Category Archives: Services

A List of Sunday Morning Programs

September 24: The Balm of Gilead

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Where do we find healing? Where do we go to be comforted, blessed, restored? In biblical times, there was a high-quality ointment called the balm of Gilead. It had healing properties and the term became a metaphor for a universal cure grounded in spirituality.

Beautiful hymns, prayers and teachings reflect this idea and call us to open our hearts to love and be made whole.

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.

September 17: The Hope at the Heart of Our Faith

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Presented by: Rev. Greene

EGreene

This Sunday, Rev. Elizabeth Greene will approach the difficult topic of race, in our society and in the Unitarian Universalist Association. She will reflect on how the issue has developed over time, and how it seems currently.

Rev. Greene will also bring perspective and hopefully some optimism to the situation most of us find ourselves in: mostly white folks in a mostly white area, concerned about justice, equity and compassion.

(9-23 2017) Here is the text from this sermon Rev, Greene has shared with the fellowship, in PDF format: 20170917 Hope at heart of faith (race)

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.

September 10: Welcoming the Stranger

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We’ve all experienced feeling welcome, and we’ve probably also experienced feeling uncomfortable or unwanted. Most of us would probably like to think of ourselves as open, accepting, and welcoming. But what can stand in the way?

This is an important church question, and it’s an important social and political question.

It’s been said that Sunday morning is the most segregated time of the week in our country, even though that is not usually our intention individually or as religions. Why is that? What can we do about it?

Do we define our country as a nation of immigrants, a diverse melting pot, a civil society with liberty and justice for all? Not everyone does, and this is a battle that affects our friends and neighbors in this community. Twin Falls is a welcoming place. How do we keep it that 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.

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.

September 3, 2017: Water Communion

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Presented by: Don Morishita

water joinThe Water Communion, also sometimes called Water Ceremony, was first used at a Unitarian Universalist (UU) worship service in the 1980s. Members are asked to bring a small amount of water from a place that is special to them. Symbolic water also will be provided to those who do not bring water with them. During the appointed time in the service, people one by one pour their water together into a large bowl. As the water is added, the person who brought it tells why this water is special to them. The combined water is symbolic of our shared faith coming from many different sources.

One purpose of this ceremony is an opportunity for us to express our commitment to our 6th Principle: We Covenant to Affirm and Promote the Goal of World Community with Peace, Liberty and Justice for All.

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.

August 13: Facing the Bogeyman

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Presented by: Ryan Terry

MVUUF members, Ryan Terry and his wife, are proud parents of two lovely girls, ages 7 and 11.

One of the Terrys’ favorite pastimes is to spend time in nature. The Terrys enjoy hiking and backpacking in wilderness areas where there are very few people. As their daughters have gotten older they have often express interest in exploring nature alone without direct parental supervision.

Ryan will explore this topic further with an emphasis on how nature can teach us to face and overcome our fears, and provide both the young and the old with opportunities to gain a greater sense of confidence and awareness.

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 30: How Much Church is “Too Churchy”?

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Some people think Unitarian Universalism is “not a real church” – it’s the kind of criticism that you get used to when you belong to a creed-less faith. But strangely enough, some people check out UU and still feel it’s “too churchy”. Why?

Why do people come to a church like ours? Why do they keep coming, or not? What makes church different from a discussion group, a TED Talk, a Meet up group, a civics course? What elements do people connect with or have trouble connecting with when they come from other religions, or no religion?

Join us as we think about not only what makes church church, but how church and the beloved community relate to one another.

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.

July 16: “Freedom”

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Presented by: Julie Merrick

Freedom is state of mind. It is an open door; it is wind rushing against canyon walls; it is birds hanging in flight. Freedom is to feel one’s soul dancing inside one’s body as the illusion of the time dissolves into a moment of infinity.
We find freedom by releasing the mental constructs which enslave us, by letting go of all that weighs us down, by being fully present in the now and by loving in a way that causes others to feel free.

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 2: “The Living God”

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What do you think about when you hear the word God? Turn on? Turn off? No reaction? And how does our being human make the idea of a God seem to be a necessity?

Theologians have been at this issue for centuries…let’s see what we can do in 30 minutes!

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.