Category Archives: Services

A List of Sunday Morning Programs

January 28: “The Gift of Good Questions”

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Presenter: Chad Minteer

As we think this month about “Intention” starting out a new year and well on our way to new spring beginnings, we’re invited to think carefully about our connections with other people.

When was the last time someone asked you an open honest question? A question that invited you to reflect more deeply on your own life asked by a person who did not want to advise you or “fix” you but “hear you into speech”?

For most of us, this is rare. If we pay attention to our own interactions, we may find ourselves not really connecting with the shared humanity in others but instead listening with an ear to offer advice or fix or help or talk about ourselves.

The difference really is our intention and the gift we have to give is not knowledge of how to fix someone else’s problems but the gift of listening and asking good questions that remind people of their own often unsuspected inner resources.

We do not have to be skilled professionals for this to work well – it’s all about our orientation towards each other and our shared humanity.

Join us as we consider how we all may bear this gift.

Please Note:  We will also be welcoming and celebrating new members joining our Fellowship this Sunday.

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.

January 7: A Reason for Being: Ikigai

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Presented by Collete Hoglund

Ikigai is the Japanese concept for “a reason for being” or purpose in living. Living one’s Ikigai brings meaning to life. In Japanese culture, it is considered one of the keys to happiness and longevity.Ikigai

Ikigai stems from the intersection of “what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for.”

This talk will explore this concept further, integrate it with spirituality, invite you to contemplate your own Ikigai, and explore possible “reasons for being” for our fellowship.

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.

December 24: Christmas Eve Service *(No AM Service)

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Dear MVUUF Friends,

Please join our Candlelight Christmas Eve Service Saturday, December 24th beginning at 7:00 PM at the Vendor Blender. candlesRefreshments will be provided and a collection will be taken for Heifer International. Please Note: there will not be a service on Sunday morning, Christmas Eve Day. Worship services will resume on Sunday, December 31st.

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.

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.

 

December 3: Make of Yourself a Light

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candlesIn the poem, “The Buddha’s Last Instruction,” by Mary Oliver, we learn it is possible to become something of inexplicable value when we make of ourselves a light: a light of hope, compassion, peace and joy, a light that brings healing by falling first upon our own story and then spreading out to all stories.

As we enter the Yuletide season, a celebration of warmth and light in many traditions, may we take time to consider, appreciate, welcome and open our hearts to light in all its forms.

 

Reminder for members:

We have a congregational meeting immediately following the service this Sunday to vote on next steps regarding the possibility of purchasing of a permanent home. 

 

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 5: Meeting People Where They Are

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Presented by: Jen Blair, Guest Speaker

In a world that often appears divided by ideology, how can we recover the lost art of civility and truly engage with people and ideas that are different?

Having the attitude and skills to truly engage doesn’t mean we will all agree or that every moment is a kumbaya moment. But meaningful change can’t come from shrill social media fights or constantly being aggrieved and offended – or from constant attack, because studies show that making someone feel defensive is the quickest way to make sure that we are NOT heard.

As individuals, we are each walking a unique path that is greatly influenced by our own life experience. Finding common ground is most beneficial to all of us.

Join us and special Guest Jen Blair as she discusses some of her experiences with Mama Dragons as it relates to the important subject of dialogue, engaging, and social justice work.
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 25: Explore Love, the Mystical and the Spiritual

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Unitarian Universalists by definition have declined traditional religious structs and dogmas, although our religion does look for value in other religious traditions. While our paths to the spiritual and mystical are diverse and individual, we believe that we can all agree that there is great power in love.

In our experience, love, the mystical, and the spiritual have been intertwined. How we access the mystical and spiritual powers of love is less clear. What has become clear to me is that Love may be the closet thing to God that we will ever experience. Could they be the same thing?

Most of us do wish to explore spirituality and fellowship in a supportive environment. Please join us at the Magic Valley Unitarian Universalist to explore Love, the Mystical and the Spiritual this 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.

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 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 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.