UPCOMING WORSHIP SERVICES
SOUL MATTERS THEME FOR MAY
The Gift of Pluralism
May 5
Sacred Beings Diverse in Culture, Experience, and Theology
10:30 am
Rev. Clare L. Petersberger, Kara Tyler, Director of Religious Education, Henry Gieszl, The TUUC Puppet Thing, Lou Gieszl, Tracy Hall, Music Director, TUUC Choir and Additional Musicians
Today we honor our graduating High School Senior, Henry Gieszl. When Henry heard that the gift of pluralism is our theme for May, he thought for a minute before responding, “Pluralism has to do with different identities.” Indeed, it does. Today the TUUC Puppet Thing will introduce a new (and therefore different) puppet. We will reflect on what the gift of pluralism asks of us when we encounter different cultures, stories, experiences, and theologies.
May 12
People Are Just As Wonderful As Sunsets
10:30 am
Rev. Clare L. Petersberger, Kara Tyler, Director of Religious Education, Tracy Hall, Music Director and the TUUC Choir, Zinnia Epps and her family
Today we have the honor of dedicating the baby of a mother who grew up in TUUC. What do we Unitarian Universalists believe about human nature-----our own and others? How have your views of human nature changed over the course of your life-time? What do you hope the baby we are dedicating, today, will learn from us about human nature?
May 19
Special Music Sunday: Making Community Out of Disparity
10:30 am
Music Director Tracy Hall, TUUC Choir, Drummers, and Additional TUUC & Guest Musicians
On Sunday, January 7th of this year, Rev. Clare preached inspiringly about liberating love, and on explorations of this topic by author and social critic Bell Hooks. While we all hope for this type of love to become widespread, people in our country and far beyond keep bumping up against differences in our understandings of culture, religion, sexuality and gender, personal and artistic expression, politics, and family dynamics. Today we’ll explore, through a variety of music, how we might make a difference; how we might listen for common ground, and turn ourselves towards better connecting with differing factions of people.
May 26
A True War Story Is Never Moral
10:30 am
Rev. Clare L. Petersberger, Tracy Hall and Community Choir
In seminary, a class on ethics was devoted to “Just War Theory.” I was reminded of that class watching the PBS series “The Atlantic Crossing” and how it framed the conflict of aggressor over a neutral nation and the need to fight back. I have been reminded of that class ever since Russia invaded Ukraine and Ukraine vowed to defend itself with similar logic. In 1990, Tim O’Brian wrote, “A true war story is never moral.” I have been grappling with Just War Theory and Tim O’Brian’s words since Hamas attacked and killed over one thousand Israeli civilians in October and took hostages and Israel has bombed and killed tens of thousands of Palestinians. How is a true war story never moral? What is a just war?