1 March 2015 Adult Religious Education

NaturesGodBookPlease join us on Sunday (1 March 2015) at 9:30 AM for our adult religious education class.

We will continue our study of Nature’s God: The Heretical Origins of the American Republic by Matthew Stewart

Stewart has written a compelling history of the founding of our nation that includes quite a few stories your teacher never told you and is also a history of ideas that shaped our nation.

It serves to refute a frequent claim heard nowadays that our nation was founded as a “Christian nation.”

This Sunday we resume our discussion with Chapter 7 — “The Empire of Reason.”

You are welcome to join the class at any time, whether or not you are reading the book.  If you choose to order either the hard copy or Kindle version through Amazon, please remember to go through the Amazon window on the All Souls website.

22 February 2015 Worship Service and Religious Education for Children and Youth

Please join us on Sunday (22 February 2015) at 11:00 AM for “To Dwell Together in Peace” by Rev. Barbara Jarrell.  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, then are dismissed to their classes.

22 February 2015 Adult Religious Education

NCLAInterfaithPlease join us on Sunday (22 February 2015) at 9:30 AM as we look at the issues Northern and Central Louisiana Interfaith are working on locally, at the state level, and at the federal level:

  • The proposed open burn at Camp Minden, and the upcoming rally on Monday (23 February 2015, 7:00 PM) at the Minden Civic Center / City Hall with Lt. Gen. Russel L. Honoré.
  • Seeking payday lending reform through the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and how you can help.
  • Seeking funding for the Healthy Food Retail Act to help bring whole, nutritious food to “food deserts” throughout our state.
  • Looking at remedies to the problem of mass incarceration in our state and — specifically — at our overtaxed, underfunded Public Defender system.

Next Week — Nature’s God: The Heretical Origins of the American Republic by Matthew Stewart.  We resume our discussion with Chapter 7 –“The Empire of Reason.”

We still have one hard copy of the book at church and it is available for both the Nook and Kindle.

If you choose to order the hard copy or Kindle version through Amazon, please remember to go through the Amazon window on the All Souls website.

15 February 2015 All-Ages Worship Service

Please join us on Sunday (15 February 2015) at 11:00 AM for “One Light, Many Windows” with the children, youth, and adults of All Souls.

This service is a celebration of our third source — “Wisdom from the world’s religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life.”

AllSoulsWindows

We are Unitarian Universalists — raising our children and educating our adults to be Unitarian Universalists — so why focus on world religions in our religious education?

As our third source says, we draw wisdom and sustenance from many of the stories and teachings of different faiths, and we gain a greater understanding of those who share this planet with us when we explore their faith traditions.

Come and learn more about where we find common ground, and where we engage and celebrate the differences.

15 February 2015 Adult Religious Education

NaturesGodBookPlease join us on Sunday (15 February 2015) at 9:30 AM to join us for our adult religious education class.

We resume our discussion of Nature’s God: The Heretical Origins of the American Republic by Matthew Stewart with Chapter 6 — “The Pursuit of Happiness.”

Learn about the philosophers and ideas that influenced that particular turn of phrase and the men who crafted it. We still have one hard copy of the book at church, and it’s available in both the Nook and Kindle formats.

If you choose to order either the hard copy or Kindle version through Amazon, please remember to go through the Amazon window on the All Souls website.

8 February 2015 Worship Service and Religious Education for Children and Youth

EmeraldTabletBookPlease join us on Sunday (8 February 2015) at 11:00 AM for “Seeking the Philosopher’s Stone” by Ron Hagar.

Originating within the book The Emerald Tablet by D. W. Hauck, we will explore a centuries-old path involving both Eastern and Western alchemical traditions which cleanses the pilgrim of impurities to allow their attainment of the Philosopher’s Stone.

Come and learn about the kind of alchemy that turns “the lead of self” into the “the gold of spirit.”

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, then are dismissed to their classes.

8 February 2015 Adult Religious Education

Please join us on Sunday (8 February 2015) at 9:30 AM for our Adult Religious Education Class.

This Sunday, we will have a discussion session on the Unitarian Universalist Association’s Congregational Study Action Issue on Escalating Inequality.

The Issue: Upward mobility-the American Dream-has become a myth. Concentration of wealth and power has skyrocketed. Dr. King’s dream of justice and equality has fractured. Half of all Americans are impoverished or struggling, as the middle class shrinks and billionaires take the profits. Where’s our commitment to the Common Good?

Its Grounding in Unitarian Universalism: Our Unitarian Universalist tradition places its faith in people to create a more loving community for all, guided by “justice, equity, and compassion in human relations.” Challenging extreme inequality has now become a moral imperative, just as prior generations have led movements from abolition to civil rights and marriage equality.

Our congregation is asked to submit comments on the issue as part of the ongoing effort to raise awareness, facilitate congregational activism, and eventually to create a draft Statement of Conscience on the issue by November 2016.

NaturesGodBookNext week, we resume our discussion of Nature’s God with Chapter 6, “The Pursuit of Happiness.” We still have one hard copy of the book at church, and it is available on both the NOOK and Kindle platforms. If you choose to order either the hard copy or Kindle version through Amazon, please remember to go through the Amazon window on the All Souls website.

1 February 2015 Worship Service and Religious Education for Children and Youth

Please join us on Sunday (1 February 2015) at 11:00 AM for “Finding the Need for Peace” by Rev. Barbara Jarrell.

Join us as we welcome Barbara back to the pulpit this morning.

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, then are dismissed to their classes.

1 February 2015 Adult Religious Education

NaturesGodBookPlease join us on Sunday (1 February 2015) as we resume our discussion of Nature’s God: The Heretical Origins of the American Republic by  Matthew Stewart.

We will be covering Chapter 5 (“Self-Evident Truths”).  We will explore the philosophical and religious roots behind the “self-evident truths” cited by Jefferson in the Declaration and the people who crafted the American Revolution.

We still have one last hard copy of the book available at the church.

The book is also available on both the NOOK and Kindle e-reader platforms.

If you choose to order either the hard copy or Kindle version through Amazon, please remember to go through the Amazon window on the All Souls website.

Also, just a reminder that if you have not yet read the UUA Statement of Conscience on Reproductive Justice, our deadline for comments is Sunday (1 February 2015).

Send your comments to Melissa Gibson and be sure to include the line number that you are commenting on.

16th Annual World Religion Day — 25 January 2015

WorldReligionDayShreveportLogoPlease join us this Sunday (25 January 2015) from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM at The Highland Center (520 Olive Street — Corner of Highland and Olive) for our annual World Religion Day celebration.

This is a celebration of the great religious diversity that is present right here in Shreveport and Bossier City — featuring table displays and food from participating groups, panel discussions and music.

Come and volunteer at the All Souls table or to help out with the general event.  Or just attend and ask your questions in a safe and respectful environment.

The All Souls Choir will sing at 2:30 PM.  Rev. Susan Smith will be representing us on the panel discussion at 3:15 PM.