“Standing on the Side of Love”

Rev. Bonnie Devlin will speak.  As Gays and Lesbians around the country were being denied their basic human rights to marry, our former UUA President Rev. William Sinkford told the press that he was going to ‘Stand on the side of love.’  That statement led to a great protest song, and ‘Standing On The Side of Love’ was born.  It is the new ‘right arm’ of our UUA Social Justice mission, where UU’s from all over the country are gathering to witness for equal rights for LGBT, protest unfair treatment of migrants, and now are beginning to network with the ‘Occupy’ movement to build coalitions.  It’s an exciting and powerful way to express Love as Justice.

Music:  Choir

February 12:

“One or the Other”

Sharon Whitehill will speak. She will address FEAR of “the Other,” a special program for Black History Month. "Every day, in every way, we almost automatically take sides: we choose one thing or the other. Today, in relation to Black History Month, I’d like to invite you to think about why-- Are we really helpless in the face of first impressions of "otherness" in all of its forms--and of skin color in particular? Even though our all-too-human fears of the Other arise from the unconscious, I would suggest that awareness, humility, intention, and communal sharing will teach us that we human beings are, deep down, far more alike than we are different."

Music:  Ishmael Katz

February 19:

“What’s Wrong With the Religious Right?”

Rev. Bonnie Devlin will speak. As the ‘weeding-out’ period for  Republican candidates for the 2012 elections is well under-way, we are hearing more once again from those on the extremes of the Political and Religious Right what they want in a presidential candidate to reflect their ‘Christian Values.’  Most religious liberals know what ‘Christian’ or ‘Family Values’ means as a code for bigotry, orthodoxy and the merging of Church and State.  We will reflect on the seriousness of this issue to prepare ourselves for the year ahead and how we will stand-up for the values we believe in.

Music:  Choir

February 26:

"The Future of Humanism"

Jennifer Hancock will speak.  There is no question that Humanism is one of the most dynamic forces for social change on our planet.  And yet, most Americans do not know what Humanism is or what its impact is on our society.  What happens next is of interest to all Humans on the planet.

Music:  Eleanora Lvov