22 March 2015 Adult Religious Education

WaitstillandMarthaSharpPlease join us at 9:30 AM for the documentary The Minister’s War: The Story of Waitstill and Martha Sharp — the powerful, true story of a Unitarian minister and his wife who rescued hundreds of people from Nazi persecution in Europe (many of them children).

They are two of only four American citizens honored as “Righteous Among the Nations” by the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Israel.

Faithful Hearts, Strong Communities Prayer Breakfast (21 March 2015)

Prayer-Breakfast-Logo-March-2015Saturday, 21 March 2015 — 8:00 – 10:00 AM
Church for the Highlands / The Highland Center
520 Olive Street, Shreveport LA

Tickets $10.00 at the door or available from Interfaith leaders

Keynote:  Rev. John Henson of Church for the Highlands

Other speakers and guests will include:

A gathering of clergy and laity of the various faiths represented by our organization to pray for our public officials and the issues they are facing and for our citizens who are standing up for change.

The meal will be provided by the wonderful Lashon Stubbs of the Highland Center kitchen, along with her loyal minions (volunteer Interfaith leaders).

15 March 2015 Worship Service and Religious Education for Children and Youth

ChristaPazzagliaPlease join us on Sunday (15 March 2015) at 11:00 AM — Christa Pazzaglia from Hope for the Homeless is our guest in the pulpit this morning as we continue the Season of the Friend (celebrating our Second Principle, Justice, Equity and Compassion in Human Relations).

Christa will explore the injustices of the homeless system and what all the local providers are doing together to change it.

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.

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 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.

25 January 2015 Adult Religious Education

ReproductiveJusticePlease join us on Sunday (25 January 2015) at 9:30 AM for our adult religious education class.

This week, we are taking a break from our Nature’s God study group.

Melissa Gibson will be facilitating a discussion on reproductive justice — our denomination’s 2012-2016 social justice study action issue (Reproductive Justice: Expanding Our Social Justice Calling).

Reproductive Justice is a complex issue that goes far beyond the often loud and simplistic arguments of “pro-life” vs. “pro-choice.”

Continue reading “25 January 2015 Adult Religious Education”

18 January 2015 Worship Service and Religious Education for Children and Youth

HenryWalkerPlease join us on Sunday (18 January 2015) at 11:00 AM for “The Age(s) of Colorblindness” by Henry Walker.

Join us as we welcome back retired civil rights attorney and All Souls member Henry Walker for this service in celebration of the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Much has been accomplished and much remains that is ours to do.  Dr. King dreamed of a time when “my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

It is a beautiful dream yet to be realized in an age when mass incarceration and growing economic disparity make “colorblindness” more of a fantasy born of white privilege.  Join us to hear a stirring message and to recommit to the dream.  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.

7 December 2014 Worship Service and Religious Education for Children and Youth

Please join us on Sunday (7 December 2014) at 11:00 AM for “Exodus from the Door of No Return: Journey of an American Family” by Dr. Roy Phillips, Sr.

As the season of giving and thanksgiving gives way to the season of light, we turn our attention to a remarkable man and a journey that began years ago with a conversation with the author Alex Haley.

Dr. Roy Phillips has traced the roots of his family back to slavery days and before — back to their origins on the African continent.

In the course of his search for his own roots, Dr. Phillips has formed a relationship with the descendants of the family who owned his own, and he will speak to us on that seemingly impossible journey of reconciliation.

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.

Caddo Parish Anti-Human Trafficking Summit (4 December 2014)

This summit will educate our community on commercial sexual exploitation of children in Caddo Parish.

When — Thursday, 4 December 2014, 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM

Where — Missionary Baptist Church, 5340 Jewella Avenue, Shreveport LA

Panel Members:

  • Caddo Parish Juvenile Court
  • The Center for Families
  • Shreveport Police Department
  • Gingerbread House
  • Project Celebration
  • Direct Service Organization
  • The Center for Families
  • Northern and Central Louisiana Interfaith

More information can be found in this flyer.