Category Archives: Sermons

May 3: “Honoring Our Earth” (Online Service)

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Presenter: Mary Beth Bolin, BUUF Intern Minister

As we continue online to celebrate in the weeks following Earth Day, BUUF intern  minister Mary Beth Bolin will share three invitations for honoring and healing our earth:

First – Let nothing be an object.

Second – Do not be afraid, the Earth’s healing energy can never die.

…and Third – Let go of control over your gifts, and learn to trust the wild winds of change.

Come join us as we recommit ourselves to becoming healers of our planet!

Members, please stay online after the service for our annual congregational meeting, where we will conduct all the important business of the year.

Zoom Connection Information. If you are unsure of how to use Zoom, please see our instructions: Click Here

Topic: Sunday Service
Time: May 3, 2020 10:30 AM Mountain Time (US and Canada)

Meeting ID: 865 4035 1235
Password: Bolin

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Dial by your location
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Meeting ID: 865 4035 1235

Password: 246543

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.

April 26: “Owning our Actions, With or Without a Deity” (Online Service)

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Presenter: Rev. Jenny Peek, Pocatello UU Fellowship

Our visiting minister from Pocatello, Rev. Jenny Peek, explores the evolution of ethnocentric to anthropocentric theology. Through the story of American Humanism’s origins in John H. Dietrich and with consideration of Unitarian-Universalism as it is today, how is Humanism serving our better natures (or not)?

We will meet using the Zoom online platform, and the meeting begins at 10:30 AM.  For general questions about how to use Zoom, please click here.

Use this link to join the service on Zoom:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/92419024532?pwd=T00rOHgxb2tnVmJkSkJ2bWQ3NG43QT09

Meeting ID: 924 1902 4532
Password: Owning

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+13462487799,,92419024532#,,#,378770# US (Houston)
+16699006833,,92419024532#,,#,378770# US (San Jose)

If joining by telephone please use the following to connect:

Dial by your location
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 253 215 8782 US
+1 301 715 8592 US
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 924 1902 4532
Password: 378770

March 1st: “Wisdom of the Condor”

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Presenter: Mary Beth Bolin (BUUF intern Minister)

In 2018 Intern Minister Mary Beth Bolin and her son went on a pilgrimage to see a California Condor flying freely in the wild. The spirit of that condor subsequently shepherded her into a time of liberation and healing that continues to unfold, and is bringing her back to her own roots of wisdom.

Mary Beth will reflect upon the sources of wisdom and healing to which we each have access, and how we can connect with our own roots in order to bring healing to ourselves and the world, while honoring the infinite variety of our paths.

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.

February 23rd: “The Multiplicity of God”

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Presenter: Rev. Jenny Peek

Drawing upon Hinduism, Judaism, and Christianity, our visiting minister Rev. Jenny Peek explores humankind’s fascination with defining the sacred. Ancient rabbinic texts show the struggle to keep God as one. Hinduism encompasses 33 million gods. They can’t both be right, can they?

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.

January 12th: “Are We Haunted? Our Religious Past May Be Impacting Our Present”

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Presenter: Rev. Jenny Peek

We all have biases, positive and negative. Sometimes by examining our past, we shine light on the origins of deeply embedded feelings about religion. Our visiting minister, Rev. Jenny Peek will reflect on this topic, exploring how unexamined religious biases may block us from living fully in our values.”

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.

January 5th: “A People of Covenant”

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Presenter:  Mary Beth Bolin

Sunday, Mary Beth Bolin, our intern minister, will lead us in a service to deepen our understanding of covenant – the promises that we make to each other in order to stay in healthy relationship as a community.

The Unitarian-Universalist faith is often described as a “covenantal” rather than a “creedal” faith, meaning that it is the way we treat each other that matters the most and holds us together, not any beliefs or creeds.

In preparation for making a covenant that we can all commit to as a community, we will hear from a couple congregants about what right relationship within the Magic Valley Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship means to them, and invite all to share written ideas and feedback.

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.

December 22: “Welcoming the Spirit of Hope in this House”

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Presenter: Rev. Jenny Peek

How is it that the birth of a child inspires millions around the world for thousands of years? Join us for our visiting minister, Rev. Jenny’s reflection on the message of hope embodied in new human form.

Please remember to continue to bring in warm clothing to be distributed to those who my need it. (To be donated to the CSI Refugee Center.)

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.

December 8th: “In Awe of Children”

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Presenter
Rev. Mary Beth Bolin

The theme for the month of December is Awe. Our intern minister, Mary Beth Bolin, will explore this theme through stories of the awesomeness of children. Through these stories, we will reflect upon the awesome potential of human development and the fierce strength of love that is brought out in all of us who love children.

Reminders:

  • Please remember to continue to bring in warm clothing to be distributed to those who my need it as part of our collection drive for the CSI Refugee Center.
  • In addition, after our service we will have a pot luck meal. Please contribute if you feel inspired, but all are invited to join in for the meal. Thanks! see you Sunday!

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.

November 24th: “Growing up with Sesame Street”

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Presenter: Rev. Jenny Peek

Sesame Street began because of the realization that if children’s attention can be gained, then they can be taught.” What would the lessons be? Join our visiting minister, Rev. Jenny Peek, as she shares a light-hearted yet serious reflection on the evolution of teaching children about race, equality and justice in the 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. 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.

November 10: “Paying Attention to Suffering”

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Presenter: Rev. Monica Dobbins (Video Presentation)

In keeping with Magic Valley UU Fellowship’s theme for November, “Attention”, Rev. Monica Dobbins will bring a message called “Paying Attention to Suffering”. The Japanese novelist and long-distance runner Haruki Murakami says that “Pain is inevitable; suffering is optional.” Must we suffer? And if so, how can we keep our suffering from taking over our lives?

MonicaDobbinsRev. Monica is the assistant minister of the First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City, UT, and is serving in her third year with that congregation. Her ministry focus includes religious education for adults and interfaith cooperation for social justice.

Rev. Dobbins was unable to be with us in person as originally planned. Therefore we will be watching a video she has recorded and sent our 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. 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.