Author Archives: magicvalleyuu

June 16: “Our Fathers”

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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”

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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”

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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.

May 26: “Grace and Gratitude as our Everyday Spiritual Practice”

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Presenter: Rev. Jenny Peek (Pocatello UU Fellowship)

Pastor-Jenny_cRev. Jenny Peek, our visiting Unitarian-Universalist minister from Pocatello, shares with us her journey in admitting hard truths, how loving others had to begin much closer to home. If you tire of the inner critic, you are not alone. Join us this Sunday for this introspective service on treating ourselves as well as we would treat others.

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. Please park in the rear of the building or on the street in front or the side of the building. Child care is available.

May 19, 2019: “Always the Beautiful Answer,” Rev. Elizabeth L. Greene

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Presenter: Rev. Elizbeth Greene

Poet E.E. Cummings once said, “Always the beautiful answer, that asks a more beautiful question.” In some ways, this statement is at the heart of Unitarian Universalism, which believes that truth is constantly unfolding, in a world we will never totally understand—but before which we can stand in reverence and faith, called to our best selves.

In this, her last sermon to the Magic Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Rev. Greene will reflect upon the answers and questions that arise in religious homes.

Rev. Elizabeth Greene

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 UUs 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 handicapped accessible. Please park in the rear of the building or on the street in front or the side of the building. Child care is available.

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

Join us at 10:30 AM at our new location: 160 9th Avenue East in Twin Falls.

May 12: Beauty as a Spiritual Practice Presenter: Mark W McGinnis (Member Boise UU Fellowship)

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Mark McGinnis

Our sermon this Sunday by artist Mark W. McGinnis, member of the Boise Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, will deal with how we experience beauty in nature and beauty in visual art.

Mark’s message will focus on how to transform this common experience to a spiritual practice. A slide presentation will accompany the sermon.

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 handicapped accessible. Please park in the rear of the building or on the street in front or the side of the building. Child care is available.

May 5: “Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway”

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Presenter: Ryan Terry

Why do we get so anxious? Sunday’s sermon we will explore the concept of fear and anxiety. The good and the bad. Sometimes we just get nervous about getting nervous. We can work ourselves into a frenzy trying to figure out why we are getting nervous.

Perhaps it is time to break the cycle and just accept that a certain level of anxiety is to be expected. We must allow ourselves to feel the fear and then do it anyway.

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 handicapped accessible. Please park in the rear of the building or on the street in front or the side of the building. Child care is available.

April 28: Reclaiming Wholeness: Rev. Sara LaWall

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Presenter: Rev. Sara LaWall

RevSaraLaWall-120Sunday, our guest speaker will be Rev. Sara LaWall from the Boise Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship, our partner Fellowship.

Please join for Rev. LaWall’s inspiring message titled “Reclaiming Wholeness”.

Rev. LaWall completed her Masters of Divinity at Meadville-Lombard Theological School, a Unitarian-Universalist seminary in Chicago, Illinois and was ordained in 2014 at the Neighborhood Unitarian-Universalist Church in Pasadena, California where she served as Director of Religious Education. She began her ministry in Boise in August 2015.

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 handicapped accessible. Please park in the rear of the building or on the street in front or the side of the building. Child care is available.

April 21, 2019: Easter and Earth Day Celebration

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Presenter: Karen Fothergill

Come Celebrate Easter and Earth Day with the Unitarian-Universalists On Sunday we will be celebrate Earth Day with an Inter-generational service. Earth Day, now a global celebration, founded in 1970, is celebrated this year Monday, April 22. Earth Day sometimes is extended into Earth Week with a full seven days of events focused on green living.

The Magic Valley Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship invites you to join this celebration with songs, a play and a musical performance by the children.

Karen Fothergill will lead this service with thoughts about Easter, Earth Day and the blessing of Spring – the season of rebirth. A children’s Easter Egg hunt will follow.

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 handicapped accessible. Please park in the rear of the building or on the street in front or the side of the building. Child care is available.

April 14: “Maybe You Can Catch Me on My Cell Phone”

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Presenter
Rev. Elizabeth Greene

What keeps us so busy in this modern world?

Religious traditions of all kinds encourage slowing down, noticing what is going on around us, simply being still. But a lot of us have a kind of non-stop life, whether it is work-related, volunteering all over the place, or keeping up with a home and kids.
How much “down time” does it take to be truly human, in touch with each other and larger truths?

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 UUs 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 handicapped accessible. Please park in the rear of the building or on the street in front or the side of the building. Child care is available.