SPEAKERS PREPARE TO GET ON THEIR SOAPBOXES ANNUAL UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST EVENT ENCOURAGES MEMBERS TO VENT PUBLICLY.Byline: HOLLY J. ANDRES Staff Writer NORTH HILLS -- Orators from Sepulveda Unitarian Universalist Society are honing Honing could refer to
The event, held for about 15 years on the Sunday service closest to the Fourth of July Fourth of July, Independence Day, or July Fourth, U.S. holiday, commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Celebration of it began during the American Revolution. , offers the opportunity for speakers to sound off on nearly any issue -- no political endorsements Political endorsement is the action of publicly declaring one's personal or group's support of a candidate for elected office. For example, a person could endorse Joe/Jane Blow for US President in 2008, meaning that he/she intends to support any campaigns Mr/Mrs. , please -- that moves them. ``Originally we were trying to figure out what to do with the Fourth of July service and being patriotic. We decided to give people an opportunity to speak,'' said Gloria Burr burr (bur) bur. burr n. Variant of bur. burr 1. a plant seed capsule carrying many hooked structures which catch in animal coats thus promoting dissemination of the plant. , incoming president of Sepulveda Unitarian Universalist Society and a Unitarian Universalist for 40 years. In opening the floor to speakers, the congregation is putting into practice two principles set forth by the Unitarian Universalist Association Unitarian Universalist Association, Protestant church in the United States formed in 1961 by the merger of the American Unitarian Association (see Unitarianism) and the Universalist Church of America. of congregations. ``We are seekers of truth and wisdom. We believe in the inherent worth of all people and we honor each person and their right to speak,'' Burr said of the principles and their connection to Sunday's event. ``We're an evolving religion. We're always on a search for our own truth.'' Reactions to Soap Box Sunday have been positive and church members enjoy learning more about one another, even if they disagree, Burr said. Most often, participants speak about local or global affairs. Other topics have included parental responsibility Parental responsibility
n. Informal Something about which one frequently complains; a particular personal vexation. Noun 1. pet peeve - an opportunity for complaint that is seldom missed; "grammatical mistakes are his pet peeve" , health care, social issues and the media. A timekeeper allows each speaker four minutes. ``This is an opportunity for people to express themselves and enjoy the growth that takes place. It's a challenge,'' said moderator Lucille Malvani. ``It's an opportunity for people to exercise their right of free speech. These are religious activities. It's in the American tradition.'' Visitors to this year's Soap Box Sunday can sign up to speak if they come early, although in the past most speakers have been members of Sepulveda Unitarian Universalist Society. This Sunday's service also will include the usual lighting of the congregation's chalice chalice [Lat.,=cup], ancient name for a drinking cup, retained for the eucharistic or communion cup. Its use commemorates the cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper. , a symbol of Unitarian Universalism Unitarian Universalism n. A religious association of Christian origin that has no official creed and that considers God to be unipersonal, salvation to be granted to the entire human race, and reason and conscience to be the criteria for belief and , singing, reflective meditation, announcements and greetings. Burr said she invites first-time visitors to return because each Sunday service is different. ``Many of our members come out of another religion and they have been searching for a place more accepting or with less dogma and structure,'' said Burr. ``Our new members have come from reading about us online, too.'' Soap Box Sunday, 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Sepulveda Unitarian Universalist Society, 9550 Haskell Ave., North Hills. Call (818) 894-9251 or see www.valleyonion.org. holly.andres(at)dailynews.com (818) 713-3708 CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1) Gloria Burr, left, and Lucille Malvani inside the sanctuary of the Sepulveda Unitarian Universalist Society (informally called ``The Onion'') in North Hills. On Sunday the congregation's annual Soap Box Sunday invites members of the public to speak on topics of their choice. (2) Gloria Burr, left, sits with Lucille Malvani, moderator of Soap Box Sunday at the Sepulveda Unitarian Universalist Society. Malvani says the event ``is an opportunity for people to express themselves and enjoy the growth that takes place.'' Alex Collins/Special to the Daily News |
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