Past Services and Podcasts
January 17, 2021
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Service: Meeting the Demands of Power
- Revs. Cayer and Brett
Representative John Lewis said that when Dr. King was killed it felt as though part of himself died with him. And yet he still worked with other people to fight for racial justice and the common good for the next fifty. What does this mean for us today? Ms. Atinuke Diver, Executive Director, Durham CAN, Guest Speaker.
January 10, 2021
- This I Believe
- Gerda Presson, Lisa Jones, Eric Hodges, Rev. Deborah Cayer
- Music: Helen Wolfson, Eric Thomas, and Kate Lewis
Like other religious liberals, Unitarian Universalists tend to think of life, including spiritual life, as a journey that begins with their lived experience and leads to ongoing learning and growth. In this service, three ERUUF members will share their credos. A credo is a statement of faith, the meaning that one makes of their experience at a particular point in their unfolding spiritual journey.
(Note: due to Youtube's technical difficulties on January 3, many ERUUF members haven't yet been able to view that Sunday service, which includes original music by Helen and Eric, our guest musicians. With gratitude for their generosity, we'll share much of the music from last week in this week's service.)
January 3, 2021
- Turtles All the Way Down
- Rev. Deborah Cayer
- Music: Helen Wolfson, Eric Thomas, Kate Lewis
How can we know what’s true? How might this be informed by our spiritual beliefs?
December 27, 2020
- Kwanzaa Service
- Rev. Jacqueline Brett
- Music: Lea Morris and ERUUF Kwanzaa Ensemble
Join us for our annual Kwanzaa celebration, this year focused on Kujichagulia, the principle of self-determination. All members and friends are invited to attend this beautiful online celebration of Black lives and the human spirit. We'll pour libations, honor the Ancestors, light candles, and share reflections. Worship presenters: Steve Franklin, Chris Macon, Venia Lekavich, Joan Tilghman, Jaye Vaughn, and Ann Verdine-Jones.
December 24, 2020
- Christmas Eve Service
Join us to hear traditional stories, sing familiar carols, and listen to a Christmas choir of adults and children, directed by Jocelyn Neal. We’ll join together in the darkness to pass the light as we sing Silent Night from home this year. Ministers and staff, including Kate Lewis, will lead this service.
December 20, 2020
- Jazz for the Holidays
- Rev. Jacqueline Brett
- Music: NCCU Jazz Studies
ERUUF has developed a partnership with professional musicians from the Jazz Studies Department at North Carolina Central University. This year they’ve carefully planned a safe way to bring us a service filled with music and meaning. Rev. Jacqueline Brett, worship leader, Chris Macon and Lisa Jones, Worship Associates.
December 13, 2020
- Holiday Music Service
- Rev. Deborah Cayer
- Music: River Folk, Chalice Singers, Eno River Singers, and Trilight
This service will feature members from ERUUF’s River Folk, Chalice Singers, Eno River Singers, and Trilight; our Worship Associates will share seasonal readings. Rev. Cayer, worship leader. In RE this morning we’re having a Sock Hop and families will wrap socks at home for the guests at Urban Ministries.
December 6, 2020
- Counting Blessings, Finding Abundance
- Rev. Deborah Cayer
- Music: Rev. Stacy Grove; Paul Baerman, Pam DiLavore, Claudia Kaplan and Kate Lewis
In this service, we’ll consider all that we have to be thankful for, and how this can support us and help us feel connected. We’ll also consider the liberal religious roots that support this world view. Rev. Cayer, Henry Amador-Batten, Worship Associate, and Rev. Stacy Grove; Paul Baerman, Pam DiLavore, Claudia Kaplan and Kate Lewis offer the morning’s music. RE families will bake cookies for Urban Ministries from home.
November 29, 2020
- Coming of Age Service
Our high school youth have participated in a year-long program with teachers and mentors to explore UU history, theology, spiritual practices, and most importantly to discover what’s living within themselves. With support from our DRE, Julia Tyler, and Revs. Brett and Cayer, the youth lead this service, provide the music, and will each share a bit of their longer credos with us.
Every Sunday in November the Offering (beyond regular pledges) will go to Urban Ministries of Durham.
November 22, 2020
- Living Into Possibility: A Womanist Faith
- Rev. Jacqueline Brett
- Music: Tyra Scott, Kate Lewis
Every Sunday in November the Offering (beyond regular pledges) will go to Urban Ministries of Durham.
November 8, 2020
- Where Do We Go From Here?
- Revs. Cayer and Brett
- Music: River Folk
No matter how the election turns out, our culture is facing multiple crises that demand the best of us. How might we tap into ourselves to bring forth the best we have to offer? And where do we go to apply this? Early in the service, we will welcome ERUUF’s newest members!
Every Sunday in November the Offering (beyond regular pledges) will go to Urban Ministries of Durham.
November 15, 2020
- Compassion, Diplomacy, and Patriotism: We Can Have It All
- Rev. Cayer
- Music: Joe Jencks
In 2010, Joe Jencks was honored to be selected as a Cultural Ambassador by the US State Department, and toured the Caribbean giving concerts and workshops. Blending songs and spoken word narrative, Jencks will lead us in an exploration of what it meant for him to claim the idea of being a patriot, and why it is important for all of us to proudly claim the identity of patriot concurrent with being prophetic voices for change in our communities. The voice of dissent rises from pride in one's people, and the indefatigable hope for a brighter and more equitable future. And yes, we get to reach for it all.
Every Sunday in November the Offering (beyond regular pledges) will go to Urban Ministries of Durham.
Joe Jencks is a 22-year veteran of the international Folk circuit, an award-winning songwriter and a celebrated vocalist based in the Chicago area. He is known for his performances of musical beauty, social consciousness and spiritual exploration. Joe delivers engaged musical narratives filled with heart, soul, groove and grit. Blending well-crafted instrumentals and vivid songwriting, Jencks serves it all up with a lyric baritone voice that has the edgy richness of a good sea-salt caramel. Joe Jencks is also a dual US-Irish citizen, and draws on many cultural and artistic reference points in his concerts. A co-founder of the harmony trio Brother Sun, Jencks has penned several #1 Folk-songs including the ever-relevant Lady of The Harbor, and has become a fan favorite throughout North America and beyond. Jencks was also honored to be a Cultural Ambassador for the US State Department, and has performed and preached in over 200 UU Congregations in the US, Canada, and Ireland. For more information, please visit: www.joejencks.com