October Forums and opportunities to invest yourself for social justice works
Dave
Kansas Dem Fest (http://ksdp.org/demofest) is today and tomorrow in Wichita.
http://allsoulskc.org/sunday/forum.php
Sunday, October 4 - 10:00a.m. Kansas City Missouri School District, Change and Community
Steven E. Harris, J.D.,
Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources
Superintendent Dr. John Covington promised the community
“swift and sure” change regarding the leadership of the Kansas
City, Missouri School District (KCMSD). One of the changes he made in an effort
to move the District toward increased student achievement and efficient
operations was the appointment of Dr. Steve Harris.
Dr. Harris has many roots in Kansas City; he has earned undergraduate degrees from William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo. He holds a Juris doctorate from the University of California-Berkeley, a master’s in mathematics education from New York University and a master’s degree in education policy and management from Harvard University.
Dr. Harris will be speaking to us about the new leadership’s vision for change in our school district and the hope of increased community involvement in its future.
Sunday, October 11 -
10:00a.m. Slavery
in the Kansas City Area - Panel
Archaeologist Jimmy Johnson, physician Andy McCanse and attorney Gary Jenkins
will discuss slavery in the Kansas City metro area from their perspectives as
descendants of either slaves or slave owners. Jenkins’ documentary,
Slavery in Missouri, will be shown at All Souls at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13.
Sunday,
October 18 - 10:00a.m. Empire,
Climate Disruption and Peak Oil – Oh My! - John Kurmann
To protect the flow of oil, we’ve built an empire, fought wars and
supported regressive regimes. Using fossil fuels pollutes the air, water and
soil, and now we understand that burning them is disrupting the global climate.
The era of abundant and cheap fossil fuels is ending. Now what?
Sunday,
October 25 - 10:00a.m. A New Justice on the Bench - Steve McAllister
A newly appointed justice means the makeup of the Supreme Court has changed
again, if only slightly. What impact is Justice Sonia Sotomayor expected to
have on the court? What can we expect in rulings from the court this session?
KU law school professor Steve McAllister will address these questions.
http://allsoulskc.org/sunday/services.php
October 18
- Services at 8:45 and
11:15
Bruce Knotts will discuss the work of the UU-United Nations Office. This UU
office at the United Nations punches far above its weight. It exercises significant
influence at the U.N., especially in the areas of human rights, ending
genocide, sustainable development and climate change. He will also discuss the
role of the United Nations in the world: a global organization that is greatly
appreciated around the world, but little understood in the U. S.
SPECIAL
OFFERING for the month of October will benefit UU-UNO
Each Sunday during October your contribution will help the UU-United Nations
Office, which is dedicated to the principle "To affirm and promote the
goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all.”
UU-UNO works to strengthen the U.N. as it works to promote peace, eliminate
war, discrimination, poverty and disease. We especially invite you
to the annual U.N. Sunday Services on October 18 to hear the guest
speaker, Bruce Knotts, Executive Director of the UU-UNO in New York City.
http://allsoulskc.org/events/tuesday.php
The All Souls
Documentary Series shows a film at 7p.m. each Tuesday. Our
series emphasizes quality films with social justice themes that rarely make it
to conventional movie theaters. Each screening is followed by a lively
facilitated discussion. Admission is free and popcorn and snacks are available
for a very nominal fee. No tickets or reservations are needed.
7:00
pm Tuesday, October 6 – Influenza 1918 Robert Kenner • 1998 •
60 minutes
In September of 1918, soldiers began to die. The cause of death was identified
as influenza, but it was unlike any strain ever seen. It was the worst epidemic
in world and American history, killing over 600,000 in the United States along
and 20 to 40 million world wide--until it disappeared as mysteriously as it had
begun.
7:00
pm Tuesday, October 13 – Slavery in Missouri Gary Jenkins
• 2009 • 60 minutes
This documentary explores slavery in Missouri, which differed in many ways from
that in the Deep South. It includes interviews with local persons and
narratives of Missouri slaves. This screening is coordinated with the 10am Sunday,
October 11 Forum, which is a presentation by a panel of descendants of slaves
and slave owners.
7:00 pm Tuesday, October 20 – Rethink
Afghanistan Robert Greenwald • 2009 • 71 minutes
This documentary has six parts: what military escalation will achieve in
Afghanistan, how the war could further destabilize a nuclear-armed Pakistan,
the staggering costs of the war, the civilian casualties caused by recent U.S.
airstrikes in Afghanistan, the assumption that war can liberate Afghan women,
and three former high-ranking CIA agents explaining why there is no
"victory" to be won in Afghanistan.
7:00 pm Tuesday, October 27 –
Crude Impact James Wood • 2006 • 97 minutes
This documentary explores the interconnection between human domination of the
planet and the discovery and use of oil. The objective of the film is to
promote positive, hopeful change in the way we source and use energy - changes
that will create a more just and sustainable world. This screening is
co-sponsored by Transition KC.
http://www.allsoulskc.org/newsletter/09oct.pdf
BYOT
Ethics
A
Build Your Own Theology course centering around contemporary and sometimes
complex ethical issues. What is ethical to each of us, and how does our own
belief system affect our ethical outlook? Thursdays - 7:00 to 9:00 October
1st through November 19th. Please sign up on the clipboard in the hall.
Ralph Waldo Emerson, The Quintessential American Philosopher
According to one biographer “…his
studies revealed to him the perennial wisdom of philosophy and religion that
was confirmed by his own experience.” Emerson was prominent in the
early Transcendentalist movement. We will read at least three of his
essays, and perhaps one more if we have time: Self Reliance, The Over-Soul,
Compensation and Spiritual Laws if we have time. Wednesdays at
6:30-8:30 from October 7th through 28th.
BOYNTON HOME, SELMA, ALABAMA
Thanks to your generosity, we have met our commitment to help purchase the historic Boynton Home in Selma Alabama. This modest home was the central meeting place for some of the most notable 20th century leaders in the civil rights era. As progress is made on the renovation, upkeep and event planning for the Boynton House, there will be informational updates made available. Please see the Social Responsibility Board. In addition, we would like to share that our Congregational Partners, Bethel AME, has shared our vision in
preserving this critical piece of our
nation’s history and committed donating directly to the cause.
All
Souls & Bethel AME Congregational Partnership
In our larger commitment to reduce prejudice, celebrate diversity and eliminate intolerance through building genuine and long term relationships with congregations of diverse faith and ethnicity, we continue to unite in social justice outreach work. This year our partnership committee choose to "adopt" Gordon Parks Elementary as our social justice project. Both All Souls and Bethel AME members have a rich history of individual involvement with Gordon Parks. This common ground, shared between our congregations, was key in choosing Gordon Parks for this year’s project. Anyone interested in participating on the Partnership Committee is welcome. Please contact Tamara Tucker at ttinf...@yahoo.com for more information.
Green Sanctuary Committee members to Take Climate Action on 10/24
Science tells us 350 parts per million of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is the red line for climate safety—yet we're near 390. To get back below 350, we need a global movement pushing for rapid change, so 350.org is organizing an International Day of Climate Action on Saturday, October 24th. Kansas City's rally will be 2-4 p.m. in Mill Creek Park on the Plaza, Cleaver II Blvd. and J.C. Nichols Parkway. Join our stand for climate justice. Go to www.350KC.org or call 816-531-5516 for more.
Immigrant Justice Advocacy Movement
The Social Responsibility Board invites your help for No Mas Muertas/No More Deaths, which works on the U.S. Southern Border and is a project of the Phoenix UU congregation. We are collecting clothing from our UU cluster for the aid station in Agua Prieta. MOST desperately needed are men's jeans (esp. sizes 30-34; most of the deported migrants are really desperate to replace their ripped, torn jeans w/ ones that actually work), SOCKS, especially men's, men's shoes (again, in smaller men's sizes), and t-shirts (men and women). See the poster in Conover for more information. Items are being collected in Conover - look for the wicker basket.
HARVESTERS
The Social Responsibility Board encourages everyone to bring a can or a jar of food each Sunday to donate to the Harvesters Food
Program. As you pick up car keys, grab a can of soup or corn. Let’s call it The Habit of Harvesters. Lists of most needed items are on the board near the stage in Conover. Because of the economy, Harvesters food supply is challenged in trying to cope with the ever-rising need in our community. Barrels will be posted in Conover to facilitate this effort. Please be generous.
Interfaith Council
UU values the truths and wisdom found in the world’s religions. Kansas City is a richly diverse community. We are home to many of the world’s religions, from American Indian to Zoroastrianism (and many in-between). You can celebrate our diversity at the GKCIC’s Table of Faiths luncheon on Thursday, November 12th, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center Hotel in Kansas City, MO. And here’s the exciting news! This year the Table of Faiths Award goes to All Souls for our ongoing support of interfaith understanding in greater Kansas City. The Table of Faiths luncheon is part of the Festival of Faiths—two weeks (November 10-23) filled with a variety of interfaith opportunities. See www.festivaloffaithskc.org for a complete listing of interfaith activities and events.
FW: Sunday at All Souls
MUSIC this Sunday at both services
Cellist,
Serafim Smigelskiy will join Music Director Anthony Edwards this week. They
will play works by Haydn, Saint-Seans and Boccherini. Born in St. Petersburg
Russia in 1985, Serafim Smigelskiy started his cello education at the age of 6.
After graduating from school, he entered the Rimsky-Korsakov College in 2000.
In 2004 he entered St. Petersburg State Conservatory. He is currently
continuing his studies at Park University with Martin Storey. Serafim won the
top prize at the Russian State Russian Music Competition and numerous other competitions
which was followed by concert tours in Austria, Finland, Germany, Japan, Poland
and United Arab Emirates.
On Saturday, October 10th at 8:00 p.m. Bob Walkenhorst (local musical talent of the Rainmakers fame), along with musical partner Jeff Porter will perform in concert in Bragg Auditorium. Bob will feature songs and stories from his brand new CD "No Abandon". Tickets are only $10 at the door, and Bob is graciously giving 100% of the proceeds to the All Souls arts and music programs.