The UU program for 12-8-12 will be a video sermon by Rev. Marlin Lavanhar titled “Why Atheists Go to Church.”

Rev. Marlin Lavanhar is the senior minister of All Souls Unitarian -Universalist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Marlin grew up as a Unitarian Universalist in Illinois. He majored in Sociology at Tulane, and graduated from Harvard Divinity School. All Souls called him in 2000 at age 32, making him the youngest senior minister of a major congregation in the denomination. Marlin began his religious life in the North Shore Unitarian Church in Deerfield, Illinois. After receiving his bachelor’s degree, he taught English and American Culture in Kyoto, Japan for two years. He followed that with a three year around the world bicycle trip, studying Buddhism in Asia, Hinduism in India, Jewish, Christian and Muslim traditions in Israel, and cycling through much of Asia, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and North America.  Along the way visiting and writing about Unitarian communities on the Island of Negros in the Philippines, in the Khasi Hills of Northeast India, and in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Rumania. The experience helped him recognize the Unitarian ministry was his calling, and he enrolled at Harvard Divinity School. At Harvard, he was selected to assist the Unitarian Universalist Association at interfaith and international relations, and was invited to present a message to the Triennial World Congress of the International Association for Religious Freedom in Korea. After graduating, he served as Minister of Outreach at the historic First and Second Church in Boston. He became widely recognized within the denomination for his development of the “Soulful Sundown Service” program in Boston, which reaches out to unchurched young people. His success demonstrated by wide distribution of a manual he wrote on how to bring young people into church.

Since coming to All Souls, Marlin has overseen exponential growth in the membership and attendance of the church.  In 2008, All Souls in Tulsa became the largest church in the Unitarian Universalist Association with almost 1800 adult members. He serves the wider Tulsa community as the President of Tulsa Metropolitan Ministries, as a member of the Downtown Clergy Association, a board member or the John Hope Franklin Museum for Reconciliation and the Mayor’s Police and Community Coalition. He is married to Anitra Lavanhar and they have two children, Elias born in 2000 and Lyla born in 2008.

The UU program for 12-2-12 will be a Great Courses video by Jay Garfield of Smith College. The topic this Sunday (tomorrow) is “The Meaning of Life”. This presentation will feature the thoughts of John Lame Deer, a Lakota Sioux Medicine Man.

The Magic Valley Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship meets every Sunday beginning at 10:30 AM at the Twin Falls Senior Center, 530 Shoshone Street West in Twin Falls. Newcomers are always welcome. Child care is available. For information, please contact Ken Whiting at

Marion Wallace will host the Annual “Stone Soup” story and fellowship of sharing our “blessings” that often come in unexpected appearances. Audience participation is the fun of this program. All are welcome to bring an item or symbol of something you would like to add to the “Stone Soup.”

The Magic Valley Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship meets every Sunday beginning at 10:30 AM at the Twin Falls Senior Center, 530 Shoshone Street West in Twin Falls. Newcomers are always welcome. Child care is available. For information, please contact Ken Whiting at ‪‪208-734-9161

Our service this Sunday is titled “Belonging on Demand.” We will explore belonging whether it be in our church (our fellowship), our community, our nation,  or something larger: nature, the universe. The issue of love is all part of belonging. We will discuss belonging — what belonging means. We belong to this world and to nature and with belonging comes responsibility.

The Magic Valley Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship meets every Sunday beginning at 10:30 AM at the Twin Falls Senior Center, 530 Shoshone Street West in Twin Falls. 
Newcomers are always welcome. Childcare is available. 
For information, please contact Ken Whiting at 734-9161.

Halloween, a.k.a. “All Hallows Eve” is just around the corner.  What is a “hallow?”  Something holy or sacred.  This holy day, i.e. holiday, was originally sacred to the pagans — and still is to many of us/them.  It became “All Saints Day” to the Roman Catholic Church.  Now, it is mostly a fun occasion for children and children “at heart” to dress up in scary or glamorous costumes and receive treats.  This is the time when the “veil” is traditionally thinnest between the realms/dimensions, which translates as the visible world of matter and the senses, which is separate (to most of us — most of the time anyway) from the invisible world of “spirits” — whether benevolent or malign or indifferent. Is this a fun time or a fearful time? It all depends on your own experience and perspective.  Cynthia Hindes will talk about Fear and Fun in our lives and this seems a particularly appropriate time to do it.  We hope you will enjoy this brief exploration of this holiday celebration.

The Magic Valley Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship meets every Sunday beginning at 10:30 AM at the Twin Falls Senior Center, 530 Shoshone Street West in Twin Falls. Newcomers are always welcome. Child care is available.
For information, please contact Ken Whiting at 734-9161.

Worship Leader:  Cynthia Hindes
Sunday,  October 28, 2012
Twin Falls Senior Center, Twin Falls, Idaho
Beginning at 10:30 AM

In recognition of National Coming Out Week, our service this Sunday will feature an online presentation titled “National Coming Out Week – Standing on the Side of Love.” Speakers for this presentation include Rev. Meg Riley (Senior Minister, Church of the Larger Fellowship), Tandi Rodgers (UUA Growth Specialist, Pacific Northwest District of the UU Association), Rev. Justin Schroeder (Senior Minister, First Universalist Church of Minneapolis) and Rev. Mattish Misha-Marzetti.

The Unitarian Universalist Association and the Magic Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship are active organizations in support of gay, lesbian and transgendered individuals.

The Magic Valley Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship meets every Sunday beginning at 10:30 AM at the Twin Falls Senior Center, 530 Shoshone Street West in Twin Falls. Newcomers are always welcome. Child care is available. For information, please contact Ken Whiting at 734-9161

Program Facilitator:  Karen Fothergill
Sunday,  October 21, 2012
Twin Falls Senior Center, Twin Falls, Idaho
Beginning at 10:30 AM

Htay Aung Zaw, a refugee from Burma (now called the Union of the Republic of Myanmar), will speak to the congregation about his life. He will speak about his life in his homeland (Burma) as well as his life in Thailand and Malaysia as a refugee prior to his being granted refugee status to come to the United States. Mr. Zaw will explain why he fled Burma, his experience in Thailand as well as his experience in Malaysia prior to his being granted “refugee status” to come to the United States.

Mr. Zaw will be available after our service to answer questions pertaining to his experience(s) as well as answer questions pertaining to his new expectations in his new country, the United States of America.

The Magic Valley Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship meets every Sunday beginning at 10:30 AM at the Twin Falls Senior Center, 530 Shoshone Street West in Twin Falls. Newcomers are always welcome. Childcare is available. For information, please contact Ken Whiting at 734-9161.

Speaker:  Htay Aung Zaw with Translator Kyi Kyi Whiting
Sunday,  October 14, 2012
Twin Falls Senior Center, Twin Falls, Idaho
Beginning at 10:30 AM

Negativity bias is the name for a psychological phenomenon by which humans pay more attention and give more weight to negative rather than positive experiences.  Joy, happiness and well being expand when we learn to overcome this bias and begin tipping the scales of our attention toward that which is uplifting and pleasing in our lives. As we shift our perceptions, consider our values and make a conscious decision that we will put greater emphasis on what is good in this world, we are changed and become better able to embrace and appreciate the fullness of our life experience.

The Magic Valley Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship meets every Sunday beginning at 10:30 AM at the Twin Falls Senior Center, 530 Shoshone Street West in Twin Falls. Newcomers are always welcome. Child care is available.

Worship Leader:  Julie Merrick
Sunday,  October 7, 2012
Twin Falls Senior Center, Twin Falls, Idaho
Beginning at 10:30 AM

WE will have a continuation of last Sunday’s topic with Michael Johnson titled: “What do guidelines for spiritual life provide for us – a pathway to heaven, a happier life, greater peace and contentment?”

We will continue our discussion from last week regarding the Buddhist 8-Fold Path plus have our panel of members who took on the challenge to observe the Buddhist 8-Fold Path this past week report to us how they fared, problems they encountered and any difficulties they may have experienced during their observance to maintain adherence to the 8-Fold Path.

The Magic Valley Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship meets every Sunday beginning at 10:30 AM at the Twin Falls Senior Center, 530 Shoshone Street West in Twin Falls. Newcomers are always welcome. Child care is available. For information, please contact Ken Whiting at 734-9161.

Worship Leader:  Michael Johnson
Sunday,  September 30, 2012
Twin Falls Senior Center, Twin Falls, Idaho
Beginning at 10:30 AM

What do guidelines for spiritual life provide for us – a pathway to heaven, a happier life, greater peace and contentment?

For Christians there are the Commandments, for Buddhists there is the 8-Fold Path.  Does this stuff really work and if so… how? Join Michael Johnson in a two-week experiment of sorts.  This Sunday – we will discuss the Christian Commandments and the Buddhist 8-Fold Path. Michael Johnson will ask for volunteers willing to commit to one week of being aware of the guidance, doing their best to follow the guidance and then, the following week … participate as panelists to tell us how they fared.  We start this week – so hopefully be prepared to participate both this Sunday and next.

The Magic Valley Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship meets every Sunday beginning at 10:30 AM at the Twin Falls Senior Center, 530 Shoshone Street West in Twin Falls.

Worship Leader:  Ken Whiting
Sunday,  September 23, 2012
Twin Falls Senior Center, Twin Falls, Idaho
Beginning at 10:30 AM