Universalism

The message was delivered on Sunday, February 18, 2024, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Randy Lewis, Assistant Minister. DESCRIPTION Embark on a journey to explore the true depth of love beyond the superficial, diving into the profound insights that challenge and enlighten us. Let's reflect on love's power to transcend boundaries and inspire change within ourselves and our communities and let’s discover how deep our love can go in a world craving genuine connection and unity. SUBSCRIBE TO AUDIO PODCAST: WATCH THIS MESSAGE ON YOUTUBE: SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: GIVE A DONATION TO HELP US SPREAD THIS LOVE BEYOND BELIEF: or text AllSoulsTulsa to 73256 LET'S CONNECT: Facebook: Instagram: All Souls Church Website:

The message was delivered on Sunday, February 11, 2024, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Nick Page, Guest Musician, Rev. Gerald L. Davis, Affiliate Minister, and Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister. DESCRIPTION Guided by the acclaimed song leader and music educator Nick Page, discover the transformative power of music and explore how spirituals and songs of liberation inspire community, empathy, and action toward justice. Tune in to celebrate the role of music in healing and change and to experience love's light through the universal language of melody. SUBSCRIBE TO AUDIO PODCAST: WATCH THIS MESSAGE ON YOUTUBE: SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: GIVE A DONATION TO HELP US SPREAD THIS LOVE BEYOND BELIEF: or text AllSoulsTulsa to 73256 LET'S CONNECT: Facebook: Instagram: All Souls Church Website:

The message was delivered on Sunday, January 28, 2024, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Pastor D.E. Paulk, Guest Minister. DESCRIPTION Embrace change; embrace growth. Change, though often challenging, is a vital part of our journey. Let's examine the concept of thought progression, the importance of inclusivity and love in forming a strong community, and the transformative power of spirituality. Discover how embracing change can lead to profound self-discovery and collective harmony, creating a world where every voice matters. This is an invitation to explore the depths of your own spirit and find peace within the constant flux of life. SUBSCRIBE TO AUDIO PODCAST: WATCH THIS MESSAGE ON YOUTUBE: SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: GIVE A DONATION TO HELP US SPREAD THIS LOVE BEYOND BELIEF: or text AllSoulsTulsa to 73256 LET'S CONNECT: Facebook: Instagram: All Souls Church Website:

The reflection was delivered on Sunday, September 10, 2023, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister. SUBSCRIBE TO AUDIO PODCAST: WATCH THIS REFLECTION ON YOUTUBE: SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: GIVE A DONATION TO HELP US SPREAD THIS LOVE BEYOND BELIEF: or text LOVEBB to 73256 LET'S CONNECT: Facebook: Instagram: All Souls Church Website:

The message was delivered on Sunday, August 13, 2023, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Randy Lewis, Assistant Minister. SUBSCRIBE TO AUDIO PODCAST: WATCH THIS MESSAGE ON YOUTUBE: SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: GIVE A DONATION TO HELP US SPREAD THIS LOVE BEYOND BELIEF: or text LOVEBB to 73256 LET'S CONNECT: Facebook: Instagram: All Souls Church Website:

The sermon was delivered on Sunday, January 19, 2020, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Carlton D. Pearson, Affiliate Minister. DESCRIPTION It is a main, and sometimes impossible, challenge to change what someone else created, we can only manage it as responsibly as we can. However we can change and/or save what we have created using our own innate abilities to imagine and re-imagine it creatively. We save creation by saving ourselves and save ourselves by saving creation. We must do what we can and the universe (God) will do what we can't! SUBSCRIBE TO AUDIO PODCAST: WATCH THIS SERMON ON YOUTUBE: SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: GIVE A DONATION TO HELP US SPREAD THIS LOVE BEYOND BELIEF: or text LOVEBB to 73256 LET'S CONNECT: Facebook: Twitter: All Souls Church Website:

The sermon was delivered on Sunday, January 5, 2020, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister. DESCRIPTION We are in the third decade of the 21st century. We’ve split the atom, discovered quarks and the most microscopic of things. We have telescopes that let us peer into the ageless past. Yet there are still people who think that everything there is to know about life and spirituality and truth is written down in the Bible. Not just any people think this, but people at the highest level of our government and military and judicial systems who get their values from reading the Bible literally. As we enter the 2020’s, I want to explore how we can celebrate the marvel of creation and how we can save and preserve it, but I also want to discuss how we can live with people who think they know the Truth and who want to impress there version of it upon the rest of us? There is an anti-scientific and anti-intellectual movement that threatens our way of life. We need to pay attention to who is going on our school boards and city counsel and courts. We need to have a fire in our belly about what’s happening in this world. I feel some fire burning inside and out as we enter this new decade and I hope you do too. We need new ways to interpret religion and community and to figure out how to live upon this earth. It is great to be a part of this church at this time in this place – with you. SUBSCRIBE TO AUDIO PODCAST: WATCH THIS SERMON ON YOUTUBE: SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: GIVE A DONATION TO HELP US SPREAD THIS LOVE BEYOND BELIEF: or text LOVEBB to 73256 LET'S CONNECT: Facebook: Twitter: All Souls Church Website:

The sermon was delivered on Sunday, December 22, 2019, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister. DESCRIPTION Last year on the Sunday before Christmas, the hilarious and talented Dionne Lambert joined me on the chancel for a short skit of God talking to his angel Gabrielle (Gabriela in this case) about whether or not to go down to Earth as a human being in the incarnation of Jesus. We will reprise this provocative and heartwarming dramatization of the tensions, struggles, doubts and hopes of a "God in heaven" making the tremendous decision to become human and walk the Earth. It is truly a story about our own lives as much as it is a way of understanding a God of incarnation. If you’ve never seen this skit, you will love it! If you saw it last year, we have a few new surprises in store. The message following the skit will offer hope, joy and spirit for the holidays. Come experience the spirit and carry it home. SUBSCRIBE TO AUDIO PODCAST: WATCH THIS SERMON ON YOUTUBE: SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: GIVE A DONATION TO HELP US SPREAD THIS LOVE BEYOND BELIEF: or text LOVEBB to 73256 LET'S CONNECT: Facebook: Twitter: All Souls Church Website:

The sermon was delivered on Sunday, December 15, 2019, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Carlton D. Pearson, Affiliate Minister. DESCRIPTION Humans are born into an ongoing personal and collective anxiety to experience their own natural divinity or "power" as a species. We often call this "seeking" God, seeking Source or seeking the Force. I like to refer to this Self Actualization. By nature we are seekers and survivalists, simultaneously. The two traits are inseparably connected and in some ways are powerfully identical. We all want to last forever or for as long as we can, adding years to life and life to our years. Let's learn to recover and recapture our divine DNA and release its fuller manifestation in, to, through and as us living out our immeasurable and immortal potential. SUBSCRIBE TO AUDIO PODCAST: WATCH THIS SERMON ON YOUTUBE: SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: GIVE A DONATION TO HELP US SPREAD THIS LOVE BEYOND BELIEF: or text LOVEBB to 73256 LET'S CONNECT: Facebook: Twitter: All Souls Church Website:

The sermon was delivered on Sunday, November 3, 2019, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Gerald L. Davis, Affiliate Minister. DESCRIPTION The Greek word for church is ecclesia. This word translates to "called out." So we know we are called out to do justice work. But we are also called out to listen for ways to be in covenant. Our covenant is recited every Sunday, but how are you doing covenant? SUBSCRIBE TO AUDIO PODCAST: WATCH THIS SERMON ON YOUTUBE: SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: GIVE A DONATION TO HELP US SPREAD THIS LOVE BEYOND BELIEF: or text LOVEBB to 73256 LET'S CONNECT: Facebook: Twitter: All Souls Church Website:

The message was delivered on Sunday, September 22, 2019, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Mariela Perez-Simons, Intern Minister, at the Humanist Service. DESCRIPTION Our senses are the bridge between our outer world and our inner realms; they can also be a grounding vehicle that can sustain us through the most trying of circumstances. Drawing from neuroscience, Buddhism, indigenous cultures, and my own lived experiences, I will explore the ways of being that promote human flourishing, resilience, and altruism. SUBSCRIBE TO AUDIO PODCAST: SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: GIVE A DONATION TO HELP US SPREAD THIS LOVE BEYOND BELIEF: or text LOVEBB to 73256 LET'S CONNECT: Facebook: Twitter: All Souls Church Website:

The message was delivered on Sunday, June 2, 2019, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister, and Hank Fincken, Actor, at the Humanist Service. DESCRIPTION In both services this Sunday, performer Hank Finken will bring to life the historic figure of Francisco Pizarro González in an unforgettable way. We will share commentary and discussion based on his epic and brutal story. Born in Spain, Francisco was poor, illegitimate, and had few prospects for success. Yet, he died in the Americas with power, status and wealth. His change of circumstances came at the cost of the destruction of the Incan Empire and many lives. To those who criticized him he would say, “I am told that God sits on a throne made of gold. Then I honor him in imitation. If you disagree, then abandon your life of soft pleasure and commit to the god of your choosing. I chose mine and he has given me a continent, riches and a name that will be remembered for all history.”  His is a story of overcoming, of success and failure, of war and deceit, of conquest and conversion. Be careful of the goals you set or the “God” you choose to believe in. Francisco’s appearance is courtesy of Tulsa Chautauqua. Special thanks to the Tulsa Historical Society & Museum for hosting Tulsa Chautauqua on the theme From Pizarro to Picasso: Hispanic Legacy in America Today, June 4 through 8. Learn more at tulsahistory.org. *Music: Andrew Michael, guitar   SUBSCRIBE TO AUDIO PODCAST: SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: GIVE A DONATION TO HELP US SPREAD THIS LOVE BEYOND BELIEF: or text LOVEBB to 73256 LET'S CONNECT: Facebook: Twitter: All Souls Church Website:

The sermon was delivered on Sunday, May 12, 2019, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Barbara Prose, Executive Director of Ministry. DESCRIPTION Growing up, my mother would tell us we were wonderful children because when she wasn’t feeling well, we were better behaved—as if we were taking care of her. My mother is now turning 88 and has been asking for help and guidance in ways she never has before. As we celebrate Mother’s Day—all the ways parents and grandparents care for children, we will also lift up how children care for their parents and grandparents. Bring a fresh flower to celebrate the mothers in your life. Happy Mother's day to all! SUBSCRIBE TO AUDIO PODCAST: WATCH THIS SERMON ON YOUTUBE: SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: GIVE A DONATION TO HELP US SPREAD THIS LOVE BEYOND BELIEF: or text LOVEBB to 73256 LET'S CONNECT: Facebook: Twitter: All Souls Church Website:

The sermon was delivered on Sunday, April 21, 2019, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Carlton D. Pearson, Affiliate Minister. DESCRIPTION Celebrate Easter at our Easter services with Communion following each service. SUBSCRIBE TO AUDIO PODCAST: WATCH THIS SERMON ON YOUTUBE: SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: GIVE A DONATION TO HELP US SPREAD THIS LOVE BEYOND BELIEF: or text LOVEBB to 73256 LET'S CONNECT: Facebook: Twitter: All Souls Church Website:

The sermon was delivered on Sunday, April 7, 2019, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister. DESCRIPTION Man’s inhumanities to man and human triumph over adversity are all on vivid and unforgettable display in Gilcrease Museum's current exhibition, Pulitzer Prize Photographs, from the Newseum in Washington D.C. (https://gilcrease.org/exhibitions/pulitzer/). If those photographs do not cause a person to ask big questions about life and death then perhaps nothing will. Join me to seek out and to make sense of this world without the burden of orthodoxies and superstitions or outworn beliefs. With the stories from these award winning photographs, I will look at our existence with all its fierceness and triumph. SUBSCRIBE TO AUDIO PODCAST: WATCH THIS SERMON ON YOUTUBE: SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: GIVE A DONATION TO HELP US SPREAD THIS LOVE BEYOND BELIEF: or text LOVEBB to 73256 LET'S CONNECT: Facebook: Twitter: All Souls Church Website:

The sermon was delivered on Sunday, March 3, 2019, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Carlton D. Pearson, Affiliate Minister. DESCRIPTION Human nature tends to have a "hang or hold on" mentality, as if something is always being forcibly, or even subtly taken away. We naturally tend to fight to avoid being victimized and vandalized by life. Thus the idea of letting go, releasing, or relinquishing seems foreign and a kind of malady, weakness or liability. When in reality, letting go can be the most powerful asset of your soul. Letting go can lead to an expanded self, releasing you to your most liberated and engaged personal existence. Letting go can sometimes mean letting God to artfully and graciously bridge your humanity to your divinity in the most sublime way. Join us all month while we work and walk through the process an progress of letting go! *Music: Cynthia Simmons, vocals, and Barron Ryan, piano SUBSCRIBE TO AUDIO PODCAST: WATCH THIS SERMON ON YOUTUBE: SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: GIVE A DONATION TO HELP US SPREAD THIS LOVE BEYOND BELIEF: or text LOVEBB to 73256 LET'S CONNECT: Facebook: Twitter: All Souls Church Website:

The message was delivered on Sunday, February 10, 2019, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Gerald L. Davis, Affiliate Minister, at the Humanist Service. DESCRIPTION How often have you had the thought, "I am not able …"?  
We come to this dead end when we put on our plate what we think is an overwhelming mess. The result, of course, is we do nothing and back away from the table.  
In this time of confusion, steadily-unsteady leadership, and incoherence, it is easy to slip away under the shadow of distress. But here comes a word from an unknown source, that like a magnet pulls us back. I want to explore the mystic qualities of our historic journey as a community of faith. We are a people of many colors, beliefs, and odysseys. But still we rise and let us do so this Sunday! *Musical solo: Olivia Davis SUBSCRIBE TO AUDIO PODCAST: SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: GIVE A DONATION TO HELP US SPREAD THIS LOVE BEYOND BELIEF: or text LOVEBB to 73256 LET'S CONNECT: Facebook: Twitter: All Souls Church Website:

The message was delivered on Sunday, January 27, 2019, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Em Kianka, Intern Minister, at the Humanist Service. DESCRIPTION No one wants to experience heartbreak and suffering—instead, they are experiences we often hope to avoid. However, empathy expert Dr. Brené Brown says our capacity for sincere, full-hearted living is the same as our capacity to experience heartbreak. If we harden our hearts to avoid paying attention to pain, we stop connecting to our hearts. Our own connection to our hearts and our empathy is essential to the work of justice and building a more compassionate world. Our heartbreak, and our willingness to pay attention to it, gives us the grace to bring into being a world that is more empathetic and more just. How do we receive the grace of heartbreak? SUBSCRIBE TO AUDIO PODCAST: SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: GIVE A DONATION TO HELP US SPREAD THIS LOVE BEYOND BELIEF: or text LOVEBB to 73256 LET'S CONNECT: Facebook: Twitter: All Souls Church Website:

The message was delivered on Sunday, January 20, 2019, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister, at the Humanist Service. DESCRIPTION I took my daughter to see her birth-mother and siblings in Alabama over the winter holiday. Along the way we stopped at the Laramie Hotel where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. It was a painful and poignant journey through some of the sacred places of the Civil Rights era. In Birmingham I visited the 16th Street Baptist Church where a bomb killed four girls on a Sunday morning in 1963. As we celebrate Dr. King’s birthday this year, I find myself inspired by this trip of a Caucasian father and his ten year old African American daughter in which we traveled to the heart of human inhumanity and heroism. All of our adult choirs and our children and youth choirs have prepared special music for the services. Some of our youngest have also prepared a beautiful medley of select lines from Dr. King’s “I Have A Dream” speech. Come be moved and inspired to live the dream! SUBSCRIBE TO AUDIO PODCAST: SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL: GIVE A DONATION TO HELP US SPREAD THIS LOVE BEYOND BELIEF: or text LOVEBB to 73256 LET'S CONNECT: Facebook: Twitter: All Souls Church Website: