For a long time, Unitarians and Universalists stuck with Christianity, trying to improve its bad theology by reforming it from within. Then many of them just gave up the effort and stopped calling themselves Christians. Now here we are in 2024, putting “Love at the Center” of our UU self-understanding, which, to some, sounds a lot like the central message preached and lived by Jesus. Meanwhile many progressive Christians are moving in our direction. Have we come full circle? Where is it all going?
Jay Atkinson (he/his/him or ze/zir/zem) retired in 2011 from 32 years of full-time service in Unitarian Universalist parish ministry, most recently twelve years in Studio City (Los Angeles) and, before that, thirteen years in Davis, Calif. During those ministries he also served at various times on the adjunct faculties of our UU seminaries in Chicago (Meadville Lombard Theological School) and Berkeley (Starr King School for the Ministry). Before turning to professional ministry, he did research in nuclear physics for eleven years. Currently he is a Research Scholar at Starr King with a focus on UU history. He has graced our pulpit before, speaking here most recently about moral beauty and the shape of justice.
Worship leader: Rev. Dr. Jay Atkinson
Worship Associate: Brian Weller
Special music: Veronika Agranov-Dafoe, piano
You can follow along in the order of service bit.ly/uucpa_oos_20240630.
If you prefer to attend online, there are two options. One, join the service via Zoom bit.ly/uucpa_service_1015am_v3. To get the passcode, email sundayservice@uucpa.org or call UUCPA’s outgoing voicemail message, 650-494-0541. It is also included in the weekly update emails. Two, to watch the service live on our Facebook page (no passcode required), visit UUCPA’s live Facebook feed.
Painting: The Good Samaritan, Paula Modersohn-Becker, 1907. Public domain.
Topics: Religious Liberalism