While you certainly know about the events that MLK Saratoga has organized for this weekend, I wanted to call your attention especially to two of the events with a UU connection.

First, on Saturday at 10am, Philomena Moriarty is leading a 90-minute online workshop on Nonviolent Communication practice. Nonviolent Communication (NVC) is based on the principles of nonviolence. NVC begins by assuming that we are all compassionate by nature and that violent strategies—whether verbal or physical—are learned behaviors taught and support by a culture of dominance. Nonviolent Communication is a path to growing authenticity and integrity, understanding and connection, as well as skills for restoration and reparation in response to conflict. The UU connection here is that Philomena is the spouse of Rev. Sam Trumbore, the minister of Albany UU.

The second event takes place on Sunday afternoon at 1 o’clock. Live-streamed from Caffe Lena will be a piece of historical theater called “O, Jerusalem.” The piece centers on the Unitarian Universalist minister James Reeb who answered Martin Luther King’s call to come to Selma in 1965. Rev. Reeb became a martyr for the cause of civil rights on March 11, 1965, after he and two other UU ministers were attacked by a group of white supremacists on the street after leaving a Black-owned restaurant. On March 15, 1965, Rev. Dr. King delivered the eulogy at Rev. Reeb’s memorial in Selma.

This theater is presented by Donald Hyman with Sister Amelia Paul and Kim Wafer of The Labor of Love Connection.
Please participate as you can in any and all of the events put together by MLK Saratoga! Once again MLK Saratoga has assembled a stunning range of excellent opportunities for learning, community, and service. You’ll find the whole schedule of events at MLKSaratoga.org.

Finally, I will be going on a month-long sabbatical from January 21 through February 20. I’ll be in San Diego, CA, for much of that time attending the “Institute for the Learning Ministry” presented by the UU Ministers Association and taking advantage of the opportunity to visit my mother and brother for the first time in over two years.

I won’t be attending to email while I’m gone, but if something urgent comes up please contact me by phone or text at 518-290-0284.