Jennifer Bacmeister presents
a sermon written by
Rev. Lóre Stevens
Minister of Foothills UU Fellowship in Maryville, TN
“Universal-ish”
Linda Mowers, Worship Leader
Dr. Gary Smart, Accompanist
Mary Avery and Eileen Morrison, Harmonies
Unitarian Universalists say that though our individual beliefs vary widely, together we side with Love. That’s similar to the liberation theologians. We affirm that every person, from the privileged to the oppressed, has worth and dignity. Everything, from the harmed to the harmful, is connected in the interdependent web of being. But Unitarian Universalists side with those who are oppressed and hurting, to work for change until we are all free…
Don’t forget to bring your loose change (paper bills also accepted) for our first Sunday Pennies from Heaven collection benefiting First Coast No More Homeless Pets. Their mission is to make veterinary care affordable and accessible to all, as they save lives by keeping dogs and cats in homes and out of shelters. They operate the largest spay/neuter clinic in the country, with more than 20,000 surgeries a year targeting the animals most at risk of straining their partner shelters. They help people and their pets with affordable, accessible veterinary care through sustainable, industry-leading programs, services, and solutions. They are not a shelter but strengthen shelters with comprehensive programs like their Pet Food Bank, large-scale adoption events, and low-cost or no-cost spay-neuter programs.
About our Speaker:
Jennifer Bacmeister has been a member of BBUUC since 2001. She has served in many roles, including Worship Committee Chair, Building Task Force, Religious Education teacher, and Board Vice President. Jennifer is an accomplished Toastmaster, one of those rare birds that actually enjoy public speaking! After years of being a Worship Leader, she added writing sermons to her skill set. She has spoken at UU churches in Huntsville, Alabama, and right down the road in Palatka, as well as to our congregation. When not crafting services as a worship leader or writing sermons, Jennifer enjoys tending her backyard chickens, spoiling her grandchildren, and sewing (not always in that order!).
About our Sermon Author:
Rev. Lóre Stevens (rhymes with ‘story,’ she/her) is the contract minister for Foothills Unitarian Universalist Fellowship for the 2023-24 church year. Originally from Powell, Tennessee, Lóre attended college in Michigan and then worked for several years at the downtown branch of the Nashville Public Library, assisting folks experiencing homelessness with technology and social services. Lóre joined the First UU Church of Nashville and worked part-time as their Membership Coordinator before becoming an active lay leader and beginning the path to ministry. She received her Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School, served on the Board of the Church of the Larger Fellowship, and worked at the UUA New England Region and the UU Service Committee (an independent nonprofit). She completed her ministerial internship at First Universalist Minneapolis.
About our Member Musicians:
Mary Avery has been singing since the children’s Choir at First Baptist Church fifty years ago. She has sung in numerous church choirs, large and small, and in audition-only concert and a cappella choirs at university in Washington DC and Tokyo, Japan, as well as during overseas Foreign Service postings in Hong Kong, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Mexico City and Singapore. She enjoys being one of BBUUC’s song leaders.
Eileen Morrison has been playing the piano and singing in choirs since elementary school in New Jersey. She was selected as a member of the New Jersey State High School Chorus at one point. She joined BBUUC in 2011 and has been singing at church in the holiday services and on occasion with Linda Crawford, Viqui Hilliard, and Debby Jones.