Borderlands UU Sunday Worship
We are pleased to introduce our new Transitional Minister:
Rev. Seth Wispelwey. He is an organizer, consultant, activist and pastor. Ordained in the UCC, he has worked closely with UU congregations and national staff throughout his career. Before coming to Borderlands UU, Seth spent years organizing, equipping and mobilizing people of faith and conscience in efforts to meaningfully impact farmworker rights, human trafficking, AIDS, hunger, poverty, and white supremacy. He also specializes in coming alongside congregations in times of transition, reinforcing and building firm foundations for transformation and growth. Seth loves to spend free time gardening, cooking, walking his dog Willow, and sitting down for a great film. He grew up in Charlottesville, VA, and holds a BA from the University of Virginia and a Master’s in Pastoral Ministry from Boston College..
BORDERLANDS UU
Sunday, February 12, 2023, 10 a.m.
In person only
Rev. Seth
"Becoming"
Choir
February Calendar
February 26: Article II Review Project,
Janine Gelsinger of UUJAZ, who will remain
for open Q and A after the service
Join us following the service for coffee and conversation in our Gallery or Garden.
Unboxing Our Theology
October 3
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Rev. Bethany & Rev. Tina from the Baja 4 guide this Sunday's worship as we begin a month engaging the theme "Renewal." As theologies emerge and blend with ancient wisdom we can renew our faith tradition.
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CLICK HERE to watch
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Stories of Firm Ground
September 19
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Rev. Tina leads our Baja 4 Sunday worship this week. In words and through song she and the Baja 4 worship team bring us the stories of our UU faith's firm ground.
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CLICK HERE to watch
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The Story of Becoming
September 5
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Rev. Bethany shares a new story for our UU faith here in Southern Arizona: the story of becoming. In this story we become welcoming in a radically inclusive way.
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CLICK HERE to watch
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Story Interrupted
August 29
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Rev. Samantha and Rev. Bethany lead the Baja 4 Worship Team this week for "Story Interrupted." What story that we were telling has been interrupted over the last year? And what new story will we tell now?
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CLICK HERE to watch
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Weathering the Storm
August 22
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Rev. Matthew leads this Baja 4 worship naming the clarity our faith tradition have given us to weather the storm.
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CLICK HERE to watch
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Resilience by Community
August 15
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Rev. Robin Tanner, our Baja 4 consultant, is the guest speaker this Sunday. She names the resiliency called for today and shows us how it resides in our church and Baja 4 communities.
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CLICK HERE to watch
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Stories of Chaplaincy
August 8
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Join Rev. Tina and Rev. Karla Stone Brockie as they share stories of serving as chaplains with words, song, and music.
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CLICK HERE to watch
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Faith - Hope - Love
August 1
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Members and Friends from across the Baja 4 contribute tor this second service on Faith, Hope, and Love. (Our June 6th worship, "And the Greatest of These..." was the first.)
BUU's Barbara Lemmon, Randy Mitchell, Martha House, and Sonya Edwards share their artistry alongside several other UUs from the other churches as Rev. Matthew curates. |
CLICK HERE to watch
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The Power of Storytelling
July 25
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Throughout the month of July, Baja 4 worship services will be planned, recorded and edited by UU Church of Tucson Staff, Members, and special guest speakers.
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CLICK HERE to watch
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BUSTING BINARIES
July 18
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Throughout the month of July, Baja 4 worship services will be planned, recorded and edited by UU Church of Tucson Staff, Members, and special guest speakers.
This week, BUU's Martha House is a guest. She shares Wings by Christopher Myers as the Message for All Ages. |
CLICK HERE to watch
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Everyday Hero
July 11
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Throughout the month of July, Baja 4 worship services will be planned, recorded and edited by the Staff and Members of UUCT with special guest speakers.
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CLICK HERE to watch
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What Do We Do Now?
July 4
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Throughout the month of July, Baja 4 worship services will be planned, recorded and edited by the Staff and Members of UUCT with special guest speakers.
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CLICK HERE to watch
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Unitarian Universalist Association
General Assembly Worship
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This Sunday starting at 9am, BUU is sharing in our UUA's virtual worship service for General Assembly '21! You can view the prerecorded worship service by clicking on the link below.
CLICK HERE to watch
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All of You is Welcome:
A Pride Celebration
UUJAZ brings Pride to the Baja 4!
In collaboration with Janine Gelsinger, Executive Director of UUJAZ, Rev. Tina crafts the container for guests and familiar faces to celebrate our Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, plus identities during Pride month. CLICK HERE to see what UUJAZ is up to and DONATE to support their many justice efforts among UUs in Arizona and beyond! |
CLICK HERE to watch
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That Year We Spent on Zoom
June 13
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Rev. Samantha, Chris, and Jamili lead us in this worship service to seek meaning in a church year spent on Zoom.
Our Unitarian Universalist tradition encourages us to see the meaning in our lived experiences. Holding that this Zoom year didn't appeal to everyone, that is was challenging, that we need it to be over, we are invited through silence and music, empathy and sympathy, and through a medium that expresses distance and brings us into one another's heart: what did this year mean?
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CLICK HERE to watch
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And the Greatest of These...
June 6
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"And the Greatest of These..." is a worship service curated by Rev. Matthew. Led by the art, poetry, and music of nearly 20 Members and Friends of the Baja 4 congregations it explores Faith, Hope, and Love.
Our own John, Sonya, and Kristin share alongside folks from Sky Island, UU Church of Tucson, and Mountain Vista what they know of these three parts of the spirit. You are invited to witness, listen, ponder, "What it the greatest of these?" On August 1 there will be another worship service that offers original art, poetry, and music on this theme, if you would like to share something, please contact Rev. Matthew and he will help you make a recording: minister.borderlandsuu@gmail.com |
CLICK HERE to watch
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Follow Your Arrow
May 30
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Jamili Omar is the Director of Lifespan Faith Development with UUCT. In "Follow Your Arrow" she guides our Baja 4 congregation to recognize the myriad of spiritual wisdom among us.
Bring your understanding and experience to this worship, bring your curiosity, and bring your wonder so that we will listen, grow, and learn together. |
CLICK HERE to watch
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Bring Your Full Self
May 23
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Chris Tackett, our Baja 4 Music Coordinator, leads our third greatest hits worship this week, "Bring Your Full Self."
Hear the songs that have been particularly meaningful among our congregations and return to two stories told by Jamili and Rev. Matthew. Here's the line up:
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CLICK HERE to watch
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Gather & Glean
May 16
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Rylee Uhrich leads our Baja 4 worship naming the meaning of her internship among us: gathering and gleaning.
Rev. Matthew and Judy Harmer from our congregation join in the service inviting us all to acknowledge what we have gathered and gleaned through Rylee's internship over this last church year. |
CLICK HERE to watch
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Mother's Day
An 8th Principle Call to Action
May 9
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Happy Mother's Day!!!
Rev. Tina leads our Baja 4 worship into the meaning of Mother's Day and the call to action it offers us today. From Unitarian Julia Ward Howe's historic proclamation through contemporary words, story, music, and ritual, this worship guides us to recall the past and take action now for the future. |
CLICK HERE to watch
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Change with the Times
May 2
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Rev. Matthew heads our Baja 4 Team as it engages the meaning of Change in the past, present and future. This worship invites you to contemplate how Change is sacred and how it empowers you to make changes in yourself and our world today.
Joining in this worship are BUU Members Martha House and Jerry Leggett. They add their voices in ritual and song to engage us and deepen our relationship to Change. |
CLICK HERE to watch
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How to Transform a RelationshipApril 25
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Do you ever sense a conflict brewing in your relationships? Does that awareness make you feel like stepping back rather than leaning in? Would you rather avoid the conflict altogether?
This Baja 4 Worship lead by Rev. Samantha offers a means to understand how very natural this dynamic is and how to transform that relationship! The Baja 4 musicians share their words and music and Rylee and Rev. Matthew join in to share story and ritual in support of transforming our personal, congregational, and broader social relationships. |
CLICK HERE to watch
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Earth Day
April 18
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Rev. Tina and Rylee lead the Baja 4 in a reflection on Earth Day!
In images, words, and music our Baja 4 production team invites you to find your connection to the Earth and all the beings who reside upon it together. "All the Earth is sacred, all is worthy of repair." - Rev. Tina |
CLICK HERE to watch
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Practice
April 11
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This last year, we have learned new practices in our UU communities. Rylee and Rev. Bethany lead this Baja 4 worship to look beyond our practice of hope and into our practice of disappointment.
"This worship spoke to me deeply, naming the fullness within our BUU community in a time when we all wish this pandemic were over." - Rev. Matthew Additionally, this recording is Rev. Bethany's last as she prepares for the birth of her child. The Birth Blessing is a lovely moment to share with her and our Baja 4 community! |
CLICK HERE to watch
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Falling into Easter
April 4
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Happy Easter! This Easter Sunday our Baja 4 Worship Team falls into the Easter story and is caught and held by its renewing message.
In our new worship format, two ministers will now take on each Sunday together. So, Rev. Bethany and Rev. Matthew offer their feelings and thoughts through the lens of the Easter story as told in the Gospel of Mark. Together with our amazing Baja 4 musicians and Jamili Omar Director of Faith Development at UUCT, you are invited to fall and be caught by the Easter message! |
CLICK HERE to watch
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Proposed 8th Principle
Journey of Learning
March 28
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The Baja 4 returns to the proposed 8th Principle with a worship exploring how it is we learn together.
Rev. Samantha and Rylee lead us in pondering what we are learning and how we might learn more together on the journey of anti-racist and anti-oppression living. |
CLICK HERE to watch
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Radical Interdependence
Anniversary of Online Worship
March 21
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Can you believe it has been one year since the Baja 4 began to craft online worship?
This worship invites you to celebrate the emerging story of our four congregations in a pandemic finding that we are stronger together. SPECIAL FEATURE: Jody Bergedick, Baja 4 Editor and UUCT President, steps in front of the camera to share her unique perspective. |
CLICK HERE to watch
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In the Flesh
fake fights, taboos, & real talk
March 14
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Rev. Matthew leads "In the Flesh" worship this week in the last of the "fake fights, taboos, & real talk" arc. Along with the Baja 4 Team, he names our need to embody love of the world when we meeting again on Sunday mornings.
Rev. Matthew's invitation to find music that moves you and your body didn't quite make it into the video as planned. So CLICK HERE for a link to 126 different songs about dancing. Enjoy and move as your body calls you! |
CLICK HERE to watch
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Sacred Language
fake fights, taboos, & real talk
March 7
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Sacred language is the topic of our continuing worship arc this week. Our faith tradition relishes Six Sources of revelation, yet we seem allergic to the use of language that is sacred.
Rev. Samantha leads our Baja 4 worship team to explore our taboo against speaking reverential language and invites us to fill our empty silence with multilingual sacred language. |
CLICK HERE to watch
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Authority
fake fights, taboos, & real talk
Feb 28
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Our Baja 4 worship arc "Fake Fights, Taboos, & Real Talk" continues with an engagement of AUTHORITY. And, Rev. Bethany names in the homily:
The real talk about this taboo and fake fights is trust. With readings, music, and through the starting and ending ritual of our chalice, the Baja 4 Worship Team offer inspiring paths to engage and renew our trust of authority.
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CLICK HERE to watch
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Money!
fake fights, taboos, & real talk
Feb 21
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Money. A "taboo" topic within churches to be sure, brings our second week of our new arc "Fake Fights, Taboos, & Real Talk" to life.
Rev. Tina leads our Baja 4 Worship Team into what lies beneath our avoidance and offers the wisdom of our our engagement. In wise words, inspiring music, and cherished images we are invited to break with the taboo of openly discussing money to engages our relationships under the surface. |
CLICK HERE to watch
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Set Apart
fake fights, taboos, & real talk
Feb 14
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Our Baja 4 collaboration begins a new worship arc this week, "Fake Fights, Taboos, & Real Talk." If this theme feels peculiar for worship services, consider Rylee's observation in the Call to Worship:
...it is actually something we engage in a small way every week already. Our UU Principles guide us to search for truth even when it is buried under cultural taboos. Join Rylee and the Reverends as they introduce this arc and name the truths we will search for in the coming weeks.
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CLICK HERE to watch
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Proposed 8th Principle
The Spirit of Our Covenant
February 7
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Our covenants are crafted to the reviewed and renewed. After our worship arc "Covenant in Times of Uncertainty" we then move to explore a proposed renewal of our seven principle covenant: the 8th Principle.
Rylee and Rev. Matthew lead the Baja 4 Worship team in an exploration of listening to the spirit. |
CLICK HERE to watch
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Covenant in Times of Uncertainty
Ending & Renewing
January 31
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Our worship arc "Covenant in Times of Uncertainty" concludes with this worship by our Baja 4 team.
Rev. Tina explores "Ending & Renewing" our covenants as a foundational part of our living into Unitarian Universalist tradition. There's also an exclusive preview of the spring term for Beloved Conversations Virtual. Tune in if you are interested in joining that program and contact Rev. Matthew for more details! |
CLICK HERE to watch
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Covenant in Times of Uncertainty
Broken Covenant
January 24
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Uncertain times may lead us to know that covenant has been broken. As people of covenant what do we do then? Rev. Samantha and the entire Baja 4 Worship Team share a response that offers us, each and all, more belonging and more love.
Our worship arc "Covenant in Times of Uncertainty" continues into the space created for growth, renewal, and strength when covenants are broken. (And, if you want to witness how to wake up a baby, view the video all the way to the end.) |
CLICK HERE to watch
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Covenant in Times of Uncertainty
Practice of Covenant
January 17
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In these uncertain times, our Unitarian Universalist faith calls us to the practice of covenant. Our Baja 4 Worship Team, invite us to that practice in today's worship.
Rylee invites us to the Beloved Community. Rev. Matthew (and Magnus) tell a story of calling one another to covenant. Rev. Samantha and Shekela share a litany of atonement. Rev. Bethany reminds us that that together we live in the risky in-between space where we grow.Rev. Tina offers us a blessing. And Chris, Brian, Shekela and special guest, Andrew (MVUU), call to our hearts with sweet music. |
CLICK HERE to watch
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Covenant in Times of Uncertainty
January 10
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Designed by Rev. Matthew with wonderful assistance by our Baja 4 Production team, this worship starts a new arc concerning the cornerstone of our faith, covenant.
BUU's Beloved Conversations Pod members, Kristin, Julie & John, Patsy & Jerry, each give an escalator speech sharing their experience of this racial justice program and, John serenades us with "Hallelujah" while Juile's art graces us for the Musical Meditation. |
CLICK HERE to watch
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Baja 4 Vigil
January 7
In response to the January 6 insurrection at our nation's capitol and at the government buildings in many US states, our Baja 4 community joined together for a vigil. Click on the image above to watch the rough cut of this online vigil.
If you would like to view Rev. Matthew's response to these events from January 6, CLICK HERE.
If you would like to view Rev. Matthew's response to these events from January 6, CLICK HERE.
Our Best of 2020
January 3
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This Sunday is a retrospective of song and story. Orchestrated by Chris Tackett, our Baja 4 Music Coordinator, we share in the sounds and images crafted within our collaboration during 2020.
CLICK HERE to watch
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BUU New Year Ritual
If you are missing BUU's annual tradition of ringing out the year and bringing in the new, you can find a taste of this ritual in our self-guided New Year Ritual. CLICK HERE to find the music, memories, and motivation to make a resolution for 2021.
Season of Waiting
Journey to the Fire
December 27
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The Baja 4 concludes 2020 with a journey to the fire. A new year-ending ritual led by Rev. Lisa, Rev. Karla, and Rev. Christiane, our Community Ministers, Rev. Matthew and Rev. Bethany, join in to ask: what will you be transformed by and what will you let go of in the fire of 2020?
CLICK HERE to watch
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Season of Waiting
In the Bleak Midwinter
December 20
To Watch the December 20
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Season of Waiting
The Wisdom of Hanukkah
December 13
To Watch the December 13
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Season of Waiting
Gift of Abundant Love
December 6
To Watch the December 6
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Season of Waiting
November 29
To Watch the November 29
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Won't You Be My Neighbor?
Into the Neighborhood
November 22
To Watch the November 22
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Won't You Be My Neighbor?
Faith to Imagine
November 15
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We return to the "Won't You Be My Neighbor?" worship arc with a trip to the neighborhood of dream and imagination. In this ever shifting world, what are our dreams and images of our future? What are we called to create together? Our Baja 4 worship team invites you to join them in exploring these questions and more!
To Watch the November 15
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Or to listen,
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Finding Your Ground
November 8
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The Baja 4 pauses our theme "Won't You Be My Neighbor?" this week, so that we all might find our ground. Much more than a space that we can call our own, the ground we find as Unitarian Universalists is one rich with relationship.
To Watch the November 8
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Or to listen,
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Won't You Be My Neighbor?
Beyond Voting
November 1
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Janine Gelsinger returns to our Baja 4 worship to lift up in love the truths she has learned through this election and her vision of what comes next for us. Alongside her our Baja 4 worship team weaves a service to hold and guide us now and in the days to come.
To Watch the November 1
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Or to listen,
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Won't You Be My Neighbor?
Radical Welcome
October 25
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Alex Kapitan offers a message of radical welcome this week as our Baja 4 worship continues to deepen what it means to neighbor. Who do we imagine we welcome? What transformation opens us to live into our vision of a beloved neighborhood? Join us in worship and learning.
To Watch the October 25
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Or to listen,
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Won't You Be My Neighbor?
Democracy, Through My Eyes
October 18
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The Rev. Anthony Johnson is our guest preacher this week, as our Baja 4 deepens what it means to neighbor in these challenging times. Together we explore the potential in democracy as we live into our faith lifting up individual conscience through the secular ritual of voting.
To Watch the October 18
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Or to listen,
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Won't You Be My Neighbor?
October 11
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The Baja 4 worship team brings us a deep dive into the question "Won't You Be My Neighbor?" for the start of a new worship arc. Through song, story, ritual, and conversation among Rev. Matthew, Rev. Tina (SIUU), Rev. Bethany (UUCT), and Rev. Samantha (MVUU) we engage our need for neighbors through these challenging times.
To Watch the October 11
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Or to listen,
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Gather in Spirit!
Mountain Vista UU
October 4
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Our Baja 4 journey to gather the spirit concludes with our arrival at Mountain Vista UU. Rev. Samantha and MVUU folks lead our worship and invite us to envision what occurs as we mix the uniqueness of our four congregations in the Baja 4.
To Watch the October 4
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Or to listen,
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Gather in Spirit!
UU Church of Tucson
September 27
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Our Baja 4 road trip continues
as we visit the UU Church of Tucson! Rev. Bethany and the many members and friends of UUCT host this Sunday's worship and pose the question: Why to you go to church? To Watch the September 27
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Or to listen,
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Gather in Spirit!
Borderlands UU
September 20
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The Baja 4 is on the road!
This week we visit BUU to share the spirit of our people and place. Rev. Matthew heads up the Baja 4 worship leaders while BUU members and friends share their thoughts about what it means to B(e) UU today! To Watch the September 20
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Or to listen,
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Gather in Spirit!
Sky Island UU Church
September 13
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The Baja 4 goes on the road to visit Sky Island UU in Sierra Vista, AZ! Rev. Tina and her congregation share what they have been learning as we move through these times.
To Watch the September 13
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Or to listen,
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Gather in Spirit!
September 6
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Our Baja 4 ministers return this week to gather in spirit! Rev. Matthew, Rev. Bethany, Rev. Tina, and Rev. Samantha share in a conversation of what they've been learning this summer.
To Watch the September 6
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Or to listen,
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Songs & Hymn of UU Principles
Summer of 2020
This July and August the Baja 4 shifts to a summer program similar to BUU's summer worship. Members from all of four congregations will be stepping onto your screen offering their thoughts and reflections using the music of our seven principles.
Click on the titles below to watch our Baja 4 Sunday Service
Heartsongs, July 5 Introduction
Hymns & Songs of Affirmation, July 12 1st Principle
(click title above to see our own Diane Farone leading worship)
Hymns & Songs of Covenant, July 19 2nd Principle
Hymns & Songs of Growth, July 26 3rd Principle
(click title above to see our own Nancy Murphy and Martha House leading worship)
Hymns & Songs of Searching, August 2 4th Principle
(click title above to watch BUU's Martha House and Diane Farone)
Hymns & Songs of Conscience, August 9 5th Principle
Hymns & Songs of Community, August 16 6th Principle
(click title above to see our own Nancy Murphy sharing a story and personal reflection)
Hymns & Songs of Interdependence, August 23 7th Principle
(click on the title above and see our own Matilda and Evelyn participate in the story)
Hymns & Songs of Wholeness, August 30 8th Principle
(click title above to watch BUU's Martha House)
Hymns & Songs of Affirmation, July 12 1st Principle
(click title above to see our own Diane Farone leading worship)
Hymns & Songs of Covenant, July 19 2nd Principle
Hymns & Songs of Growth, July 26 3rd Principle
(click title above to see our own Nancy Murphy and Martha House leading worship)
Hymns & Songs of Searching, August 2 4th Principle
(click title above to watch BUU's Martha House and Diane Farone)
Hymns & Songs of Conscience, August 9 5th Principle
Hymns & Songs of Community, August 16 6th Principle
(click title above to see our own Nancy Murphy sharing a story and personal reflection)
Hymns & Songs of Interdependence, August 23 7th Principle
(click on the title above and see our own Matilda and Evelyn participate in the story)
Hymns & Songs of Wholeness, August 30 8th Principle
(click title above to watch BUU's Martha House)