'PROMISES, PROMISES, PROMISES' - Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar
All Souls Unitarian Church, Tulsa, OK
Release Date: 06/05/2024
'A TURNING POINT' - Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar
All Souls Unitarian Church, Tulsa, OK
The message was delivered on Sunday, September 21, 2025, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister. DESCRIPTION: What if the true test of freedom is not how fiercely we defend our own views, but how deeply we honor the dignity of those we cannot accept? From Benjamin Franklin’s urgent warning to “hang together” to George W. Bush’s defense of pluralism after 9/11, history reminds us that unity has always been fragile—and essential. Could small acts of kindness, even toward those we call enemies, shift the course of our nation’s...
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'UNFOLDING YOUR HEART' - Rev. Dr. Nicole Kirk
All Souls Unitarian Church, Tulsa, OK
The message was delivered on Sunday, September 14, 2025, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Nicole Kirk, Program Minister. DESCRIPTION: What happens when midnight falls across a nation's soul, and darkness seems so deep we can barely see which way to turn? An ancient parable about a friend's desperate knock at midnight becomes a powerful lens for understanding our current moment—where fear builds, divisions widen, and people push one another away. Yet in this darkness comes an urgent plea not for simple charity, but for something far more transformative: the bread...
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'A PLACE TO BELONG' - Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar
All Souls Unitarian Church, Tulsa, OK
The message was delivered on Sunday, September 7, 2025, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister. DESCRIPTION What does it truly mean to find a place where you belong? In a world filled with diverse experiences and perspectives, the quest for connection and understanding is more vital than ever. Explore the depths of vision and community as we delve into the essence of shared humanity. Are you ready to discover the transformative power of belonging and the bonds that unite us all? SUBSCRIBE TO AUDIO PODCAST: WATCH THIS MESSAGE ON YOUTUBE: ...
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'THE MARRIAGE OF CHURCH AND STATE' - Rev. Randy Lewis
All Souls Unitarian Church, Tulsa, OK
The sermon was delivered on Sunday, August 31, 2025, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Randy Lewis, Assistant Minister. DESCRIPTION What happens when sacred trust is traded for political gain? History shows us that whenever the pulpit bends to empire, the church loses more than its conscience—it loses its witness. From Constantine to segregation, the temptation to exchange integrity for influence has left scars on faith communities and society alike. Now, with the IRS stepping back from enforcing guardrails, the question is urgent: will pulpits become campaign...
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'WHY PEOPLE COME HERE' - Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar
All Souls Unitarian Church, Tulsa, OK
The message was delivered on Sunday, August 24, 2025, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister. DESCRIPTION What if your doubts weren’t silenced but embraced as part of the journey? Picture a community where people gather not to conform, but to wrestle honestly with questions of purpose, faith, and truth. Here, stories unfold—a mother finding healing after loss, an artist discovering belonging for his free-thinking spirit—reminding us that no path is too different to be welcomed. In this space, science and scripture, reason and...
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'A MOUSE'S STORY' - Rev. Dr. Nicole Kirk
All Souls Unitarian Church, Tulsa, OK
The message was delivered on Sunday, August 17, 2025, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Nicole Kirk, Program Minister. DESCRIPTION In a world filled with noise, how do we recognize the first time we truly hear? When fear, hunger, and uncertainty cloud our senses, what does it take to discover something as unexpected as music—and where do we turn when that source seems lost forever? Through a whimsical tale of cheddar and change, we’re reminded that beauty can emerge in the most surprising places, and that perhaps what we seek on the outside has always been...
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WHAT'S A UNITARIAN?
All Souls Unitarian Church, Tulsa, OK
The message was delivered on Sunday, August 10th, 2025, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister. What if unity didn't require uniformity? While fundamentalist religions across the globe insist that harmony comes through conformity to one doctrine, a different path emerges—one where Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, and Christians can pray under the same roof without abandoning their distinct traditions. Can an 80-year-old woman stumble into the wrong classroom and emerge transformed, her heart opened to people she never thought she'd understand?...
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GRIEVE GLOBAL, THRIVE LOCAL
All Souls Unitarian Church, Tulsa, OK
The message was delivered on Sunday, August 3rd, 2025, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Molly Housh Gordon, Visiting Minister. What happens when grief becomes the catalyst for transformation? In a world where brutality seems to overshadow beauty, where mothers count ribs instead of blessings, a powerful truth emerges: our broken hearts hold the very power needed to resist cruelty. Can communities built on shared sorrow become crucibles for change? When the walls around our hearts finally fall, will we discover that love grows strongest in the spaces between us—in...
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THE LOVE THAT WILL NOT FAIL
All Souls Unitarian Church, Tulsa, OK
The message was delivered on Sunday, July 27th, 2025, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister. DESCRIPTION: What if the greatest wisdom about love came from children? When 4 to 8-year-olds were asked "What does love mean?" their answers revealed profound truths that adults often miss. From a grandfather painting his arthritic wife's toenails to a little boy who simply sat and helped his grieving neighbor cry, these stories illuminate love's true nature. But here's the deeper question: Are you truly listening to where love is leading your...
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FAITH AND DOUBT
All Souls Unitarian Church, Tulsa, OK
The message was delivered on Sunday, July 2Oth, 2025, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister. DESCRIPTION: When you're struggling upside down like a fly on a windowsill, what force might come along to help you right yourself? Ancient stories like David and Goliath reveal timeless truths about facing seemingly impossible challenges with nothing but smooth stones and unwavering resolve. A single photograph of two girls in green dresses becomes a lifeline that transforms three lives across sixteen years, proving that small acts of kindness...
info_outlineThe message was delivered on Sunday, June 2, 2024, at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister.
DESCRIPTION:
In this service, we explore the significance of promises in our lives and community. Promises are integral to our human experience. We also recognize the inherent promise within each individual. Our discussion expands to historical and communal promises, acknowledging the founding mission of All Souls in 1921 as a spiritual home for all people. However, we also confront the reality of broken promises, particularly the historical failures related to the Tulsa Massacre of 1921. We acknowledge the need to own and remember these breaches to move towards repair. This recognition extends to personal and communal brokenness, urging us to sit with our grief and the heaviness of unkept promises. The ritual ends with renewal, inviting listeners to rededicate themselves to the work of repair and renewal in their lives. Through this ritual, we affirm that while the circle can never be the same, we have the power to make it whole once more.
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