The message was delivered on Sunday, June 16, 2019, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Carlton D. Pearson, Affiliate Minister, at the Humanist Service. DESCRIPTION Until recently, Majeste was commonly known as Carlton Pearson’s daughter. High profile parents often shadow their children and create energy the offspring must manage. These days, it’s not so much that Majeste is the preacher’s daughter, but the other way around. Carlton gets asked if he is Majeste’s father more than...
Jun 16, 2019•32 min
The sermon was delivered on Sunday, June 16, 2019, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister. DESCRIPTION In preparation for a Father’s Day message, I have decided I will let my daughter be “Daddy for a Day.” I’m still not sure what to expect. Will we be eating waffles for dinner and pizza for breakfast? Will I be told to go to bed at 8:30 p.m. and finish my broccoli before I leave the table? More importantly, what will it reveal about each of...
Jun 16, 2019•29 min
The message was delivered on Sunday, June 9, 2019, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Barbara Prose, Executive Director of Ministry, and Rev. Gerald L. Davis, Affiliate Minister, at the Humanist Service. DESCRIPTION Rev. Gerald Davis has been learning to maneuver with a walking stick for the visually impaired. Learning to walk with this type of aid is a high risk and greatly rewarding skill. In the spirit of our Trading Places series, I stepped into Rev. Davis's shoes. Wor...
Jun 09, 2019•33 min
The sermon was delivered on Sunday, June 9, 2019, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Barbara Prose, Executive Director of Ministry, and Rev. Gerald L. Davis, Affiliate Minister. DESCRIPTION Rev. Gerald Davis has been learning to maneuver with a walking stick for the visually impaired. Learning to walk with this type of aid is a high risk and greatly rewarding skill. In the spirit of our Trading Places series, I stepped into Rev. Davis's shoes. Working and walking along sid...
Jun 09, 2019•29 min
The message was delivered on Sunday, June 2, 2019, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister, and Hank Fincken, Actor, at the Humanist Service. DESCRIPTION In both services this Sunday, performer Hank Finken will bring to life the historic figure of Francisco Pizarro González in an unforgettable way. We will share commentary and discussion based on his epic and brutal story. Born in Spain, Francisco was poor, illegitimate, and had few prospect...
Jun 02, 2019•35 min
The message was delivered on Sunday, May 26, 2019, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Em Kianka, Intern Minister, at the Humanist Service. DESCRIPTION There are so many different reasons why it can be so hard to trust ourselves and to take leaps of faith—leaving behind perfectionism, "what if's," fears, and anxieties—towards accepting who we are and ultimately to our freedom. No matter how comfortable we are or become with ourselves, we never quite evolve past the leap it takes...
May 26, 2019•25 min
The sermon was delivered on Sunday, May 26, 2019, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Em Kianka, Intern Minister. DESCRIPTION There are so many different reasons why it can be so hard to trust ourselves and to take leaps of faith—leaving behind perfectionism, "what if's," fears, and anxieties—towards accepting who we are and ultimately to our freedom. No matter how comfortable we are or become with ourselves, we never quite evolve past the leap it takes to trust that small but t...
May 26, 2019•21 min
The sermon was delivered on Sunday, May 19, 2019, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Carlton D. Pearson, Affiliate Minister. DESCRIPTION As we celebrate graduates this Sunday, there is something to be said about living our truth, post-graduation. High school grads will step into the world as their true selves, finding their way. Older grads will embark on their genuine paths. I charge our grads and community to stay fluid and flexible us room to grow and learn. Staying fluid an...
May 19, 2019•33 min
The message was delivered on Sunday, May 19, 2019, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister, at the Humanist Service. DESCRIPTION Something I read in the New York Times struck me as a truth we are facing today. “...toxic anonymity of virtual interaction through social media, ...we have the ingredients for a culture polarized by the perception that we are good and virtuous, while they are inhuman and evil.” Media culture today allows people to...
May 19, 2019•27 min
The sermon was delivered on Sunday, May 19, 2019, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister. DESCRIPTION Something I read in the New York Times struck me as a truth we are facing today. “...toxic anonymity of virtual interaction through social media, ...we have the ingredients for a culture polarized by the perception that we are good and virtuous, while they are inhuman and evil.” Media culture today allows people to live in “thought silos” w...
May 19, 2019•23 min
The sermon was delivered on Sunday, May 12, 2019, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister. DESCRIPTION In the west, God is usually referred to as the Father. In some traditions, God is also consider the Son. What if we imagine God as Mother? The images we have for the divine have a significant impact on how we see the world. This Mother’s Day, I want to consider sacred images of Mother and see how they can influence our ideas of the Ultimate...
May 12, 2019•23 min
The sermon was delivered on Sunday, May 12, 2019, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Barbara Prose, Executive Director of Ministry. DESCRIPTION Growing up, my mother would tell us we were wonderful children because when she wasn’t feeling well, we were better behaved—as if we were taking care of her. My mother is now turning 88 and has been asking for help and guidance in ways she never has before. As we celebrate Mother’s Day—all the ways parents and grandparents care for...
May 12, 2019•16 min
The message was delivered on Sunday, May 5, 2019, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister, at the Humanist Service. DESCRIPTION In this time of “alternative facts,” “truthiness,” and “truth is not truth,” our theme of truth in May could not be more relevant. Something does not necessarily have to be factual in order to be true. The best novels are filled with truths that are elucidated through fiction. How can we determine the truth? Is ther...
May 05, 2019•26 min
The sermon was delivered on Sunday, May 5, 2019, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Carlton D. Pearson, Affiliate Minister. DESCRIPTION Static fact or linear truth can easily become stagnant truth and as the old axiom says, familiarity breeds contempt. Pure truth is informative, transformative, entertaining, engaging, and creative. This non-linear truth is flexible and fluid as our own understanding and spiritual growth evolves. Otherwise, truth would only be lifeless facts and...
May 05, 2019•32 min
The sermon was delivered on Sunday, May 5, 2019, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister. DESCRIPTION In this time of “alternative facts,” “truthiness,” and “truth is not truth,” our theme of truth in May could not be more relevant. Something does not necessarily have to be factual in order to be true. The best novels are filled with truths that are elucidated through fiction. How can we determine the truth? Is there any truth anymore? SUBSC...
May 05, 2019•21 min
The sermon was delivered on Sunday, April 28, 2019, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Barbara Prose, Executive Director of Ministry. DESCRIPTION What does it mean that within weeks of each other, three churches in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana and Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France were burning? Is it the end of organized religion? The end of French connection? Is it a sign that the old ways no longer serve us? Maybe a test of faith? Or, is "God using these moments to b...
Apr 28, 2019•25 min
The sermon was delivered on Sunday, April 21, 2019, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Carlton D. Pearson, Affiliate Minister. DESCRIPTION Celebrate Easter at our Easter services with Communion following each service. SUBSCRIBE TO AUDIO PODCAST: WATCH THIS SERMON 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 21, 2019•34 min
The homily was delivered on Sunday, April 21, 2019, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister. DESCRIPTION Celebrate Easter at our Easter services with Communion following each service. Our Adult, Cherub and Children's Choirs will sing in the Traditional Service and our Youth and New Dimensions choirs will sing in the Contemporary Service. SUBSCRIBE TO AUDIO PODCAST: WATCH THIS HOMILY ON YOUTUBE: SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: GIVE A DONATI...
Apr 21, 2019•19 min
The was delivered on Sunday, April 7, 2019, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Carlton D. Pearson, Affiliate Minister. DESCRIPTION The root word in the word salvation is salve. Salve is something that is soothing or consoling for physical pain and soreness, including wounded feelings or an uneasy conscience. Impacting millions, it's important to note, some religion is built on the idea or ideology of being saved from God by God. For me, this is probably more of a mythological f...
Apr 07, 2019•28 min
The sermon was delivered on Sunday, April 7, 2019, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister. DESCRIPTION Man’s inhumanities to man and human triumph over adversity are all on vivid and unforgettable display in Gilcrease Museum's current exhibition, Pulitzer Prize Photographs, from the Newseum in Washington D.C. (https://gilcrease.org/exhibitions/pulitzer/). If those photographs do not cause a person to ask big questions about life and death t...
Apr 07, 2019•28 min
The message was delivered on Sunday, March 31, 2019, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray, Unitarian Universalist Association President, at the Humanist Service. DESCRIPTION Unitarian Universalists are being called in this moment to live more powerfully and boldly into a vision of Beloved Community. What does this look like and how do we answer “Yes” to this calling in our lives and in our congregations? ABOUT Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray was elected Presid...
Mar 31, 2019•26 min
The sermon was delivered on Sunday, March 31, 2019, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Yadenee Hailu, Intern Minister of Hope Unitarian Church. DESCRIPTION In the art of letting go, we make space. Learning from our ancestors our vision for the opportunities created will fuel our effort to de-center hate and make clear what we are reaching for. Yadenee Hailu is a MDiv graduate of Phillips Theological Seminary. She is a first generation Ethiopian American who is grateful to call ...
Mar 31, 2019•18 min
The sermon was delivered on Sunday, March 31, 2019, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray, Unitarian Universalist Association President. DESCRIPTION Unitarian Universalists are being called in this moment to live more powerfully and boldly into a vision of Beloved Community. What does this look like and how do we answer “Yes” to this calling in our lives and in our congregations? ABOUT Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray was elected President of the Unitarian Unive...
Mar 31, 2019•25 min
The message was delivered on the occasion of the Installation of Rev. Barbara Prose as Associate Minister on Sunday, March 24, 2019, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rabbi Marc Fitzerman, Guest Minister. SUBSCRIBE TO AUDIO PODCAST: WATCH THIS MESSAGE 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:
Mar 24, 2019•21 min
The Charge to the Congregation was delivered on the occasion of the Installation of Rev. Barbara Prose as Associate Minister on Sunday, March 24, 2019, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister. DESCRIPTION All Souls Unitarian Church called its first minister, Rev. Dr. James Kennedy, after the charter for ‘All Souls Liberal Church’ was signed on March 28, 1921. It was thought at the time that the word Liberal would be more widely accepted than...
Mar 24, 2019•15 min
The message was delivered on Sunday, March 17, 2019, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Em Kianka, Intern Minister, at the Humanist Service. DESCRIPTION "No" is an incredibly life-giving full-stop sentence. It creates boundaries and space for life and growth and it can also be a protest against unjust realities and the spark of movements for liberation: it makes us free. In this larger culture of ours, however, it often feels like “yes” is preferable to “no"--that "no" is negat...
Mar 17, 2019•23 min
The sermon was delivered on Sunday, March 17, 2019, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Barbara Prose, Executive Director of Ministry. DESCRIPTION We learned last week that Jesus was a feminist. But what about you? If not, what would you have to let go of in order to become one? Bell Hooks said, “Feminist knowledge is for everybody. If women and men want to know love, we have to yearn for feminism. For without feminist thinking and practice we lack the foundation to create ...
Mar 17, 2019•27 min
The message was delivered on Sunday, March 10, 2019, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Barbara Prose, Executive Director of Ministry. DESCRIPTION Some people proudly use the word, others hate it. How about you? Do you think of yourself as a feminist? What would you have to let go of in order to claim the name? Bell hooks said, “ Feminist knowledge is for everybody. If women and men want to know love, we have to yearn for feminism. For without feminist thinking and practic...
Mar 10, 2019•32 min
The sermon was delivered on Sunday, March 10, 2019, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister. DESCRIPTION Just because the dominant factions of Christianity today perpetuate women’s submission and oppression does not mean it was the vision Jesus held out for the world. In fact, Jesus was way ahead of his time regarding women’s empowerment and liberation. Honestly, so was Muhammad at the founding of Islam. Why is it that these traditions have ...
Mar 10, 2019•20 min
The sermon was delivered on Sunday, March 3, 2019, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Carlton D. Pearson, Affiliate Minister. DESCRIPTION Human nature tends to have a "hang or hold on" mentality, as if something is always being forcibly, or even subtly taken away. We naturally tend to fight to avoid being victimized and vandalized by life. Thus the idea of letting go, releasing, or relinquishing seems foreign and a kind of malady, weakness or liability. When in reality, letting...
Mar 03, 2019•26 min
