BUUF 2012 Sunday Services Archive
January
Jan. 1, 9:30 & 11:15am
"The Creation of God" John Munson
Quite a number of Christians eagerly await the second coming of
Christ. A much more interesting (and certainly more probable) event is
the impending arrival of God. Many futurists now accept the fact that in
the relatively near future we will create an intelligence that has the
capability of recursive self-enhancement. This event is called the
Singularity. At this point, the new intelligence will immediately have
access to all of our knowledge in that all of this is stored in
machinable form now. This new intelligence will have no restrictions on
the rate that it can create new knowledge. Its ability to understand and
control events in the universe will be unlimited. Very soon, then, we
will unleash this new unbounded intelligence on the universe. We will
have created God. The time has come to anticipate this event and to
explore and understand our role with our new God. Mary Hester, service
coordinator. Nancy Harms, Celebrant
Jan. 8, 9:30 & 11:15am
"Celebrating Our Pioneers" Elton Hall & Rev. Elizabeth Greene
What does it mean to be a pioneer? Do we appreciate those "whose
shoulders we stand on"? In what ways are we pioneers: historically,
spiritually, socially? Bev Harley, service coordinator; BUUF Choir,
music.
Jan. 15, 9:30 & 11:15 am
"Deserving & Undeserving" John Pevy, Aleta Sprague, Gary Wyke, Rick Groff
On this Martin Luther King Sunday, we welcome Emerson Hunger Fellows.
John Pevy will be talking about giving individuals power and control
over their lives and livelihood and Aleta Sprague will talk about how
public discourse about recipients of government assistance tends to
focus on drawing a line between those who are "deserving" and
"undeserving," instead of being guided by love and forgiveness. Gary
Wyke and Rick Groff will talk about hunger related social justice work
our congregation is doing. We will welcome social justice community
partners during and after the second service. Susie Hardy/Val Duffy,
service coordinators. Rev. Elizabeth Greene, Celebrant.
Jan 22, 9:30 & 11:15am
"Musical Pilgrimage" Jeanette Ross & Tom von Alten
Last summer Tom von Alten and Jeanette Ross participated in a choir
that sang through Transylvania and Hungary. Peace pilgrim advised "A
pilgrim is a wanderer with purpose." Jeanette and Tom will share stories
and insights from their purposeful wanderings. Nancy Harms, service
coordinator. Gwyn Reid, Celebrant.
Jan. 29, 9:30 & 11:15am
"'Yearning to Breathe Free': the Immigration Issue" Rev. Elizabeth Greene
This June, the Unitarian Universalist Association is holding a
Justice General Assembly (GA) in Phoenix, Arizona, hotbed of immigration
abuses. Elizabeth will reflect on "the immigration issue," and will have
information available on this potentially life-changing GA. Robyn
Broyles, service coordinator.
February
Feb 5, 9:30 & 11:15am
"Stories of Change and Transition,"Rev. Elizabeth Greene
Life is just one darned change after another, some more "successful"
than others, each similar to others and also unique. How do we roll with
the taps and punches of seemingly-continual transition? Cathy Sherman,
service coordinator.
Feb 12, 9:30 & 11:15am
"Ubi Caritas: Charity and Love," Rev. Elizabeth Greene
The Christian tradition is full of references to love: for friends
(philia), for God (caritas and agape), with not a lot about eros, or
body-and-soul, lover-ly love. What does it all mean, anyhow? Wanda
Jennings, service coordinator.
Feb 19, 9:30 & 11:15am
"Rescuing St. Paul," Elton Hall
Spiritual seekers leave the religions of their childhoods for complex
reasons, but one reason some of us left the Christian tradition was the
severe attitudes of St. Paul which seem focused on sin, are harsh in
respect to women, and have no sense of joy. Scholars have shown that St.
Paul did not write all the epistles assigned to him. When we look at his
authentic writings, a radically different St. Paul emerges, one UUs can
respect and perhaps even embrace. Rev. Elizabeth Greene, Celebrant.
Nancy Harms, service coordinator
Feb 26, 9:30 & 11:15am
"Being All We Can Be, UU Style," Rev. Elizabeth Greene
"A frog in a well does not know the great ocean and cannot imagine
the vastness of the sky." (Japanese proverb)
What keeps our vision small? What limits our aspirations? Should we
seek to change the world? Should we seek to truly make a difference in
our communities? What might happen if we let our vision of ourselves and
our congregations grow? Robyn Broyles, service coordinator.
March
March 4, 9:30 & 11:15am
"No One Can Whistle a Symphony"
There is much work to do in this world. When we work together towards
a common goal, the hard work becomes a thing of joy and a blessed act of
community. Come explore the joy of heart work with Emmie Schlobohm, our
Director of Religious Exploration. Rev. Greene, Celebrant. Mary Hester,
service coordinator.
