The death of Pope Francis last month and the selection of Pope Leo got me to thinking about The Catholic Church and some powerful women I have encountered in that very patriarchal faith tradition. Those Popes and those women have offered to me messages of love and liberation that can reverberate far beyond the Sistine Chapel, perhaps even into our progressive Unitarian Universalist Congregations.
We deepen our knowledge and awareness of Juneteenth and the legacy of racism/slavery in our state with the showing of the PBS documentary, “Road to Sunrise”. The film tells the story of Taylor Stewart’s journey from learning about Oregon’s history of lynching to his committment to Rememberance, Repair and Redemption. Our members Sylvia Marr and Constance Palaia as well as Grants Pass activist Gabi Johnsen are featured in the documentary. Join us as we share reflections about our history as a sundown town.
Hope as resistance is a powerful message, reminding us that holding onto hope is not passive it’s a radical act of defiance against despair. Professional Speaker and UU Seminarian, LaVonne Limpus, will present “Hope as an Act of Rebellion” at the Unitarian Universalists of Grants Pass 10:30 Sunday Service, June 1, 2025. Unitarian Universalists embrace justice, love, and the inherent dignity of every person and often see hope as an active force, and commitment to building a better world rather than merely wishing for change. In her sermon, Limpus will explore how being hope-filled in a colonialized construct challenges systems of oppression.
