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Special Guest

November 5 – “Ozark Folk and Medicine Traditions”

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In this service, guest speaker Brandon Weston teaches us about the foundations of Ozark folk healing and magic, focusing especially on what has driven and supported traditional healers for generations and how these foundations can be interpreted for us in the modern world. Brandon Weston is a spiritual healer, folklorist, and writer living in the Arkansas Ozarks. From his website: “My work is a living tradition. It’s the work that Ozark healers have been doing for hundreds of years. You can see many different cultures and traditions represented in Ozark folkways. These beliefs and practices, much like the Ozark people who created them, are a mixture of many places, beliefs, and ways of life.” Find out more at: https://www.ozarkhealing.com/about-me.html

To view the Order of Service, CLICK HERE.

May 7 – “Seeding the Future: Cherokee Ethnobiology”

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We are pleased to welcome Feather Smith, Ethnobiology Manager for the Cherokee Nation! Feather shares with us how the Cherokee people interact with their environment, including a discussion of Cherokee Heirloom crops and the Cherokee Nation Seed Bank. Join us for this uplifting and informative conclusion to our spring series on Earth Care.

Full service:

To view the Order of Service, CLICK HERE.

November 13 – “Spiritual Revolution”

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Summer Osborne is an award winning singer-songwriter, Artist Activist, Motivational Speaker, and Spiritual Collaborator who entertains audiences throughout North America with a fusion of music and spoken word. Her platform is creating space for humanity to heal and grow, while facilitating the shift that she calls a “Spiritual Revolution.”

Full service:

To view the Order of Service, CLICK HERE.

October 23 – “Supporting Our Hispanic Neighbors”

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Our second UU Principle calls us to “Justice, equity and compassion in human relations.” There are so many opportunities for us to live those words, and our guest speaker, Margarita Solórzano, shares about the Hispanic Women’s Organization of Arkansas and tell us what we can do to support our Hispanic neighbors here in NWA!

To view the Order of Service, CLICK HERE.

Learn more about HWOA:

[Read more…] about October 23 – “Supporting Our Hispanic Neighbors”

June 26 – “A Time for Projects of Worth”

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What elements make for a meaningful life? And how is the stress of the current social and political climates a unique opportunity for enhancing the quality of our lives?

Speaker Info: Dr. Doug Krueger is a professor of Philosophy and World Religions at NWACC. He has spoken at UUFF annually for several years in a row, and it is always a pleasure to take in his calm spirit, unique perspective, and wealth of knowledge.

To view the Order of Service, CLICK HERE.

June 19 – “Juneteenth: More Than a Celebration”

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Special guest D’Andre Jones (click here to read bio) speaks about the very important federal holiday of “Juneteenth,” which was established in commemoration of the emancipation of enslaved black people in the United States. D’Andre emphasizes how Juneteenth is so much more than a celebration. It’s a call for equity, justice, and empowerment!

To view the Order of Service, CLICK HERE.

May 1 – “Climate Justice Spotlight: Our Marshallese Neighbors”

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With guest speaker, Melisa Laelan! This service brings attention to the defining issue of our time, climate change and particularly climate justice. Yale Climate Connections tells us that “Climate justice is a term, and more than that a movement, that acknowledges climate change can have differing social, economic, public health, and other adverse impacts on underprivileged populations. Advocates for climate justice are striving to have these inequities addressed head-on through long-term mitigation and adaptation strategies.” As UU’s, our seventh principle is Respect for the Interdependent Web of Existence, of which we are a part. Climate change is a threat to our interdependent web, and as such this UUFF service acknowledges how the climate crisis is affecting our daily lives and mental health. Most gratefully, we hear from Melisa Laelan, Director and Founder of the Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese, who shares from her experience of climate change and its disproportionate impact on the Marshallese community. We share some ways the UUFF community is making a difference toward mitigation and adaptation, as well as possibilities for our future efforts. Join us as we reflect on where we are, what we can do and how we can support one another in our current and continuing climate crisis.

To view the Order of Service, CLICK HERE.

April 3 – “Trans Truth”

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In this trans visibility service, Rev. Dr. Steven Gaines will interview trans singer-songwriter Skylar Conover, who will perform a couple of her songs. According to Skylar’s Facebook page, she strives “to make the world a better place.” She will discuss her experience and her use of music to process life, identity, and spirituality.

CLICK HERE to view the order of service.

March 13 – “Being Peace in a World That Loves War”

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With guest speaker, Rev. Gary McAlpin. There is hardly a time in our existence as human beings when our world has not had wars and violence. While we individually may not be militaristic Super Power leaders of the modern world, we can make a difference in what seems to be a war-welcoming world. Let’s learn together how we can help bring more peace to our conflictual world.

To view the Order of Service, CLICK HERE.

February 27 – “Women Always Had More Courage: Rural Black Women and the Southern Tenant Farmers Union.”

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This Sunday, special guest speaker Dr. Cherisse Jones-Branch, will talk to us about a very important and very under-represented piece of history. Studies on the Southern Tenant Farmers Union (STFU), have done little to center the experiences of its women members. Rural Black women were among the STFU’s most active members. This talk will focus on the activism of three African American STFU members: Carrie Dilworth, Lula Parchman, and Eliza Nolden – all of whom were agricultural laborers who were deeply involved in the organization.

To view the Order of Service, CLICK HERE.

[Read more…] about February 27 – “Women Always Had More Courage: Rural Black Women and the Southern Tenant Farmers Union.”

January 16 – Walk with Us

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WALK WITH US is a music video created by artists around the country, expressing the initial horror of the George Floyd murder and encouraging continued conversation and advocacy toward change. Join us as we meet to discuss the video and contemplate the issues together. Special Guests joining us: Willa Moore, singer/songwriter, creator of WALK WITH US, Chicago; Kristin Phantazia Smith, WWU Community Liaison, Little Rock; Kym Franklin, gospel arrangements, Atlanta.

Post-Service Additions: CLICK HERE to watch the WALK WITH US video, and CLICK HERE to view a list of the 12 Action Steps you can take to help make this world a better place.