By Ann Kuffner
Dr. Farley Wheelwright was the oldest Unitarian Universalist minister in the world when he died in 2016, in San Miguel. For the May 12th UUFSMA Sunday Service, actor Gene Harvey will deliver a still relevant sermon from Rev. Dr. Farley Wheelwright, “What is Left in Liberal Religion?” This sermon honestly - and sometimes humorously - explores and explains the richness of the UU tradition. It is a tradition grounded in a search for truth and meaning, with a community bound by a profound covenant, as well as a deep belief and commitment to social justice.
Farley Wheelwright was born in 1916 into a family which included four generations of Boston Blue Blood Unitarians. He began his ministry the year that the Unitarians and Universalist merged. He was best known as a social activist who worked alongside Martin Luther King in the Civil Rights Movement, in the Abortion Rights Movement, and in the Anti-Vietnam War and Peace Movement. Over his lifetime he delivered hundreds of sermons. At 97 years of age Dr. Farley put together 21 of his sermons in a collection called “Twice-Told Tales”. The sermon in this service was taken from this collection.
During the period of May 12 – June 2, 2024, the UUFSMA will be taking a different approach to Sunday Services. Many Unitarian congregations discontinue services for a month, during the summer, to allow their minister a vacation. We will not have a minister during this time period. But the UUSFMA Board decided to continue Sunday Services during this period, using a different format. Each of the four services will be planned and led by UUFSMA Board Members. It will be a time to incorporate and assess some new service approaches.
During this period, Board Members participating in Sunday Services will each choose a theme. They may use a pre-recorded sermon, a reading, a song, or a poem to complement their chosen theme. Chanting, or even a walking meditation, might be included. As a Fellowship, we believe it is beneficial to incorporate a variety of service approaches, to facilitate spiritual and community growth. (This service is being planned and coordinated by Board Members Dianne Dailey and Phyllis Vince.)
Dr. Farley Wheelwright was the oldest Unitarian Universalist minister in the world when he died in 2016, in San Miguel. For the May 12th UUFSMA Sunday Service, actor Gene Harvey will deliver a still relevant sermon from Rev. Dr. Farley Wheelwright, “What is Left in Liberal Religion?” This sermon honestly - and sometimes humorously - explores and explains the richness of the UU tradition. It is a tradition grounded in a search for truth and meaning, with a community bound by a profound covenant, as well as a deep belief and commitment to social justice.
Farley Wheelwright was born in 1916 into a family which included four generations of Boston Blue Blood Unitarians. He began his ministry the year that the Unitarians and Universalist merged. He was best known as a social activist who worked alongside Martin Luther King in the Civil Rights Movement, in the Abortion Rights Movement, and in the Anti-Vietnam War and Peace Movement. Over his lifetime he delivered hundreds of sermons. At 97 years of age Dr. Farley put together 21 of his sermons in a collection called “Twice-Told Tales”. The sermon in this service was taken from this collection.
During the period of May 12 – June 2, 2024, the UUFSMA will be taking a different approach to Sunday Services. Many Unitarian congregations discontinue services for a month, during the summer, to allow their minister a vacation. We will not have a minister during this time period. But the UUSFMA Board decided to continue Sunday Services during this period, using a different format. Each of the four services will be planned and led by UUFSMA Board Members. It will be a time to incorporate and assess some new service approaches.
During this period, Board Members participating in Sunday Services will each choose a theme. They may use a pre-recorded sermon, a reading, a song, or a poem to complement their chosen theme. Chanting, or even a walking meditation, might be included. As a Fellowship, we believe it is beneficial to incorporate a variety of service approaches, to facilitate spiritual and community growth. (This service is being planned and coordinated by Board Members Dianne Dailey and Phyllis Vince.)
Unitarian Universalism is a liberal faith inviting its community to gather around a set of harmonizing values and principles for living. Our UU Fellowship welcomes people of all ages, races, religions, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Belief in a divinity is not the central issue around which we gather for worship and generous action. Rather, we come together with a belief in community, love, compassion, social justice, reverence for nature, and the spirituality of music, all within the interconnected web of existence.
The UUFSMA Social Justice Foundation donates generously to support nonprofit organizations that provide health, educational, and environmental services for underserved communities in the San Miguel region. Learn more at https://www.uufsma.org/foundation
To participate in our online Sunday Service, visit www.uufsma.org and click on the Zoom Service button on the home page. If requested, enter password: 294513. Sign-in from anywhere Sunday mornings between 10:00-10:25 am CST. Enjoy previous services at https://www.youtube.com/UUFSMA.
The UUFSMA Social Justice Foundation donates generously to support nonprofit organizations that provide health, educational, and environmental services for underserved communities in the San Miguel region. Learn more at https://www.uufsma.org/foundation
To participate in our online Sunday Service, visit www.uufsma.org and click on the Zoom Service button on the home page. If requested, enter password: 294513. Sign-in from anywhere Sunday mornings between 10:00-10:25 am CST. Enjoy previous services at https://www.youtube.com/UUFSMA.