dr. Whitney Detar, Dr. Shermer reflects on the question “What is Truth?” in the context of his lifelong search to understand why people believe weird things. What is a weird thing and how do we know what is true? This is what is known as the demarcation problem, and Dr. Shermer provides numerous examples of the difficulty of drawing a clear demarcating line between science and pseudoscience. Sometimes it’s obvious, sometimes it’s not. Michael Shermer in Santa Barbara 2019 (photo by Robert Bernstein) Science, Dr. Shermer begins, is “A set of methods designed to describe and interpret observed or inferred phenomenon, past or present, aimed at building a testable body of knowledge open to rejection or confirmation.” That is, it is “A method to explain the world that is testable and open to change.” Through the scientific method we aim for objectivity: the basing of conclusions on external validation. And we avoid mysticism: the basing of conclusions on personal insights that lack external validation. Dr. Shermer then presents examples of subjective/internal truths (dark chocolate is better than milk chocolate; Stairway to Heaven is the greatest rock song) and objective/external truths (evolution happened, the dinosaurs went extinct 65 million years ago), and gave examples of how subjective truths (meditation makes me feel better) may become objective truths (meditation works). The lecture was followed by an extensive AMA/Q&A with the audience. Listen to Science Salon via iTunes, Spotify, Google Play Music, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, and Soundcloud. This Science Salon was recorded on May 19, 2019. You play a vital part in our commitment to promote science and reason. If you enjoy the Science Salon Podcast, please show your support by making a donation, or by becoming a patron.
Pat Humphries of Emma's Revolution was at Pete Seeger's bedside as he died, singing to him. Pat and Sandy O of Emma's Revolution, along with Sally Rogers, Charlie King, Annie Patterson, and Peter Blood, join in the post-intermission part of a concert to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Pete Seeger's birth, held April 27th in Northampton, MA, at the Unitarian Society, as a benefit for Climate Action Now MA, part of a wealth of events for the 100th anniversary.
1st part of a concert to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Pete Seeger's birth, held April 27th in Northampton, MA, at the Unitarian Society, as a benefit for Climate Action Now MA, part of a wealth of events for the 100th anniversary. This concert includes performances by Emma's Revolution, Sally Rogers, Charlie King, Annie Patterson, and Peter Blood.
NPC sits down With Susan Wallace of Quabbin Mediation to learn what they do and to discuss their upcoming workshop, Training Active Bystanders, happening on April 24th and sponsored by Cooley Dickinson Hospital, The Unitarian Society of Florence and Northampton, and the Northampton Prevention Coalition.
Sermon by author and educator Nancy Vedder-Shults at the first Unitarian Society of Madison on July 30th, 2107. Until recently, people considered nothing more secular than science, and nothing more occult or sacred than divination. That’s beginning to change. Modern technology is finally proving what seers and sages have always known: a particular frame of mind favors new ideas, a frame of mind facilitated by divination. Nancy Vedder-Shults will illustrate her talk with a number of ancient, indigenous, and contemporary oracular techniques from her new book "The World is Your Oracle: Divinatory Practices for Tapping Your Inner Wisdom and Getting the Answers You Need."
Sermon by affiliated community minister Jim Jaeger at the first Unitarian Society on July 23rd, 2017. Many recent surveys of religious preferences have shown that the fastest growing groups are those who identify as “none” or “spiritual not religious.” What exactly does this mean, especially for the vitality of our religious communities? What is the difference, if any, between being “religious” and “spiritual?” And, how might Unitarian Universalism reach this new pool of seekers? Rev. Jim Jaeger, a long time member of this FUS religious community, will explore these questions.
Our speakers on January 12, 2014, were Martin and Caroline Lavanhar, members of the Unitarian Society of Ridgewood, New Jersey. They are founders of The Sienna Project which has built nine schools in Guatemala since 2007. Unitarian Universalists from 22 different congregations, including UTUUC, have participated in these trips. For more information about The Sienna Project, please visit http://siennaproject.org/.
Sermon delivered by guest minister Rev. Kathleen McTigue on April 7, 2013. Rev. McTigue is director of the UU College of Social Justice (UUCSJ), which is a joint collaboration of UUSC and the Unitarian Universalist Association. She leads the UUCSJ in strategically pursuing its mission to increase the capacity of Unitarian Universalists to catalyze justice. Prior to joining UUCSJ, Kathleen served in parish ministry for 25 years, including 21 years as senior minister to the Unitarian Society of New Haven, Connecticut. Her previous experience also includes several years of social justice activism in the San Francisco Bay area and six months volunteering with Witness for Peace in Nicaragua. Rev. McTigue earned a Master of Divinity degree from Starr King School for the Ministry. She can be contacted at kmctigue@uucsj.org.