Rev. Carmen Emerson
BBUUC Affiliated Community Minister
And Claudia Marshall
BBUUC Board Trustee, Social Action and READI Ministry Chair
present
“If Not Us, Then Who? If Not Now, Then When?”
Linda Mowers, Worship Leader
Dr. Gary Smart, Accompanist
Swing and a Miss, Guest Musicians
The sermon title is a direct quote from civil rights leader John Lewis, who challenged us towards “good trouble” in our collective social justice and anti-racism efforts. The sermon will be an honest conversation between two women, Claudia Marshall and Rev. Carmen Emerson, one a Black UU lay leader, one a White UU minister (ordained and fully fellowshipped) who reflect on why we are called, as a UU congregation, to engage in a study of the proposed 8th Principle.
Don’t forget to bring your loose change (paper bills also accepted) for our first-Sunday Pennies from Heaven collection benefitting The Clothes Closet & Food Pantry serving the people of Clay County.
About our Speakers:
Rev. Carmen Emerson is the Affiliated Community Minister in covenant with BBUUC. Her work as an ordained UU minister in full fellowship happens within the wider Jacksonville community as the Lead Chaplain for Baptist Medical Center Nassau. She is a BCCI/APC Board-Certified chaplain, and her experience as a parish minister includes ten years of full-time service to our UU congregations in Albuquerque, NM (contract); Meadville, PA (called); and Nashville, TN (called).
Claudia Marshall is a native of Jacksonville, Florida She attended local public schools and graduated from Ribault Senior High School. She is a graduate of Bethune-Cookman College an HBCU, with a B.A. in Political Science. Claudia is retired, a former Duval County Public School Teacher for 25 years teaching World History, American Government, American History, and Advanced Placement classes in Government and Micro and Macro Economics. Claudia later obtained her master’s degree in Post and Secondary Education from Capella University. She has been married to Donald Marshall for 37 years whom she met in college, and they have one son, Hamilton, who lives in Tucson, Arizona. Claudia enjoys being a member of Buckman Bridge and is a Board Trustee, as well as leading Social Action, the READI ministry (Racial Equity, Accessibility, Diversity, and Inclusion), and is a Worship Leader on the Worship Team. A creative person, Claudia enjoys many activities such as sewing, knitting, card making, gardening, and taking care of her pets. She also enjoys occasionally singing and playing musical instruments.
About our Guest Musicians:
SWING AND A MISS: The group name, borrowed from baseball, represents the makeup of this ensemble which includes four men and one woman. Their musical backgrounds and experiences cover much of the map of the world. Also, the combination of flute and/or saxophone, vibraphone, bass, drums, and piano is somewhat unique in the jazz world. All these musicians perform in various other musical ensembles but have made performing in this group a priority. Their primary specialty is swing-styled jazz, but they are constantly looking at alternative musical styles to include in their repertoire.
(NOTE: Swing and a Miss will perform a mini-concert after the service!)