All Souls Unitarian Church, Tulsa, OK

Lost or Found?

Sun, 2 Nov 2008 15:00:00 GMT

Sermon delivered by Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister, All Souls Church, Tulsa, Oklahoma on November 2, 2008.

Joe & Son's Prodigal Plumbers

Sun, 2 Nov 2008 15:00:00 GMT

Reading delivered by Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister, All Souls Church, Tulsa, Oklahoma on November 2, 2008.

The Urgency of Change

Sun, 26 Oct 2008 15:30:00 GMT

Sermon delivered by Bishop Carlton Pearson, All Souls Church, Tulsa, Oklahoma on October 26, 2008

This I Believe

Sun, 19 Oct 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Sermon delivered by Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister, All Souls Church, Tulsa, Oklahoma on October 19, 2008

Unbridled Joy

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Sermon delivered at All Souls Church by Rev. Tamara Lebak, Associate Minister on October 12, 2008

Dying To Get In

Sun, 5 Oct 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Sermon delivered by Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister, All Souls Church, Tulsa, Oklahoma on October 5, 2008

Rev. Kathleen Rolenz at the installation of Rev. Tamara Lebak

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 15:30:00 GMT

Rev. Kathleen Rolenz, West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church speaking at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma for the installation of Rev. Tamara Lebak on September 28, 2008

Real Religious Freedom

Sun, 21 Sep 2008 15:30:00 GMT

Sermon delivered by Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister, All Souls Church, Tulsa, Oklahoma on September 21, 2008

In Our Own Tongues

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Sermon delivered at All Souls Church by Rev. Tamara Lebak, Associate Minister on September 14, 2008

Building a New Way - Rev Marlin Lavanhar

Sun, 7 Sep 2008 15:30:00 GMT

Bishop Carlton Pearson, New Dimensions

Sun, 7 Sep 2008 15:30:00 GMT

Rev. Gerald Davis, Church of the Restoration

Sun, 7 Sep 2008 15:30:00 GMT

Rev. Dr. John Wolf, Minister Emeritus

Sun, 7 Sep 2008 15:30:00 GMT

What's Driving You?

Sun, 24 Aug 2008 14:00:00 GMT

To Each His Own

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 23:16:00 GMT

Sermon delivered by Rev. Tamara Lebak, Associate Minister, August 17, 2008.

An African Dream

Sun, 10 Aug 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Sermon delivered by Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister, August 10, 2008

You Really Want To Know?

Sun, 27 Jul 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Sermon delivered by Rev. Tamara Lebak, Associate Minister, July 27, 2008.

Reverend X

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Sermon delivered by Rev. Tamara Lebak, Associate Minister, July 20, 2008.

Moral Outrage

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Sermon delivered by Rev. Tamara Lebak, Associate Minister, July 13, 2008.

A Calling for US

Sun, 6 Jul 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Sermon delivered by Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister, July 6, 2008.

The Nature of Exchange

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Sermon delivered by Rev. Tamara Lebak, Associate Minister, June 8, 2008.

Who's Your Daddy?

Sun, 15 Jun 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Sermon delivered by Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister, June 15th, 2008.

The Creek Don't Rise

Sun, 8 Jun 2008 14:00:00 GMT

A New Dimension

Sun, 1 Jun 2008 15:46:00 GMT

Sermon delivered by Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister, June 1, 2008. Re-recorded due to technical difficulties.

Acts of God

Sun, 18 May 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Sermon delivered by Rev. Tamara Lebak, Associate Minister, May 18, 2008.

Let's Remember

Sun, 11 May 2008 14:18:00 GMT

Homily delivered by Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister, May 11, 2008.

Astonished by Mercy

Sun, 4 May 2008 17:14:00 GMT

Sermon delivered by Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister, May 4, 2008.

Learning to Stay

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Sermon delivered by Rev. Tamara Lebak, Associate Minister, April 20, 2008.

Why Jeremiah is Wright

Sun, 6 Apr 2008 16:21:00 GMT

Sermon delivered by Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister, April 6, 2008.

Ending Well

Sun, 30 Mar 2008 16:01:00 GMT

Sermon delivered by Rev. Tamara Lebak, Assistant Minister, March 30, 2008.

Where's The Passion?

Sun, 16 Mar 2008 15:39:00 GMT

Sermon delivered by Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister, and Rev. Tamara Lebak, Assistant Minister, March 16, 2008.

When It Don't Come Easy

Sun, 2 Mar 2008 16:00:00 GMT

Sermon delivered by Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister, March 2, 2008.

Soul Power

Sun, 24 Feb 2008 20:18:00 GMT

Sermon delivered by Jeremy Elliott, Intern Minister, Feb. 24, 2008.

The Rev. Dr. Rebecca Parker, President of Starr King School for the Ministry, teaches that the history of Unitarianism and Universalism in America has been a history of unleashed soul power. From our founding, we have endeavored to cultivate all of the faculties of the soul to liberate, nurture, and heal our world. The Rev. Dr. William Ellery Channing spoke of the importance of âunfoldingâ? these powers to find our salvation. Henry David Thoreau challenged humanity to âlive life deliberatelyâ? to be truly alive to the world.

This Sunday, we will explore and celebrate the lineages of ordinary prophets of liberal religion who shaped the movement we have inherited. How might we offer the powers of our souls to change the world?

Why God is Not a Democrat

Sun, 17 Feb 2008 16:39:00 GMT

Sermon delivered by Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister, Feb. 17, 2008.

Last week, during Super Tuesday, my son came home from first grade asking questions about the difference between Democrats and Republicans. At first I was pleased to see that my son was beginning to take an interest in American public life. I began by asking what he knew. He explained that he had learned from his friend that, âDemocrats donât believe in the Bible.â? Initially, I smiled and thought it was a cute story about some first graders and their interpretation of American politics and religion. Then, it came to me that this is what a lot of adults actually think too. When any religion becomes identified with a particular political party, that religion compromises its purpose, weakens its witness and becomes idolatrous. In this protracted primary season it can do us some good to think about the role of religion in American public life.

Love and Death

Sun, 10 Feb 2008 17:43:00 GMT

Sermon delivered by Rev. Dr. Forrest Church, Guest Minister, Feb. 10, 2008.

A Joyful Noise

Sun, 27 Jan 2008 21:44:00 GMT

Sermon delivered by Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister, Jan. 27, 2008.

Duke Ellington is considered one of Americaâs greatest composers. He won Grammys, a Pulitzer Prize and the highest medals of honor by two presidents of the United States and one from the country of France. He ventured into the realm of sacred music and even has a hymn in the Methodist Hymnal. The story of Ellingtonâs rise and his passion is a heartfelt, spiritual biography that transcends boundaries of many kinds. The All Souls Adult Choir will uplift the service with a choral rendition of one of Ellingtonâs most well known sacred songs. In the service youâll find out what Ellington considered a four-letter word for God.

MLK Sunday - "Being First"

Sun, 20 Jan 2008 21:52:00 GMT

Homily delivered by Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister, on Jan. 20, 2008.

Changing Our Minds

Sun, 13 Jan 2008 20:42:00 GMT

Sermon delivered by Rev. Tamara Lebak, Assistant Minister, Jan. 13, 2008.

Tim OâReilly writes that John Brockmanâs magazine The Edge (www.edge.org) is âA remarkable feast of the intellect... an amazing group of reflections on science, culture, and the evolution of ideas. Reading the Edge question is like being invited to dinner with some of the most interesting people on the planet.â? This month The Edge put the question to over a hundred scientists and scholars âWhat have you changed your mind about? Why?â? Articles were submitted by Steven Pinker, Alan Alda, Michael Sherman, Richard Dawkins and many other names that you would likely recognize. I scanned for theologians and UU ministers and found none. The question intrigues me. How much and what kind of evidence instigates a change of mind? A change of heart? Over your lifetime, what have you changed your mind about and why? And how is this relevant to our religious community today?

Temptations

Sun, 6 Jan 2008 21:44:00 GMT

Sermon delivered by Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister, Jan. 6, 2008.

Power and Powerlessness

Sun, 16 Dec 2007 18:06:00 GMT

Sermon delivered by Rev. Tamara Lebak, Assistant Minister, Dec. 16, 2007.

Is Church Keeping You From God?

Sun, 2 Dec 2007 16:39:00 GMT

Sermon delivered by Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister, Dec. 2, 2007.

Bringing Faith Home

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 18:17:00 GMT

Sermon delivered by Rev. Debra Garfinkel, Minister of Pastoral Care, Nov. 25, 2007.

Itâs the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Wow! What a rush: a time for food, family, friends, and fund. (Oh, I mean Fun!) Of course, the holidays bring on all kinds of excesses that build and build into all kinds of stresses (including, it seems a tendency for me to lapse into Dr. Suessisms.)

Every year at this time, clergy and lay folk alike lament the seemingly manic focus on activities, parties, home decorations, and lavish spending instead of keeping the focus on âthe reason for the season.â? This is, of course, a matter of faith.

Where am I going with this? Iâm saying, letâs bring Faith home. Letâs hear what Faith has to say for a change. We might be surprised.

Thanksgiving Festival Sunday

Sun, 18 Nov 2007 17:19:00 GMT

Homily Delivered by Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister, Nov. 18, 2007.

The Sunday before Thanksgiving is when we celebrate our Thanksgiving Festival. It has evolved over the past few years in the same direction that I believe our countryâs self-identity needs to evolve. In our service we still honor the history and traditions of the Pilgrims, with whom our church-tradition shares a familial relationship. However, we have also begun to honor and recognize how people of many countries, ethnicities and religions have come to America and become a part of this great nation. Thanksgiving is the most widely celebrated holiday in the United States because it is not just the holiday of one faith tradition. It is a national celebration. As we mature beyond the many myths that have traditionally defined our countryâs origins, we come to hold an even deeper respect for our union and the reasons for which it stands.

What Would You Die For?

Sun, 11 Nov 2007 17:10:00 GMT

Homily delivered by Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister, and Rev. Tamara Lebak, Assistant Minister, Nov. 11, 2007.

We the People

Sun, 4 Nov 2007 15:18:00 GMT

Sermon delivered by Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister, Nov. 4, 2007.

Fear and Trembling

Sun, 28 Oct 2007 19:38:00 GMT

Sermon delivered by Rev. Tamara Lebak, Assistant Minister, Oct. 28, 2007.

There is an intensive rehabilitation program that takes troubled teens away from their current environments and their families and throws them into the wilderness with other troubled teens and a group of counseling/survival staff, sometimes for months. Through learning survival skills, the teens learn about their own struggles and gain self-confidence. Before being released, each camper must be taken blindfolded into the woods and left alone to camp overnight. Each fends for his/her own food and fire, and must face their own fears, both internal and external. Alone with no distractions, they journal and think, sing and pray, and write letters to those whom they have harmed and to those who have harmed them.

Jesus also often went into the wilderness to pray. At one significant juncture, he was led into the wilderness alone and was tempted by Satan. What could be more frightening than to have to prove who you are, when someone is doing his/her very best to prove otherwise? What could be more frightening then to doubt even our own intentions?

What you do with fear when it strikes you at your depths? How are you renewed and re-grounded? What can we learn from this program and the temptation of Jesus when we are facing our own fears? How do you nourish yourself so that you can stand tall in the face of fear to have the strength to (figuratively) say: Get thee away, Satan!

Hidden America

Sun, 21 Oct 2007 14:38:00 GMT

Sermon delivered by Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister, Oct. 21, 2007.

Better Together

Sun, 14 Oct 2007 19:33:00 GMT

Sermon delivered by Rev. Bill Sinkford, UUA President, Guest Minister, Oct. 14, 2007.

Thank God For Evolution

Sun, 7 Oct 2007 16:43:00 GMT
Sermon delivered by Rev. Michael Dowd, Guest Minister, Oct. 7, 2007.
Michael Dowd and Connie Barlow are in Tulsa to celebrate the release of their new book, Thank God For Evolution!
As we begin our month of âCreation,â? Michael agreed to join Marlin in delivering the message this week.

Pulled From the Wreckage

Sun, 30 Sep 2007 19:26:00 GMT
Sermon delivered by Rev. Tamara Lebak, Assistant Minister, Sept. 30, 2007.
I have found myself in several situations over the past month recommending the film Crash to many of you. This film is about humanityâs attempts to make meaningful contact with each other and the world, sometimes even through desperate means. The film grapples with the intense human desire to move beyond the facades of everyday politeness in order to interact with that which really matters: our yearnings, our pain, our hopes, our desperation, and the core of another person. A character in the film says "Weâre always behind this metal and glass. I think we miss that touch so much, that we crash into each other, just so we can feel something."
Those of us who have been touched by substance abuse are familiar with this sort of interpersonal wreckage: when those we love cannot stop themselves from drinking or using drugs. I have yet to meet a person who has not been affected by substance abuse, whether directly or through a friendship or family member. Tragically, fear and misunderstanding â the stigma we are all so familiar with â keep people from seeking care, limit public support for expanded services, and make it difficult for individuals to rebuild their lives once they are well. I believe that addiction is a disease and that the human experience in modern culture perpetuates a desire to make real contact with others and only offers cheap substitutes for that meaningful contact: drinking, drugs, shopping, video games, television. The holes in our soul cannot be filled by the idols our culture offers to us. Join me this Sunday as I explore the stigma of substance abuse and our common need for contact.

Wine or Water

Sun, 23 Sep 2007 20:16:00 GMT
Sermon delivered by Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister, Sept. 23, 2007

Homecoming 2007 - Got Vision?

Sun, 9 Sep 2007 21:13:00 GMT
Sermon Delivered by Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister, Sept. 9, 2007.

Where Two or More Are Gathered

Sun, 2 Sep 2007 20:46:00 GMT
Sermon delivered by Rev. Tamara Lebak, Assistant Minister, Sept. 2, 2007.
Are you different in a group than when you are alone? Something happens when two or more are gathered together. We come face to face with how we want to live out our values, and with how to best support our own needs as well as the needs of the group. When two or more are gathered we face our own desire to be accepted, seen, heard, and understood and the gamut of emotions that prevent us from taking the risk.
There has been much study about the way that human beings behave in a group: the compromises we make, the way we can be supported and strengthened to be more of who we are, and the synergy that can occur. Many groups however, are stuck in groupthink. Groupthink is a type of thought exhibited by group members who try to minimize conflict and reach consensus without critically testing, analyzing, and evaluating ideas. I have often said that we cannot be Unitarian Universalist alone. We need a religious community to hold us accountable to act out our values as we profess them to be. We need a place to test, analyze, and evaluate our beliefs.
There is such a place. There is such a process. It is in the small groups of this church. Come and explore with me how you might try on a new process for being with one another.

Why I Chose This Church

Sun, 19 Aug 2007 21:06:00 GMT
Sermon delivered by Rev. Tamara Lebak, Assistant Minister, Aug. 19, 2007.
As summer starts to inch toward a close, most children are heading off to school. This Sunday we will have a back to school blessing for all school aged children to honor their transition into a new school year. Summer also marks transitions for adults as well, with many families moving or beginning new jobs. With this kind of transition often comes church shopping, so it is no surprise that this month, churches all around the country are filled with visitors looking for a new church home. Join me as I explain why Unitarian Universalism is a saving faith and the increasing value of our liberal religious tradition.
We are also beginning our second year together and moving into our mutual consideration about whether I will become the next called minister of this church. I thought you might want to know why I would so confidently and humbly choose to commit myself to this congregation and its leadership. I am grounded by this congregationâs history, excited by its present and inspired by the potential I see for the future, a future that I hope we will embark upon together.

Why I'm A Unitarian

Sun, 12 Aug 2007 19:58:00 GMT
Sermon delivered by Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister, Aug. 12, 2007.
One of the things I enjoy about traveling is meeting new people. Except sometimes it is awkward to have to explain what I do for living. In some of these situations I find myself wishing I could simply say I am a businessman, artist, doctor, lawyer, teacher, salesman, computer technician, cook or anything other than a Unitarian minister. Most people have preconceived notions about clergy and religion. Sometimes these notions are positive. Even so, most people donât have a clue what Unitarian or Universalist means. I came across a number of Europeans on one trip I took this summer and with the language translations that we had to make to communicate, I have no idea what they ended up thinking I meant by Unitarian. All of these discussions have prepared me to offer a new and improved answer to why Iâm a Unitarian.

What Are You Hungry For?

Sun, 5 Aug 2007 17:39:00 GMT
Sermon delivered by Rev. Tamara Lebak, Assistant Minster, Aug. 5, 2007.
In a new book I am reading called Mindless Eating, Brian Wansick reports that today "you will make more than 200 food related decisions...90% of which you won't even be aware of." Often when it comes to food, all of our intentions are thrown out the window in the name of our social lives, treating ourselves, or giving into some unexplainable craving. Wansink has spent his career studying why we mindlessly instead of mindfully eat. Through a series of experiments, he has attempted to unveil the "hidden persuaders" that change our minds about what, when, and how much we consume.
Hunger is also the central metaphor used by Gestalt Psychologist Fritz Perls. Fritz and his wife Laura co-founded the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland where I was trained. The Gestalt Model focuses on the promotion of awareness, the awareness of the unity of all present feelings and behaviors, and the contact between the self and its environment. As religious people, we strive to live each moment more aware of our inner and outer realms. Eating gives us an opportunity to be aware of how our inner and our outer worlds interrelate as well as an opportunity to integrate our own theories and theology with practice. Join me as I explore the intersection of hunger, eating, and awareness.

Singing For Our Lives

Sun, 22 Jul 2007 19:51:00 GMT
Sermon delivered by Rev. Debra Garfinkel, Minister of Pastoral Care, July 22, 2007.
For the past year, our youth have been learning about the power of story. Let me say this again: Our youth have been learning about the Power of Story. They learned, many for the first time in their lives, of the occurrence of one of the worst race riots in the United States. Itâs been called the 1921 Tulsa Race Riot. An event of this magnitude surely deserves attention. Yet, our youth learned that the surviving fellow human beings and their stories of suffering were effectively denied and repressed. Our youth know that in Unitarian Universalism we affirm the inherent worth and dignity of every human being. This affirmation resounds with calls for justice and then freedom. Our youth are learning how to authentically live within this call. They have been working with the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC,) local community leaders, religious leaders, and other area youth. Such work takes courage, supported by a growing understanding of faith, tradition, and culture. On Sunday, we will celebrate this commitment to be courageous.

Why Have You Forsaken Me?

Sun, 15 Jul 2007 19:57:00 GMT
Sermon delivered by Rev. Tamara Lebak, Assistant Minister, July 15, 2007.
According to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation the number of domestic violence incidents reported by law enforcement has increased by 31.8% over the last 10 years. A 24-hour snap shot of domestic violence related services in Oklahoma shows 238 adults and children found refuge in emergency domestic violence shelters, 54 adults and children were living in transitional house programs designed specifically for domestic violence survivors, 324 adults and children sought non-residential advocacy and services and 314 Domestic violence hotline calls were answered (that is 13 calls every hour for 24 hours!)
Domestic violence occurs when there is an imbalance of power in a relationship. Power does not exist in a vacuum. In examining domestic violence, we must consider the role of the culture, ethnicity, social class, immigration status, gender, religion, history, sexual orientation, level of education, etc. as it affects our worldview. Churches have played an influential role in creating the gender based assumptions of power that permeates our culture.
As Naomi R. Goldenberg writes, "Images of God dictate who will feel worthy in society and who will feel inferior, who will be respected and who will be despised, who will get easy access to the literal material goods of culture and who will have to fight for those same goods."
Special music this Sunday will include an arrangement by Sweet Honey and The Rock and an original song written by me that tells some of my own story. Join me as I explore the theological context of interpersonal violence as exhibited in domestic abuse.

Foreigners In Our Midst

Sun, 8 Jul 2007 20:50:00 GMT
Sermon delivered by Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister, July 8, 2007
There has been a lot of talk and a lot of politics regarding immigrants and aliens recently. Some people donât think religion has anything to say about a topic as political as immigration. However, the Christian and Jewish scriptures have a lot to say about "resident aliens," foreigners in your midst; sojourners and strangers among you. In Exodus 22:21 it proclaims, "You shall not wrong or oppress a resident alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt." Leviticus 19:34 says, "The alien who resides among you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt." Even the New Testament Letter to the Hebrews tells us, "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing so some have entertained angels unawares." Does the fact that the Bible has a major preoccupation with the fair treatment of aliens and strangers have any bearing on the current immigration debate in our country? The rationale in the Bible that the Jews were once foreigners in a strange land, could remind the majority of Americans that most of us are the descendants of immigrants. Any debate that fuels so much passion requires a religious response.

Slowness

Sun, 1 Jul 2007 20:11:00 GMT
Sermon delivered by Rev. Doug Inhofe, Guest Minister, July 1, 2007.
Doug Inhofe is a long-time All Souls member, and Harvard Divinity School-trained Unitarian Universalist minister. He currently practices law here in Tulsa and frequently preaches at UU churches and fellowships in our area.
Itâs Summertime, and the livinâ is easy. Itâs been put that way since the 1930âs, but the idea is older yet. One of these mornings we really might rise up singing, spread our wings and take to the sky, but, hush, thereâs no need to hurry. Summertime lets us lay down the burdens of modernityâa chronic dissatisfaction with what we have, an ever-present panning into the futureâand gives us our lives back.
We are set free âto front only the essential facts of lifeâ?âas Thoreau suggests, to find what we seek inside ourselves, to learn what life has to teach, to gaze at Godâs windows. Approached slowly, life is not boring but instructive. The need to fill it up with activity is vanquished, and the sense of living on stage, in othersâ eyes, is set aside. Slowness allows this, as a way of sensing the moment, as a way of living a spiritual life, as a way of letting go of tomorrow for the sake of today.

Tomorrow Doesn't Have to be the Same as Yesterday

Sun, 24 Jun 2007 19:22:00 GMT
Sermon delivered by Victor Parachin, Guest Minister, June 24, 2007.
Preaching for us during our ministersâ attendance at General Assembly is All Souls member and ordained minister, Victor Parachin.
Do you feel that you are simply drifting through life?
Do you feel that you have stepped off your path?
When faced with a fork in the road of life, do you feel you went the wrong way?
Are there too many days when you feel youâre stuck in a rut?
For those who answer âyesâ to any of the above questions, there is this good news: Tomorrow doesnât have to be the same as yesterday!
Transformation can take place. Change can occur. Resurrection to a new way of life is possible. Rather than cling tenaciously to old ways or resisting the new and different, we can respond to the Universe (or God or A Higher Power) when it is leading us to a resurrection experience.
This Sunday weâll look at some ways resurrection to new life still happens today in the lives of people. Their own experiences bear witness to the truth that tomorrow doesnât have to be the same as yesterday!

Awaking Father

Sun, 17 Jun 2007 17:54:00 GMT
Sermon delivered by Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister, June 17, 2007.
Since Fatherâs Day always falls on Sunday, for ministers and for their families it is always a work day. Luckily for Marlin, this week he is vacationing in Colorado with Anitra and Elias and celebrating their private time as a family. Marlin will return in time to write his Fatherâs Day sermon and to prepare to leave for the Unitarian Universalist Associationâs annual meeting. This year our General Assembly is in Portland, Oregon. Marlin will lead a workshop on our latest book from Jenkin Lloyd Jones Press, Living a Call â Ministers and Congregations Together. Even if you are not able to attend General Assembly, you can pick up the book from the Book Table on Sunday mornings or from the office during the week.
We are fortunate, as a congregation, to have the opportunity to interact with our senior minister both as a father and a son. Three generations of Lavanhar men have touched the lives of many in this church.
This week may we be aware of those who have been fathers to us, and may those who have the opportunity to be father, stepfather, or father figure awaken to the significance and the joy of their role.

How's Your Reception?

Sun, 10 Jun 2007 15:38:00 GMT
Sermon delivered by Rev. Debra Garfinkel, June 10, 2007.
Itâs June â a traditional month for weddings. Our family just celebrated the marriage of our eldest child, our daughter. There was a glorious sunset, a fragrant ocean breeze, and a beautiful couple who adore each other. How amazing to be a witness to their love and commitment when it seems only yesterday our daughter was racing from one Disney ride to another. Emotions ebb and flow like the sea and feel just as deep. Time seems to hang suspended as we share in our daughter and our new son-in-lawâs joy.
Moments such as these are precious and sacred. Please join us this Sunday as we consider the act and the art of receiving. The best gifts are those that are shared.

Rational Mysticism

Sun, 3 Jun 2007 18:36:00 GMT
Sermon delivered by Rev. Tamara Lebak, June 3, 2007.
I have described my own theology as rational mysiticism, religious humanism, and even described myself as a Gestalt theist. Coming away from the Sacred Activism conference, I have been engaged in more and more conversations with how it is possible to be both rational and mystical. My spiritual journey has included the pendulum swing from blind faith to an obstinate skeptical atheism. Reason has proved to me again that the extremes of any polarity leave out the depth and breadth of the human experience. I would argue that religious idolatry and idolatry of the mind are equally as dismissive to the big picture of our existence. Award winning Journalist John Horgan has written a book called Rational Mysticism that explores how science, theology, and philosophy all attempt to formulate an empirical explanation about the meaning of life. Come and explore with me how to link the mind of a skeptic with the heart of seeker.

Flowers For Everyone

Sun, 13 May 2007 17:44:00 GMT
Homily delivered by Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister, May 13, 2007
One of my favorite memories of growing up Unitarian Universalist was the flower communion service each spring. Before church my brother and I would go into the backyard and cut flowers from our garden, one for each member of our family. We carefully brought the flowers to church and deposited them into a basket on our way into the sanctuary. The part I liked best was getting to choose someone elseÃïïs flower from the colorful array to take home. This special service was created in Czechoslovakia prior to WWII. Here at All Souls we celebrate the flower communion each MotherÃïïs Day.

Another All Souls tradition is the MotherÃïïs Day brunch. This year it is being hosted by our Youth Group and the money they raise will go to help fund their upcoming Spirit Quest trip. Please bring a flower and join us for this festive celebration.

Birth Control is Wonderful!

Sun, 29 Apr 2007 18:36:00 GMT
Sermon delivered by Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, April 29, 2007.
Driving around Tulsa we can see huge billboards that read, "Birth Control is Harmful." These are countered by other billboards that say, "Birth Control is Easy." The first slogan and its implications are much more harmful than birth control itself. The second slogan is inadequate in its response to the first. There are enormous moral issues at stake in this debate and they require more than a billboard campaign. Sex is not a sin. However, religious dogmas that lead to overpopulation, increased poverty and the spread of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases (such as a ban on birth control) is a sin of deadly proportions. Religions that promote ideologies that inadvertently lead to suffering and death are much more harmful than religions that advocate for responsible sexual behavior. You may hear more about sex this Sunday than you have ever heard in church before. Well, at least more positive comments about sex.

Rethinking Environmentalism

Sun, 22 Apr 2007 20:21:00 GMT
Sermon delivered by Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, April 22, 2007.
In 1970 Earth Day began and since then environmentalism has become a part of the fabric of American life. Today, environmental concerns influence how we live, what we buy and who we vote for. Nevertheless, there is no popular consensus on what is an appropriate moral response to the current situation. There is even a lot of confusion about what is the current situation. Even so, Americans know that environmental stewardship is important, yet we differ on the depth of our commitments to living in environmentally responsible ways. Religions, which claim to support life and be concerned with relieving suffering, have been slow to respond to issues of the environment. Is it an anti-scientific bias in religion, an unwillingness to challenge their membersâ lifestyles, or is it a fundamental worldview which has kept religion from being a prophetic voice on the environment? There is a growing "green" awakening in American life that is finally penetrating mainstream religion. Even at All Souls we are rethinking our relationship to the environment and looking into the question of "How green are we?"

Much Ado About Nothing

Sun, 15 Apr 2007 20:20:00 GMT
Sermon delivered by Rev. Tamara Lebak, April 15, 2007.
Nothing doesnât seem to mean nothing these days. When we say we are doing nothing, often we are actually daydreaming, spending time with loved ones, resting, living. This kind of nothing can create our most meaningful experiences. When asked about the impact of some event on our lives I am often greeted with the answer: "Itâs nothing," when the circumstances and all affectual cues say otherwise.

In Eat, Pray, Love, Elizabeth Gilbert illustrates the guilt associated with indulging in pleasure. Gilbert goes to Italy in search of pleasure after a messy divorce. When she arrives however, she find that it takes time to allow herself to settle into any pleasure because she is too used to working hard, being responsible, and maintaining a disciplined grip on her life. She writes, "During my first few weeks in Italy, all my Protestant synapses were zinging in distress, looking for a task. I wanted to take on pleasure like a homework assignment. I pondered such questions as, 'How is pleasure most efficiently maximized?'" She goes on to say, "Generally speaking, Americans have an inability to relax into sheer pleasure. Ours is an entertainment-seeking nation, but not necessarily a pleasure-seeking one. By contrast, the Italians are the masters of Bel far niente - the beauty of doing nothing."

An Easter Faith

Sun, 8 Apr 2007 21:19:00 GMT
Homily delivered by Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, April 8, 2007.
When I was growing up I used to prefer Christmas to Easter. Christmas included candy and lots of presents, and Easter included lots of candy and a few presents (mostly clothes). Now that I am more interested in the spiritual side of the holidays, my appreciation has shifted towards Easter.

One metaphorical way to understand the spiritual significance of Christmas is that it symbolizes the birth of hope and an awareness of holiness in us and in our world. Easter, on the other hand, represents the rebirth of hope and holiness in the aftermath of painful experiences such as betrayal, death and loss. The renewal of hopefulness after walking through the valley of the shadow of death and despair has a spiritual maturity that comes from encounters with life's most poignant and painful experiences.

In the Jewish Passover ritual, green herbs are dipped in salt water and then eaten. The green plant represents hope and new life while the saltwater represents the tears that were shed during the Jews captivity prior to their passage to freedom. Renewed hope in the aftermath of tears is the kind of gift any of us can appreciate.

May the deeper spiritual significance of this season become real for all with open minds and hearts.

Who's The Fool?

Sun, 1 Apr 2007 16:36:00 GMT
Sermon delivered by Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, April 1, 2007.

Your Welcome

Sun, 25 Mar 2007 18:57:00 GMT
A sermon delivered by Rev. Tamara Lebak, March 25, 2007.

Thank You

Sun, 25 Mar 2007 17:50:00 GMT
A sermon delivered by Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, March 25, 2007.
Over the past few years more and more people have made All Souls their religious community. The current Membership Book that new members sign upon joining the church has over 500 signatures since November of 2000. We've seen our attendance and activities grow considerably during that same time. Today, many people shuttle to church from the BOK parking lot on Peoria. The official statistics show 1457 adult members, which is up from 1017 in January of 2001. Our newsletter goes out to over 1800 households each week. Other than having a sign in front of the church (since 2004) and a website with information, we do very little to intentionally grow or promote the congregation. Nevertheless, people keep coming and finding meaning among us, and each time they do they add to the depth and breadth of our community. Of course we have a Newcomers Committee and many of you take turns as greeters and ushers. The questions we will be exploring on Sunday include: Is our hospitality intentional or accidental? What does it mean to be an inviting and welcoming community? If there are more people in Tulsa who are yearning for a free-thinking, justice centered, inclusive community rooted in love and service, what is our role in offering such a gift? If such a church can add value and meaning and hope to more people's lives, what can we do to share it? What is your welcome?

Let It Go

Sun, 4 Mar 2007 16:42:00 GMT
Sermon delivered by Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, March 4, 2007.

The Heart of the Matter

Sun, 25 Feb 2007 19:00:00 GMT
A sermon delivered by Rev. Tamara Lebak, Feb. 25, 2007.
What matters to us is what makes us unique. Our preferences, our likes and dislikes, drive us to make choices about what and who we value. Earlier this month Rumi scholar and poet Andrew Harvey joined us for a Sunday morning conversation to talk about his idea of Sacred Activism. Harvey makes a powerful argument about the current state of the world and our power as Americans to influence global change. At that Sunday morning conversation he challenged those present to focus on what breaks their heart.

The state of the world may give us a general dis-ease, may cause an uncomfortable state of anxiety. What unjustice, what circumstance touches you so deeply that it literally breaks your heart whenever you really consider it? For me, it is this heartbreak, tied to our own experience, tied to our own values, that points us to our own call to serve, that points us to the heart of the matter. That which has broken our hearts is what will serve as the fuel to change the world. Come and explore your heartbreak with me.

The Happy Virus

Sun, 18 Feb 2007 21:37:00 GMT
A sermon delivered by Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, Feb. 18, 2007.
When we discover something that brings our world alive, the feeling is contagious. It is what the poet Hafiz referred to as catching the "Happy Virus." In his poem by that name; Hafiz talks of catching the happy virus during a night of singing beneath the stars. Knowing he is contagious, Hafiz says, "Kiss me!" He exudes a generosity of spirit that says, I have something so valuable and so infectious that I just want to share it with whomever is willing.

The community of All Souls is sometimes like a fortunate fever that catches us and sets our world on fire. Yet, we too often have an aversion to sharing this contagious kiss. What is it that creates a virus-like phenomenon in a community that spreads beauty and generosity and kindness through our world?

Spiritual Practices

Sun, 4 Feb 2007 17:08:00 GMT
A sermon delivered by Rev. Marlin Lavanhar Feb. 4, 2007.

The Spiritual Power of Our Faith

Sun, 28 Jan 2007 21:36:00 GMT
A sermon delivered by Guest Minister Rev. Dr. Thandeka, Jan. 28, 2007.

The Nature of Now

Sun, 21 Jan 2007 22:02:00 GMT
A sermon delivered by Rev. Tamara Lebak, Jan. 21, 2007.

Falling With Grace

Sun, 7 Jan 2007 22:16:00 GMT
A sermon delivered by Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, Jan. 7, 2007

Coming Clean

Sun, 31 Dec 2006 19:06:00 GMT
A sermon delivered by Rev. Tamara Lebak, Dec. 31, 2006.

The Heart of Hanukkah

Sun, 17 Dec 2006 20:31:00 GMT
A sermon delivered by Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, Dec. 17, 2006
Hanukkah is also known as the Jewish festival of lights. Many traditions around the globe have holidays that are celebrated with lights during this dark time of year. Some people mistakenly think that Hanukkah is simply a celebration of a combat victory for the Jews. However, the story has many significant themes from which religious liberals can draw inspiration.

It is a story about standing up for what you believe and it offers a reminder not to remain silent in the face of oppression, and not to surrender one's rights or identities. For the Jews it also marks the end of Greek rule over the Temple in Jerusalem. The story includes a miracle. The lamp in the temple is said to have burned for eight days even though it only had oil for one more day.

In this season of miracles and lights, there is a lot at the heart of Hanukkah to inspire us and fill us with hope.

Do We Really Want Peace?

Sun, 10 Dec 2006 16:50:00 GMT
A sermon delivered by Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, Dec. 10, 2006.

Be Not Afraid

Sun, 3 Dec 2006 18:49:00 GMT
A sermon delivered by Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, Dec. 3, 2006.
Living in fear can be debilitating. Fear can be used to control and manipulate people. Since the attacks of September 11, 2001, there has been a new level of public fear in the United States that has caused some Americans to be willing to give up certain rights and freedoms. No doubt, a fear of weapons of mass destruction in the hands of Saddam Hussein helped create the political will that perpelled American troops into Iraq. Fear of hell in the next life keeps some people going to church (not our church however!).

Yet, fear is not all bad and all fear is not equal. In our culture there is a fear of fear. Therefore, fear has an uneccesarily bad reputation. In my sermon, "Be Not Afraid," one of the points is to not be afraid of fear.

Flesh of My Flesh

Sun, 12 Nov 2006 23:21:00 GMT
A sermon delivered by Rev. Tamara Lebak, Nov. 12, 2006.
Gunther von Hagens is the creator of an exhibit showing at museums all over the world called Body Worlds. In them, plasticized people are posed in various positions showing the incredible nature of the human body and its systems. Join me as I share and explore the mystery and wonder of the bodythat is our tool for this human experience.

Evolution of God Too

Sun, 29 Oct 2006 19:46:00 GMT
A sermon delivered by Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, Oct. 29, 2006.

I was interviewed for the Muskogee Phoenix about my position on Halloween Hell Houses such as the Nightmare in Tulsa. I said that, "Scaring people into accepting Jesus is a dubious practice. Such spiritual scare tactics are by no means new. Hell has been used for centuries as a way to frighten people into the salvation schemes of various churches. The concept of hell and eternal torment have no relationship to the teachings of the Hebrew Prophets or the actual teachings of Jesus. These tactics and theologies poision childrenÃïïs minds with superstitions about death and what happens after we die. For some it fills their days with fear. For others it turns them away from any concept of God or religion. For yet others it fills them with an arrogance that makes them feel special and separates them from people with other beliefs and cultures. If someone wants to see hell, they donÃïït have to look to the next world. We have war, political corruption, poverty, addiction, abuse and oppression. These hells are real, and it is these hells that ought to be the main concern of religion. And these hells cannot be destroyed by fear. These hells can only be transformed by love and commitment and people of good will.

Why I Went to Jesus Camp

Sun, 22 Oct 2006 20:17:00 GMT
A sermon delivered by Rev. Tamara Lebak, Oct. 22, 2006.
In America today an increasing number of evangelical Christian children are isolated from the world. On the surface these kids have a normal middle-class kid experience: trips to Wal-Mart, homework, sports, dancing to their favorite music, summer camp. Quickly, it becomes clear that these children are living a version of childhood where evangelical Christianity is at the center of everything. Their music may sound heavy metal, but it celebrates the "blood of Jesus." Their homework hails from a strict creation-based curriculum and their sports teams proudly wear red bracelets imprinted with HWJC ("How would Jesus Compete?")

The documentary Jesus Camp, created by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, has received national attention. The film follows Levi, Rachael, and Tory to Pastor Becky Fischerâs "Kids on Fire" summer camp where kids as young as six years-old are taught to become dedicated Christian soldiers in "Godâs army." The children in Jesus Camp are at war. They are taught that American nationalism and devout Christianity are one and the same. They are led on a religious and emotional journey that preys on fear. What are the implications of this growing number of evangelical children coming of age in America?

Beyond Tolerance - Part 2 - Marlin Lavanhar

Sun, 15 Oct 2006 19:11:00 GMT
A sermon delivered by Marlin Lavanhar, Oct. 15, 2006.

Beyond Tolerance - Part 1 - Debra Garfinkel

Sun, 15 Oct 2006 19:05:00 GMT
A sermon delivered by Debra Garfinkel, Oct. 15, 2006.
Greetings to you all! I am Debra Garfinkel, your new Director of Pastoral Care. Although I began my service of ministry with All Souls on June 1st, this Sunday will be my first Sunday this year in the pulpit. As you no doubt have noticed, Marlin and I are sharing the pulpit. What an exciting opportunity to hear two voices address the same topic in the same service!

You are more familiar with Marlin's voice and you are learning much from Rev. Tamara Lebak's voice. Now it is my privilege to join my ministerial voice with theirs. Whether you remember me from my year as intern, or you are a relative newcomer, I welcome this moment of worshipful meeting. During my sermon, (and my ministry,) I invite you to consider the value that I place on each person's voice.

Listening, truly listening, helps me know your story in your own voice. It helps me make the connections that hold us together as a faith community, as one human family, and as one mysterious, universe. This is a life-long journey; I experience it as my vocation, my calling.

When I was a child, I felt "called" to speak and to talk, talk, talk, talk, talk! As I grew older, I began to notice that sometimes I was tolerated. That did not feel good! I did not feel that I was being heard. Out of those beginnings arose a life time of work to move beyond tolerance.

Please join Marlin and I as we consider the implications of moving "Beyond Tolerance." Thank you for listening.

We'll see you in church!

Living the Call

Sun, 1 Oct 2006 16:29:00 GMT
A sermon delivered by Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, Oct. 1, 2006.

Coming Home

Sun, 24 Sep 2006 20:18:00 GMT
A sermon delivered by Rev. Tamara Lebak, Sept. 24, 2006.

Minister's Note
Fredriech Buechner writes, "There's no place like home. What the word home brings to mind before anything else is a special place that is clearly distinguishable from all other places. A place - which you have rich and complex feelings about, a place where you feel you belong and which
in some sense belongs to you," He continues, "home is the place throughout your life you keep going back to... and which is apt to determine the kind of place, perhaps a place inside yourself, that you spend the rest of your life searching for even if you are not aware that you're searching."

As a musician as well as a minister, I am looking forward to leading services with UU celebrity songwriter Nick Page exploring the theme of coming home. The children will participate with us for the first part of the 10:00 am service, then go to their religious education classes.

Nick Page has been surrounded by singing all of his life. Every Saturday night his family would gather around the fire to sing folk songs, pop songs, spirituals, and roundssongs in harmony. Nick sees these experiences as being necessary for growth, both as an individual and as a member of society.

Believing that there should be no separation between the talented and the untalented, Nick Page makes his living as a song leader. He works with children who have an inborn love of singing and he works with adults, many of whom have lost their love of singing a long time ago. Nick renews the love.

We look forward to seeing you there.

-Tamara Lebak

Apocalyptic Thinking

Sun, 17 Sep 2006 15:11:00 GMT
A sermon delivered by Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, Sept. 17, 2006.

Minister's Note
I was not sure what it would be like having my birthday fall on the same day as Homecoming Sunday (Sept. 10). It was wonderful! We had a record-breaking 1121 people in worship in two services. My family and I felt warmly welcomed home after our extended leave. I hope that you also feel that All Souls is a true extended family of members and friends. In this day and age when people around the country are talking about a deep longing for community, it is a blessing to have such a strong church family here in Tulsa!

With our new church year off to a passionate start, I thought I would dive right in to exposing some of the apocalyptic thinking that may actually offer some signs for progressive religious thinkers. These signs are not heralding the end of the world, but they are an indication that something is coming to an end and therefore, something new and creative is needing to
be conceived. At All Souls we are engaged in something akin to the re-imagination of the world as we know it. I can hardly think of a more worthy project for the start of a new church year.

See you in church,
Marlin

All Souls Church Homecoming 2006

Sun, 10 Sep 2006 04:30:00 GMT
A sermon delivered by Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, Sept. 10, 2006