Friday, April 13, 2012

7:00 to 10:30 PM

Now that the celebration has completed, you can watch a recording.

Friday evening will begin with a multigenerational program featuring the banner parade,  a welcome from the District and the local hosts, and the keynote speaker.

After the Opening Celebration and Keynote Speaker, a Social Hour featuring a jazz band and an cash bar will be available.

Banner Parade

Remember to bring your church banner!

• We will hold our traditional Banner Parade with slides of each congregation on Friday evening. Please bring your congregation’s banner and pole for the parade!
• To learn more about creating a banner and pole, visit
  http://www.uua.org/documents/gaoffice/bannerspecs.pdf .

Welcome

Our local hosts from White Bear UU Church in Mahtomedi, Minnesota have been invited to share with us an in-gathering observance practiced in their congregation for many years.   Mindful of our conference theme, War and Peace, we will recognize those among us who are veterans of past military service, those currently serving in the armed forces and their loved ones, those who have been active war resistors and those who have served as Conscientious Objectors, and all who have lost their lives in war.  Together, we represent many generations, a myriad of spiritual orientations, personal theologies and defining experiences, and varying political opinions - yet still we say: We need not think alike to love alike.  As Unitarian Universalists, we will gather in one strong body, holding all together the hard and beautiful questions of peace and war.

Keynote Address: The Glory of Courage and the Joy of Reconciliation

Jim Eller will speak about his past work on issues of reconciliation, and his current work with Faith Voices, an organization addressing issues of "moral injury" experienced by our troops when they are asked to do things against their conscience.

Rev. Jim Eller

Rev. Jim Eller, Emeritus Minister of All Souls UU Church in Kansas City, recently retired to Oklahoma City, where he continues to preach as an advocate for the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee and for several congregations in the state.

Jim serves on the board of Faith Voices, an organization that brings national attention and healing to troops who have experienced "moral injury," occurring when they have been ordered to act against their conscience. Issues of peace and reconciliation have been lifelong concerns for Jim, a Conscientious Objector during the Vietnam War. He has traveled to Israel, Jordan, the West Bank and Gaza as a part of a UU peace effort.

Jim is a lifelong UU whose career focus has been in justice-seeking ministries, Congregation-Based Community Organizing, and advocating for peace, the environment, people living with AIDS, and women’s reproductive rights.

Social Hour

After the Keynote Speaker, a Social Hour with live music by the Delphi Quartet and a cash bar will be available. Delphi Quartet plays a mix of blues, Brubeck, broadway, ballads and Beatles, with Basie and Bird (Charlie) in the mix.  Delphi also plays great Latin and standards.  During the Social Hour, you will hear a selection of styles to relax to as you talk with your friends and make new friends. Enjoy!