“Friendship: Surrendering Your Future” with Rev. Beth Banks

This message about friendship is more than an affirmation of its importance. The life stories come from an unlikely friendship of a 40-something man and a woman in her 90’s. Throughout 100 Saturdays of interviews, trust grows between them. As a result, her experiences in Auschwitz are shared for the first time. It’s found in the relationship of two well-known political opposites who demonstrate their warm friendship even as they adamantly disagree on a public stage. This message explores the possible friendship with the stranger who shares a park bench with you.

Consider bringing a friend to this service as an affirmation of your relationship. Trust that you’ll find something new to discuss as a result.

Ritual Altar

We’ll create an altar to celebrate and honor friends who call forth some part of us. Consider party friends; friends who protect each other.; friends who teach each other; work friends; friends who are family; friends may be from your past or present. Of course, your guests are invited to join the fun. Pictures, mementos of a memory, a sample of their favorite food?

Plan for time after the service to gather around the altar with your coffee and visit.

Rev. Beth Banks currently works with the Humphrey Fellows* Program, a part of the UC Davis Global Affairs Department. Rev. Beth serves as the Friendship Host Coordinator, expanding the visiting Fellows ‘experiences of culture and connection within the community.

She has served as a UU congregational minister for 34 years, and taught English as a Second Language in Washington State and South Korea. Both careers helped prepare her for work with an organization whose mission statement is “To inspire and advance global curiosity, understanding and engagement.”

*The Humphrey Fellow Program is a part of the Fulbright Scholar Program. This program is hosted n 13 universities throughout the USA. It brings accomplished young adult mid-career professionals to the United States from countries with developing and emerging economies. The professional and leadership development they receive through UC Davis, focuses on issues of climate change and the environment. Often the connections created with faculty, consultants and other leaders throughout the US, become partnerships of mutual learning. The 2023-2024 Fellows are from Trinidad & Tobego, Fiji, Israel, Iran, Brazil, Chile, Liberia, Botswana, Turkmenistan, Mongolia, China and Timor-Leste.

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Meeting ID: 965 8475 4060
Passcode: 218531
Call-in #: (669) 900-9128