Westside Unitarian Universalist Church Podcast

As the UUA's Article II commission explores the inclusion of our 8th principle it is simultaneously exploring an expansion of our 1st principle to include the inherent worth and dignity of all beings. In our faith with no dogmatic tests, what new avenues of spiritual growth might emerge were we to adopt such an expansion? What challenges might we face? What new depths of compassion might we be called into? *NOTICE* In most cases, the podcast consists only of the primary presentation. From...

Our theme this last year has been “Widening the Circle,” in keeping with our denominational call to grow the diversity of our communities. Using drums as a model for understanding how we call one another into the circle of community, we ask what ‘widening the circle’ means for each of us and for our community. Plan to play percussion or move your body as part of our circle-calling percussion jam session.

Fasting has long been a practice that has religious or spiritual significance. In modern times the health benefits of various fasting practices have been touted. If you are considering giving it a try, what do you need to know before you start, how long should you fast for, and what can you expect to experience during a fast? This topic was suggested by a member as part of our Sermon Smorgasbord series.

On December 31st, the Planned Parenthood of East Tennessee clinic was totally destroyed by fire. It is unclear how the fire started, though the building was being renovated. This event, paired with the upcoming anniversary of the Roe v Wade decision, have Reproductive Rights and Reproductive Justice at the forefront of our attention. This week, we learn about the broader meaning of these terms, and consider their focus on supporting families for being healthy and thriving.

It is the season of lights. Around the world, in many different cultures and ways, we greet the darkness that settles on the northern hemisphere with celebrations that involve bringing in light. Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Divali, and Yule or the Winter Solstice--all of these traditions invite us to bring light where there is darkness, joy where there might be sadness, and hope in times of fear. Let's honor the light within by honoring all the different celebrations of light that abound...

It has been nearly 21 months since we last gathered indoors in our sanctuary for worship together. We welcome one another back to a familiar place, but in unfamiliar times, and we may be anticipating both risks and rewards as we return to our church home. How is this a metaphor for our larger lives, and the times in which we live? How does the risk of ‘welcome’ or hospitality during a pandemic parallel other kinds of welcoming risks we might take, both as individuals and as a...

Join us on YouTube, and prepare your bread and wine or grape juice. We will give thanks for the miracles of this life and take communion "together" from where-ever we happen to be.

Halloween, as we know it today, is a day of candy and costumes, and a day to indulge our beliefs in the unseen or the unknown. With its roots in the Celtic tradition of Samhain, the haunted holiday has transformed from a day of protection to one of revelry. Join us as we explore what this day can teach us about the intersections of play and protection, and what little bit of magic we can find for ourselves today. Costumes are encouraged! You're listening to the podcast for Westside...

Robert Frost's poem evokes the transitory nature of the things we love. As we gather to mark the coming observance of All Souls' Day (which will occur on Tuesday, November 2), we pause to remember those who have passed, and to honor the beauty and magic of their lives. We will share poems and readings, and speak the names of those who have passed from this life but are still in our hearts. You're listening to the podcast for Westside Unitarian Universalist Church. in Knoxville,...

Intention and Commitment Presented by Rev. Carol Bodeau The core of Unitarian Universalism is our 7 Principles, which guide our decision-making and actions. We say that we “covenant to affirm and promote” these values, but what does it mean to put those values into action? There are lots of ways to live the 7 Principles. This week, let’s consider the difference between intention and commitment, as we look more closely at the denomination’s call for us to “widen the circle of concern” in...

All Creatures and Critters: Animal Blessing Presented by Rev. Carol Bodeau Our service begins at 10 a.m. Outdoors at Westside Live streamed to Zoom Coffee Hour to follow on Zoom, ≈ 11 a.m. Animals are a part of all of our lives. Whether we have personal pets or not, we all encounter living creatures from other species every day--the birds outside our windows, the wildlife we revere in our local national park, the annoying neighborhood dog or cat or coyote, the mosquitos and flies and...

Gordon Light's well-known song encourages us to 'draw the circle wide, draw it wider still' so that 'no one stands alone.' How wide are our circles of community, care and action? Today we kick off a year of answering the call from our denomination to draw the circle wider, and we begin by exploring our own personal circles of connection and covenant. You're listening to the podcast for Westside Unitarian Universalist Church. in Knoxville, Tennessee. Your kind donations help make this...

In December of 1776, Revolutionary activist Thomas Paine published the first of a series of pamphlets which, all together, were called "The American Crisis" (or sometimes just "The Crisis"). They were designed to rally the American people and the Continental army during the hard beginning of the American Revolutionary War. Paine's opening remarks may be familiar: "These are the times that try men's souls..." Paine's urging that the people not give up hope, that justice takes a long time...

It is customary in Unitarian Universalist congregations for the minister to take a sabbatical every few years. Rev. Carol has chosen to spread her sabbatical out over the next couple of years to lessen the impact her absence will have on our church resources. This service gives us the opportunity to look at the concept of "sabbath," intentional time for rest and reflection, as necessary for all of us. Additionally, we will introduce you to the Sabbatical Committee and present the details of...

Most Americans mistakenly think that slavery is a thing of the past--something that was done away with here in the United States, and generally in most of the western world, in the middle of the 19th century. Of course, many of us are aware that slavery still exists in other countries, but are we paying attention to how we ourselves are supporting slave labor when we go online or to the mall? It’s time we started thinking about the supply chains for our globally produced goods (which is most...

Summer is a season for adventure, travel and exploration...and this summer, many of us have been thrilled to get back out there and see and do things that were off-limits over the last year. Travel--whether we go in body or just in our thoughts-- opens the heart and frees the mind from the limitations of too much sameness and confinement. Let's embrace the joy and expansion of new vistas, new perspectives, and contemplate where we might like to journey in the future. *NOTICE* In most cases,...

CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates, who are trained to represent the best interests of children in juvenile abuse and neglect court cases. CASA is a local, nonprofit organization in communities all across the nation. Since its inception, CASA volunteers have helped more than two million children find safe, permanent homes. Find out more about the important work that CASA is doing here in East Tennessee, and how we can help. To donate to CASA through our Share the Plate...

“Transgenerational Colonialism as a Foundation for Collective Empathy” is based on the concept that as the descendants of immigrants we are all part of the colonialist system through our ancestors. Their stories live in us through family recountings, cultural institutions and in our DNA. This talk examine transgenerational transmission of conflict in the light of recent findings in the field of epigenetics and inquires how awareness of this process might encourage us to acknowledge our...

Human beings love to understand our world in terms of time. We mark out the turning of the seasons by days, weeks, and months, all of which have their own particular 'tasks' or activities. We mark out individual days by hourly markers which determine what sorts of food we eat, who we are with, and how relaxed we can expect to be. And we understand the arc of our lives in a linear, beginning-middle-end kind of way. Timelines, to-do lists, and graphics that show 'progress' or change over time...

Scottish mountaineer William Hutchisson Murray wrote the famous (and often misattributed) words: Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it! Most of us have heard this sentiment, but don't really understand its context, or what Murray really meant when he said it. This week, let us consider what it means to truly 'commit' ourselves to a goal, action, community, or even a particular value or ethic. Visit www.westsideuuc.org/donate to contribute...