All Souls Indianapolis

In 1907, Dr. Frank Scott Corey Wicks, All Souls' longest serving minister, delivered a sermon “Good Men In Hell”, that was reprinted the next day in the Indianapolis Star and published and reprinted by the American Unitarian Association over thirty times. It was among the most widely circulated Unitarian sermons, and posited the idea that the Unitarian mandate was to go to troubled places and be with troubled people. Where would we go and whom would we be with if we lived this mandate today? Rev. Anastassia preaching.

In 1819, William Ellery Channing claimed the slur "Unitarian", proclaiming distinct theological sources and establishing the grounding propositions of Unitarianism. 200 years later, how can we recenter Channing's message? What is our radical and real message to our times? Rev. Anastassia preaching.

This month we will explore the big theological ideas in Unitarian Universalism by returning to some of the most famous sermons, but the ideas that matter are the ones that are most central to our own ordinary and extraordinary lives. Come hear some of our All Souls members share the theological tenets that mean the most to them, and how they are in their lives.

Why does it only take a small minority to create major change? How have big change makers understood themselves, and developed an ethical and theological framework that allows them to remain in and channel a mighty stream for love, justice, compassion and change? Rev. Anastassia preaching.

On this Ingathering Sunday, we will come together as one community, formed from all the living generations, to bless each other through our water communion. As we begin our series “Let Justice Roll Down,” we will consider how the justice-making that we do collectively ought to begin with blessing, forgiveness, commitment, and love. Children and youth are invited to bring their backpacks to be blessed as they head into a new school year. All are invited to bring some water from a favorite local swimming hole, a kitchen faucet, or somewhere they've been this summer. Featuring Rev. Anastassia and the All Souls Choir.

The first Father's Day was a sombre event. It was held as a pastoral response to the Monogah Mining Disaster, which killed 361 men and 250 fathers in West Virginia. Today, we honor the sacrifice of fathers and all the fathering we have received and given.

On this Earth Day weekend and Easter Sunday, let us follow the example of the early Jesus followers, who told improbable and hopeful stories of Jesus' return. We need to become evangelists for the restoration of our planet and the rebirth of its biodiversity. As an act of ritual recommitment, we will also celebrate our Unitarian Flower Communion.  

Once we have seen the world and savored its beauty, then we know we are called to save it, both for itself and for ourselves. Let us dedicate ourselves to saving this earth.

Ralph Waldo Emerson recognized that the world is meant to be savored and we are designed to savor it. Why is the act of savoring essential for our spiritual lives?

No amount of teaching can parallel the assurance we get from first-hand experience. To see really is to believe, but what are we seeing in the world today?

The final book in the Harry Potter series is defined by what Harry and his friends don't know. Nevertheless, they are required to act anyway. What they knew, forgot, and discover -- love-- ultimately saves them. Come and claim these lessons for activism and living life for yourself in the concluding Sunday of our Harry Potter series. Rev. Anastassia preaching.

The term “adulting” has become a tongue-in-cheek term used by young adults to celebrate the completion of daily “adult” tasks such as paying bills. But what are the deeper responsibility of adults in our society? In Book 5 of the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the adults are waging a resistance against the Dark Lord Voldemort that they do not fully let Harry and his friends into. Though this frustrates the youth, the adults have a sense that the full fight is not yet for these teenagers. In an age where our most outspoken and arguably most effective activists against violence have been youth, how are we as adults measuring up? How might we fully embrace the responsibilities of being adults?

Sports have often been a metaphor for war and an outlet for human aggression and competition. In this fourth book in the Harry Potter series, J.K. Rowling intentionally blurs the line between "fictional" and real violence. In our own lives, we see that the rules of civility and order have begun to break down and that many Americans are forming opposing and radicalized camps. What are the signs of this happening? What does it call us to pay attention to?

Our fears paralyze us and prevent us from living fully. No matter what stage of life we are in, we are living with fears that hold us back. In the third Harry Potter book, Harry and his friends discover powerful tools to face their deepest fears - tools that will serve them throughout the series. Come and learn how memories of joy and love, and the timely use of humor and imagination, can help us face what frightens us the most.

In the second book of the Harry Potter series, Harry and his companions are faced with an ancient deadly secret, discover prejudice amongst their fellow witches and wizards, and are threatened by dark magic. It is only when they learn to share, be vulnerable, and lean on the help of their community that Harry and his friends are able to survive. Our high school youth reflect on this theme in this service with sermonettes.

In the first Harry Potter book, Harry encounters the Mirror of Erised, which shows the most desperate desire of a person's heart, a vision that has been known to drive men mad. Ancient myths and theologies too played with the metaphor of reflection, as a means to show what we often have trouble perceiving without assistance. In this case, the Mirror of Erised is a good reminder of the Buddhist practice of non-attachment.

Let’s explore what the next stage is beyond polarizing identity politics. This is a stage where one has claimed a particular identity, as well as identifying as anti-racist. What does this look like?

In an age of isolation and individualism, intentionally building communities of care is countercultural. All Souls is a congregation that declares that all of us are whole and worthy of care and love. How do we experience this as transformative, and how can we more fully grow into this identity? Rev. Kayla Parker preaching.