The sermon was delivered on Sunday, May 28, 2017, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Joseph Boyd, Intern Minister. SERMON DESCRIPTION Sometimes we struggle to make sense of what is worth fighting for, even worth giving our life for, and what is worth surrendering. This memorial weekend we will explore patriotism as an everyday practice, practicing our American values of freedom, opportunity, and justice in small but impactful acts of kindness. In light of Officer Shelby's verdi...
May 28, 2017•26 min
The sermon was delivered on Sunday, May 21, 2017, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Bishop Carlton D. Pearson, Affiliate Minister. SERMON DESCRIPTION The opposite of cruelty is mercy. Otherwise, there’d be no such thing as cruelty. Cruelty is defined as callous indifference to or pleasure in causing pain and suffering. The most poignant example of that is the concept of eternal damnation. Mercy is compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one’s power to ...
May 21, 2017•45 min
The sermon was delivered on Sunday, May 21, 2017, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Kendyl Gibbons, Guest Minister. SERMON DESCRIPTION As we celebrate high school graduations among the teens of this community, some reflections on how we all might think about our preparation for the adventures ahead of us. As author Bill Bryson discovered while hiking the Appalachian Trail, there are necessities, there are luxuries, and there are burdens best disposed of - often not wh...
May 21, 2017•25 min
The sermon was delivered on Sunday, May 14, 2017, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister. SERMON DESCRIPTION At some time every one of us would like to be given another chance and would prefer not to have to pay the full consequences of our actions or inactions. We've done something wrong. We wish we had not done it or at least we wish we had not been caught. True justice would see us punished, but with some mercy we might go free. A world ...
May 14, 2017•24 min
The sermon was delivered on Sunday, May 14, 2017, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Barbara Prose, Executive Director of Ministry. SERMON DESCRIPTION As we at All Souls consider what we can do to protect and advance the rights and freedoms of women in the 21st century, it’s time to remember the 21 women who fought hard to forge a way forward for themselves and liberal religion in the American heartland between 1870 and 1925. Come and be inspired by their courage and enlig...
May 14, 2017•21 min
The sermon was delivered on Sunday, May 7, 2017, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Joseph Boyd, Intern Minister. SERMON DESCRIPTION In our Lent Meditation for All Souls on the Beyond Belief blog, we had a chance to reflect on mortality and the miracle of life present in every moment. This Sunday we will explore how we can hold both our mortal, fragile humanity and the awesomeness of being alive - holding them together. By being more conscious of both, we can live and love more...
May 07, 2017•18 min
The sermon was delivered on Sunday, April 30, 2017, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister. SERMON DESCRIPTION Many people would argue the title of my message should be “Jesus or Science?” We live in an era of great division between those who hold a scientific worldview and those who hold fundamentalist religious views. There are those who claim there is a war between science and religion. But Jesus said, “blessed are the peacemakers.” Bles...
Apr 30, 2017•33 min
The sermon was delivered on Sunday, April 23, 2017, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Bishop Carlton D. Pearson, Affiliate Minister. SERMON DESCRIPTION An orthodox understanding of redemption is the act of buying one's freedom or having it paid for by someone else. It is mostly about compensation, which is to make up for something unwelcome or unpleasant by exerting an opposite effect. It usually involves some sense of guilt. Alan Cohn wrote, "A good definition of guilt is, "p...
Apr 23, 2017•38 min
The sermon was delivered on Sunday, April 23, 2017, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister. SERMON DESCRIPTION The concept of "alternative facts" is rightfully being scorned and mocked in politics today. Yet religion has often been, and continues to be, a realm of alternative facts. What does it mean to have a religion or church that rejects alternative facts and that seeks the truth in love and also seeks the truth with reason, science, an...
Apr 23, 2017•25 min
The Easter Sunday homily was delivered on Sunday, April 16, 2017, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister. SUBSCRIBE TO AUDIO PODCAST: WATCH THIS HOMILY ON YOUTUBE: SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: GIVE A DONATION TO HELP US SPREAD THIS LOVE BEYOND BELIEF: or text LOVEBB to 73256 LET'S CONNECT: Facebook: Twitter: All Souls Church Website:
Apr 16, 2017•14 min
The sermon was delivered on Sunday, April 9, 2017, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister. SERMON DESCRIPTION On Sunday, on the eve of determining the next steps towards All Souls’ future, it was important for us to first join in worship. It was a time to remember how important this congregation is to each of us and to our community. After the abrupt resignation of Unitarian Universalist Association President, Peter Morales, it's more impor...
Apr 09, 2017•32 min
The sermon was delivered on Sunday, March 19, 2017, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Bishop Carlton D. Pearson, Affiliate Minister. SERMON DESCRIPTION Religious authority and Spiritual authority are often assumed to have the same meaning, but they differ. Religious authority is a human construct and has its place and purpose. Spiritual authority is the result of transcendence, elevated consciousness, and respect for levels of mystical growth and discernment. Some say we are n...
Mar 19, 2017•42 min
The sermon was delivered on Sunday, March 19, 2017, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Joseph Boyd, Intern Minister. SERMON DESCRIPTION A man asked Martin Luther, the Protestant reformer: “What would you do if you knew the end of the world would come tomorrow?” Luther replied: “I would plant a tree.” We’re all faced with the reality of endings. We can imagine the ending of our planet due to environmental devastation. Many are wondering if we are facing the end of our democratic...
Mar 19, 2017•23 min
The reflections were delivered on Sunday, March 12, 2017, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Barbara Prose, Rev. Gerald Davis, Bishop Carlton Pearson, and Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar. DESCRIPTION The current UUWorld magazine features an article about race in America and focuses on Tulsa’s history and the role of All Souls throughout the past 96 years. Join us on Sunday, March 12 as Rev. Barbara Prose officiates a conversation between Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, Rev. Gerald Davis, a...
Mar 12, 2017•43 min
DESCRIPTION Sanctuary: a church or other sacred place where people are entitled to immunity from arrest. Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, Rev. Barbara Prose, and special guests Rev. Alvaro Nova Ochoa, Rabbi Marc Fitzerman, and Jordan Mazariegos share their responses to the current climate of hostility towards immigrants. Please join us in exploring our responsibility as citizens, as we stand in and claim the moral authority of our respective traditions. Our ministers and Rabbi Fitzerman also share about th...
Mar 05, 2017•44 min
The sermon was delivered on Sunday, February 19, 2017, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister. SERMON DESCRIPTION Since the unexpected death of our daughter Sienna, we have learned that when a child precedes her parents in death, it reverses the usual dynamic of legacy. Instead of the parents’ legacy being in the child’s hands, the child’s legacy is in the parents’ hands. The Sienna Project is how we continue our daughter’s legacy. The Sien...
Feb 19, 2017•12 min
The sermon was delivered on Sunday, February 12, 2017, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Bishop Carlton D. Pearson, Affiliate Minister. SERMON DESCRIPTION “America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.” —Abraham Lincoln Freedom is our power, our right to act, to speak, and to think as we want without hindrance or restraint. Freedom is an inside reality. Freedom is consciousness. Moshe Dayan call...
Feb 12, 2017•33 min
The sermon was delivered on Sunday, February 12, 2017, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister. SERMON DESCRIPTION “The God who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time.” —Thomas Jefferson Jefferson was an American Revolutionary and someone who penned the Declaration of Independence. But, how did he square this sentiment with being a slave owner? The reality is, most of us are more complex than our reputations allow. A faithful patriot...
Feb 12, 2017•20 min
The sermon was delivered on Sunday, February 5, 2017, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Joseph Boyd, Intern Minister. SERMON DESCRIPTION When we think of strangers, we often think of people who think and live differently than we do. This Sunday, we will explore the question: “Who is the stranger within us?” Mystics have emphasized the importance of beginner’s mind, of not taking ourselves and our world for granted. We will explore how to cultivate a state of mind that allows u...
Feb 05, 2017•26 min
The sermon was delivered on Sunday, February 5, 2017, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Barbara Prose, Executive Director of Ministry. SERMON DESCRIPTION Award winning film, Hidden Figures, highlights parts of the U.S. space program which have been long ignored. When parts of history are uncovered, they can change our understanding of ourselves and our understanding of our nation’s history. History is always in the making. What parts of our own histories do we need to unc...
Feb 05, 2017•27 min
The sermon was delivered on Sunday, January 29, 2017, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Gerald L. Davis, Affiliate Minister. SERMON DESCRIPTION Distraught over recent events that suggest a change in your life? Grappling with an onslaught of news that seems to be contradictory? Seeking clarity that only church can provide? Well, I’ve got good news for you! Step right up and take a seat. SUBSCRIBE TO AUDIO PODCAST: WATCH THIS SERMON ON YOUTUBE: SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHAN...
Jan 29, 2017•27 min
The sermon was delivered on Sunday, January 22, 2017, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Bishop Carlton D. Pearson, Affiliate Minister. SERMON DESCRIPTION "I'm not into organized religion. I'm into believing in a higher source of creation, realizing we're all just part of nature." -Neil Young Join me in the Contemporary service to discover the benefits of creating with intention. We will create out of habit and necessity. Let's explore what happens when we apply focus and inten...
Jan 22, 2017•48 min
The sermon was delivered on Sunday, January 22, 2017, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister. SERMON DESCRIPTION This month we are exploring creation as our theme. We are not just beings who are created, but we are also creators ourselves. Life can be thought of as a process of evolution, of creation and re-creation. Our ability to create something new is a defining quality of our humanness. It is what makes us different from other creature...
Jan 22, 2017•29 min
The sermon was delivered on Sunday, January 15, 2017, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Barbara Prose, Executive Director of Ministry, and Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister. SERMON DESCRIPTION Can you imagine what Martin Luther King Jr. would be saying in this era of Obama, Black Lives Matter, and Trump? We have some clues when we look at his writings and speeches. As we explore the theme of Creation, I want us to think creatively about how people like King and Je...
Jan 15, 2017•31 min
The sermon was delivered on Sunday, January 8, 2017, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Bishop Carlton D. Pearson, Affiliate Minister. SERMON DESCRIPTION Creation and Divinity are inseparable. Creation is the testosterone of consciousness. We all have it and we all do it- create that is. It is part of our spiritual biology and mental ingenuity. We are created, creative, and creating beings. It is human nature to create, recreate, procreate, and co-create on every conceivable le...
Jan 08, 2017•37 min
The sermon was delivered on Sunday, January 8, 2017, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister. SERMON DESCRIPTION As science continues to discover a universal story of how life came to exist, that story has the potential to become the unifying human story of creation. Such a unifying story could help humanity transcend our religious conflicts and recognize our interconnectedness. Creation myths of the many religions and cultures of the world ...
Jan 08, 2017•24 min
The sermon was delivered on Sunday, January 1, 2017, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Gerald L. Davis, Affiliate Minister. SERMON DESCRIPTION As we enter into another year of anticipated struggle amidst surprising joy, it is imperative that we consider a human condition demands certain undeniable responses. Come join me on Sunday as we gird our loins and put on our armor to attain the best we can be. SUBSCRIBE TO AUDIO PODCAST: WATCH THIS SERMON ON YOUTUBE: SUBSCRIBE TO ...
Jan 01, 2017•32 min
The homily was delivered on Sunday, December 25, 2016, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Joseph Boyd, Intern Minister. HOMILY DESCRIPTION The first words spoken by God in the Hebrew scriptures are: “Let there be light.” What meaning can we make from these simple words? This time of year, combined with the first words spoken by God, teach us an important lesson; out of darkness comes light. Join me on Christmas day as we discover this light together, helping us engage the times...
Dec 25, 2016•17 min
The sermon was delivered on Sunday, December 18, 2016, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Bishop Carlton D. Pearson, Affiliate Minister. SERMON DESCRIPTION Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Deuteronomy 6:5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. It is not good for man to be alone, the only one, or the only one without special accompaniment. If we are made in the image and likeness of God, sho...
Dec 18, 2016•39 min
The sermon was delivered on Sunday, December 18, 2016, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister. SERMON DESCRIPTION Solstice represents the darkest time of the year and comes with the promise of hope being born out of that darkness. Today, people all over the world are witnessing atrocities and war crimes of unbelievable proportions in Syria through photos, tweets of despair, and live-feeds on social media. As millions of people - including t...
Dec 18, 2016•33 min
