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2004-2005 To Home Page To Calendar This Page Last Updated June 30 2007 |
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2004-2005 To Home Page To Calendar This Page Last Updated June 30 2007 |
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Tapes of past services are sometimes available in the church office. SUNDAY SERVICES DURING THE 2004-2005 CHURCH YEAR
SEPTEMBER
Sunday, September 12, 2004, 10:30 AM The Rev. Mary Samuels "Water Celebration"
This is our intergenerational Welcome Back Service. Welcome back children and adults with your summery memories! Please bring water (real or symbolic), gathered on your summer sojourns and plan to share your summer story. We will welcome our new RE Director and introduce the RE teachers. There will be a salad luncheon afterwards, with something especially yummy for the children.The children will join the adults so there will be no RE classes; however, the usual nursery care will be available.
Sunday, September 19, 2004, 10:30 AM Rev. Mary Samuels "Tending the Religious Lives of Children"
It is difficult for parents today to be strong and clear in their choices regarding church life, particularly in a culture that pulls families away from church participation. How can the whole community of MVUUF play an integral role in both nurturing the children and deepening the faith of parents?
Sunday, September 26, 2004, 10:30 AM Rev. Mary Samuels "What’s a Unitarian Universalist?"
No doubt you have noticed that if someone asks you “What does your church believe?”, there is always an awkward moment. It’s hard for UU’s to find a clear answer. This lack of clarity is the reason the President of the UUA William Sinkford challenged each one of us to develop an elevator speech. As part of the service, a lighthearted skit on this question will be presented.
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OCTOBER
Sunday, October 3, 2004, 10:30 AM Jim Koppel, Director, Children’s Defense Fund MN "So How Are the Children?"
“So how are the children” is a traditional greeting among Masai warriors in Africa and an apt acknowledgment that “as the children are, so is the village.” This session will look at our collective responsibility to all children and the policies and programs that impact their well-being. Where is Minnesota doing a good job? Where do we need improvement and how do we assure a good future for all our children? Fireside Chat after the service.
Sunday, October 10, 2004, 10:30 AM Rev. Mary Samuels Sacred Scriptures I: Genesis
This year I have chosen a sermon series on Sacred Scriptures to include Genesis, The Tao Te Ching, The Book of Rumi, The Gospel of John, The Bhagavad-Gita, The Qur’an and The Tibetan Book of the Dead.Each service will include a children’s story from the tradition and, hopefully, music and readings reflecting the same. The children’s story this Sunday is The Blessing Seed by Caitlin Matthews.
Sunday, October 17, 2004, 10:30 AM Colleen Beebe, BIAS Program Coordinator, Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights " Immigrants in Minnesota: Myths and Realities"
The BIAS Project (Building Immigrant Awareness and Support) is an educational collaboration with a variety of partners to build thriving, diverse communities that capitalize on contributions of new refugees and immigrants. It’s based on the belief that they – like generations before them – come to this country looking for a better life and that their energy and ideas enrich us all. Immigration facts and policies will be shared, as well as how things look from an immigrant’s perspective. Fireside Chat after the service.
Sunday, October 24, 2004, 10:30 AM Rev. Mary Samuels "Hosea Ballou: The Prophet of Universalism"
This influential but little known religious leader challenged the orthodoxy of early nineteenth century New England. On of his friends said “He went through the land proclaiming this great truth, and he has wrought a revolution in the thoughts and minds of men more mighty than any which has been accomplished during the same time by all the politicians of the nation”. The great truth Hosea Ballou was and is Universalism.There will be a special collection for the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee at the service. Look for envelopes in your Sunday program that can be used for donations and placed in a Special Collection Box in the lobby.
Sunday, October 31, 2004, 10:30 AM Colleen Rowley, FBI Special Agent "Balancing Civil Liberties with the Need for Effective Investigation"
While serving as chief division counselor for the Minneapolis office of the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation), Ms. Rowley garnered considerable media attention in 2002 for speaking out on what she saw as the Bureau’s ineffective investigation of Zacarias Moussawi, a suspected link to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. She will share with us how she believes we can balance sometimes competing perspectives of investigation and civil liberties, without jeopardizing integrity or ethics. Fireside Chat after the service.
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NOVEMBER
Sunday, November 7, 2004, 10:30 AM .Rev. Mary Samuels “There Will be Great Rejoicing and Great Despair”
No matter who wins the November 2nd election, there will be great rejoicing and great despair. Will the election engender a resistance to empathy or will it call us forth to some new understanding of our public life? There will be time for dialogueThere will be a special collection for the VEAP Capital Campaign . Look for envelopes in your Sunday program that can be used for donations and placed in a special collection box in the lobby.
Sunday, November 14, 2004, 10:30 AM Harry C. Boyte "Democracy in America: Does it have a Future?" NOTE: This is last minute speaker change for this date.
Our speaker is Senior Fellow, Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, and Co-Director, Center for Democracy and Citizenship, a University-wide resource based in the Humphrey Institute. Fireside Chat after the service. More on Harry Boyte.
Sunday, November 21, 2004, 10:30 AM Rev. Mary Samuels "Sacred Scriptures II: Tao Te Ching"
The philosophy of The Tao Te Ching is simple: accept what is in front of you without wanting the situation to be other than it is….simple and difficult at the same time, the paradoxical essence of Taoism. A copy of the sermon will be given to everyone so we can read together some selections from this esoteric but practical book.The children will be present for the first 15 minutes for A Log’s Life by Wendy Pfeffer.
Sunday, November 28, 2004, 10:30 AM MVUUF Members "Religious Journeys"
Three members of the congregation with share perspectives on the journey that brought them to Unitarian Universalism and to Minnesota Valley Fellowship. This annual program is a wonderful way for us to take a look at our own spirituality and quest for a community of faith.
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DECEMBER
Sunday, December 5, 2004, 10:30 AM Rev. Mary Samuels "The Three Questions"
As the holiday season descends, a short story by Leo Tolstoy comes to mind. In it he asks three questions: When is the best time to do each thing? Who are the most important people to work with? What is the most important thing to do at all times?The children will be present the first 15 minutes for a book titled The Three Questions based on Tolstoy’s parable. New members will be ingathered.
Sunday, December 12, 2004, 10:30 AM Sonja Johnston, Minister of Music Holiday Music Sunday
Join the members of the congregation as they make music for one another. Great music, some laughs, and a few surprises! The children will join the adults so there will be no RE classes; however, the usual nursery care will be available.There will be a special collection for Emergency Food Shelf Network . Look for envelopes in your Sunday program that can be used for donations and placed in a special collection box in the lobby.
Sunday, December 19, 2004, 10:30 AM Rev. Mary Samuels "Some Assembly is Required”
It’s ‘nice’ to say that Christmas is a time of giving and receiving…..but gift giving is often fraught with complex and contradictory emotions. Let us take time to laugh, reflect and reconsider what assembly you require for the season.
Friday, December 24, 2004, 5:00 PM Rev. Mary Samuels "Celebrate the Season"
Bring family and friends to a low-key intergenerational Christmas Eve service complete with carol singing, a children’s story The Blue Angel and a candle-lighting ritual.
Sunday, December 26, 2004, 10:30 AM Rachael Kroog, Musician and Storyteller "Celebrating Light"
This is an interactive, intergenerational time for fun and merriment -- in honor of the season, of light, of serendipity, and of our spirits. Rachael will share stories and music and help us create our own celebration of this special time of year.The children will join the adults at the service so there will be no Religious Education classes. However, the usual nursery care will be available.
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JANUARY
Sunday, January 2, 2005, 10:30 AM Rev. Mary Samuels "Making Do With What You've Got"
While some of us need an impetus to change, New Year’s Resolutions can also reflect false values, a constricting line of success or failure drawn through the fullness of our days. The sermon will consider what a religious response to this New Year might look like.There will be a special collection forBridging. Look for envelopes in your Sunday program that can be used for donations and placed in a special collection box in the lobby.
Sunday, January 9, 2005, 10:30 AM Laura Smidzik, Assistant Director, Rainbow Families "Moving Beyond a Welcome"
Living as a gay or lesbian parent in the community can be both positive and negative. Today's speaker, a member of Unity Unitarian Church in St. Paul, will share insights into the realities and myths of GLBT parenting and the importance of a nurturing faith community. Rainbow Families has provided support, education, and advocacy for many years and its mission is to build a safe, affirming world for all families and children. Fireside Chat after the service.
Sunday, January 16, 2005, 10:30 AM Rev. Mary Samuels "Sacred Scriptures III: The Book of Rumi"
The Sufi poet Rumi wrote: “Let the beauty we love be what we do”. This compelling, paradoxical and sometimes obtuse mystic lived a life filled with passion and wonder. The sermon will address Sufism and Rumi’s interpretation of Islam.The children will be present the first 15 minutes and their story is What About Me? a traditional Sufi tale retold by Ed Young.
Sunday, January 23, 2005, 10:30 AM Frank Dreisbach "A Good Word for the Humanities"
A fact is fact is a fact. Not quite, says the Humanities which cites a deeper meaning in things, for example, their tragedy, or their beauty. Humanities {e.g. art and literature) serve as an antidote to "philistinism" or cultural nearsightedness. When the Humanities are championed, many benefits accrue, which this talk will attempt to discuss. Fireside Chat after the service.
Sunday, January 30, 2005, 10:30 AM Lori Sturdevant, Star Tribune "Where Have You Gone, Elmer Andersen: the Disappearing Minnesota Middle Ground"
Our speaker is an editorial writer, columunist, and editor of two books about former Minnesota Governor Elmer L. Andersen. She'll share her perceptions about reasons for recent problems in state government. Lori will contrast these with Andersen's example and ideas, which she hopes point the way to finding a new middle ground. Fireside Chat after the service.
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FEBRUARY
Sunday, February 6, 2005, 10:30 AM Rev. Mary Samuels "Left Behind?"
Religious fundamentalism has a new level of persuasion in American culture. People are criticizing the emptiness of modern secular society and seeking religion as a balm for their fractured existences. What’s going on? How do we respond to the fundamentalist rage spilling over us all?
Sunday, February 13, 2005, 10:30 AM William J. Doherty "Being Married Well in a World That Pulls Us Apart"
Married couples of any gender combination face formidable obstacles to having successful, lifelong relationships. Among these challenges are time famine, the invasion of market place values into the intimate domain, and lack of social support. Marriage and family therapist, U of M professor, and author Bill Doherty will discuss what we can do as individuals, couples, and church communities to support those who choose to marry in fulfilling their dream of growing old together in love and joy.Fireside Chat after the service.
Sunday, February 20, 2005, 10:30 AM Rev. Mary Samuels "Sacred Scriptures IV:The Bhagavad Gita"
This religious text is a philosophical poem in the form of a dialogue between the warrior Arjuna and his charioteer, the god Krishna. It explores the difficulty of doing one’s duty in the world. It is one of the most loved stories of the Hindu tradition. What does it have to say to us? The children will be present for the first 15 minutes.
Sunday, February 27, 2005, 10:30 AM Senator David Durenberger "Transforming Health Care"
Our speaker, former U.S. senator and current chair of the National Institute of Health Policy at the University of St. Thomas, will synopsize outcomes of a 2004 report on health care policy challenges in Minnesota. He'll share observations from that process, including extensive citizen input, and will give us a sense of work being done on national health care needs, access to service, and insurance coverage.There will be a special collection for UNFPA (United Nation Family Planning ) . Look for envelopes in your Sunday program that can be used for donations and placed in a special collection box in the lobby. Fireside Chat after the service.
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MARCH
Sunday, March 6, 2005, 10:30 AM Patricia Peterson, Minnesota Faith Health Consortium "Faith Communities and Federal Funding Initiatives"
The Charitable Choice Amendment to welfare reform law, passed in 1996, allowed federal grant dollars to flow for the first time to faith-based groups. In Minnesota, these funds are administered by the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches – over $11 million in 2003. Today’s speaker will give us an overview of the kinds of work being done under this faith-based initiative, the pros and cons of public dollars going to religious organizations, and the impact on community needs. Fireside Chat after the service.
Sunday, March 13, 2005, 10:30 AM Rev. Mary Samuels "A Tenacity Toward Life "
Rachel Naomi Remen wrote: “Accidents and natural disasters often cause people to feel that life is fragile. In my experience, life can change abruptly and end without warning, but life is not fragile”. This morning we will reflect on the tenacity toward life within us all. This will be a reflective sermon with a different order of service and no dialogue.The children will be present the first 15 minutes for a surprise event!
Sunday, March 20, 2005, 10:30 AM Sonja Johnston, Minister of Music Spring Music Sunday
Join the members of the congregation as they make music for one another. Great music, some laughs, and a few surprises! The children will join the adults so there will be no RE classes; however, the usual nursery care will be available.There will be a special collection for Habitat for Humanity and UUA Affordable Housing . Look for envelopes in your Sunday program that can be used for donations and placed in a special collection box in the lobby.
Sunday, March 27, 2005, 10:30 AM Rev. Mary Samuels "To Be Hailed as a Savior"
E. G. Cheyne said: “Some despise saviors, and are content with themselves and with things as they are. Some adore saviors of the past, and ignore those of the present. Many will not heed the saviors of the present, but look to the saviors of the future. Nevertheless, it is impossible for the world to go on without its successive saviors”. On this Easter Sunday morning, we will consider the meaning of saviors in our life.
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APRIL
Sunday, April 3, 2005, 10:30 AM Louise Wolfgramm, President of AMICUS "From Corrections to Connections: The Story of AMICUS"
For over 37 years, AMICUS, a Minnesota non-profit, has worked to improve public safety by helping inmates and ex-offenders through positive relationship-building, restorative justice practices, and individualized transitions services. Louise Wolfgramm, a UU at Unity in St. Paul, will share the story of AMICUS's work and how her UU values help her live out her vocation.A Fireside Chat with Louise will follow the service.
There will be a special collection for AMICUS. Look for envelopes in your Sunday program that can be used for donations and placed in a special collection box in the lobby.
Sunday, April 10, 2005, 10:30 AM Rev. Mary Samuels "The Sermon on the Amount"
Our church is a community where we come together intentionally and voluntarily so that we might help one another to do the things that give meaning and weight to our religious values and ideas……and to do this we need the community to know what it costs to maintain the MVUUF community.After a brief sermon, Leslie Swenson, Finance Chair will present the budget. Questions about the budget can be asked after the service.
Sunday, April 17, 2005, 10:30 AM Rev. Barbara Kellett "Dwelling Within Our Spiritual Differences"
Today's speaker is affiliated with First Universalist Church in Minneapolis and directs Stonetree Spiritual Resources for the Prairie Star District of the UUA. She'll help us explore four different spiritual types and consider which type or types have been in our lives and which type we now favor. The beauty of these profiles is that they delineate differences without being judgemental and each type has its own strengths and vulnerabilities.Fireside Chat will follow the service.
Sunday, April 24, 2005, 10:30 AM Terry Gips "Saving Money, Time, Your Health and the Earth: What's Possible With Sustainability"
Terry Gips is an ecologist, economist, author, president of the nonprofit Alliance for Sustainability in the Hillel Center at the University of Minnesota and head of Sustainability Associates, a Minneapolis-based environmental consulting firm.Terry will introduce us to sustainability principles and the Natural Step Framework, and how it can benefit you at home, work and in the community, and several simple, practical steps you can take to save money, time and the environment while protecting the health and well-being of you, your children and future generations. Participants will gain a positive, new perspective and see how we can create a sustainable future
Fireside Chat after the service.
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MAY
Sunday, May 1, 2005, 10:30 AM Betsy Barnum, Executive Director of The Great River Earth Institute "Personhood is for People: How Corporate Personhood Threatens Democracy"
Corporations are not mentioned in the US Constitution, but they became legal “person” in 1886, able to claim the individual rights and protections of the Bill of Rights. Corporate personhood is an invisible structure in society that takes away democracy and threatens the future of our planet. Understanding the history of corporate personhood and learning how differently our ancestors viewed and treated corporations,and why, can help us as we seek to recover our democracy.Fireside Chat after the service.
Sunday, May 8, 2005, 10:30 AM Rev. Mary Samuels "Moral Values, Motherhood and Apple Pie"
The idea of Mother’s Day began with women’s public activism. Our rituals would bewilder the women who originally conceived of the idea. The sermon will focus on those founding mothers and their intent.There will be a New Member Ingathering. The children will be present the first 15 minutes.
Sunday, May 15, 2005, 10:30 AM UU Gospel Twins "Make a Joyful Noise"
Unitarian Universalists can celebrate their beliefs through fun music. Come help First Universalist's UU Gospel Twins, Paul Riedesel and Kelli Clement, prove this point. Through a combination of their own musical duets, congregational singing, and the spoken word, they will explore UU perspectives on life, love and justice. Their songs are not sermons or harangues or simply protests. Instead they're full of wonderful harmony, joy as well as sorrow, and a hopeful view of humanity.
Sunday, May 22, 2005, 10:30 AM Jan Fitzgerald, Director of Religious Education Religious Education Sunday
There will be presentations by the youth/children about what they have learned this year, and we will honor our seniors and volunteers. Please join us in this celebration of our Religious Education Program.The children will join the adults; however, the usual nursery care will be available.
Sunday, May 29, 2005, 10:30 AM Rev. Mary Samuels "Synchronicity"
Synchronicity has been defined as the “meaningful coincidences between persons and events in which an emotional or symbolic connection cannot be explained by cause and effect”. Or can it? The sermon will look at various meanings of the phenomena and the meaning of the word today.There will be a baby dedication for Sydney Pearson.
Fireside Chat after the service
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JUNE
Sunday, June 5, 2005, 10:30 AM Rev. Mary Samuels "What Is the Gift I Should Bring to the World?"
This service closes out the church year. It is the intergenerational Flower Celebration Service: each person should bring a flower to share with the congregation.
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Sunday, June 19, 10:30 AM Rebecca Janke, Director, Growing Communities for Peace "Stories for Piecing Together a More Peaceful World"
SUMMER 2005
Rebecca Janke believes that whoever tells the stories defines the culture, that we all carry stories waiting to be told and celebrated. She’ll help us become aware of our stories and in the process become our own heroes in creating a more peaceful world. Good subject for Father’s Day (and all days). Rebecca will bring along the Traveling Human Rights and Peace Store, a state-of-the-art resource collection for building a culture of peace and nonviolence at home, in our community, and the world at large.
Sunday, August 21, 10:30 AM Ronnie Angelus "The Creative Spirit"
Bring the kids, your friends and family, and anyone else who needs to be reminded that we all have a spark of creativity but sometimes need a little nudging. Our guide is a local artist who will take us through a kind of “aha” process -how and where to get creative ideas, how to recognize our own creative skills, and how to share the joy of being creative. Come prepared to use your eyes and ears and hands and maybe even get a bit messy.
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