Oct 25, 2023 | Featured
Justice Ministry Film Night: TOWN DESTROYER
Nov. 3rd, 7 PM, In person & via Zoom.
This film explores the ways we look at art and history at a time of racial reckoning. The story focuses on a dispute over historic murals depicting the life of George Washington: slaveowner, general, land speculator, President, and a man Seneca leaders called “Town Destroyer” after he ordered their villages destroyed during the Revolutionary War. The film addresses current debates over trauma, student safety, and cancel culture. More details here.
Oct 25, 2023 | Weekly Message
It’s a little after 7pm on Saturday night at The Mountain during the annual UU Asheville Retreat.
The ~100 attendees are gathered for the highly anticipated Variety Show.
The show that was formerly known as the Talent Show, but rebranded so as nobody forgets it’s all about fun and that talent is optional. Mars and Ranier kick things off with announcements of the costume contest winners, and the bar is instantly set very high.
I’m doing good to remember to bring extra socks to The Mountain. Somehow these amazing folks of all ages manage to do that and show up with award-worthy costumes. You’ll just have to see for yourself, some I can’t remember the official costume names. But I can tell you there was an Old Man, a Butterfly & Catcher duo, a Nerd, and possibly a Piglet in the mix. Not pictured but important to note, the creativity extended to Chalice Woman (defending UU principles one slip of paper at a time), Cat-in-Hat, the Mario World family, and many more.
And that was just the first 5 minutes. Then the acts began! What a wonderful display of creativity, courage, and charisma. We had an orange-throwing song. We had a long-form entomological joke. We had singalong Harry Belafonte, Scottish dancing, devil sticks, some amazing fiddle playing, several fantastic songs, Mary helping Will with a potential medical ailment, and an all-kids original skit about empathy in the animal kingdom. And much more.
Then Eliza and Nicole graced us with a song that was most befitting to sum up years of friendship, community building and joy at The Mountain:
Rick Astley’s Never Gonna Give You Up.
That’s right friends, the UU Asheville Mountain Retreat got rick-rolled.
Might I mention our youngest Variety Show participant? Orion brought down the house with some epic breakdancing to the Ghostbusters soundtrack theme song. 
I have been to the mountain top, and I have seen joy in our UU community. It gives me joy to carry forward to others. And I hope you find that needed Variety wherever you are and in whatever’s happening your life right now.
– Will Jernigan, UU Asheville Board of Trustees
