Verdis LeVar Robinson, Guest Minister, with Warren Baker, Worship Associate
As anti-queer bills, laws, and policies are on the rise across the country, this affirming service will reach into the heart of Unitarian Universalism to seek guidance, hope, and inspiration. (Content warning: this sermon contains a discussion on queer-youth suicide. Please take good care.) – Verdis LeVar Robinson
If you or someone you know is in crisis and needs immediate help, call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Verdis LeVar Robinson (he/him or they) has recently served as Ministerial Coordinator of Worship Arts Production and Adult Lifespan Spiritual Exploration at the Unitarian Church of Montpelier, VT, under the leadership of Rev. Joan Javier-Duval. He also served as a ministerial intern there and has recently received preliminary fellowship as a minister with the Unitarian Universalist Association. He will be ordained this December in Rochester, NY, at the First Unitarian Church of Rochester, where he will serve as an Assistant Minister starting this month.
A Unitarian Universalist since 2008, Verdis serves the denomination as the General Assembly Coordinator for Diverse Revolutionary Unitarian Universalist Multicultural Ministries (DRUUMM). In Vermont, his community ministry is serving as the Artistic Director of the Montpelier Community Gospel Choir.
Verdis comes to ministry from a career in higher education, working as the National Director for The Democracy Commitment, the Director for Community College Engagement at Campus Compact, and an Associate of the Kettering Foundation specializing in deliberative democracy in community colleges and interfaith institutions. Prior to leading community college civic engagement nationally, Verdis was a tenured Assistant Professor of History and African American Studies at Monroe Community College in Rochester, NY for ten years.
With a B.M. in Voice Performance from Boston University, a B.S. cum laude and M.A. in History from SUNY College at Brockport, and an M.A. in African-American Studies from SUNY University at Buffalo, Verdis received his Master of Divinity from Chicago’s Meadville Lombard Theological School this past May.
Join us for worship in person in the Sanctuary, or online. Find the livestream link and order of service on the Live-Streamed Worship page, or go to our YouTube channel.
Following the service, all are welcome to Coffee Hour, either outside in front of the Meeting House or in the Community Room, depending on weather.
While at the Meeting House, anyone is welcome to wear a mask. In the spirit of caring for each other, please stay home if you have any cold or flu symptoms. Thank you.