This Sunday The Magic Valley Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship will host a discussion about the “Matthew Effect” or “The Rich Get Richer.”

Anne Martin will examine the “Parable of the Talents” from the Gospel of Matthew and explore the lessons from the story which relate to challenges we face daily. Newcomers are always welcome.

Worship Leader:  Ann Martin
Sunday,  July 1, 2012
Twin Falls Senior Center, Twin Falls, Idaho
Beginning at 10:30 AM

Error is typically viewed by most as a hindrance to progress and success; however, this Sunday we will look at how apparent error may serve as an agent of improvement.   We will look at examples of this phenomenon within science and technology as well  as within our own lives.

Worship Leader:  Ryan Terry
Sunday,  June 24, 2012
Twin Falls Senior Center, Twin Falls, Idaho
Beginning at 10:30 AM

On Sunday June 17th, we will have a service dedicated to Fathers and have a Flower communion to also honor the 90th year of the Prague UU Church, which started the International Flower Communion. The Prague UU Church was founded in 1922 and survived during some of the most difficult times in European history.     Please bring a flower to share.  We will share some stories about our Dads and learn about the history of the Flower Communion.  If you would like to speak about your Dad or another significant Father figure in your life,  please contact Host Karen Fothergill.

Worship Leader:  Karen Fothergill
Sunday,  June 17, 2012
Twin Falls Senior Center, Twin Falls, Idaho
Beginning at 10:30 AM

On June 19th, many people in the United States will celebrate Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, in recognition of the abolition of slavery in the United States. Why not celebrate January 1, 1863, the day Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation took effect? Because it took until June 19, 1865, for Union soldiers to arrive in Texas and enforce the Proclamation. This Sunday we will learn more about this holiday and its history as well as celebrate this significant day.

Worship Leader:  Rev. Suzanne Marsh
Sunday,  June 10, 2012
Twin Falls Senior Center, Twin Falls, Idaho
Beginning at 10:30 AM

Unitarian Universalist (UU) principles include affirming and promoting the inherent worth and dignity of every person, acceptance of one another, and compassion in human relationships.  These principles are rooted in love.   However, loving ourselves and others can be challenging.  Many obstacles may interfere with being loving.  One major stumbling block is fear.  Fear can stem from concerns such as not being enough or having enough, being focused on the past or future and wanting control.  This presentation and discussion will address how to shift from fear to love in relationships.

“Only when fear lifts, the human heart can open and thrive.”  Forrest Church, UU minister

Worship Leader: Dr. Collete Hoglund

Worship Associate: Don Morishita

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Twin Falls Senior Center, Twin Falls, Idaho

Beginning at 10:30 AM

The Magic Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship is pleased to announce that Reverend Elizabeth Greene of the Boise Unitarian Universalist Fellowship will speak on Sunday May 27th at 10:30 AM at the Twin Falls Senior Center, located at 530 Shoshone Street West.  Rev. Greene’s topic is The Places that Scare You from the book of the same title by Pema Chödrön.

Reverend Elizabeth Greene is in her 24th year of serving the Boise Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. A former educator, she graduated from the Unitarian Universalist Seminary Starr King School for the Ministry. Elizabeth is the Pacific Northwest District Trustee to the Unitarian Universalist Association and is active in the Interfaith Alliance. Elizabeth performs as a choral singer, writes thoughtful columns for the Idaho Statesman, and is a frequent speaker at community events.

Worship Leader: Elizabeth Greene
Worship Associate: Karen Kothergill

Sunday, May 27, 2012
Twin Falls Senior Center, Twin Falls, Idaho
Beginning at 10:30 AM

The nature of living is reflected in the nature of gardening.  Through gardening we learn that life is a process and that small efforts yield remarkable results over time.  Gardening shows us that we are all part of an interconnected web of life and that life is resilient.  Time in the garden can also teach us to let go of attachment and accept the cycles of change.  We discover that hard work, done well, feels good and that one of the most important aspects of gardening is taking the time to savor and appreciate the beauty that is all around us.

“I sit in my garden, gazing upon a beauty that cannot gaze upon itself.  And I find sufficient purpose for my day.”  Robert Brault

Worship Leader: Julie Merrick
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Twin Falls Senior Center
Twin Falls, Idaho
Beginning at 10:30 AM

Speaker: Rev. Suzanne Marsh

Although mothering is generally associated with women, the dictionary definition includes: “bringing up a child with care and affection” and “look after kindly and protectively, sometimes excessively”, but many definitions do not include any gender reference at all.

We, as a society, may yet be able to move away from the confining image of motherhood to a more expansive vision of mothering which includes fathers, grandparents, friends, teachers and all who love children. This Sunday, Mother’s Day, let’s gather to remember and celebrate all who have “mothered us”, as well as our experiences of “mothering others”.

In addition, we will have our annual “Flower Communion.” Please bring some flowers to share.

Worship Leader: Rev. Suzanne Marsh
Worship Associate: Ryan Terry

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Twin Falls Senior Center,
Twin Falls, Idaho
Beginning at 10:30 AM

This Sunday, Ray Cross will discuss how Unitarian-Universalists differ from Christians.

Our program this Sunday will explore what it means to be a Unitarian-Universalist. We Unitarian-Universalists in the Magic Valley are a small group of liberal thinkers living in a conservative Christian community. We will explore what makes Unitarian-Universalists spiritually different from our neighbors. A number of spiritual topics will be discussed and as Unitarian-Universalists usually do we probably will not agree on everything that is said. We will discuss the Bible, God/god, the afterlife, sin, Jesus, salvation and other spiritual concepts. We will discuss the differences between Unitarian-Universalist positions on these topics and Christian concepts.

Please join us in our discussion and please come ready to THINK.

Worship Leader: Ray Cross
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Twin Falls Senior Center, Twin Falls, Idaho
Beginning at 10:30 AM

This Sunday, Ryan Terry will discuss Free Will vs. Determination.

The question of free will is one which has been hotly debated for millennia. Some people believe that humans have the capacity for free will – the ability to choose their actions without being forced to follow a certain course by either by the influence of others or by natural laws. For many theists, free will is regarded as a special gift from God. The notion of human free will is also an important premise for a lot of what happens in human society.

Free will is necessary for the notion of personal responsibility. If people do not have free will, then it is difficult to argue that they are personally and morally responsible for their actions – and if that is the case, how can they be punished for their misdeeds? In fact, how can they be praised for the good things they do, if those actions were not also freely chosen?

Does a person really have free will or does a person’s environment, experiences and so forth mask a person’s real ability to have free will?

Sunday, April 29, 2012
Twin Falls Senior Center, Twin Falls, Idaho
Beginning at 10:30 AM