Author Archives: magicvalleyuu

August 25: “Empathy as a Superpower”

Posted on by

Presented by: Rev. Jenny Peek

JennyP_180pHow is empathy developed? What are its challenges and benefits? In a time when ideologies are polarizing neighbors and family members leaning into the discomfort with curiosity and loving concern seems counter-intuitive. What if empathy (and let’s add some love and compassion for good measure) were our greatest superpower? Join us Sunday as our visiting minister, Rev. Jenny Peek, shares her reflection on empathy in the least possible places.

Unitarian-Universalism honors the differing paths we each travel. Our congregations are places where we celebrate, support, and challenge one another as we continue on our spiritual journeys. As Unitarian-Universalists, we covenant to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person; justice, equality and compassion in human relations; and acceptance of one another.

Newcomers of all religious paths or none at all are always welcome. We are working on becoming handicapped-accessible but are not fully there yet. To avoid steps into the sanctuary please enter through the rear entrance to access a sloping hallway to the sanctuary. Please park in the rear of the building or on the street, in front or the side of the building. Child care is available during the adult portion of the service.

August 18, 2019: “Will I Stand Up?”

Posted on by

Presenter: Don Morishita

Among the seven principles Unitarian Universalism teaches, four are related to social activism, which is an important part of what Unitarian Universalists stand for.
Those four principles are to affirm and promote: 1) the inherent worth and dignity of every person; 2) justice, equity and compassion in human relations; 3) the goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all; and 4) respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

These principles are not exclusive to Unitarian Universalism and are practiced by many non-secular and secular organizations. In today’s political climate, racism and white nationalism is a charge that has surfaced with our country’s leadership. Racial and ethnic minorities who have been the target of tweets, statements, and comments feel the burn from these published words. Sadly, there are people who support these hateful words. Most Americans however, are embarrassed and ashamed by these words. When these hateful actions are seen firsthand, how many of us will stand up for what is right?

Unitarian-Universalism honors the differing paths we each travel. Our congregations are places where we celebrate, support, and challenge one another as we continue on our spiritual journeys. As Unitarian-Universalists, we covenant to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person; justice, equality and compassion in human relations; and acceptance of one another.

Newcomers of all religious paths or none at all are always welcome. We are working on becoming handicapped-accessible but are not fully there yet. To avoid steps into the sanctuary please enter through the rear entrance to access a sloping hallway to the sanctuary. Please park in the rear of the building or on the street, in front or the side of the building. Child care is available during the adult portion of the service.

August 4: “Go and Do Likewise”

Posted on by

Presenter: Mary McGinnis

Our speaker this Sunday is Mary McGinnis, a Christian member of our Magic Valley Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship. Mary’s topic, “Go and Do Likewise,” explores where faith and the sciences intersect to answer the question: “Am I my brother’s [humankind’s] keeper?”

Mary’s message draws from the story of The Good Samaritan in the Bible, and themes of “intersectionality” and “ecotheology” from the UUA book, Justice on Earth, to ensure and promote our precious first Principle “The inherent worth and dignity of every person” on Earth.

Unitarian-Universalism honors the differing paths we each travel. Our congregations are places where we celebrate, support, and challenge one another as we continue on our spiritual journeys. As Unitarian-Universalists, we covenant to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person; justice, equality and compassion in human relations; and acceptance of one another.

Newcomers of all religious paths or none at all are always welcome. We are working on becoming handicapped-accessible but are not fully there yet. To avoid steps into the sanctuary please enter through the rear entrance to access a sloping hallway to the sanctuary. Please park in the rear of the building or on the street, in front or the side of the building. Child care is available during the adult portion of the service.

July 28: “Embracing each one of our journeys”

Posted on by

Presenter: Don Morishita

Throughout our lives most of us take many journeys, including our own spiritual journey. For some, the spiritual journey may be very straightforward, but for many, the spiritual journey may be like a road with many curves, crossroads and dead ends.

Our spiritual journeys may lead to mainstream Christian, Muslim, or Jewish faiths. For others it leads to other religions and yet for others, it is without the presence or desire of a higher power in their lives. Whatever direction each of us takes, it is important to embrace each of our journeys that take us on our own spiritual path.

Unitarian-Universalism honors the differing paths we each travel. Our congregations are places where we celebrate, support, and challenge one another as we continue on our spiritual journeys. As Unitarian-Universalists, we covenant to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person; justice, equality and compassion in human relations; and acceptance of one another.

Newcomers of all religious paths or none at all are always welcome. We are working on becoming handicapped-accessible but are not fully there yet. To avoid steps into the sanctuary please enter through the rear entrance to access a sloping hallway to the sanctuary. Please park in the rear of the building or on the street, in front or the side of the building. Child care is available during the adult portion of the service.

July 21: “Driving as a Spiritual Practice”

Posted on by

Presenter: Karen Fothergill

Join us this Sunday to learn from Karen Fothergill. Ms. Fothergill will provide insights on how a mundane task such as driving a car can become a spiritual practice.

Unitarian-Universalism honors the differing paths we each travel. Our congregations are places where we celebrate, support, and challenge one another as we continue on our spiritual journeys. As Unitarian-Universalists, we covenant to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person; justice, equality and compassion in human relations; and acceptance of one another.

Newcomers of all religious paths or none at all are always welcome. We are working on becoming handicapped-accessible but are not fully there yet. To avoid steps into the sanctuary please enter through the rear entrance to access a sloping hallway to the sanctuary. Please park in the rear of the building or on the street, in front or the side of the building. Child care is available during the adult portion of the service.

July 7: Never PC (“politically correct”)

Posted on by

Presenter: Rev. Jenny Peek

Pastor-Jenny_cCaring about the impact of our words is not synonymous with being “PC (Politically Correct)”. What’s the difference and why does it matter?

Join us for a thoughtful reflection on this topic with Rev. Jenny Peek, visiting Unitarian-Universalist minister from Pocatello.

Unitarian-Universalism honors the differing paths we each travel. Our congregations are places where we celebrate, support, and challenge one another as we continue on our spiritual journeys.

As Unitarian-Universalists, we covenant to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person; justice, equality and compassion in human relations; and acceptance of one another.

Newcomers of all religious paths or none at all are always welcome. We are working on becoming handicapped-accessible but are not fully there yet. To avoid steps into the sanctuary please enter through the rear entrance to access a sloping hallway to the sanctuary. Please park in the rear of the building or on the street, in front or the side of the building. Child care is available during the adult portion of the service.

June 30: “The Way of Peace by Peace Pilgrim”

Posted on by

Presenter: Anne Martin

Anne Martin will explore how “Peace Pilgrim” née Mildred Lisette Norman, an American non-denominational spiritual teacher, mystic, pacifist, vegetarian activist and peace activist, shared the lessons she learned on her remarkable journeys for peace. Peace Pilgrim discovered her life’s calling would be to work for peace: peace among nations, peace among groups, peace among individuals and very Importantly, peace within ourselves.

Peace Pilgrim felt very strongly that if enough people attained inner peace, we would learn to work together for the benefit of all and war and the suffering it brings would become impossible. Her message was simple and profound. “Overcome evil with good, falsehood with truth, and hatred with love.” She carried that message from 1953 until her death in 1981 at the age of 73 to thousands of people in every state of the US, every Province in Canada and even into some places in Mexico. She journeyed on foot for over 25,000 miles wearing only the clothes on her back. Her only possessions were a few things she carried in her pockets.

Join with us Sunday to learn more about the contributions made to our society by Mildred Norman, aka “Peace Pilgrim.”

Unitarian-Universalism honors the differing paths we each travel. Our congregations are places where we celebrate, support, and challenge one another as we continue on our spiritual journeys.
As Unitarian-Universalists, we covenant to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person; justice, equality and compassion in human relations; and acceptance of one another.

Newcomers of all religious paths or none at all are always welcome. We are working on becoming handicapped-accessible but are not fully there yet. To avoid steps into the sanctuary please enter through the rear entrance to access a sloping hallway to the sanctuary. Please park in the rear of the building or on the street, in front or the side of the building. Child care is available during the adult portion of the service.

June 16: “Our Fathers”

Posted on by

Presenter: Malcolm Metzler (MVUUF Fellowship)

This Sunday’s message will be a Father’s Day tribute of sorts, to fathers of all kinds and everywhere.

In addition to sharing some personal experience of what his father meant to him, Malcolm will share some stories from his own experience being a father later in life than he ever expected.

He will also share some thoughts about what it means to be a father in a UU context, how our life experiences as fathers are changing rapidly — experiences which are becoming more diverse and perhaps less gender-biased, compared to traditional notions of fatherhood.

Unitarian-Universalism honors the differing paths we each travel. Our congregations are places where we celebrate, support, and challenge one another as we continue on our spiritual journeys.

Unitarian-Universalists covenant to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person; justice, equality and compassion in human relations; and acceptance of one another. Newcomers of all religious paths — or none at all — are always welcome.

We are working on becoming handicapped-accessible but are not fully there.  To avoid steps into the sanctuary please enter through the rear entrance to access a sloping hallway leading to the sanctuary. Please park in the rear of the building or on the street, in front or the side of the building. Child care is available during the adult portion of the service.

June 9: “The Open Heart”

Posted on by

Presenter: Collete Hoglund

According to Carlos Santana, “The most valuable possession you can own is an open heart.” Incorporating concepts from the book, “The Untethered Soul,” our talk this Sunday will explore what it means to have an open heart and how to keep our open hearts clear.

Unitarian-Universalism honors the differing paths we each travel. Our congregations are places where we celebrate, support, and challenge one another as we continue on our spiritual journeys.

As Unitarian-Universalists, we covenant to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person; justice, equality and compassion in human relations; and acceptance of one another.

Newcomers of all religious paths or none at all are always welcome. We are working on becoming handicapped-accessible but are not fully there yet. To avoid steps into the sanctuary please enter through the rear entrance to access a sloping hallway to the sanctuary. Please park in the rear of the building or on the street, in front or the side of the building. Child care is available during the adult portion of the service.

June 2: “LIMINAL: A Refugee Memoir”

Posted on by

Presenter: Liyah Babayan

l.babayan-sAuthor Liyah Babayan will be our guest speaker this Sunday. Liyah is a refugee from Armenia who settled in Twin Falls, Idaho, USA several years ago as a child with her parents. Her book, “LIMINAL: a refugee memoir” is a reflection of her life.

Liyah is a dedicated social entrepreneur with a passion for giving back to her adoptive community and country. After surviving the anti-Armenian ethnic killings in Azerbaijan, Liyah and her family experienced homelessness and after 4 years were resettled in Twin Falls, Idaho through the CSI Refugee Program.

Liminal_s.jpgLiyah became an entrepreneur at age 22, served on the Twin Falls School Board and was the first refugee to run for Twin Falls City Council election. Liyah has been recognized as one of Idaho’s Women of the Year, received the ACLU’s Civil Rights Service Award and featured in The New York Times. Social justice is not a political option for Liyah, it is a spiritual practice grounded in her Armenian Orthodox faith, culture and tradition.

Liyah prioritizes the principles of humanitarian mercy, compassion in action and reverence for divinity in her role as a Mama to her two children Dominic and Angeli. Her book “Liminal a refugee memoir” was published in November of 2018, is now being translated into Russian, Armenian and Spanish. Currently, Liyah is touring and sharing her book with universities, book clubs, book stores, bloggers and pod-casters and co-authoring a second book of Idaho refugee chronicles and narratives.

Liyah may bring extra copies of her book, “LIMINAL: a refugee memoir” should anyone wish to purchase one.

Our congregations are places where we celebrate, support, and challenge one another as we continue on our spiritual journeys. Unitarian-Universalists covenant to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person; justice, equality and compassion in human relations; and acceptance of one another.

Newcomers of all religious paths or none at all are always welcome. Please park in the rear of the building or on the street in front or the side of the building. Child care is available.