August 30, 2026: “Our UU Transcendental History of Loving Our Interconnected Earth” The Rev. Stacey Mitchell
The UUA states: “Today, the theology and philosophy of the Transcendentalists seems quite tame, although in its own era it was highly radical. Transcendental thought has over time had an extraordinary impact on Unitarianism and on society. It gave rise to a uniquely American body of literature and to a reverence for nature as divine creation. It also challenged the very foundations of nineteenth century Unitarianism.” Rev. Stacey will explore the implications of Transcendentalism in our UU faith today.
Music: Vance Bass and Long Drink of Water.
August 23, 2026: “Life on Earth is Hell Enough” Kelsey D. Atherton, Pulpit Guest
Kelsey D. Atherton’s Universalist grandfather defined his faith as “life on earth is hell enough,” a phrase that unlocked a central contradiction of Kelsey’s own Universalist faith journey: how can he reconcile a belief in universal salvation without believing in any hell worse than what is experienced on earth? His answer is in the world as we live it, one whose horrors need no exaggeration, and one where the holy work of care and repair is in the hands of everyone. What we do here matters, and the existence of suffering on earth is sufficient reason to work to alleviate it.
Kelsey D. Atherton has been attending First Unitarian since his preschool days, and is a member of the interim transition team. He met his lovely spouse Alymay in a class talking about Our Whole Lives, and together they’re raising two fifth-generation Universalists, or at least will be once the toddlers can master sharing. He worked for a decade as a military technology journalist, before moving to work advocating for a kinder, more diplomatic, softer world.
Music: Lydia Clark.
Text Version Available Here
August 16, 2026: “The Search Committee Won’t Save You” The Rev. Jake Morrill
It is tempting to believe that somewhere out there is the minister who will heal our wounds, solve our challenges, and secure our future. Yet thriving congregations are not built by exceptional ministers alone. They are built by ordinary people who take shared responsibility for the life they want to create together. The search ahead matters. But perhaps the most important work is already underway.
Rev. Jake Morrill, a UU minister from East Tennessee, has consulted with this congregation throughout this year, supporting its resilience in a transitional time. A longtime UU minister, a former Chaplain in the US Army Reserve, and a licensed marital and family therapist, Jake is on the Faculty of the Bowen Center for the Study of the Family and is a consultant with the Family Business Consulting Group, through whom he helps family enterprises navigate challenging transitions. Jake and his wife, Molly, are the proud parents of two young adult children.
Music: Lydia Clark.
August 9, 2026: “The Bus as a Holy Place” Alymay Atherton, Pulpit Guest
Where in the City of Albuquerque do you encounter the divine search for truth and meaning? While many members of our congregation are returning to school in this new academic year, all of us can find new rituals for learning and spaces for connecting with our spirituality. For Alymay, one of the most holy spaces they experience outside of church is on the bus. They will share about how the bus became one of their most beloved spiritual places and how they bring Unitarian Universalist values on board with them and in the community as a bus rider advocate. This service will also include a Backpack Blessing for anyone interested. Bring your backpack, messenger bag, laptop sleeve (whatever represents your learning or work!) to receive a blessing.
Althea “Alymay” Atherton (they/them) is a community-based homemaker, toddler parent, and current chair of the City of Albuquerque’s Transit Advisory Board. They signed their first congregational book at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Winchendon, Massachusetts as a teenage convert. Alymay has been a member of First Unitarian Church of Albuquerque since 2016, where they teach the faith-based sexuality curriculum Our Whole Lives (OWL) and serve on the UUABQ Religious Education Council. They also ride the bus.
Music: Lydia Clark.
Text Version Available Here
August 3, 2026: “Social Justice for Introverts” The Rev. Erica Lea-Simka
“You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.” (Perkei Avot 2:21) Quotes like this are often shared with well-meaning “get out there and change the world” memes on social media. Many of us are not able to join large gatherings, or we have personalities and/or disabilities that make loud, public acts of social justice harmful to ourselves. How can we engage in bending the arc of the moral universe toward justice effectively while playing to our strengths? Inspired by the book Social Justice for the Sensitive Soul: How to Change the World in Quiet Ways by Dorcas Cheng-Tozun and 1 Corinthians 12:4-11.
Rev. Erica Lea-Simka [LEE Sim-kuh]. Rev. Erica (she/they) is a pastor, peacebuilder, parent, partner, perseverer, pilgrim, and plant-based nut. Pastor Erica has served Baptist and Mennonite congregations, most recently as Pastor of Albuquerque Mennonite Church from 2017 to 2025. They are currently The Journey Project (Thriving Churches Initiative) Grant Director for the New Mexico Conference of Churches and Southwest Representative for Mennonite Women USA.
Music: Lydia Clark
July 26, 2026: “When Your Church Disappoints You: Reflections on Relationship, Repair, and Covenant” The Rev. Emily Wright-Magoon
Martin Buber said: “The human being…is the promise-making, promise-keeping, promise-breaking, promise-renewing creature.” Rev. Emily, our Board President Bill Miller, and members Judy Goering and Jan Lee will reflect on the transformative power of staying engaged in community despite disappointment and through conflict.
Music: Sue Young, Rusty Nelson, and Vance Bass.
Text Version of Jan Lee’s testimonial available here
July 19, 2026: “Unitarian Universalism and the Crises of Life | Part 3 of 3: Facing our Mortality” The Rev. Emily Wright-Magoon
Unitarian Universalism has sometimes been accused of failing to provide sufficient comfort & guidance during the crises of life. This sermon series will refute that view, providing both theists and atheists with a (not the!) Unitarian Universalist approach to these common human struggles. We will draw from the ways “process theology” aligns with UU principles of relationship, interconnectedness, love, creation, and ongoing revelation/evolution. This week we will touch on concepts of nature, mystery, and legacy.
Note: There is no video available for this sermon. The text version is available here.
Music: Lydia Clark
July 12, 2026: “Understanding Our Families, Understanding Ourselves” The Rev. Sue Redfern-Campbell
How do we remember our growing up years, in our families of origin? And how do we experience those families now? Do we find blessing in our memories, and in current family experience? Or do we wish things were different? In her many years of ordained ministry, Rev. Sue has found the Family Systems Theory of Murray Bowen to be a powerful lens through which to view our families. She’ll share with us some key aspects of the theory, giving examples from her own life. This service will also include a ceremony to honor outgoing Board members and welcome new ones.
Rev. Sue has been a UU minister since 1985. She has divinity degrees from Harvard and Episcopal Divinity School, and has served congregations in both settled and transitional capacities. She moved to Albuquerque in 2012 to marry her late beloved, Chuck Campbell, a member of First Unitarian for almost 40 years. She still lives in the house they shared.
Music: Lydia Clark
July 5, 2026: “Load-Bearing Structures” The Rev. Dr. Jane Davis
Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber speaks of a “load‑bearing structure”—the steady, grounding force that holds us when life feels unstable. For her, that structure is God and the salvation she found in Jesus: “For me, Unitarian Universalist principles and values have long served as one of those stabilizing structures. Over time, I’ve come to understand that such support can take many forms, so long as they help us remain upright through trauma and change. The Karpman framework of the Drama Triangle and the Empowerment Triangle has become one of those supports in my own ministry. I have seen how often groups, including congregations, become caught in the cycle of victim, persecutor, and rescuer, and how transformative it can be to shift into the roles of creator, challenger, and coach. This framework can be grounding, helping us to remain compassionate, clear, and centered during trauma‑impacted work.”
Rev. Dr. Jane Davis grew up in a Southern Baptist family and first discovered Unitarian Universalism more than forty years ago. After a 25‑plus‑year career as an engineer in the nuclear power industry, she answered the call to ministry in 2015 and enrolled at Meadville Lombard Theological School. She completed her ministerial internship at First U in 2020, and was ordained by this congregation in 2021. She went on to serve as a community minister in a Program Manager position with the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Project ECHO. She was granted Full Fellowship in February 2026, and completed her Doctor of Ministry in May 2026.
Music: Lydia Clark
Text Version Available Here and OOS Insert Available Here
June 28, 2026: “Sound Bath” Lydia Clark
We are Energy—Vibration—and it is present in every minute of every day in every thing. The flow of energy through our body, blood pumping through our veins, breathing air in and out, organs functioning, as well as external sources, affect our mind, body, spirits. This flow can be blocked, and when it is, we experience them in different ways that keep up from being whole, healthy and balanced. Sound Healing can change and disburse these blocks so that our “flow” is once more in harmony and balanced. This Sound Bath during the Strawberry Full Moon and celebration of Summer Solstice is a perfect time to act on intentions, make things happen, grow creative projects, relationships and deepen our self-love practices.
Music: Lydia Clark and Mark Clark
June 21, 2026: “Unitarian Universalism and the Crises of Life | Part 2 of 3: Finding Meaning & Purpose” Rev. Emily Wright-Magoon
Unitarian Universalism has sometimes been accused of failing to provide sufficient comfort & guidance during the crises of life. This sermon series will refute that view, providing both theists and atheists with a (not the!) Unitarian Universalist approach to these common human struggles. We will draw from the ways “process theology” aligns with UU principles of relationship, interconnectedness, love, and ongoing revelation/evolution. This week we’ll consider the questions “Why are we here?” & “How then shall we live?”
Music: Lydia Clark
Text Version Available Here
June 14, 2026: “Flower Communion” The Rev. Stacey Mitchell
Flower Communion is a specific tradition rooted in our UU faith during WWII. Rev. Stacey will share the values deep within our faith that contributed to Flower Communion—honoring the beauty in every person. Bring a Flower to exchange with others (if you can’t or forget, there will be flowers at the service for all). The RE team will be offering a “Bridging Ceremony” to honor graduating kids this year.
Music: Robin Korevaar, Max Reilly, and Vance Bass
Text Version Available Here
June 7, 2026: “Unitarian Universalism and the Crises of Life | Part 1 of 3: Pain” The Rev. Emily Wright-Magoon
Unitarian Universalism has sometimes been accused of failing to provide sufficient comfort & guidance during the crises of life. This sermon series will refute that view, providing both theists and atheists with a (not the!) Unitarian Universalist approach to these common human struggles. We will draw from the ways “process theology” aligns with UU principles of relationship, interconnectedness, love, and ongoing revelation/evolution. This week we will touch on concepts of pain, suffering, evil, and freedom.
Music: Lydia Clark.
Text Version Available Here
May 31, 2026: “Collective Liberation” The Rev. Stacey Mitchell
Music: Lydia Clark.
May 24, 2026: “Our Mural: A Symbol of Symbols” The Rev. Christine Robinson, Minister Emerita
The mural of spiritual symbols which forms the backdrop of our worship has formed and informed this congregation for 62 years. Christine will tell us about some of its history, its many meanings, and how it can remind us of who we are as Unitarian Universalists. The Puppets will also have some opinions to share.
Text Version Available Here
Music: Tom Godfrey, jazz guitarist.
Christine was the minister of First Unitarian from 1988-2017. She still helps out around the place when asked, but mostly enjoys participating as a member of the congregation.
May 17, 2026: “Where Everything is Music” Susan Peck
Susan Peck celebrates her retirement after 10 years as Director of Music at First Unitarian, in a musical service featuring Chalice Choir, Cantabilis, Spare Parts, and plenty of congregational singing.
May 10, 2026: “The Great Mother and Me” Bryan Hackett
A few years back, Bryan began directing his prayers to the Great Mother, having spent most of his life in Patriarchal religion with prayers directed to ‘Our Father’. Bryan keeps an eye out for synchronicities (in a pagan sense) and will share a story or two. His best practice is to just go out for a few hours of silence to hear what the trees are saying!
Music: Susan Peck and Jess Martin, with a Sol Singers sound bath in the foyer before worship.
Bryan Hackett is First Unitarian’s Director of Finance & Operations, first joining the staff as our Accountant in November 2022. A lifelong New Mexico native with over 30 years in ministry, Bryan has journeyed into Unitarian Universalism over the last 10 years or so.
Text Version Available Here
May 3, 2026: “Heartwork: Honoring Your Gifts to Ignite Healing” Tanaya Winder
Heartwork invites us to live our values by planting seeds of compassion and radical love—nurturing ancestral strength for future generations. Understand how storytelling can be medicine and remember that serving others is sacred work grounded in our commitment to be healing beings.
Music: Lydia Clark
Tanaya Winder is an author, singer/songwriter, poet, motivational speaker and educator who comes from an intertribal lineage of Southern Ute, Pyramid Lake Paiute, Diné and Duckwater Shoshone Nations where she is an enrolled citizen. She blends storytelling, singing, and spoken word to teach about different expressions of love (self love, intimate love, social love, community love, and universal love). https://tanayawinder.com
April 26, 2026: “Youth and the Interconnected Web of Life”
The amazing youth in our congregation chose the theme, music, and readings for this service, and wrote reflections to guide the congregation. The service also includes a child dedication ceremony for seven children and youth, and a special ritual to say goodbye to our Director of Congregational Life, Laira Magnusson, and her family.
April 19, 2026: “Earth Day” The Rev. Stacey Mitchell
Music:Susan Peck with Cantabilis.
April 12, 2026: “Come to Jesus: Some Things My Mental Illness Taught Me” Christina Socorro Yovovich
How did rejecting the shame and stigma surrounding their mental illness help Christina root more fully into our beloved community? How can listening to all the parts of yourself bring you strength? Come contemplate through story and reflection. The service will include a farewell ritual for Rev. Beth Elliot, our departing Associate Minister. After the service, there will be a short reception for her with some special music led by Susan Peck.
Music: Lydia Clark, Staff Musician.
Christina Socorro Yovovich’s pronouns are she/her/they/them. She has been a member of First Unitarian since 2014. Their family roots begin in Mexico and Montenegro and the labels they claim for themself include writer, mother, artist, bipolar, autistic, fat, person with PTSD, and wisdom seeker.
April 5, 2026: “Easter: Resurrection & Reincarnation” The Rev. Stacey Mitchell
A reflection for Easter on resurrection and reincarnation, through a look at Jesus, Buddhism, and the earth.
Music: Susan Peck and Chalice Choir, with Lydia Clark, Vance Bass, Chris Paul.
March 29, 2026: “Palm Sunday: Jesus as Social Justice Advocate” The Rev. Stacey Mitchell
Rev. Stacey will reflect on how Jesus related to power, and what was historically happening that led to his death.
Music: Lydia Clark & Susan Peck
March 22, 2026:Spring Equinox The Rev. Stacey Mitchell
Celebrating our connection to light and our interdependence with nature.
Music: Cantabilis, with Leslie Bowen, Emily Moore, Erika Nielson, Susan Peck, Michele Spiro, Celia Yapita.
March 15, 2026: “The Truth in our Stories” Scott Kasmire, Pulpit Guest
Humans are story-making animals. As Unitarian Universalists, we both share our stories and tell a shared story. How we do that impacts not only how we feel about ourselves, but also how we change the world.
First U member Scott Kasmire joined Unitarian Universalism in the mid-1990s as a twenty-something. As a fifty-something, he can be found teaching high school math at the Alamo Navajo Reservation or spending time with family at Laguna Pueblo.
Music: Lydia Clark
March 8, 2026: “Becoming Water: Courage, Radical Love and Ancestral Practices for Fire Times” Natty Averett, Pulpit Guest
How can we face our fears, do what’s right, be loving, be resilient and stay sane amidst internal and external turmoil? We’ll consider how to grow our courage, foster radical love within ourselves, and look to our ancestors to support our spiritual intuition and build our resilience.
Natalia “Natty” Averett (they/(s)he) is a gender-fluid, sapiosexual Black American and Afro-Caribbean Latiné person of African, European and indigenous North and Central American heritage. A long-time UU and Insight (Vipassana) meditator, as a young adult Natty served as president of a 1000+ member UU congregation while also serving as a trustee on both their local district UU board and the national UUA Board.
Music: Sol Singers, under the direction of Susan Peck.
Text Version- Sermon and service elements
March 1, 2026: “Interfaith Mystics and Pluralism” The Rev. Stacey Mitchell
Exploring Unitarian Universalism’s value of Pluralism, and the influential spiritual traditions of Reb Zalman, Krishnamurti, and Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan.
Music: Chalice Choir, under the direction of Susan Peck.
