Westside Stories

Rev. Carol Bodeau, with Aaron Tyrell Friends, We are learning more and more each day how important it is to connect with others to share hopes, dreams, concerns and ideas to build the world we dream of. In our wider UU community, lots is going on that we can connect to. As you have heard from Westsider Curtis Dush, the newly formed TUUCAN (Tennessee UU Community Action Network) is doing great things to work for justice in our whole state. But on a much more local level, th

By Suzanne Molnar Forget the cheesy elementary school costumes. Drop your revisionist thoughts about Pilgrim history. Let go of any Thanksgiving-related guilt about what you have done or not done in past years. O.K.? Now, if you would like to, briefly visit a couple of pleasant associations. Maybe it's the smell of Thanksgiving dinner cooking. Maybe it's the absolute luxury, when you are 9 years old, of four whole days off from school. Maybe it's some Thanksgiving gather

By Lorie A. I was raised without any sense that there was something morally or religiously wrong with being gay. In my 20s, I participated in a curriculum at church designed to educate about homosexuality and undo homophobia. I was the co-chair (chosen specifically because I was a straight ally) of the committee on LGBT concerns at church. I had thought hard, several times, about whether there was any chance I could be even a little bit gay. I just couldn't imagine kissing a

By Judy Winchester We recently had a Sunday service during which seven people told their story of how they got to Westside. In putting...

By Rev. Carol Bodeau Dear Friends, Each year, in the autumn and near the Fall Equinox, Westside's Earth Church community holds a retreat...

By Rev. Carol Bodeau Dear Friends, It was lovely to see so many of you, and hear your stories, at our recent Water Communion. This UU...

Meet new Westside board member, Elizabeth G.! In a recent interview, she shares her journey as a "climate refugee" from Austin, her progressive values, and her vision for our church. Discover what drew her to serve on the board and why the Green Sanctuary Committee made her feel like she'd "found my people." Get to know the thoughtful leadership guiding our community in this conversation with Elizabeth Corbett.

By Ellen Greenwood The Westside Book Club is a wonderful example of our church's ability to reach well beyond Sunday morning services. ...

By Curtis Dush TUUCAN is a statewide network that has been formed with the intention of sharing resources, living our UU values, and...

Justice work has four pillars: restoration, awareness, time & money. Learn why the often-neglected pillar of restoration is a powerful form of protest.

By Michele Neifing, President of the Board of Trustees As I begin my role as Westside Unitarian Universalist Church President, I have...

This is an update for the Tennessee Unitarian Universalist Community Action Network (TUUCAN). There is exciting news to share! We are...

By Linda Fippin, Westside Choir Member I've been hearing a lot of Beatles music on the radio lately and got to thinking about Ringo, one...

By Rev. Carol Bodeau In our new "Westside Stories" format, we are sharing more personal narratives from the voices of our community, and...

By Yetta Jager, Green Sanctuary Committee My mother was a gardener, and some of her advice about gardening applies to life in general....

By Rev. Carol Bodeau Dear Friends, This month, the Marketing Committee and the staff at Westside have been talking about how to share...