Timothy Ellis will share about the holy wonder in each of us as we approach the holiday season. We’ll also explore taking on an Advent practice. (Similar to Lent but taking on a spiritual practice instead of giving something up).

Perri Gardner will be Worship Associate.

Presented by Don Morishita.

Worship Associate is Melody Lenkner.

Humanism is the belief that human beings are the source of meaning and values. It is a scientific search, self-correcting and open to change with new knowledge and insights. Some religious evangelists deride Humanism as a faith leading to nowhere. Humanists see humanity as having the capacity for continuted growth and development, and they accept responsibility for encouraging that growth. But, there are different types of humanism. Literary Humanism, Renaissance Humanism, Western Cultural Humanism, Philosophical Humanism, Christian Humanism, Modern, Secular, and Religious Humanism. Please join us to learn and discuss this philosophy of living.

Jon Thompson and Perri Gardner will lead a discussion about Thanksgiving.

Please join our Magic Valley Unitarian Universalist community for a facilitated conversation on the topics of tradition, community, and gratitude. Congregant Perri Gardner will lead a discussion that celebrates and critically explores the Thanksgiving holiday. Please come prepared to engage in conversation and fun activities. The themes of this service will also be relevant to two other excellent events happening in our community this Sunday, November 20th.

Please consider joining us in community at our Transgender Day of Remembrance at 3 PM (in our Fellowship at 160 9th Ave E.). Additionally, our friends at the United Methodist Church will be hosting a Thanksgiving Feast at 12:30 PM in their basement at 360 Shoshone St.

This service will not be on Zoom.

Timothy Ellis will explore Octavia Butler’s “Parable of the Sower.” We’ll look at Butler’s focus on the divine as a force for change. We’ll also bring in our Universalist ancestors who sought to focus their efforts on the present world rather than the afterlife.

Cultures of violence in Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” and “Weird Al Yankovich’s “Weasel Stomping Day.”

MVUUF member Jon Thompson discusses the blind adherence to tradition in the two works and the importance of using self-reflection to break free from harmful practices.

Fear is not a virtue, however understandable it may be to feel fear sometimes. Yet if we spend all our time at odds with fear as a despicable state to be avoided, we miss some clear chances to learn. How are our fears played against us, keeping us at odds with our neighbors? How are fears healthy and protective?

Perri Gardner and Jon led a discussion of democracy and autocracy.

We broke into small groups to discuss how government works.

Doughnuts and coffee were served.