Please join us this Sunday, June 2, 2013, for our first round table discussion of the summer session. We’ll begin with our usual opening words, joys and concerns, and an opening hymn. From there, we’ll shift into a less formal setting for our first forum. Our discussion topic will be a spin off of a CLF (Church of the Larger Fellowship) sermon. We will address two questions.

1) What is the faith of a Unitarian Universalist?

2) How do we give expression to our faith?

As Unitarian-Universalists, we love to ask the questions and we often find intellectual stimulation in asking questions. It can be difficult to find answers to all our questions, but the discussion that follows our questions are often worth the effort of finding answers. We hope to see those who don’t go to Boise at the Twin Falls Senior Center. The Magic Valley Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship meets every Sunday beginning at 10:30 AM at the Twin Falls Senior Center, 530 Shoshone Street West in Twin Falls. Newcomers are always welcome. Childcare is available. We are handicapped accessible. For information, please contact Ken Whiting at 734-9161.

Free Will, Does it Exist? The question of free will has been hotly debated for centuries. Some people believe humans have the capacity for free will – the ability to choose their actions without being forced to follow a certain course by either by the influence of others or by natural laws. For many theists, free will is regarded as a special gift from God. The notion of human free will is also an important premise for a lot of what happens in human society.

Is free will is necessary for the notion of personal responsibility? Does free will exist? If people do not have free will, then it is difficult to argue that they are personally and morally responsible for their actions – and if that is the case, how can they be punished for their misdeeds? On the other hand, how can they be praised for the good things they do, if those actions were not also freely chosen? Does a person really have free will or does a person’s environment, experiences and so forth mask a person’s real ability to have free will? Members and visitors are encouraged to join the conversation on what constitutes free will.

The Magic Valley Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship meets every Sunday beginning at 10:30 AM at the Twin Falls Senior Center, 530 Shoshone Street West in Twin Falls. Newcomers are always welcome. Childcare is available. We are handicapped accessible. For information, please contact Ken Whiting at 734-9161.

Mother’s day has passed and Father’s Day is coming.  What makes a good father? Many think of their own fathers and remember their special qualities.  For others who may not have had a father in their lives or had a less than loving memory- they have had to look elsewhere.   “Atticus Finch” – hero of both Harper Lee’s Pulitzer prize-winning novel “To Kill a Mockingbird,” and in the film adaptation of the same name- has been for many, just such a role model.  

This story- told through the eyes of the child “Scout” – encompasses many other themes of society: racism, social norms and status, religious standards, roles of black and whites, men and women, school teachings, the haves and have nots, and of course- parenting roles.

All of our Unitarian-Universalist’s seven principles can be found at play surrounding Atticus, his children, and the small town in which he practices law; but perhaps none more than our second principle “Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations.”  

Harper Lee published this story over 50 years ago.  Does it have any relevancy to our lives here in southern Idaho in our current times?  What can we take as inspiration from this fictional father and citizen – into modern times?  Please come and share your thoughts.

The Magic Valley Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship meets every Sunday beginning at 10:30 AM at the Twin Falls Senior Center, 530 Shoshone Street West in Twin Falls. Newcomers are always welcome. Child care is available. We are handicapped accessible. For information, please contact Ken Whiting at 734-9161.

The stories we tell define our lives. They give meaning and color and emphasis to our experience; they explain our history; they lead us into our future and a better story can make for a better life.  Join us as we take a look at the stories we tell about God (god/s), family and self; consider their creative aspects; and embrace our freedom to choose what we believe is a better story.

The Magic Valley Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship meets every Sunday beginning at 10:30 AM at the Twin Falls Senior Center, 530 Shoshone Street West in Twin Falls. Newcomers are always welcome. Child care is available. We are handicapped accessible.
For information, please contact Ken Whiting at 734-9161.

A Brief Guide to This Sunday’s Topic http://www.questformeaning.org/page/reflecting/streets-to-dwell-in

Karen Fothergill will present a Unitarian-Universalist church on loan service  titled “Streets to Dwell In” by Rev. Lynn Ungar. The Rev. Lynn Ungar is minister for “Lifespan Learning” and editor of “Quest” for the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Larger Fellowship, an online congregation for isolated religious liberals. Her work is included in the anthology What We Share.

The sermon includes stories of the interconnections we have with our local neighbors, our church family and our global neighbors from notable leaders including Mr. Rogers, Wendell Berry and Rev. Martin Luther King. The Rev. Lynn Ungar is minister for lifespan learning and editor of Quest for the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Larger Fellowship, an online congregation for isolated religious liberals. Her work is included in the anthology What We Share.

Music will be provided by Collete Hoglund. Our hymns will be “From You I Receive” and “This is My Song (Finlandia)”The Magic Valley Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship meets every Sunday beginning at 10:30 AM at the Twin Falls Senior Center, 530 Shoshone Street West in Twin Falls. Newcomers are always welcome. Child care is available. We are handicapped accessible. For information, please contact Ken Whiting at 734-9161.