The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbia

The Musical & Psychological Resonance of Beethoven | Michael Adcock, Music Director

Join Music Director Michael Adcock in a service honoring the recent (2020) Sestercentennial of Ludwig van Beethoven’s birth.  Looking closely through the lens of his three compositional periods, we will celebrate and recognize the achievements of this great musician’s contribution to art and humanity, as well as his own personal triumph over adversity.

 

Speakers: Sarah Baseheart, Julie Boughn, Inge Hyder, Michael Adcock, Valerie Hsu, Jennifer Parrot

Jenny Afkinich, Ph.D.

You may know Jenny Afkinich as an auction team member, Karuna team member, and mama to Margot and Violet. She juggled all these roles (and many more!) while pursuing her social work Ph.D., which she completed this summer. Celebrate Jenny’s accomplishment and listen as she tells Sara about her call to social work, what it was like defending her dissertation* mid-pandemic, and how the principles of Unitarian Universalism resonate with the values and vision of social work. 

* = Jenny's dissertation received the 2021 Society for Social Work and Research Outstanding Social Work Doctoral Dissertation Award this month. Go Jenny!

Referenced in this episode

• Institute for Innovation and Implementation
• Bidding is live for UUCC’s first-ever online auction until Saturday, February 6!

The USA Today | Rev. Paige Getty

On the first Sunday following Inauguration Day, Rev. Paige Getty reflects on the hope and disappointment of being human in the USA in 2021.

 

Speakers: Wendy Ramsey, Rev. Paige Getty, The Jorgensen Family, Robin Slaw

Jen Raffensperger, Seminarian

UUCC member, former UUCC staff member, and current seminarian Jen Raffensperger tells Sara about her first encounters with Unitarian Universalism after navigating away from the Catholicism of her youth. “I had been so dismissive of religions … none of them being the ‘correct’ one, that I didn’t think there would be a correct one for me,” Jen says. In this conversation, Jen reflects on awaking to her call to ministry during her first visit to UUCC, shares her process for writing sermons, and discusses the hardest parts of the road to ministry and of being human.

Referenced in this episode

• Our Whole Lives sexuality curriculum
• Meadville Lombard Theological School where Jen is currently studying

Honoring MLK’s Legacy | Rev. Paige Getty

We celebrate the ongoing legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the beginning of the Side With Love 30 Days of Love campaign.

 

Speakers:

• Colette Gelwicks, John Harris, Kevin Daniels, Michael Adcock, Rev. Paige Getty, Robin Slaw

Laurie Coltri, Consonance Curator

“In this wonderful endeavor, nobody is perfect, and everybody is grateful,” says UUCC member Laurie Coltri of singing in the Chalice Choir. Laurie tells Sara of the joys and insights she receives from being part of something bigger than herself as a choir member, the process of producing a Stay-at-Home Choir video, why she chose to join UUCC’s Trust and Reconciliation Committee, and what the listening sessions hosted by the committee are all about. 

Sign up for a listening session here

Referenced in this episode

• Laurie’s favorite choir memory is when they performed Quam pulchri sunt gressus tui by Palestrina. Listen to a recording of this piece (not from the UUCC choir)
• Laurie’s recent blogpost about the process of creating these choir videos
• Conflict Diagnosis and Alternative Dispute Resolution by Laurie S. Coltri
• Learn more about UUCC’s Trust & Reconciliation Committee and sign up for a listening session

Imagination | Rev. Paige Getty

Rev. Paige Getty explores the Soul Matters theme of imagination, reflecting on what inspires … and what hinders.

 

Speakers: Jim Johnston, Paige Getty, The Bonilla Family, Bita Dayhoff, Valeri Hsu, Kelli Danaker, Michael Adcock

Sean Griffin, Radio DJ

Catch a “glimpse” of Sean Griffin’s life (and hair) in his college days, when he saturated the soundwaves with anything but the top 40 during the heady hours of midnight-3AM daily. Sean is not only UUCC’s Executive Director, he’s also a devoted aficionado of indie, punk, and opera music. In this conversation, he shares memories from his college radio days with Sara and reflects on how music and the arts have connected and nourished him. 

What Sean listened to back then

• Left Front Tire (leftfronttire.com)
• GWAR (gwar.net)
• Poi Dog Pondering (platetectonicmusic.com/poidogpondering)
• R.E.M. (remhq.com)
• Hootie & the Blowfish (hootie.com)
• Motörhead (imotorhead.com) 

 

What Sean’s listened to recently

• Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds (nickcave.com)
• David Byrne (davidbyrne.com)
• Ray LaMontagne (raylamontagne.com)
• Madame Butterfly (metopera.org/discover/synopses/madama-butterfly)
• Turandot (metopera.org/discover/synopses/turandot)

 

Referenced in this episode

• Yes, David Byrne is really from Baltimore County! (baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1997-10-11-1997284003-story.html) 
• Sean’s college radio station still exists, and you can still call the studio today (wusc.sc.edu)
• “Don’t Give Up” (youtu.be/8LMB6K4rTGU) and “Let the Day Begin” (youtu.be/to2KasivROc) are great songs for cheering up late night callers who are having a tough time, according to Sean (trust him… he knows from experience 😉)

Signs of Myself | Rev. Paige Getty

Rev. Paige Getty and Valerie Hsu invite us to welcome 2021 with renewed intention in a service that explores the value and power of a certain kind of words—the names we give ourselves and others.

 

Speakers:

• Rev. Paige Getty, Valerie Hsu

Nell Quinn-Gibney & Ali Mark, Thespians on the Move

Nell Quinn-Gibney and Ali Mark take a break from packing (and procrastinating) for their BIG MOVE to NYC to chat with Hannah and Sara about their favorite memories from working in theater and how their childhood faith experiences shaped their current career interests. Most of you know Nell and Ali from their participation in the UU the Vote service on October 4, 2020. Hear how they got involved with UU the Vote and the inspiration behind Ali’s unforgettable Seuss-esque poem, “O the Votes You Will Vote!” 

Bonus story: Have you ever wondered how Hannah ended up at UUCC? Get the scoop when you tune into this conversation!

Referenced in this episode:

• "O the Votes You Will Vote!" by Ali Mark: uucolumbia.net/o-the-votes-you-will-vote 
• Agnes of God play: johnpielmeier.com/theater/plays/agnes-of-god/
• Urinetown https://www.mtishows.com/urinetown