Each year we host a DRUUMM worship service that is open to all. As our ministry and membership grows, this worship is also our major fundraiser to support our pastoral care, community organizing, and antiracism work. This years donations and sponsorships will specifically help us establish a new DRUUMM Fellowship for seminarians and young organizers. You are an important part of our community. We hope you will join us and share the word with your networks. We invite you to join us for:
Choosing Joy! DRUUMM Public Worship
Rev. Ali K.C. Bell, Guest Preacher
Saunder Choi, Musical Artist
Wednesday, May 8, 2024
8:00 PM Eastern/5:00 PM Pacific
OPEN TO ALL
Available via Zoom & Livestream
Our worship is grounded in the theme of Choosing Joy! Living with Intentionality and Purpose. Be with us as we explore sustaining joy amidst adversity, inspired by Proverbs 17:22 A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Discover how a joyful heart can be your sanctuary, even when spirits are tested. A celebration of resilience, purpose, and the healing power of joy. Rev. Carol Thomas Cissell is our liturgist.
Rev. Ali K.C. Bell is a Black, Neurodivergent Transgender man and an Unitarian Universalist minister. His pronouns are he/they or Rev. Bell. At Cedar Lane, Rev. Bell’s portfolio includes pastoral care, membership engagement, multicultural ministry, memorials, and worship and adult Faith Formation collaboration.
Before he began his theological studies, Rev. Bell attended the University of Central Florida where he earned his Master of Social Work. He had an extensive career in social work, helping some of the most challenged and diversely in-need populations.
While earning a Master of Divinity from Meadville Lombard Theological School, Rev. Bell served as the Intern Minister at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair and as a Senior Learning Fellow at the Church of the Larger Fellowship. After Graduation Rev. Bell served as a Chaplain Resident at Grady Health System.
Rev. Bell serves Montgomery County as a member of the Montgomery County Anti Hate Task Force, and as co-chair for the Coalition of Inclusive Schools. He serves on the UU Ministers Association’s Nominating Committee as a Co Chair. Rev. Bell applies his skills and talents to enrich the ministry of prophetic hope, salvation, and liberation that he brings to the world.
Saunder Choi is a Los Angeles-based Filipino composer and choral artist whose works have been performed internationally by various groups including Conspirare, the Philippine Madrigal Singers, Santa Fe Desert Chorale, Los Angeles Master Chorale, Pacific Chorale, World Youth Choir, Brightwork New Music, People Inside Electronics, and many others. As an arranger and orchestrator, Saunder has written for Tony-Award winner Lea Salonga, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, Orquestra Filarmónica Portuguesa, Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles, etc.
As a choral artist, he sings with Pacific Chorale, L.A. Choral Lab, HEX Vocal Ensemble, as well as in film scores such as the soundtrack of Disney’s The Lion King (2019), Mulan (2020), Turning Red (2022), Nope (2022), Avatar: The Way of the Water (2022), etc. Saunder believes in music as advocacy, using the media as a platform for diversity, equity, inclusion, justice. His compositions are focused on narratives and conversations surrounding immigration, racial justice, LGBTQ+ advocacy, climate justice, and representations of his identity as a Filipino-Chinese. He is currently Director of Music at Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Santa Monica and a teaching artist with the Los Angeles Master Chorale. www.saunderchoi.com
If your congregation or community is interested in becoming a SPONSOR, please consider completing our Sponsorship Form. Sponsors commit to a pledge or offering in 2024, and will receive a recording of the worship service that may be used at a later date.
