The Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Podcast

In this episode of the Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (AUUF) podcast, our minister, the Rev. Marti Keller, talks about the values at the core of Unitarian Universalism. Unitarian Universalism is a religion of shared values rather than a doctrinal creed. This service was recorded on September 28, 2025. Chris Basgier, one of AUUF’s lay ministers, read the chalice lighting. — AUUF is a multi-religious faith community with shared values, including equity, justice, pluralism, interdependence, generosity, and transformation, all in the service of love. We believe each of us has the right to seek spiritual truth and develop our own theology rather than accept a single religious creed. AUUF is one of more than 1,000 Unitarian Universalist congregations around the U.S. and Canada. If you’re in the Auburn-Opelika (Alabama) area, we hope you’ll join us Sunday mornings at 10:00. Visit our website at auuf.org. Our theme music is “A Call to the Soul” by Folk Acoustic Music. It’s available on Pixabay.

In this episode of the Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (AUUF) podcast, we suggest a book to add to your reading list, possibly helping you build your personal theology: Christ for Unitarian Universalists by Scotty McLennan. Sylvia Rogers, a lay minister at AUUF, read this as part of her training and shares her impressions. — AUUF is a multi-religious faith community with shared values, including equity, justice, pluralism, interdependence, generosity, and transformation, all in the service of love. We believe each of us has the right to seek spiritual truth and develop our own theology rather than accept a single religious creed. AUUF is one of more than 1,000 Unitarian Universalist congregations around the U.S. and Canada. If you’re in the Auburn-Opelika (Alabama) area, we hope you’ll join us Sunday mornings at 10:00. Visit our website at auuf.org. Our theme music is “A Call to the Soul” by Folk Acoustic Music. It’s available on Pixabay.

In this episode of the AUUF podcast, our minister, the Rev. Marti Keller, describes the evolving religious landscape in the South and how Unitarian Universalism uniquely addresses the spiritual needs of a growing multi-faith kaleidoscope — including those who consider themselves spiritual but not religious. This was recorded at our service on September 14, 2025. Cindy Reinke served as the service associate and began the service with the chalice lighting. AUUF is a multi-religious faith community with shared values, including equity, justice, pluralism, interdependence, generosity, and transformation, all in the service of love. We believe each of us has the right to seek spiritual truth and develop our own theology rather than accept a single religious creed. AUUF is one of more than 1,000 Unitarian Universalist congregations around the U.S. and Canada. If you’re in the Auburn-Opelika (Alabama) area, we hope you’ll join us Sunday mornings at 10:00. Visit our website at auuf.org. Our theme music is “A Call to the Soul” by Folk Acoustic Music. It’s available on Pixabay.

In this episode of the AUUF podcast, Gary Lerude shares some ideas for nourishing your spirit during a busy and troubling time of the year. This was recorded at our service on September 7, 2025. Melanie Rains, who served as the service associate, read the chalice lighting. AUUF is a multi-religious faith community with shared values, including equity, justice, pluralism, interdependence, generosity, and transformation, all in the service of love. We believe each of us has the right to seek spiritual truth and develop our own theology rather than accept a single religious creed. AUUF is one of more than 1,000 Unitarian Universalist congregations around the U.S. and Canada. If you’re in the Auburn-Opelika (Alabama) area, we hope you’ll join us Sunday mornings at 10:00. Visit our website at auuf.org. Our theme music is “A Call to the Soul” by Folk Acoustic Music. It’s available on Pixabay.

One of the Sundays around Labor Day starts the program year for most UU congregations. Reflecting historical roots, the slower pace of summer affords ministers and church volunteers time to relax and recharge, time to vacation while children are out of school and the weather is nice. Many UU congregations celebrate the start of the new program year with a water service — sometimes called the Water Communion. Parishioners bring water to pour in a communal bowl at the front of the sanctuary, samples of water experienced during the summer. Symbolically, the Water Communion honors our individual journeys mixing to form the beloved community. In this episode of the AUUF podcast, Rev. Marti Keller shares the origin of the water service. AUUF is a multi-religious faith community with shared values, including equity, justice, pluralism, interdependence, generosity, and transformation, all in the service of love. We believe each of us has the right to seek spiritual truth and develop our own theology rather than accept a single religious creed. AUUF is one of more than 1,000 Unitarian Universalist congregations around the U.S. and Canada. If you’re in the Auburn-Opelika (Alabama) area, we hope you’ll join us Sunday mornings at 10:00. Visit our website at auuf.org. Our theme music is “A Call to the Soul” by Folk Acoustic Music. It’s available on Pixabay.

In this episode of the Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (AUUF) podcast, we recommend a topical book to add to your reading list: White Too Long: The Legacy of White Supremacy in American Christianity by Robert P. Jones. Jim Newton, a lay minister at AUUF, read this book as part of his training to become a lay minister and shares this summary. As you’ll hear, White Too Long provides an insightful discussion of the complicity of white Christians in sustaining white privilege since the end of the Civil War. The Trump administration has now made sustaining white privilege U.S. government policy through executive orders to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and to rewrite American history. AUUF is a multi-religious faith community with shared values, including equity, justice, pluralism, interdependence, generosity, and transformation, all in the service of love. We believe each of us has the right to seek spiritual truth and develop our own theology rather than accept a single religious creed. AUUF is one of more than 1,000 Unitarian Universalist congregations around the U.S. and Canada. If you’re in the Auburn-Opelika (Alabama) area, we hope you’ll join us Sunday mornings at 10:00. Visit our website at auuf.org. Our theme music is “A Call to the Soul” by Folk Acoustic Music. It’s available on Pixabay.

In this episode of the Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship podcast, we explore the post-pandemic version of “third places,” safe and welcoming spaces to build and maintain community. These places are especially important as more people are isolated working from home and fewer attend church. Perhaps these new safe places can help heal the polarization and loneliness in America. This service, recorded on Sunday, August 10, 2025, was presented by our minister, Rev. Marti Keller. Ralph Banks served as the Service Associate. AUUF is a multi-religious faith community with shared values, including equity, justice, pluralism, interdependence, generosity, and transformation, all in the service of love. We believe each of us has the right to seek spiritual truth and develop our own theology rather than accept a single religious creed. AUUF is one of more than 1,000 Unitarian Universalist congregations around the U.S. and Canada. If you’re in the Auburn-Opelika (Alabama) area, we hope you’ll join us Sunday mornings at 10:00. Visit our website at auuf.org. Our theme music is “A Call to the Soul” by Folk Acoustic Music. It’s available on Pixabay.

In this episode of the Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship podcast, we explore whether constructive conversations can help bridge the political polarization in this country. Can the insights of Martin Buber and Richard Rorty help? Gary Lerude explored this topic in a service on July 20, 2025. He is one of four aspirants for the lay ministry being trained by UU minister Rev. Marti Keller. AUUF is a multi-religious faith community with shared values, including equity, justice, pluralism, interdependence, generosity, and transformation, all in the service of love. We believe each of us has the right to seek spiritual truth and develop our own theology rather than accept a single religious creed. AUUF is one of more than 1,000 Unitarian Universalist congregations around the U.S. and Canada. If you’re in the Auburn-Opelika (Alabama) area, we hope you’ll join us Sunday mornings at 10:00. Visit our website at auuf.org. Our theme music is “A Call to the Soul” by Folk Acoustic Music. It’s available on Pixabay.

In this episode of the Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship podcast, we explore pluralism, one of the values adopted by the Unitarian Universalist Association at the 2024 General Assembly. Most of us have a sense of pluralism, but we may not understand the nuances: How is pluralism different than diversity? How does it relate to other values like respect, tolerance, acceptance, and equity? Elizabeth Martin says pluralism is not passive, it’s an achievement — one that can be challenging to achieve, particularly in our polarized world. She has seen the challenges firsthand in her role as program coordinator in the Office of Spiritual and Religious Life at Emory University. Elizabeth is also a candidate for the UU ministry. These excerpts are from our service on July 27, 2025. Sylvia Rogers served as the service associate. AUUF is a multi-religious faith community with shared values, including equity, justice, pluralism, interdependence, generosity, and transformation, all in the service of love. We believe each of us has the right to seek spiritual truth and develop our own theology rather than accept a single religious creed. AUUF is one of more than 1,000 Unitarian Universalist congregations around the U.S. and Canada. If you’re in the Auburn-Opelika (Alabama) area, we hope you’ll to join us Sunday mornings at 10:00. Visit our website at auuf.org. Our theme music is “A Call to the Soul” by Folk Acoustic Music. It’s available on Pixabay.

The service on July 6, 2025, fell two days after Independence Day, 249 years after the Declaration of Independence was signed. On this anniversary, many of us are concerned about the state of our democracy, concerned that our federal government is not living up to the vision stated in the Declaration of Independence. Recall those prophetic words, that all of us are created equal with unalienable rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Reflecting on those concerns, Sylvia Rogers urges us not to lose hope, and her homily offers ways to maintain our spirits despite the negative news. It’s an uplifting message worth listening to whenever you feel down. Jim Newton assisted Sylvia with the service. You’ll hear him read the chalice lighting. AUUF is a multi-religious faith community with shared values, including equity, justice, pluralism, interdependence, generosity, and transformation, all in the service of love. We believe each of us has the right to seek spiritual truth and develop our own theology rather than accept a single religious creed. AUUF is one of more than 1,000 Unitarian Universalist congregations around the U.S. and Canada. If you’re in the Auburn-Opelika (Alabama) area, we hope you’ll to join us Sunday mornings at 10:00. Visit our website at auuf.org. Our theme music is “A Call to the Soul” by Folk Acoustic Music. It’s available on Pixabay.

In this episode, recorded at the service on July 13, 2025, Rev. Marti Keller speaks of our mixed feelings about a seemingly endless summer, certainly an apt topic for these hot and humid days in Alabama. As children, how we looked forward to summer, wanting it to last forever. Yet how soon we became bored! The ideal of an endless summer parallels the human yearning for an endless life. That idea is increasingly the focus for research and technology startups, hoping to capitalize on the birth of a new industry. Rev. Marti asks, if we lived forever, would we lose the sanctity of living? Richard Shelby served as the service associate. You’ll hear him read the opening words. AUUF is a multi-religious faith community with shared values, including equity, justice, pluralism, interdependence, generosity, and transformation, all in the service of love. We believe each of us has the right to seek spiritual truth and develop our own theology rather than accept a single religious creed. AUUF is one of more than 1,000 Unitarian Universalist congregations around the U.S. and Canada. If you’re in the Auburn-Opelika (Alabama) area, we hope you’ll to join us Sunday mornings at 10:00. Visit our website at auuf.org. Our theme music is “A Call to the Soul” by Folk Acoustic Music. It’s available on Pixabay.

In this episode of the Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (AUUF) podcast, Melanie Rains presents the homily “Children as Our Hope.” She reminds us of our shared responsibility to the youngest members of our congregation and society and affirms how their presence enriches our lives and our collective spiritual journey. The podcast was recorded at AUUF’s service on May 18, 2025. Sylvia Rogers served as the service associate. AUUF is a multi-religious faith community of shared values, including equity, justice, pluralism, interdependence, generosity, and transformation, all in the service of love. We believe each of us has the right to seek spiritual truth and develop our own theology rather than accepting a single religious creed. We share our joys and sorrows, walking together along life’s journey. AUUF is one of more than 1,000 Unitarian Universalist congregations around the U.S. and Canada. If you’re in the Auburn-Opelika (Alabama) area, we invite you to join us Sunday mornings at 10:00. Visit our website at auuf.org. Our theme music is “A Call to the Soul” by Folk Acoustic Music. It’s available from Pixabay.

In this episode of the Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (AUUF) podcast, you’ll hear this year’s Mother’s Day sermon from our minister, the Rev. Marti Keller. She shares the history of what’s become an annual shopping event to honor our mothers and suggests the holiday is deeper than cards and flowers. It should be a time to reflect on how society can better support the mother’s role — like access to healthcare during and after pregnancy, parental leave, affordable child care, food assistance for those in need, and a commitment to quality schools. The podcast was recorded at AUUF’s service on May 11, 2025. Cindy Reinke served as the service associate. AUUF is a faith community of shared values: equity, justice, pluralism, interdependence, generosity, and transformation, all in the service of love. We believe each of us has the right to seek spiritual truth and develop our own theology rather than accepting a religious creed. Our members reflect all religious and non-religious beliefs. We join our individual spiritual quests to build the Beloved Community, sharing our joys and sorrows as we walk together along life’s journey. AUUF is one of more than 1,000 Unitarian Universalist congregations around the U.S. and Canada. If you’re in the Auburn-Opelika (Alabama) area, we invite you to join us Sunday mornings at 10:00. Visit our website at auuf.org. Our theme music is “A Call to the Soul” by Folk Acoustic Music, available from Pixabay.

This episode of the Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (AUUF) podcast features a conversation with our minister, the Rev. Marti Keller. Rev. Marti will be recognized at this year’s Unitarian Universalist (UU) General Assembly for her 25-year service as an ordained UU minister. Her ministry actually started before that, as she served as a lay minister with the Atlanta congregation. I thought it would be interesting for all of us to hear Rev. Marti’s story. As you’ll learn, stories are the essence of her spirituality. Our conversation was recorded on Saturday, May 3, 2025. — Gary Lerude, Podcast Producer AUUF is a faith community of shared values: equity, justice, pluralism, interdependence, generosity, and transformation, all in the service of love. We believe each of us has the right to seek spiritual truth and develop our own theology instead of accepting a religious creed. Our members represent all religious and non-religious beliefs. We join to build the Beloved Community, sharing our joys and sorrows as we walk together along the spiritual path. AUUF is one of more than 1,000 Unitarian Universalist congregations around the U.S. If you’re in the Auburn-Opelika area, we invite you to join us Sunday mornings at 10:00. Visit our website at auuf.org. Our theme music is “A Call to the Soul” by Folk Acoustic Music, available from Pixabay.

This episode of the Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (AUUF) podcast recounts the story of the Flower Communion, an annual service in many Unitarian Universalist churches. It was created by Norbert Čapek in 1923 at the Unitarian church in Prague, Czechoslovakia. Čapek was seeking a ceremony to strengthen the community of his church, arriving at the symbolism of the flower communion. The Prague church was founded by Čapek and became the largest Unitarian church in the world. After occupying Czechoslovakia, the Nazis considered Čapek and his preaching to be subversive, and he was sent to the Dachau concentration camp, where he died in 1942. The podcast was recorded at AUUF’s service on April 27, 2025. Chris Basgier led the service, and Jim Newton was the service associate. AUUF is a faith community of shared values: equity, justice, pluralism, interdependence, generosity, and transformation, all in the service of love. We believe each of us has the right to seek spiritual truth and develop our own theology instead of accepting a religious creed. Our members represent all religious and non-religious beliefs. We join to build the Beloved Community, sharing our joys and sorrows as we walk together along the spiritual path. AUUF is one of more than 1,000 Unitarian Universalist congregations around the U.S. If you’re in the Auburn-Opelika area, we invite you to join us Sunday mornings at 10:00. Visit our website at auuf.org. Our theme music is “A Call to the Soul” by Folk Acoustic Music, available from Pixabay.

This episode of the Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (AUUF) podcast features our recent Easter service on April 20, 2025. Rev. Marti Keller plumbs the early history of Christianity, describing a theological shift from creating paradise on Earth to emphasizing the crucifixion, with paradise delayed until after death. Rev. Marti summarizes the scholarship of Rita Nakashima Brock and Rebecca Ann Parker, from their book Saving Paradise. By surveying the art adorning churches throughout the Middle East and Mediterranean, they found Christian sanctuaries from the first millennium filled with images of Christ as a living presence: a shepherd, teacher, healer, and an enthroned god. He is serene and surrounded by lush scenes, depictions of this world as paradise. By the Middle Ages, however, the art had shifted to Jesus crucified and the earth no longer a paradise. Does this shift in art also reflect a change in Christian theology? Jim Newton served as the service associate and gives the opening words. AUUF is a faith community of shared values: equity, justice, pluralism, interdependence, generosity, and transformation, all in the service of love. We believe each of us has the right to seek spiritual truth and develop our own theology instead of accepting a religious creed. Our members represent all religious and non-religious beliefs. We join to build the Beloved Community, sharing our joys and sorrows as we walk together along the spiritual path. AUUF is one of more than 1,000 Unitarian Universalist congregations around the U.S. If you’re in the Auburn-Opelika area, we invite you to join us Sunday mornings at 10:00. Visit our website at auuf.org. Our theme music is “A Call to the Soul” by Folk Acoustic Music, available from Pixabay.

In this episode of the Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (AUUF) podcast, Rev. Marti Keller discusses the story and significance of Passover, a story she describes as “a moving truth that is simply not true.” Yet even if not factual, the story is compelling because it reveals an inherent truth. The lesson at the heart of Passover is appreciative mindfulness of what we already have, recognizing that we are given what we need. Richard Shelby was the service associate and presented the morning’s candle lightings. The podcast was recorded at AUUF’s service on April 13, 2025. AUUF is a faith community of shared values: equity, justice, pluralism, interdependence, generosity, and transformation, all in the service of love. We believe each of us has the right to seek spiritual truth and develop our own theology instead of accepting a religious creed. Our members represent all religious and non-religious beliefs. We join to build the Beloved Community, sharing our joys and sorrows as we walk together along the spiritual path. AUUF is one of more than 1,000 Unitarian Universalist congregations around the U.S. If you’re in the Auburn-Opelika area, we invite you to join us Sunday mornings at 10:00. Visit our website at auuf.org. Our theme music is “A Call to the Soul” by Folk Acoustic Music, available from Pixabay.

In this episode of the Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (AUUF) podcast, we continue exploring spirituality. Sylvia Rogers compares making the spiritual journey solo with walking our path as part of a religious community. Melanie Rains served as the service associate and shared the opening words. Sylvia and Melanie are aspirants in AUUF’s lay ministry program. The podcast was recorded at AUUF’s service on April 6, 2025. AUUF is a faith community of shared values — love, equity, justice, pluralism, interdependence, generosity, and transformation. We believe each of us has the right to seek spiritual truth and develop a personal theology instead of accepting a religious orthodoxy. As such, our members come from all religious and non-religious beliefs. We come together to build the Beloved Community, sharing our joys and sorrows and walking together along the spiritual path. AUUF is one of more than 1,000 Unitarian Universalist congregations around the U.S. If you’re in the Auburn-Opelika area, we invite you to join us Sunday mornings at 10:00. Visit our website at auuf.org. Our theme music is "A Call to the Soul" by Folk Acoustic Music. We also heard Billy Ziogas, from “Me and My Guitar.” Both artists are available through Pixabay.

In this episode of the podcast, recorded on March 2, 2025, Gary Lerude explores the practices that lead to a spiritual life: transcendence, gratitude, compassion, service, and humility. Gary is among the first class of aspirants training to serve as lay ministers for the Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (AUUF). Sylvia Rogers, also an aspirant for the lay ministry, served as the service associate and shared the opening words for the service. AUUF, located in Auburn, Alabama, is a faith community of shared values: love, equity, justice, pluralism, interdependence, generosity, and transformation. We believe each of us has the right to seek spiritual truth and develop a personal theology. Our members come from all religious and non-religious beliefs. We join together to build the Beloved Community, sharing our joys and sorrows and walking together along the spiritual path. AUUF is one of more than 1,000 Unitarian Universalist congregations around the U.S. Our theme music is "A Call to the Soul" by Folk Acoustic Music. We also heard Billy Ziogas, from “Me and My Guitar.” Both artists are available through Pixabay.

In this episode, which honors Women’s History Month, Rev. Marti examines the phrase that well-behaved women rarely make history. As Rev. Marti notes, women’s contributions are overlooked and undervalued. Sylvia Rogers, a lay minister aspirant, served as the service associate and selected the chalice lightings. The Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (AUUF) in Auburn, Alabama, is a faith community of shared values: love, equity, justice, pluralism, interdependence, generosity, and transformation. We believe each of us has the right to seek spiritual truth and develop a personal theology. Our members come from all religious and non-religious beliefs. AUUF is one of more than 1,000 Unitarian Universalist congregations around the U.S. We invite you to attend our services, Sunday mornings at 10. Our theme music is "A Call to the Soul" by “Folk Acoustic Music.” We also heard Billy Ziogas, from “Me and My Guitar.” Both artists are available through Pixabay.