All Souls Indianapolis

 Karen Armstrong, in her studies of the major world religions, identified compassion as the plumb line that helps keep a religion oriented towards its core purpose. There is much in the world today that makes our heart ache; come hear Rev. Anastassia share how compassion helps break our hearts open instead of becoming brokenhearted.

Guest speaker Leah Gunning Francis.

 Unitarian Universalists have often prided themselves on their education and achievements. Our collective contributions have been significant and meaningful. Nonetheless, we continually discover that we have more to learn. This first Sunday in our Spiritually Disciplined series, we will consider the gifts that humility has to offer us as a spiritual practice and as a mode for engaging the world. Rev. Anastassia preaching.

 The best way to teach our children is to be and to show: how we behave and how we engage with the world are much better predictors of how our children will do that all the books we’ve read about parenting could teach us. Rev. Anastassia preaching.

 Cultivating change and closing the disengagement divide": Brene Brown holds that we disengage for two reasons: to protect ourselves and because we feel that the people who are supposed to be leading us are not living up to the social contract. Where do we see this problem in our families, communities, and businesses? Rev. Anastassia preaching.

Disruptive Engagement: Daring to rehumanize education and work": Brene Brown analyzes the way shame permeates our culture in schools and organizations. She says people in leadership roles bully, critize and set up rewards systems that belittle, shame and humiliates students, employees - and well simply put PEOPLE. Come hear our youth name the characteristic of this shame-based culture, where they have witnessed it, and their recommended practices.

Understanding And Combating Shame: In Brené Brown's book Daring Greatly, she states that shame draws its power from being unspeakable. Building awareness about shame and sharing our stories are thus two of the ways that we can work to diminish its power over us and our lives. Rev. Seth Carrier-Ladd, a Certified Daring Way Facilitator, joins us as we explore cultivating empathy and self-compassion as we work to build our shame resiliency.

Vulnerability Armor: Even though we have many misconceptions about vulnerability - that it is weakness or oversharing, for instance - many of us are experts in avoiding it. Author Brene Brown talks about how we try to avoid and protect ourselves from vulnerability. So come join, Rev. Anastassia as we explore together what vulnerability is and isn't, and to recognize when we are trying to avoid it.

During this intergenerational service we will honor the transitions and celebrations in the lives of our members through poetry and naming. Help us mark family additions, high school graduations, member departures, weddings, and deaths. Featuring readings, enactments, and music by the All Souls Choir and Alex Milligan.

The Christmas season is one of hope and love but also one of giving and accumulating "things". In Dickens' Sketches by Boz readers are introduced to the middle classes of Victorian England through the items found in resale shops. Lets examine what the literary device of the object story can teach us about untold stories from overlooked legs of our journeys. Nasreen Khan guest preaching.  

The All Souls Choir presents its annual holiday program. This year's service features music for brass and chorus, including American composer Daniel Pinkham's Christmas Cantata. Pinkham served the Unitarian Church for 42 years as the organist for King's Chapel in Boston, Massachusetts. All Souls welcomes a brass quintet from the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and organist Justin Stahl.

 In biblical literature and within the Star Wars narrative we seek that those perceived as the underdog triumph over militarily stronger (and often imperialistic) adversaries. Let's review how David, Jesus, and Luke strategically approached their fights, and what we might want to think about as we consider American democracy. Rev. Anastassia preaching.

Jamie Hinson-Rieger, guest preaching.

Few hero narratives (other than Harry Potter!) have been part of the common lexicon in the United States over the past 40 years as much as those in the Bible and those found within the Star Wars movies. Both texts help us ponder our humanity: where we find hope, what corrupts us, what saves us, is there justice, and what we make of redemption. In this season of anticipation (of The Rise of Skywalker on Dec. 20 and of Christmas), come let us reflect as we prepare for the world that is yet to be. Join us Dec 1, 8, and 15 for our The Force Is With Us series.

  In this final Winnie-the-Pooh service, Rabbit desires to teach Tigger a lesson. Come join these lovable characters as they grapple with life being uncomfortable, confusing, even unfair - just as many of our own days are. What can Rabbit, Pooh, and Tigger teach us about navigating the more complex moments of life? Come enjoy this multigenerational community, and invite a dear one.

"The Community of 100 Acre Woods": The Winnie-the-Pooh stories and characters remind us that, though they represent deep and nuanced philosophical traditions, what is abidingly true is that they are a community. In this weeks sotry, we will learn alongside the characters how to respond when a birthday (Eeyore's of course!) is forgotten. All ages are welcome in this service. Please consider bringing a friend or family member to experience the Winnie-the-Pooh charm with you.

November 10 -"The Tao of Pooh":Benjamin Hoff, author of a smash bestseller by the same title, explains with ease and aplomb that rather than being a distant and mysterious concept, Taoism is as near and practical to us as our morning breakfast bowl. Join us as we romp through the enchanting world of Winnie-the-Pooh while soaking up invaluable lessons on simplicity and natural living. Rev. Anastassia preaching.  

Dia de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead): During this multigenerational service we will honor the lives of our loved ones who have died. You are invited to bring a photo or a small memento to place on our ofrenda during our time of celebration. With Rev. Anastassia and the All Souls Choir.

"Time to Disconnect and Reconnect": The expectation that we will regularly check-in via our cell phones and social media has become ubiquitous and its poor health effects have been documented. How can practices of Sabbath help us establish preservative boundaries in our lives? What will such practices make available to us? How can we become connected by disconnecting?