Sunday Service December 4 : The Gift of Presence

As the winter holidays approach, are you thinking mostly about presents or more focused on presence?  We will explore some of the ideas and methods offered by the Humanist Community at Harvard to nurture mindfulness and combat the stress often associated with the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.

Message:  Rev. Linda Lawrence

Facilitator: Gary Lawrence

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November 27: Thanksgiving Poetry Readings

Richard Albright and other members of the congregation will present poetry, prose and music related to the Thanksgiving holiday.

Poetry: Edna Weigel, Pamela Lee, Jerry Fitzmaurice, Richard Albright

Facilitator: Richard Albright

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Sunday Service Nov. 20 : Najashi

 

Najashi was the 7th century Christian ruler who protected early Muslim emigrants.

 

Homily: Ahmed Meiloud

Facilitator: Linda Lawrence

Bio
Ahmed Meiloud is a Ph.D. candidate at the School of Middle East and North African Studies and a former Fulbright Scholar, with MAs in Near Eastern Studies and American Studies. Ahmed studies political Islam and modern religious and legal discourses in the Arab world and North Africa. Ahmed also serves currently as the director of the Islamic Center of Tucson.
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November 13: When Story Is Not Enough

Stories help us make sense of life, affirm our sense of individual identity and also help us build and preserve community.  They can also limit us to one narrative or blind us to painful journeys in our lives or the lives of others. In this month of November, we will take up the challenge of a business proposal adopted at this summer’s Unitarian Universalist General Assembly, “Thanksgiving Reconsidered,” and explore the complex legacy of the arrival of the Mayflower almost 400 years ago.

Homily:  Rev. Tina Squire

Facilitator: Jim Howe

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Sunday Service November 6:  The Power of Stories Shakespeare wrote:  “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.”  But we are more than puppets in someone else’s script.  We can be directors, screenwriters, and authors – the stars of our own lives!  Come and explore the playfulness and power of stories.Homily:  Rev. Linda Lawrence Facilitator: Carolyn Edwards

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Sunday Service October 30:  Dia de los Muertos:
Circle of Life 

We will celebrate the circle of life in this multi-age service and honor some of the traditions of our Mexican neighbors and friends.  Children are welcome to wear their Halloween costumes.  All are invited to bring a photo or memorabilia to place upon the altars we will create to remember and celebrate loved ones who have died.Homily:  Rev. Linda Lawrence

Facilitators: Gary Lawrence/ Jan Beale

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Sunday Service October 23:   Loving the Hell out of the World   

How do you love someone you hate? How do you love when another unarmed man is killed by the state? What is love in the face of violence? What does your love look like?

Message:  Rev. Ron Phares Facilitator: Lorraine Groberg Click here to listen:

Meet a Muslim Special Podcast October 20th, 2016 Moina Shaiq is President of the Interfaith Council in Fremont, California. She answered questions to foster understanding of Muslims within the wider community.  We know that people who have met Muslims are less likely to give into prejudice and fear against them.

• How do Muslims practice their faith?
• How does Islam view other religions?
• What is Sharia law?
• Are women oppressed in Islam?
• What is the Islamic view of terrorism?
• What contributed to the rise of Islamic fundamentalism?
• In addition, participants will be encouraged to ask their own questions.

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Sunday Service October 16 – Detained and Deported 
Margaret Regan will give a slide lecture about her newest book, Detained and Deported: Stories of Immigrant Families Under Fire, now out in paperback. Focusing on Arizona, the book looks at the fate of undocumented immigrants who are arrested long after they’ve established lives and families in the United States. They can be held in detention centers, away from their families, or deported back to Mexico or Central America.  The book was named Top Picks in the Southwest Books of the Year and one of 100 Must-Read Books about the Southwest by BookRiot. Message:  Margaret Regan Facilitator: Richard Albright

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Sunday Service October 9: Justice that Heals  

The second principle of Unitarian Universalism advocates “Justice, equity and compassion in human relations.”  How can all three elements work together to ensure right relations among us?  When does anger serve a helpful function, indicating a problem in our connections?  How do we respond to that symptom in ways that bring lasting and pervasive good?  I will look at how different types of justice use anger constructively.

Sermon:  Rev. Tina Squire

Facilitator: David Weigel

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Sunday Service October 2 : Love Meets the Dragon

What do dragons, cyclones, and tides have in common, and what do they have to do with our monthly worship theme of healing?

Sermon: Rev. Linda Lawrence
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