Announcements

Adult Religious Education — 18 October 2015

TheNewJimCrowOur adult religious education class will meet on Sunday (18 October 2015) at 9:15 AM with a book study / discussion group — The New Jim Crow:  Mass Incarceration in the Age of Color-Blindness by Michelle Alexander.

A brutal tangle of draconian sentencing laws, selective prosecutions, unbalanced jury selection, and a prison-for-profit system fueled by a drug war resulting in far more casualties than victories has resulted in what Michelle Alexander calls ” … a stunningly comprehensive and well-disguised system of racialized social control that functions in a manner strikingly similar to [the pre-Civil Rights-era system of segregation known as] Jim Crow.”

This Week’s Class — “The Rebirth of Caste” — We explore the history of “how we got here,” starting with the beginning of slavery, moving through Reconstruction and its backlash, into Jim Crow, the Civil Rights era and its backlash, up to the present trend of mass incarceration.

For more information, please read this introduction to this book discussion group.

A Taste of Interfaith — 18 October 2015

NCLAInterfaithPlease join us for “A Taste of Interfaith” — A fundraiser for Northern and Central Louisiana Interfaith — on Sunday (18 October 2015) from 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM.

This year’s host for this event is Church for the Highlands / Highland Center Ministries (520 Olive Street, Shreveport LA)

Tickets are $25.00 per person / $200.00 per table of eight.

Continue reading “A Taste of Interfaith — 18 October 2015”

Monthly Building and Grounds Work Day — 17 October 2015

AllSoulsNatureTrailFor October 2015 only, our monthly building and grounds work day has been moved to the third Saturday of the month (17 October 2015).

The work day tasks will run from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

We want to spiff up the place in preparation for the memorial service for Carol Graywing’s mother Colleen Talbot (Saturday, 17 October 2015, starting at 3:30 PM).

11 October 2015 Worship Service and Religious Education for Children and Youth

KidsWalkingOnRoadPlease join us on Sunday (11 October 2015) at 11:00 AM for “In This World” by Rev. Barbara Jarrell.

Religious education classes for children and youth are offered during the 11:00 AM service — children and youth attend the first 15-20 minutes of the service and then are dismissed to class.

Adult Religious Education Resumes 11 October 2015

TheNewJimCrowOur adult religious education classes resume on Sunday (11 October 2015) at 9:15 AM with a book study / discussion group — The New Jim Crow:  Mass Incarceration in the Age of Color-Blindness by Michelle Alexander.

A brutal tangle of draconian sentencing laws, selective prosecutions, unbalanced jury selection, and a prison-for-profit system fueled by a drug war resulting in far more casualties than victories has resulted in what Michelle Alexander calls ” … a stunningly comprehensive and well-disguised system of racialized social control that functions in a manner strikingly similar to [the pre-Civil Rights-era system of segregation known as] Jim Crow.”

This book was the 2012-2013 UUA Common Read.  The tide may finally be turning on this issue — the Caddo Parish District Attorney and Sheriff elections this fall are particularly focused on many related issues covered in this book. Continue reading “Adult Religious Education Resumes 11 October 2015”

Monthly Building and Grounds Work Day Postponed

AllSoulsNatureTrailWe are moving our regular Building and Grounds Day to Saturday (17 October 2015) to accommodate today’s wedding.

However, if you yearn to do some Grounds work today (Saturday, 10 October 2015) … Bayla Lanham, his Dad, and some of the other Boy Scouts will be out working on the nature trail this morning starting around 9:00 AM.

Today’s work will be outside only (to be respectful of the wedding party preparations).

4 October 2015 Worship Service

FamilyDogPlease join us on Sunday (4 October 2015) at 11:00 AM for our annual “Blessing of the Animals” worship service presented by Susan Bettinger and friends (two-legged, four-legged and others)

Bring all the family this time right into the sanctuary and join us for this celebration of our nonhuman companions who occupy the interdependent web with us.

Please bring your pet on a leash or in a carrier as even the most docile of pets can behave unpredictably in new situations.

If you have no current pet or your cats have told you they are plenty blessed already, please feel free to bring a photo or stuffed animal.

This will be an all-ages worship service (no children and youth religious education classes).

27 September 2015 Worship Service and Religious Education for Children and Youth

ChaliceAllSoulsFlamePlease join us on Sunday (27 September 2015) at 11:00 AM for “Blessed is the Flame” by Rev. Barbara Jarrell.

Our Jewish friends have just completed the celebration of the High Holy Days — a time of atonement, release, and beginning again in love.

In that spirit, we join together in a ritual of release and a celebration of new beginnings.  The All Souls Choir will sing.

Religious education classes for children and youth are offered during the 11:00 AM service — children and youth attend the first 15-20 minutes of the service and then are dismissed to class.

A newcomer information session will take place after this service.

Next Sunday (4 October 2015) — our annual Blessing of the Animals service.

20 September 2015 Worship Service and Religious Education for Children and Youth

LadyCarlsonPlease join us on 20 September 2015 at 11:00 AM for “It’s OK to Be Angry:  The Philosophy of Cold Anger” by Lady Carlson (lead organizer for Northern and Central Louisiana Interfaith).

Often, the things we see that need changing in our society can make us angry.  The kind of anger needed to make changes through organizing is not a hot, humorless, raging anger, but a cool and focused anger — tempered with humor and powered by the sustained energy of a committed community, working together.

Lady is always a powerful and inspiring speaker and we are blessed and excited to welcome her back.  The All Souls Choir will sing.

Religious education classes for children and youth are offered during the 11:00 AM service — children and youth attend the first 15-20 minutes of the service and then are dismissed to class.

Building and Grounds Work Day — 19 September 2015

BuildingAndGroundsThe Building and Grounds Work Day — usually scheduled for the second Saturday of the month — is on the third Saturday for September 2015 only.

We will be working from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM on Saturday (19 September 2015).

Tasks available inside and out for all ages and ability levels.

Come for the whole time, or just for an hour.

If you don’t even have that much time, consider dropping off some snacks for the crew.