Disobedient Joy and Pleasure Activism, Oh My!
Unitarian Universalist Community of the Mountains
April 13, 2025
Rev. Kevin Tarsa
Gail Johnson Vaughan, Worship Associate
adrienne maree brown notes that “pleasure is a measure of freedom” and advocates “pleasure activism” not as an escape or spiritual bypass, but as a path toward personal and collective liberation. In a similar way, Shannon Willis encourages “disobedient joy” by which we “reject the narrative that fear should dictate our actions, that isolation is the price of survival.” Both visionaries try to help us realize that joy “reminds us that another world is possible.”
Song for Gathering Enter, Rejoice and Come In #361 by Louise Ruspini
Welcome Still So Much Good, Beauty and Joy by Rev. Gretchen Haley (adapted) read by Olivia Rivers Sampson
Lighting of the Chalice Let There Be Joy in our Coming Together This Morning by Carl Seaburg Gail Johnson Vaughan, Worship Associate
Greeting
Land Acknowledgement read by Anita Wald-Tuttle
Singing the Children on Their Way
Music Here Comes the Sun by George Harrison, sung by George Mann
Message Pleasure Activism Rev. Kevin Tarsa
Song and More… Hands Off by Kate Canan
Reading from Disobedient Joy: The Wild Magic of Refusal by Shannon Willis read by Marlene Bottenfield
Message Disobedient Joy Rev. Kevin Tarsa
Song This Joy That I Have by Shirley Caeser, sung by Resistance Revival Chorus
Candle of Compassion, Resistance, and Resilience
Offering Gail Johnson Vaughan
Offertory George Mann
Dedication Gail Johnson Vaughan
Thank you & Announcements
Closing Song This Little Light of Mine #118 African American spiritualClosing WordsLet Your Joy Be Mycelial by Shannon Willis red by Rev Kevin Tarsa
Community Benediction / Extinguishing of the Chalice
Carry the flame of peace and love until we meet again.
Music for Going Forth