Beyond the Binary: Building Bridges When Everything Feels Divided

with Rev. Xolani Kacela, Ph.D. 

January 19, 2025

Our world increasingly pushes us to choose sides: left or right, us or them, love or hate. But wisdom traditions throughout history, including Dr. King’s beloved community and Buddhism’s Middle Way, point to a more nuanced path. What if the most radical act isn’t choosing a side, but creating a new space altogether? Join us as we explore practical ways to transcend the false choices of our divided times, finding authentic connection even with those who see the world differently. We also honor our Courageous Love Award recipients as a part of Dream Week.

Also during service we will be presenting our Courageous Love Awards to local social justice heroes. Each year, on the Sunday before Martin Luther King Day, the Social Justice Committee of this church presents the Courageous Love Award to several individuals or organizations from our larger community that have shown courage and touched hearts in ways that exhibit Unitarian Universalist values.

Sounding of the Bowl – Rev. Xolani Kacela, Ph.D.                                     

Prelude – Jaime Ramirez                                                         

Welcome and Greeting – Lito Bujanda-Moore                       

Opening Words                                                           

Chalice Lighting  

Opening Hymn – #168 One More Step                                                       

Covenant                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Anthem – “I Wish”

lyrics by Andrea Vocab Sanderson & Nick Blevins

music by Jeff Palacios, Nick Blevins, Luke Bonecutter, Zach Jewel & Jaime Ramirez

performed by Nick Blevins – guitar & lead vocal,  Andrea Vocab Sanderson – lead vocal, Luke Bonecutter – cello, Zach Jewel – djembe & background vocal, and Jaime Ramirez – piano                                         

Candles of Life                                                             

Music for Candle Lighting                                                  

Reading the Community Book of Life & Pastoral Meditation

Story Wisdom – “Decolonizing Currency: the Canadian $10 Bill”, presented by Tim Versteeg, DLRE                                                      

Children’s Recessional                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Courageous Love Awards – Mary Grace Ketner, Rico Espinosa, Jan Realini

Recipients – Ada Babineaux, Andrea “Vocab” Sanderson, Rev. Rob Mueller, Ramon Vasquez y Sanchez & Ramon J. Vasquez

Readings – “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” by Rev. Dr. Martin L King, Jr. and “Security: Reality, Fantasy, or Intention” by Rev. DC Fortune

Sermon – Beyond the Binary: Building Bridges When Everything Feels Divided                                                                                                                                                                                 

Invitation to Share the Plate – Today’s offering will be shared with Planned Parenthood of South Texas (PPST)                              

Offertory Music                                                                                                                             

Closing Hymn – #169 We Shall Overcome                   

Extinguishing the Chalice/Benediction                                                                        

Postlude