UUABQ Voice

Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber speaks of a “load‑bearing structure”—the steady, grounding force that holds us when life feels unstable. For her, that structure is God and the salvation she found in Jesus: “For me, Unitarian Universalist principles and values have long served as one of those stabilizing structures. Over time, I’ve come to understand that such support can take many forms, so long as they hel...

Unitarian Universalism has sometimes been accused of failing to provide sufficient comfort & guidance during the crises of life. This sermon series will refute that view, providing both theists and atheists with a (not the!) Unitarian Universalist approach to these common human struggles. We will draw from the ways “process theology” aligns with UU principles of relationship, interconnectednes...

Flower Communion is a specific tradition rooted in our UU faith during WWII. Rev. Stacey will share the values deep within our faith that contributed to Flower Communion—honoring the beauty in every person. Bring a Flower to exchange with others (if you can’t or forget, there will be flowers at the service for all). The RE team will be offering a “Bridging Ceremony” to honor graduating kids this y...

Unitarian Universalism has sometimes been accused of failing to provide sufficient comfort & guidance during the crises of life. This sermon series will refute that view, providing both theists and atheists with a (not the!) Unitarian Universalist approach to these common human struggles. We will draw from the ways “process theology” aligns with UU principles of relationship, interconnectednes...

Music: Lydia Clark

The mural of spiritual symbols which forms the backdrop of our worship has formed and informed this congregation for 62 years. Christine will tell us about some of its history, its many meanings, and how it can remind us of who we are as Unitarian Universalists. The Puppets will also have some opinions to share. Music: Tom Godfrey, jazz guitarist. Christine was the minister of First Unitarian from...

Susan Peck celebrates her retirement after 10 years as Director of Music at First Unitarian, in a musical service featuring Chalice Choir, Cantabilis, Spare Parts, and plenty of congregational singing.

A few years back, Bryan began directing his prayers to the Great Mother, having spent most of his life in Patriarchal religion with prayers directed to ‘Our Father’. Bryan keeps an eye out for synchronicities (in a pagan sense) and will share a story or two. His best practice is to just go out for a few hours of silence to hear what the trees are saying! Music: Susan Peck and Jess Martin, with a S...

Heartwork invites us to live our values by planting seeds of compassion and radical love—nurturing ancestral strength for future generations. Understand how storytelling can be medicine and remember that serving others is sacred work grounded in our commitment to be healing beings. Music: Lydia Clark Tanaya Winder is an author, singer/songwriter, poet, motivational speaker and educator who comes f...

The amazing youth in our congregation chose the theme, music, and readings for this service,  and wrote reflections to guide the congregation. The service also includes a child dedication ceremony for seven children and youth, and a special ritual to say goodbye to our Director of Congregational Life, Laira Magnusson, and her family.

Music: Susan Peck with Cantabilis.

How did rejecting the shame and stigma surrounding their mental illness help Christina root more fully into our beloved community? How can listening to all the parts of yourself bring you strength? Come contemplate through story and reflection. The service will include a farewell ritual for Rev. Beth Elliot, our departing Associate Minister. After the service, there will be a short reception for h...

A reflection for Easter on resurrection and reincarnation, through a look at Jesus, Buddhism, and the earth. Music: Susan Peck and Chalice Choir, with Lydia Clark, Vance Bass, Chris Paul.

Rev. Stacey will reflect on how Jesus related to power, and what was historically happening that led to his death. Music: Lydia Clark & Susan Peck

The Rev. Stacey Mitchell Celebrating our connection to light and our interdependence with nature. Music: Cantabilis, with Leslie Bowen, Emily Moore, Erika Nielson, Susan Peck, Michele Spiro, Celia Yapita.

Humans are story-making animals. As Unitarian Universalists, we both share our stories and tell a shared story. How we do that impacts not only how we feel about ourselves, but also how we change the world. First U member Scott Kasmire joined Unitarian Universalism in the mid-1990s as a twenty-something. As a fifty-something, he can be found teaching high school math at the Alamo Navajo Reservatio...

How can we face our fears, do what’s right, be loving, be resilient and stay sane amidst internal and external turmoil? We’ll consider how to grow our courage, foster radical love within ourselves, and look to our ancestors to support our spiritual intuition and build our resilience. Natalia “Natty” Averett (they/(s)he) is a gender-fluid, sapiosexual Black American and Afro-Caribbean Latiné person...

Exploring Unitarian Universalism’s value of Pluralism, and the influential spiritual traditions of Reb Zalman, Krishnamurti, and Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan. Music: Chalice Choir, under the direction of Susan Peck.

Author Robert Fulghum, who wrote “All I Really Need to Know, I Learned in Kindergarten” in 1988, is also a UU Minister. Inspired by this book, Rev. Stacey will give a sermon about what she has learned from her dog, Copper. Music: Lydia Clark,Erika Nielson, and Michele Spiro share some great dawg-friendly songs. 

How is democracy important to our UU faith? Whether we are pondering inclusion, justice, or agency, our faith points the way to a more equitable and compassionate world.  And Rev. Stacey will also ponder the importance of Latino superstar Bad Bunny’s Superbowl performance from a week earlier and why it matters for our country. Music: Clarinetist Robin Korevaar teams up with pianist Maxwell Reilly...

Every year, First Unitarian celebrates the lives of notable, interesting, and sometimes quirky people lost in the previous year. Spare Parts and Cantabilis honor musicians who crossed over in 2025. Musicians: Spare Parts with Laura Bartolucci (tambourine, vocals), Vance Bass (guitar, vocals), Keith Morris (guitar, flute, vocals), Chris Paul (drums), Evan Kennedy Sadek (electric bass), Susan Peck (...

How do we find balance between paying attention to the world and protecting our own capacity to hope? Guest preacher Nate Clark will reflect on how joy can sustain us through anxiety and grief. Nate Clark (all pronouns) is currently serving in Lexington, MA as Follen Church’s Ministerial Intern for 2024–2026. He graduated with his MDiv from Iliff School of Theology in the spring of 2025. Nate grew...

Rev. Nathan Ryan, lead Minister at the Baton Rouge congregation, will delve into our legacy of Unitarianism, and how we honor “The Transient and the Permanent.” Reverend Nathan is a life-long Unitarian Universalist from south Louisiana. He graduated from Meadville-Lombard Theological School in Chicago. After serving in various positions at UU churches in Texas and Maryland, he returned to Baton Ro...

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke to the UUA’s annual General Assembly in 1966.  In that speech to UUs he said “There are some things in our nation and in our world to which I’m proud to be maladjusted.”  Rev. Stacey will be exploring what he meant by that statement to UUs almost 60 years ago. Music: Lydia Clark, Mark Clark, and Lewis Winn

Letting go of perfectionism and independence as a spiritual practice. Music: Susan Peck