Mistakes and Miracles: Congregations on the Road to Multiculturalism
Each year the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) selects a book that they recommend all UUs read. The UU Common Read seeks to build community in our congregations and our movement by giving diverse people a shared platform for reflection and a shared focus for action.
This year’s selection is Mistakes and Miracles by Nancy Palmer Jones and Karin Lin- a white minister and a layperson of color— who document the joys, disappointments, and growth of five UU faith communities on a journey toward Beloved Community.
In partnership with the UCM’s Racial Justice Group (RJG), we are offering four hybrid sessions to discuss topics raised in the book and to reflect on our own congregational needs and efforts around antiracism and multiculturalism. The sessions are led by members of RJG, Judith Hinds and Johanna Nichols, and hosted by Verdis LeVar Robinson. Although the full reading of the book is not required to participate in the sessions, it is strongly encouraged.
We are meeting in-person (Fireplace Room) and on Zoom for the following four sessions:
Session 1- Every Congregation Has a Story– Tuesday, February 28 from 6:30-8:00 pm
Session 2- Let’s Talk About Power– Tuesday, March 28 from 6:30-8:00 pm
Session 3- History and Hope– Tuesday, April 25 from 6:30-8:00 pm
Session 4- Strategy and What’s Next– Tuesday, May 23 from 6:30-8:00 pm
If you would like to join us for any or all of these sessions, please register here: https://ucmvt.breezechms.com/form/uucommonread23. Please register to receive Zoom link.
Limited copies of the book are available for borrowing in the UCM LSE Library. We do recommend reading the first two chapters as an overview and the following resources for preparation:
- Watch the co-authors’ panel discussion (Vimeo, 25 minutes) with the Rev. Michael Crumpler and the Rev. Maria Cristina Vlassidis.
- Watch the Zoom workshop, We Can Do This: Faith, Conflict, and Antiracism (Vimeo, 56:00), from the UUA General Assembly 2020. The Mistakes and Miracles co-authors discussed themes of the book with Unitarian Universalists Aisha Hauser, Jimmy Leung, Rev. Bill Sinkford, and Rev. Marta Valentín.
For more information, contact Verdis LeVar Robinson, Ministerial Coordinator of Worship Arts Production and Adult LSE.