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UU Voices

Response-Ability

Aug. 16, 2020 sermon. The racial justice movement has accelerated with new energy in 2020, and it asks each of us to become aware of our role, our privilege, our shortcomings, our conflicts, and our challenges. UUS member Kirk Witzberger explores the contradictions we’ll face, the wisdom we’ll need to address them, and how deep “response-ability” is called for.
We Hold These Truths To Be Self-Evident

July 26, 2020 sermon. Iowa Senator and longtime UUS member Zach Wahls shares his thoughts on the perilous relationships among our governments, the people, and the Truth during these challenging and highly polarized times. This service will reflect on both American history and contemporary events in our community and country and offer a vision for moving forward into our brave new world.
Sexuality Through a UU Lens

July 19, 2020 sermon. Celebrating the 20th anniversary of Our Whole Lives (OWL) Sexuality Education, this service explores the Unitarian Universalist perspectives on sexuality and our internationally acclaimed Our Whole Lives curriculum. Dr. Melanie Davis is the Unitarian Universalist Association’s Our Whole Lives Sexuality Education Program Manager.
Three Guys Talk About Privilege

July 12, 2020 sermon. UUS members Ron Pile, Jim Olson, and Dave Martin, who have all volunteered in community programs, offer their thoughts on white privilege and trying to be anti-racist.
Beyond the Cowpath

July 5, 2020 sermon. UUS member Hilary Higgens shares a perspective created from her observation of cows on her family’s farm in northwest Iowa in the 1960s. A retired nurse and educator, Hilary invites us to use levity and trust to explore our paths and see where we wish to continue and where we wish to choose a new path.
From Trauma to Truth: My Story

June 28, 2020 sermon. How do we get through traumatic issues that scar us? Trying to make sense of them can create new levels of scars. Confronting them can also lead us to discoveries of self struggle and survival. Julia Lohrman Audlehelm, a UUS member since 1977, shares her story of childhood sexual assault and growing beyond the scars.
On Becoming Allies & Antiracists

June 14, 2020 sermon. UUS member Kirk Witzberger explores the current racial justice protests and movements that merit attention, and reflects on his own process for becoming a more effective antiracist.
Trust, Hope & Action

How we think about “Trust and Hope” sets the stage for the possibility of acting on behalf of a livable future. In this time of uncertainty, that can hold us back or move us forward—together. Miriam Kashia is a proud 50-year UU, a retired psychotherapist, a “Climate Action Warrior” who walked across the country with the Great March for Climate Action six years ago, and has been arrested four times for non-violent-direct-action on the front lines fighting for a livable future.
A Week on the Border

Three UUS members spent a week providing assistance to asylum seekers on the Mexican side of the southern border. Their photo diary offers a glimpse into their journey and some of the people they met.
A5 Art Festival Celebrates Autistic Creativity

Renee Speh reflects on the latest A5 Art Festival held at UUS on April 13. The event showcases the creative works of autistic young people and includes art workshops and activities.
I Believe in Fun, Play & Love

Kirstina Gratz was raised as a UU, which led to an appreciation of spiritual diversity. As an adult she has come to appreciate her own ability to bring fun and play to all aspects of life, including her pediatric dental practice and becoming a foster parent.
I Believe Racial Injustice Still Exists

Kim Palmer grew up in the segregated South and later taught at a newly integrated high school in a small Georgia town. His experiences and relationships have led him to become an advocate for racial justice.