December is a month of many holidays and celebrations, including the Winter Solstice, Christmas, Hanukkah, Rohatsu or Bodhi Day, Kwanzaa, and Boxing Day. Unitarian Universalists Unitarian Universalists recognize the importance of all these holiday events during this month. This year Hanukkah began Thursday evening December 7th at sundown and continues through Friday December 15th. Hanukkah is the Jewish eight-day, wintertime “festival of lights,” celebrated with a nightly menorah lighting, special prayers and fried foods.

Join us this Sunday for a celebration with Tony Prater who will share the importance of this special time. Our service Sunday will be both in person at our location 160 9th Avenue East in Twin Falls as well as on ZOOM beginning at 10:30 AM Mountain Time. 

Don Morishita will be the worship associate.

It’s the first Sunday of Advent! Let us take a break from the frenzy of the physical planning, shopping, and preparing to reflect with hopeful anticipation on the joy and celebrations to come. Join the Magic Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship for a service that celebrates the holiday season through song and story-telling.Our service Sunday will be both in person at our location 160 9th Avenue East in Twin Falls as well as on ZOOM beginning at 10:30 AM Mountain Time. 

Presented by Perri Gardner

Worship Associate is Jonathan Thompson

This time of year is traditionally filled with joy and gatherings of family and friends. It is a time for giving thanks and celebration. And, for many, it is also a time of grief and sorrow. How do we as a community hold space for both the joyful abundance of the season and the depth of loss and longing that many people feel?

Service by our intern minister, Jeannine Robinett

Music by Collete Hoglund

Worship Associate is Melody Lenkner

When it feels as though we are living in a time of scarcity, how can we act from a place of abundance? Come hear the familiar story introducing three strangers who coax an entire village into realizing the power of sharing and giving in the interactive service. This story also motivates us to be aware of opportunities to notice grace and practice random acts of kindness.

Join us for our Stone Soup Service, canned food drive and potluck lunch following the service. Please bring a non-perishable food item to donate to the Idaho Food Bank.

Presented by Don Morishita

Presented by Jenny Peek

November is Native American Heritage Month. Join us this Sunday for a reflection by Jim Woods who will summarize what early anthropologists working in Idaho recorded about indigenous marriage, family, politics, and world view.  To us, some of the recorded customs may seem very unusual and difficult to understand.  However, anthropology offers a way to explain these differences to provide a fuller appreciation of modern human diversity.

Don Morishita is the Worship Associate

Unitarian Univeralists are guided by seven principles which were developed through grassroots efforts and the democratic process. The Principles are not dogma or doctrine, but rather a guide for those of us who choose to join and participate in Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.

Our fifth principle  affirms “The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large”  Amid concerns about the health of our democracy, the Magic Valley Unitarian Universalists have recognized a need to become active in promoting actions perceived as protective of our democracy.  In order to ensure that all eligible voters in the state of Idaho have a voice in the candidates who are elected, there is a move to place an initiative on the ballot that would allow for an Open Primary system, a move that appears to promote a fully democratic process.Join us this Sunday, October 29th, when Kathy Clees, a representative of Reclaim Idaho, which is sponsoring the drive for the initiative, explains the need for the initiative and the details of it.”

A garden can be so much more than just a place for growing flowers or food.  Wonder and awe grow there too.  When we take the time to look closely, life lessons wait for us there among the bugs and weeds, lessons of understanding, uncovering, and hope.
Our presenter this Sunday is Jeannine Robinett, Senior Trainer and Tai Chi Instructor, Tai Chi for Health Institute.  

Discussion led by Pam.

How to Apologize

As much as we try never to harm, as perfectly imperfect humans we sometimes make mistakes. Apologies are a way of conveying regret for any harm and intention to do better.
This Sunday our visiting minister Rev Jenny Peek shares her reflection on this topic. 

Melody Lenkner is the Worship Associate