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DRUUMM Public Worship

Choosing Joy! DRUUMM Public Worship

Rev. Ali K.C. Bell, Guest Preacher
Saunder Choi, Director of Music
Rev. Carol Thomas Cissel, Liturgist

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.

Please REGISTER and ask your congregation to SPONSOR

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

Rev. Carol Thomas Cissel is the Minister of Social Justice & Community Development at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, in Arlington VA. She holds a Master of Divinity degree from Pacific School of Religion and a Master of Science in Nonprofit & Association Management from the University of Maryland, University College. Before joining the UUCA congregation, she served UU congregations (as a Settled and Interim Minister, and in other roles) in PA, MD, CA, WA, OK and NJ.

Rev. CTC is currently the chair of the UUA Commission on Appraisal and serves her colleagues as the treasurer of the UUMA. In the fall of 2023 she joined the DRUUMM leadership team the role of 2nd Vice President.

CTC is passionate about Interfaith Activism, Seeking Justice, Crafting Exuberant Worship, Prophetic Preaching, Travel, and Small-Batch bourbon. A fan of thrillers and contemporary poetry, she also loves day hikes and live music in small venues (blues, folk, classic rock and a bit of country).

Rev. CTC finds JOY in collecting the masterworks of Native American and First Nations Peoples artists, rooting for the Washington Nationals, parenting 2 amazing adult children and stealing kisses from her delicious grandsons as often as she can.