Wavelengths: A WUU Podcast

Come listen to a WUU service! It has been a long, hard year...but in this season of Easter and spring, hope is rising at last. Today we celebrate the new life awakening in us and beckoning us forward. Rev. Laura Horton-Ludwig, Minister Susan Marcinkus, Worship Associate WUU Choir, directed by Dr. Jamie Bartlett, Director of Music Austen Petersen, Director of Religious Education Kaya O’Brien-James,...

Come listen to a WUU service! What if to "side with love" meant making bold, faith-full choices? What if it were even a little bit scary? This worship service brings together worship leaders and musicians from across the country to offer hopeful, moving, challenging reminders about what we, as Unitarian Universalists, are called to do, and BE, in the world. Side with Love is an interfaith public a...

Come listen to a WUU service! Today we celebrate the story of Rev. Olympia Brown, the first woman to be ordained a Universalist minister, and her most famous congregant: the one and only P. T. Barnum, creator of the Greatest Show on Earth--and staunch supporter of his Universalist congregation. And though we might not have tightrope walkers or flame-swallowers here at WUU, we'll still cheer for ev...

Executive Producer Jonathan Newby as interviews Jodi Fisler of WUU about her efforts with UU the Vote, a Unitarian Universalist initiative to promote voting and expand voter rights. Learn more about WUU at wuu.org.

Come listen to a WUU service! Unitarian Universalists have long valued our spiritual freedom. But freedom has a shadow side: it's easy to walk away rather than stay and do the hard work of working it out in community. Today we'll explore what the ancient monastic virtue of stability might have to teach us today. Rev. Laura Horton-Ludwig, Minister Susan Marcinkus, Worship Associate Austen Petersen,...

Come listen to a WUU service! Do I have a right to be comfortable in church? What about when my comfort means someone else's exclusion? Today we celebrate the power of covenant to help us move through discomfort toward deeper community and justice for all. Rev. Laura Horton-Ludwig, Minister David Hopkinson, Worship Associate Austen Petersen, Director of Religious Education Dave Robbins, Assistant...

Come listen to a WUU service! Australian Indigenous activist, Lilla Watson, says, “If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time, but if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.” Join our guest preachers, the Rev. Laura Randall and Heather Vickery of UUSC, as we explore how to create together the beloved community. Rev. Laura Randall, UU...

Come listen to a WUU service! Esther, a Jewish woman who saved her community from annihilation. Maybe, as Esther's uncle tells her, we too are here "for such a time as this." Rev. Laura Horton-Ludwig, Minister Nan Hart, Worship Associate Austen Petersen, Director of Religious Education WUU Choir, directed by Dr. Jamie Bartlett, Director of Music Dave Robbins, Assistant Director of Music, Piano The...

Come listen to a WUU service! Part 2 of a series on the meaning of beloved community. UUs often ask, do I really have to love everybody? Of course, we can only do our best. But our tradition teaches that everyone is loved by a Love bigger than we are--even the people we think deserve love the least. Rev. Laura Horton-Ludwig, Minister Nicki Peet,, Worship Associate Austen Petersen, Director of Reli...

Come listen to a WUU service! Our favorite songs, whoever the artist or whatever the style, were created in a strange alchemy of study and inspiration, of strict practice and of letting go. Spiritual Practice is a similar combination of dedication, muscle memory, and perhaps a little divine inspiration. Join us for a musical exploration of learning to risk, building the muscle memory of courage, a...

Come listen to a WUU service! Our favorite songs, whoever the artist or whatever the style, were created in a strange alchemy of study and inspiration, of strict practice and of letting go. Spiritual Practice is a similar combination of dedication, muscle memory, and perhaps a little divine inspiration. Join us for a musical exploration of learning to risk, building the muscle memory of courage, a...

Come listen to a WUU service! The creation stories we grow up with have a powerful impact on how we see the world. Today, inspired by theologian Walter Wink's groundbreaking work on violence in ancient Indo-European creation stories, we'll examine what we learned, and imagine some new stories. Rev. Laura Horton-Ludwig, Minister David Hopkinson, Worship Associate Austen Petersen, Director of Religi...

Come listen to a WUU service! In times even more fraught than ours, Dr. King believed and preached that "the arc of the moral universe bends toward justice." Today we seek inspiration and renewed strength from his example. Rev. Laura Horton-Ludwig, Minister Nan Hart, Worship Associate Austen Petersen, Director of Religious Education Dave Robbins, Assistant Director of Music, Piano The YouTube vers...

Come listen to a WUU service! Many cultures teach that dreams are gifts from Spirit, bearers of wisdom, if only we can unravel the meanings of their strange events and symbols. Today we'll learn practical ways to invite our own dreams to reveal their wisdom and healing power for ourselves and our society. Rev. Laura Horton-Ludwig, Minister Nicki Peet, Worship Associate Austen Petersen, Director of...

Come listen to a WUU service! Where, oh where are Shangri-la, Brigadoon, and the Fountain of Youth? In this service we will examine these idealistic Utopias and discover how we can use them to become re-enchanted with reality. Addie Hirschten, Guest Worship Leader Dave Robbins, Assistant Director of Music, Piano The YouTube version is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFfvL5TkhvA> Thank you fo...

Come listen to a WUU service! Anthropologist Victor Turner spent a great deal of time researching "primitive" communities. He was especially drawn to their life of ritual practice and to fostering "communitas," a continuing practice loving attention for all. Today we will explore this way of living grounded in hope and peacefulness. Rev. Dr. David Tetrault, Guest Worship Leader David Hopkinson, Wo...

Come listen to a WUU service! All are welcome for this contemplative service of music and readings celebrating the Christmas story. Rev. Laura Horton-Ludwig, Minister Susan Marcinkus, Worship Associate Katrina Landon, Luca BenYishay-Sapalio, Readers Jane Ferguson, Vicki Hall, Renee Kingan & Christine Llewellyn, Recorders Dave Robbins, Assistant Director of Music, Piano WUU Choir, directed by Dr. J...

Come listen to a WUU service! Today we gather to celebrate the Winter Solstice and honor the balance of light and dark as we approach the shortest day of the year. Rev. Laura Horton-Ludwig, Minister Liz Wiley, Worship Associate Austen Petersen, Director of Religious Education Dave Robbins, Piano Helen Hansen, Share the Plate Merry Guernsey & Angela Surber, New Member Ceremony “For the Beauty of th...

Come listen to a WUU service! The Jewish scriptures tell the story of the prophet Elijah, who fled violence and found shelter far from home. Today, we invite his story to inspire us as we work to create safe shelter for others. Rev. Laura Horton-Ludwig, Minister Nicki Peet, Worship Associate Austen Petersen, Director of Religious Education Dave Robbins, Assistant Director of Music, Piano WUU Choir...

Come listen to a WUU service! What are we doing when we're sitting still? If you struggle with boredom or restlessness during periods of silence, or even if you'd describe yourself as a terrible meditator, you're not alone and you are welcome here! Today, we'll offer practical tips for how to embrace silence and stillness, and reflections on what you might have to gain. Rev. Laura Horton-Ludwig, M...

Come listen to a WUU service! The basis of this sermon will come from the 250th Odu of the sacred Ifa corpus. In Ofun Otura there is a fated meeting of Arira and Osoro, two different individuals looking for the same thing. Will they put aside their differences and take advantage of the window of opportunity to create a new beginning? Omiyẹmi (Artisia) Green, Guest Worship Leader Paulette Amory, Pi...

Come listen to a WUU service! We've never had a Thanksgiving quite like this. As the pandemic continues, families and loved ones are missing each other and facing difficult choices. Meanwhile, we're growing in our awareness that the traditional Thanksgiving story many of us grew up with was only a brief chapter in a much bigger story of conquest. But the ancient impulse to give thanks remains. Let...

Come listen to a WUU service! Our annual St. Cecilia music service returns, in virtual form, as our WUU Choir, Dave Robbins, and other musical guests perform a potpourri of special music. Listen in and be inspired! Rev. Laura Horton-Ludwig, Minister Dr. Jamie Bartlett, Director of Music Susan Marcinkus, Worship Associate Botetourt Chamber Singers Dave Robbins, Assistant Director of Music, Piano WU...

Come listen to a WUU service! Today we regroup and ponder what's next for our country and our communities. How can we help ourselves and our neighbors heal? Rev. Laura Horton-Ludwig, Minister Nan Hart, Worship Associate Austen Petersen, Director of Religious Education Dave Robbins, Assistant Director of Music, Piano Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Director of Worship and Music, First UU Congregation of A...

Come listen to a WUU service! As we prepare for Election Day, we honor All Souls Day and draw strength from our memories of beloved ancestors, who lived through many challenges and still have lessons to teach us. Rev. Laura Horton-Ludwig, Minister Susan Marcinkus, Worship Associate Austen Petersen, Director of Religious Education WUU Choir, directed by Dr. Jamie Bartlett, Director of Music Dave Ro...