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All Souls Unitarian Church

All Souls Unitarian Church, Tulsa, Oklahomawww.allsoulschurch.org
Sermons delivered at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, OK.
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Episodes

'BACK TO THE FUTURE' - Rev. Randy Lewis

The message was delivered on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Randy Lewis, Assistant Minister. DESCRIPTION If you could whisper one truth to your younger self, what would it be? Would you tell them how to avoid heartbreak, or remind them they were always enough? In a world rewriting reality faster than we can keep up, how do we stay grounded without giving in to fear? History shows us that even unfinished work matters. Maybe the real time machine w...

Jul 14, 202531 min

GOODNIGHT AND GOOD LUCK

After five decades of ministry, what compels a leader to share one final, unfiltered truth? In the high desert of Ghost Ranch, New Mexico, a young graduate heard a voice that would redirect his entire life's trajectory—but what did that voice demand of him? Now, as Rev. Gerald Davis prepares to step away from the pulpit, he delivers a raw, uncompromising message about justice, truth, and the courage required to speak out when silence would be easier. Can we truly claim to live with purpose if we...

Jun 30, 202531 min

TENDING COLLAPSE

The message was delivered on Sunday, June 22nd, 2025, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Celeste Lebak, Guest Minister DESCRIPTION: What happens when collapse doesn’t look like a catastrophe—but instead wears ordinary clothes, lives behind closed doors, and passes for normal? From whispered griefs to quiet survivals, explore what it means to witness the overlooked, name the wounds we’ve hidden, and honor the sacred mess of being human. Can healing unsettle us more than...

Jun 23, 202530 min

'DADS: COOL, CALM, AND COMPLICATED' - Rev. Randy Lewis

The message was delivered on Sunday, June 15, 2025, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Randy Lewis, Assistant Minister. DESCRIPTION In a world where vulnerability is rare and strength is too often confused with silence, what does it mean to be a father? What do we do with the legacy of the ones who raised us, the joyful, the steady, the absent, and the broken? We honor the cool dads, the calm dads, and the complicated ones, and we name the truth: fatherhood, like freedom, ...

Jun 16, 202526 min

LANGUAGE OF THE HEART

The service was conducted on Sunday, June 8th, 2025, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar What if the disconnect in your closest relationships isn’t about love lost, but about love spoken in a language you don’t understand? Dive into a powerful exploration of how we can move beyond surface-level reactions and learn to truly hear one another—not just with our ears, but with the heart. What might shift if, instead of responding to someone’s anger, we recogn...

Jun 09, 202517 min

SERVICE OF PROMISE AND REPAIR

The service was conducted on Sunday, June 1, 2025, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar and All Souls Worship Team, with a special presentation by Krystal Reyes, Deputy Mayor of the City of Tulsa. DESCRIPTION: On the anniversary of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, the congregation of All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa remembers, recalls and recommits itself to work to repair the ongoing impacts of this tragic history. As part of the Sunday services we share...

Jun 05, 202530 min

'GODLESS!' - Rev. Randy Lewis

The message was delivered on Sunday, May 25, 2025, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Randy Lewis, Assistant Minister. DESCRIPTION What if the word “godless” wasn’t a curse—but a catalyst? When love, justice, and honesty are branded as threats, who really gets to decide what’s sacred? From quiet family exiles to courtroom crusades, this reflection cuts through the noise and asks: Is a faith built on fear still faith at all? Journey through history, hypocrisy, and healing—a...

May 27, 202529 min

LEAD WITH LOVE

What happens when love becomes not just a feeling but a way of leading? In a world that often rewards fear and force, one story shows the transformative power of presence, service, courage, and connection. From California Girls in a sanctuary to music that held space for both weddings and war, a legacy unfolds—not in accolades, but in acts of deep care. What if the most powerful leadership begins not with authority, but with a heart wide open? SUBSCRIBE TO WATCH OTHER VIDEOS: @allsoulsunitarian ...

May 19, 20259 min

THE HOUSE OF TOMORROW

The message was delivered on May 11th, 2025, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Nicole Kirk. What does it mean to truly let go, even as we hold on with all our hearts? In a world that asks us to prepare children for a future we cannot see, how do we nurture without control, and love without possession? Drawing from the timeless words of Khalil Gibran and the chaotic grace of everyday parenting, this reflection explores how the raw, imperfect moments of care and connect...

May 13, 202518 min

IS TRUTH DEAD?

What if the truths we cling to are just fragments of something much larger—something we can only glimpse through others? When misperception feels as real as fact, and confidence masks misunderstanding, how do we move beyond argument or avoidance to real connection? From the story of the blind men and the elephant to the quiet revelations of a marriage, this exploration uncovers how truth, love, and humility intersect. It challenges us to ask: are we truly listening—or just waiting to be right? I...

May 05, 202522 min

INTO THE UNKNOWN

The message was delivered on Sunday, April 27, 2025, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Sophia Cross, Charles 'Chaz' Hall, Graciela 'Max' Moreno and Eliana Peluso-Verdend DESCRIPTION: What happens when a young life shaped by community, challenge, and personal discovery faces the vast unknown of adulthood? Through the highs of new friendships, the pain of unexpected loss, and the quiet power of music and self-belief, a new path emerges—one built not just on survival, but on the ...

Apr 28, 202517 min

MYSTERY AND WONDER

The message was delivered on Sunday, April 20, 2025, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Nicole Kirk. DESCRIPTION: A foggy morning, a missing horse, and an unexpected miracle—what can a moment like this teach us about fear, hope, and the quiet beauty that surrounds us? In a world often overwhelmed by noise and urgency, what does it mean to truly pay attention? From a sun setting over the Pacific to a woman planting bulbs she may never see bloom, this journey explores ho...

Apr 21, 202520 min

'WHEN THE STORY FALLS APART' - Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar

The message was delivered on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister. DESCRIPTION What if the story you believed in shattered before your eyes? What if resurrection wasn’t a spectacle—but a quiet decision to hope again? As a world once caught between betrayal and belief teetered toward despair, something unexpected began to stir. It didn’t roar. It whispered. From behind locked doors to breaking bread with stra...

Apr 20, 202510 min

AWAKENING THROUGH MUSIC

The message was delivered on Sunday, April 13th, 2025, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar. What if a fleeting note of music or a silent statue could say more about grief, love, and transcendence than words ever could? Explore the quiet power of mythos—the stories, sounds, and symbols that reach where logic cannot. From concert halls to ancient texts, from grief to joy, we are constantly being invited into deeper ways of knowing. Can imagination, art, an...

Apr 14, 202525 min

"THIS I BELIEVE" COMING OF AGE SUNDAY

The message was delivered on Sunday, April 6th, 2025, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by 19 of our all Souls 9th graders. Remarks by Rev.Dr. Marlin Lavanhar. What if the search for meaning isn’t about choosing the “right” path, but understanding the many ways people find purpose? How does belief—or disbelief—shape how we live, love, and leave a legacy? Through raw honesty, humor, ancestral reverence, and unexpected wisdom from sources like Kanye West and Mr. Rogers, a group of ...

Apr 09, 202540 min

THE WATER OF LIFE

The message was delivered on Sunday, March 30th, 2025, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar. What does it mean to take a stand when the stakes are high? One man, faced with corruption and intimidation, chose integrity over compromise, setting a powerful precedent for generations to come. His story, rooted in the fight for justice and equality, remains eerily relevant today as we navigate challenges to democracy, inclusion, and moral courage. How do we ens...

Mar 31, 202516 min

THE LOST ART OF LISTENING

IN A WORLD THAT NEVER STOPS TALKING, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE TRULY LISTEN? A SWELTERING SUMMER WEDDING, AN UNEXPECTED MISUNDERSTANDING, AND A PROFOUND LESSON IN SILENCE UNDOLD IN WAYS NO ONE COULD HAVE PREDICTED. WHAT IF THE KEY TO DEEPER CONNECTION, INNER PEACE AND EVEN HAPPINESS LIES NOT IN SPEAKING, BUT IN THE SPACE BETWEEN WORDS? EXPLORE THE POWER OF SILENCE, THE RICHNESS OF LISTENING, AND THE UNEXPECTED WAYS THEY SHAPE OUR LIVES.

Mar 25, 202524 min

'HISTORY: ERASED, REVISED, REPEATED' - Rev. Randy Lewis

The message was delivered on Sunday, March 16, 2025, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Randy Lewis, Assistant Minister. DESCRIPTION What does it mean to remember? And what does it mean to forget? In a world where history is being rewritten, censored, and erased, we must ask: Who holds the pen? From the echoes of prayers at the Western Wall to the solemn silence of Dachau, this journey confronts the uncomfortable truths that shape our present. What happens when one nation ...

Mar 18, 202525 min

WE ARE WORTHY OF REST

WHAT IF THE VERY THING WE'VE BEEN CONDITIONED TO SEE AS WEAKNESS IS ACTUALLY OUR GREATEST SOURCE OF POWER? IN A WORLD THAT GLORIFIES PRODUCTIVITY AND ENDLESS HUSTLE, REST IS OFTEN TREATED AS AN AFTERTHOUGHT-SOMETHING TO BE EARNED, DELAYED, OR SACRIFICED. BUT WHAT IF REST IS MORE THAN JUST SLEEP? WHAT IF IT'S A RADICAL ACT OF RESISTANCE, A WAY TO RECLAIM OUR HUMANITY FROM THE FORCES THAT SEEK TO GRIND US DOWN? THROUGH PERSONAL REFLECTION AND HISTORICAL INSIGHT, THIS EXPLORATION CHALLENGES THE MYT...

Mar 11, 202521 min

WHY WE DON'T LET GO

THIS SERMON WAS GIVEN ON SUNDAY MARCH 3RD BY REV.DR. MARLIN LAVANHAR WHAT IF THE THING HOLDING YOU BACK ISN'T YOUR PAST, BUT YOUR GRIP ON IT? WE ALL CARRY BURDENS-GRIEF, ANGER, REGRET-BUT ARE WE HOLDING THEM, OR ARE THEY HOLDING US? SOME THINGS CAN BE RELEASED, BUT OTHERS MUST BE CARRIED DIFFERENTLY. HOW DO WE KNOW THE DIFFERENCE? AND WHEN WE CAN'T LET GO, HOW DO WE ENSURE THE WEIGHT DOESN'T DEFINE US?

Mar 03, 202518 min

HIGHER GROUND

A visionary leader, a faith reimagined, and a movement ahead of its time. In the face of racial and theological barriers, Lewis McGee forged a new path-one that embraced reason, human dignity, and the fight for justice. From a fateful discovery of Unitarianism to the creation of a groundbreaking, multiracial congregation, his journey was one of courage, conviction, and a relentless pursuit of higher ground. The road was never easy. What happens when institutional resistance meets and unstoppable...

Feb 24, 202524 min

LOVE IMPLEMENTING THE DEMANDS OF JUSTICE

SERMON BY MARY KATHERINE MORN, GUEST MINISTER AT ALL SOULS UNITARIAN CHURCH FEBRUARY 16TH, 2025 AMIDST OPPRESSION AND UNCERTAINTY, A VISION FOR JUSTICE AND RESILIENCE EMERGES. FROM THE EMBATTLED STREETS OF BURMA TO COMMUNITIES RESISTING TYRANNY ACROSS THE GLOBE, PEOPLE ARE DEFYING SYSTEMS THAT SEEK TO ERASE THEIR DIGNITY. WOMEN WHO HAVE ENDURED DECADES OF VIOLENCE STILL GATHER IN PURSUIT OF DEMOCRACY. REFUGEES STRETCH THEIR ARMS ACROSS BORDERS FOR LIFESAVING AID. ACTIVISTS IN THE U.S. AND BEYOND...

Feb 17, 202522 min

SPIRITUAL PRACTICES FOR ACTIVISTS AND EVERYDAY LIFE

IN TIMES OF CHAOS AND UNCERTAINTY, HOW DO WE STAY GROUNDED WITHOU BECOMING NUMB? HOW DO WE TAKE ACTION WITHOUT BURNING OUT? DRAWING FROM THE WISDOM OF SPIRITUAL LEADERS, CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS, AND THE RESILIENCE OF MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES, THIS POWERFUL EXPLORATION REVEALS FOUR ESSENTIAL PRACTICES THAT CAN HELP US NAVIGATE INJUSTICE, FIND STRENGTH, AND STAY ENGAGED. WHETHER COOLING THE FIRES OF ANGER, REIGNITING OUR PASSION, STRENGTHENING OUR BODIES, OR CONFROMTING OUR INNER SHADOWS, THESE TOO...

Feb 10, 202521 min

SOMETIMES OUR HEROES ARENT HEROES

History is rarely as simple as heroes and villains. What happens when those we admire-family, leaders, even icons of progress-also hold beliefs or take actions we find deeply troubling? Through personal ancestry and historical figures, this exploration reveals the complexities of legacy, the weight of contradictions, and the uncomfortable truths we must face. Can we honor the good while acknowledging the harm? What do we do when those who shaped our world weren't the people we hoped they were?

Feb 03, 202524 min

'NO PLANET B: MARS CAN WAIT' - Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar

The message was delivered on Sunday, January 26, 2025, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister. DESCRIPTION What does it mean to truly be part of the “family of things”? This message takes us on a journey to explore our profound connection to the cosmos, our role in sustaining the only planet we call home, and the sacred interplay between energy, matter, and consciousness. By weaving together ancient wisdom, science, and a call to action, it...

Jan 27, 202529 min

MLK: WALKING WITH GRACE

HWOW DO WE NAVIGATE THE TENSION BETWEEN CHAOS AND COMMUNITY? REFLECTING ON THE WORDS OF LEADERS LIKE DR.MARTIN LUTHER KING JR., THIS EXPLORATION BY REV. DR. MARLIN LAVENHAR DELVES INTO THE INTERSECTIONS OF DEMOCRACY, EQUALITY AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO TRULY PARTICIPATE IN SHAPING A GOVERNMENT 'OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE"? AS THE DIVIDE BETWEEN WEALTH AND OPPORTUNITY WIDENS, AND QUESTIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS GROW URGENT, THE CALL TO ACTION HAS NEVER BEEN CLEARER. CO...

Jan 22, 202525 min

GRACE:THE ISNESS OF LIFE PHIL HANEY

THIS REFLECTION, DELEVERED WITH HEARFLET GRATITUDE AND VULNERABILITY, CENTERS ON THE THEME OF GRACE AND THE INTERCONNECTEDNESS OF RELATIONSHIPS. PHIL HANEY OPENS BY ACKNOWLEDGING THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY AND THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT HAVE SUPPORTED AND SHAPED HIM THROUGHOUT LIFE.

Jan 13, 202523 min

GRACE: LOVE BEYOND DESERVING

THIS REFLECTION BY CHAD JOHNSON ON BOARD OF TRUSTEES SUNDAY EXPLORES THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF GRACE, DEFINED AS UNMERITED FAVOR, LOVE, AND FORGIVENESS. GRACE IS PRESENTED AS A FORCE THAT HEALS BROKENNESS AND REVEALS BEAUTY IN THE WORLD. CHAD EXAMINES GRACE THROUGH THREE LENSES: CHRISTIAN TRADITION, EXISTENTIAL PHILOSOPHY, AND GREEK MYTHOLOGY.

Jan 13, 202515 min

'GRACE CAME EARLY' - Rev. Randy Lewis

The message was delivered on Sunday, January 5, 2025, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Randy Lewis, Assistant Minister. DESCRIPTION In a world consumed by noise, division, and a relentless demand for judgment, where can we find hope? Beyond the headlines and viral moments lies something quieter, yet infinitely powerful—grace. Grace doesn’t scream for attention; it whispers through acts of kindness, forgiveness, and courage, transforming our lives and relationships. What ...

Jan 06, 202526 min

'TURNING THE PAGE TOGETHER' - Rev. Randy Lewis

The message was delivered on Sunday, December 29, 2024, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Randy Lewis, Assistant Minister. DESCRIPTION What would it take to turn the page on the pain, mistakes, and struggles that have held you back? Through the lens of Nelson Mandela’s extraordinary journey, we explore the profound act of forgiveness—not as a passive release but as a powerful declaration of freedom. Imagine facing your greatest hardship and using it to write a new chapter...

Dec 30, 202428 min
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