Category Archives: Guest Speaker

April 22: “Joy in the Journey: Faith Transitions, Recovery, and Hope”

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Presenter: Liza Long

What do faith transitions and living in recovery have in common? How can we find hope and meaning when our familiar traditions fail us?

In a world full of perfect Instagram feeds, is it okay to feel sorrow, anger, grief, and disappointment?

Liza Long is an author, college English instructor, former National Alliance on Mental Illness-Boise board president, and the mother of a son who lives with bipolar disorder. She believes in thrift stores and in embracing the journey, no matter where it leads us.

Please join us to learn more about faith transitions and living in recovery have in common.

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 available.

March 25, 2018: “Designs of Faith”

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Presenter: Mark McGinnis

Mark McGinnis, a member of the Boise Unitarian Universalist Fellowship and artist, will present a guest service based on one of his art projects titled Designs of Faith.

The basic content of his project is a study of four Western, four Eastern, and four Tribal religions. The project has four sequential components: research on each faith, an essay he wrote from the research, a preliminary study for the final painting, and finally an 8’ X 6 1/2’ five section painting for each religion.designs-of-faith-2

The large paintings are in the collection of the Visual Art Center, Washington Pavilion of Arts and Sciences in Sioux Falls, SD. His intent in producing this project was to gain a deeper understanding of how religion created systems and designs around which people could organize their lives.

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 available.

March 4: 3pm: MVUUF 25th Anniversary Celebration Service @ 360’s Event Center

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SmLog2 25th Anniversary Celebration

MVUUF… “Standing on the side of love, justice, and compassion”

 

Dear MVUUF Friends,

This is a final reminder that there will be no morning service this Sunday, March 4.  We are instead having an afternoon service and celebration party at the 360’s Event Center in Twin Falls (directions below).

You and your family or organization is cordially invited to attend the 25th Anniversary Celebration of the Magic Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship! Join us to honor the roots of MVUUF and celebrate our continued presence in the Magic Valley!

Location:

The 360’s Main Event Center

348 4th Ave S

Twin Falls ID

Time:

Service begins at 3:00 PM, Child care provided

Hors d’oeuvres and refreshments following the service

Click here for directions.

 

 

We look forward to celebrating with you!

Sincerely,

The Board Members of the MVUUF

Directions:

  • From I-84, take Exit 173 onto US-93 Toward Twin Falls.
  • Continue on US-93 (which turns into Blue Lakes Blvd) for a little more than 6 miles.
  • Take a slight right onto Shoshone St.
  • Continue for just under a mile on Shoshone St.
  • Once you cross Main Street, start looking for 4th Ave. S.
  • Turn Left onto 4th Ave. S. (Note, #’d streets count down until you reach Main. Then they count up again after Main.)
  • 360 Center is on the right just after you cross Idaho Street.

Google Map to 360’s Center << Click here for directions from Google Maps

..or view the PDF file below:

MVUUF Party Reminder 180304 (PDF file)

 

December 10: Guest Speaker: Steve Thompson

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Guest Speaker: Steve Thompson

Our guest speaker this Sunday is Steve Thompson. Steve Thompson is the Political Director of Marcy’s Law for Idaho, a victims’ advocacy organization.

Steve recently moved to Idaho from northern California where he worked in legislative placement assistance for foster youths transitioning to adulthood and in public relations campaigns for various local efforts. His experience included developing a $90 million bond measure for Butte Community College.

Steve Thompson is a US Army veteran and served as a drill sergeant and is married with three children.

He has authored the children’s book series: “The Daughters Daring” which was written for his own daughters to assist them in finding the courage they need to excel in their lives.

Please Note:  Thank you to those that attended the congregational meeting December 3rd. We will not have a meeting December 17th as previously announced.

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.

July 23: “Resistance as a Spiritual Practice”

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Presented by: Debra Smith

This Sunday we look forward to hearing from our guest speaker, Debra Smith, from the Boise UU Fellowship, here to share on the topic of “Resistance as 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.

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.

June 25: “Showing Up and Staying Put”

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 Presented by Guest Speaker Jen Blair

What does radical love look like for mothers of LGBTQIA children? When religion asks the impossible, what is the answer? How can faith, family, and LGBTQIA communities be celebrated and championed?

Justice and love lead some to leave beloved faith communities and find others where they can be their authentic selves. Others are led to stay and keep showing up on the side of love. No matter what path parents and families choose, there are difficult challenges that love calls them to meet. These challenges do not have to be met alone.

Join us as guest speaker Jen Blair talks about her experiences as an LDS mother and an active member of the Mama Dragons organization. Mama Dragons is an organization that exists to inspire and empower mothers of LGBTQIA children.

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.

May 7: Ethics in a Secular Framework

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Presented by guest speaker Jason Carlson

Sunday our guest speaker will be Jason Carlson from the Southern Idaho Humanist Alliance.

Mr. Carlson will lead the discussion of the moral philosophy of Secular Ethics without limits that bind to a theistic or supernatural dogma.

Humanistic perspectives driven by human capacities help us to make ethical decisions during both typical and trying times.

What does a person do with their ethics when they are not in use? Can we stay morally sharp when the world may dull the senses?

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.