(Important: All times, events, etc., are tentative at the moment)
Friday, April 26
7 pm Ingathering program followed by a Beach Party
Saturday, April 27
8:30 am Youth-led worship service, followed by youth conference activities through the day
9:30 am Keynote: Upcycling Church Music for Deeper Engagement
Donald Milton III, director of music at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta
Are we engaging our congregants on the deepest and most meaningful levels? Are we impacting their lives through our worship services to the point that they want to go out into the highways and byways to spread compassion, grace and radical hospitality? In this keynote presentation led by Donald Milton III, together we will explore new ways of approaching hymns, music, readings, rituals and sermons to make them more meaningful, impactful and fully engaging.
Donald Milton III is a conductor, performer, clinician and educator. He is the full time director of music at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta, the largest UU congregation in the Southeast. At UUCA, Milton runs one of the most eclectic and exceptional music programs in the UU movement. Milton has recently been named artistic director of the Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus, the second oldest GLBT chorus in the country. Active in the Atlanta music scene, he has served as executive director of the Atlanta Master Chorale and artistic director of the Dekalb Choral Guild. An expert in vocal pedagogy, Milton has traveled the U.S. and the world working with choirs and giving lectures.
10:30 am Shaping the Future of the UU Movement – UUA Commission on Institutional Change
Why does the work of the Commission on Institutional Change matter to your UU community? Come and learn about the work of the Commission and engage in a dialogue about the ways that systemic bias and racism are hindering our ability to adapt our living tradition to the demands of today. A presentation on the work of the Commission, including an exciting glimpse of what more inclusive UU spaces could look like will be given, with discussion and an information on how you can add your perspectives to this work. Attendees can expect to gain a better understanding of the conversation happening in UUism today, preparation for conversations at General Assembly, a glimpse of what a more inclusive UUism might look like and a chance to influence the process
12:30 pm Lunch, plus fundraising ice cream social sponsored by DeBenneville Pines
Social Justice Field Trip: How Your Congregation Can Partner With Local Grassroots Organizations
Join the UU College of Social Justice for this important experiential learning opportunity on effective grassroots partnership featuring Long Beach’s East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice.
Learn how your congregation can better partner with grassroots organizations and learn more about the East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice and its long-term partnership with the UU Church of Long Beach.
When we’re working to end oppression in the world, the last thing we want to do is re-create it — that’s why eye-to-eye partnerships are so important. One of our goals is to foster an exchange, a true meeting of equals, because we believe that we are all equal. We want to make sure that we come into partnership treating everyone with the dignity and respect that we all deserve. We offer concrete acts of solidarity, while honoring the vision, expertise, and self-determination of people on the ground. Collaborating with our partners makes the work of social justice deeper and richer, and it is also the only way to make the work effective and sustainable.
2-3 pm Workshops I
3:15-4:15 pm Workshops II
4:30 pm PSWD and DeBenneville Pines business meetings
Sunday, April 28
9 and 11 am Worship service and closing, followed by light refreshments