By Ann Kuffner
From 2014 to 2019, the Reverend Nancy Palmer Jones and Karin Lin crisscrossed the United States, visiting Unitarian Universalist congregations committed to building a truly inclusive, equitable, joyful, multicultural, antiracist Beloved Community. They absorbed all of the stories that they heard, the places they saw, the histories they witnessed, and the warm welcomes they received (or didn’t). They complemented these experiences with learning from books, articles, podcasts, movies, and their life experiences. They then poured everything into the book they co-authored: “Mistakes and Miracles: Congregations on the Road to Multiculturalism.” It’s this year’s UUA (Unitarian Universalist Association) Common Read. Rev. Nancy will share the story of her own transformation, as well as what she sees emerging as we UUs continue the journey.
In June 2022, after 17 years serving as the Senior Minister of the First Unitarian Church of San Jose, the Rev. Palmer Jones jumped from parish ministry into full-time community organizing as Director of Faith Leader Formation with Santa Clara County PACT (People Acting in Community Together). In addition to the previously mentioned “Mistakes and Miracles . . .”, she is the co-editor, with the Rev. Marjorie Bowens-Wheatley, of “Soul Work: Anti-racist Theologies in Dialogue.” Her earlier vocations included professional actor and freelance book editor. Throughout her life and diverse vocations, the unifying thread lies in her experience with the power of story to transform lives and deconstruct oppressive systems. She continues in this work with (her 2023 Words of the Year) “Steadfastness and Joy.”
Unitarian Universalism is a liberal faith inviting its community to gather around a set of harmonizing values and principles for living. Our UU Fellowship welcomes people of all ages, races, religions, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Belief in a divinity is not the central issue around which we gather for worship and generous action. Rather, we come together with a belief in community, love, compassion, social justice, reverence for nature, and the spirituality of music, all within the interconnected web of existence.
UUFSMA donates generously to support nonprofit organizations that provide health, educational, and environmental services for underserved communities in the San Miguel region. Please support this work by clicking on the website home page Donate button.
To participate in our online Sunday Service, visit www.uufsma.org and click on the Zoom Service button on the home page. If requested, enter password: 294513. Sign-in from anywhere Sunday mornings between 10:15-10:25am CST. Enjoy previous services at https://www.youtube.com/UUFSMA.
In addition to continuing live Zoom services, UUFSMA has returned to in-person Sunday services. Masks are optional, but a distanced area will be reserved for those preferring. UUFSMA meets at the hotel: Posada de la Aldea on Ancha San Antonio 15.
* Ann Kuffner is an UUFSMA Member
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Sunday Service
“Are We There Yet? Stories from the Road…”
Reverend Nancy Palmer Jones
Sun., Mar. 19, 10:30am
Posada de la Aldea Hotel
Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/414604040
Password: 294513
