Author Archives: magicvalleyuu

October 22: Stepping Forward

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How willing are we to be vulnerable? To engage, to show up, to be seen? We may try to make ourselves safe by making our lives small but that path seldom leads us anywhere we’d really like to go.

When we draw upon courage and faith to step in the direction of what is meaningful to us, even when we feel afraid, our lives become more afraid.

We learn to live in wholeheartedness, not because we have banished fear but because we have discovered something greater within us.

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. Child care is usually available.

October 15: Based on Science, So What?

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Presenter:  Don Morishita

One of the Unitarian Universalist Principles is a free and responsible search for truth and meaning. This is applied not only to our spiritual journey but also our everyday lives. How we each form our truths is based on how or what kind of effort we put into finding the truth. Faith is certainly one form that we find truth but for some people having hard evidence of the truth is more critical than having faith.

Science has brought us many answers to the wonders of nature, our lives and beyond. But is it the purest way of seeking answers? Join us for a presentation and discussion of the fourth principle of Unitarian Universalism.

As Unitarian Universalists, we have a proud tradition of responding to the imperatives of love and justice to work with those of us who are marginalized and oppresses in society and the world.

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. Child care is usually available.

October 8: What is White Privilege?

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Guest Speaker, Candise Ramsey from the Southern Idaho Humanist Alliance

inherent worthWe hear terms like ‘white privilege’, ‘inclusion’, and ‘unconscious bias’ a lot these days in the ongoing struggle for racial equality in this country. What do you think and feel when you hear those terms?

Whatever our reaction to the terms or to the endless discussions and debates about anthem protests, Charlottesville, or the acquittal of yet another white policeman in the killing of a black man in St. Louis, it is a fact that racial oppression exists in this country. White privilege is a fact. Our own awareness of what it is and what we can do about it is another matter altogether. It may come in stages, it may come slowly, and when it does we may want to distance ourselves from it, deny it, or explain it away.

How can we confront our own denial and responsibility? How can we turn our awareness into concrete and constructive action rather than let it degenerate into white guilt or white fragility?

These are hard questions for hard times. You may be thinking “we don’t have that problem here.” It’s true we don’t have a large black population here in Southern Idaho. But our communities include a large number of Hispanic brothers and sisters, and many refugees and immigrants from all over the world. For those of us that are white, our awareness of white privilege and how it affects everyone in our community is an important first step.

We will have a guest speaker this week, Candise Ramsey from the Southern Idaho Humanist Alliance. Join us as we explore these questions together.

As Unitarian Universalists, we have a proud tradition of responding to the imperatives of love and justice to work with those of us who are marginalized and oppresses in society and the world.

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. Child care is usually available.

October 1, 2017: Art and Spirituality

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Presented by: Karen Fothergill

Art and Spirituality are closely linked for many people especially for artists, musicians, singers, actors and dancers. Karen Fothergill will be share stories from “Soul Matters” a Unitarian Universalist resource for worship this Sunday.

Several members will speak about their connection to the arts and their connection to spirituality and how they complement each other.

As Unitarian Universalists, we have a proud tradition of responding to the imperatives of love and justice to work with those of us who are marginalized and oppresses in society and the world.

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. Child care is usually available.

September 24: The Balm of Gilead

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Where do we find healing? Where do we go to be comforted, blessed, restored? In biblical times, there was a high-quality ointment called the balm of Gilead. It had healing properties and the term became a metaphor for a universal cure grounded in spirituality.

Beautiful hymns, prayers and teachings reflect this idea and call us to open our hearts to love and be made whole.

As Unitarian Universalists, we have a proud tradition of responding to the imperatives of love and justice to work with those of us who are marginalized and oppresses in society and the world.

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. Child care is usually available.

September 17: The Hope at the Heart of Our Faith

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Presented by: Rev. Greene

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This Sunday, Rev. Elizabeth Greene will approach the difficult topic of race, in our society and in the Unitarian Universalist Association. She will reflect on how the issue has developed over time, and how it seems currently.

Rev. Greene will also bring perspective and hopefully some optimism to the situation most of us find ourselves in: mostly white folks in a mostly white area, concerned about justice, equity and compassion.

(9-23 2017) Here is the text from this sermon Rev, Greene has shared with the fellowship, in PDF format: 20170917 Hope at heart of faith (race)

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. Child care is usually available.

September 10: Welcoming the Stranger

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We’ve all experienced feeling welcome, and we’ve probably also experienced feeling uncomfortable or unwanted. Most of us would probably like to think of ourselves as open, accepting, and welcoming. But what can stand in the way?

This is an important church question, and it’s an important social and political question.

It’s been said that Sunday morning is the most segregated time of the week in our country, even though that is not usually our intention individually or as religions. Why is that? What can we do about it?

Do we define our country as a nation of immigrants, a diverse melting pot, a civil society with liberty and justice for all? Not everyone does, and this is a battle that affects our friends and neighbors in this community. Twin Falls is a welcoming place. How do we keep it that way?

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. Child care is usually available.

September 3, 2017: Water Communion

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Presented by: Don Morishita

water joinThe Water Communion, also sometimes called Water Ceremony, was first used at a Unitarian Universalist (UU) worship service in the 1980s. Members are asked to bring a small amount of water from a place that is special to them. Symbolic water also will be provided to those who do not bring water with them. During the appointed time in the service, people one by one pour their water together into a large bowl. As the water is added, the person who brought it tells why this water is special to them. The combined water is symbolic of our shared faith coming from many different sources.

One purpose of this ceremony is an opportunity for us to express our commitment to our 6th Principle: We Covenant to Affirm and Promote the Goal of World Community with Peace, Liberty and Justice for All.

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. Child care is usually available.

August 13: Facing the Bogeyman

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Presented by: Ryan Terry

MVUUF members, Ryan Terry and his wife, are proud parents of two lovely girls, ages 7 and 11.

One of the Terrys’ favorite pastimes is to spend time in nature. The Terrys enjoy hiking and backpacking in wilderness areas where there are very few people. As their daughters have gotten older they have often express interest in exploring nature alone without direct parental supervision.

Ryan will explore this topic further with an emphasis on how nature can teach us to face and overcome our fears, and provide both the young and the old with opportunities to gain a greater sense of confidence and awareness.

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. Child care is usually available.

August 6: Living as a Buddhist

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Presented by: Michael Johnson

Did you ever wonder what it’s like to be a Buddhist? Sounds so exotic! Surely it must be different from anything ever experienced!

Actually it’s very interesting, surprisingly simple, and, for Michael Johnson, the philosophy has provided the most direct path to personal contentment and happiness.

Join Michael in this brief look at a new way to experience yourself, the people around you and even people you may never meet.

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. Child care is usually available.