“Purple Theology: The Music & Message of Prince”
– Simone Monique Barnes and Rev Erin Walter
Seven years after his death, Prince’s work continues to influence and inspire the world. With religiously themed music and lyrics, combined with an ongoing exploration of identity, self-expression, truth-telling, joy, injustice, grief, and of course, love, Prince’s deeply spiritual music offers a theology of liberation.
As we look inside, look around, and look beyond ourselves, we begin to ask questions like, “How do we perceive and define our individual selves?” “What role do we play in our collective healing?” “How can we survive and thrive in times of heartache and oppression?” “How do we imagine the next chapter of our lives, our church, our world?”
Come as you are, whether you are seeking healing for your own spirit or healing for the wider world, invite friends, and prepare to take in moving music from the First UU band, soloists, and instrumentalists. The church’s important pre-congregational meeting will follow the worship service.
Simone Monique Barnes: Informed by the arts, prayer, meditation, and yoga, Simone Monique Barnes is an interdisciplinary artist, writer, educator, and lay minister. Simone was born and raised in New York City, and has called Austin, Texas, home for over ten years. Simone enjoys joy practices such as Laughter Yoga Teacher and Afro Flow Yoga. She holds a master’s degree in Arts in Education from Harvard Graduate School of Education.
