September 3 (both services), Rev. Christine Brownlie: Work is Love Made Visible. In The Prophet, author and mystic Kahlil Gibran says that work is love made visible. Is that true and if so, what does our work say about our loves?
September 10 (both services), Rev. Christine Brownlie: Our Trinity. Historian Earl Morse Wilbur says that we Unitarian Universalists do indeed have a Trinity that provides a firm foundation for our beliefs, our worship, and our actions. Today I will reveal our UU trinity and examine how our trinity guides us.
September 17 (both services), Rev. Christine Brownlie: Will God Make a Difference in the Voting Booth? Religion and Politics have been bedfellows for most of human history. The current race for president is heating up this love-hate relationship. It seems that no matter who is elected, God will be a player in American politics and our common life for the next few years. What might this mean for America and for Unitarian Universalists?
September 24 (both services), Tom Sherman,, Professor and Chair, Teaching and Learning Department, Virginia Tech and member of the Blacksburg Town Council: Why public education in the United States is so terrible and will never get any better.
October 1 (both services), Rev. Christine Brownlie: A religious response to the religious right. Rev. Fred Phelps and his family had said they would come from Kansas to picket the funeral of Danny Overstreet. I want to speak to this abuse of religion.
October 8 (both services), Rev. Christine Brownlie: Solidarity Sunday. On Friday, September 22, a man named Ronald Gay went to a Roanoke cafe, known to be a “safe” place for gay and straight people, with murder on his mind. He shot seven people, killing one man (Danny Overstreet). Today I want to examine the issue of hate in our society and invite you to stand in solidarity with gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people as we affirm and promote the right of all people to live in peace and security.
October 15 (both services), Andy Morikawa, executive director for the Board of Community Foundation of the New River Valley, will talk about community building and reconciliation, about gardening and grandchildren. It will be about the teachers among us, about listening, and about prophetic voices speaking now in our community.
October 22 (both services), Rev. Christine Brownlie: The Joy of God. Many of us are familiar with the Sufi poet, Rumi, and we love his ecstatic verses. Recently I was introduced to another poet of the same tradition, Hafiz, who is even more popular in Persia. I'd like to share some of his verse with you today.
October 29 (both services), Russell Gregory, Professor of Religious Studies at Radford University and many time visitor to our pulpit: When Scripture Is Taken Seriously: The Dao De Jing's Resurrection. Recently the Dao De Jing was (re-)fitted for parents. Why is this laudable?
November 5 (both services), Rev. Christine Brownlie: Spiritual Recovery. Many of us like to describe ourselves as “recovering” Methodists, Lutherans, Catholics, or whatever our faith tradition was earlier in our lives. Even those of us who have never been involved in organized religion seem to operate under certain assumptions about religions based on what we've seen in movies or read in the paper. I hope that this sermon will help you on your path to total recovery.
December 3 (both services), Rev. Christine Brownlie: He Comes to Us As One Unknown. Who was Jesus and what did he teach? This question has been asked by Christian and non-Christians for two thousand years. The most famous effort to search for the historic Jesus in our time is the work of the Jesus Seminar. This morning I'd like to share with you some of their insights about Jesus and his words.
Child Dedication: Halle and Lucas Keighton will be dedicated at the second service.
December 10 (both services), Rev. Christine Brownlie: The Best Gift You Can Give Yourself. While you're wondering what to get for all your friends, relatives, colleagues, neighbors, the kid's teachers, and even the dog, let me encourage you to give some thought to the best gift you can give yourself this holiday season.
December 17 9:00 Service, Our seafaring lawyer member, Richard Thomas, will speak on the Moral/Ethical problems posed by our archaic law system that is in discord with our evolving society.
10:30 Service, Celebration of Light. Through words and music, the Fellowship Youth Group invites you to join with them in an ecumenical celebration of the season.
During Childrens Time at the 10:30 service, we will have the Mitten Tree celebration.
December 24 (10:30 service only!), Rev. Christine Brownlie: Festivals of Light and Love. This morning we'll share favorite stories, poems, and family traditions from Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Yule and Christmas. (No RE classes)
December 31 Sept. 2nd (both services), Rev. Christine Brownlie: “Passionate listening.” Listening seems to be a passive activity when in reality it calls for passion! What is passionate listening and what difference would it make in your life and relationships if you became a passionate listener?
Special Music: At the 11 a.m. service, Bob Underhill will sing "Sabbath Prayer" from Fiddler on the Roof.
Sept. 9th (both services), Rev. Christine Brownlie: “Eight Themes that Unite Us.” Many UUs are proud to say that we are a free, non-creedal faith. But it can be hard for us to name what it is that holds us together. Over the next few weeks, I'll present a series of sermons based on the themes that have been our foundation from the very beginning of our history as a religious movement.
Special Music: At the 11 a.m. service, Garrett McAullife will perform.
Sept. 16th (both services), Montgomery County Superintendent of Schools, Mr. Fred Morton, will speak on “Spiritual Dimensions of Leadership.” How can one balance ethics, spirituality, and leadership in a diverse
community? Who do we support? How can we listen and hear each other
effectively? What are the needs of all children? What is the TLC necessary
to meet these needs? Mr. Morton will share perspectives of one
superintendent as he works daily to respond to these key questions.
Special Music: At the 11 a.m. service, Amy Lythgoe will sing.
Sept. 23rd (both services), Rev. Christine Brownlie: “What Do You Say After You Shake Hands With a Terrorist?” NOTE! Topic has been changed from that which is in the newsletter.
Special Music: At the 11 a.m. service, Goldie Terrell will perform.
Sept. 30th 9:30 a.m., David M. Moore will make his presentation rescheduled from July, “Ethical Concerns Associated with the Use of Human Subjects in Research.” Dr. Moore is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia/Maryland Regional School of Veterinary Medicine, as well as the Chair of the Virginia Tech Institutional Review Board for projects involving human subjects. Our speaker will provide some historical examples of inappropriate uses of human subjects in medical/clinical research and other research areas, and current concerns related to protection of human subjects in research.
11:00 a.m. , “The Baha'i Faith.” Baha'i members Howard and Ruth Leeb, and Dr. Suzanne Ament will present a program describing the Baha'i Faith, the second most widespread of the world's independent religions, established in 235 countries and territories throughout the world. Baha'i come from more than 2100 ethnic, racial, and tribal groups, and number some seven million world wide. At the heart of the Baha'i belief is the conviction that humanity is a single people with a common destiny. Howard Leeb is a retired Foreign Service Officer, and Ruth Fair Leeb is also retired. Dr. Ament is a professor of Russian History at Radford University, and will bring Quinny, her service dog and companion.
Special Music: At the 11 a.m. service, the UUFNRV choir will perform,
and the piece is "The Breath of All" words by Mary Grigolia
Oct. 7th (both services), Rev. Christine Brownlie: “Pink or Blue or Neither?” Today we will celebrate Solidarity Sunday, an opportunity for us to stand with those whose expression of gender identity is different from our own and possibly disturbing to us. The hope is that there be in all the churches of the land expressions of solidarity with our gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender brothers and sisters. One form of that expression is the simple wearing of rainbow ribbons. Our children will give you a ribbon during the service. Do wear it with pride!
Our Teacher Dedication: will be held during Childrens Time at both services.
Special Music during the 11 a.m. service: Angela Clevenger, will sing
Oct. 14th (both services), Russell Gregory, Professor of Religion at Radford University: “Life goes on: Stories and Songs.”
RE Open House: immediately after both services
Oct. 21st, (both services), Rev. Christine Brownlie: “The Divine Seed in Every Person.” When I was in seminary, I was often challenged to explain our UU ideal of "the inherent worth and dignity of every person. For obvious reasons I'm revisiting this idea and I'd like to share my thoughts about this idea which I named in a previous sermon as one of the eight themes of our way of the spirit.
Special Music during the 11 a.m. service: The UUFNRV Choir will sing.
Oct. 28th (both services), Rev. Christine Brownlie: “Belonging.”. Today well look at what it means to be a member of a voluntary organization and how belonging benefits us and the Fellowship
Special Music during the 11 a.m. service: Laura Hernandez will sing
NOTE: First day of Eastern Standard Time turn your clocks back one hour.
Nov. 4th (both services), Rev. Christine Brownlie: “All Souls.” It seems fitting and right that we should set aside a time to reflect on the reality of death and to honor those we love who have died this past year. We will also honor those who lost their lives in the violence of September 11 and in the violence that continues. If you have someone you wish to remember, please bring a photo, a memento, or a candle to light in their memory.
New members will be formally welcomed during the 11 a.m. service.
Special Music during the 11 a.m. service: Garrett McAuliffe will sing.
.
Nov. 11th (both services), Morton Nadler, Fellowship member and Minister, Humanist Society of Friends: “Twenty Years in Twenty Minutes.” My life as a communist, from start to finish.
Nov. 18th (9:30 a.m.), Rev. Christine Brownlie: “Who Are You Calling Post Modern?.” In an earlier sermon I used the term "post modern" to describe our religious movement. What in the world was I talking about?
(11:00 a.m.), Intergenerational Service: The children from our Religious Education Program will present a new play written by Doug Pendergrass. It's charming, it's fun, and it has an important message. After the service we will have a meeting with our Long-Range Planning Committee and Bob Rogers of Architectural Alternatives to discuss ideas for expanding our building and other options. Please see the article on page 2 of the November newsletter for details about the meeting and lunch.
Special Music during the 11 a.m. service: James Miley, piano.
Nov. 25th (both services), Rev. Christine Brownlie: “Genuine Joy.” As I write these words nearly a month away from this service, I'm aware that it's been difficult recently for me to find joy in life. Uncertainty and sadness seem to have a grip on me that I can't quite shake off. So as we prepare for the holiday season in an anxious time, how may we find genuine joy again?
Special Music during the 11 a.m. service: David Klemperer, violin..
Dec. 2nd (both services), Rev. Christine Brownlie: “Ah Mystery! ” Mystery is one of the eight themes of our way of the spirit. How does a “rational religion” like ours make a claim for that which is beyond reason?
Special Music during the 11 a.m. service: a trio consisting of Mary Houska, Susie Fry and Wayne Neu. They will sing Deck the Halls.
Dec. 9th (both services), Rev. Christine Brownlie: “Light One Candle, Hanukah is here!” We like to honor this festival of lights as a celebration of the right of freedom of religion. But there is much more to the story of the Maccabees and the King who didn't like them.
Special Music during the 11 a.m. service: a quartet consisting of Nancy Bodenhorn, Irene Lamb, Ethel-Marie Underhill, and Mike Lythgoe. Angels We Have Heard On High.
Dec. 16th (both services), Rev. Christine Brownlie: “Using Up the Leftovers.” My colleague, the Rev. Gordon B. McKeeman, says that making a life is akin to cooking with leftovers. Some of us cook with imagination, some with creativity, some merely resent the task. We all need a secret ingredient if the results are to be edible. I won't promise a surefire recipe for a gourmet life, but you might come away with a few ideas that will give your leftovers a new flavor.
Special Music during the 11 a.m. service: a quartet consisting of Nancy Simmons, Pat Traynor, Ethel-Marie Underhill, and Bob Underhill. My Master
Today, after the second service, we will decorate our tree, first with mittens, and then with ornaments we create. Please bring a dish to share for a potluck lunch.
Dec. 23rd (both services), “Celebrate the Season: Happy Solstice!” Winter is a time of going within; a time to hibernate; a time to nurture ideas, seeds, and spirit. Winter Solstice celebrates the hope of light returning to the earth. Our celebration will be led by Ethel-Marie, Angela, Amy, and Irene.
Special Music during the 11 a.m. service: a trio consisting of Nancy Simmons, Derry Hutt, and George Terrell. Silent Night
Dec. 30th (both services), Morton Nadler, Fellowship member and Minister, Humanist Society of Friends: “God's Fool: Mark Twain's dark side.” “If I'm a fool, I'm God's Fool,” wrote Mark Twain. The author of Tom Sawyer and The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County also wrote The Man Who Corrupted Hadleyburg. Less well known are The Mysterious Stranger and What is Man? Cynical and pessimistic, Samuel Clemens considered that the only way to be happy was to go mad.
There will be a combined RE class during the 11 a.m. service.
Special Music during the 11 a.m. service: Laura Hernandez will sing.
All Special Music is accompanied by pianist Maria Rott.
June 2. Today we will celebrate our beloved community with our traditional ritual sometimes called “Flower Communion.” Please remember to bring a flower for each member of your family who will participate in the flower ceremony.
June 9. Teacher and Youth Advisor Recognition. During this annual tribute to those who have served the congregation during the past year in our childrens RE and youth programs, our children and youth will share their thoughts and feelings about their RE teachers and youth advisors
End-of-Year Picnic
The RE Committee is again sponsoring an End-of-Year Picnic. As in the past this year's picnic will be on Teacher and Youth Advisor Recognition Sunday June 9th after the service. The committee will provide hot dogs, burgers (ham and veggie) and buns plus condiments. The committee asks that others attending bring beverages (only lemonade will be provided), salads, vegetable dishes, desserts or whatever else they wish to bring
June 9. Teacher and Youth Advisor Recognition. During this annual tribute to those who have
served the congregation during the past year in our childrens RE and youth programs, our
children and youth will share their thoughts and feelings about their RE teachers and youth
advisors.
June 1. Teacher and Youth-Advisor Recognition. This is our annual tribute to those who have served the congregation during the past year in our childrens RE and youth programs.
Special Music during the service: Jim Kern will play the guitar and sing.
The Religious Education Committee with the help of Hospitality is again sponsoring in conjunction with Teacher Recognition Day, the End-of-Year Picnic.
June 8. Today we will celebrate our beloved community with our traditional ritual sometimes called “Flower Communion,” a beloved end of the year ritual in many UU congregations. Everyone is asked to bring a flower for each member of the family. We will use the flowers to create a large and beautiful bouquet symbolizing the beauty of our own congregation. At the end of the service, everyone will take home a flower other than the one they brought as a reminder that even when we are away from one another, the connections remain
In the past we have not had a pianist in the summer. This year we will try something new. We have several guitar players in our congregation. Some of them have agreed to play in pairs for some congregational singing. We will have some occasional special music and some support by one of our members who plays the piano, but, for the most part, we will give our other special music providers the summer off!
The Religious Education Committee will again offer a program during the Sunday Service of summer activities and lessons for those children who this past year were preschoolers through fifth graders. Classes will begin June 15 and will continue through August 24. It will be a great way for our children to interact with each other and get to know children of other ages.
Kwanzaa colors are green, black, and red. Use your imagination and have fun!
“Lessons and Carols.” This is a traditional family service that offers readings from the gospels and other sources plus carols and poetry. All ages are welcome no childcare is offered. The offering will be used to fund the Ministers Discretionary Fund, which provides help to those in the Congregation and in the larger community.
Sunday Circle in January will be a two-part discussion on “Understanding Science and Religion” based on six tapes of an 8 1/2 hour class taught by UU minister Rev. Davidson Loehr; What is science? What kinds of questions can it logically pursue? What kinds of questions are not within the realm of scientific explanation? What is religion?; What are the religious questions? What questions can religion logically pursue, and what questions are out of its realm. Linda Powers will lead the discussion to understand how science and religion fit together.
After
the ceremony our minister will take this water home and, following
the instructions of a hydrologist, she will purify it. She will
freeze the water and keep it to use in our child dedication services
— or other occasions where “holy” water is
required.
Many
of us look forward to this celebration of community and the sharing
of our experiences and insights. We hope your summer travels have
been enriching— even if you go no further than your own
backyard.
Now
Let Us Sing! Potluck
and Hymn Sing: Many
of you have said that you’d enjoy singing more during the
Sunday Service if you had time and help learning the hymns. After the second service, you’ll
have a chance to learn and sing the hymns that will be used in our
services during the coming year. Some will be familiar; others might
be new to you. We’ll have help from Sandy Toensing a UU with
many years of helping congregations enjoy singing! Children are
welcome to join us and childcare will be provided if requested by
September 18th.
September
18 (9:30 a.m.) The first Sunday Circle meeting will take up the topic
of gender specific classes at a university dedicated to principles of
diversity and inclusion. Judy Snoke, UUC member and director of the
English Language Institute of Virginia Tech, will facilitate the
discussion.
October
2 (9:30 a.m.), “Unequal Protection: The Rise of Corporate
Dominance and the Theft of Human Rights,” a book by Thom
Hartmann, will be reviewed by Linda Powers and Bobbie Littlefield.
Hartman explains how corporations came to rule America, and he
proposes specific legal remedies that could save the world from the
political, economic, and ecological disasters that are the result.
October 16 (9:30 a.m.), Relying
on fossil fuels to power our society is a major contributor to war,
pollution, and global climate change. Biodiesel is a fuel made from
vegetable sources. It can be used in conventional diesel engines
(e.g.: Volkswagen, Mercedes, and many pickups), burns far cleaner
than petrol-diesel, and does not contribute to global warming.
Moreover, it can be locally produced at costs comparable to
petrol-diesel. Richard Rich, Professor of Political Science and
Public and International Affairs and Director of the Center
for Environmental and Energy Studies at Virginia Tech, will
explore the interest of UU members in forming a biodiesel co-op in
Blacksburg to allow those who want to escape the oil economy to do
so.
November
6 (9:30 a.m.), “Is free trade, fair trade?” Larry
Landrum's answer is “Nearly always yes, if you keep government
out of it.” The classic argument for free trade is as valid
today as it was 200 years ago and in our modern era a unified global
marketplace offers the best opportunity we have to end world poverty.
Larry believes the various “fair trade” arguments are
generally self-serving dodges by special interests or the specious
claims of ideological foes of free markets. A lively discussion is
expected.
November 20 (9:30 a.m.), “Virginia's Poor
Record of Defending the Poor.” Victoria Huber Cochran, Deputy
Public Defender, Pulaski, will enlighten us on the criminal justice
system in our State. Where would you guess Virginia ranks in the U.S.
with regard to funding indigent defendants? This topic for discussion
fits in well with the “Statement of Conscience” on
Criminal Justice that UUs voted on this year at General Assembly.
Sunday Services: January 13 — January 27
Services
at 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. in Elarth Hall
Children’s Religious Education & Childcare at both services
Coffee and conversation 10:35–10:55 a.m.
Conversation after the second service
In case
of inclement weather, the decision to cancel services will be made by
8 a.m. on Sunday morning, if not sooner. If we cancel, an
announcement will be sent to the listserv. You can also check by
tuning to WSLS (channel 9 if you have Comcast cable) and see the list
of closings running across the screen.
January
13, The
Rev. Christine Brownlie: “If
A Tree Falls and I Don't Hear It...” If a tree falls and I
don't hear it, does it matter to me? If someone suffers an
injustice and I don't see it, should I care? If words are said to
another and they feel diminished by those words, do I have any reason
to respond if those words don't affect me in the same way? If an act
of injustice is done and I don't see it or feel the consequences, is
it any of my business? Who is my brother/sister and what do I owe
them?
The
UUC Choir:
Children’s Religious Education & Childcare at both services
My Soul Is a
River, a
tribute to MLK Jr.
Guest
at your Table Collection.
Potluck
12:15 p.m. sponsored by the Spiritual Reading
covenant
group. Bring a dish to share; chili will
be provided. Stay
after the second service to
enjoy
lunch with us.
January
20, The
Rev. Christine Brownlie: “Please
Have Your ID Ready.” Our 2008 General will be held in Fort
Lauderdale FL. Because the convention center is within the
designated port area, government-issued
photo IDs are required for anyone attending GA events including the
worship services. This requirement is raising important issues for
everyone attending GA. How should we as a congregation respond?
January
27, Dennis
Welch, member of the Congregation and of the English Department at Virginia Tech:
“The Human
Form Divine” William Blake’s, Theology
of the Imagination,
will be a slide presentation on this poet-and-artist's amazing vision
of the Imagination and its implications for transcendence and a
humanistic theology.
The UUC
Choir: Simple
Gifts
The Sunday Circle discussions are in the Clara Barton Room and run from 9:30 to 10:30.
In January, Julia Lewis will resume the series on American Theocracy by Kevin Phillips. This book relates the peril and politics of radical religion, oil, and borrowed money in the 21st century.
January 6: The discussion will be on radical religion.
January 20: The discussion will be on borrowed money.
Sunday Services: February 2008
Services
at 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. in Elarth Hall
Children’s Religious Education & Childcare at both services
Coffee and conversation 10:35–10:55 a.m.
Conversation after the second service
In case
of inclement weather, the decision to cancel services will be made by
8 a.m. on Sunday morning, if not sooner. If we cancel, an
announcement will be sent to the listserv. You can also check by
tuning to WSLS (channel 9 if you have Comcast cable) and see the list
of closings running across the screen.
February
3, The Rev.
Christine Brownlie: “Three Dangerous Prophets of Peace.”
Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and Thich Nhat Hahn might have
been three of the most dangerous men of recent times because they
taught the power of peace to a violent era. What made them so bold?
What do they say to us today?
February
10, The Rev. Christine Brownlie: “The
Way of the Spiritual Warrior.” To many of us, the words
“spiritual” and “warrior” are oxymorons.
Yet many faiths speak of the way of the warrior as an essential part
of spiritual growth. How do you find your “inner warrior”?
What does this aspect of our personality bring to our spiritual
journey?
The
UUC Choir will sing Be Still, Look Up and Listen;
Goldie & Jared will play some
Bach.
Potluck
12:15 p.m. sponsored by the Anarchists
covenant group, who, in anarchic
fashion, will provide a variety of dishes with no unifying theme.
Please bring a dish to share and enjoy lunch with your fellow
congregants.
February
17, The
Rev. Christine Brownlie: “The Real Language of Love.”
After the glow of infatuation and the thrill of discovering your
“soul mate,” comes the hard work of living together in
the real world with all its stress and demands. This work is part of
many relationships that we treasure, whether it is between lovers,
friends, or members of a congregation. Let’s learn the real
language of love.
Music:
Jim Kern and Jeff Wynne will play guitar.
February
24, Laureen Blakemore (UUC
Coordinator of Volunteers) & Rev. Christine Brownlie will lead
our first-ever INTERACTIVE volunteer survey services. We will learn
how we can become more involved in our congregation and our
community. We will hear of exhilarating and exciting experiences from
past and present volunteers. We will complete and return the all-new
survey of interests. We will discover the spirituality, fulfillment
and joy involved in volunteering.
The
UUC Choir
will sing — but at Glade Church.
Fourth
Sunday Collection will be for the
Montgomery County Emergency Assistance Program. ebruary
often ushers in the coldest weather of the year. Winter chill brings
added danger for those who can’t afford to heat their homes.
Others barely miss a beat when outdoor temperatures tumble. At the
same time, due to economic pressures, fuel assistance funds need our
help. Please give generously so that our
Montgomery County neighbors can experience warmth and comfort. Make
checks out to “Montgomery County Emergency Assistance Program.”
For more information about this vital program, please contact
Melanie Collins at 110 Roanoke Street, Christiansburg, VA 24073,
540–382–6186.
The Sunday Circle discussions are in the Clara Barton Room and run from 9:30 to 10:30.
February
3:
Kathryn Welch: “What Liberal Media? How Can We Reform,
Reinvigorate or (If Necessary) Reinvent the So-Called Mainstream
Media?” Big media achieve further consolidation. Big telcoms
and ISPs have begun denying access to alternative news sources. And,
at the precise moment in time we thought alternative news sources
offered new options, the task of informed citizens becomes more
challenging. But there are ways to not just obtain good information,
but to engage in its distribution. How can citizens take advantage
of the digital age to assure citizens arenrt cut out of the loop?
February 17:
Joe Powers will lead a
discussion on the book Deep Economy by Bill McKibben. The author
looks at today’s consumer economy, and he concludes that for
the first time in human history, “more” is no longer
synonymous with “better.” He believes we must move beyond
“growth” as the paramount economic ideal and pursue
prosperity in a more local direction, with cities, suburbs, and
regions producing more of their own food, generating more of their
own energy, and even creating more of their own culture and
entertainment.
Sunday Services: March 2008
Services
at 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. in Elarth Hall
Children’s Religious Education & Childcare at both services
Coffee and conversation 10:35–10:55 a.m.
Conversation after the second service.
March
2, Carter
Turner, former member and Asst.
Professor of Religious Studies at Radford University: “God and
the Gridiron: Could Sports Really Be a Form of Religion?”
There are many similarities between sports and religion.
Both have rituals, sacred sites, mythical heroes, and ethical
norms. But sports and religion may have more in common
than meets the eye. Whether in the stands or on the
field, the experience of sports can be nothing short
of “religious,” and those experiences may explain
why so many believe in God.
March
9 FIRST DAY OF DAYLIGHTS SAVING TIME, The Rev. Christine Brownlie: “It
Takes More Than Bricks!” It will take more than bricks to
create the dreams of our liberal and free faith. There are many who
believe that the age of religious liberalism is over. Can we keep
the flame alive? To borrow a phrase that’s going around, I
say, “We can!”
The
UUC Choir
will sing Sing
Alleluia!
(Jay Althouse) Goldie
Terrell and Mike Schafale
will play some combination of hammer dulcimer, flute, and guitar.
Potluck
12:15 p.m. sponsored by the Eclectics
covenant group, who will provide some dishes based on recipes from
the new UUC cookbook (and others based on recipes that should have
been in the cookbook). Bring a dish to share, and enjoy our
community lunch.
March
16, Molly
Lazar UUC member and a resident of
Shadowlake Village cohousing: “The spirituality of a village.”
More than half the residents of Blacksburg's cohousing neighborhood
are UU. What is so UU about cohousing? Is there spirituality to be
found in communities?
Tyler Flowers (alto sac) and Jared Gibbs (piano): Aria
(Eugene Bozza)
March
23, The Rev. Christine Brownlie:
“Giving Up Jesus.” We’ve given up Santa Claus,
the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny and even the God of our youth.
Maybe it’s time that we give up the images and stories of the
Jesus of our childhood and take a fresh look at this man and His
message.
The
UUC Choir
will sing Love is a Light
(Ken Bible and Tom Fettke)
Our
UUC Fourth Sunday
special collection this month supports Agents of Change (AC), through Vera
Pfeiffer, former
UUC YRUU member and a young adult daughter of Sally and Doug
Pfeiffer. Through AC, Vera’s raising money for micro-loans to
the impoverished Mexican border town of Tijuana. Micro-loans are not
charity, but rather very small ($25), flexible loans helping an
individual or group to start a small business or business venture.
AC has an excellent track record. You can check it out at
this AC Web site or kiva.org.
Vera’s page is at this URL.
Here’s a great way to make a big difference in others’
lives. Please help Vera to help them help them by making your Fourth
Sunday checks out to “Agents of Change.”
March
30, The Rev. Christine Brownlie:
“Got that UU Joy Down in My Heart."
As we wrap up our Stewardship Campaign, let's celebrate the joy of
our free faith and our beloved community.
The
UUC Choir
will be joined by the Glade Church
Choir to sing Old
Time Religion Medley (arr. Mark
Hayes)
The Sunday Circle discussions are in the Clara Barton Room and run from 9:30 to 10:30.
March
2: Every Wednesday at 11:30 a.m., a
group of local citizens get together at the Blacksburg Library to
debate our nation's foreign policies. We will review one of the
recent topics, Russia and ‘Putinism,’
using the materials provided by The Foreign Policy Association’s. One question we will consider: “How
important should a country’s internal politics be for U.S. policy
toward that country?” Bobbie
Littlefield will lead.
March
16: Our own 3 Ds will speak about
changes in religious expression. David
Warner, Dennis Welch, and Dick
Luke have all experienced a change of
direction in their religious commitment. They will share their
personal experiences of what lead to their original calling and what
happened to help them change directions.
Sunday Services: April 2008
Services
at 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. in Elarth Hall
Children’s Religious Education & Childcare at both services
Coffee and conversation 10:35–10:55 a.m.
Conversation after the second service.
April 6,
The Rev. Christine Brownlie: “Social Justice Sunday: Do We Care
Enough to Share?” As the problems and needs of the peoples of
Africa are coming into focus, how will we respond to the increased
pressure on an already pressured planet?
Goldie Terrell (flute) and Jared Gibbs (piano): Flute and Piano Sonata No. 2, Siciliano (J.S. Bach) for the Prelude, and from Rondo Op. 20, No. 10 (Theobold Boehm) for the Offering/Remembrance and Healing
April
13, The Rev. Christine Brownlie:
“Earth Day Service: Life is Just a Pile of Compost!”
This morning we will talk about nurturing the earth and ourselves and
the creative use of garbage.
Elaine
Myers will play her hammer dulcimer
and the UUC Choir
will sing “Wheel of the Water" (not together!)
Potluck
12:15 p.m. sponsored by The Parents of
Young Children covenant group
Families as well as individuals are welcome! Please bring a dish to
share; however, if you forget, stay anyway and enjoy the company of
your fellow congregants.
April 20,
The Rev. Christine Brownlie:
“Wandering in the Wilderness.” After their escape from
Egypt, the Hebrew people spent 40 years in the wilderness. Jesus
spent 40 days in the wilderness before he began his ministry. Some
of us have been on vision quests in the wilderness. What is the
power of wilderness?
April
27: The choir has prepared a special
music-filled service to celebrate the sources of inspiration for our
religious community. Come hear, at both services, a selection of
songs and readings that will fill the air with reverence, joy, and
wonder.
Join
us for words and music that will encourage us to experience that
transcending mystery and wonder which moves us to a renewal of the
spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life;
and to embrace wisdom from the world's religions, which inspires us
in our ethical and spiritual life. Listen to one voice reading and
many voices singing of earth-centered traditions that celebrate the
sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the
rhythms of nature; and on the words and deeds of prophetic women and
men, which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil
with justice, compassion, and love. Hear songs and readings that
teach us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science
and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit; and to respond
to God's love by loving our neighbors as ourselves.
Fourth
Sunday Collection will be Montgomery
County Emergency Shelters
(MCES). MCES has three homes providing temporary housing for people
getting back on their feet after fire, eviction, etc. In addition to
checks, MCES can use household items (dishes, pots, pans, sheets,
etc.). A box for collecting these items will be located in the
coatroom. Please make checks out to “Montgomery County
Emergency Shelters.”
The Sunday Circle discussions are in the Clara Barton Room and run from 9:30 to 10:30.
April
6 Larry Landrum: “How to Lose,
How to Win: Lessons from Early American Church History.” In
1776,”rational” religion in the form of Congregational,
Episcopal and Presbyterian churches dominated the American religious
scene. By 1850 “enthusiastic” Baptists, and especially
Methodists dominated the scene and Jefferson's prediction that “every
young man now alive will die a Unitarian” was completely
quashed. Larry’s
talk will focus on why the mainstream churches lost and the
evangelicals won America and then present some ideas on how liberal
religions and especially Unitarian Universalism can begin to reverse
the slide that has been continuing ever since.
Due to there being no meeting area available because of the construction, as of April 20 there will be no more Sunday Circles until further notice.
(UUC
Home)
Services: May 2008
Services
at 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. in Elarth Hall
Children’s Religious Education & Childcare at both services
Coffee and conversation 10:35–10:55 a.m.
Conversation after the second service
May 4,
The Rev. Christine Brownlie: “Who Do We Welcome?”
Grammatical concerns aside, this is a question that I’m asked
when a newcomer notices our Welcoming
Congregation poster. What’s
this about? What are we called to do as a “Welcoming
Congregation”?
May
11, The Rev. Christine Brownlie:
“Judith Sargent Murray The Mother of American Universalism. If
the Rev. John Murray is the father of American Universalism, then his
wife is surely the mother of this movement.
We
will have a welcome ceremony for new
members at both services.
The
UUC Choir
will sing “Go Out With Joy."
Potluck
12:15 p.m. sponsored by The Knitting
covenant group. Bring a dish to
share, and enjoy our community lunch.
May 18,
The Rev. Christine Brownlie: “What
We Want: the Ultimate and the Intimate.” The Rev. James Luther
Adams, a twentieth century Unitarian theologian, claimed that people
came to church because they were seeking a connection with the
ultimate and the intimate. Is this your reason for showing up on
Sundays?
May
25: Please join the Young Religious
Unitarian Universalists (YRUU) as they lead their annual Spring
service and bridging ceremony. The two youth being bridged out will
be Erika Reid and Alice Cennamo: long-term members of the group.
Fourth-Sunday
Collections are one way UUs reach out
to those needing our help. Our collection on May
25 will
support Community Action’s “Virginia
Cares” program. Community
Action is an established local human services organization. This new
(Virginia CARES) project helps those who have been incarcerated
transition into their communities and prevent recidivism. The
program serves anyone who has been incarcerated for any time, long or
short, and is totally voluntary. For example, Virginia Cares helps
clients secure necessary items (such as a copy of their birth
certificate for identification) and other items for a job search.
Please make checks out to “Community Action of the New River
Valley” and note “Virginia CARES Program” in the
memo line. For more information, contact Jill Columbus 382-6186 at
Community Action of the NRV.
June
1 & 8: Single
Services at 10:00
a.m.
Intergenerational:
childcare but no RE
June
1, The
Teacher and Youth-Advisor Recognition. This is our annual tribute to
the teachers and youth advisors who have served the Congregation so
generously during the past year in our children’s RE and youth
programs.
Informational
meeting after the service
June
8, The
Rev. Christine Brownlie: “Inch by Inch, Row by Row, Look How
We’ve Grown.” The Flower
Service is a beloved end of the year
ritual in many UU congregations. Everyone is asked to bring a flower
for each member of the family. We will use the flowers to create a
large and beautiful bouquet symbolizing the beauty of our own
Congregation. At the end of the service, everyone will take home a
flower as a reminder that even when we are away from one another, the
connections remain. This will be a shortened service due to the
Congregational meeting that follows the service.
June 15
David Travis:
“Valuing Our Differences.”
David, President of our local NAACP chapter, will address how
individual differences are valuable in work and business, our social
lives and communities, and in religion.
June
22 Rev.
Karen Day: "In
Deep..." Think the world is in
it up to its eyeballs? According to Bill McKibben in his new book,
Deep Economy
equals deep happiness. With local stories we'll explore what it
takes, personally and together to tap the “wealth of
communities for a durable future.”
Fourth
Sunday collection will support New
River Community Action (Children's Summer Food Program). This
program provides nutritious meals once a day for needy children.
During summer months, while school is not in session and subsidized
lunches are unavailable, these meals fill the gap.
June
29 Ellen
Birx:
"Zen in America."
Ellen, a Zen teacher and nurse will focus on Zen as it is practiced
here in the United States with an emphasis on meditation, lay
practice, and gender equality. The mutual influence of Zen and
psychology will also be discussed. We will conclude with brief
meditation instructions and a few minutes of Zen meditation.
July
6 Rev. Christine Brownlie: “Gifts
from General Assembly”. This
year’s General Assembly promises to be verrrrry interesting.
There are big changes coming in youth programming, the campaign for
President kicks off with two wonderful candidates having declared,
and there are sure to be surprises to bring home and share. So come
and help me unpack what I’ve learned and experienced!
July
13 Sixth Annual Poetry Slam. You
are invited to share those words that have touched, moved, nurtured
and inspired you. Readings may be original or the work of a favorite
poet or writer. If you do not have a reading to share, come and
listen to those readings that are so meaningful to others in the
congregation. Contact John Imbur at 320–1985 or
<john_imbur@hotmail.com> with any questions you may have.
There will be a sign-up sheet at the service.
July
20 Rev. Chip Roush, senior minister
of the UU Congregation of Grand Traverse (Michigan): “Ripple:
the Religious Humanism of the Grateful Dead.”
The lyrics and lifestyle of the Grateful
Dead rock band, have inspired three
generations (so far). The religious humanism of the band has a
lot in common with Unitarian Universalism.
Jeff
Wynn and Jim
Kern, guitarists, will provide us
with a selection of Grateful Dead
songs throughout the service.
Services: July 20 – August 31, 2008
Services
at 10 a.m. in Elarth Hall
Nursery care for children ages birth to 3
Religious Education for children ages 4 to 11
Coffee & conversation in the foyer after the service
July
20, Rev. Chip Roush, senior minister
of the UU Congregation of Grand Traverse (Michigan): “Ripple:
the Religious Humanism of the Grateful Dead.”
The lyrics and lifestyle of the Grateful
Dead rock band, have inspired three
generations (so far). The religious humanism of the band has a
lot in common with Unitarian Universalism.
Jeff
Wynn and Jim
Kern, guitarists, will provide us
with a selection of Grateful Dead
songs throughout the service.
July
27, Rev. Dr. Michael Tino,
minister of the UU Fellowship of Northern Westchester, Mt. Kisco, NY:
“The
Faith of A Scientist.”
In a faith that celebrates the use of reason in religion, it is no
surprise that we have created a religious home for many scientists.
Our understanding of science, though, is potentially incomplete. How
can faith and science be seen as complementary? Or even
interdependent?
Fourth
Sunday collection
will support the Children’s Summer Food Program. See page
9 in the July-August newsletter for details.
August
3, Dave Lievsay, UUC
member: “Why
Do Many People Seem to Need Religion?” Religion
has been a feature of human life since prehistory. Dave will discuss
some ideas that have been put forward to explain why this has
occurred, as well as ideas for future research.
August
10, Bob Rogers, a
member of the Baha'i Faith for eight years: “The
Baha’i Faith: All Peoples — One Common Faith.”
Founded in 1844 in Iran, this second most wide-spread world religion
(after Christianity) embraces the expression - "the earth is but
one country and mankind its citizens". Bob and other members of
the Blacksburg Baha'i community will discuss key aspects of the
Baha'i Faith, such as oneness, Manifestations of God, equality, race
unity, the importance of education, the harmony of science and
religion, and building a world civilization. Bob’s firm has
served as Architect for our building expansion.
August
17, Rev. Christine Brownlie:
“Making
the Dream a Reality.”
For years, we have dreamed about our new building and the
opportunities that a larger, more beautiful space would offer us.
That dream has been realized, and now we begin to turn our attention
to becoming the Congregation we want to be. What does that look
like? How should we begin this work?
August
24, Rev.
Christine Brownlie:
“Like Sunshine!” You may have noticed that one of my favorite selections for closing words says that our religion should be “like sunshine.” Today I’ll introduce you to the author of these words: Theodore Parker, one of our most courageous and heretical Unitarian ministers.
The 4th Sunday collection for this month will be donated to the Blacksburg Head Start Program. The program just started its fall session this week and is in need of a variety of supplies for its students who are preschoolers from low-income families.
Music was provided uring the service by Jared Gibbs (piano) and recorder musicians (Goldie Terrell, Tony Shields, and Terry Rhodes).
August
31, Rev.
Christine Brownlie:
“Ingathering:
Gather the Spirit.”
One element of this ceremony is known in some
congregations as “mingling the waters.” Friends and
members are invited to bring a small amount of water from their
travels or water that represents the places they have visited (aka:
tap water) Those of us who have spent the summer at home might bring
tap water or rain water or water from a local river or stream.
(Please no water from the Tech Duck Pond!)
There
will be a large bowl near the pulpit and people are invited to pour
their water into the bowl and briefly tell where this water came
from. We invite you to also name something that you experienced or
learned that awakened a feeling of gratitude in you. After
the ceremony, our minister will take this water home and, following
the instructions of a hydrologist, she will purify it. She will
freeze the water and keep it to use in our child dedication services
— or other occasions that require “holy” water.
Many of us
look forward to this celebration of community and the sharing of our
experiences and insights. We hope your summer travels have been
enriching — even if you go no further than your own backyard.
The UUC Choir
will sing during the service.
Services: September 2008
Services
at 10 a.m. in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Coffee & conversation following the service
Mfont size="+2">Sunday Circle (September 14 and 28) following the September Sunday services.
The UUC Choir
will sing during the service.
September
7,
“Enter, Rejoice and Come In!”
We will dedicate our wonderful new space this morning with words,
music, and memories. Annette
Marquis, the District
Executive for the Thomas Jefferson
District of the UUA, will offer the
sermon: “Love is the Spirit. Building or expanding a physical
plant is not enough to assure that a congregation will fulfill its
mission to open its doors and welcome in all who need liberal
religion in its community. Growing our Unitarian Universalist
congregations can only happen if we infuse them with love, fill them
with spirit, and permeate them with an unconditional welcoming. In
this dedication service, we'll explore what comes next now that the
building project is completed. What must your Unitarian Universalist
Congregation do to assure that the equity in its building is truly
equity in its future?”
This
is an intergenerational service: no RE classes.
Click here for a link to a Web page about this service.
September
14,
Rev. Christine Brownlie: “The
Price of Being Right.” There
are times when being right and not backing down is necessary.
However, there are also times when being right is really a matter of
perception. There are times to let go of what we claim is right so
that a relationship can heal. How do we decide when we’re
willing to pay the price of being right?
September
21,
Dr. Ken Nafziger: “The
Spirituality of Singing.” Dr.
Nafziger will lead us in a service that will bring us all to a
greater understanding of singing as a spiritual discipline and a
profound human expression.
September
28,
Rev. Christine Brownlie “Thoreau’s
Favorite Visitor.” Henry
David Thoreau spent two years living alone in a cabin he built
himself on Walden Pond. He often received visitors, but his favorite
was a “guest” that we might be inclined to avoid:
solitude. How might we welcome this visitor and be enriched by the
experience of the encounter?
The 4th
Sunday Collection this month will
go to The New River Valley Agency on
Aging. This organization provides a
variety of advocacy and support services for individuals age 60 and
above. At this time, the agency has the following financial
needs: Meet expenses for a free workshop for caregivers (to
be held on November 1, assist in paying for home repairs for disabled
seniors, and provide fuel assistance for seniors. Checks
can be made out to NRV Agency on
Aging.
Sunday
Circle
The Sunday Circle will meet on the second and
fourth Sunday of the month starting at 8:45.
September
14: How animism and magic influenced
the development of religion. Dave
Lievsay, member of UUC, will explore
the ideas of Edward Tylor and James Frazer concerning the human
experience that leads people to want or need religion.
September
28: “Freedom
for the Thought We Hate.” Tom
Jannuzi, Professor Emeritus of
Economics and Asian Studies (University of Texas), will speak on
observations derived from Anthony Lewis’s new book, A
Biography of the First Amendment.
American society is periodically gripped with fear — fear
manipulated by politicians. On many occasions, fear has triumphed
over reasoned thought, and these are powerful reminders of the manner
in which fear can be used to undermine our freedoms.
Services: October 2008
Services
at 10 a.m. in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Coffee & conversation following the service
Mfont size="+2">Sunday Circle (October 12 and 26) following the SOctosber Sunday services.
October
5, Rev. Christine Brownlie: “Ethical Eating.”
Last June the delegates to the 2008 General Assembly of the UUA
voted to make ethical eating our study-action issue for the next four
years. This is an issue that can be addressed on so many levels of
our lives. I’d like to begin a discussion on this topic with
the idea that we’ll revisit it frequently.
The UUC Choir will sing The Storm is Passing Over; Goldie Terrell and Jared Gibbs will
play Andalouse by Pessard
Our
Teacher Dedication will take place during the Story Time. Please
consider staying after the service to participate in the “AfterWord”
discussion.
October
12, Rev. Christine Brownlie: “Feast, Fast and Famine.”
What does it mean for us to live in a culture that is so profoundly
focused on food? What might we change in our own relationship with
food that could truly help those who don’t have enough?
Everyone
is invited to stay for the Community Lunch/Potluck following the
service. We are trying a new system
for potlucks this year. Instead of having the various small groups
within the UUC be responsible in turn for hosting the potluck,
everyone in the Congregation will be assigned a duty based on the
first letter of their last name. The duties of setup, cleanup, main
dishes, side dishes and desserts will be rotated through the alphabet
from month to month. In October, the second Sunday is October
12. Plan to carry out
the duties that day as follows:
Last
names A through C will be responsible for bringing a beverage and
setting up the tables in Elarth Fellowship Hall, beginning by 9:40
AM so as to have setup complete before the service at 10. Members of
the Membership Committee will be available to direct.
Last
names D through H will be responsible for bringing main dishes.
Last
names I through L will be responsible for bringing side dishes.
Last
names M through R will be responsible for bringing desserts.
Last
names S through Z will be responsible for cleanup.
Be
sure as you plan your dishes to bring at least enough that, if you
and your family ate an entire meal solely of your dish, there would
be plenty for each of you. We don’t want anyone to go away
hungry!
Some
in the Congregation are allergic to various ingredients (some
life-threateningly so), and they would appreciate it if you provided
a list of the ingredients in your dish. However, we understand that
it’s very easy for people to forget, or for newcomers to be
unaware of this request. Because we cannot ensure that the foods at
our potlucks will not contain nuts, peanuts, or other allergens, we
must all assume individual responsibility for what we consume, and
parents must assume responsibility for their children’s food
choices.
October
19, Andy Sarjahani: “How Tech Supports Sustainable
Eating.” Andy, the Sustainability Coordinator for Virginia
Tech Student Programs, will bring us news of some exciting
initiatives that are underway at Virginia Tech to support sustainable
eating and more.
The UUC Choir will sing Sing Ev’ry Morning and Noon and Night
October
26, Rev. Christine Brownlie: “All Our Memories of
Love.” This Sunday we will remember and honor our loved
ones who have died in recent years. Please bring photos, mementos,
and stories of your beloved friends and family (pets included).
The
Fourth Sunday Collection will be donated to the New River
Family Shelter. This agency has
temporary shelters in Blacksburg and Christiansburg and provides case
management, information and referral services for shelter residents.
If there is no space available at any of the three facilities (two
homes and an efficiency room), clients receive bus tickets or money
for gas to get to the nearest shelter alternative. In these uncertain
economic times, any family can experience a crisis resulting in
homelessness. Let's be generous in our support of those who may
encounter the pain of being displaced. Please make checks out to “New
River Family Shelter.”
The UUC Choir will sing Flying Free.
Sunday
Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the second and
fourth Sunday of the month starting at 8:45. All are welcome to join us for what is always a stimulating
conversation.
October
12: Carl Hansen, UUC member, will present the first of two parts
on The Politics of Agriculture. The history of civilization is
essentially a history of agriculture. Agriculture has played a
critical role in the evolution of society. Societies succeeded when
food was in surplus and failed when insufficient. The purpose of this
presentation is to consider some of the factors which influence the
availability of food.
October
26: Carl Hansen will present part two on The Politics of
Agriculture. This discussion will focus on a single commodity:
Bananas. Bananas are so common that people rarely realize they
have a fascinating history involving, politics, science, and
business. Originating in New Guinea but now common in most tropical
areas of the world, they also have become an important source of food
for non-tropical areas as well. Their future has become problematical
because of their susceptibility to bacterial infections. These
infections have become resistant to the standard chemical treatments
but breeding for disease resistance is difficult because of their
patterns of reproduction.
Services: November 2008
Services
at 10 a.m. in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Coffee & conversation following the service
Mfont size="+2">Sunday Circle (November 16 and 30) following the November Sunday services.
November
2 (turn clocks back!) Youth
Service We’ll hear from the members
of our youth group, the Young Religious Unitarian Universalists
(YRUU) as they offer a service of music, lively thoughts, and the
energy to inspire us. This is always an engaging and thought
provoking service.
All
are invited to stay after the service for our AfterWord
discussion.
November
9 Rev. Christine Brownlie: A
Faith for Tough Times The true test
of our faith is how it helps us face the rough patches in life. What
does our Unitarian Universalist faith offer in life’s tough
times?
Today
we will welcome new members into our Congregation.
Goldie
Terrell, Jared
Gibbs, Jeff Wynn, and Jim Kern
will offer their musical talents.
Everyone
is invited to stay for the Community
Lunch/Potluck following the service.
We have redistributed the duties so that there will be MORE FOOD than
last month! If your last name begins with A through Kep, please bring
a main dish; Ker through Laz, please arrive by 9:40 to set up before
the service and bring a beverage; Leg through Mer, plan to stay for
cleanup after the potluck; Mon through Z, bring a side dish or
dessert. Please do your best to include a list of ingredients for
your dish.
November
16 Rev. Christine Brownlie: Facing
Mortality We live in a culture that
turns away from the reality of death. The result is that many of us
neglect the tasks that would assist our survivors, making a difficult
time even more stressful. UUC member, Victor Bongard, an attorney
who deals with estate planning, will discuss the legal issues that
need to be considered, and Isabel
Berney will discuss the plans for
a future memorial garden and will present a survey prepared by the
memorial garden committee for members and friends to share their
thoughts on these topics.
The UUC
Choir will sing The River Sleeps
Beneath the Sky.
November
23 Rev. Christine Brownlie:
Intergenerational Service Everyone
Eats Bread! Whether you like corn
bread, biscuits, whole wheat or rye, pita bread, monkey bread, or
tortillas, almost everyone eats bread! You are invited to bring your
favorite bread to share during the service as we celebrate the staff
of life.
The
Fourth Sunday Collection
will be donated to Women's
Resource Center of the NRV.
This organization offers programs and services for adult and child
victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, as well as an
extensive public education and prevention program. It serves
residents of Floyd, Giles, Montgomery, and Pulaski counties, as well
as those in the City of Radford. Begun in 1977, it is the oldest
shelter operation for battered women in Virginia. All services are
offered free of charge. These include the 24-Hour Hotline and
programs for Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Victim/Witness,
Education, and Volunteers. Please give as generously as you can.
November
30 Seth Leonard De-Mystifying Energy, Work,
Meditation,
and “Energy Work”
Explore the chakras, our deepest understanding of spirituality. But
what is a chakra, how does it feel? We will explore a technique that
gives you a visceral understanding of the palm chakra and a
consequent language for exploration of “energy work”.
This will help you understand your own inner wisdom.
Sunday
Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the second and
fourth Sunday of the month starting at 8:45. All are welcome to join us for what is always a stimulating
conversation.
November
9: Bill
Clarkson, UUC member, will lead a
discussion on the book "Bridge at the End of the World".
Our world is being driven by capitalist multinationals with the
mantra "more is better". But this process is rapidly
depleting the world's resources and fouling the environment, a
prescription for disaster. The author describes a viable way of
evolving toward a more sustainable future.
November
23: How animism and magic influenced
the development of religion. Dave
Lievsay, UUC member, will explore the
ideas of Edward Tylor and James Frazer concerning the human
experience that leads people to want or need religion.
Services: December 2008
10:00 AM in the
Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious
Education and nursery care
Coffee & conversation
following the service
Sunday Circle (December 14 at 8:45 AM) are listed after the Sunday services.
Christmas Eve Service
In case of bad weather ... check News Channel 10 to see if our service has
been canceled. If cancelled, a message will be sent to the listserv by 8:30.
You can also call Lisa Evanylo at 552–8050 or Chris Brownlie at 552–5286 after
8:30.
December
7,Rev.
Christine Brownlie:AIDS-The
Forgotten Epidemic: World AIDS Day is
commonly marked on December 1st.
These days the AIDS epidemic that was such a concern in the 80s and
90s is largely forgotten. Yet this tragic disease still rages in
much of the world. How might we respond to this devastating
situation?
The UUC Choir: Sing Softly, World (Eugene Butler) accompanied by Jared Gibbs (piano) and Goldie Terrell (flute).
Please
consider staying after the service to participate in the AfterWord
discussion.
December
14, Rev. Christine Brownlie: The
Myth of the Messiah Judaism and
Christianity both proclaim the concept of a messiah, a person who is
anointed and sent by God for a specific purpose. For those of the
Jewish traditions, this title is complex and is used in many ways.
For Christians, Jesus is that anointed person. Does this term have
meaning for us? Perhaps.
Dick
Kates will deliver a Pulpit
Editorial during the service.
Members and
friends of the Congregation are invited to bring in pairs of new
mittens, hats, and gloves to decorate our Mitten
Tree at the service. In addition to
learning the Mitten Tree song, each RE class will be purchasing
mittens with their offering money and will add them to the tree that
Sunday. Afterwards, the mittens, hats, and gloves will be donated to
New River Valley Community Services for distribution during the
holidays to those in need.
Everyone
is invited to stay for the Community
Lunch/Potluck following the service.
If your last name begins with Ker through Z, please bring a main
dish; Bro through Kep, please bring a side dish or dessert; A through
Ba, plan to arrive by 9:40 to set up for the potluck before the
service and bring a beverage; Ben through Bra, plan to stay for
cleanup after the potluck. Please include a list of ingredients for
your dish for those who have allergies. Instructions are posted in
the kitchen for set-up and clean-up, and volunteers from the
Membership Committee will be available to direct set-up. Please be
aware that those setting up for the potluck cannot put your dish in
the oven or otherwise prepare it in any way — they have their hands
full just setting up tables, etc. Fun
& Frolics will host holiday
cookie decorating in the old foyer
during the Community Lunch. Cookies and decorations will be provided
on a limited basis. All are welcome to participate! Richard Eisler
invites all interested men in the Congregation to discuss the
possibility of developing a Men's
Forum. The group will meet at a table
in Elarth Hall during the community lunch/potluck.
December
21, Come All Ye—- A Winter
Solstice Celebration! An
Intergenerational Service with no RE classes. The Blacksburg UU
WomenSpirit Gathering will lead us in a
Winter Solstice Celebration of the longest night of the year, the
return of the sun, and longer days. At this time of deep
contemplation and review of the past year, we also look with renewed
energy and joy toward the coming spring. Our wish for the new year is
that it will bring peace to our hearts, our community and to the
larger world.
December
28, Holiday
Memories (second annual). A participatory service in
the spirit of our summer poetry slam. A congregation-led service in the spirit of the summer poetry slam. Please
bring a story, memory, poem, or tradition that is related to your own
connection to the holiday season. If you prefer to sit as an observer,
this is fine as well. But if you'd like to come up in the collaborative
holiday spirit and share a little something of yourself, this is the venue
to do so. Due to the desire to accommodate as many of the Congregation as
the spirit moves, please keep your sharing to 3 minutes, give or take. This
was a great moment of sharing last year, and we look forward this year's
offerings! Contact John Imbur at 320–1985 if you have any
questions.
The
Fourth-Sunday Collection
will be donated to the Mental Health Association of the New
River Valley for its
Pro Bono Counseling Program. The
holiday season is a difficult and emotional time for many people.
Financial support for this agency in its efforts to provide
counseling services for those who are unable to afford it is
especially important this time of year. Checks can be made out to the
Mental Health Association of the NRV.
The UUC
Interweave Covenant Group, led by
Pippa Chapman, will meet after the service, in the library. The group
plans to meet the 4th Sunday of each month.
Sunday
Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the second and
fourth Sunday of the month starting at 8:45. All are welcome to join us for what is always a stimulating
conversation.
December
14: Carl Hansen, UUC member, will
lead a discussion on the evolution of spirituality.
Spirituality in different guises seems to be
common to nearly all societies suggesting that spiritual behavior may
have an evolutionary component. The purpose of this presentation is
to explore some possibilities beginning with early evolution of
mankind to the present day which may have a bearing to this
conclusion.
December
28: Cancelled.
Services: January 2009
10:00 AM in the
Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious
Education and nursery care
Coffee & conversation
following the service
Sunday Circle (January 11 and January 25 at 8:45 AM) are listed after the Sunday services.
Christmas Eve Service
January
4, Rev. Christine Brownlie Food Resolutions. I'd guess that if we took a poll of the top
five New Year's Resolutions that food issues would be high on the
list. Even though we're past New Year's Eve, I'd like to suggest some
ideas for meaningful resolutions about food that you might add to your
list.
Please
consider staying after the service to participate in the AfterWord
discussion.
January
11, Rev.
Christine Brownlie: The
Way of Humanism. One of the sources
of our living tradition is Humanism.
What is Humanism? How has this source nourished our way of the
spirit?
Pulpit Editorial by Morton Nadler
UUC Choir will sing Be Still, Look Up and Listen
Guest
at Your Table donations will be
collected. Please convert your saved coins
into a check made out to “UUSC.” Indicate on
the memo line that the donation is for “GAYT” and
also if you wish to be a member of UUSC. Levels
of membership and their fees are as follows:
$10 student/youth; $20 Senior (65+); $40
Regular; $75 Dual (2 adults). Include with your
donation the name, email address, and snailmail address
for each family member you wish to enroll
in UUSC. There is a matching gift program from
Shelter Rock Congregation (Long Island) that
will match contributions of $100 or more. Please
join us in this once-a-year collection for our
UUSC’s efforts to advance human rights and social
justice around the world. Thank you for your generosity.
Everyone is
invited to stay for the Community
Lunch/Potluck following the service.
If your last name begins with Bro - through Cen, plan to arrive by
9:40 to set up for the potluck before the service, and to assist with
moving items from the kitchen to the tables as the potluck occurs.
People from the Membership Committee will be on hand to direct and
assist with set-up and serving. Instructions are posted in the
kitchen for set-up and clean-up. If your last name begins with Ch-
through Cor-, plan to stay for cleanup after the potluck and bring a
beverage. If your last name begins with O through Z, or A through
Bra-, please bring a side dish. If your last name begins with Cou-
through N, please bring a main dish. Please do your best to include a
list of ingredients for your dish to assist those with food
allergies.
January
18, CANCELLED
January
25, Rev. Christine Brownlie Dealing with Betrayal.
Betrayal happens. Politician lie and cheat, trusted friends hurt us
with words and deeds, our spouse or partner violates our trust, our
children break the rules. How should we respond? How can we recover
trust?<
Music during the service: Prelude: Bile Them Cabbage Down (trad, arr. Richard W. Mooney), Kelby Benson and Hank Skutt (cellos); and Offering: Hungarian Serenade (Victorin Joncieres), Jared Gibbs (piano) and Goldie Terrell (flute).
Because of the collection on January 11 for Guest at Your Table, there is no separate Fourth-Sunday collection this month.
Sunday
Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the second and
fourth Sunday of the month starting at 8:45. All are welcome to join us for what is always a stimulating
conversation.
January
11: CANCELLED.
January
25: John Randolph, former Congregation
president and chair of Urban Affairs and Planning at VT, will lead a
discussion on what we (VT and Blacksburg)
are doing to address climate change, including the Virginia
Tech Climate Action Commitment and
Sustainability Plan and the Blacksburg
Climate Action Plan
Services: February 2009
10:00 AM in the
Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious
Education and nursery care
Coffee & conversation
following the service
Sunday Circle (February 8 and February 22 at 8:45 AM) are listed after the Sunday services.
In case of bad weather ... check News Channel 10 to see if our service has
been canceled. If cancelled, a message will be sent to the listserv by 8:30.
You can also call Lisa Evanylo at 552–8050 or Chris Brownlie at 552–5286 after
8:30.
February
1, Russell Gregory, emeritus
professor of Religious Studies at Radford University: We
Are What We Fear: Becoming Conscious to Save Our Soul. Russell
will explore the Jungian connection to the truth which surrounds us. Note: Here is the poem Russell mentioned during the service.
The
UUC Choir
will sing You Are the New Day
(John David, arr. Peter Knight).
February
8, Rev.
Christine Brownlie: Evolution
Sunday: Praise the Lord for Evolution?
It seems that science and religion have been foes for centuries.
How can we bring understanding and respect to this quarrel?
Special
Music: Ed Wolfe and Goldie Terrell (recorders): for the prelude, Gigue (Boimortier); for the offering, Sonata IV Allegro (Loeillet) and
Minuets I & II (Boismortier)
Everyone
is invited to stay for the Community
Lunch/Potluck following the service.
Here are February's assignments: If your last name begins with Cou-
through Fi, bring a beverage and plan to arrive by 9:40 to set up for
the potluck before the service, and to assist with moving items from
the kitchen to the tables as the potluck occurs. Plates and
silverware will not be set out until all are ready to eat, so as to
proceed in an orderly fashion. Instructions are posted in the kitchen
for set-up and clean-up. People from the Membership Committee will be
on hand to direct and assist with set-up and serving.
If
your last name begins with Fl- through N, please bring a side dish.
If your last name begins with O through Z or A through Cor-, please
bring a main dish. A general announcement will be made asking for
people to help with clean-up. Please do your best to include a list
of ingredients for your dish to assist those with food allergies; and
consider serving as a UUC Host to a newcomer.
February
15, Rev. Christine Brownlie:
Intergenerational Service for All
Ages: A Valentine’s Day Celebration of Love!
Parents
please note that Rev. Brownlie will offer a ceremony of child
dedication during the service.
February
22, Rev. Christine Brownlie and
Laureen Blakemore:
Volunteer Sunday.
Our volunteers are our most valuable
resource! Today we'll celebrate all that they do for our
Congregation and invite you to join this wonderful group.
UUC
Choir: Jubilee,
with Helen Shafran singing descant, Lesley Howard (flute), Korey
Mercier (drum), and Jared Gibbs (piano). Jim Kern will sing Supertramp's Give a
Little Bit. Goldie Terrell and Mike Schafale will play a hammer-dulcimer and
bass-flute duet.
The
Fourth Sunday Collection
will go to the New River Valley Chapter of the NAACP for its
scholarship fund for local African-American students.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the second and
fourth Sunday of the month starting at 8:45. All are welcome to join us for what is always a stimulating
conversation.
February
8: There are deep links between these
two liberators, one of the body, the other of the mind, deeper than
sharing the same birthday. After describing these links, UUC member,
Morton Nadler,
will discuss the dilemma of historians trying to decipher Lincoln's
basic motivation and deepest convictions with respect to Emancipation
and the Constitution. Morton has uncovered the most amazing aspects
of Lincoln's life, aspects that have been buried in little known and
long forgotten biographies. Here is a link to his presentation.
February
22: Charles Darwin, whose birthday
is celebrated along with Lincoln's this month, continued the
Copernican Revolution which established that we don't occupy the
central position in the universe. UUC member, Alan
Heath, will lead a discussion on why
he is considered to be one of the greatest thinkers of all time and
how his work raises numerous big questions dealing with such issues
as race relations, one's purpose in the world, religion, etc.
Services: March 2009
10:00 AM in the
Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious
Education and nursery care
Coffee & conversation
following the service
Sunday Circle (February 8 and February 22 at 8:45 AM) are listed after the Sunday services.
In case of bad weather ... check News Channel 10 to see if our service has
been canceled. If cancelled, a message will be sent to the listserv by 8:30.
You can also call Lisa Evanylo at 552–8050 or Chris Brownlie at 552–5286 after
8:30.
March
1, Rev. Christine Brownlie: The
Pain of Betrayal. Whether we’ve
been betrayed by a mortgage bank, a sports hero, a manufacturer of
toys or food, or that person way back in high school who violated
your trust and broke your heart, betrayal hurts. How do we cope, how
can we recover?
The
UUC Choir
will sing Amani Utupe
by Patsy Ford Simms.
March
8, FIRST DAY OF DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME, Rev.
Christine Brownlie: Is
UU a Faith or Philosophy? A member
of the Congregation recently posed this question to Chris, and this
sermon is her response.
We
will welcome new members into the Congregation during the service.
Everyone
is invited to stay for the Stewardship
Potluck
following the service.
To
keep things running smoothly and ensure enough food for all, please
note March's assignments as follows: If your last name begins with
Fl- through Ha-, bring a beverage and plan to arrive by 9:30 to help
set up for the potluck before the service, and to assist with moving
items from the kitchen to the tables as the potluck occurs. Plates
and silverware should not be set out until all are ready to eat to
ensure that all proceeds in an orderly fashion. Instructions are
posted in the kitchen for set-up and clean-up. People from the
Membership Committee will be on hand to direct and assist with set-up
and serving. If your last name begins with T through Z, or A through
Fi-, please bring a side dish. If your last name begins with He-
through S, please bring a main dish. A general announcement will be
made asking for people to help with clean-up.
Please
do your best to include a list of ingredients for your dish, to
assist those with food allergies.
March
15, Rev. Christine Brownlie: UUC
Justice Sunday: The
Right to Safe Water. How many times
a day do you turn on the tap in a sink and have instant access to
safe clean water? When you flush the commode, do you give any
thought to how this water is handled so it doesn’t spread
disease? Not everyone enjoys what we take for granted. How can we
address the justice issue of safe water and sanitation as a basic
human right?
The
UUC Choir
will sing “There Must Be More Love Somewhere” (arranged by Clif Hardin) featuring Helen Shafran (soprano) and Jared Gibbs (piano).
March
22, Stewardship Sunday! Rev. Christine Brownlie:
Stand by Your Faith!
The Rev. Olympia Brown charged her congregations to be bold
defenders of their faith. How might we be called to defend our free
faith in these challenging times?
The Fourth Sunday Collection will benefit The
Valley Interfaith Child Care Center. This center, located in
Blacksburg, offers high-quality, affordable, fully state-licensed
care for the children of low-income working families in the New River
Valley. Its director, Katy Irene St. Marie, will be at our service on
the 22nd and will share more information about this unique child care
option available in our community.
March
29, Franke J. Neumann: In
xochitl, in cuicatl: Aztec Lyrical Poetry. “I weave flowers
into you. I put flowers around you. I lift you up to join us
together. I awaken you. That is how I please you with whom I do it."
(from Aquiauhtzin of Ayapanco) Dr. Neumann, an historian of
religions and retired professor at VT will present some background
about Aztec poets and their creations, together with a few
translations that he has made.
The
UUC Choir
will sing “All Ye Who Music Love.”
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the
second and fourth Sundays of the month beginning at 8:45 AM. All are
welcome to join us for stimulating conversation.
March
8: John Cairns,
former UUC member, will lead a discussion on the profound biological
and ecological changes we may face as our planet warms based on the
book Six Degrees:
Our Future on a Hotter Planet
by Mark Lynas. Check out these articles at John's Web site:
1) The Mother of all positive feedback loops, 2) Homage to
Garrett Hardin: Nobody ever died of global climate change, and 3) The
end of contagious optimism and denial.
March
22: Low Carbon
Diet discussion led by Shelley
Fortier & the Green Team<.
Whether you are an experienced conservationist or only just
beginning to explore the impact your lifestyle has on our planet,
please come share ideas, successes and failures in reducing the
detrimental impact some of our behaviors have on the planet. We will
review opportunities provided in the Low
Carbon Diet
workbook, compelling Web sites for lifestyle changes, and we will
discuss future steps the Congregation could take.
Services: April 2009
10:00 AM in the
Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious
Education and nursery care
Coffee & conversation
following the service
Sunday Circle (April 2 and April 26 at 8:45 AM) are listed after the Sunday services.
April
5, Rev. Christine Brownlie:
It Would Have Been
Enough. A
section of the Passover Haggadah offers a list of what God did to
liberate the Hebrew people from bondage in Egypt. As each act is
named, the people respond with the word “dayenu” which
means “It would have been enough.” When do we say
“enough”-whether we are an individual, a corporation, or
a nation?
Prelude: The UUC Choir
will sing Ose Shalom (The One Who Makes Peace), trad.
Hebrew text, music
by John Leavitt (accompanied by Jared Gibbs (piano) and Chas Hill (tenor sax));
Offering: Jared Gibbs (piano) and Chas Hill (tenor sax): I'll Be Seeing You by Irving Kahal and Sammy Fain;
Postlude: Jared Gibbs (piano) and Chas Hill (tenor sax): Bye Bye Blackbir by Ray Henderson and Mort Dixon.
April
12, Rev.
Christine Brownlie:
Easter Sunday: The
Gift of Forgiveness.
An Intergenerational Service. For many Christians, the story of
Easter is that Jesus’ death provided an acceptable atonement to
God for the sins of humankind. For most Unitarian Universalists,
atonement and forgiveness are found in human relationships. How do
we forgive? What do we do if we cannot reach this ideal in our own
hearts?
Prelude: The Swan by Camille Saint-Saëns performed by
Kellby Benson (cello) and Jared Gibbs (piano)
Offertory: Allegro from Sonata V für Flöte und Basso Continuo by J.S. Bach, performed by Goldie Terrell (flute) and Jared Gibbs (piano)
Postlude: Impromptu in A♭ Major by Frederic Chopin
Everyone
is invited to stay for the Potluck/Community
Lunch< following
the service. To keep things running smoothly and ensure enough food
for all, please note April's assignments as follows:
If your
last name begins with He- through Kep, bring a beverage and plan to
arrive by 9:30 to set up for the potluck before the service and to
assist with moving items from the kitchen to the tables as the
potluck occurs. Plates and silverware should not be set out until
all are ready to eat, so as to proceed in an orderly way.
Instructions are posted in the kitchen for set-up and clean-up.
People from the Membership Committee will be on hand to direct and
assist with set-up and serving.
If your
last name begins with Ker- through S, please bring a side dish. If
your last name begins with T through Z, or A through Ha-, please
bring a main dish. A general announcement will be made asking for
people to help with cleanup. Please do your best to include a list
of ingredients for your dish to assist those with food allergies.
April
19, Rev. Karen Day:
Holding On and
Letting Go. Mary
Oliver suggests we must do both to be human. We'll consider her poem
and what religious traditions teach us about how to manage these
challenging tasks of living. Rev. Day is a UU minister living in
Floyd and has been a guest speaker at the UUC many times.
The UUC Choir
will sing Think on
Me by Alicia Ann
Scott.
April
26, Tod Whitehurst: Lifting
the Spirit Through Laughter.
As a congregation we will explore how intentional sustained laughter
brings joy to yourself, your family and to the community at large.
Tod, a newcomer to the UUC, is a Certified Laughing Yoga Instructor
and the founder of the Laughter Club of the New River Valley.
Prelude: The Swan by Blück performed by
Goldie Terrell (flute)Minuet of the Blessed Spirit and Jared Gibbs (piano)
Offertory: Sicilienne by Fauré, performed by Goldie Terrell (flute) and Jared Gibbs (piano)
Postlude: Mean to Me by Ahlert/Turk
The
Fourth Sunday
Collection< will
benefit the Blacksburg Interfaith Food Pantry. It is important to
continue our support of this local organization as it strives to
provide individuals and families with one of the most basic of human
needs. Checks can be made out to the “Interfaith Food Pantry.”
Your contributions are greatly needed and appreciated
The
UUC Executive Board voted to adopt an “Austerity Spending
Program” for the remainder of the fiscal year in which there
will be no spending on discretionary items. A Congregational
Informational Meeting
on the budget will follow the service to further discuss the
situation.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the
second and fourth Sundays of the month beginning at 8:45 AM. All are
welcome to join us for stimulating conversation.
April
12: Newspapers
struggle to remain society's watchdog. Christian
Trejbal, an
editorial writer with The
Roanoke Times,
will lead the discussion on the role of newspapers today.
April
26: UUC member,
Isabel Berney,
will lead a discussion on
The Origins of Morality
based on Frans de Waal’s book, Primates
and Philosophers.
This is a look at how biology helps us understand the evolution of
morality and why humans don’t think it is good to be bad.
Services: May 2009
10:00 AM in the
Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious
Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation
following the service
Sunday Circle (May 10 and May 24 at 8:45 AM) are listed after the Sunday services.
May
3,
Rev. Christine Brownlie:
“The Path of Atheism.” What does it mean to be an
Atheist? Why would someone choose this path, especially in a society
that is so steeped in religion? Today we’ll explore some of
the fundamentals of this path and some of the issues that atheists
face.
The
UUC Choir
will sing Ale
Brider,
(traditional, arr. Joshua Jacobson). Soloists: Wayne Neu, Polly
Stimson, Chris Brownlie.
May
10,
Rev. Christine Brownlie:
“Deepening the UU Spirit Together.” Many UU
congregations have a small-group program that helps friends and
members widen their circle of friends while exploring together topics
of mutual interest. We have such a program, but it seems to me that
it’s time for some new groups to be added. What kind of small
groups would serve you? Let’s make it happen!
Prelude: Champagne Rag (by Joseph F. Lamb). Finn Roberts (piano).
Everyone
is invited to stay for the Second
Sunday Potluck
following the service. To keep things running smoothly and ensure
enough food for all, please note April's assignments as follows: If
your last name begins with KER- through L, bring a beverage and plan
to arrive by 9:30 to set up for the potluck before the service, and
to assist with moving items from the kitchen to the tables as the
potluck occurs. Plates and silverware should not be set out until
all are ready to eat, so as to proceed in an orderly way.
Instructions are posted in the kitchen for set-up and clean-up.
People from the Membership Committee will be on hand to direct and
assist with set-up and serving. If your name begins with M- through
Z-, please bring a side dish. If your last name begins with A-
through KEP-, please bring a main dish.
A general announcement will be made
asking for people to help with cleanup. Don’t forget your list
of the ingredients in your dish, to assist those with food allergies.
May
17: Please join
the Young Religious Unitarian Universalists (YRUU) as they lead their
annual Spring service and bridging ceremony. Always a treat for
those who attend, the youth are excited to share their adventures
from their trip to Boston. The four youth being bridged out will be
Brianna Wright, Devon Skinner, Alleyne Ross, and Jin Tiloganart —
along with Carol Wolfe, as an outgoing advisor.
May
24,
Rev. Christine Brownlie:
“How Should We Remember Them?” For most of us, Memorial
Day is the kick-off to summer. We’re aware that there is
another reason for this holiday, but most of us might prefer to
ignore it. This year, let’s take time to remember those who
have served our nation.
The
Fourth Sunday
Collection will
benefit the Christiansburg
Institute.
Founded in 1996, the mission of the
Christiansburg Institute is “to promote and preserve its unique
place in the history of African American education in ways which will
exemplify its legacies of educational achievement and lifelong
educational opportunity”. Central to the mission is to restore
a portion of the original Christiansburg Institute campus and to
continue to plan and develop an archive, museum, and an
inter-generational learning center. Your contributions to this
organization would be greatly appreciated.
May
31, Dennis
Welch, member
of the Congregation: “Ralph Ellison’s Invisible
Man: Secularizing
the Fortunate Fall and Apocalypse.”This presentation —
not sermon — has one main purpose, the success of which you
alone will judge, and that is to encourage (perhaps even inspire) you
to read one of America’s greatest novels. Published in 1952,
this novel by one of our premiere African-American writers raises
complex and significant issues of race through a page-turning
narrative that draws from and secularizes deeply religious motifs of
Western society — the fortunate fall and apocalypse.
Prelude: UUC Choir
will sing Swing Down Low. (arr. Patsy Ford Simms)
Offertory: Andante by Molique, performed by Jared Gibbs (piano) &. Goldie Terrell (flute)
A
Congregational
Informational Meeting
will follow the service. The Annual Congregational Meeting will be
held at 11:15 AM on June
7. At that
meeting, the Congregation will approve the budget and elect officers
for next year. At this Informational Meeting, the Congregants will
have an opportunity to discuss the budget and provide feedback.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the
second and fourth Sundays of the month beginning at 8:45 AM. All are
welcome to join us for stimulating conversation.
May
10, Mollie
McClintock and Irene Peterson will lead a discussion on gay
marriage and civil unions.
They will discuss partnership laws in the United States and around
the world, and they will talk about their marriage in Canada and what
it has meant to them.
May
24: Gloria Heath
will lead a discussion on the book Bringing
Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants
by Douglas W. Tallamy. The author talks about the importance of
planting natives in one’s personal landscape to create a
healthy and interwoven web that supports the plants which feed the
insects which feed the birds.
May
31: Extra Sunday Circle Session UU minister, Greta Brown, who is hiking along route 11 to raise awareness of climate change, will be passing through our way this Sunday,, and would be delighted to meet with anyone who is interested in her activities and her vision. She will be available for discussion and questions beginning at 9 AM in the library.
Services: June 2009
10:00 AM in the
Meeting Hall
Children’s Summer Program and Nursery Care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation
following the service
June
7, Recognition of Our Religious
Education Teachers and Youth Advisors. This
is our annual tribute to the teachers and youth advisors who have
served the Congregation so generously during the past year in our
Religious Education program. This will be an intergenerational
service with the Congregation’s children participating in the
service. Each class will be responsible for a part of the service
including the Chalice Lighting Words, Offering, Reading, or Closing
Words. Special music is also planned.
Offertory: Improvizations of Caprice (by Eugene Bozza), Tyler Flowers (sax0phone).
Postlude: Mr. PC (by John Coltrane), Tyler Flowers (saxophone) & Jared Gibbs (piano).
Our
Annual Congregational Meeting
will be held immediately following the service.
June
14, Rev.
Christine Brownlie: Our
Community Garden. Today we will
celebrate the many ways in which our beloved community nourishes our
minds, our spirits, and even our bodies! The service will include
the traditional “Flower
Ceremony” so please
bring a flower for each member of your family attending the service.
This is an intergenerational service.
Prelude: Sunflowers (by Linda Pfeiffer and Jared Gibbs). Vocals: Jane Mahone, Linda Pfeiffer, Di Ross, Polly Stimson, Pat Traynor; Piano: Jared Gibbs; Transcription: Goldie Terrell.
Everyone
is invited to stay for the Second
Sunday Potluck
following the service. This is a wonderful opportunity to share food
and fellowship.
To
keep things running smoothly and ensure enough food for all, please
note June’s assignments as follows:
If
your last name begins with M or N, bring a beverage and plan to
arrive by 9:30 to set up for the potluck before the service, and to
assist with moving items from the kitchen to the tables as the
potluck occurs. Plates and silverware should not be set out until
all are ready to eat, so as to proceed in an orderly way.
Instructions are posted in the kitchen for set-up and clean-up.
People from the Membership Committee will be on hand to direct and
assist with set-up and serving. If your name begins with COU through
L, please bring a side dish. If your last name begins with O through
Z or A through COR, please bring a main dish. A general
announcement will be made asking for people to help with cleanup.
Don’t forget your list of the ingredients in your dish to
assist those with food allergies
June
21, Rev. Christine Brownlie:
Fathering.
Most of us have a pretty good idea of what is meant by the work
“mothering,” but we seldom hear about “fathering.”
What is fathering? How can we encourage more respect for fathers
and their important role?
Prelude: D minor (Andersen), Goldie Terrell (flute)
Offering: #3,
Zwölf Fantasien für Querflöte ohne Bass (Telemann), Goldie Terrell (flute)
The time capsule ceremony has been postponed until September.
June
28, Marianne Vakiener, a life-long UU
and long-time Religious Education teacher:
Our Whole Lives: Your Church
Teaches What? In the early 1970s,
the UUA (Unitarian Universalist Association) pioneered a
controversial comprehensive sexuality curriculum for teens. The
UUA continues to offer sexuality curricula for all ages as well as
Our
Whole Lives (OWL).
Is sexuality education a religious education? She believes the
answer is yes.
Prelude: Kodachrome (Paul Simon), Jim Kern & Jeff Wynn (guitars)
The
Fourth Sunday Collection
will benefit the Montgomery
County Emergency Assistance Program.
We have contributed funds to this organization several times in the
past, with our donations going to the children's summer food program
and emergency needs, such as rent, clothing, furniture, gasoline,
etc. This agency is located in Christiansburg and is a primary
resource for many individuals who have nowhere else to turn. Please
make out checks to the organization
Services: July 2009
10:00 AM in the
Meeting Hall
Children’s Summer Program and Nursery Care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation
following the service
July
5, Rev. Christine Brownlie:
America’s
Religious Roots.
You’ve heard the claim that America’s religious roots are
in the Christian faith. What does this mean? And is this true?
Annual Volunteer Awards (presented by Pat Trayor)
Special
Music: Goldie Terrell
(flute); Prelude, Sonatina
(Kuhlau) and offering, Summer Frolic
(Terrell).
July
12, Rev.
Dr. Norman Bakken, author
of “A Sense of the Sacred”
and a
retired minister living
in Blacksburg: A New Way
to Listen. The language
of the past, our ancient traditions, creeds, belief systems might
have been applicable for their day and age, but pass us by as
remnants of fairy stories and conceptions which, with the advance of
culture and science, have no direct application to our situation.
That does not mean that those traditions have no value, but it does
mean that adaptation and change are necessary to include present
thought and science and to make the direction of past insights
applicable to life today.
Special
Music: Kellby Benson ad
Kaily Schenker will play cello duets.
Everyone
is invited to stay for the Second-Sunday
Potluck
following the service. This is a wonderful opportunity to share food
and fellowship. Our June potluck was a little slim and there was not
enough food for the number of people who attended. Whenever you are
bringing a dish for the potluck, please remember that in a sense, we
are all each other's hosts, and therefore it is our joint
responsibility to see that enough food is present to feed all,
including those who are new or who have forgotten to bring a dish.
While we are grateful for all contributions, we would encourage you
to bring sufficient food for yourself, your family or guests, and two
additional adults. We would also encourage everyone to be mindful of
the number of people who are following you in line. If you are among
the first to fill your plate, it can be tempting to load up with food
because the selection is abundant. But those at the end of the line
would like to enjoy a reasonable meal as well. We would ask parents
to monitor the amount of food that their children take so that there
is as little waste as possible.
To
keep things running smoothly, please note July’s assignments as
follows: If your last name begins with O- through Pou-, please bring
a beverage and plan to arrive by 9:30 to set up for the potluck
before the service, and to assist with moving items from the kitchen
to the tables as the potluck occurs. Plates and silverware should
not be set out until all are ready to eat, so as to proceed in an
orderly way. Instructions are posted in the kitchen for set-up and
clean-up. People from the Membership Committee will be on hand to
direct and assist with set-up and serving. If your name begins with
Pow- through Z-, or A through Ce-, please bring a side dish. If your
last name begins with Ch- through N-, please bring a main dish. A
general announcement will be made asking for people to help with
cleanup. Don’t forget your list of the ingredients in your
dish to assist those with food allergies.
July
19, Rev. John Crestwell,
Minister of the Davies Memorial UU Church in Camp Springs, MD: It
Matters What
We Believe.
These
are words Sophia Fahs spoke some years ago, and they are apropos
today. Some beliefs lift us and others up while others depress
or diminish us and others. It
truly matters
what
we accept, value and cherish in our lives.
Special Music: Elaine Myers (hammered dulcimer); Prelude, Wishing Well Waltz (Elaine Myers); Offering, The water is wide (traditional)
We
will welcome
new members
into the Congregation during the service. Please contact Rev.
Christine Brownlie if you are interested in joining.
July
26, Rev. Alison Miller,
Minister of the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship in Morristown, NJ:
Ordinary Grace.
Some would say that humans are united by the common experience of
suffering. While this is a dimension of life, our common experience
is also one of continuous blessing. Let us celebrate the ordinary
miracles of our lives.
Special
Music: Tyler Flowers
(saxophone): Prelude, Etude No. 12 (J.L. Small); Offering, Etude No. 23 (J.L. Small).
The
Fourth-Sunday Collection
will benefit the Free
Clinic of the NRV.
The clinic is committed to providing high quality health care and
dental services to people who lack insurance and cannot afford
healthcare.
Services: August 2009
10:00 AM in the
Meeting Hall
Children’s Summer Program and Nursery Care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation
following the service
August
2, Joshua Rich, professional pianist and composer: Do What You
Love or Love What You Do. It’s been said that if you do
what you love, the money will follow. But in the meantime, loving
what you do can bring about the same kind of inner peace and balance
that may help you find out what it is you actually love to do.
Joshua will provide all the music along with his presentation.
August
9, Carter Turner, UUC member and Assistant Professor in
the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Radford
University: What Exactly is Religion? A friend of mine
recently asked me, "How many religions are there in
the world?" He seemed a little dismayed that I didn't have
an easy answer. The problem with his question, I
explained, is that scholars in my field can't even agree on
the definition of "religion," not to mention what
actually counts as one. In my talk, I will explore different
approaches to defining the term "religion," and show
that no matter how hard we try, the term will always remain
elusive.
Everyone
is invited to stay for the Second-Sunday Potluck
following the service. This is a wonderful opportunity to share food
and fellowship. To keep things running smoothly, please note August’s
assignments as follows: If your last name begins with Pow- through
Sca-, please bring a beverage and arrive by 9:30 to set up for the
potluck before the service and assist with moving items from the
kitchen to the tables as the potluck occurs. Plates and silverware
should not be set out until all are ready to eat, so as to proceed in
an orderly way. Instructions are posted in the kitchen for set-up
and clean-up. People from the Membership Committee will be on hand
to direct and assist with set-up and serving. If your name begins
with Gla- through Pou-, please bring a side dish. If your last name
begins with Sch- through Z-, or A- through Giv-, please bring a main
dish. A general announcement will be made asking for people to help
with cleanup. Don’t forget your list of the ingredients in
your dish, to assist those with food allergies.
August
16, Rev. Christine Brownlie: Loving Difficult People. We
all have people in our lives with whom it is difficult for us to get
along. How can we deal with painful relationships in a way that
helps create positive change? Or at least helps us keep hold of our
sanity?
Special
Music: Goldie Terrell (flute) and Jared Gibbs (piano) Sonata No. 2 for flute and piano III Allegro (J.S. Bach).
August
23, Rev. Christine Brownlie: Meeting Christianity Again For
the First Time. Many UUs are refugees from Christianity. Some
of us still hold on to the “best” of Christian teachings,
while others cringe at the very mention of this faith because of a
painful past. I’d like to explore an understanding of Jesus
and his teachings that might give us a new window into this way of
the spirit.
Special
Music: Kellby Benson and Kaily Schenker will play cello duets.
The
Fourth
Sunday Collection
will benefit Virginia
Cares, Inc.
This program assists ex-offenders in making a successful
transition from prison or jail back into society. It provides these
people with emergency resources and referrals to other agencies that
can assist them, as well as assisting in restoration of their rights
and obtaining identification cards. All of these benefits aid
ex-offenders in becoming productive members of their communities.
Please give as generously as you can. Checks should be made out to
Virginia Cares, Inc.
August
30, Rev. Christine Brownlie: Ingathering. It is our
tradition to bring water from our travels or our kitchen tap that
symbolizes our summer travels whether they took us to someplace on
the planet, or some spiritual destination. We will mingle these
waters in a bowl, share our adventures, and rejoice at the gathering
of our beloved community.
Prelude: The
UUC Choir will sing Here We Have Gathered by Alicia Carpenter.
Offering: Jeff Wynn, Jim Kern, Chris Brownlie River (Eugene McDaniels).†
Services: September 2009
10:00 AM in the
Meeting Hall
Children’s Summer Program (September 6), Children’s Religious
Education (beginning September 13), and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation
following the service
Sunday Circle (September 6 and September 20 at 8:45 AM) are listed after the Sunday services.
September
6, Annual Poetry Slam: A
Congregation-led service centered around the spoken and written word
we identify as poetry. Please bring a poem or two of your own or by
your favorite poet(s) to share with the Congregation. If you prefer
to just listen, please do so. Due to our desire to accommodate all
who bring something to read, please keep your sharing to three
minutes at most. As you enter the building, there will be a sign-up
sheet for those wishing to participate actively. Please contact John
Imbur at 540–320–1985 if you have any questions.
September
13, Rev.
Christine Brownlie:
Enter, Rejoice and Come
In! As we begin a new
adventure together, I’d like to talk about some dreams and
aspirations that I and others have for our Congregation. I’m
planning to keep my part fairly short so that you can share your
thoughts and hopes too.
Love is the doctrine of our faith, the quest of truth is its sacrament, and service is its prayer. This is our great covenant: to gather in peace and acceptance, to seek knowledge in the light of freedom and reason, to serve the needs of others in community, that we may grow in wisdom and in spirit.
New affirmation
Prelude: Alleluia (by Jay Althouse), The
UUC Choir.
Everyone is invited to stay for the Second
Sunday Potluck
following the service. To
keep things running smoothly, please note September’s
assignments as follows: If your last name begins with Sch
through Su, bring
a beverage and plan
to arrive by 9:30 to set up
for the potluck before the service, and
to assist with
moving items from the kitchen to the tables at the beginning of the
potluck.
Plates and silverware should not be set out until all are ready to
eat, so as to proceed in an orderly way. Instructions are posted in
the kitchen for set-up and clean-up. People from the Membership
Committee will be on hand to direct and assist with set-up and
serving. If your last
name begins with T thru
Z, or A thru Ha,
please bring a side dish. If your last name begins with He
thru Sca, please bring
a main dish. A
general announcement will be made asking for people to help with
cleanup. Don’t forget your list of the ingredients in your
dish to assist those with food allergies.
September
20, Rev. Christine Brownlie:
Happy Eid!
Today is one of the holiest days in the Islamic Calendar. While
Muslims all over the world are marking the end of the month-long fast
of Ramadan,
we will examine this faith that has become associated with terrorism
and the mistreatment of women, and we will look for the true heart of
Islam.
Offering: Berceuse (J. Andersen),
Goldie Terrell, bass flute
September
27, Rev. Christine Brownlie:
Standing on the Side of
Love. Our country
claims to offer equal rights and protections under the law for all
citizens. But millions of gay, lesbian, and transgender (GLBT)
people are unable to marry the person they love, which means that
they are denied thousands of “rights” and “privileges”
that legal marriage offers to heterosexual couples. We see justice
slowly turning this tragic situation around, one state at a time.
Surely there is a better way to correct this injustice! On
October 11
UUs from across the nation will join GLBT people for a National
Equality March in
Washington DC. Will you join them?
The
UUC Choir will sing during the service. Prelude: Standing on the Side of Love (Jason Shelton). Offering: Surprised by Joy
(words: Routley, Goodwin; music: Knapp, Mason, Haydn).
The
Fourth Sunday Collection
will benefit the Blacksburg Head Start Program
for supplies, equipment and emergency funds for individual-child or
family needs. Head Start offers comprehensive developmental services
to children 3-5 years of age. Its primary components are education,
social services, preventive health and nutrition, all of which focus
on the entire family. We have shown our generosity to this
organization before, with our funds providing a much-needed
supplement to its program as it starts up each new year. Please give
as generously as you can. All cash in the basket will go to Head
Start. Checks should be made out to Backsburg Head Start.
We
will dedicate the Peace
Pole and the Time
Capsule immediately after
the service. Our Peace Pole
was purchased from the monetary gifts that we received from other UU
congregations after the shootings on April 16, 2007.
A
Peace Pole is a monument that displays the message "May Peace
Prevail on Earth,” usually in a different language on each
side. They serve as a constant reminder for us to visualize and pray
for world peace. Over 300,000 peace poles can be found in more than
180 countries.
It’s
still not too late to get your special thoughts or pictures into the
UUC Time Capsule to commemorate our new building. It will contain
writings, photographs, and small, non-bulky memorabilia by and about
our Congregation as a gift to those who come after us. The capsule
itself is a water-tight container about 9”x12”x6”
and is to be buried outside the lower entrance to our meeting house.
Half the space is reserved for messages from our Religious Education
classes, leaving half for the rest of us. You’ve got just a
few more weeks to contribute items for the capsule before it is
buried on September 27
following the service.
Check
out the beautiful capstone in the spot where the capsule will be
buried. It’s inscribed “Time discovers truth” and
“UUC 2009.” Bonnie
Moreno designed the
capstone and arranged for Horne Funeral Services in Christiansburg to
make and donate it. George
Lally and Sharon
Day have also been
working hard to make this idea a reality. If you have questions or
to donate something for the Capsule, please talk with them.
The
Council of Committee
Chairs will meet at 12:30
(lunch provided)
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets
on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:45 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation.
September
6: Jim
Copenheaver, UUC member,
will review some of the searches for a historical Jesus of Nazareth.
A theory will be presented based on the book The
Jesus Puzzle by Earl
Doherty.
September
20: B. Lloyd, retired
Episcopalian priest, will lead a discussion on “King Coal.”
Lloyd has been a passionate advocate for coal miners and an ardent
opponent of the damage to the environment from coal mining for over
30 years. He quotes a mine foreman as saying “coal is a curse”
and calls coal “the last unchallenged stronghold of
colonialism”.
Services: October 2009
10:00 AM in the
Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious
Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation
following the service
Sunday Circle (October 4 and October 18 at 8:45 AM) are listed after the Sunday services.
October
4, Rev. Christine Brownlie: I
Seek the Spirit of the Child.
As we dedicate the adults and youth who have volunteered to teach
in our Children’s Religious Education program, let’s also
honor the spirit of the child and consider how reawakening the child
that still lives within each of us might enrich our lives.
The
Religious Education Teacher/Advisor Dedication will take place during
the service.
October
11, Rev.
Christine Brownlie:
Suffering.
The reality of human suffering haunts us. Why do we suffer? How
does the reality of suffering affect our view of life, of the divine?
These are tough questions. We’ll consider some possible
answers.
Prelude: UUC Choir will sing Prayer for Comfort
(music by Mozart, words by Brownlie and Terrell).
Everyone is invited to stay for the Second-Sunday
Potluck
following the service.
To keep
things running smoothly, please note October’s assignments as
follows: If your last name begins with T
thru Z,
please bring a beverage and plan to arrive by 9:30 to set up for the
potluck before the service andassist with moving items from the
kitchen to the tables as the potluck occurs.Plates and silverware
should not be set out until all are ready to eat, so as to proceed in
an orderly way.Instructions are posted in the kitchen for set-up and
clean-up.People from the Membership Committee will be on hand to
direct and assist with set-up and serving. If your last name begins
with A
thru Ha,
please
bring a main dish. If your last name begins with He
thru S,
please
bring a side dish. A general announcement will be made asking for
people to help with cleanup.Don’t forget your list of the
ingredients in your dish to assist those with food allergies.
October
18, Rev. Christine Brownlie:
Whatever
Happened to Ethics?
As we look back on the global economic collapse and other events of
the past year, it seems that we also suffered from a collapse of
ethics. How can we recover from this moral calamity?
Prelude: Sonata IV Andante (J. S. Bach), Goldie Terrell (flute) and Jared Gibbs (piano)
Offering: Sonata V Adagio ma non tanto (J. S. Bach), Goldie Terrell (flute) and Jared Gibbs (piano)
October
25, Andy Morikawa,
Executive Director of the Community Foundation of the New River
Valley:
Service
and Spirit: A Way of Knowing.
How do we know who we are, as individuals and as a community? Trust
is formed in community “as it knows.” How do we know?
How can a community foundation, a church, a family serve its
community in knowing itself? Beyond data and facts, who are we? How
do we learn? Why is this important? Without trust there is no
community.
Prelude: UUC Choir will sing Nigun Biaikt
(arr. A.W. Binder).
The
Fourth
Sunday Collection
will benefit the Women's
Resource Center. This
organization is located in Radford and provides women and families of
the New River Valley assistance in escaping domestic violence. Other
services include supporting those involved in sexual assault, as well
as providing a 24-hour Crisis Hotline and Victim/Witness and
education programs. Our Congregation has supported this facility
very generously in the past, and we hope that we can continue to do
so. Our August collection for Virginia Cares (a program to assist
in transitioning former ex-offenders back into their communities)
raised $326.45. Many, many thanks to all!
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets
on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:45 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation.
October
4: Dean Mook, UUC
member, will present a review of new trends and some recent
developments in alternative ways to generate electricity. The talk
will cover, but not be restricted to, different strategies based on
the use of so-called solar towers.
October
18: Carl Hansen, UUC
member, will lead a discussion based on the book: Christianity,
Social Tolerance, and Homosexuality<
by John Boswell. The author traces the evolution of intolerance
using homosexuality as a model, from the Golden Age of Greece to the
14th
century. During the course of his discussion, he challenges some of
Western culture's most familiar moral assumptions.
Services: November 2009
10:00 AM in the
Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious
Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation
following the service
Sunday Circle (November 1 and November 15 at 8:45 AM) are listed after the Sunday services.
November
1 — STANDARD TIME, Rev. Christine Brownlie: Our Hearts
Remember. On this Sunday, we recall those beloved family
members, friends, colleagues and our dear four-legged companions who
have died in the past year and whose memories still warm our hearts.
You are invited to bring a photo or some other memento to place on
our Table of Remembrance. There will be a time to share memories as
well as a homily on the work of grief.
November
8, Youth Service. We’ll hear from the
members of our youth group, the Young Religious Unitarian
Universalists (YRUU) as they offer a service of music, lively
thoughts, and the energy to inspire us. This is always an engaging
and thought-provoking service.
Prelude:
I Will Not Leave You Comfortless (Titcomb), sung by the UUC
Choir.
Sunday Potluck: Everyone is invited to enjoy lunch
with the Congregation following the service. If your last name
begins with A through Bra, please bring a beverage and plan to
arrive by 9:30 to set up for the potluck before the service, and to
assist with moving items from the kitchen to the tables as the
potluck occurs. Plates and silverware should
not be set out until all are ready to eat, so as to proceed in an
orderly way.Instructions are posted in the kitchen for set-up and
clean-up.People from the Membership Committee will be on hand to
direct and assist with set-up and serving. If your last name
begins with Bro through L,
please bring a side dish. If your last name begins with M
through Z, please bring a main dish.
A general announcement will be made asking for people to help with
cleanup.Don’t forget your list of the ingredients in your dish
to assist those with food allergies.
November
15, Rev. Christine Brownlie: Question Box Sermon.
A question box sermon is based on questions that you might have about Unitarian Universalism, our Congregation, the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), the Thomas Jefferson District (TJD), general theology, or whatever else might be on your mind that pertains to the general topic. Beginning November 1, there will be a red question box next to the Welcome Table in Elarth Fellowship Hall. One can also e-mail questions to our minister. Rev. Brownlie will do her best to answer as many questions as possible during her sermon today. Those that she does not include in her sermon will be addressed in an e-mail or conversation with the person posing the question. This opportunity is for everyone, so please encourage your children and teens to get their questions to Chris.
November
22, Rev. Christine Brownlie: Children’s Sabbath: An
Intergenerational Service. It’s said that the holidays are
for children, but for many children there is never a holiday from the
problems that no child should face. This service will be family
friendly and will include offerings by two of our Religious Education
classes.
Prelude: The UUC Choir will lead the Congregation in We Give Thanks.
The Fourth Sunday
Collection will benefit the Fairview Home in Dublin. This
facility is sponsored by New River Valley Community Services and is a
residential home for adults with mental illness or developmental
disabilities and accompanying physical limitations. Checks should be
made out to Fairview Home, Inc. If you would like to contribute, but
will not be at the service, you can mail your checks to the UUC
(Attention: Fourth Sunday Collection).
November
29, Rev. Christine Brownlie: Why Do We Hate the Other?
Hating the “other” is a common human trait, whether the “other” comes from a
different† tribe, practices a different religion, or is different in some
way from what we consider “right” or “normal.”† What is it in our human
makeup that causes us to hate and even harm people whom we perceive to be
“other”?
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets
on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:45 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation.
November 1: Bill
Clarkson, UUC member, will discuss the different aspects of
the various healthcare proposals before Congress.
November 15: R. M.
Eisler, UUC member, will talk on Men's Issues. Richard has
used theory and carried out research to better understand the
differing thoughts, behaviors, and emotions of men as compared to
women. The evidence suggests that biological sex is only a
predisposing factor. Most differences appear to result from each
boy’s and girl's acquisition of learned sexual identity
(masculinity or femininity) and the sex-typed expectations for each
male or female. There are severe social sanctions for individuals who
do not conform to expected gender rules. Most of the presentation
will focus on the difficulty many men have in living up to the
proscribed masculine role with consequent stress. This in turn leads
to specific psychological and somatic health problems for men as
compared with women.
Services: December 2009
10:00 AM in the
Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious
Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation
following the service
Sunday Circle (December 6 and December 20 at 8:45 AM) are listed after the Sunday services.
In case of bad weather ... an e-mail message to the announcement listserv will be sent by 8 a.m. on Sunday if services are canceled, and a notice to that effect will be posted on this page.
December
6,
Rev. Christine Brownlie: Judge
Not!
Jesus commanded his followers not to judge others, lest we be judged.
Can we really live without making judgments of others? What’s
the difference between judgment and being judgmental? This sermon is
a response to a question that was submitted for the November Question
Box
sermon.
Anyone
interested in making wreaths and ropes to decorate our building using
leftover Advent greens is invited to join Bonnie Moreno
and
others after the service.
Lunch can be ordered out or bring your own as this will take several
hours. Instruction will be provided. Please come join the fun!
Service is cancelled on December 13 because of ice on the parking lot.
Service is cancelled on December 20 because of over a foor of snow — not just on our parking lot.
December
20, WomanSpirit:
Welcome
the Returning Sun. ,
the Blacksburg
UU WomenSpirit Gathering will
lead the Sunday service in a Winter Solstice Celebration
of
the longest night of the year, the return of the sun, and longer
days.At this time of deep contemplation and review of the past year,
we also look with renewed energy and joy toward the coming Spring.
Our wish for the new year is that it will bring peace to our hearts,
our community, and to the larger world. This will be an
intergenerational service for the whole family. There will be no RE
classes.Nursery care will be provided to those aged 3 and younger.
Please come and join us after the service for coffee, tea, and
community.
-->
December
27,
Rev. Christine Brownlie:
Holiday
Memories.
Today, for the third year in a row, we will share our favorite
Holiday Memories. If you would like to contribute, please bring a
story, memory, poem, or tradition that has meaning for you during
this holiday season. To give everyone who wishes for a chance to
speak, please limit your sharing to three minutes.
The
Fourth-Sunday Collection
will benefit the Blacksburg
Interfaith Food Pantry,
located
on 505 Progress St. in Blacksburg. Our Congregation has provided
significant support (bothand monetary donations)this organization for
many years, and in these difficult economic times, we need to
continue to do so. Checks can be made out to the Interfaith Food
Pantry. If you would like to contribute but will not be at the
service on the 27th,
you can mail your checks to the UUC.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets
on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:45 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation.
December
6: Beth Lyman,
UUC member, will discuss Diversity
In Higher Education.
American colleges and universities have had a long history of working
to increase the racial and ethnic diversity of their student bodies.
In this presentation, the history of some of these initiatives, as
well as the institutional logic of adopting them will be discussed.
December
20: Linda Powers, Darla Bray, Sally Mook
and Deb
Salbador,
UUC members, will discuss the reasons why they became and remain
vegetarians. Together they have over 90 years of experience eating
meatless.
Services: January 2010
10:00 AM in the
Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious
Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation
following the service
Sunday Circle (January 3 and January 17 at 8:45 AM) are listed after the Sunday services.
In case of bad weather ... an e-mail message to the announcement listserv will be sent by 8 a.m. on Sunday if services are canceled, and a notice to that effect will be posted on this page.
January
3, Rev. Christine Brownlie: The
Happiness Puzzle. When we wish
someone a “Happy New Year,” what do we mean? What can we
do to grow true happiness that will last even when the confetti has
been swept away and the champagne is flat? I believe that the
concept of "Gross Domestic Happiness” may offer some
useful ideas.
Prelude: Giga from Sonata in Re minore (Loeillet de Gand), Goldie Terrell (flute) and Jared Gibbs (piano)
Offering: Valse-Minuet from L'Arlesienne Suite No. 1 (Georges Bizet),
Goldie Terrell (flute) and Jared Gibbs (piano)
January
10, Rev.
Christine Brownlie: The Heart of
Unitarian Universalism. What is the
“heart” of our way of the spirit? Are we simply the
religion that allows you to believe whatever you want? Or is there
something more compelling and sturdy about our faith that inspires us
to grow and comforts us when times are tough?
I’ll share my answers, which I
hope will lead you to develop your own ideas.
Prelude: My Soul Is A River (Ben Allway), the UUC Choir with pianist Jared Gibbs.
Guest
at Your Table donations will be
collected. We will be collecting your donations to support the work
of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) on Sunday,
January 10
during the offering. The UUSC uses our donations to promote
economic rights, advance environmental justice, defend civil
liberties, and preserve the rights of people in times of humanitarian
crises around the world. Please make your check out to UUSC . For
more information on the UUSC, please go to their Web site at
www.uusc.org/.
Everyone
is invited to stay for the Second
Sunday Potluck
following the service. If
your last name begins with Cou
through Fil,
please bring a beverage and
plan to arrive by 9:30 to set up for the potluck before the service,
and to assist with moving items from the kitchen to the tables as the
potluck occurs. Plates
and silverware should not be set out until all are ready to eat, so
as to proceed in an orderly way.Instructions are posted in the
kitchen for set-up and clean-up.People from the Membership Committee
will be on hand to direct and assist with set-up and serving. If
your last name begins with Flo
through Sca,
please bring a side dish. If your last name begins with Sch
through Z,
or A
through Cor,
please bring a main dish. A general announcement will be made asking
for people to help with cleanup.Don’t forget your list of the
ingredients in your dish to assist those with food allergies.
At the
Second Sunday potluck, a table will be reserved for people to stop by
and learn about Circle
Suppers--evening potlucks for 8-10
people (usually held in people's homes or at the UUC) that enable one
to get to know other congregants better. You might want to consider
participating in a Circle Supper, as a fun way to become more
involved in the Congregation.
Please
bring two items of food for the Blacksburg
Interfaith Food Pantry collection
bin. Food
makes our bodies warm by eating and our hearts warm by donating.
January
17, Rev. Christine Brownlie: The
Eschatology of Martin Luther King Jr.
Dr. King dreamed of a new world order
and gave his life to this dream. This vision went beyond integrated
schools and neighborhoods. Let’s revisit his dream and imagine
how we might help to realize this dream.
Affirmation (Unison Reading): Love is the doctrine of our faith, the quest for truth is its sacrament, and the call to justice is its prayer. This is our great covenant: to gather in peace and acceptance, to seek knowledge in the light of freedom and reason, to serve the needs of others in community, that we may grow in wisdom and in spirit, seeking always to live in harmony with the great web of life.
January
24, Rev. Christine Brownlie: The
Lessons of Failure. Most of us have
heard the saying, “If at first you don’t succeed, try,
try again.” But what if we try and try and try,
and we
still fail? What does failure teach us? You might be surprised by
the answer!
Prelude: Old Time Relidion Medley (arr. Mark Hayes), the UUC Choir with pianist Jared Gibbs.
January 31 service is cancelled because of snow.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets
on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:45 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation.
January
3: Linda Powers, UUC
member, will lead a discussion on why some people succeed far more
than others. Malcom Gladwell, in his book, Outliers,
argues that successful people are not “self made men,”
but have advantages in such things as family, birth place, or even
birth date.
January
17: Victoria Cochran works as a
mental health and criminal justice advocate and
has served as
Chair of the State Mental Health
Board. She will lead a discussion on The
Penal System: Deals vs. Trials.
Services: February 2010
10:00 AM in the
Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious
Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation
following the service
Sunday Circle (February 7 and February 21 at 8:45 AM) are listed after the Sunday services.
In case of bad weather ... an e-mail message to the announcement listserv will be sent by 8 a.m. on Sunday if services are canceled, and a notice to that effect will be posted on this page.
February 7,
Unitarians Universalists for Justice in the Middle East: Israel-Palestine and the Evolution of Our Unitarian
Universalist Consciousness. The Israel-Palestinian conflict is a
source of much reporting, but do we really understand it? Do we have
a moral duty to inform ourselves? Can UUs do anything constructive?
George Lally will present the sermon portion of the service
entitled My Journey to J Street.
February
14 (Intergenerational), Rev. Christine Brownlie: Standing
on the Side of Love — Love Makes a Family.
Today we will celebrate families of all sizes and configurations. We
encourage you to bring a picture of your family (photo, drawing, or
whatever you like) and for you to feel free to include
other-than-human members. (Yes, even your beloved plants can be
included.)
Prelude: You Are the New Day (John David, arr. Peter Knight), the UUC Choir with pianist Jared Gibbs.
Please join us
for our Second Sunday Potluck following the service.
If your last name begins with Fj through Ha, please
bring a beverage and plan to arrive by 9:30 to set up for the potluck
before the service and to assist with moving items from the kitchen
to the tables as the potluck occurs. Plates and silverware should
not be set out until all are ready to eat, so as to proceed in an
orderly way. Instructions are posted in the kitchen for set-up and
clean-up. People from the Membership Committee will be on hand to
direct and assist with set-up and serving. If your last name begins
with Hb through To, please bring a main dish. If your last
name begins with Tn through Z or A through Fi, please
bring a side dish or dessert. A general announcement will be made
asking for people to help with cleanup. Don’t forget your list
of the ingredients in your dish to assist those with food allergies.
Don’t forget to bring your non-perishable food donations
(canned meats, fruits, vegetables, macaroni and
cheese, rice, beans, cereal, peanut butter, jelly, coffee, sugar,
etc.) for the Blacksburg Food Pantry. The donation
basket is in the lobby just outside the Meeting Room doors.Last month we donated 11 bags of
food—just think if we can do this every month, that would be
132 bags in a year!
February
21, Ben Dixon Vice
President Emeritus for Multicultural Affairs at Virginia Tech:
Optimizing
Our Joshua Opportunities.
As we struggle with society’s problems and challenges today,
some of us long for the “good old days.” Others thank
God for yet another day and another opportunity for a new and better
way. All of us keep looking toward the horizon for the new Joshua to
lead us through these “final miles,” across the River
Jordan, to the land promised to Moses. Who is today’s Joshua?
Where will we be led? When/How will we get there?
February
28, Rev. Christine Brownlie: The Spiritual Discipline of
Letting Go. Buddhists tell us that attachment is the root cause
of human suffering. Some Christians say “Let go and let God.”
The Beatles sing “Let it be.” What does it mean to “let
go”? How might we release the memories, regrets, and emotions
that keep us stuck and cause us pain?
The
UUC Choir led the Congregation in a meditation hymn attributed to the Buddha.
The
Fourth
Sunday Collection
will benefit the NAACP
Scholarship Fund,
which
provides several scholarships each year to deserving area students.
Our Congregation donated to this cause last year, and our support was
sincerely appreciated. Checks should be made out to the NAACP
Scholarship Fund. If you would like to contribute but will not be at
the service, you can mail your checks to the UUC.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets
on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:45 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation.
February
7: UUC members, Darla Bray, Sally Mook, and
Linda Powers will hold a panel discussion on Vegetarianism.
They will discuss the reasons they became and remain vegetarians.
Together, they have more than 65 years of experience eating meatless.
February
21, UUC member, Morton Nadler: What Do UUs Understand
by “Justice”? Morton will review some or our history
and will then lead a discussion on the current process and issues.
Services: March 2010
10:00 AM in the
Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious
Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation
following the service
Sunday Circle (March 7 and March 21 at 8:45 AM) are listed after the Sunday services.
March
7, Rev. Christine
Brownlie and the Membership Committee: Introductions and
Invitations. Do you know someone who is a UU, but they just
don’t know it yet? Have you had the urge to explain your “way
of the spirit” to a friend, neighbor or co-worker, but you just
couldn’t find the words? How do you tell someone about the
congregation you love without coming across as pushy or
“evangelical”? Rev. Brownlie and the Membership
Committee will share some ideas.
We
will welcome new members into the Congregation during the service.
March
14, First day of Daylight Savings time,
Rev. Christine
Brownlie: Letting Go, Part 2: Dealing with Shame and the Inner Critic. After the February 28 sermon on Letting Go, Rev. Brownlie received
several comments from people who said that their baggage was of a different
type, but just as burdensome. They asked for a follow-up discussion
on letting go of shame, negative self-talk, and the “inner critic” that
undermines the ability to be creative. Rev. Brownlie offers some
thoughts on these topics, including some potential resources. [Note: Rev. Don Johnson, who was originally scheduled to be in our pulpit for this service, had to cancel for health reasons.]
Prelude: Cantabile fr. Op. 55, No. 2 (Kuhlau);
Jared Gibbs (piano) and Goldie Terrell (flute).
In support of the Stewardship Campaign: I Am the Very Model of a Modern Unitarian (a parody on Gilbert & Sullivan's I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major General: words for verses in part by Elisabeth McGregor);
the UUC Choir with soloists Chris Brownlie, Shanna Hollich and Bill Patterson, accompanied by Jared Gibbs (piano).
Offering: Andalouse (Emile Pessard); Jared Gibbs (piano) and Goldie Terrell (flute).
Please
join us for our Second Sunday Potluck following the
service. If your last name begins with Hb through Ke,
please bring a beverage and plan to arrive by 9:30 to set up for the
potluck before the service and to assist with moving items from the
kitchen to the tables as the potluck occurs. Plates and silverware
should not be set out until all are ready to eat so as to proceed in
an orderly way. Instructions are posted in the kitchen for set-up
and clean-up. People from the Membership Committee will be on hand
to direct and assist with set-up and serving. If your last name
begins with Kf through To, please bring a side dish or
dessert. If your last name begins with Tp through Z,
or A through Ha, please bring a main dish. A general
announcement will be made asking for people to help with cleanup.
Please provide a list of the ingredients in your dish to assist those
with food allergies.
Don’t
forget to bring your non-perishable food donations (canned
meats, fruits, vegetables, macaroni and cheese, rice, beans, cereal,
peanut butter, jelly, coffee, sugar, etc.) for the Blacksburg
Food Pantry. The donation basket is in the lobby just outside
the Meeting Room doors.
March
21, Rev. Christine
Brownlie: Turn On, Tune In to Your Gratitude Channel!
In tough and tight times, it can be a challenge to feel grateful.
How can we turn on and tune into our personal gratitude channel?
How can we grow and care for those things in our lives that bring us
the most joy and well-being? Rev. Brownlie will address these
issues.
The annual RE
Open House will be held on Sunday, March 21,
immediately following the service. This is a wonderful opportunity to
talk with your children's teachers and to see what projects the
children have worked on throughout the year.
March
28, UUSC
Justice Sunday: John Seager,
President and CEO of Population Connection:
Global Population: 6.8 Billion and Growing. Are We There Yet?
With the earth's population growing by one billion every dozen years,
there is a clear connection between human population growth and
virtually every global challenge from poverty to climate change and
from species extinction to the political instability of failed
nation-states. We know what needs to be done to achieve global
population stabilization, namely access to affordable voluntary
family planning together with the full empowerment of women. John
will present a brief overview of the causes of rapid population
growth, its impacts, and how to meet this challenge through voluntary
approaches.
The UUC choir will sing the stewardship campaign reminder after the children
leave:
O for Pledges Richly Paid (words, the Rev. Christopher Raible; music,
Thomas Hastings)
The
Fourth Sunday Collection will benefit the Greater
New River Valley Chapter of the Red Cross,
located in Radford. Our donation will be used to provide assistance
for local individuals in need, especially those who are victims of
fires and floods. Checks can be made out to the chapter name, as
listed above.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets
on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:45 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation.
March 7: UUC
member,Richard Eisler: Based on our biological sex, culture
outlines a program of acceptable masculine or feminine role
expectations for each gender. We are rewarded for behaving in accord
with these cultural “imperatives” and punished for
ignoring them. However, for many men it is often stressful, and in
fact dysfunctional, to “be a man.” We will discuss the
health implications of masculine gender roles for men and for society
in general. Richard will present his research and opinions about
masculine values.
March 21:
Educational Facilitators, Patricia Bevan and Starflower
O'Sullivan: We can choose to think and speak violently (when we
blame, judge ,and demand) or we can choose to think and speak with
compassion by open-heartedly hearing, receiving, and reflecting what
is beneath harsh language and actions. This mini-workshop will offer
a glimpse into a way to communicate with ourselves and others that is
compassionate, honest, and powerful and that can transform the
relationships in our lives.
Services: April 2010
10:00 AM in the
Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious
Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation
following the service
Sunday Circle (April 4 and April 18 at 8:45 AM) are listed after the Sunday services.
April
4, Easter
Sunday Intergenerational Service: Let
All Creation Sing! This
will be a service of music by members of our Congregation, including
cellists Hank Skutt & Kelby Benson and “wandering
minstrel,” Hans York.
The
UUC Choir will sing Gloria
by Lotti during the service.
April
11, Rev. Christine Brownlie and UUC
Worship Associate
David Warner
Why Do We Call It “Worship”?
Most UUs don’t identify themselves as theists, meaning they do
not believe in a divine being that demands our adoration and praise.
Given this theological stance, what does the word “worship”
mean for us? David and Chris will offer some thoughts on this
question.
Please
join us for our Second
Sunday Potluck
following the service. If
your last name begins with Kf
through Ma, please bring
a beverage and plan to arrive by 9:30 to set up for the potluck
before the service and to assist with moving items from the kitchen
to the tables as the potluck occurs. Plates and silverware should
not be set out until all are ready to eat, so as to proceed in an
orderly way. Instructions are posted in the kitchen for set-up and
clean-up. People from the Membership Committee will be on hand to
direct and assist with set-up and serving. If your last name begins
with Mb through Z
or A through Bq,
please bring a main dish. If your last name begins with Br
through Ke, please bring
a side dish or dessert. A general announcement will be made asking
for people to help with cleanup. Please provide a list of the
ingredients in your dish, to assist those with food allergies.
Don’t
forget to bring your non-perishable food donations (canned
meats, fruits, vegetables, macaroni and cheese, rice, beans, cereal,
peanut butter, jelly, coffee, sugar, etc.) for
the Blacksburg Food
Pantry. The donation
basket is in the lobby just outside the Meeting Room doors.
April
18, Neighboring Faiths
Our Religious Education
students and their teachers in the Grade 6–8 class have
spent the year exploring
different faith traditions, from their historical origins to their
presence in today’s multi-religious world. Through music and
their own words, they will share a glimmer of their discoveries.
April
25, Rev. Christine Brownlie and UUC
Worship Associate Jim Kern:
Earth Day: Another Day in
Paradise. Drawing from
the writings of Henry David Thoreau and Wendell Berry, we will
reflect on our relationship to the Earth and to the interconnected
web of which we are a part. We
will also recognize the youth who have completed our first Coming
of Age program.
Coming of Age Ceremony during the service.
The
Prelude: The
Earth Is Turning (Sheena Phillips), the UUC Choir with pianist Jared Gibbs.
The
Fourth
Sunday Collection
will benefit the New
River Valley Habitat for Humanity.
Checks
can be made out to the chapter name.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets
on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:45 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation.
April
4: Bud Brown,
VT Alumni Distinguished Professor: Chocolate
Key Cryptography — a delicious way to send secret messages. To
send someone a secret message, you need two things: (1) a message
scrambler, and (2) a setting (the key) for the scrambler. Keeping
the key in the right hands and out of the wrong hands is a major
problem for cryptographers, and public key cryptography is a solution
to this problem that is at work on every computer and in every
network in the world. This talk is about a way to describe a certain
public key cryptosystem that is easy to learn, fun, interactive, and
delicious.
April
18: UUC Member, Roger Lewis will present a taped talk on the threat of
International Organized Crime (IOC). It is very current with today's news,
e.g. nuclear theft, piracy, fake substitutes of products, slavery including
women, weapons sales, etc. One estimate says IOC accounts for 20% of the
globe's Domestic National Product. A discussion will take place following
the tape.
Services: May 2010
10:00 AM in the
Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious
Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation
following the service
Sunday Circle (May 2 and May 16 at 8:45 AM) are listed after the Sunday services.
May 2, Rev.
Christine Brownlie and
UUC Worship Associate Kathy Welch: From Your Home to the Meeting House: Nurturing the Circle of Connections At every stage of life, we human beings need warm and caring connections to others. In a time when families are often spread far and wide, how can we build strong connections between the generations? How can we help weave such connections within the UUC? We have some ideas!
May
9, Rev.
Christine Brownlie and
UUC Worship Associate Dick Luke: The Radical Beginnings of Mother’s Day. Before Hallmark, before
Whitman's, before FTD, Unitarian, Julia Ward Howe, abolitionist,
suffragette, and feminist put down the roots of what has become
Mother's Day firmly in our UU tradition of peace and reconciliation.
We will offer some ways to respond to the challenge of her Mother's
Day proclamation.
The
Prelude: Hold Me, Rock Me (Brian Tate), UUC Choir, accompanied by Jared Gibbs (piano).
Please
join us for our Second Sunday Potluck following the
service. If your last name begins with Mb
through Nl, please bring a beverage
and plan to arrive by 9:30 to set up for the potluck before the
service and to assist with moving items from the kitchen to the
tables as the potluck occurs. Plates and silverware should not be
set out until all are ready to eat so as to proceed in an orderly
way. Instructions are posted in the kitchen for set-up and clean-up.
People from the Membership Committee will be on hand to direct and
assist with set-up and serving. If your last name begins with Br
through Ma,
please bring a main dish. If your last name begins with Nm
through Z,
or A
through Bq,
please bring a side dish or dessert. A general announcement will be
made asking for people to help with cleanup.Don’t forget your
list of the ingredients in your dish to assist those with food
allergies.>
Don’t
forget to bring your non-perishable food donations (canned meats,
fruits, vegetables, macaroni and cheese, rice, beans, cereal, peanut
butter, jelly, coffee, sugar, etc.) for the >Blacksburg
Food Pantry.
The donation basket is in the lobby just outside the Meeting Room
doors.
May
16, YRUU
(Young Religious Unitarian Universalists):Please join the
members of our high school youth group as they lead their annual
Spring service and bridging ceremony.
May
23, Rev.
Christine Brownlie and UUC
Worship Associate Holly Lesko: We Walk Together on
Different Paths. As Unitarian Universalists, we are called to
engage in a free and responsible search for truth and to support one
another in our spiritual growth. Today we'll explore the challenges
and the rewards of this seemingly contradictory work.
During
the service, we will welcome new members into the
Congregation. If you would like to participate, or would like to
become a member but are unable to attend this service, please contact
>Rev. Chris Brownlie or Barbara
Taylor. All those who join the Congregation at this time will
be eligible to vote at our Annual Congregational Meeting on June 6
Prelude: Always Something Sings (text: Ralph Waldo Emerson, music: Linda Spevacek), UUC Choir, accompanied by Jared Gibbs (piano).
The
Fourth
Sunday Collection
will benefit the New
River Family Shelter.
This
organization is administered from its office in Christiansburg and
provides temporary shelter in a two-family or single-family home in
Blacksburg, a single-family house or apartment in Christiansburg, or
in an efficiency room on an as-needed and when-available basis. Case
management services and information and referral to local programs
are also provided to participating families. Please give as
generously as you can.>
May
30, Rev.
Christine Brownlie UUCWorship Associate David Warner:
We remember: Reflections on Memorial Day. As UUs, we are
committed to a free and responsible search for truth and meaning,
which often leads us to quite different conclusions and beliefs.
Reflections were shared with the Congregation by veterans Crosby Houston, David Warner, Dick Kates, and Dick Bauman.
Prelude: The Defence of Fort McHenry (tune: Smith, words: Key, arr.: Dressler, Covino, Gibbs), the UUC Choir with Jared Gibbs (pianist) and Amado Ohland (vocal soloist).
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets
on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:45 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation.
May
2:
UUC member, Carl Hansen: Gnosis (Greek for
knowledge). Many insist that a chasm separates humanity from its
creator. God is wholly other. Some Gnostics contradict this; self
knowledge is knowledge of God; the self and the divine are identical.
Carl will discuss how these teachings have influenced present —
as well as early day — religious thought.
May
16:
UUC member, Jim Kern: Water, water everywhere, and not
a drop to drink...??? Jim will discuss the impact of our culture
on our potable water supply.
Services: June 2010
10:00 AM in the
Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious
Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation
following the service
The Sunday Circle will not meet during the summer..
June
6, Rev. Christine Brownlie and Worship Associate
Jane Mahone: What Do I Owe? To Whom Do I Owe It? It
seems that every time we open the mailbox or answer the phone, we’re
asked to give money to a charitable cause. In these tough times, we
may struggle to decide how to meet these requests and care for our
own needs and desires. How can we respond in a way that is both
compassionate and affirming of our own needs? Scriptures and modern
writings provide some answers.
Prelude: Vivement (Telemann), Jared Gibbs (piano)and Goldie Terrell (descant recorder);
Offering: Mazurka (Alexandre Dufau),
Jared Gibbs (piano) and Goldie Terrell (flute).
Our Annual
Congregational Meeting will immediately follow the service. It is necessary that we have a quorum for the meeting. If
you are a member and cannot attend the meeting, PLEASE ask a member
who is attending the meeting to act as your proxy. (Only a member
can be a proxy, and a member can be a proxy for only one other
member.) Forms for designating a proxy are included in the mailing
announcing the meeting. You may inform your proxy as to how you would
like your vote to be cast, but the proxy is free to vote as s/he
wishes.
June
13, Rev. Christine Brownlie and UUC Worship
Associate Kathy Welch: A Garden of Gratitude. This is
an Intergenerational Service. Today we will celebrate
one of our cherished rituals, the Flower Ceremony, which recognizes
the beauty of each individual and the contributions of many people to
our Congregation. Please bring a flower for each member of your
family to contribute to our Congregational bouquet.
Prelude: You Shall Go Out With Joy (Hank Beebe),
the UUC Choir with Jared Gibbs (pianist).
The Annual Volunteer
Awards will be presented during the service.
There will be a special
collection for the 2010 Tennessee/Kentucky Flood Relief Fund.
Please
join us for our Second Sunday Potluck following the
service. If your last name begins with Nm
through Sc, please bring a
beverage and plan to arrive by 9:30 to set up for the potluck before
the service, and to assist with moving items from the kitchen to the
tables as the potluck occurs. Plates
and silverware should not be set out until all are ready to eat, so
as to proceed in an orderly way.Instructions are posted in the
kitchen for set-up and clean-up.People from the Membership Committee
will be on hand to direct and assist with set-up and serving. If
your last name begins with Sd through
Z, or A through Fi,
please bring a main dish. If your last name begins with
Fj through Nl, please bring a side
dish or dessert. A general announcement will be made asking for
people to help with cleanup.Don’t forget your list of the
ingredients in your dish to assist those with food allergies.
Don’t
forget to bring your non-perishable food donations (canned
meats, fruits, vegetables, macaroni and cheese, rice, beans, cereal,
peanut butter, jelly, coffee, sugar, etc.) for
the >Blacksburg
interfaith Food Pantry.
The donation basket is in the lobby just outside the Meeting Room
doors.
June
20, Russell Gregory, Professor Emeritus of Religion at
Radford University and self-proclaimed
ZenBuddhistDaoistJewishBaptistAgnosticStoryteller: The Greatest
Koan. Zen masters often use koans, which some describe as
riddles, as one of their tools to help monks moved toward
enlightenment. Russell will discuss the impact a book on highly
sensitive people had on him, and how books like this assist us in
solving the koan of our lives. Russell was assisted during the srvice by Worship Associate Jim Kern.
Prelude: Spiritoso from Fantasie #6 für Querflöte ohne Bass (Telemann),
Goldie Terrell (flute).
Offertory: Fantasie #3 für Querflöte ohne Bass (Telemann),
Goldie Terrell (flute).
.
June 27,
Rev. Catherine McCollough, Presbyterian Campus
Minister at Radford University: Small Things/Great Love.
Shane Claiborne, author and Christian activist, writes and talks
about the Kingdom of God this way: it “starts small and
then permeates and transforms the larger world.” My recent
trip to Haiti was interrupted, but not destroyed, by an earthquake.
I will share stories from that trip which taught me a great deal
about the small things that give life; the small loving acts of
community that illustrate the greatness and power of God's love, even
in the midst of terrible tragedy and loss. The convener today is Stephanie Gilmore.
The
Fourth
Sunday Collection
will benefit the Montgomery
County Emergency Assistance Program.
Located
in Christiansburg, this agency assists families and individuals in
immediate, temporary, and emergency situations. Working in
conjunction with other social service organizations, MCEAP
serves those who fail to qualify for public assistance or who have
exhausted their benefits. Services provided include financial
assistance and access to both food and clothing banks. Please give
as generously as you are able. Checks can be made out to MCEAP.
Summer Religious Education
Summer
religious education class will be one class for children 4 through 11
years old. Middle schoolers are welcome to come down to the
class to help the teachers with the children. The class will start
June 20
and will be held every Sunday (excluding August 29) until September
5. The teachers will talk about
“peace making” with the children in a little bit more
laid-back manor, with maybe a craft and a story and then outdoor
play. If you have any questions about summer religious education,
please contact Debbie Keighton
or Christina Thomas.
Services: July 2010
10:00 AM in the
Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious
Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation
following the service
The Sunday Circle will not meet during the summer..
July
4
Rev. Christine Brownlie, assisted by and Worship Associate Dick Luke:
Who’s Knocking on the Door? When Gov.
Jan Brewer of Arizona signed the nation’s toughest bill on
illegal immigration into law, she pushed our nation into another
debate on the difficult issue of immigration. Many of our fellow UUs
find this issue especially urgent, since we’re scheduled to
hold GA (General Assembly) in Phoenix in 2012.
July
11
Annual Poetry Slam: A
Congregation-led service centered around the spoken and written word
we identify as poetry. Please bring a poem or two of your own or by
your favorite poet(s) to share with the Congregation. If you prefer
to just listen, please do so. Due to our desire to accommodate all
who bring something to read, please keep your sharing to three
minutes at most. As you enter the building, there will be a sign-up
sheet for those wishing to participate actively. Please contact John
Imbur at 540–320–1985 if you have any questions.
Prelude: Bach Sonata I, Largo e dolce,
Goldie Terrell (flute)
Offering: River (Bill Staines), Goldie Terrell (voice and guitar)
Please
join us for our Second
Sunday Potluck
following the service. If
your last name begins with Sd
through To,
please bring a
beverage and plan to arrive by 9:30 to set up for the potluck before
the service and to assist with moving items from the kitchen to the
tables as the potluck occurs. Plates
and silverware should not be set out until all are ready to eat so as
to proceed in an orderly way.Instructions are posted in the kitchen
for set-up and clean-up.People from the Membership Committee will be
on hand to direct and assist with set-up and serving. If your last
name begins with Hb
through
Sc,
please bring a main dish. If your last name begins with Tp
through Z, or
A through Ha,
please bring a side dish or dessert. A general announcement will be
made asking for people to help with cleanup.Don’t forget your
list of the ingredients in your dish to assist those with food
allergies.
Don’t
forget to bring your non-perishable food donations (canned
meats, fruits, vegetables, macaroni and cheese, rice, beans, cereal,
peanut butter, jelly, coffee, sugar, etc.) for
the Blacksburg
Interfaith Food Pantry.
The donation basket is in the lobby just outside the Meeting Room
doors.
July
18
Reverends Scott & Anya Sammler-Michael
ministers of the Accotink
UU Church in Burke, VA and the Unitarian Universalists in Sterling,
VA, respectively and Worship Associate
Dick Luke: Re-Inventing the Sacred. Our modern
scientific paradigm — reductionism — breaks down once we
try to explain biology and human culture. This has left us flailing
in a sea of meaninglessness. By embracing the “ceaseless
creativity” of nature itself, which in Kauffman's view is the
real meaning of God, we reclaim paths to understanding, composing a
God without any supernatural tricks. This service is inspired by the
2008 book from famed biologist, Dr. Stuart Kauffman, who seeks to
formulate a new scientific worldview and, in the process, reclaim the
concept of God from the orthodox.
July
25
Janice Marie Johnson
Director for Racial and Ethnic Concerns for the Unitarian
Universalist Association: Embracing
Multiculturalism. What is
multiculturalism? As Unitarian Universalists, what are we called upon
to do with multiculturalism? What does it mean to embrace
multiculturalism in the 21st
century? During today’s worship, I will explore questions such
as these, as we look at our power to be transformed and to change
hearts and minds within a multicultural landscape. The Rev. Christine Brownlie will be the convener for this service.
Prelude: The inaugural instant choir sang Woyaya by Solomon Amarfio, a drummer in the
Carribean-Ghanaian band Osibisa. “Woyaya” is an affirmation.
The choir was accompanied by Jared Gibbs, piano.
The
Fourth
Sunday Collection
will benefit the Free
Clinic of the New River Valley.
Through
this program, individuals who are uninsured and meet certain income
guidelines can receive medical care, dental services and prescription
medications for a very nominal fee. Patients in Montgomery, Floyd
and Giles counties, as well as those in the city of Radford, are
eligible.
Services: August 2010
10:00 AM in the
Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious
Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation
following the service
The Sunday Circle will not meet during the summer..
August 1, Carter Turner, former UUC member and Assistant
Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at
Radford University, and Worship Associate, Kathy Welch:
Religious Interpretations of Pain and Suffering. Chronic pain
is unfortunately something most of us will experience during our
lives. How do some religions explain pain, and how is religion used
to mitigate suffering?
August 8, Rev. Karen Day and Worship Associate, Jane
Mahone: Radical Nourishment: Food for the Soul. How
do our choices of food and companions feed or starve our whole
selves? We'll explore ethical eating through real experiences
of neighbors growing and sharing food. Rev.
Day is a UU minister living in Floyd and has been a guest speaker at
the UUC many times.
Please
join us for our Second Sunday Potluck following the
service. If your last name begins with Tp through Z, please
bring a beverage and plan to arrive by 9:30 to set up for the potluck
before the service and to assist with moving items from the kitchen
to the tables as the potluck occurs. Plates and silverware should
not be set out until all are ready to eat, so as to proceed in an
orderly way.Instructions are posted in the kitchen for set-up and
clean-up.People from the Membership Committee will be on hand to
direct and assist with set-up and serving. If your last name begins
with A through Ke, please bring a main dish. If your
last name begins with Kf through To, please bring a side dish
or dessert. A general announcement will be made asking for people to
help with cleanup.Don’t forget your list of the ingredients in
your dish to assist those with food allergies.
Don’t
forget to bring your non-perishable food donations (canned
meats, fruits, vegetables, macaroni and cheese, rice, beans, cereal,
peanut butter, jelly, coffee, sugar, etc.) for the Blacksburg
Food Pantry. The donation basket is in the lobby just outside
the Meeting Room doors.
During
the potluck, we will celebrate Kristine Reid’s service
to the UUC as our DRE for the past 11 years.
August 15, Rev. Christine Brownlie: Why I Am a Unitarian Universalist. I’ve
been a UU for 40-odd years. This way of the spirit has not always
provided an easy path, but I am glad that I found and followed it. I
hope this sermon will encourage you to think about your journey.
Prelude: Andante grazioso from Sonata in D major (Johann Christian Bach),
Goldie Terrell (bass flute).
Offering: Sarabande from Partita in A minor (JS Bach).
August 22, Rev. Christine Brownlie, When Something Bad Just
Won’t Go Away. This has been the summer of the great oil
spill that just won’t go away, along with the countless
terrorist bombings, the shaky economy and assorted other woes. Some
of us feel despair, some of us shrug our shoulders and turn off the
news because we feel there’s nothing we can do. I will share
my thoughts of other, more constructive strategies.
The
Fourth
Sunday Collection: Our
collection (all cash and designated checks)
will benefit the Valley
Interfaith Child Care Center. This
center, located in Blacksburg, offers high-quality, affordable, fully
state-licensed care for the children of low-income working families
in the New River Valley.
August 29,
Rev.
Christine Brownlie,
Ingathering.
An Intergenerational Service. The
Water
Ceremony
is a UU tradition, in which we bring water from our travels or our
kitchen tap that symbolizes our summer travels, whether they took us
to someplace on the planet or some spiritual destination. We will
mingle these waters in a bowl, share our adventures, and rejoice at
the gathering of our beloved community.
Prelude: Melody Flow (Jerry Estes, with add. words by Amado Ohland), UUC Choir, accompanied by Jared Gibbs (piano).
Services: September 2010
10:00 AM in the
Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious
Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation
following the service
Sunday Circle (September 5 and September 19 at 8:45 AM) are listed after the Sunday services.
September 5, Rev. Christine Brownlie and Worship Associate Kathy
Welch: Celebrate Labor Day by Committing to Build More Humane
Workplaces. We try to build our values into our family lives, but
we sometimes fail to actively consider how to do that at work.
Sometimes we serendipitously stumble into an event or circumstances
when we must make a moral decision. Let's look at ways that we can
live our values in our workplace — even in tough circumstances.
September 12, Rev. Christine Brownlie: Islamaphobia. As
we mark the ninth anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade
Center, the Pentagon, and the deliberate crashing of United Airlines
Flight 93, our country is seeing an increase in public displays
against Islam. Today we’ll learn how the interfaith
initiative, “Standing on the Side of Love” is finding
ways to address this issue, and how we might join this effort.
Prelude: Love Is Little, a traditional Shaker hymn, sung by the UUC Choir.
Please join us for our Second Sunday Potluck following the
service. To ensure enough food for all, whenever you are bringing a
dish for the potluck, please remember that in a sense, we are all
each other's hosts, and therefore it is our joint responsibility to
see that enough food is present to feed all, including those who are
new or who have forgotten to bring a dish. While we are grateful for
all contributions, we would encourage you to bring sufficient food
for yourself, your family or guests, and two additional adults. We
do ask parents to monitor the amount of food that their children take
so that there is as little waste as possible. If your last name
begins with A through Bq, please bring a beverage and plan to
arrive by 9:30 to set up for the potluck before the service and to
assist with moving items from the kitchen to the tables as the
potluck occurs. Plates and silverware should not be set out until
all are ready to eat, so as to proceed in an orderly way.Instructions
are posted in the kitchen for set-up and clean-up.People from the
Membership Committee will be on hand to direct and assist with set-up
and serving. If your last name begins with Kf through Z,
please bring a main dish. If your last name begins with Br
through Ke, please bring a side dish or dessert. A general
announcement will be made asking for people to help with
cleanup.Don’t forget your list of the ingredients in your dish
to assist those with food allergies.
Don’t forget to bring your non-perishable food donations (canned meats,
fruits, vegetables, macaroni and cheese, rice, beans, cereal, peanut
butter, jelly, coffee, sugar, etc.) for the Blacksburg Interfaith
Food Pantry. The donation basket is in the lobby just outside
the Meeting Room doors.
During the service and potluck, we will have the opportunity to Meet
the Board
September 19, Rev. Christine Brownlie and Worship Associate Jim
Kern: It’s Not Easy Being Green! In the past
few years, our Congregation has taken several actions to become more
“green.” Can we do better? I’ll bet that we can!
Perhaps in ways that we have yet to imagine.
September 26, Rev. Kelly M. Sisson and Worship Associate Amado
Ohland: Twelve Steps to Recovery. Rev. Sisson is the
Minister for Spiritual Direction and Studio Arts at the Roanoke
Rescue Mission. After more than 25 years of local church ministry,
she traded in congregational life for prostitutes and addicts. “So
far, it is a good deal!” Coordinating the Recovery Arts
Program for the RRM, she will discuss lessons all faith
communities could learn from Twelve-Step Communities.
Prelude: Jubilate Alleluia (Mary Lynn Lightfoot), sung by the UUC Choir (Jared Gibbs, piano).
The Fourth Sunday Collection will
be donated to the local, ecumenical Stop
Hunger Now event at Virginia Tech, sponsored by the Blacksburg United Methodist
Church. Stop
Hunger Now is
an international hunger relief organization that coordinates the
distribution of food and other life-saving aid around the world. This
combined university/community project will take place in the
Commonwealth Ballroom in Squires Student Center at VT on Saturday,
October 2. Volunteers will participate in a meal packaging program for the
benefit of Haiti Crisis Relief,
serving at either 11 AM or 2 PM for two-hour shifts. A total of
285,000 meal kits, each of which feeds 8 people (over a million meals
altogether), will be packed and sent to Haiti. Interested people
should sign up in advance at the VT-Engage
website in early September. Although the cost of the food for
this event ($78,000) has already been raised by the Blacksburg United
Methodist Church and the Blacksburg Presbyterian Church, funds
collected from other local churches such as ours will be given to
provide additional Haiti refugee relief in conjunction with the meal
packages. Watch for further information at the UUC about this event
and how to participate. We hope you'll be able to support this
special event by giving your gifts of time, money, or both.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the first and third Sundays of the month
beginning at 8:45 AM. All are welcome to join us for stimulating
conversation. The group meets in Room A.
September 5: Carl T. Hansen, UUC member, will present a discussion
based on the book entitled A Fierce Discontent — The Rise
and Fall of the Progressive Movement in America 1870–1920.
In addition, some time will be used to finalize the schedule for the
fall.
September 19: James Copeheaver, UUC member, will discuss The Ten
Commandments: Past, Present and Future. Do they have any
relevance to the modern world? And, particularly, for UUs?
Services: October 2010
10:00 AM in the
Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious
Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation
following the service
Sunday Circle (Octobber 3 and October 17 at 8:45 AM) are listed after the Sunday services.
October 3,
Rev. Christine Brownlie and
Worship Associate Jane
Mahone: Catching Our Balance. These
days it seems that many of us have the sense that our lives are out
of balance. We face so many demands and needs that pull us away
from what we truly want for our lives. This tug of war can lead
to exhaustion and frustration. This morning we'll look at some
simple changes in our attitudes and actions that can help us bring
balance and a sense of connection to what we love most in our
days.>/p?
There will be an introduction of the RE teachers during the service.
October 10,
Rev. Christine Brownlie and
Worship Associate
Jim Kern: Holding
on to Faith Despite the Evidence.
Each of us believes in things that our life experience doesn’t
support. How do we sort out the ideals, values and hope that we will
continue to hold on to, no matter what comes our way? Maybe our own
Congregation is the best testing ground we have to prove that our
faith is not misplaced.
Prelude: I Dream a World (music by Joan Szymko, text by Langston Hughes), the UUC Choir, accompanied by Jared Gibbs (piano).
Please
join us for our Second
Sunday Potluck
following the service. If
your last name begins with Br
through Co, please
bring a beverage and plan to arrive by 9:30 to set up for the potluck
before the service and to assist with moving items from the kitchen
to the tables as the potluck occurs. Plates and silverware should
not be set out until all are ready to eat, so as to proceed in an
orderly way.Instructions are posted in the kitchen for set-up and
clean-up.People from the Membership Committee will be on hand to
direct and assist with set-up and serving. If your last name begins
with Cp
through
Nl,
please bring a main dish. If your last name begins with Nm
through Z or
A through Bq,
please bring a side dish or dessert. A general announcement will be
made asking for people to help with cleanup.Don’t forget your
list of the ingredients in your dish to assist those with food
allergies.
Don’t forget to bring your non-perishable food donations (canned meats,
fruits, vegetables, macaroni and cheese, rice, beans, cereal, peanut
butter, jelly, coffee, sugar, etc.) for the Blacksburg Interfaith
Food Pantry. The donation basket is in the lobby just outside
the Meeting Room doors.
October 17,
Rev. Christine Brownlie and
Worship Associate
Dick Luke: Celebrating the Great Mother! Today marks the end of the great Hindu Festival
Narvratri, which honors the goddess Durga.
We’ll tell her story and learn more about this powerful female who used her eight
arms and her two bare feet to save the world from the evil Mahisha — when none of the
other gods could.
October 24,
Rev. Christine Brownlie and
Worship Associate
Kathy Welch: Autumn
Leaves:
The Beauty That Comes with Age.
We live in a society that worships youth and dreads the process of
aging. Let’s celebrate the beauty of growing older as we enjoy
the colors and unique flavors of the season.
Prelude: A Psalm of Life (based on the Longfellow poem,
words and music by Lynn Shaw Bailey), the UUC Choir, accompanied by Jared Gibbs (piano).
The
Fourth
Sunday Collection
will benefit the Women’s
Resource Center of the New River Valley.
This
organization provides women and families of the New River Valley with
assistance in escaping domestic violence. Other services include
supporting those who are victims of sexual assault, as well as
providing a 24-hour Crisis Hotline, and Victim/Witness and education
programs. Our Congregation has supported this facility very
generously in the past, and we hope that we can continue to do so.
Checks should be made out directly to the Center.
October 31, Rev. Christine Brownlie and Worship Associate Amado Ohland: A Unitarian Universalist's understanding of death. Rev. Brownlie will share some thoughts on how UU’s approach the great mystery of death. In addition, today we will acknowledge and honor those dear ones in our lives who have died in the past year or so. You are invited to bring a photo or other memento of your cherished person or pet to place on the “candle table.”
Prelude: A Blessing (David N. Childs), the UUC Choir, accompanied by Jared Gibbs (piano) and Mary Walters (flute).
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the first and third Sundays of the month
beginning at 8:45 AM. All are welcome to join us for stimulating
conversation. The group meets in Room A.
October 3:
UUC members Linda
Powers, Darla
Bray, Sally
Mook, and Deb
Salbador, will discuss
why they became and remain vegetarians. Together they have over
90 years of experience eating meatless.
October 17: UUC member Rob
Fentress:
“A Critical Examination of Islam.” What unique challenges, if any, does Islam
present for religious liberals? Many Unitarians have legitimate questions and
concerns about this faith, from the status of women, to the relationship between
religion and the state and the rights of non-believers. Beginning with a brief
overview of the history and beliefs of Islam, Rob will facilitate a frank and open
discussion of these and other concerns and how they can most productively be
addressed.
Services: November 2010
10:00 AM in the
Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious
Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation
following the service
Sunday Circle (Novembber 7 and November 21 at 8:45 AM) are listed after the Sunday services.
November
7, Rev. Christine Brownlie and Worship Associate Jim
Kern: They Won’t Just Fade Away! Thoughts on Veterans
Day. As our country engages in two wars, we seem to
give little thought to the needs and the problems facing those who
return home. While we may not support these wars, we can and must
support our servicemen and women who sacrificed their well-being and
their very lives. [Note that this is the first Sunday of Standard
Time. Don't be an hour early!]
November
14, Youth Service.We’ll hear from the
members of our high school youth group, Young Religious Unitarian
Universalists (YRUU) as they offer a service of music, lively
thoughts, and the energy to inspire us.
Please join us for our
Second Sunday Potluck following the service. f your
last name begins with Cp through Fi, please bring a beverage and plan to arrive by 9:30 to set
up for the potluck before the service and to assist with moving items
from the kitchen to the tables as the potluck occurs. Plates and
silverware should not be set out until all are ready to eat, so as to
proceed in an orderly way.Instructions are posted in the kitchen for
set-up and clean-up.People from the Membership Committee will be on
hand to direct and assist with set-up and serving. If your last name
begins with Nm through Z or A through Co, please
bring a main dish. If your last name begins with Fi
through Nl, please bring a side dish or dessert. A
general announcement will be made asking for people to help with
cleanup.Don’t forget your list of the ingredients in your dish
to assist those with food allergies.
Don’t
forget to bring your non-perishable food donations (canned
meats, fruits, vegetables, macaroni and cheese, rice, beans, cereal,
peanut butter, jelly, coffee, sugar, etc.) for
the Blacksburg
Interfaith Food Pantry.
The donation basket is in the lobby just outside the Meeting Room
doors.
November
21, Rev. Christine Brownlie and Worship Associate, Dick
Luke: Celebrating Abundance: Thanksgiving Bread Communion.
This is an Intergenerational Service (Those children who
are taking part in the OWL program will attend their classes as
planned. All others will attend the Sunday Service with their
parents/guardians.). We’ll explore the idea of abundance, and
we'll celebrate the bountiful Earth with a bread communion. You are
invited to bring a bread — homemade or store-bought — to
share.
Prelude: Give Thanks (arr. Betsy Jo Angebranndt), sung by the UUC Choir.
November 28, Rev. Christine Brownlie: “Two Roads Diverged in a Yellow Wood.” Life hands us unexpected opportunities and surprises. We can receive them with an open heart, or we can receive them with anxiety and fear. Some thoughts on change and looking at our future as a Congregation. Stephanie Gilmore, president of the Congregation, will participate in the service.
The
Fourth-Sunday
Collection
will benefit the Literacy
Volunteers of the New River Valley.
Located
in Christiansburg, this organization provides training for volunteers
who tutor those in need of English language instruction, as well as
remedial reading support for other community members. We currently
have several people in our Congregation who volunteer for this
agency. Checks should be written directly to LVNRV.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the first and third Sundays of the month
beginning at 8:45 AM. All are welcome to join us for stimulating
conversation. The group meets in Room A.
November 7: Mermaids: Ambassadors from Sea to Sea. UUC friend, Caryn Self-Sullivan, will talk about her passion for the conservation of manatees and dugongs and their coastal habitats around the world. Visit (virtually) her research sites in Belize and Ghana and learn how Sirenian International is empowering local people to solve conservation problems in their developing countries.
November 21: UUC member, Darrel Clowes, will lead a discussion on Korea: Then and Now. Darrel was a Peace Corps worker in South Korea about 40 years ago when it was a third-world country. He was the supervisor of Peace Corps volunteers, and lhe ived in the countryside with his wife and children. The South Korean government recently invited him back (expenses paid) to see what is now a modern, technologically advanced society with its own Peace Corps. How does a country make this leap? What does it mean for the people?
Services: December 2010
10:00 AM in the
Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious
Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation
following the service
Sunday Circle (Decembber 5 and December 19 at 8:45 AM) are listed after the Sunday services.
In case of bad weather… an e-mail message to the announcement listserv will be sent by 8:30 a.m. on Sunday if services are cancelled, and a notice to that effect will be posted on this page. A cancellation notification will be sent to the TV station WSLS and posted on the UUC facebook page. Also, one can follow the UUC on Twitter.
December 5: Because of ice in the parking lot, the service has been canceled.
December 12, Rev. Christine Brownlie: The Ties that Bind. This Sunday we will welcome new members into our Congregation and hear from Karen Gray, George Lally and Victoria Taylor as they share their experiences that led to their becomng a part of our diverse and eclectic Congregation.
During the service this Sunday, we will be decorating our tree with your
donations of new mittens, gloves, scarves and hats. All items will be
donated to Community Action and other local agencies for distribution to
those in need — before the holidays.
Prelude:
The UUC Choir will sing Look-A That Star (Jay Althouse), with soloists Chris Brownlie, Amado Ohland, and Shanna Hollich.
Please
join us for our Second Sunday Potluck following the
service. If your last name begins with Fj through Ha, please
bring a beverage and plan to arrive by 9:30 to set up for the potluck
before the service and to assist with moving items from the kitchen
to the tables as the potluck occurs. Plates and silverware should
not be set out until all are ready to eat, so as to proceed in an
orderly way. Instructions are posted in the kitchen for set-up and
clean-up. People from the Membership Committee will be on hand to
direct and assist with set-up and serving. If your last name
begins with Hb through To, please bring a main dish. If your
last name begins with Tp through Z or A through Fi,
please bring a side dish or dessert. A general announcement will be
made asking for people to help with cleanup. Don’t forget your
list of the ingredients in your dish to assist those with food
allergies.
Don’t
forget to bring your non-perishable food donations (canned meats,
fruits, vegetables, macaroni and cheese, rice, beans, cereal, peanut
butter, jelly, coffee, sugar, etc.) for the Interfaith Food Pantry. The donation basket is in the lobby just outside the Meeting Room
doors.
December 19,the Blacksburg UU WomenSpirit Gathering will lead the Sunday service in a Winter Solstice Celebration of the longest night of the year, the return of the sun, and longer days. At this time of deep contemplation and review of the past year, we also look with renewed energy and joy toward the coming spring. Our wish for the new year is that it will bring peace to our hearts, our community, and to the larger world. An Intergenerational Service for the whole family. There will be no RE classes, but nursery care will be available.
December 26: Because of ice in the parking lot, the service has been canceled.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the first and third Sundays of the month
beginning at 8:45 AM. All are welcome to join us for stimulating
conversation. The group meets in Room A.
December 5: Because of ice in the parking lot, today's Sunday Circle has been canceled.
December 19: Liberty and Justice for All, an unusual take on libertarianism, is the title of a paper we will discuss following a 20 to 40 minute presentation by the author, Nick Tideman, Professor of Economics at Virginia Tech. Beginning with ideas about what is justice, we will consider what resources people may feel entitled to appropriate for themselves.
Services: January 2011
10:00 AM in the
Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious
Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation
following the service
Sunday Circle (January 2 and January 16 at 8:45 AM) are listed after the Sunday services.
In case of bad weather… an e-mail message to the announcement listserv will be sent by 8:30 a.m. on Sunday if services are cancelled, and a notice to that effect will be posted on this page. A cancellation notification will be sent to the TV station WSLS and posted on the UUC facebook page. Also, one can follow the UUC on Twitter.
January 2, Rev. Christine Brownlie and Worship Associate Jim Kern: Looking Back, Looking Forward. For many of us, the UUC came into existence when we walked through the door for the first time. Today we will review some highlights of our Congregation’s history as we prepare for the future.
January 9, Rev. Christine Brownlie and Worship Associate Amado Ohland: Drawing a Line: The Atheist-Theist Split. Many UU congregations struggle with the distinctively different views/theologies between Humanist Atheists and more traditional Theists. How can we welcome and honor both points of view?
Prelude: For the Beauty of the Earth (Nancy Grundahl), the UUC choir accompanied by Jared Gibbs on electronic keyboard.
Please join us for our Second Sunday Potluck following the service. If your last name begins with Hb through Ke, please bring a beverage and plan to arrive by 9:30 to set up for the potluck before the service and to assist with moving items from the kitchen to the tables as the potluck occurs. Plates and silverware should not be set out until all are ready to eat, so as to proceed in an orderly way.Instructions are posted in the kitchen for set-up and clean-up.People from the Membership Committee will be on hand to direct and assist with set-up and serving. If your last name begins with Tp through Z or A through Ha, please bring a main dish. If your last name begins with Kf through To, please bring a side dish or dessert. A general announcement will be made asking for people to help with cleanup.Don’t forget your list of the ingredients in your dish to assist those with food allergies.
Don’t forget to bring your non-perishable food donations (canned meats, fruits, vegetables, macaroni and cheese, rice, beans, cereal, peanut butter, jelly, coffee, sugar, etc.) for the Interfaith Food Pantry.
The donation basket is in the lobby just outside the Meeting Room
doors.
January 16, Rev. Christine Brownlie and Worship Associate Jane Mahone: What Would MLK Say Today? If this American Prophet were alive today, what would he say to us about the problems of our time?
Parents of infants and young children are invited to participate in a ceremony of child dedication, which will be held during the service this Sunday. In this ceremony, we dedicate the child to a life of love and service, pledge to support the parents, and welcome the child into the Congregation. If you are interested in participating in this ceremony, please contact Rev. Christine Brownlie by January 9
All are invited to a reception for the latest exhibit put on by the Committee on the Visual Arts (COVA) by
papermaker and watermedia artist, Jennifer Spoon,
after the coffee hour today.
.
January 23, Dr. Wornie Reed, Director of the Center for Race and Social Policy at Virginia Tech: Race and Criminal Justice in the 21st Century. Dr. Reed will provide a brief overview of some of the disparate treatment of African Americans by the criminal justice system and will follow this with a discussion of the negative impact this “criminal injustice” is having on African-American communities, in particular, and all communities in general. Dick Luke will be the Worship Associate for this service.
Prelude: Of Love and Understanding (Betsy Jo Angebranndt), the UUC choir accompanied by Jared Gibbs, piano.
The Board has approved the gift of Martha Olson’s painting “In front of the Cascades”
contingent on a favorable vote by the Congregation at today‘s service. Several of her art works were exhibited in the UUC Meeting House during November and December. If
approved,the painting will be hung in the Meeting Hall on the wall to the right as one enters through the double doors. [Note added on January 30: The vote was overwhelmingly in favor of accepting and displaying the art work.]
There will be no Fourth Sunday Collection in January. Instead please support our annual Guest at Your Table (GAYT) campaign.
January 30, Rev. Christine Brownlie and Worship Associate Kathy Welch along with other members of the Congregation. Leadership Sunday: Who Gets to Wear the “Leadership Hat” in Our Congregation? Today we celebrate our leaders and demystify the path to leadership in our beloved community.
Prelude: The Fire of Commitment (Shelton and Morn), the UUC choir accompanied by Jared Gibbs, piano.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the first and third Sundays of the month
beginning at 8:45 AM. All are welcome to join us for stimulating
conversation. The group meets in Room A.
January 2: Most of us believe that the best way to motivate ourselves and others is with external rewards like money — the carrot-and-stick approach. In Drive, author Daniel Pink makes a strong, science-based case for rethinking motivation. He believes the secret to high performance and satisfaction is the deeply human need to direct our own lives, to learn and create new things, and to do better by ourselves and our world. UUC member, Joe Powers, will moderate a discussion of Pink’s ideas.
January 16: UUC member, Jim Copenheaver, will present a description of and history of the steady-state economic model. Its implementation and possible deployment will be discussed.
Services: February 2011
10:00 AM in the
Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious
Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation
following the service
Sunday Circle (February 6 and February 20 at 8:45 AM) are listed after the Sunday services.
In case of bad weather… an e-mail message to the announcement listserv will be sent by 8:30 a.m. on Sunday if services are cancelled, and a notice to that effect will be posted on this page. A cancellation notification will be sent to the TV station WSLS and posted on the UUC facebook page. Also, one can follow the UUC on Twitter.
February 6, Rev. Christine Brownlie and Worship Associate Jim Kern: What Makes Life Good? You’ve seen the t-shirt declaring that life is good. But given all the suffering we see in the world, is it really? Or
are we just deluding ourselves?
February 13, Rev. Christine Brownlie: Standing on the Side of Love by Creating Peace. This is an intergenerational service (no Religious Education classes) that will explore ways that we can create peace in our community, our homes, and ourselves — and even the world.
Prelude: Love is a Light (words by Ken Bible, music by Tom Fettke), the UUC choir accompanied by Jared Gibbs, piano.
Please join us for our Second Sunday Potluck following the service. If your last name begins with KH through Ma, please bring a beverage and plan to arrive by 9:30 to set up for the potluck before the service and to assist with moving items from the kitchen to the tables as the potluck occurs. Plates and silverware should not be set out until all are ready to eat, so as to proceed in an orderly way.Instructions are posted in the kitchen for set-up and clean-up. People from the Membership Committee will be on hand to direct and assist with set-up and serving. If your last name begins with Mc through Z or A through Bo, please bring a main dish. If your last name begins with Br through Ke, please bring a side dish or dessert. A general announcement will be made asking for people to help with cleanup.Don’t forget your list of the ingredients in your dish to assist those with food allergies.
Don’t forget to bring your non-perishable food donations (canned meats, fruits, vegetables, macaroni and cheese, rice, beans, cereal, peanut butter, jelly, coffee, sugar, etc.) for the Interfaith Food Pantry.
The donation basket is in the lobby just outside the Meeting Room
doors.
February 20, Rev. Christine Brownlie and Worship Associate Jane Mahone: Forgiving the Unjust. When we’ve been wronged, we’re told that forgiveness is an important step toward healing. This might work if the wrong were unintended or fairly minor, but how can we forgive random violence or horrific acts like terrorism?
We will be welcoming new members into the Congregation during the service. If you would like to become a member but are unable to attend this service, or if you would like more information about membership, please contact Rev. Christine Brownlie or Barbara Taylor, Membership chair.
Prelude: Dona Nobis Pacem (Mozart), the UUC choir accompanied by Jared Gibbs, piano.
February 27, Rev. Christine Brownlie and Members of the Congregation: The Joy of Connection: Small-Group Ministry. Many of us come into a congregation looking for people who share our values and interests. While our coffee hour might give us a chance to meet people, it’s hard to make a deeper connection. Small groups are one way to deepen relationships. Is a small group in your future?
The Fourth-Sunday Collection will benefit the New River Family Shelter (originally our Fourth-Sunday recipient in December, but services were cancelled that day). This organization is administered from its office in Christiansburg and provides temporary shelter in various apartments and houses in Christiansburg and Blacksburg. Case management services and information and referral to local programs are also provided to participating families. Please make checks out directly to the shelter. All cash in the offering basked will be given to the Shelter.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the first and third Sundays of the month
beginning at 8:45 AM. All are welcome to join us for stimulating
conversation. The group meets in Room A.
February 6: At
the dawn of the 21st century, America finds herself
facingP
unprecedented economic problems, failing education, a
gridlocked political system, and increasingly unsustainable debt.
In her book, The Age of American Unreason, Susan Jacoby
implicates the public's ignorance of the underlying issues and
inability to think critically. In addition, the majority has
a disdain for scientific reasoning, logic, or the need for
evidence. UUC member Richard Eisler will examine the
historical basis for an unthinking credulous American public and
its implications for our future.
February 20:
America's Corporate Media. Despite the oft-heard assertions
that U.S. media are “liberal,” our media more often
promote a corporate agenda, often at the expense of ordinary
Americans. UUC member Kathy Welch will examine some of
the evidence and discuss what we can do to promote skeptical
consumption of “news” and increased media literacy.
Services: March 2011
10:00 AM in the
Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious
Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation
following the service
Sunday Circle (March 6 and March 20 at 8:45 AM) are listed after the Sunday services.
March 6, Rev. Christine Brownlie and Worship Associate Amado Ohland: The Way of the Old Boy: Taoism.
The origins of Taoism are obscure, and its teachings may puzzle the
modern Western mind. Join us as we explore this ancient way of the
spirit.
March 13, Rev. Christine Brownlie and Worship Associate Jim Kern: Can Art Save Us?
The arts have been important to human life since the cave dwellers,
yet the arts are often seen as a frill when it comes to public support.
Let's consider what the arts offer, and if we truly need music, dance,
and visual art to be fully human.
NOTE!! This is the first day of Daylight Savings time.
We will hold a Child Dedication during the service.
Prelude: The River Sleeps Beneath the Sky (Mary Lynn Lightfoot), the UUC choir accompanied by Jared Gibbs, piano.
Please join us for our Second Sunday Potluck
following the service. If your last name begins with Me through Ni,
please bring a beverage and plan to arrive by 9:30 to set up for the
potluck before the service and to assist with moving items from the
kitchen to the tables as the potluck occurs. Plates and silverware
should not be set out until all are ready to eat, so as to proceed in
an orderly way.Instructions are posted in the kitchen for set-up and
clean-up. People from the Membership Committee will be on hand to
direct and assist with set-up and serving. If your last name begins
with Br through Ma, please bring a main dish. If your last name begins
with No through Z or A through Bo, please bring a side dish or dessert.
A general announcement will be made asking for people to help with
cleanup. Don’t forget your list of the ingredients in your dish to
assist those with food allergies.
Don’t forget to bring your non-perishable food donations (canned meats,
fruits, vegetables, macaroni and cheese, rice, beans, cereal, peanut
butter, jelly, coffee, sugar, etc.) for the Interfaith Food Pantry. The donation basket is in the lobby just outside the Meeting Room
doors.
The Congregational Conversation will follow the potluck.
March 20, Rev. Christine Brownlie and Worship Associate Kathy Welch: A Faith Without A Creed.
We call our way of the spirit “religious” and talk about our “faith” or
“way of the spirit.” This morning we will take a hard look at these
words and see if they really do work for us.
March 27, Rev. Karen Day and Worship Associate Jane Mahone: Upside Down. Ever
feel tossed around by life? We'll look at ancient teachers Rumi
and Jesus along with Unitarian Universalist models for guidance
on how to roll with the spirit! Karen is a UU community minister
in nearby Floyd working with Plenty!, a grassroots group of
neighbors growing and sharing food. She loves tumbling up to the
big city to turn over ideas with our Congregation.
Prelude: Ose Shalom (The One Who Makes Peace)
(trad. Hebrew text, music by John Leavitt), the UUC choir accompanied
by Jared Gibbs (piano), Patrick Turner (violin), Courtney Hobson
(clarinet), Kellby Benson (cello), and Bob Thomas (bass).
The Fourth-Sunday Collection will benefit the NAACP Scholarship Fund,
which provides several educational scholarships each year to deserving
area students. Our Congregation has donated to this fund for the last
two years, and our support has been sincerely appreciated. Checks
should be made out to the NAACP Scholarship Fund.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the first and third Sundays of the month
beginning at 8:45 AM. All are welcome to join us for stimulating
conversation. The group meets in Room A.
March 6: Religious Liberals Are Not Necessarily Political Liberals. UUC members Lynn Ehrke, Carl Hansen, and Dick Kates will share their experiences that may be more common at the UUC than it would appear. As a Welcoming Congregation, how do we embrace the entire political spectrum and have respectful discussions with one another?
March 20: How is the New River Valley doing in advancing community sustainability? John Randolph, VT
professor in Urban Affairs and Planning and former president of the
UUC, will share the amazing amount of environmental/sustainability
actions going on in Blacksburg, the Virginia Tech campus, and environs.
Services: April 2011
10:00 AM in the
Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious
Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation
following the service
Sunday Circle (April 3 and April 17 at 8:45 AM) are listed after the Sunday services.
April 3, Stewardship Committee and Worship Associate Dick Luke. Stewardship Brunch and Worship Service.
Come celebrate the UUC and fill out your pledge card as we share food,
friendship, fun, music, and our dreams for the future of our
Congregation.
Prelude: The Talents We Possess (Ruth Elaine Schram), the UUC choir accompanied by Jared Gibbs, piano.
April 10, Carter Turner, Asst. Professor of Religious Studies at Radford Univ., and Worship Associate Jane Mahone: The Inner Voice. When
making the most important decisions in our lives, many of us rely on an
internal guidance system; our gut or inner voice. How have different
religious traditions understood that voice, and why do so many put such
trust in it?
Please join us for our Second Sunday Potluck following the service. If your last name begins with Mo through Sc,
please bring a beverage and plan to arrive by 9:30 to set up for the
potluck before the service and to assist with moving items from the
kitchen to the tables as the potluck occurs. Plates and silverware
should not be set out until all are ready to eat, so as to proceed in
an orderly way.Instructions are posted in the kitchen for set-up and
clean-up. People from the Membership Committee will be on hand to
direct and assist with set-up and serving. If your last name begins
with Se through Z or A through Fi, please bring a main dish. If your last name begins with Fl through Mi,
please bring a side dish or dessert. A general announcement will be
made asking for people to help with cleanup. Don’t forget your list of
the ingredients in your dish to assist those with food allergies.
The Congregational Conversation will follow the potluck.
April 17, Rev. Christine Brownlie and Worship Associate Jim Kern: Passover: Let My People Go! The Problem of Modern Slavery.
As Jews the world over prepare to celebrate Passover, the liberation of
the Hebrew people from bondage, we will consider that even today the
practice of slavery continues. How can we help to liberate today’s
slaves?
Please join us for the Memorial Garden Dedication
after the service (weather permitting). At the conclusion of the
worship service, the Congregation will be invited to walk up the hill
for a short (10 minute) dedication. You are invited to peruse the
pavers donated by our members and friends to honor and remember those
dear to us. Pavers may be ordered at any time to honor a person. Wear
shoes for walking on the grass.
April 24, Rev. Christine Brownlie and Worship Associate Amado Ohland: Easter: Resurrection and Redemption: What do These Words Mean to Us?
Easter is the time when Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus
and the promise of Redemption. How do UUs understand these concepts?
What might we want to resurrect and redeem in our own lives?
Prelude: Lo, Easter (words: Longfellow, Hosmer; music: Davidica, Arnold. Williams, Roberts, Gibbs), the UUC choir (unaccompanied).
A Coming of Age ceremony was held during the service.
The Fourth Sunday Collection will benefit the Humane Society of Montgomery County.
The Social Action Committee and the RE program will be combining
efforts to support this organization during the entire month of April.
As a result, in addition to this monetary collection, there will be a
box in the UUC foyer for those who would like to donate food or other
items for the Humane Society. Please help make this a successful
campaign to benefit our many animal friends and to support this project
which was initiated by the children in our Congregation.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the first and third Sundays of the month
beginning at 8:45 AM. All are welcome to join us for stimulating
conversation. The group meets in Room A.
April 3: UUC member, Carl Hansen, will lead a discussion on Trolleyology,
a way of studying moral quandaries that has become popular in recent
years. Some argue it is a way of providing insights into human nature,
while others say it is a waste of time. Basically, it is a way of
exploring the doctrine of double effect first articulated by Aquinas in
the 13th century. The doctrine in its simplest form allows
one to perform an act that has bad consequences, if on balance, the act
is good and the bad effects are unintended. In one scenario, a trolley
is hurtling uncontrolled down the tracks towards five people who will
be killed unless you can turn the switch to redirect it onto a spur
track. However, there is one person chained to the spur track who now
is at risk. What would you do?
April 17: Mountaintop Removal: UUC members, Darla Bray, Joe Powers and Keith Lester
will lead a discussion about the impacts of surface coal mining on the
lives of the people who live in the region, as well as strategies and
actions being taken by various organizations to end this practice. We
will share information gleaned from the Renew Collective’s Alternate Spring Break
held the week of March 5–12 at Natural Tunnel State Park in the heart
of coal mining country. If your power bill comes from Appalachian Power
Company, your energy is generated by coal produced from mountaintop
removal. All who have knowledge of surface coal mining and/or the
environmental and health impacts are especially encouraged to come and
share your perspectives. This discussion is sponsored by the Social
Action Committee’s Green Sanctuary Team.
Services: May 2011
10:00 AM in the
Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious
Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation
following the service
Sunday Circle (May 1 and May 15 at 8:45 AM) are listed after the Sunday services.
May 1, Rev. Jacqueline Luck, UUA‘s Office of Transitions Ministerial Settlement Representative serving the Southeast District, and Worship Associate Dick Luke: Great Expectations: An Adventure of the Spirit. Rev. Luck will talk about the great expectations of the ministerial search process that we are now embarking upon. She will share some practices for search that have proven themselves over time. Following the service, there will be time to ask questions about the process of finding a minister to “walk beside us in faith and hope” in fulfilling our mission and vision.
May 8, Rev. Christine Brownlie and Worship Associate Jim Kern: Meet God’s Wife! A few weeks ago I received several e-mails proclaiming that God had a "wife." Who is/was this mystery goddess? If she existed at one time, why did she vanish?
Prelude: Let It Be (Lennon/McCartney, arr. Kirby Shaw), the UUC Choir with Wayne Neu, Shanna Hollich, Amado Ohland; Jared Gibbs (piano).
Memorial Garden Dedication: The Memorial Garden dedication was originally scheduled for April 17 but for various reasons had to be rescheduled. Today, at the conclusion of the service, the Congregation will be invited to walk up the hill for a short (10 minute) dedication. The Community Lunch will follow. You are invited to peruse the pavers donated by members to honor and remember those dear to us.
Please join us after the Memorial Garden dedication for our Second Sunday Potluck following the service. If your last name begins with Se through To,
please bring a beverage and plan to arrive by 9:30 to set up for the
potluck before the service and to assist with moving items from the
kitchen to the tables as the potluck occurs. Plates and silverware
should not be set out until all are ready to eat, so as to proceed in
an orderly way.Instructions are posted in the kitchen for set-up and
clean-up. People from the Membership Committee will be on hand to
direct and assist with set-up and serving. If your last name begins
with Fi through Sc, please bring a main dish. If your last name begins with Tp through Z or A through Fi,
please bring a side dish or dessert. A general announcement will be
made asking for people to help with cleanup. Don’t forget your list of
the ingredients in your dish to assist those with food allergies.
Don't forget to bring your non-perishable food donations (canned meats, fruits, vegetables, macaroni and cheese, rice, beans, cereal, peanut butter, jelly, coffee, sugar, etc.) for the Interfaith Food Pantry. The donation basket is in the lobby just outside the Meeting Room doors.
May 15, YRUU (Young Religious Unitarian Universalists): Please join members of our high-school youth group as they lead their annual Spring service and bridging ceremony.
May 22, Rev. Christine Brownlie and Worship Associate Jane Mahone: Look What We Did! As my ministry with this Congregation comes to a close, let’s look back to see what we’ve accomplished together.
Prelude: Gate Gate (Buddhist mantra, Brian Tate), UUC Choir with David Warner (chant) and Jared Gibbs (piano).
We will also welcome new members into the Congregation. New Member Ceremony We will be welcoming new members into the Congregation at the service on Sunday, May 22. If you would like to participate, or would like to become a member but are unable to attend this service, please contact Rev. Christine Brownlie or Barbara Taylor. All those who join the Congregation at this time will be eligible to vote at our Annual Congregational Meeting on June 5
The Fourth Sunday Collection will benefit the Interfaith Food Pantry located on 505 Progress St. in Blacksburg. Our Congregation has been a long-time contributor to this organization, providing financial resources, food and regular volunteers. Let's continue to show our support by giving as generously as we can. Checks should be made out directly to the Food Pantry.
The pre-Annual-Congregational-Meeting Informational Meeting will follow the service.
May 29, Rev. Christine Brownlie and Worship Associate Manna Lundberg: Riding the Waves of Change. What might the future hold for this beloved community as it experiences new ministers and new ministries?
Prelude: Second Suite for Solo Cello, Sarabande (J.S. Bach), Kellby Benson (cello).
The Fourth Sunday Collection will benefit the Humane Society of Montgomery County.
The Social Action Committee and the RE program will be combining
efforts to support this organization during the entire month of April.
As a result, in addition to this monetary collection, there will be a
box in the UUC foyer for those who would like to donate food or other
items for the Humane Society. Please help make this a successful
campaign to benefit our many animal friends and to support this project
which was initiated by the children in our Congregation.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the first and third Sundays of the month
beginning at 8:45 AM. All are welcome to join us for stimulating
conversation. The group meets in Room A.
May 1: Glenn Skutt, UUC member, will talk about PowerHub Systems (PHS), his small business in the VT Corporate Research Park that formed in 2008 to work on electric energy storage and conversion issues. PHS is actively working in the efforts to increase the use of Smart Grid technology to increase the level of functionality and interoperability on the power grid that will allow for more widespread use of distributed and renewable energy resources. PHS is also working on battery-based energy storage devices and solar photovoltaic inverters for large solar PV installations.
May 15: Carter Turner, Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Radford University and a former member of the UUC, will lead a discussion of the several broad conceptualizations of God across religious traditions, as well as the various ways Americans think of the Christian God.
Services: June 2011
10:00 AM in the
Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious
Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation
following the service
Sunday Circle is not held during the summer months.
June 5, Rev. Christine Brownlie and Worship Associate Dick Luke: Celebrating Our Beloved Community. On this joyous day we will honor our volunteers, dedicate our children, and participate in the beautiful ritual known as the “Flower Communion.” Please bring a bloom from your garden, the roadside, or the florist for yourself and each person in your family who will participate in this ritual. (There will be a few extra flowers at the Meeting House for those who do not bring one.)
Special music by Lisa Liske-Doorandish and several of her advanced cello students.
The Extraordinary and Annual Congregational Meetings will be held immediately following the service. We will begin with an Extraordinary Congregational Meeting for the purpose of determining whether the Congregation shall call a Settled Minister. This is required in our bylaws, and no other business will be conducted.
Our Annual Meeting will follow. We will be asked to approve the budget, to elect officers for fiscal year 2011–2012, and to select the Ministerial Search Committee for the new Settled Minister. Finally, we will be voting to designate Rev. Chris Brownlie as Minister Emerita. Copies of the year-end committee reports will also be available.
Members should have received a letter in the mail with information about the meeting, the recommended budget and information about each of the Search Committee nominees. Copies of the letter and budget are in the Members’ Area of our Web site
Forms for designating a proxy were included in the mailing. If you cannot attend the meeting, please submit a proxy form. Only a member can be a proxy, and a member can be a proxy for only one other member. You may inform your proxy as to how you would like your vote to be cast, but the proxy is free to vote as s/he wishes. If you will not be seeing a member to hold your proxy, you may mail it to the UUC, and it will be given to a member at the meeting.
This is a very important and exciting time for our Congregation. We hope you can attend the meeting and voice your opinions.
June 12, Darla Bray, UUC Past-President: Bidding Our Minister Farewell. Today we’ll share memories and hopes for the future with our minister, Rev. Christine Brownlie, as she says good-bye to the Congregation, and we wish her well.
Prelude: Dansi Na Kuimba the UUC Choir (with drummers)
Offering: Flying Free the UUC Choir (with Mary Walters on flute).
Please join us for a very special Second Sunday Potluck as we continue to celebrate our time with Rev. Christine Brownlie and to wish her a wonderful retirement. If your last name begins with Tr through Z, please bring a beverage and plan to arrive by 9:30 to set up for the potluck before the service and to assist with moving items from the kitchen to the tables as the potluck occurs. Plates and silverware should not be set out until all are ready to eat, so as to proceed in an orderly way.Instructions are posted in the kitchen for set-up and clean-up.People from the Membership Committee will be on hand to direct and assist with set-up and serving.If your last name begins with A through Ke, please bring a main dish. If your last name begins with Ki though To, please bring a side dish or dessert. A general announcement will be made asking for people to help with cleanup.Don’t forget your list of the ingredients in your dish to assist those with food allergies.
Don’t forget to bring your non-perishable food donations (canned meats, fruits, vegetables, macaroni and cheese, rice, beans, cereal, peanut butter, jelly, coffee, sugar, etc.) for the Interfaith Food Pantry. The donation basket is in the lobby just outside the Meeting Room doors.
June 19: George Terrell, father of an adopted daughter, Amado Ohland, an adopted son, and Worship Associate Jane Mahone, so works for Depaul Community Services wth adoption and foster care: Fostering and Adopting, and the Importance of Being “Dad.” George, Amado, and Jane will share their personal experiences from the world of fostering and adopting. We hope that you will be inspired by their stories! Informative DVDs and other information will be available in Elarth Hall during coffee hour.
Song: For Heaven’s Sake, written and sung by Leslie Brooks.
June 26, Molly McClintock and Irene Peterson, partners for 26 years, married since 2005: Marriage Equality. Molly and Irene will discuss the various forms of partner recognition (marriage, civil unions, domestic partnerships) and the ramifications of denying marriage equality to gay men and lesbians. They’ll also talk about what this means to us and share their experiences of marrying in Canada and patching together legal protections back in the U.S. The Worship Associate is Kathy Welch.
Prelude: Andantino Mosso (Kohler), Goldie Terrell (flute);
Offering: Everything Possible (Fred Small), Amado Ohland(voice) and Goldie Terrell (voice and guitar).
The Fourth Sunday Collection will benefit the Mid-South District of the Unitarian Universalist Association for its 2011 Severe Storm Fund. This fund has been established to assist UU families and their communities as they repair their lives and properties after the many severely damaging tornadoes they have experienced this spring. Checks can be made out to “Mid-South District” with “2011 Severe Storm Fund” written in the memo section.
Services: July 2011
10:00 AM in the
Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious
Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation
following the service
Sunday Circle is not held during the summer months.
July 3, Morton Nadler, UUC member: The Free by Themselves Must Be Fashioned. Looking back over his 90 years, Morton sees how step-by-step he made himself into what he is today. Sometimes the materials were furnished by others; sometimes he found them by himself. But this Sunday he stands before you to celebrate 90 years of being his own person.
July 10, Annual Poetry Slam: A Congregation-led service centered around the spoken and written word we identify as poetry. Please bring a poem or two of your own by your favorite poet(s) to share with the Congregation. If you prefer to just listen, please do so. Due to our desire to accommodate all who bring something to read, please keep your sharing to three minutes at most. As you enter the building, there will be a sign-up sheet for those wishing to participate actively. Please contact John Imbur if you have any questions.
Prelude: Subterranian Homesick Blues (Dylan) performed by Jim Kerns (voice and guitar).
Offertory: Six o’ One, (Kerns), performed by Jim Kerns (voice and guitar).
Please join us for our Second-Sunday Potluck following the service. If your last name begins with A through Bq, please bring a beverage and plan to arrive by 9:30 to set up for the potluck before the service and to assist with moving items from the kitchen to the tables as the potluck occurs. Plates and silverware should not be set out until all are ready to eat, so as to proceed in an orderly way. Instructions are posted in the kitchen for set-up and clean-up. People from the Membership Committee will be on hand to direct and assist with set-up and serving. If your last name begins with Kf through Z, please bring a main dish. If your last name begins with Br though Ke, please bring a side dish or dessert. A general announcement will be made asking for people to help with cleanup. Don’t forget your list of the ingredients in your dish to assist those with food allergies.
Don’t forget to bring your non-perishable food donations (canned meats, fruits, vegetables, macaroni and cheese, rice, beans, cereal, peanut butter, jelly, coffee, sugar, etc.) for the Interfaith Food Pantry. The donation basket is in the lobby just outside the Meeting Room doors.
July 17, Rev. David Carl Olson, minister of the First Unitarian Church of Baltimore: Too Many Tulips. When Auntie Margaret and Aunt Peachie bring Ma to visit, the days will be filled with laughter and affection. The Worship Associate is Manna Lundberg
July 24, Rev. Tracy Sprowls-Jenks, minister of the First Unitarian Society of Plainfield, NJ: The Daring of Virginia Durr. Virginia Foster Durr was a Southern woman whose husband, Clifford Durr, was one of the lawyers for Rosa Parks. She was there when Rosa Parks was released from jail, giving her a big hug in greeting. Her life as both a White Southerner and a liberal activist during the Civil Rights period sheds light on the complexities of being human and doing social justice. This sermon is written in the form of a letter to Virginia Durr. The Worsip Associat is Kathy Welch.
Prelude: Largo e Vivace from Divertimento da camera
no. 2 (Bononcini),
Jared Gibbs (piano) and Goldie Terrell (flute);
Offertory: Allegretto Op. 116 (Benjamin Godard), Jared Gibbs (piano) and Goldie Terrell (flute)
The Fourth-Sunday Collection: All cash and designated checks will be donated to the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program in Christiansburg. This organization trains volunteers in the New River Valley who are committed to advocating for safe, permanent homes for abused/neglected children who are involved in court proceedings. Please give as generously as you are able. Checks can be written directly to the organization.
July 31, Jim Kern, UUC member: Finding Your Passion, Following Your Bliss. What do you want to be when you grow up? How do you find you passion? Where do you find your bliss? Or is bliss all around us, just waiting to be noticed? Be prepared for discussion. The Worship Associate is Stephanie Gilmore.
Services: August 2011
10:00 AM in the
Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious
Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation
following the service
Sunday Circle is not held during the summer months.
August 7: Members from the Spiritual Discussion and Reading Covenant Group and Worship Associate Barbara Taylor, Me, Stereotype You?!!! This long-standing UUC covenant group is presenting a dramatization from The Faith Club. Ranya (a Muslim portrayed by Margo Walters), Priscilla (a Jew portrayed by Sharon Day), and Suzanne (a Christian portrayed by Karen Gray), meet to write a children’s book that illustrates what unites their religions. But first, they must learn about their own thoughts on each other’s religions. Linda Powers will serve as Moderator.
Special music by Peter and Mia Lazar.
August 14: Stephanie Gilmore, UUC member, Lammas: Pagan Celebration of the First Harvest. This old pagan celebration of the first harvest, of wheat, comes to our Congregation. We will look at the history of Lammas and some of the associated rituals, and we will hear from members of our Congregation about their use of the fruits of that harvest—in bread baking. Come, bring a loaf of bread — home-made or store-bought — and share with us in the celebration of this staff of life.
Bari Webster will play the piano for our hymns, and John Hassler and Ed Bridge will provide classical guitar interludes.
Please join us for our Second Sunday Potluck following the service. If your last name begins with Br through Co, please bring a beverage and plan to arrive by 9:30 to set up for the potluck before the service and to assist with moving items from the kitchen to the tables as the potluck occurs. Plates and silverware should not be set out until all are ready to eat, so as to proceed in an orderly way. Instructions are posted in the kitchen for set-up and clean-up. People from the Membership Committee will be on hand to direct and assist with set-up and serving. If your last name begins with Cp through Nl, please bring a main dish. If your last name begins with Nm though Z or A through Bq, please bring a side dish or dessert. A general announcement will be made asking for people to help with cleanup. Don’t forget your list of the ingredients in your dish to assist those with food allergies.
Don’t forget to bring your non-perishable food donations (canned meats, fruits, vegetables, macaroni and cheese, rice, beans, cereal, peanut butter, jelly, coffee, sugar, etc.) for the Interfaith Food Pantry. The donation basket is in the lobby just outside the Meeting Room doors.
August 21: Rev. Alex Richardson and Worship Associate Amado Ohland, Full Circle. Join us in worship as we welcome our new Interim Minister, the Rev. Alex L. Richardson, into the pulpit for the first time. RevAlex, as he likes to be called, will be speaking on how his life comes and goes but ultimately comes full circle again ... and again. We’ll begin the work of speaking what we’re about in an Interim. We’ll also celebrate the wonder of our diversity, our spirit, our gifts, and our challenges. Come, come whoever you are!
August 28: >Members of the Anarchists Covenant Group, Annual Water Service.
The
Anarchists Covenant Group will conduct our traditional Water Service, which takes a new splash this Sunday. We will celebrate water together, mark a map with our summer travels, and marvel at pictures of water supplied by the Congregation. Rev. Alex Richardson will join the Anarchists for this service. Photos in digital form can be e-mailed to Goldie Terrell at
music@uucnrv.org along with the names of the people represented, the location, and other limited information. If your photos are in hardcopy, Goldie or Morton Nadler can scan them into the computer for you. Deadline for submissions is August 21.
The Fourth Sunday Collection will benefit the Program for Assertive Community Treatment (PACT), which is affiliated with New River Community Services and provides support for individuals with a long history of serious mental health issues. Checks may be made out directly to PACT.
Services: September 2011
10:00 AM in the
Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious
Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation
following the service
Sunday Circle (September 4 and September 18 at 8:45 AM) are listed after the Sunday services.
September 4: Rev. Dr. Len De Roche, The Interim Period. Len will tell the Buddhist story, The Monk and the Bamboo Raft, and use that for reflection on this new era for our Congregation. Len has served four congregations in PA, WV, and MA and is a Certified Pastoral Counselor. He currently serves in Community Ministry and works for a financial corporation. There will be no RE classes today.
September 11: RevAlex, On Commemoration. It is a day of painful memory. It is also a day to celebrate this faith community. We come together on this first Sunday of the New Church Year cognizant of our painful past as well as our promising future. Today is the first day of Fall RE classes. Our RE teachers and Board members will be introduced during the service.
Music during the service includes piano four-hands played by Jared & Natalie Gibbs and the UUC choir, accompanied by Christa Honaker (oboe) and Jared Gibbs (piano).
Please join us for our Second-Sunday Potluck following the service.
We will have an opportunity to talk with Board members and RE
teachers. We will also welcome RevAlex.
September 18: RevAlex, Who We Be? 1.1. The foundation upon which all successful interim ministry is built is history. Today we begin a multi-part exploration of “who we be.” Come, come, whoever you be to acquaint yourselves with our being!
September 25: RevAlex, Who We Be? 1.2. This service is a continuation of the prior Sunday’s. It is also the prelude to UUC history-oriented services that will be part of our mid-winter programming. Come ready to celebrate some of the wonder of our history. Stephanie Gilmore was the Worship Associate. The UUC Choir will sing during the service.
The Fourth Sunday Collection will benefit the Montgomery County Emergency Assistance Program (MCEAP). MCEAP
is overseen by New River Community Action and assists families and individuals in immediate, temporary, and emergency situations. Its efforts are coordinated with local social service agencies and other civic and religious groups to serve those who do not qualify for other public assistance. Checks may be made out directly to MCEAP.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets
on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:45 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in Room A.
September 4: UUC member, Marquita Hill, will give a short presentation explaining, with examples, the concept of Nature’s services: Mother Nature as more than a metaphor. She will then participate with those in attendance in selecting natural services that may especially interest them. Questions being addressed are: How are the services we select important to Blacksburg or to the UUC? How do we maintain or enhance these services?
September 18: UUC member, David Warner, will talk on Ethics and the Principle of Double Effect. Sometimes the good we would do will have ethically bad results. Can we still do that good thing? Applying the Principle of Double Effect can help clarify the decision. We will discuss the Principle as well as its application to specific decisions.
Services: Octobber 2011
10:00 AM in the
Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious
Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation
following the service
October 2: RevAlex, Association Sunday. Today we join with thousands and thousands of UUs across the country to celebrate what we are as an association of congregations. We will worship in Blacksburg towards better knowing a much larger communion in which we share. Come of sprit! Come of heart and mind! Come of intent to know the oneness of our being!
October 9: RevAlex, How'd We Get Here? A favorite bit of colloquial wisdom is that no matter where you go, there you are. It's true and especially so in congregation. We worship together on this second Sunday of October questioning where we are and how'd we get here. Kathy Welch is the Worship Associate. was the Worship Associate.
During the service, we will welcome new members and the UUC Choir will sing.
Please join us for our Second Sunday Potluck following the service.
October 16: Rev. Karen Day, Community Ministry: Call, Reluctance and Passion. We'll explore some questions related to the work all of us do in this community: What is our community? In what ways do we each cross the threshold of the Congregation? When is our work ministry? Monna Lundberg is the Worship Associate.
October 23: RevAlex, Who's With Us? Over many centuries Unitarianism and Universalism were both known as faiths of the heretic. No wonder then that so many of us over much history have felt isolated, separated and abandoned. Today we worship together in commitment to better understand the ties that bind us to others rather than what separates. We claim our liberal ecumenism today! Jim Kern is the Worship Associate. The UUC Choir will sing during the service.
The Fourth-Sunday Collection will benefit the Free Clinic of the New River Valley. Through this agency, located in Christiansburg, low-income individuals can receive free medical care and prescription medications. Checks can be made out directly to the clinic.
October 30: RevAlex, Saints One and All! Today we unpack ancient wisdom around sainthood. Our hope is to affirm a liberal understanding of sainthood, to identify those amongst us who are saints, and to recognize the saintly within. “For All the Saints” will be the refrain of the day! Jane Mahone is the Worship Associate. The UUC Choir will sing during the service.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets
on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:45 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in Room A.
October 2: UUC member, George Lally, will tell us about his “UU saint,” Anna Garlin Spencer (1851–1931), an American educator, feminist and Unitarian minister. She was a leader in the women's suffrage and peace movements. In 1891 she became the first woman ordained as a minister in the state of Rhode Island. In 1909, she signed onto the call to found the National Association for the Advancement Colored People.
October 16: UUC members, Dean Mook and Joe Powers will lead a discussion on the evolution of politically-active, ultra-conservative religious groups to their current high level of power and influence. The discussion will be based on the NY Times best-seller, The Family by Jeff Sharlet, which reveals “the secret fundamentalism at the heart of American political power.”
Services: November 2011
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
November 6: Dr. Larry Egbert, The UUA and the Subject of Hastening Death. Dr. Egbert was part of the founding committee for the Final Exit Network. Their Guiding Principles state that “Mentally competent adults have a basic human right to end their lives when they suffer from a fatal or irreversible illness or intractable pain, when their quality of life is personally unacceptable, and the future holds only hopelessness and misery.” Dr. Egbert will also be speaking at the Blacksburg Library on Saturday, November 5 at 4:30 PM.
November 13: Mary Johnson and Amanda Schuber of the UUA, Beyond Categorical Thinking. The Beyond Categorical Thinking program creates opportunities for conversations and reflection for the Congregation to identify issues related to identity. The program will begin during the sermon and continue in the workshop after the potluck. The UUC Choir will sing during the service.
Please join us for our Second-Sunday Potluck following the service and the Beyond Categorical Thinking workshop beginning at 12:30. Childcare is provided.
November 20: YRUU (Young Religious Unitarian Universalists), Inspiration and Motivation All are encouraged to come to the semi-annual youth service led by our high school youth group. They are excited to share their thoughts and perspectives and look forward to leading the service and discussion. You'll have to attend to find out what their fall theme will be! Several of the members will be sharing their musical and/or perhaps literary talents. We hope you will come and join us!
November 27: RevAlex, Thanksgiving for All Our Days Come to worship on this Sunday after our National Holiday of Thanksgiving to ponder how we might have Thanksgiving with us for all our days. There will be no Religious Education classes today; nursery care will be available for children ages 3 and under. The worship Associate was Jane Mahone.
Tyler Flowers (saxaphone), accompanied by Jared Gibbs (piano), provided special music during the service: Nocturne (Frederic Chopin Op. Posth) and Oblivion (Asor Piazzolla arr. Fourman).
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets
on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in Room A.
November 2: UUC member, Morton Nadler, will address Myth or Reality in Israel and Palestine. For example, Israel insists that it will not negotiate with the Palestinians if they do not recognize Israel as a “Jewish state.” What is the reality here, what is myth? Bring your own understandings of what is going on there, and Morton will attempt to untangle the reality from the myth.
November 16: UUC member, Jim Copenheaver will talk about Robert Greene Ingersoll, the most well-known American orator of the late nineteenth century but almost unknown today. He will tell how he happened to hear the name Ingersoll when he was a child in the 20th century.
Services: December 2011
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
December 4: RevAlex, Us and the Holy. Holidays are Holy Days, simply put. Today we wrestle with our diverse theologies towards discerning common UU holy ground. Come as a people of liberal questioning faith to share in joyful worship on this first Sunday of the Winter Holiday Season. Leon Kok (violin), Mark O'Connor (violin), Peter Golladay (guitar), and Jared Gibbs (piao) provided special music during the service. Kathy Welch is the Worhip Associate.
December 11: RevAlex, DRE Karen Hager, Our Children and Adults, A Holiday PageUUnt. It’s a favorite of RevAlex’s: an impromptu acting out of the Christian Christmas Story. Come prepared to be the Christ Child, the Mother Mary or maybe even Herod! All of those secret desires to be the “Ham Upon The Stage” have possibility on this Sunday morning. And if you’ve been skeptical in the past about meaningful intergenerational worship, let us encourage you to come, come again towards experiencing the best of what we are, all of us — regardless our age. We will also decorate our Mitten Tree with gloves, hats, and scarves donated by our members and friends. The Choir will sing The Grinch and special music was provied by Community Cello Works.
Please join us for our Second Sunday Potluck following the service.
December 18: EarthSpirit Sisters, A Winter Solstice Celebration. At the solstice we celebrate the return of the Sun and longer days. We will sing songs about the season, turn the Wheel of the Year, and rejoice in our sense of community during the winter. There will also be a special Solstice story for the children.
December 24: RevAlex with our Choir, Christmas Eve Candlelight Service: In traditional form, we gather on this Christmas Eve to enjoy one another's company, always the best of gifts, as well as Lessons & Carols. The lights will be low, the music beautiful and the words poignant. Come, come whoever you are that we might welcome you and share Christmas Greetings! Nursery care available.
December 25: RevAlex, A Christmas-Day Celebration! It’s Christmas Morning! And Sunday Morning! We gather as celebratory community to ponder the meaning of the holiday as well as to enjoy the great gift of each other. RevAlex will have the kitchen full of well-warmed treats and beverages. There will be no RE classes today.
Fourth Sunday Collection:
All cash and designated checks will be donated toward our efforts with the To Our House Program, which provides overnight shelter and meals to the area’s homeless men. All money will be used to supplement supplies, food and activities during UUCs two weeks of participation.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets
on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in Room A.
December 4: UUC member, Carl Hansen will lead a discussion of The Closing of the Western Mind: The Rise of Faith and the Loss of Reason.
December 18: UUC members, Cynthia Luke and Pauletta Copenheaver: Ethical Eating. Cynthia will discuss the UUA 2011 Statement of Conscious: Ethical Eating: Food and Environmental Justice. She will also discuss plans for the recently formed UUC Task Force on Ethical Eating. Pauletta will mention several individual actions one can follow when making decisions about one's food consumption. A brief report on the book Waste, by Tristram Stuart, will also be presented.
Services: January 2012
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
January 1: John Imbur and Manna Lundberg: Poetry Slam Redux All will be welcome to read a favorite poem and/or share reflections on the winter holidays. There will be no RE classes.
January 8: RevAlex, The Sermon in a Box. We fall back on old Unitarian tradition this Sunday by inviting the entire congregation to place questions on cards towards the start of the service. After they're collected, the cards will then be sorted out by a small group of volunteers who will organize them thematically. In the sermon-making part of the service, these volunteers will pose the questions to the minister, and perhaps a few lay leaders, who will do their best to make a meaningful sermon out of their responses. If you haven't experienced a UU “sermon in a box” before, come to experience this old tradition of ours. And whether you have or haven't, come to pose the questions that are most with you about this interim in which we share, our congregation and our faith. A rousing start to the New Year is promised! The Choir will sing at the service.
Please join us for our Second-Sunday Potluck following the service.
January 15: RevAlex, Legacy for UU. On this Sunday of the King Weekend, we gather in worship to contemplate King's legacy for our liberal tradition. It is a legacy full of unmet challenge that a congregation as blessed as UUC will do well to re-examine. Come, come to also celebrate the great potential of what we are as bearers of King’s Good News. Jared Gibbs (piano), Leon Kok (violin) and Peter Golladay (guitar) will provide music by Vivaldi.
January 22: RevAlex, The State of the Congregation. All interims, done well, have ongoing assessment as an essential part of what they are. By this Sunday, multiple parts of UUC leadership will have completed assessments of their work. On this Sunday, a quarter of the way through our interim with one another, we gather as faith community to celebrate the gifts of our being together as well as to acknowledge, and affirm, ongoing challenges. Come happy for all that we are! The Choir will sing at the service.
January 29: RevAlex and Karen Hager, DRE, Rainbow Principles Sunday.. All ages will join together in events around the theme of Rainbow Principles. Here is a chance for the adults to get to know the children better while having a good time and learning something about our Seven UU Principles! This will also be another opportunity for our faith community to grow appreciation for Intergenerational Worship. Come, Come to celebrate All Our Ages! The Choir will sing at the service.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets
on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in Room A.
January 1: UUC member, Carl Hansen, will lead a discussion of The Closing of the Western Mind: The Rise of Faith and the Loss of Reason.
January 15: Norm Bakkan, retired Lutheran minister, will present An Evolutionary Faith. We all agree that life is an evolving experience. We cannot help but seek an understanding of the origins, the significance, goal and meaning of our existence. Most of us have had some introduction to religious traditions which sought to guide or give answers to our questions. Science has introduced us to a wealth of new perspectives which challenge any literal interpretation of traditional beliefs. Do the traditions of the past have any value? Does science hold the final answers? Does our consciousness of life, of reality, contribute to our growth in understanding and to any means by which faith may evolve?
Services: February 2012
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
February 5: RevAlex, Forgiveness: Part One. Forgiveness and Reconciliation are essential practices in healthy congregations. We begin an ongoing Interim conversation on Forgiveness with today's service. Come with any grudges you might carry in the hope that we, as faith community, can grow in our ability to make blessings of them.
During the service, Goldie Terrell (flute) and Peter Golliday (guitar) will play selections by Handel, Mozart, Beethoven, and Bach.
February 12: RevAlex's Annual Sermon on Sex. An embodied theology always has facets of sexuality to it. Religious communities that are doing the hard work of deepening their theological understandings, both personally and communally, need to study themselves towards discerning the facets of sexuality that are woven into their beings. On this Sunday before our culture's annual celebration of romantic love, we gather in worship to celebrate embodied UU theologies. The Choir will sing at the service.
Please join us for our Second Sunday Potluck following the service.
February 19: Rev. Kelly Sisson, Lessons from the Homeless. Rev. Sisson is the head of training in spiritual direction at the Roanoke Rescue Mission.
February 26: RevAlex, Forgiveness: Part Two. On the 5th of this month, the sermon will be a macro-view of the challenges and gifts that come of being a faith community of forgiveness and reconciliation. On this last Sunday of February, we gather in worship to get personal about what being a people of forgiveness and reconciliation may mean for us as individuals of faith striving to be a healthy congregation.
The Choir will sing at the service. Featured solosits are Wayne Neu, Shanna Hollich, and Tiffany Ragland
During the service, new members are welcomed into the Congregation.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets
on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in Room A.
February 5: Carl Hansen, UUC member, will discuss the book, Mothers and Others: The Evolutionary Origins of Mutual Understanding by Sarah Hrdy. The author synthesizes her decades of work on the sociobiology of mothers and infants to track the evolution of our emotional humanity “step by Darwinian step.”
February 19: The Ministerial Search Committee will go over the results of the congregational survey and use the Sunday Circle as one of the announced cottage meetings. This is an opportunity for you to give additional input to the committee, to see if the survey results seem valid and to understand where we are in the search process for a settled minister.
Services: March 2012
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
March 4: RevAlex, Courage, Changem and Consternation. With today's worship, we join in communal contemplation of the wonders of change. All Interim Congregations do well to address change possibilities and challenges. Our perspective this morning will be universal; our humor, however, will be of the most particular. Come, Come, whoever you are and know how glad we are to see you!
During the service, Leon Kok (violin), Goldie Terrell (flute),
and Jared Gibbs (piano) played selections by Bizet, Delibes, and Bach.
March 11: RevAlex, On the Pleasures of Moral Righteousness. Most, if not all, of us enjoy moments of moral righteousness. On this Sunday, we gather as faith community to consider the gifts and challenges of righteousness at the same time we celebrate the birthing of an Ethical Eating Initiative from within our congregation. Vegetarians! Vegans! Omnivores! Come, Come that we might worship and eat together! The Choir will sing at the service.
Please join us for our Second Sunday Potluck following the service. Note that we will be holding an all-vegetarian potluck today in solidarity with our Ethical Eating Initiative.
March 18: RevAlex, Giving as Spiritual Practice. Our hope with today's worship is to go deeper in contemplation of giving than to just extol its virtues. Giving never stands alone. It always travels in the company of other virtues — and vices. As liberal religionists, we do well to wrestle with both our personal and communal understandings of best practice in regards to giving. Come, Come, generous people! Monna Lundberg is the Worship Associate.
March 25: RevAlex, On The Pleasures of ScapeGoating!. Chief amongst the primal pleasures of being human is that of scapegoating. It's a pleasure that is most often denied and instead called by other names. Today we talk this primal pleasure and how it might play out in the life of religious community. Come, Come, wonderfully complex human beings that you are! Kathy Welch is the Worship Associate. The Choir will sing at the service.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets
on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in Room A.
March 4: Franklyn Moreno, UUC member, will discuss the book Manufacturing Matters and manufacturing and the American economy.
March 18: Morton Nadler, UUC member, One State or Two? The two-state “solution” appears irrevocably dead. Strangely enough, the Zionists, who killed it, are suddenly in favor. What does “Jewish and Democratic” mean? What could a single state between the Jordan and the Mediterranean look like? How could it be attained? Morton has recently changed his views on these issues. Come and hear why.
Services: April 2012
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
April 1: Stewardship Committee, Stewardship Brunch and Worship Service. Come celebrate our beloved faith community and fill out your pledge card as we share food, friendship, wonderful music (UUC Choir and Jared Gibb's jazz combo), and our dreams for the future of UUC. The children will enjoy their own special celebration with food and fun activities.
April 8: RevAlex and DRE Karen Hager, Intergenerational Easter Sunday Service. We come together on this most important of Christian holidays to hear of how Unitarian Universalists have celebrated it throughout our history. We will also wrestle with the many varied ways in which Easter continues to hold significance for us. It will be a Sunday of Celebration! As part of the service, the children will participate in our annual Easter Egg Hunt—for plastic eggs filled with dog treats! Everyone is encouraged to wear a BIG Easter Bonnet or Hat to the service.
During the service, special music was provided by a string quarter: Linda Plaut (violin), Richard Rothwell (violin), Leon Kok (viola), and Susan Barrett (cello).
Please join us for our Second Sunday Potluck following the service.
April 15: Ray Plaza, Seeking Community Amid Challenging Times. The events of April 16th have indeed impacted our community in many ways. We will explore the journey that led to the Community Dialogue as well as looking at where we stand as a community and what is required to help continue the healing and mending process. Ray works in VT's Multicultural Academic Opportunities Program and is active with the local NAACP.
April 22: RevAlex, Earth Day Worship. It's our Annual Earth Day Worship Service at UUC this morning. Come to ponder how we might continue to better honor and serve the needs of our Planet. Come also to affirm your commitment to care. The Choir will sing at the service.
April 29: RevAlex, A Month of Sundays. It's the 5th Sunday of April. It's the end of the 10th month of Interim. What better time for Interim RevAlex to share what he envisions might be coming UUC's way. Join us this Sunday as we celebrate what lies ahead! This will also be our first annual Hymn Sing Sunday.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets
on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in Room A.
April 1: Dale & Nancy Norton (UUC member): The Quest for Better, Cheaper, and Fairer Health Care. Do you wish you had a clearer perspective on our health care system and on whether and how it can be improved? Would you like to know some facts and think through some principles to balance the demagoguery over the health care reform act demonized as Obamacare? Join us for an exploration and brief discussion of T.R. Reid's The Healing of America: A Global Quest for Better, Cheaper, and Fairer Health Care (Penguin, 2010). We will watch Reid boil down the alternative models that give every other “rich” country universal coverage and better outcomes for half to two-thirds the cost of ours, several with less “socialized medicine” and “big government” than we already have!
April 15: Jim Copenheaver and Joe Powers (UUC members) will lead a discussion on Varying Perspectives on Immigration.
Services: May 2012
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
May 6: RevAlex, Congregational Polity. Almost all authority on religious community attests to the ever greater challenge of a congregation that governs itself. In a day and age in which the polarities of the culture seem to be ever increasing, we gather for worship in which we'll examine the extent to which those polarities are with our congregation, and the polity by which we govern ourselves.
During the service, Peter Golliday (electric guitar) and Jared Gibbs (piano) played selections by John Coltrane.
May 13: RevAlex, Congregational Polity Redux. It's Mother's Day! It's also our Annual Congregational Meeting Sunday! We're out to worship, to govern ourselves and to get out of the building in a timely fashion so that Mom gets her due. In a bold experimental effort to make it all work, we're going to segway directly from Worship Time into Congregational Meeting Time. Our goal is to be finished with both worship and governance by 11:30 AM. The Choir will sing at the service.
Please join us for our Second-Sunday Potluck following the service.
May 20: RevAlex, Anachronism? You're all hearing that church is going the way of other good things past their prime. Today we tackle that possibility head-on. We'll examine some of the commentary from important voices in the culture. The minister will share his own perspective, and you'll be invited into some deep personal reflection of your own. The Choir will sing at the service. Our Fourth-Sunday Collection for Friends of the Farmers Market will be held (a week early).
May 27: YRUU Service and Bridging Ceremony. Our high school youth group, the Young Religious Unitarian Universalists, will lead their annual Spring service and Bridging Ceremony.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets
on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in Room A.
May 6: UUC members, David Burr and Bobbie Littlefield will discuss Chris Hedges' book, Death of the Liberal Class, in which he slams five specific groups and institutions: the Democratic Party, the media, academia, unions. and churches for the systematic problems of our society today because they have become “complacent lackeys to corporate power.”
May 20: Nancy Gardner, UUC member and a licensed professional counselor, will share information about Attachment Disorder in Children:causes, emotional and behavioral symptoms, and diagnosis, and treatment.
Services: June 2012
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
June 3: RevAlex, Annual Flower Communion. Come celebrate with us one of our most cherished of rituals. Please bring a flower for each member of your family to contribute to our congregational bouquet. There will be plenty of extra flowers near the podium in case you do not have one. The Annual Volunteer Awards will be presented during the service. Last day of Spring RE.
Special music was provided during the service by Wayne Neu (voice) accompanied by Jared Gibbs (piano).
All are invited to the RE Ice Cream Social following the service as we give thanks to our RE teachers and advisors.
June 10: Rev. Don Southworth, Conversation with Rev. Don Southworth. Joining us today is the Rev. Don Southworth, Executive Director of the UU Minister's Association. Members of our congregation who heard Don speak last summer at General Assembly in Charlotte requested that Don bring his wisdom to Blacksburg to share with our congregation. Today, we gather in worship to celebrate Don's willingness to fulfill that request.
Special music was provided during the service by Amado Ohland (voice) accompanied by Jared Gibbs (piano).
Please join us for our Second Sunday Potluck following the service.
June 17: RevAlex and Elizabeth Bukey (UUC Summer Minister), WELCOME! We gather in worship today to celebrate the arrival of our first ever Summer Minister, Elizabeth Bukey. We will welcome Elizabeth and make covenant with her around her Summer Ministry with us. Elizabeth will speak to us for the first time. Come on this Sunday of Great Welcoming to also celebrate the wonders of all that we are!
Please stay for the reception following the service to welcome Elizabeth Bukey.
June 24: UUC CUUPS Members, Celebrating the Summer Solstice. The members of our newly emerging UUC CUUPS (Covenant of UU Pagans) Chapter will lead us in celebration of the Summer Solstice and longest day of the year. Join us as we worship in appreciation of all the gifts that come our way with great light and warmth!
Services: July 2012
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
July 1: The service was canceled because there was no power in most of the New River Valley because of the derecho.
July 8: Elizabeth Bukey, Let America Be America Again. As we finish our July Fourth celebrations, Elizabeth will draw on Langston Hughes' poem to reflect on our country's tension between freedom and inequality. Monna Lundberg was the Worship Associate.
Sharon Stacy provided special music during the service (voice accompanied by guitar or piano).
Please join us for our Second-Sunday Potluck following the service.
July 15: Elizabeth Bukey, The Struggle and the Power. What's the role of struggle and anger in spiritual life? We'll look at the Biblical story of Jacob wrestling with God as well as the superhero, Incredible Hulk.
July 22: RevAlex, CREATIVITY! Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, renowned psychologist who popularized the idea of “flow,” has been a major contemporary influence on our faith. Today RevAlex preaches on why congregations do well by themselves to stay conscious of Csikzentmihalyi's wisdom.
Goldie Terrell (flute) provided special music during the service.
4th-Sunday collection: Women's Resource Center (New River Valley).
July 29: Elizabeth Bukey, Out of the Depths. Despair and grief are part of our human experience. What do we cling to when life's storms shake our core?
During the service, special music was provided by Sharon Stacy (guitar and voice).
Services: August 2012
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
August 5: Elizabeth Bukey, All Praise to the
Great Web. This sermon is a reflection on community and interdependence.
August 12: Elizabeth Bukey, The Borderlands. Elizabeth will share what truth she found in metaphorical and literal borderlands, drawing on her experiences on the U.S./Mexico border.
Sharon Stacy (guitar and voice) provided special music during the service.
Please join us for our Second Sunday Potluck following the service.
August 19: Elizabeth Bukey, All Creatures of the Earth and Sky. As Unitarian Universalists, we promote respect for the interdependent web of all existence. We are part of that web, and so are the animals with which we share our lives. Come to celebrate and reflect upon the ways we are connected with all creatures. The service will be followed by an intergenerational blessing of the animals (more info to follow).
August 26: Elizabeth Bukey, A Teaching Congregation. As Elizabeth wraps up her time with us, she preaches on what she has learned from UUC about Unitarian Universalist ministry. Come to celebrate the teaching, learning, and growth we have shared together. Dick Luke was the Worship Associate for the service.
Our Fourth Sunday Collection will be donated to
Literacy Volunteers of the NRV.
Services: September 2012
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
September 2: Elizabeth Bukey, Bread and Roses: As we celebrate Labor Day, we wonder: what happened to the people who brought us the weekend? We will celebrate the contributions and complexity of labor in our society, discuss the state of organized labor in the U.S., and reflect on the spiritual and moral dimensions of work.
Music during the service was provided by Goldie Terrell (flute) and Jared Gibbs (piano).
September 9: RevAlex, Water Communion Sunday. We kick-off this new 2012-2013 Church Year with our Annual Water Communion Service. As with all communions, this is opportunity for each of us to make commitment to being part of a larger whole. The ritual is of long-standing. Come to celebrate your belonging as well as everyone else's as we mark commitment to be together as one. (Bring water you brought back from summer travels or use water provided in the communion table pitcher.) The UUC Choir will sing at the service.
Please join us for our Second Sunday Potluck following the service.
The Courage to Be sermon series draws its name from one of Paul Tillich's books. In this series of sermons, RevAlex will explore wisdom on the nature of humanity imparted to us by Tillich, Flannery O'Connor, Parker Palmer and a host of others. We'll explore how we UUC-ers share in the characteristics of all humanity as well as how we might differ. We'll review our commitment to the Interim Ministry in which we share. We will also explore what can be done to further the success of our time together before its ending next June. Stories will be told. Poignancy will be with us. Wisdom will be sought. Come of heart and mind to share in the act of communal worship on each of these three Sundays in September.
September 16: RevAlex, Courage to Be: Part One.
Music during the service was provided by Leon Kok (violin) and Jared Gibbs (piano).
September 23: RevAlex, Courage to Be: Part Two. The UUC Choir will sing at the service.
Our Fourth Sunday Collection will be donated to the Computer Empowerment Program
September 30: RevAlex, Courage to Be: Part Three.
Music during the service was provided by Leon Kok (violin) and Jared Gibbs (piano).
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets
on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in Room A. In September, the Sunday Circle only met on the third Sunday because there was a muffin farewell brucnh for our departing summer preaching minister Elizabeth Bukey.
September 16: UUC member, Carl Hansen, will lead the discussion based on a book entitled
The Righteous Mind or Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion by Johnathan Haidt, Professor of Psychology, UVA. The author explores the origins of our religious and political differences and suggests some ways to mutual understanding. He has established an online questionnaire at www.YourMorals.org designed to identify what he terms moral differences between liberals (progressives) and conservatives. Take this interesting survey and come prepared to discuss your findings.
Services: October 2012
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
October 7: RevAlex, Executive Board, UUC Choir, Strategic Planning Committee, Better & Better Celebration Sunday. We gather today in celebration of our congregational polity. Our Executive Board will roll out the new Governance Model for us. We'll also challenge one another to give more to ensure that we maintain our property in the best possible way. We'll sing. We'll share. We will revel in one another's company and all the promise of what we are as congregation.
Music during the service was provided by the UUC Choir.
October 14: Marquita Hill, David Burr and RevAlex, The Well-Rounded Good Samaritan. Today we explore the possibility of a “dialogical sermon.” Three voices will come to bear on the contemporary learnings and challenges of a parable known to most of us. Come to ponder your own insights and rumblings about what this story may still call us out to be.
Please join us for the Second Sunday Potluck following the service.
October 21: Dick Kates, In Praise of Doubt. Doubt is a shared UU value. With today's worship, we'll explore and articulate the processes of doubt that inform our liberal faith. We'll celebrate those elements of doubt that bolster our faith understandings at the same time we grow our awareness of how doubt may undermine our faith. We'll sing. We'll laugh. We'll be together, doubtful souls that we are, in celebration of all our being. The Worship Associate was Bill Patterson.
Music during the service was provided by the UUC Choir as well as by Goldie Terrell (flute) and Jared Gibbs (piano).
October 28: EarthSpirit Sisters, Celebrating Samhain. An Intergenerational Service. The pagan holiday of Samhain (pronounced “sow in” like “cow in”) is an important one in the Wheel of the Year celebrations, one which marks the cooling of the earth, the natural turning inward as grasses and gardens hunker down for the winter, and when we reflect on the many blessings of our lives. One of these blessings is the people in our lives, and in particular, those who have left this plane. We honor them and their influence in our lives on this holiday. We will create a space for photos and mementoes of our beloved family members and friends who have died. All are invited and encouraged to bring photos or special memorabilia reminiscent of people they wish to honor and remember in this service.
There will be no children's RE classes today.
Our Fourth Sunday Collection will be donated to the Interfaith Food Pantry.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets
on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in Room A.
October 7: UUC member, Judy Snoke, will lead a discussion on Obama's Race to the Top: Dismantling American Public Education. Judy has headed up a study on education for the League of Women Voters and will share much information that she has gleaned over more than two years of work.
October 21: UUC member, Marquita Hill, will lead a discussion on Malawi — A World Apart. After seven years of experience (trying to be helpful) what has she learned? What does being helpful even mean?
Services: November 2012
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
November 4: RevAlex, Losing. It's the Sunday before Election Day, and someone is sure to lose. Truth be told, all of us are set to lose ... something. Today we explore loss as necessary gateway to deepening of the spirit ... and of the deepening of congregation. This is Part One of a three-part sermon series on Congregational Foundation Strengths.
The UUC Choir will sing at the service.
November 11: RevAlex, Leadership. The new Spielberg film on Abraham Lincoln opens the Friday after this Sunday. We gather today in the shadow of Lincoln and the example he set for leadership in a democratic society. This is Part Two of a three-part sermon series on Congregational Foundation Strengths.
Today is also New Member Sunday!
Please join us for the Second Sunday Potluck following the service.
November 18: YRUU (Young Religious Unitarian Universalists), Confidence. Come to this semi-annual youth service led by our high school youth group. They will share their thoughts and perspectives along with music, readings, and more.
Grace Ross (voice and ukulele) and Hank Skutt (cello) provided music during the service.
November 25: Lay-led Service on Thankfulness. All are invited on this Sunday after Thanksgiving to bring a poem (original or not) or statement to share that expresses your feelings on what you are thankful for. You are, of course, welcome to simply listen.
Jim Kerns (voice and guitar) povided music during the service.
Our Fourth-Sunday Collection will be donated to the To Our House Program.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets
on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in Room A.
November 4: UUC member Richard Eisler will lead a discussion on the Supreme Court, part of our democracy.
November 18: Now that the election is over, UUC members Dick Kates and Morton Nadler will review and contrast chosen planks of the Democrat, Republican and Green Party platforms. This date was particularly chosen so as to avoid any hint of electioneering. It should be borne in mind that this is a purely hypothetical exercise, since the candidates elected on November 6 will in no way be bound by his (or her) party's platform.
Services: December 2012
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
December 2: RevAlex, Loving...Trusting. With today's sermon, RevAlex closes on a three-part sermon series designed to address his Interim perspective on UUC's foundational strengths and weaknesses. Today, as we begin meaningful celebration of our winter holidays, we ponder our desire for trust, the parameters of trust, and the extent to which we trust.
The UUC Choir will sing at the service.
December 9: RevAlex, Family — Take One. We live in a culture that throws message after message our way that family should be at the forefront of all we are during the holiday season. We are also part of a church community often described by folk as being their “family.” We gather on this second Sunday of Advent to ponder family. We will also celebrate the gifts of each other, this congregation, our community and world.
Please join us for the Second-Sunday Potluck following the service.
December 16: RevAlex and Karen Hager, DLFD, The Grinch, An Intergenerational Service. Come learn about the true meaning of Christmas based on The Grinch by Dr. Seuss. This is also our Mitten Tree Sunday, so bring hats, scarves, mittens and gloves to the service to decorate our tree. These winter warmers will then be donated to local agencies in the NRV to help warm those in need.
The UUC Choir will sing at the service, and Wayne Neu will sing “You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch.”
December 23: RevAlex, Family — Take Two. Because of the shootings in Newtown nine days ago, what RevAlex actually says is not what he had originally planned when he gave the sermon that title.
December 30: Under the direction of Choir Director, Ella Kromin, the UUC choir will present a concert, Brava Musica! The program consists of about a dozen pieces, including some which have been sung before and some new songs. Poetry readings by members of the choir will be interspersed among the musical numbers. Jared Gibbs will be the accompanist.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets
on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in Room A.
December 2: Religion for Atheists: What aspects of religion should atheists (respectfully) adopt? Alain de Botton suggests a religion for atheists — call it Atheism 2.0 — that incorporates religious forms and traditions to satisfy our human need for connection, ritual and transcendence. UUC member, David Warner, will lead a discussion about whether/how his ideas can be applied in our community.
December 16: UUC member, David Burr, will discuss the origins of anti-Semitism in the Middle Ages.
Services: January 2013
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
January 6: RevAlex and a Cast of Luminaries from Amongst You, A New Years Celebration of Our Congregational Democracy!. It's a Sunday for RevAlex to channel his Oprah-within as he engages a panel of UUC Luminaries on the wonders and great challenges of our Congregation. Questions will be solicited from the Congregation. Contextual teaching about our history of congregational polity will take place. We'll also do a lively update (with prizes!) on who understands what about our new UUC Organizational Chart! Come to learn, to teach, to encourage one another! Happy New Year!
During the service, the UUC Choir will sing, and special music is provided by Tyler Flowers (alto sax) accompanied by Jared Gibbs (piano).
January 13: RevAlex, You Can Get Anything You Want at Alex's Restaurant. Throughout my last twenty years of preaching, people have said repeatedly that I either do or don't &ldq uo;feed them spiritually.” With today's sermon I share of my thoughts and feelings on the minister as short order spiritual cook.
Please join us for the Second-Sunday Potluck following the service.
January 20: Bobbie Littlefield and others, UUSC (UU Service Committee) in Haiti. Today we celebrate the success that has been achieved by UUSC in Haiti and the work that is ongoing. We will view videos and hear from several in our congregation who have hands on experience with the problems there.
During the service, the UUC Choir will sing, and special music will be provided by Goldie Terrell (flute) accompanied by Jared Gibbs (piano).
Janaury 27: RevAlex, The State of the Congregation. We gather as faith community in worship this Sunday to contemplate what we've accomplished and learned in our Interim together. Focus will be on both accomplishments and ongoing challenges.
During the music, music was provided by Tommy Iafrate (clarinet), Leon Kok (viola), and
Jared Gibbs (piano).
Today's special collection will benefit UUSC's Guest at Your Table program.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets
on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in Room A.
January 6: January 22 marks the 40th anniversary of the Supreme Court's landmark Roe vs. Wade decision making abortion legal in the U.S. The UUA (Unitarian Universalist Assn.) has elected the Congregational Study/Action Issue, Reproductive Justice: Expanding Our Social Justice Calling, for its 2012–16 Statement of Conscience. UUC member, Cynthia Luke will lead a discussion on reproductive justice from a UU perspective.
January 20: Anita Puckett, Director of the Appalachian Studies Program at Virginia Tech and regular UUC visitor, will lead a discussion on serpent-handling churches in southern Appalachia. Based on her ethnographic fieldwork in southeastern Kentucky, she will discuss how their beliefs and practices present a nature-focused mode of worship and spirituality that strongly critiques a fully rational approach to salvation based on free will and conviction.
Services: February 2013
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
February 3: Sevice cancelled because of weaather.
February 10: RevAlex, Snake Handling and Other Tests of Faith. Today's service (delayed by a week because of weather) is a follow-up to the January 27 State of the Congregation address. RevAlex will go into deeper exploration of challenges before us as we grow and change.
Please join us for the Second-Sunday Potluck following the service.
February 17: UUC member, Amado Ohland, Experiencing the UU First Principle in Song and Dance. The first of the seven UU principles affirms and promotes, “the inherent worth and dignity of every person.” To Amado, this is an idea that simply makes logical sense. Have you ever had a direct experience of another's inherent worth and dignity? Amado will share the journey that led him to a powerful epiphany about the awesomeness of everyday people. Sharon Day is the Worship Associate for the service.
The UUC Choir will sing at the service.
February 24: Rev. Christine Brownlie, What in the World Is a Minister Emerita? One of the greatest moments of my life was when this Congregation honored me with the title “Minister Emerita”. I'd like to explore with you what this title means and how ministers so honored can be an asset to the congregation and a help to the minister.
Music will be provided during the service by Finn Roberts & Jared Gibbs (both on piano).
The Fourth Sunday collection will benefit Micah's Backpack.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets
on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in Room A.
February 3: Cancelled because of the weather.
February 17: Jim Copenheaver, UUC member, will lead a discussion on Voltaire's Alphabet of Wit, a series of short sayings.
Services: March 2013
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
March 3: RevAlex, Logos and Mythos: Church done well requires much more of us than just our rational selves. Today we ponder the gifts of bringing our full being into congregation. We may even get up and do something!
The UUC Choir will sing at the service.
Please stay for the Congregational Conversation following the service.
March 10: Rev. Karen Day, Being Empty and Being Hungry: Can emptiness and hunger lead us to fullness? We'll look at how emptiness can be a guide and how Plenty! feeds our hungers. Reverend Karen Day is Co-Director of Plenty!, which nourishes community and feeds hungry neighbors by growing and sharing food. She currently lives in Floyd and has been a guest speaker at UUC many times. (Reminder: Daylight Savings Time begins today.)
Please join us for the Second-Sunday Potluck following the service.
March 17: Carter Turner, Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Radford University and former UUC member, The Way of Water: What H2O Can Teach Us About Ourselves and the World. Many religious traditions use the metaphor of water to convey their most sacred ideas. Carter will explore those metaphors and the wisdom found in one of nature's basic elements.
Goldie Terrlel (flute) & Jared Gibbs (piano) — as well as the UUC Choir — will perform during the service.
March 24: RevAlex, Pastors One and All. It's a Sunday to celebrate our congregation's Lay-Pastoral-Care Ministry. We will also wrestle with the call for each of us to pastor. Could it be that each of us is a Good Shepherd In-the-Making? Sure hope so! (Due to an unexpected snow that morning, the service was called off. But 70 people — as well as the musicians — showed up so the service was held.)
Music during the service was provided by Tommy Iafrate (clarinet), Leon Kok (viola), and Jared Gibbs (piano).
The Fourth Sunday collection will benefit the Humane Society of Montgomery County
March 31: RevAlex, Easter Sunday Celebration. We gather on Easter Sunday to renew commitment to our congregation. We'll share in communion and celebrate the coming of Spring! We'll also begin to ponder the wonder of our congregation becoming.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets
on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in Room A.
March 3: Jim Flowers, UUC president this year, will beta-test a soon-to-be-published booklet titled “How Our Congregation Works”. Jim will also take questions and gratefully receive comments on efforts to encourage and enable members to engage more actively in all aspects of congregational life.
March 17: UUC member Morton Nadler will lead a discussion on “What Is a UU?”. He thought he knew, but the more he looked into it, the more he realized that the only model he had was the few UUs he knew personally &mspace; and especially himself. What conclusions can we draw from such a small sample?
Services: April 2013
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
April 7: RevAlex, Stewarding. It's our Stewardship Sunday Celebration! Festivities will abound even as we delve deeply into how congregation calls each of out to the work of stewarding. Children will have their own special activities.
Music is provided by both the UUC Choir and also Jared Gibbs (piano), John Petrie (bass), & Nathan Alexander (drums)
An informational meeting will be held following the service to answer your questions about our ministerial candidate, candidating week, and the congregational meeting to vote for calling Rev. Dara Olandt as our settled minister following the service. Childcare provided.
April 14: Rev. Dara Olandt, With Bright Visions and Bold Hearts — “For All That Is Our Life.” We come together in congregational life to nourish our spirits, to share, dream and grow together. How does Unitarian Universalism strengthen our hearts for the journey? What shared callings and visions will inspire the next chapters of life at UUC? All are welcome for celebration, reflection and spiritual renewal. Molly Lazar, member of Search Committee, paraticipates in the service.
Music is provided by Amado Ohland (tenor) and Jared Gibbs (piano).
Please join us for the Second-Sunday Potluck following the service.
April 21: Rev. Dara Olandt, Awakening the Promise of Beloved Community. How might we live full-hearted, as Beloved Community within and beyond congregational walls? How do we embrace our own “part” in the world of today? All are welcome for celebration, reflection and spiritual renewal.
The UUC Choir will sing during the service.
A Congregational Meeting will be held following the service to vote on calling Rev. Dara Olandt as our settled minister. Childcare provided.
April 28: RevAlex, Tales to Curl Your Hair — Part One. We're wrapping up our Interim together! We're looking back at what we've done with particular focus on the places of learning and love. Given our collective sense of humor, we'll also want to be sure to retell the stories that brought laughter our way. Come to celebrate all the good work of our faith in which we've shared.
Music is provided during the service by Tommy Iafrate (flute), Leon Kok (violin), & Jared Gibbs (piano).
The Fourth-Sunday Collection will benefit the NAACP Scholarship fund.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets
on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in Room A.
April 7: Dr. Fatemeh Zarghami, a physician from Iran is currently in Blacksburg while her husband completes his doctorate in Public Policy at Virginia Tech. She will talk about her life in Iran and answer questions from the group.
April 21: The Ministerial Search Process: This is what you've all been waiting for! Frank Napolitano and Isabel Berney will relate the two-year search process which culminates in a Congregational vote on this very day. They will talk about the challenges, the fun, the work, and the rewards. Do you wonder why the UUA has guidelines for this process? You can express your opinion. There may even be an appearance by Rev. Dara if she is able to take time before delivering the Sunday sermon.
Services: May 2013
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
May 5: RevAlex, Tales to Curl Your Hair — Part Two. We're wrapping up our Interim together! We're looking back at what we've done with particular focus on the places of learning and love. Given our collective sense of humor, we'll also want to be sure to retell the stories that brought laughter our way. Come to celebrate all the good work of our faith in which we've shared.
The UUC choir will sing at the service. In addition, music will be provided by Tommy Iafrate (piano), Leon Kok (violin), Brooke Mahanes (violin), Susan Kirchhausen (viola), and Susan Barrett (cello).
May 12: Rev. Dr. Paul Rasor, UU Theologian, The Power of Hope. Read the article about Rev. Rasor on page 4 of the May newsletter, and don't miss the opportunity to hear this very special guest.
The UUC Choir will sing at the service. Additional music is provided by Goldie Terrell (flute) and Jared Gibbs (piano).
Please join us for the Second-Sunday Potluck following the service.
May 19: Middle-School Youth Group (MSYG): Members of the group will enlighten us on the many different religions they have studied and/or visited this past year.
Music will be provided during the service by Sharon Stacy (piano, voice, and guitar).
An Informational Meeting will be held following the service.
May 26: Young Religious Unitarian Universalists (YRUU), The Journey. Our high school youth group will tell us all about their recent and wonderful trip to Boston and will include a slide show and reflections. The program includes usic by Grace Ross (voice and ukelele).
The Fourth-Sunday collection will benefit RAFT (NRV's Crisis Hotline) and the Mental Health Association of the NRV).
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets
on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in Room A.
May 5: Karen Cairns will talk about how she lives on a spiritual and environmental path. Karen has a doctorate in environmental education, a master's degree in public health, was active with Sustainable Blacksburg, and is an Ashtanga Yoga practitioner who studies in India every year.
May 19: We Lucked Out. Morton Nadler, UUC member, will discuss personal experience that has taught him that leaders of a revolution may not be the ones to build a new government after successfully overthrowing the old. The framers of our Constitution were a rare exception. Yet the Constitution still bears some birthmarks of the struggles that gave birth to our United States of America.
Services: June 2013
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
June 2: RevAlex, Flower Communion. We mark the beginning of summer in this annual coming together of our congregation. We'll celebrate the wonder of our being. We'll take note of our challenges. We'll re-covenant to begin again in love. Please bring a flower for each member of your family to contribute to our community bouquet. There will be extra flowers near the podium in case your don't have one. The Annual Volunteer Awards will be presented at the service. This is the last day of Children's Spring RE classes.
The UUC Choir will sing during the service, and there will be a piano duet by Finn Roberts & Jared Gibbs.
The Annual Meeting will be held immediately following the service.
June 9: Rev. Dale Jenkins,
Faith vs. Gay: The Wrestling Match.
Dale Jenkins,
an advanced instructor in Communications at VT, is an outstanding public speaker who holds a Masters
of Divinity from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Raised in the Baptist
tradition, he comes to our pulpit today as a gay man to speak of his own
personal struggles within the context of our larger culture challenge. RevAlex
lobbied Dale to speak to us and encourages each of you to be here to enjoy his
wisdom, wit and great good humor! There will be no Children's RE classes today.
Please join us for the Second Sunday Potluck following the service.
June 16: RevAlex, Parting Glances: Part One. Our Interim Minister, RevAlex, begins sharing his final thoughts with us in today's sermon.
The UUC Choir will sing for the last time until late August. Music is also provided by Merideth McCree (oboe) and Jared Gibbs (piano).
There will be an Ice Cream Social sponsored by the Children's RE Committee immediately following the service. All are welcome.
June 23: RevAlex, Parting Glances: Part Two. RevAlex concludes the sharing of final thoughts and feelings about our Interim together.
We will celebrate RevAlex's Interim with us on this day. Plan to arrive at 9 AM to begin the celebration. Childcare will be provided for children of all ages.
The Fourth Sunday collection will benefit the Montgomery County Emergency Assistance Program.
June 30: Au Revoir. Interim Transition Team Member George Lally will lead us in closing Interim Worship today. RevAlex joins the Congregation in the “pews.” We will celebrate the complex goodness of parting. Come, Come, Whoever You Are!
Music is provided during the service by Sharon Stacy (piano, voice, and guitar).
Sunday Circle does not meet during the summer
Services: July 2013
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
July 7: Annual Poetry Slam. This Sunday, we kick off a summer of lay-led worship services with our annual Poetry Slam. John Imbur hosts one of our favorite summer Sundays. All are welcome to bring a favorite poem to read aloud.
Music is provided during the service by Sharon Stacy (piano, voice, and guitar).
July 14: UU Hymn Sing. Join host Bill Patterson for a Sunday of singing a selection of UU hymns. UUC members will introduce their favorite hymns, tell a little of the history of each, and then we will sing them together. Have you wondered where some of our beloved songs come from? This Sunday is your chance to find out!
Please join us for the Second Sunday Potluck following the service.
July 21: The Reverend Bill Gupton, Why I Am a Universalist? Rev. Bill Gupton drops by to offer us the good news of Universalism — and maybe a word or two about SUUSI, the Southeast UU Summer Institute, which begins today in Radford. Though he has served as a UU minister in Ohio now for 17 years, he has Southern roots — as you'll be able to tell when he speaks — and a passion both for the Universalist side of our UU family tree and for SUUSI (which he will be attending for the 32nd consecutive time). Bill has served the Heritage Universalist Unitarian Church in Cincinnati (“where the &lsqup;Universalist’ comes first”) since 2002. Heritage is the former congregation of the Hagers, and Bill looks forward to co-leading worship with Karen today.
Music is provided during the service by Sharon Stacy (piano, voice, and guitar).
July 28: Dr. Russell Gregory, Living Fiction: How's the Plot Working for You? Dr. Gregory, beloved Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at Radford University, is our guest speaker today. He will talk about what he learned as he read James Hillman's book, Healing Fictions, and read selections from the book. (Morton Nadler remarks, “Those of you who knew Russell when he was a regular preacher in our pulpit will remember that it didn't matter what he said he'd talk about; it was always fascinating.”) Morton and Stephanie Gilmore will be the co-conveners.
The Fourth Sunday collection will benefit our local Planned Parenthood (see page 6 for more info).
Music is provided during the service by Sharon Stacy (piano, voice, and guitar).
Sunday Circle does not meet during the summer
Services: August 2013
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
August 4: Grail Mountain Seekers CUUPs and EarthSpirit Sisters, Celebrating Lammas. You are invited to a celebration of Lammas (also called Lughnasadh), the holiday of the first fruits of the harvest. We acknowledge the turning of the wheel of the year as the days shorten, and we wind our way toward Autumn. You are welcome to bring items representing the harvest in your life to place on the altar. These could be fruits or vegetables ripening in your garden, flowers blooming in your yard, or small items of personal significance which speak to another type of harvest, perhaps a personal goal you have reached or milestone you have passed recently in your life. These items will grace our altar for the duration of the service, at the end of which they will be returned to their owners.
Music is provided during the service by Erica Sipes (piano) and Leon Kok (violin).
August 11: Paula Markham, Dances of Universal Peace. Ever wondered about the Dances of Universal Peace that are listed on our UUC calendar every month? This service will answer your questions and give you a chance to experience this form of “moving meditation” that combines sound, simple movements, and sacred phrases from the world's spiritual traditions. Everyone can participate in some way — you don't have to be a “dancer” to experience the joy and peace of connecting with spirit and your fellow humans. Paula Markham, the worship leader for this service, has been leading the dances in Blacksburg for over 30 years.
Music is provided during the service by Sharon Stacy (gitar) and Jeff Tiebout (percussion).
Please join us for the Second Sunday Potluck following the service.
August 18: Don Johnson, Ethical Culture Society leader, The Sacred Restlessness of Uncertainty. Don will explore the doubt and virtues of uncertainty in our intellectual musings and our spiritual journeys. In the second part of his sermon, he intends to emphasize the commonality and opportunity we share in seeking to cope and be positive in dealing with the larger uncertainties of life. Don's wife, Beverley Collier, does the Reading, and Sharon Day is the Worship Associte for the service.
August 25: Rev. Dara Olandt, Beginning in Joy. This Sunday we celebrate the beginning of our ministry journey with Dara. We'll explore: what can it mean to be led by joy and to “lead with joy”? What does joy challenge in us? Reveal to us? We will prepare for the turning of the season as a time for celebration, for personal and collective renewal. All are welcome. UUC President, Laureen Blakemore, does the Reading.
Music is provided during the service by Natalie & Jared Gibbs (piano for four hands).
The Fourth Sunday collection will benefit the Valley Interfaith Childcare Center.
All are invited to the Appreciation Reception to welcome Rev. Dara and to thank our Ministerial Search Committee following the service.
Sunday Circle does not meet during the summer
Services: September 2013
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
Each month, Rev. Dara's services will focus on a particular theme. This month, the theme will be WELCOMING: How do we welcome one another, our neighbors, the “stranger” and &ldquo,the other”? How might we create new spaces for welcome within ourselves, UUC and the world of which we are a part?
September 1: Rev. Dara Olandt, Season of Transformation: The Days of Awe. In Jewish tradition, the ten days beginning with Rosh Hashanah and ending with Yom Kippur are known collectively as “The Days of Awe.” What can the meanings of this festival time have for us as Unitarian Universalists? How might this season of introspection challenge and open us? All are welcome for this service of contemplation and renewal.
Music is provided during the service by Jared Gibbs (piano) and Leon Kok (violin).
September 8: Rev. Dara Olandt, Ingathering Service, Merging of the Waters. UUC's Annual Water service! We travel diverse paths to meet in the common house of Unitarian Universalism. This Sunday we honor the individual's path and celebrate our congregation as a whole. Please bring a small portion of water with significance from your summer. The waters will be gathered and merged as part of our service. All are welcome for this special Sunday!
Music is provided during the service by the UUC Choir.
Please join us for the Second-Sunday Potluck following the service.
September 15: Rev. Dara Olandt, Legacies and Promises, Embracing “Our Theological House”. How do we create liberal religious communities of hope and radical, restorative welcome in the complex world of today? What theological ideas helped to form the common “theological house” we call “Unitarian Universalism”? How is our liberal religious movement changing in the 21st century? Might we be keepers of a dream for generations long after? Join together for engaging and heartening exploration of these questions and more.
Music is provided during the service by the UUC Choir.
September 22: Rev. Dara Olandt, Deepening the Welcome. Years ago, UUC became an official Welcoming Congregation, intentionally committed to welcoming all people, and specifically folks who identify as LGBTQ. Today, what can it mean to “deepen our congregational welcome”? What are our personal, and congregational “growing edges”? How does honoring differences within our human unity challenge us to spiritual growth? All are welcome for this service of hope and celebration. Rev. Dara is assisted during the service by UUC member KC Arcenau, who reads the Opening Words and shares a Reflection.
Music is provided during the service by Jared Gibbs (piano) and Natalie Gibbs (marimba).
The Fourth Sunday collection will benefit Literacy Volunteers of the NRV.
September 29: The service today includes reflections on Welcoming and Hospitality by three members of the Congregation: Matquita Hill, Kerry Sangster, and Bill Patterson. Bill also is the convener for the service.
Music is provided during the service by Leon Kok and his Quintetto Carabelli: Jacob Roege (violin 1), Charles Robert Shafer (violin 2), Brooke Mahanes (viola 1), Alistair Leon Kok (viola 2), Vanessa Belknap (violon/cello).
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets
on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in Room A.
September 1: Sam Pincus, retired history professor from Piedmont Virginia Community College and Linda Power's brother-in-law, will lead a discussion on Being Jewish — A Personal Explanation. What does it mean to be Jewish? Is it a matter of belief, of intellect, or of emotion? Is it a way of thinking or a way of acting? Does our belief affect our life, or does our life affect our belief? Each Jew has his or her own answer. His belief starts with the statement in the Talmud that God declared, “Better that the children of Israel abandon Me, but follow My laws.” Come for a personal perspective on life as a Jew.
September 15: David Burr, UUC member, will lead a discussion on What I Learned at The Inquisition. He cautions that it will not include any serious discussion about the medieval inquisition in itself.
Services: October 2013
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
Each month, Rev. Dara's services will focus on a particular theme. This month, the theme will be REMEMBERING:
We must welcome the future, remembering that soon it will be the past; and we must respect the past,
remembering that it once was
all that was humanly possible. — George Santayana
How do you create new memories? How do you recall what is most important?
October 6: Rev. Dara Olandt, Time Keeps on Slipping Into the Future. This Sunday we kick off our monthly theme,& Remembering. We'll be talking about our human relationship to time - and how language shapes relationship to time. In the West, we often speak of ldquo;spending,rdquo; ldquo;using,rdquo; and ldquo;losingrdquo; time. Is time a precious resource?
The UUC Choir will sing at the service.
October 13 : Deepening the Welcome Part II — National Coming Out Day. This is the second in a three-part series exploring what it can mean to “Deepen the Welcome” for LGBTQ folks at UUC and beyond our congregational walls. The service is led by three UUC members: Jane Mahone, Diane Jackson, and Jane Aronson.
Please join us for the Second Sunday Potluck following the service.
October 20: Rev. Dara Olandt, Do Generations “Collide”? Gloria Steinem writes, “across the generations there is as much to learn as there is to teach.” What is there to learn and to teach as we share across the generations? What shapes “a generation”? How does multi-generationalism enrich us? Challenge us? Inspire us?
The UUC Choir will sing at the service.
October 27: Rev. Dara Olandt, Casting Forth Light, Considering Eternity — Remembrance Service. Today we recognize and celebrate the lives of those who have passed on from life but are carried forward in our hearts and memories. We acknowledge the wisdom in the traditions of Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) and Samhain (conclusion of harvest season and moving towards winter). Please bring an object or photo of a loved one to share on the altar we create together along with a non-perishable food donation for It's Scary to be Hungry.
Music is provided duinr ghe service by Kit Currie (Alto), Leon Kok (Violin), Jacob Roege (Viola), Nicole Paglialonga (Violin), David Feldman (Cello).
The Fourth Sunday collection will benefit the Interfaith Food Pantry.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets
on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in Room A.
October 6: UUC member, Carl Hansen, will lead a discussion on Economics. What is wealth? How is it created and how should it be allocated? These are age-old questions that have occupied the attention of such disparate writers as Adam Smith, Stuart Mill, Jeremy Bentham, Henri de Saint Simon, Auguste Comte, Karl Marx and most recently J.M Keynes, as well as a host of lesser-known writers and thinkers. Each of these has had a profound influence on the evolution of economic history. Carl will attempt to present their thoughts, and how they have influenced modern economic thought.
October 20: UUC members, Dick Kates and Searcy Bason, will lead a discussion on the Metaphysics of a Course in Miracles.
Services: November 2013
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
Each month, Rev. Dara's services will focus on a particular theme. This month, the theme will be THANKING.
November 3: Rev. Dara Olandt, Solidarity Is a Spiritual Practice. The English word “solidarity” derives from the French, meaning solid and interdependent. How is solidarity a framework for ethical living in today's world? In what ways is solidarity a spiritual practice?
The UUC Choir will sing at the service.
November 10: Waking the Vision, Beloved Community — Installation of Rev. Dara Olandt as Settled Minister. In this special service, we formally covenant with our settled minister. Guest ministers include Rev. Lydia Ferrante-Roseberry (preaching), Rev. Lindi Ramsden, Revs. Cathy and Heather Rion Starr, Rev. Marti Keller, Rev. Jamie McReynolds, and a representative from the UUA Southeast District. The service will also feature our UUC Choir. A reception will follow the service.
November 17: Rev. Dara Olandt, Transgender Day of Remembrance (Deepening the Welcome Part III). Leslie Feinberg, author of Trans Liberation writes, “Gender is the poetry each of us makes out of the language we are taught.” This Sunday we positively honor transgender identities and realities. This service coincides with National Transgender Day of Remembrance and is the last in a series of three exploring ways to Deepen the Welcome for folks who identify as LGBTQ in our congregation and community. All are welcome.
The UUC Choir will sing at the service.
November 24: YRUU (Young Religious Unitarian Universalists). This annual service is led by members of UUC's high school youth group. They will share their thoughts and perspectives along with music, readings, and more. Come and support our youth!
Special music is provided during the service by Grace Ross (voice and guitar) andFinn Roberts (piano).
The Fourth Sunday collection will benefit the Women's Resource Center.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets
on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in Room A.
November 3: UUC member, Dan Taylor, professor of Agricultural and Applied Economics at VT: Current Observations on Economic Development in Africa and Gay Rights in that part of our world.
November 17: Jim Politis, chair of the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors, A Perspective on Growing Hemp in the U.S......Perhaps in Virginia.
Services: December 2013
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
Each month, Rev. Dara's services will focus on a particular theme. This month, the theme will be WAITING.
In this season we honor the darkness and the period of waiting before light returns.
What is your approach to “waiting”? In what ways does waiting challenge us? Teach us?
December 1: Rev. Dara Olandt, The Gift of Creativity. Mathew Fox has written, “Creativity keeps us creating the life we wish to live and advancing humanity's purpose as well.” How does creativity keep us connected to the sacred or holy? How does the creative process relate to the journey of the spirit and community? No RE classes today.
The UUC Choir will sing at the service.
December 8: Service cancelled because of freezing rain.
December 15: Rev. Dara Olandt and Karen Hager, DLFD ...and ALL, Charlie Brown No-Rehearsal Christmas Pageant: Come journey into the heart of the holidays by participating in this multigenerational service. We'll play, laugh and sing together while remembering the teachings of Christmas. Bring your good humor and playful spirit!
Special music provided during the service by Jared Gibbs (piano), Patrick Turner (bass), Nathan Alexander (drums), Amado Ohland (vocals)
December 22: Rev. Dara Olandt, Blessing Light and Darkness. In wintertime, we experience the recession of light and periods of darkness. The world's religious traditions offer teachings about welcoming darkness and waiting for light. This Sunday, we explore together the gifts of light and what can be learned by &ldqup;waiting” in the darkness.
The UUC Choir will sing at the service.
December 24 (Tuesday) at 6:30 PM: UUC Christmas Eve Service. Celebrate Christmas Eve together at UUC. The service includes singing and candle lighting. All are welcome. Stay following the service for warm drinks, cookies and conversation.
December 29: Dr. Norman Bakken, A Journey of Faith. What is a “journey of faith”? Guest speaker Norman K. Bakken, Ph.D., shares his personal odyssey to develop a fitting approach to his faith. Dr. Bakken is a former Lutheran pastor and has taught in the US, as well as Brazil, the West Indies, Africa, India and Indonesia. He is a retired professor of biblical literature and languages. No RE classes today. Nursery care provided.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in Room A.
December 1: The Pursuit of Happiness is the title of a week-long program this past summer at the Chautauqua Institute in NY. Bobbie Littlefield will share some thoughts and “tools” that were provided at a workshop she attended and will describe some of the wonders of The Chautauqua Institute, in general.
December 15: How Some UUs Celebrate Christmas. Christmas is often a time of unease for some UUs. Do we celebrate a traditional Christian holiday? Do we honor the pagan tradition? Are we from other religious traditions that never celebrated Christmas? Come hear a panel of UUs talk about how they approach and mark this holiday.
Services: January 2014
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
Each month, Rev. Dara's services will focus on a particular theme. This month, the theme will be JUSTICE.
What is the connection between justice and your spiritual and religious life? How is justice-seeking a “creative force”?
As my sufferings mounted I soon realized that there were two ways in which I could respond to my situation - either to react with bitterness or seek to transform the suffering into a creative force. I decided to follow the latter course.
January 5: Peter Olandt: Beloved Economy. How do we create a Beloved Economy that supports the concept of Beloved Community of which Martin Luther King Jr. wrote and preached? Our guest speaker, Peter Olandt, M. Div., is a graduate of Starr King School for the Ministry and is founding team member of Beloved Cafe, a new Unitarian Universalist-inspired cafe and community hub launching in California's Bay Area. Beloved Cafe was recently featured in UU World magazine
at this link. Peter is husband of our minister, Dara. Peter and Dara met in seminary in 2006 in a course titled Spirituality and Social Transformation. All are welcome for this celebratory service as we kick off our month's theme of Justice.
The UUC Choir will sing at the service.
January 12: Rev. Dara Olandt, Jazz 'n Justice and The Ability to Improvise. Does “justice-making” have anything to do with jazz and improvisation? Join us this morning as we explore the connections between spirituality, ethics… and jazz! All are welcome.
All are invited to stay for the Second Sunday Potluck following the service.
January 19: Rev. Dara Olandt, Bending the Arc of the Moral Universe. Dr. King said famously: “... The arc of the moral universe is long but it bends towards justice.” Dr. King was influenced in his thoughts by the Unitarian preacher, Theodore Parker. In 1858 Parker spoke about the “arc of the moral universe.” Today, we celebrate the connection between Dr. King's teachings and our Unitarian Universalist values.
The UUC Choir will sing at the service.
January 26: Alvin Humes, President of our local NAACP, with UUC member Frank DuPont, Weaving a Tapestry of Community. What does it take to weave a tapestry of
justice-seeking community? How do we connect with one another in ways that make a
difference, and in what ways is racial justice work alive here in the New River
Valley? All are welcome for this service of celebration and hope.
Special music provided during the service by Leon Kok (violin), Cameron Williams (cello), Jared Gibbs (piano).
The Fourth Sunday collection will benefit Guest at Your Table.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in Room A.
January 5: Carl Hansen, UUC member will discuss the Psychology of Marketing. Carl will explore some of the more recent techniques and ideas behind marketing campaigns. They are not quite as innocent as one might be led to believe. He finds some of these to be interesting and a bit “disturbing.”
January 19: Bill Clarkson, UUC member, Is the World Committing Demographic Suicide? Bill will tell us about some convincing research showing a trend toward human population DECLINE.
Services: February 2014
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
Each month, Rev. Dara's services will focus on a particular theme. This month, the theme will be CARING.
How do you use your power to express care for those around you?
Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word,
a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring,
all of which have the potential to turn a life around?
Leo Buscaglia, Educator
February 2: Rev. Dara Olandt, A Rose In Wintertime. “I'll bring you hope, when hope is hard to find. I'll bring a song of love, and a rose in the wintertime.” These lines in a popular UU hymn remind us of the transforming power of caring presence — especially in bleak times. In today's service we'll explore the tricky and transforming aspects of both giving care and receiving care. For some, lending a helping, caring hand is no problem. Yet, receiving help is far harder. Why? What can we learn about the gifts of receiving help, as well as offering it? All are welcome as we celebrate caring community this Sunday!
The UUC Choir will sing at the service./p>
February 9: Karen Hager, Director of Lifespan Faith Development, Faith Formation. This Sunday we explore and celebrate UU “faith formation”.
Music will be provided during the service by UU Music Breakfast Club: Jim Kern (guitar, banjo, vocals); Peter Golladay (guitar, ukulele); Natalie Gibbs (ukulele, flute, piano, percussion, vocals); Jared Gibbs (piano,trumpet, vocals)
All are invited to stay for the Second Sunday Potluck following the service.
February 16: Rev. Dara Olandt, The Arts of Living Language. Gary Chapman suggests that all people have a primary “love language”. Is this framework helpful? If so, what happens when our “primary love language” differs from those we care for and about?
February 23: Rev. Dara Olandt, Universe & Web: Perils and Promises of Ecological Theologies. Is there relationship between how we tending the spirit and how we tend the planet? What inspires and challenges us about ecological theology?
Music will be provided during the service by UU Music Breakfast Club: Meredith McCree (oboe, vocals); Cameron Williams (cello); Natalie Gibbs (ukulele, vocals); Nancy Norton (ukulele, vocals); Jane Mahone (ukulele, vocals); Jared Gibbs (piano).
The Fourth Sunday collection will benefit the UU Congregation in Charleston, WV/Freedom Industries Chemical Spill.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in Room A.
February 2: Manna Lundberg, UUC friend, will make a presentation and lead a discussion on The Concept of Faith in Buddhism.
February 16: Jim Copenheaver, UUC member, will present a program on The Second Law of Thermodynamics, and How It Affects Human Beings.
Services: March 2014
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
Each month, Rev. Dara's services will focus on a particular theme. This month, the theme will be AWAKENING.
All month we'll be considering what it means to break open into new perspectives on living. For your reflection, you are invited to consider this poem:
What to Remember When Waking by David Whyte
In that first hardly noticed moment in which you wake, coming back to this life from the other more secret, moveable and frighteningly honest world where everything began, there is a small opening into the new day which closes the moment you begin your plans.
What you can plan is too small for you to live.
What you can live wholeheartedly will make plans enough for the vitality hidden in your sleep.
To be human is to become visible
while carrying what is hidden as a gift to others
.
To remember the other world in this world is to live in your true inheritance.
You are not a troubled guest on this earth, you are not an accident amidst other accidents you were invited from another and greater night than the one from which you have just emerged.
Now, looking through the slanting light of the morning window toward the mountain presence of everything that can be what urgency calls you to your one love?
What shape waits in the seed of you
to grow and spread its branches
against a future sky?
Is it waiting in the fertile sea?
In the trees beyond the house?
In the life you can imagine for yourself?
In the open and lovely white page on the writing desk?
March 2: Rev. Dara Olandt, Doubt & Faith. “Cherish your doubts, for doubt is the attendant of truth. Doubt is the key to the door of knowledge; it is the servant of discovery.” These are lines from Robert T. Weston. Does it ring true that doubt is the handmaiden of truth? Is there a connection between “doubt” and “faith”? All are welcome to this service of exploration and celebration.
The UUC Choir will sing at the service./p>
March 9: Rev. Dara Olandt, Her-Stories: Voices from UU Women's History. This morning we celebrate International Women's Day by lifting forward voices from UU Women's history. To what do these prophetic voices call our attention today?
Music will be provided during the service by UU Music Breakfast Club: Leon Kok (violin), Peter Golladay (guitar), Jane Mahone (vocals, Nancy Norton (vocals), Jane Hendricks (vocals), Natalie Gibbs (vocals, and ukulele), Jared Gibbs (piano)
All are invited to stay for the Second Sunday Potluck following the service.
March 16: Rev. Jennifer Owen-O'Quill, Grace and Grit. Sharing stories and spiritual insights of surviving, thriving, growing and getting by, Rev. Jennifer offers up some touchstones we can count on as we navigate our ups and downs. Rev. Jennifer is a church planter and life coach whose work is focused on spiritual leadership and personal vitality. She is currently living in Roanoke where her husband is serving as interim minister to the Roanoke UU congregation. Frank Nepalitano is the Worship Associate.
The UUC Choir will sing at the service.
March 23: Rev. Dara Olandt, How Do You Spell “G-d”?... or “the great G-D sermon”. How do you spell “God”? Big “G”? Little “g”? Is this word dear to your heart? Do you avoid this word all together? Are you somewhat ambivalent about its use? Today we explore the word God (big and little “g”). It is perhaps the biggest and most baffling of short words in our common language. How does this word serve to help, hinder, inspire, confound, conceal or reveal? All are welcome for this service of exploration. Frank Nepalitano is the Worship Associate.
The Fourth Sunday collection will benefit Virginia CARE.
March 30: Rev. Dara Olandt with Worship Associate Amado Ohland, Awakening. Whether it is through flashes of insight or slowly dawning realization, humans have spoken about a sense of “awakening” or breaking open to new experiences of life for millennia. This morning we explore how these experiences shift our lives,
Music provided during the service by Tommy Iafrate (clarinet), Leon Kok (viola), Jared Gibbs (piano).
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in Room A.
March 2: UUC member, Bonnie Wall-Lievsay, will lead a discussion on The Two Sides of Niceness
March 16: Rev. Christine Brownlie, our Minister Emerita, The Wisdom of The Blue God. The Hindu wisdom tradition found in the Bhagavad-Gita has much to offer the busy, buzzing western mind. We'll catch a glimpse of Krishna's teachings to the warrior Arjuna as they prepare for battle against hundreds of a brave and determined foe.
Services: April 2014
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
Each month, Rev. Dara's services will focus on a particular theme. This month, the theme will be RENEWAL.
April arrives on the heels of the Spring Equinox, and this month we celebrate Passover and Easter. April becomes a time to consider these questions: Where is hope arising? Where is new life shooting forth? What is renewing itself within you?
April 6: Rev. Dara Olandt, Stewardship Committee and Congregation; Gather the Spirit, Harvest the Power. UUC Stewardship Brunch and Community Celebration: This morning we celebrate the present and future of our congregation! Enjoy a delicious brunch along with music and fellowship! This Sunday we recognize and gather the time, talent and treasure that will strengthen our congregation for our shared future! All are welcome for this joyful Sunday! Children's program provided.
The UUC Choir will sing at the service, and the UU Music Breakfast Club will provide additional music. Sunday's musicians: Meredith McCree (oboe, vocals), Natalie Gibbs (flute, ukulele, vocals), Jim Flowers (trumpet, guitar, vocals), Jim Kern (guitar, vocals), Nathan Alexander (drums) Jared Gibbs (piano).
April 13: Rev. Dara Olandt & Worship Associate Victoria Taylor, Crossing the Sea? Passover Stories for Living. Lifting up the stories and teachings of the Passover holiday, we'll explore how the themes of liberation and courage are relevant in life today. All are welcome for this service of inquiry and hope.
All are invited to stay for the Second Sunday Potluck following the service.
April 20: Rev. Dara Olandt & Director of Lifespan Faith Development Karen Hager, Easter Service and Earth Day Celebration for All Ages. Our mutigenerational service explores the wisdom and stories of the Easter holiday! We'll also celebrate the occasion of Earth Day. Join together for this engaging and joyous service for all ages.
The UUC Choir will sing at the service.
April 27: Rev. Karen Day, Feed the Soil, Feed the Soul. Renewing the soil is not just good for the planet. Let's ponder the depths to remember what the ancients knew linking the earth to the realm of death and rebirth. From burial caves to composting, we'll search for soil/soul food. Frank Napolitano was the Worship Associate for the service.
Music is provided during the service by The Shadow Lake Cello Quartet: (Mia Lazar, Charlie Skutt, Kaelan Imani, Eleanore Liske-Doorandish) and The Community Cello Works students of Lisa Liske-Doorandish and guest cellists from Tennessee and North Carolina./p>
The Fourth Sunday Collection will be donated to The Humane Society of Montgomery County.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in Room A.
April 6: UUC member Linda Powers will lead a discussion on the book The End of Faith by Sam Harris. In the book, Sam Harris delivers a startling analysis of the clash between reason and religion in the modern world. He offers a vivid, historical tour of our willingness to suspend reason in favor of religious beliefs — even when these beliefs inspire the worst human atrocities. While warning against the encroachment of organized religion into world politics, Harris draws on insights from neuroscience, philosophy, and Eastern mysticism to deliver a call for a truly modern foundation for ethics and spirituality that is both secular and humanistic.
April 20: Four UUC members: George Lally, Isabel Berney, David Burr, and Alan Heath, will recount their experiences at the February 8 Mass Moral March in Raleigh and discuss the event and movement.
Services: May 2014
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
Each month, Rev. Dara's services will focus on a particular theme. This month, the theme will be BRIDGING.
Our month-long theme, “Bridging”, invites us to consider how we may navigate the bewildering myriad of “bridges” in our lives - those “bridges” that connect stages and phases of our life experiences.
This month we'll consider what it means to “move” and “transition” between life experiences. And, this month at UUC, we will support and celebrate the bridging of our 12th graders into Young Adulthood.
All month we ask: What helps ease our ways as we humans move through transitions and across bridges large and small? How do you approach moving across “bridges” in your own life? How are you facing transitions, meeting “change” with its challenges and promises?
Also this month, we explore how people experience moving within and between distinct circles (or micro-communities) nearly each day: these may be circles of family or friends, spheres of “work” and “home”, distinct cultural, academic, spiritual or religious circles. So, this month we also ask each day, how may we cross “bridges” between the micro-worlds of our daily lives?
How strange that the nature of life is change, yet the nature of human beings is to resist change. And how ironic that the difficult times we fear might ruin us are the very ones that can break us open and help us blossom into who we were meant to be.
Elizabeth Lesser, Broken Open: How Difficult Times Can Help Us Grow
May 4: May 4: Rev. Robin Gorsline and Worship Associate Diane Jackson, Let's Be Real, for a Change! Today we explore how we, with other diverse faith communities, are making Marriage Equality a reality in Virginia. All are welcome for this service of hope and celebration. Guest speaker Rev. Dr. Robin Gorsline serves as President of POFEV: People of Faith for Equality in Virginia.
The UUC Choir will sing at the service.
May 11: Rev. Dara Olandt, Wabi Sabi World or The Perfectly Imperfect World. Wabi Sabi is a Japanese aesthetic philosophy. It means that which is “perfectly imperfect”. How do we embrace the “perfectly imperfect” in our lives and in the world? How does a notion of wabi sabi, found in art, literature, and music recall us to ways of being with oneself and others with more ease and acceptance? How do we embrace imperfection itself? In today's service we celebrate Mother's Day and offer our UU Child Dedication Ceremony for James Pursley Gibbs, Grace McElvery, and Dylan William McQuain.
Music during the service is provided by by Finn Roberts & Jared (piano: four hands).<.p>
All are invited to stay for the Second Sunday Potluck following the service.
May 18: Ella Kromin, Choir Director, Pianist Jared Gibbs and our UUC Choir with Rev. Dara Olandt, UUC's Choir Music Celebration Service:. Join together for a rich and moving array of music led by our UUC Choir! Today we also hold our New Member Recognition Ceremony.
Please stay for the Informational Meeting following the service for info on the budget and slate of officers.
May 25: YRUU (Young Religious Unitarian Universalists, our High School Youth Group), Worship Leaders, and Rev. Dara Olandt, Bridging Service. Organized and led by UUC's Youth Group, our service recognizes YRUU and specifically honors the passage of our UUC 12th graders from Youth Group to Young Adulthood. With special music, ritual and stories, all are welcome for this service of celebration and reflection as we acknowledge life's transitions. Come support this powerful youth-led service!
The Fourth Sunday Collection will be donated to the NAACP Scholarship Fund.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in Room A.
May 4: Phil Olson and Courtney Stewart of the Funeral Consumers Alliance will discuss Reducing your carbon footprint even in death.
May 18: UUC member, Anita Puckett, will discuss Rock Castle Gorge: A story of chestnuts, gold, and intrigue.
Services: June 2014
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
Each month, Rev. Dara's services will focus on a particular theme. This month, the theme will be CELEBRATING.
This month we embrace the practices of celebration! You are invited to consider this thought by Abraham Joshua Heschel, The Wisdom of Heschel:
People of our time are losing the power of celebration. Instead of celebrating we seek to be amused or entertained. Celebration is an active state, an act of expressing reverence or appreciation. To be entertained is a passive state—it is to receive pleasure afforded by an amusing act or a spectacle.... Celebration is a confrontation, giving attention to the transcendent meaning of one's actions.
What are you appreciating this month? How do you engage with the idea of “reverence” in your own life?
June 1: Rev. Dara Olandt, Flower Communion & Celebration. Join us for this long-standing Unitarian Universalist tradition — our Flower Festival or &ldqup;Flower Communion”! Today we celebrate the gifts of each unique, individual life and the diverse community we make when we come together in a human family. The origins of this tradition go back to Prague in the 1940s. All are welcome as we celebrate our living UU tradition and our beloved UUC community! Please bring a flower to share and exchange during our service!
The UUC Choir will sing at the service, and the UU Music Breakfast Club will provide special music./p>
June 8: Rev. Dara Olandt, “Worth-Ship” — Ritual and Worship for UUs. The word “worship” derives from the Latin for “worth-ship” meaning to lift up that which is worthy and of value! Today we explore what worship and ritual mean within the context of liberal religion. What do these words mean to us as Unitarian Universalists? As seekers and explorers for meaning? We also celebrate the new Worship Services Committee and Worship Associates Program! All are welcome for this joyous service.
All are invited to stay for the Second Sunday Potluck following the service.
June 15: Rev. Dara Olandt with Worship Associate Jane Mahone, Savoring Experience: Soul Conversations. Is it possible to “make a good thing last”? How do we hold on to what is “good”? What does this have to do with “opening the soul”? This Sunday we lift up the challenges and gifts of savoring experiences. We also celebrate Father's Day. All are welcome for this service of possibility.
Music is provided during the service by Leon Kok (violin) and Jared Gibbs (piano).
June 22: Rev. Dara Olandt with Worship Associate Ellen Plummer, Bless this Mess. What does it mean “to bless the mess”? How do chaos and disorder impact our spiritual and religious lives? How can we find “blessing” in the messiness? Come find out at this service of inquiry and hope. All are welcome!
The Fourth Sunday Collection will be donated to the Free Clinic of the NRV.
June 29: Worship Associate Victoria Taylor: Connectvity.
Music is provided during the service by Leon Kok (violin) and Rick Masters (piano).
Sunday Circle is on Summer break through August
Services: July 2014
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
Each month, Rev. Dara's services will focus on a particular theme. This month, the theme will be GROWING.
What does love call us to do and to be? How does reaching out to others in a spirit of love help us to grow personally, and as a faith community? What can it mean to “grow” a soul?
Life is just a chance to grow a soul
A. Powell Davies, Unitarian Minister (June 5, 1902 – September 26, 1957)
July 6: Rev. Dara Olandt, Spirit on Sale! Spiritual Materialism in Our Times. What is “spiritual materialism”? How does it help or hinder our process of spiritual and religious growth? It is said we are exposed to 250–3000 commercial ads per day. Some advertise “tools” to help us grow in spirit. Are these useful? What are the authentic resources we need to grow in our spiritual and religious journeys?
July 13: Worship Associate Victoria Taylor, UUC Annual Poetry Service. Back by popular demand! All are welcome for our lay-led summer poetry service! Please bring an original work or a published piece that inspires you! Share your voice in the service or simply hear what others have to share.
All are invited to stay for the Second Sunday Potluck following the service.
Junly 20: Rev. Dr. Morris W. Hudgins with Worship Associate Amado Ohland, Our Many Spiritual Paths. When Rev. Hudgins began ministry 42 years ago, no one asked him about his spiritual path. Today it is different. Unitarian Universalists have many spiritual paths. In this sermon he will share his journey within the context of other Unitarian Universalist faiths. (Rev. Dr. Morris Hudgins is serving as Interim Minister at the Westside UU Church in Knoxville, TN and will be leading a worship service at SUUSI (which begins today) this year.)
July 27: Rev. Jennifer Y. Ryu with Worship Associate Frank Napolitano, Let Your Life Become Your Answer. When we grow weary of the fight against the oppressive, unjust forces in the world, the Hebrew prophets can walk with us and inspire us. One of her favorites is Jeremiah. (Rev. Ryu visits us today from the UU congregation in Williamsburg, VA where she has served since 2006 and also serves as vice-president of the UU Minister's Association. She will also be leading a worship service at SUUSI.)
The Fourth Sunday Collection will be donated to the Montgomery County Emergency Assistance Program (MCEAP).
The Fourth Sunday Collection will be donated to the Montgomery County Emergency Assistance Program (MCEAP).
Sunday Circle is on Summer break through August
Services: August 2014
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
Each month, Rev. Dara's services will focus on a particular theme. This month, the theme will be RETURNING..
We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where
we started and know the place for the first time. — T.S. Eliot
This month we explore the monthly worship theme of Returning. Given the quote above, what have you been exploring in your life this summer? Do you find you “return” from summertime with some new awareness? Or with a deepening appreciation for some elements of truth you have held for many seasons? As life unfolds this fall, are there pearls of wisdom to which you may “return”... again and again?
To read Rev. Dara's reflection on "returning" this month, please see the first page of of our August newsletter.
August 3: Members of VoiceExchange (Amado Ohland, Paris Kern, and Taunya Ferguson) with Ellen Plummer, Worship Associate, Singing in the Spirit: The impulse to make music is as old as humanity itself, and the singing voice is the original musical instrument. Join us for an exploration of what it means for all people to be naturally endowed with this ability to make music - how it helps to create bonded community, comforts the sick-at-heart, and inspires transcendent wonder. Members of VoiceExchange will speak on these aspects of singing together, and more importantly, lead us in joyful, tender, and uplifting experiences in song. Let's raise our voices in song together!
August 10: Rev. Dara Olandt, The Beauty Builders. In our hymnal there is a song whose lyrics offer this instruction: “Seek not afar for beauty.” What is “beauty”? Can we replace commercial ideas of “beauty” with a sense of beauty that restores the spirit and our communities? How do we become “beauty-builders”, “beauty-growers”, and “beauty-shapers” in the world? All are welcome for this service of celebration.
Special Music is provided by Susan Barrett (piano) and Leon Kok (violin).
All are invited to stay for the Second Sunday Potluck following the service.
August 17: Rev. Dara Olandt, Beyond Binary Thinking. Much of the news frames issues in terms of polarities: one side and another side. How can we nourish our spirits to move beyond “binary thinking”? And, what opportunities arise when we break from “binary” living? All are welcome for this service of exploration. Ellen Plummer is the Worship Associate for the service.
August 24: Rev. Dara Olandt, Ingathering Water Service. After summer, we come together to celebrate UUC as a congregation of “many voices, and one common home”! All are welcome for our Ingathering Water Service! Please bring a small portion of water from home. Water can be from your tap, from the New River, or any place that holds meaning from your summer experience. (Extra water will be available for those unable to bring some, so come one and all.)The service includes reflections by UUC members: Eric Thomas, George Lally, and Ellen Plummer. Ellen also acts as the Worship Associate for the service.
The Fourth Sunday Collection will be donated to Planned Parenthood.
August 31: UUC members Marquita Hill and Isabel Berney lead a Labor Day Service. Labor Day offers us an opportunity to reflect on the history of the Labor Movement and how it connects with our UU values. On this occasion we honor economic justice and the contributions of workers from all sectors of our society. All are welcome for this service which featuring personal stories, singing, and a Labor Day litany. Ellen Plummer is the Worship Associate for the service.
Sunday Circle is on Summer break through August
Services: September 2014
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
Our settled minister, Rev. Dara Olandt is currently on maternity leave.
We are pleased to have many guest ministers participating in our services during this time.
Each month, our services will focus on a particular theme. This month, the theme will be AWE.
For September 7 & 14, “Awe-some” Women: The second source of our UU living tradition calls us to heed the words and deeds of prophetic women (and men) who confront powers and structures of evil with awe-inspiring justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love.
September 7: Rev. Marti Keller with Worship Associate Victoria Taylor, Prophetic Sisterhoods. A look at the first wave of women ministers who pioneered UUism in the American heartland with their vision of compassionate and empowering congregations. What were the joys and challenges, and where are we today with a female-inclusive movement?
Rev. Keller served as President of the UU Women's Federation and is now their affiliated minister working to promote justice and equity for women and girls and to inspire their spiritual growth.
The UUC Choir will sing at the service.
September 14: Rev. Marti Keller with Worship Associate Frank Napolitano, Unfrozen. Two hugely popular animated films, “Frozen” and “Maleficent”, show us mean girls and wonder girls. Why the huge box office, and what is the status of girls (and women) here and around the world in real time?
Prior to her ordination as a UU minister, Rev. Keller had been a professional film and theater critic and commentator on popular culture for daily, weekly and monthly publications and cable television. She is still a dedicated moviegoer, especially bargain matinees.
All are invited to stay for the Second Sunday Potluck following the service.
September 21: Rev. Marti Keller with Worship Associate Ellen Plummer, Ah Wilderness. This year is the 50th anniversary of the National Wilderness Act, which created and protects areas across the country including Alaska and Hawaii from permanent human incursion. One of the sources of our faith is the direct experience of transcending mystery and wonder — often found in places like these.
Rev. Keller was selected as an artist (poet) in residence for a project this summer which placed her in a wilderness area in the company of visual artists, photographers, and composers charged with capturing the beauty and the threats to these precious resources and exploring their gifts to us.
The UU Music Breakfast Club will perform during the service featuring Rob Fentress (guitar & vocals), Jim Kern (guitar & vocals), Natalie Gibbs (ukulele & vocals). Jared Gibbs (piano & vocals), as well a Amado Ohland, Ellen Rockett, Nancy Norton, Jane Mahone, and Jane Hendricks (vocals).
September 28: Rev. Karen Day with Worship Associate Jane Mahone, Awe-ful Dark: Exploring the Wonders of Darkness. How do you experience darkness? We will explore the terrors and treasures that lie in the dark and where they lead us.
The Fourth Sunday Collection will be donated to Plenty!.
CThe UUC Choir will sing at the service.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in Room A.
September 7: Sam Pincus (Linda Powers' brother-in-law), Anglophobia, Nationalism, Capitalism,
and Politics: The Attempt to Steal the Origins of Baseball. Abner Doubleday didn't invent baseball,
but the idea that he did is one of the most enduring myths in American history. How did it originate
and why did it prosper? The answers to these questions tell us something about baseball but, more
importantly, they tell us even more about various aspects and developments in American history.
September 21: UUC member Darrel Clowes will lead a discussion on The Role of Shape Note Music
in the Development of American Music.
Services: October 2014
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
Our settled minister, Rev. Dara Olandt is currently on maternity leave.
We are pleased to have many guest ministers participating in our services during this time.
Each month, our services will focus on a particular theme. This month, the theme will be REBELS.
October 5: Revs. Rose Edington & Mel Hoover, Co-Ministers Emeriti of UU Congregation of Charleston, WV with Worship Associate Tommy Iafrate, Dissenting for Justice: UUs and Civil Rights. Fifty years ago, in 1964, the Civil Rights movement was in full swing. Some of the issues from a half-century ago are still with us. UUs have a history of being involved in working for Civil Rights. The Reverends Edington and Hoover will offer some reflections on the Civil Rights movement, its current conditions and calls to action.
The UUC Choir will sing at the service.
October 12: Rev. Christine Brownlie, Minister Emerita of UUC with Worship Associate Jane Mahone, Where Is God When I Need Her?. Rev. Brownlie will speak about looking for hope in a time of tragedy.
We welcome New Members during the service.
All are invited to stay for the Second Sunday Potluck following the service.
October 19: UUC member, Rev. Dr. Betty Powell with Worship Associates Tommy Iafrate and Ellen Plummer. Betty will speak about her story of standing up to the Episcopal Church over women's ordination. She will connect her journey with that of one of our UU forebears.
Both the UUC Children's Choire and the (adult) UUC Choir will sing at the service.
October 5October 26: Rev. Karen Day with Worship Associate Jane Mahone, Born to Be Tame: Notes from a Reluctant Rebel. Our heritage as Unitarian Universalists is full of rebellious souls. Do you identify as a rebel? We will explore how that history and identity impact our sense of community today.
The Fourth Sunday Collection will be donated to The Blacksburg Interfaith Food Pantry.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in Room A.
October 5: UUC member Carl T. Hansen will discuss economic inequality, an ongoing problem
which could have profound effects on our society's well-being. Three books: The Theory of the
Leisure Class by Thorstein Veblen, Capital in the Twenty-First Century by Thomas Piketty, and The
Son Also Rises by Gregory Clark will serve as the basis for the discussion of a subject which has
broad societal impact.
October 19: UUC member William Baker will deliver a talk and lead a discussion on evidence-based medicine.
Services: November 2014
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
Our settled minister, Rev. Dara Olandt has been on maternity leave. She willl return to the pulpit on November 30.
Each month, our services focus on a particular theme. This month, the theme is GRATITUDE.
November 2: Members of EarthSpirit Sisters and CUUPs (Covenant of UU Pagans), Samhain Celebration: Honoring Our Beloved Dead. Join our two Earth-based spirituality groups as we honor and remember those who are no longer with us. Victoria Taylor is the Worship Associate for the service.
November 9: Rev. Christine Brownlie, Minister Emerita of UUC with Worship Associate Jane Mahone, Who Taught You How to Knit? A few months ago as I was waiting for a flight that had been delayed due to weather, I pulled out my knitting bag and began to create a little hat for the newest member of my family. A young woman sat down across from me and asked, “Who taught you how to knit?”, and suddenly I felt a presence. “Bubbie”, I answered. Today we recall and honor those people who shared their talents and skills, giving us a special gift that shaped our lives.
The UUC Choir will sing at the service.
All are invited to stay for the Second-Sunday Potluck following the service. This month only, please bring a finger food.
November 16: Rev. Karen Day with Worship Associate Tommy Iafrate, No Thanks. How does gratitude or a lack of it affect your sense of generosity? When is it difficult to give, and what do we do when it is hard to give thanks?
Both the UUC Choir and the UUC Children's Choir will sing at the service.
November 23: Members of YRUU, our High School Youth Group, Gratitude. It's important for each of us to stop and ponder what we have in our lives that we are grateful for. Come hear what provokes gratefulness in our teens. (The YRUU members lead two services a year.)
The Fourth-Sunday Collection will be donated to To Our House.
November 30: Rev. Dara Olandt returns from maternity leave. Her sermon is titled Satisfaction Guraranteed?. If not, what is guaranteed in our lives? This morning we explore two realities: our human longing and what it means to be satiated. We'll ask: What fills us up, restores us and meets our deepest longing for a life fulfilled? Frank Napolitano is the Worship Associate for the service.
Felicia Etzkorn (vocals) and Jared Gibbs (piano) will perform during the service.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in Room A.
November 2: UUC member, Dean Mook, will discuss science and religion.
November 16: UUC member, Pauletta Copenheaver, will lead a discussion on the topic “Does Charity Harm or Help Its Recipients?”, based upon the book Toxic Charity by Robert D. Lupton, and the sermon Why Servanthood is Bad given by Rev. Marti Keller.
Services: December 2014
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
Each month, our services focus on a particular theme. This month, the theme is SIMPLICITY.
Simplicity, patience, compassion.
These three are your greatest treasures.
Simple in actions and thoughts, you return to the source of being.
Patient with both friends and enemies, you accord with the way things are.
Compassionate toward yourself, you reconcile all beings in the world.
Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching
The ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu offers that “simplicity”, “patience”, and “compassion” are the three greatest treasures.
In addition to the words above, we find a Shaker hymn (written in 1848) in our gray UU hymnal. It says: Tis a Gift to Be Simple.
What do you think? Is “simplicity” a gift? What is the role of simplicity in your life? How does “simplicity” challenge you? Renew you? And if you were to strip away everything else this month, what for you is at the heart of this holiday season?
December 7: Rev. Dara Olandt, Simple Things Are Holy: Unwrapping the Gift of the Present. We dive into this month's theme of “simplicity” by “unpacking” the simple gifts in our lives. This morning we explore these questions: How does simplicity challenge us? Revive us? What is the “simplicity on the other side of complexity”?
The UUC Choir will sing at the service.
We collect mittens for our Mitten Tree during the service!
December 14: Rev. Dara Olandt, Director of Lifespan Faith Development Karen Hager, and Worship Associate Ellen Plummer, A Christmas Carol — UUC's Multigenerational No-Rehearsal Christmas Pagaent. All are welcome for this lighthearted, meaningful journey through Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol! What can warm Scrooge's cold heart this Christmas season? What messages can we take home about this special holiday?
The “Buddies” meet during the service as the Buddy Project wraps up.
The UUC Choir and Children's Choir will sing at the service.
All are invited to stay for the Second Sunday Potluck following the service.
December 21: Rev. Dara Olandt with Members of UUC's EarthSpirit Sisters, Winter Solstice Service. What is the Winter Solstice? We'll explore the winter solstice as joyful occasion for personal and collective introspection. This morning we honor the winter solstice as a time to turn inward and also cast our attention outward towards the world. All are welcome.
The UU Music Breakfast Club will perform during the service.
- Prelude: “Frozen Heart” — Anderson-Lopez/Lopez
Jane Mahone, Nancy Norton, Jane Hendricks, Kai Duncan, Felicia Etzkorn, Tommy Iafrate, Wayne Neu, Jared Gibbs, Amado Ohland (Vocals & Percussion); Natalie Gibbs (Piano); Meredith McCree (oboe)
- Offertory: “Rise Up, O Flame“ (#362 in the Grey Hymnal) — Christoph Praetorius
Jane Mahone, Nancy Norton, Jane Hendricks, Kai Duncan, Felicia Etzkorn, Wayne Neu, Natalie Gibbs (Vocals & Percussion);
Jared Gibbs (piano); Tommy Iafrate (flute);
Meredith McCree (oboe)
- Postlude: “Here Comes the Sun“ — Lennon/McCartney
December 28: Worship Associate Stephanie Gilmore, Looking Back, Looking Forward (a lay-led service): Stephanie Gilmore along with fellow Worship Associates Tommy Iafrate and Ellen Plummer offer their insight and wisdom on the past and the future. All are welcome. There are no children's Religious Education classes today, but nursery care is provided for those under 3.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in Room A.
December 7: UUC member Tim Pickering will discuss the topic Science Assumptions.
December 21: UUC member, Dick Kates, will lead a discussion on Christmas from the perspective
of A Course in Miracles.
Services: January 2015
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
Each month, our services focus on a particular theme. This month our theme in worship
is PATIENCE. Is “patience” a virtue? What is the role of “patience” in your life? What
about in your religious or spiritual life? Many of the world religious traditions teach a
variation on the notion of “patience” as a virtue. Do you think it is? Does “patience”
come easily to you? Or do you struggle to find “patience” in your life?
IN YOUR IMAGE — AN INVITATION!
What does patience “look” like to you? We invite you to look around your daily life and then take a photo of what “patience” looks like to you!
Please share your image with us at UUC by sending it to Rachel Craine, our Facebook administrator. We'll be uploading these to our UUC Facebook page to share with all during this month! Not yet a friend of our Facebook page? Simply follow this link to be able to see all the wonderful images that will be posted.
January 4: Rev. Dara Olandt, Patience, Fearlessness & “Forbearance”. Is “patience a virtue”? If so, what does this mean for our lives? This morning we explore how “patience” means not just waiting, but how we act during the period of waiting itself. All are welcome!
January 11: Rev. Dara Olandt, Everyday Ethics. “And how shall we live?” is a perennial question explored across the spectrum of the world's religious traditions. Today we examine “everyday ethics” to live by. In doing so, we lift up a few key Unitarian Universalist voices addressing this important question. All are welcome!
The UUC Choir will sing at the service.
All are invited to stay for the Second-Sunday Potluck following the service.
January 18: Rev. Dara Olandt, Now Is the Time. What teachings did Martin Luther King, Jr. offer on “patience” and “impatience”? What wisdom does King offer for social justice movement-building in our times? This morning we celebrate the living legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. We explore his messages of hope, possibility and opportunity. All are welcome!
The UUC Choir will sing at the service.
January 25: Reverends Makanah and Bob Morriss, Gifts for the Liberal Spirit. What distinguishes Unitarian Universalism from most other religious traditions is both our openness and our commitment to using a variety of sources for insight, understanding and wisdom. Join us this Sunday as we explore the six sources that are named as the second half of our UU Principles and Purposes. Which ones are most important in your current religious journey? Are there any you might like to explore more fully? Victoria Taylor is the Worship Associate for today's service.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in Room A.
January 4: UUC member Susan Baker will present a recap of the highlights, intrigue and mistakes of WWI in the Middle East and Near East and the role that T.E. Lawrence (the man and the legend) played in shaping the strategy and the outcome. Was he a hero, a traitor, or both?
January 18: Susan Baker will continue her talk about the fascinating journey of T.E. Lawrence (of Arabia) leading the Arab Revolt in the Middle East during WWI. Learn how WWI Middle East events have implications for the current Middle East and Near East. One needn't have attended part 1 on January 4 to appreciate events in part 2.
Services: February 2015
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
Each month, our services focus on a particular theme. This month our theme in worship
is INQUIRY.
Our Unitarian Universalist tradition celebrates “A free and responsible search for truth and meaning”. What does
this mean? How does the “asking of questions” help us — or hinder us — in the meaning-making adventures of our lives? How do the pathways of “inquiry” challenge us to new growth, spiritually and religiously? What questions about life and liberal religion are present for you?
February 1: Rev. Dara Olandt, Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going? Inquiry as a Practice of Growing. Today we honor the roles of “inquiry”, “seeking”, and “questing” in our own paths and shared UU tradition. Taking Paul Gauguin's painting, “Where Do We Come From, What Are We, Where Are We Going?” as a starting point, we explore some of life's most challenging questions through the lens of our liberal religious heritage.
The UUC Choir will sing at the service.
February 8: Rev. Dara Olandt with Molly & Peter Lazar, So, What's the Transylvania Connection?. Unitarianism has a fascinating and often unsung history in Transylvania. With roots in the Radical Protestant Reformation, European Unitarianism goes back to the 16th century in this part of the globe. Today we explore this history and highlight ongoing relationships between UU congregations in the U.S. and in present day Hungary and Romania.
To learn more about Unitarian Universalists' “Partner Church” program, go to http://www.uupcc.org. And, stay tuned for a post-service “Learn about Partnership Church Program” to be held in March!
All are invited to stay for the Second Sunday Potluck following the service.
The services for both February 15 and February 22 were canceled because of ice and snow.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in Room A.
February 1: Carl Hansen will review the controversial book, A Troublesome Inheritance, by Nicolas Wade. Wade argues that human races exist, and that they are the result of natural selection. Join us for what is sure to be a lively discussion!
The Sunday Circle for February 15 was canceled because of ice and snow.
Services: March 2015
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
Each month, our services focus on a particular theme. This month our theme in worship
is KNOWING.
In order to properly understand the big picture, everyone should fear becoming mentally
clouded and obsessed with one small section of truth.
Xunzi (c.312 BC-c.230 BC, Chinese Confucian philosopher)
This month in worship we explore these questions:
How does Unitarian Universalism embrace many ways of knowing? We'll celebrate and reflect upon the six “Sources” in our Unitarian Universalist living tradition. Is there a Source that is most meaningful to you? What are the particular sources of knowledge that you rely on in your spiritual and religious journey?
March 1: Rev. Dara Olandt, Mysticism, Awe & Knowledge of the “Heart”. What is the role of mysticism in Unitarian Universalism ... and in the world's religious traditions? What do ancient and contemporary “Mystics” teach? What ways of knowing are embraced and challenged by a “mystic” path? All are welcome to this service of inquiry and possibility.
Music is proviided by the UUC Choir, plus Ellen Rockett & Amado Ohland (voice) accompanied by Jared Gibbs (piano).
March 8: Rev. Dara Olandt, Sacred Texts & Opening the “Text” of Life. What is the role of “sacred texts” in Unitarian Universalism... and in the world's religious traditions? In what ways may literature, poetry, music, art, and our very lives be approached as “sacred texts”? Why do we — or should we — care? All are welcome for this service of celebration.
Music is provided during the service by Tommy Iafrate and Jared Gibbs, both on piano.
All are invited to stay for the Second Sunday Potluck following the service.
March 15: Rev. Dara Olandt, Reason & Humanism. What is “Religious Humanism”? What is the historical role of “reason” and “science” in Unitarian Universalism? What ways of knowing are embraced by these perspectives? All are welcome for this service of exploration.
The UUC Choir and Children's Choir will sing at the service.
March 22: Rev. Dara Olandt with Lay Pastoral Care Ministries Associates, A Rose in Wintertime (rescheduled for this month due to severe weather cancellation last month). In our Singing the Living Tradition hymnal is a song with lines, “I'll bring you hope, when hope is hard to find, I'll bring a song of love and a rose in the wintertime.” In this annual service, we celebrate the Lay Pastoral Care Ministries program at UUC. Today we explore the life-renewing hope which can be found in practices of giving and receiving care when humans most need it.
During the service, we welcome new members in our New Member Recognition Ceremony!
The UU Music Breakfast Club will provide the music: Kai Duncan (vocals & percussion),
Natalie Gibbs (vocals & percussion & ukulele),
Peter Golladay (guitar & vocals),
Ellen Rockett (vocals),
Jane Mahone (vocals & percussion),
Jared Gibbs (piano),
Leon Kok (viola),
Brooke Mahanes (violin).
March 29: the theme of today's service is Guiding Moral Choices. Stephanie Gilmore is the Worship leader, and Frank Nepalitano is the Worship Associate. The service includes reflections by Arthur Snoke, Amy Pruden-Bagchi, and Frank.
During the service, all were asked to write comments on cards in response to the request for ONE value or moral lesson or precept for our children. Here are the results: The Golden Rule (9 cards); Kindness (12); Respect for all/tolerance/
acceptance/equity (19); Honesty (9); Compassion (4); Generosity (4); Love (5); Care for the earth (9); No violence or killing (3); Live with justice (5). Random comments: You have the right to be happy. Embrace science. It is important to try and correct an injustice when you find one, because one person can make a difference. Be willing to take a stand on social issues and follow through from your stand. Being fortunate is not an entitlement. Work hard and be a good citizen. Work hard and be nice — that's all there is. People mostly do the best they can, given their circumstances.
Music is proviided dudring the service by Leon Kok (violin) and Jared Gibbs (piano).
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in Room A.
March 1: Today will be an open discussion of current issues. Come with several topics you would like to present and have discussed.
March 15: UUC member William (Bill) Baker will be discussing the one &ldqu;thing” you hate most—ponder what that is and be ready to discuss why you chose it, and what impact it has on you and the world in which we live, as well as any “solutions” toward diminishing this hate. Please come prepared. Each person will be given three minutes to make their case. Come join this fun and illuminating exercise!
Services: April 2015
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
Each month, our services focus on a particular theme. This month our theme in worship
is Forgiveness. This month in worship we'll ask:
What shapes our human abilities for forgiveness? What hinders our abilities to forgive? How might forgiveness expand our capacity for fulfilling lives and meaningful relationships? Why ought we speak about and practice the challenging arts of forgiveness? I invite to consider the role of “forgiveness” in your own life.
April 5: Rev. Dara Olandt with Director of Lifespac Development Karen Hager, he Blessing of Life Renewing. Today in this service for all ages we'll explore the themes of Easter, spring, and new life! Today's worship will also feature interactive “worship stations” with creative opportunities to engage all of your senses. Everyone is welcome for this service of celebration and hope.
The UUC Choir will sing at the service.
The service is followed by our Easter Egg Hunt! Search for Easter Eggs filled with dog and cat treats that will be donated to our local furry friends in need!
Today is the first Sunday in our experiment in generosity, giving ½ the plate (or basket) away to a worthy organization. Today's recipient is Literacy Volunteers of the New River Valley. The total given is $154.41.
April 12: Rev. Dara Olandt, Generous Life! What makes a person “generous”? Who is the most generous person you know? What brings this person to mind? This morning we ask what it means to live lives of generosity. We'll explore ways to, as our Stewardship theme suggests, “be generous with our time, our love, our lives.” We lift up what it means to grow and strengthen generous lives and our collective religious and spiritual home.
Music is provided during the service by Meredith McCree (oboe), Tommy Iafrate (flute), Charlie Skutt (cello), and Jared Gibbs (piano).
Please bring your pledge card and/or talent inventory to receive a leaf for the UUC “tree of life”! More supplies will be available at the door. Note: A UUC Beloved Community Celebration will occur on Sunday, May 17 and include a post-service All Congregation Picnic. We'll celebrate the full conclusion of the Stewardship season this year with feasting and fun for all!
All are invited to stay for the Second Sunday Potluck following the service.
The ½-plate recipient this week is New River Family Shelter. The total given was $235.63.
April 19: The Worship Leader is Victoria Taylor,A Taoist Look at the Interdependent Web of Life. Victoria is assisted by Worship Associate Frank Nepalitano at this Earth Day Service.
The UUC Choir and Children's Choir will sing at the service. In addition, music is provided by Community Cellow Works.
The ½-plate recipient this week is The Mountain Retreat and Learning Center, a UU retreat serving youth, adults, and families located in Highlands, NC. The total given was $199.30.
April 26: Rev. Dara Olandt, The Forgiveness Dilemma. What is forgiveness? What shapes our human abilities to forgive? What hinders our abilities to forgive? How might forgiveness expand our capacity for fulfilling lives and meaningful relationships? Why ought we speak about and practice the challenging art of forgiveness? All are welcome for this service of contemplation. Jane Aronson is the Worship Associate for the service.
The UU Music Breakfast Club will provide music during the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Warmhearth Foundation to support the Neighbors in Need Fund which helps those having difficulty paying the monthly assisted living fee. The total given was $203.58.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in Room A.
April 5: o have compassion for others, disgust can actually override morality causing people to reject any perceived outsiders. How does this happen?
April 19: Shelley Fortier and UUC member Leslie Hager-Smith will discuss lifespan friendly homes, neighborhoods and communities that support aging in place, including the issue of accessory dwelling units (ADU's) in Blacksburg.
Services: May 2015
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
Each month, our services focus on a particular theme. This month we explore the theme of “Delight”.
What brings you a sense of delight in the fullness of your life?
when faces called flowers float out of the ground...
"By E.E. Cummings
when faces called flowers float out of the ground
and breathing is wishing and wishing is having-
but keeping is downward and doubting and never
-it's april(yes,april;my darling)it's spring!
yes the pretty birds frolic as spry as can fly
yes the little fish gambol as glad as can be
(yes the mountains are dancing together)
when every leaf opens without any sound
and wishing is having and having is giving-
but keeping is doting and nothing and nonsense
-alive;we're alive,dear:it's(kiss me now)spring!
now the pretty birds hover so she and so he
now the little fish quiver so you and so i
now the mountains are dancing, the mountains)
when more than was lost has been found has been found
and having is giving and giving is living-
but keeping is darkness and winter and cringing
-it's spring(all our night becomes day)o,it's spring!
all the pretty birds dive to the heart of the sky
all the little fish climb through the mind of the sea
all the mountains are dancing;are dancing)
May 3: Rev. Dara Olandt with Worship Associate Earle Irwin, Dissolving Stigma: A Mental Health Sunday. Today we honor May as National Mental Health Month. Join us as we help reduce stigma and increase knowledge on this Mental Health Sunday! In worship we'll explore how we may dissolve stigma and increase awareness of the complex ways wresting with mental health can impact the lives of individuals and communities. The service features personal reflections from members and friends of UUC.
All are welcome for this service of reflection and hope and are encouraged to stay for the Panel of Perspectives & Discussion following the service.
The UUC Choir will sing at the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is RAFT (Montgomery County Crisis Hotline), a community service that offers free paraprofessional phone counseling services to the community. The total donated is $205.89.
May 10: Rev. Dara Olandt, The Daring Delight of Flowers. This Sunday we celebrate our annual Flower Festival, a unique Unitarian Universalist celebration of human diversity and unity, rooted in traditions from our Unitarian congregations in Prague. We'll also honor the occasion of Mother's Day. Please bring a flower for our flower exchange ritual! Find a blossom in your yard or garden and bring it along to contribute! (Note: additional flowers will be available for those who need one.) All are welcome for this celebration of possibility & joy.
Children of our UUC community will also be dedicated this morning.
All are invited to stay for the Second Sunday Potluck following the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) - UUA Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund. As is their practice with international disaster relief, UUSC will take the lead in distributing funds where they can do the most good, directing support toward people who are left out of mainstream relief efforts. The total donated is $813.14.
May 17: Rev. Dara Olandt, Creating a Beloved Future. The service also included reports from four groups on UUC initiatives: members of the Strategic Planning Committee, discussed plans over the coming year of revisiting our mission statement and our vision; members of the Social Justice Steering Committee brought us up to date on their work; a representative from the International Partnership Church committee told us about plans to find a partner church; and we heard from “Posse 16” about a plan to have a large contingent of UUC members and friends going to the 2016 UU General Assembly in Columbus, Ohio. Links to their presentations are on the sermon-archive page. Today also concludes our annual Stewardship season. We'll honor the Tree of Life we formed together and conclude the service by dedicating a living tree on our UUC grounds!
We will honor new members in our New Member Recognition Ceremony during the service.
The UUC Choir and Children's Choir will sing at the service. Music was also proavided by Jared Gibbs (piano), Peter Golladay (guitar), and
Bill Ray (drums)
Stick around for the delicious fun of the All Congregation Picnic following today's service!
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Radford Child Development (RCD), a grassroots, community-led, non-profit organization established in 2012 which works with other partners to bring a licensed, high-quality, and affordable daycare to Radford. The total donated is $216.
May 24: YRUU (High School Youth Group) with Rev. Dara Olandt, Bridging Service. Today we hear reflections and insights from our High-School-age youth. We honor the experience of “bridging” and transitioning to new experiences along life's journey. All are welcome for this moving service generated by the creativity of YRUU. Come out to support and celebrate UUC's incredible young people!
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Kevin Hartley Scholarship fund: an annual scholarship that will honor Kevin's memory by giving back to the community. It is hoped that Kevin Patrick be remembered by what was most important to him, thinking of others first. The total donated is $125.50
May 31: Sunday Service: Rev. Michael Tino: Breathing into Delight. Rev. Michael Tino is the settled minister of the UU Fellowship of Northern Westchester in Mount Kisco, NY and the director of SUUSI (Southern UU Summer Institute) being held July 19-25 on the Virginia Tech campus. He is dedicated to justice work and was the 2013 John Murray Distinguished Lecturer at UUA General Assembly 2013 in Louisville, KY. Tommy Iafrate is the Worship Associate for today's service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is New River Community Action for the Giles County Food Bank to help provide food for those in need. The total donated is $115.82.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in Room A.
May 3: UUC member Marquita Hill will discuss making ethical purchasing decisions and ethical decisions when accepting corporate money. To what extent can we make use of ethics?
May 17: Lindsey Boyer will present information about the Women's Resource Center of the New River Valley: what the services are, and who they serve. A discussion will follow.
Services: June 2015
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
Each month, our services focus on a particular theme. This month we explore the theme of “Grace”.
“I do not understand the mystery of grace -- only that it meets us where we are
and does not leave us where it found us.”
Anne Lamottwhen
June 7: Rev. Dara Olandt, Grace for Beginners. What is “grace”? Where does it come from? A source human or divine? Must a per;son “believe” in grace to experience it… or vice versa? How can approaching &ldquograce” with a “beginner's mind&rdqu; help us in our relationships to self and others? You are welcome to this service of exploration and celebration!
The UUC Choir will sing at the service.
The Annual Congregational Meeting will follow the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Blacksburg Volunteer Rescue Squad to help provide food for those in need. The total donated is $169.57.
June 14: Rev. Dara Olandt with Worship Associate Jane Mahone, Beyond Shame Brené Brown's work on shame has been widely referenced and shared. Today we explore what possibilities lie beyond “shame”, and why shame keeps us back from living most fully and using our gifts to heal the world. All are welcome for this service of hope! Jane Mahone is the Worship Associate for the service.
All are invited to stay for the Second Sunday Potluck following the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is Friends of the Farmers Market, a voluntary group of citizens who provide support to the Blacksburg Farmers Market and local community through development, educational programs about benefits of locally grown food and sustainable agriculture. Funds will also be used to support the SNAP Double Value Program which enables those using the SNAP Program to purchase goods to get double the value. The total donated is $160.27.
June 21: Rev. Dara with Peter Olandt and Frank Nepalitano, Fierce and Fragile Fathering: A Fatherhood Service. Today we honor the celebrations and challenges faced by fathers and hear meditations on what it means to be a father in the 21st century. No matter your relationship with your father, no matter whether you are a father or not… all are welcome for this service of reflection and joy!
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is VICCC (Valley Interfaith Childcare Center), which provides high-quality, affordable childcare to low-income workers in the NRV. The total donated is $132.
June 28: Carter Turner, Death, Mid-life, and What to Do about Facebook. Dr. Turner is an Associate Professor of Religious Studies and an Associate Professor and Acting Department Chair in Sociology at Radford University and a former member of UUC. Stephanie Gilmore is the Worship Associate for this service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Women's Resource Center of the NRV to support their work in creating a community free of domestic and sexual violence. The total donated is $172.08.
Sunday Circle is on Summer break through August
Services: July 2015
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
Each month, our services focus on a particular theme. This month we explore the theme of “Inspiration”.
What inspires you?
July 5: John Imbur and Worship Associate Victoria Taylor, Annual Poetry Service. Please bring your favorite poems to share. They can be original or not. If you prefer not to share, come, listen, and enjoy. There will be a sign-up sheet in the foyer the day of the service for those wishing to share.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Friends of the Montgomery-Floyd Regional Library to support their work of promoting and supporting the many functions, services and needs of the Library. The total donated is $73.50.
July 12: Rev. Karen Day with Worship Associate Jane Aronson, Come Breathe with Me. This is gonna be boring. We will do nothing and learn nothing. So, come take a breather. Karen Day is a UU Community Minister in Floyd who strives to do nothing every day.
Music was provided throughout the service by Sequoia Kantara.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC to help with their efforts at healing from the recent tragedy. The total donated is $172.02.
All are invited to stay for the Second Sunday Potluck following the service.
July 19: Rev. Meg Barnhouse with Worship Associate Earle Irwin, You Are Made of Stars and Other Songs & Stories. Rev. Barnhouse will talk about being Unitarian Universalist and living our values and will also lead us in song. She is the senior minister at First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin, a fellow in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors, an author, motivational speaker, columnist and a singer/songwriter.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the NrV Habitat for Humanity to support their work of bringing people together to build homes, communities, and hope. The total donated is $108.
July 26: Rev. Don Johnson with Worship Associate Frank Napolitano, Inspired to Action: Rev. Johnson will seek to identify sources of inspiration that lead us to act for good through time, charity and social justice. Some of these sources include scriptures and readings, experiences, knowledge, history, reflection, poetry and the other arts, and through connections with others. Specific examples of people who were inspired to make a difference will be given. Readings will be by UUC member George Lally and Don's wife, Beverly Collier.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is Beans and Rice, Inc. in Radford that helps low-to-moderate-income families with food, job creation, after school programs, and more. The total donated is $119.50.
Sunday Circle is on Summer break through August
Services: August 2015
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
Each month, our services focus on a particular theme. This month we explore the theme of “Inspiration”.
What inspires you?
August 2:August 2: EarthSpirit Sisters, Abundance, Gratitude, and Lammas. We will reflect on the meaning of Lammas, the time of the first fruiting, when grain is ready for harvest, and what it means for us as we practice gratitude and celebrate abundance in our lives.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is Blacksburg Food Pantry. The total donated is $114.82.
August 9: UUC member Mark Benson, Singing the Children Out — Mentoring the Next Generation. Cultural transmission has occurred throughout human history. Each generation passes on symbols, values, and information. Much of the transmission occurs through relationships between parent-child, mentor-mentee, teacher-student, friend-friend, and others. These bonds can promote learning in human capacities for cooperation but also for aggression. What makes the difference? Stephanie Gilmore is the Worship Associate.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Southwest Virginia Legal Aid Society to help provide free, high-quality legal aid to low-income residents in southwest Virginia. The total donated is $82.00.
All are invited to stay for the Second Sunday Potluck following the service.
August 16: Rev. Dara Olandt, Sustaining Joy. In this service we explore what it means to sustain our joy and hope. We consider what it means to harness our own spirit of inspiration in the tumultuous world. All are welcome for this celebratory service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is Planned Parenthood (Blacksburg Health Center) to support their good work promoting women's health and family planning. The total donated is $424.50.
August 23: Rev. Dara Olandt, A Place for Poise & Purpose. What is the role of purpose in our lives? How can we prepare our physical, social and spiritual environments for purpose-oriented living and decision-making? Inspiration for this service includes permaculture, the tiny-house movement, and theological ecologies. All are welcome for this service of exploration.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is Virginia Organizing, a non-partisan statewide grassroots organization dedicated to challenging injustice by empowering people in local communities to address issues that affect the quality of their lives. The total donated is $122.97.
All are invited to stay for the Lifespan Faith Development ice cream social following the service.
August 30: Rev. Dara Olandt, Ingathering Water Service — River Carry Me Home. Today we join in an annual Unitarian Universalist ritual practiced around the country. We gather together to merge waters symbolic of our summer experiences. Please bring a parcel of water to share that symbolizes a portion of your summer experience. (If you forget, water from the New River will be available so all may participate!) All are welcome for this festive morning. See you there!
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is UUSC's Water Is a Human Right Campaign to promote access to safe, sufficient, and affordable water for everyone. The total donated is $245.02.
Sunday Circle is on Summer break through August
Services: September 2015
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
Each month, our services focus on a particular theme. This month we explore the theme of “Reaching Ou”.
Why reach out? What happens to us as individuals and as a community when we reach out deliberately? What if we were brave in “reaching out”?
September 6: Rev. Dara Olandt and UUC member George Lally, Our Year of Living Bravely &mdas; Part 1: The Courage to Dream & Dare. In 2015–2016 at UUC we will explore a yearlong theme, “Our Year of Living Bravely”. How did this theme arise? What does it mean to be brave? What about become brave? Who are the bravest people you know? Why? We explore these questions in this joyful service... All are welcome!
The UUC choir will sing at the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the International Red Cross Aid to Syrian Refugees. The total donated is $376.
September 13: Rev. Dara Olandt and Worship Associate Earle Irwin, “Dynamic Common Ground” and Teachings of the High Holidays. Dr. Cornel West addressed Unitarian Universalists at the recent UU General Assembly. He referenced the vital importance of “common ground”. How do we, diverse people, come to know “common ground” with one another, with our neighbors, in our country? What is the “dynamic” that forges “common ground”? We also honor the season of the Jewish High Holidays. The service includes a reflection by UUC Member Judy Snoke.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Montgomery County Emergency Assistance Program (MCEAP) to support their efforts in providing emergency needs to our community. The total donated is $185.50.
All are invited to stay for the Second Sunday Potluck following the service.
September 20: Rev. Dara Olandt anc Worship Associate Jane Aronson, Our Year of Living Bravely — Part 2. We continue to explore what it means to “get brave” in our living. What calls forth bravery... in you? In us? All are welcome for this service of exploration!
The UUC choir will sing at the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the UUSC/UUA Refugee Crisis Fund. The total donated is $905.50.
September 27: Rev. Dara Olandt and and Worship Associate Victoria Taylor, Sukkot Celebration. This Sunday we partake in the joyous Jewish festival of Sukkot (“sue-coat”)! This is a harvest festival honoring gratitude, the abundance of harvest, hospitality and welcoming “the stranger”. During this festival, a Sukkah (“sue-kah”) or temporary dwelling place is created. The Sukkah is formed from mostly natural materials. It is a place for resting, relaxing, singing, eating, telling stories, personal reflection, and observing Sukkot rituals. This Sunday we decorate our own UUC sukkah. All are welcome to learn and explore the gifts of this festival. Please bring a piece of fruit to share for our fruit exchange.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Radford Food Pantry to help feed those in need. The total donated is $173.38.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in Room A.
September 6: UUC member Jim Copenheaver will discuss a modern day mystic, Joe S.
September 20: UUC Member Carl Hansen will discuss the book, Foragers, Farmers and Fossil Fuels, whose thesis is that the successive modes of energy capture determine, or at least limit, the possible forms of social organizations, and, therefore, the social values that may prevail. Please join us for an unconventional view as to how moral values evolve
Services: October 2015
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
Each month, our services focus on a particular theme. This month we explore the theme of “I” and “We”.
What are the gifts and tensions that are part of the relationship between the individual and the collective? How are both affirmed in our UU movement? What brings us together as diverse peoples? What are the promises and opportunities of being part of a “We”? Are there distinctions between individuality and individualism in our contemporary world?
October 4: Rev. Dara Olandt, Whose Covenant? Part 1: The Gifts and Tensions of “I” & “We”. What is covenant in our UU movement and beyond? How is “covenant” a way of building collective power to pursue common purpose? How and why do we do this in Unitarian Universalism?
The UUC Choir will sing at the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is Virginia CARES, which operates a state-wide network of ex-offender reentry programs. The total donated is $905.50.
October 11: Rev. Dara Olandt, Whose Covenant? Part 2: Interdependence. Who's “in” the covenants we create? In our personal lives? In our collective life at UUC? What about in our larger society? Who is “in” and who is “out”? What does our living tradition have to say about interdependence and the web of life? If you have a pet who has died, we welcome you to bring a picture to this Sunday service.
We will also hold a ceremony welcoming new members into the congregation during the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Blacksburg Interfaith Food Pantry, which helps feed those in need in our area. We will be donated to this same organization again on Sunday, October 25, as part of our Children's RE Program's Service Project, It's Scary to Be Hungry. The total donated is $316.07.
All are invited to stay for the Second Sunday Potluck following the service.
Post-Service Ritual — Blessing of the Animals: 11:45 – 12:45 PM. Our service will be followed by a blessing of our animals! We'll honor the web of all life and the “covenant of all creation” in this simple practice. We also celebrate the teachings of St. Francis of Assisi and all of those prophetic voices who have championed the animals of the earth. We celebrate and acknowledge our feathered, furry companions. Rain or shine. If raining, the ritual will occur in the sanctuary. If not, we will hold this ritual on UUC's grounds!
Note: Live animals are invited for blessing post-service! Please bring your live pet companion to the ritual following the service. You may also bring a picture of your animal if you cannot bring your live pet. Children may bring a stuffed animal if they wish to have their stuffed animal blessed!
October 18: October 18: Rev. Robert Latham and Rev. Dara Olandt, Our Mission Is Our Journey. Today we explore the present and future of Unitarian Universalism! Rev. Robert will unpack questions such as: Why are many Unitarian Universalists confused about why we exist? Why do we mistakenly believe our religious mission is up for grabs? What could happen if we understand and commit to the mission for which we were created? Come and engage the issues that will determine our social destiny!
Bio for special guest: Reverend Robert Latham: Rev. Latham is a native Texan and grew up in the Southern Baptist tradition. He began preaching at the age of 13, was leading revival meetings during his mid-teens and ordained at 18. Robert has a BA from Baylor University and two Master of Theology degrees. As a result of a challenging educational experience in seminary, his religious view of reality was transformed. And, as a result of an equally shattering experience in Vietnam, his cultural perspectives were also transformed. On the wake of these transformations, he discovered UUism and officially entered its professional ministry in 1969. His engagement as a minister has ranged from such varied experiences as a prolonged battle with the KKK in NC during the 1960s and serving the Pacific Northwest and Western Canada districts as International Minister at Large in the 1980s. He created the Committee on Ministry concept and had what is now called a Worship Associates program back in the late 1970s. As a UU he has been the settled minister in four congregations and Interim Minister at six congregations. He also served as District Executive for the Pacific Central District. Robert is head of MYTHing Link Consulting, which provides a variety of services to liberal congregations and organizations. His published works consist of The Unitarian Universalist Extension Manual, Moving on from Church Folly Lane, A Tale of Boxes, and several brochures.
The UUC choir will sing at the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the UU Congregation of Charleston, SC to provide assistance in the aftermath of the recent flood, to members and friends of the congregation and to the wider community. The total donated is $307.60.
October 25: October 25: Lay-led service led by Worship Associate Victoria Taylor with contributions from UUC members Dick Bauman and Frank Nepalitano. The theme of their reflections is Participation as a Faith Practice. How can a rich sense of individuality be nurtured while at the same time enable us to participate in something greater than oneself?
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Blacksburg Interfaith Food Pantry to help feed the hungry in our area. This will be donated along with 228 bags of food items (valued at $2280) collected both at UUC and the University Mall Kroger this afternoon by our RE kids. The total donated is $478.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in Room A.
October 4: UUC member Isabel Berney will discuss Optimism. In a world beset with bad news, it is a challenge for many to remain optimistic; Isabel will share some ideas which may help us see the glass as at least half full.
October 18: UUC member Dean Mook takes a quick look at one of mankind's greatest inventions: Mathematics.
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Services: November 2015
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
Each month, our services focus on a particular theme. This month we explore the theme of “Journey”.
We often speak of our lives as a “journey”, yet what does it mean to conceive of our lives in this way? Where are you, personally, in the journey of your life at this particular juncture? Why does pausing to explore this matter?
November 1: Rev. Dara Olandt with members of UUC's Exploring International Partnership Church Committee, The Journey that Connects: What does it mean and why does it matter that we “approach life as a journe?”. This morning we consider the journey of our lives, as individuals and as a congregation. We continue this year on our journey to re-articulate our mission, covenant and our vision! And, today in particular, we celebrate the next steps on our journey to cultivate meaningful partnership with a Unitarian congregation in Transylvania! Come to learn more about this exciting process. All are welcome for this service of memory and celebration! Jane Aronson is the Worship Associate for the service.
Note: Within the service this morning we will observe a time to honor those loved ones who have passed from our lives and whose memories are carried forward in our hearts. Please bring a photo of a loved one you wish to remember and place it on the altar we create in the service.
The UUC Choir will sing at the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Community Health Center of the NRV, which provides affordable, high quality medical, dental, behavioral and preventive health services to everyone, regardless of ability to pay or insurance status. The total donated is $247.93.
November 8: Worship Associate Earle Irwin, with members of the Social Justice Steering Committee, Singing the Journey of the Spirit: Mental Health and Hope. Beginning last year, our congregation started an intentional journey to support mental health justice in our community and region. What does this mean? Where are we going and why? How do we sustain ourselves when the road of justice — seeking is bumpy and unsure? What does it mean to carry lanterns of hope that illuminate the journey? All are welcome for this service of possibility and hope!
Special music is provided by Jim Kern: voice and guitar.
Note: This Sunday is the Buddy Project kick-off!
All are invited to stay for the Second Sunday Potluck following the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the NRVCS Therapeutic Day Treatment Program, which provides help to children with emotional disturbances. The total donated is $265.46.
November 15: Rev. Dara Olandt with Worship Associate Ellen Plummer, Where My Spirit Onward Leads: Reproductive Justice and Unitarian Universalism. Is there a connection between reproductive justice and our Unitarian Universalist tradition, past and present? This morning we explore the quest for reproductive justice in the U.S. today and the core theological and spiritual questions at stake in our very lives in relationship to reproductive justice issues. The service includes Greetings delivered by Melinda Britt, a Planned Parenthood Community Health Educator.
The UUC Choir will sing at the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is Planned Parenthood. The total donated is $559.
November 22: YRUU (Young Religious Unitarian Universalists), A Personal Journey. This Sunday we offer a meaningful and celebratory worship led by our High School Youth Group. This annual service is the result of the creativity of our high school age youth. All are welcome to grow, explore and be challenged in new ways by these powerful and engaging voices. Please join together to support the YRUU.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the UU Congregation of Charleston, SC to provide assistance in the aftermath of the recent flood, to members and friends of the congregation and to the wider community. The total donated is $307.60.
November 29: Rev. Don Robert Johnson, Always in Debt. This morning we welcome a familiar guest minister to our pulpit. Don is a former Methodist minister, a former college chaplain, and is currently Leader Emeritus of the Ethical Society of St. Louis. Victoria Taylor is the Worship Associate for the service. There will be no Children's RE classes today. Nursery care available.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Huntington, WV to help with those repairs, not covered by insurance, needed after a recent devastating fire. The total donated is $150.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in Room A.
November 1: UUC member Julia Lewis will discuss “How Poverty in the U.S.: Is Having a Negative Effect on Our Public School System?”.
November 15: UUC member Ted Veggeberg will discuss the provocative question, ”Is military service compatible with living a moral life?”.
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Services: December 2015
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
Each month, our services focus on a particular theme. This month we explore the theme of “Pilgrimage”.
Pilgrimage — simple definitions:
- A journey to a holy place.
- A journey to a special or unusual place.
This month we explore the nature and purpose of pilgrimage. We consider “pilgrimage” as a spiritual practice, a journey undertaken with particular spiritual and/or religious purpose. In your life have you ever undertaken a pilgrimage? Where did you go? What made this a pilgrimage? Is pilgrimage a journey of a special purpose and significance? What does “pilgrimage” mean to you?
December 6: Rev. Dara Olandt, Sparks in the Dark: Pilgrimage into Winter. What does pilgrimage mean? How might winter be a time to engage in the practices of pilgrimage? In these darkening days of winter, we explore the ways in which winter provides us opportunity to journey “within” and renew ourselves for the holiday season. This service is inspired by the imagery and spiritual practices associated with the “spiral” that deepens and expands from a “center point”.
The UUC Choir will sing at the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Montgomery County Christmas Store, which assists low-income families by providing a dignified holiday shopping experience. The total donated is $298.50.
December 13: Rev. Dara Olandt with Director of Lifespan Faith Development Karen Hager and Worship Associate Victoria Taylor, &ldauo;The Polar Express”: A Multigenerational No-Rehearsal Christmas Pageant. All are welcome for this joyful, multigenerational service based upon the classic book by Chris Van Allsburg and inspired by the movie of the same name.
Those participating in The Buddy Project will get to meet and sit with their buddies.
All are invited to stay for the Second Sunday Potluck following the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is Community Health Center of the NRV, which provides medical, dental, behavioral and preventive health services to all regardless of ability to pay. The total donated is $224.00.
December 20: Rev. Dara Olandt with Worship Associate Frank Napolitano, Solstice & Pilgrimage. In this service, we celebrate the approaching winter solstice and deepen our exploration of the nature of pilgrimage in our lives. We also celebrate our unfolding relationship with our International Partner Church!
The UUC Choir will sing at the service.
The UUC Junior Choir will sing at the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Church of the Larger Fellowship, a UU online congregation without walls with 3,500 members of all ages who live all over the world. The total donated is $190.00.
On Christmas Eve, a special collection was held for UUC's Community Assistance Fund, which enables our minister to help those in our congregation and the wider community with assistance in paying rent and utilities, buying food, finding transportation and temporary housing, etc. Thanks to your generosity, $1338 was raised! If you or someone you know is in need of assistance, please contact Rev. Dara.
December 27: Rev. Karen Day, Bearing Gifts. What gifts do we bring on our journey to honor new life? Let us gather in this quiet dark moment before the year turns to reflect and renew. Rev. Day is a UU community minister in Floyd who co-founded the community food organization Plenty! with her husband, McCabe Coolidge. She is also a Faithful Fool and a member of the Shalem Society for Contemplative Leadership. Ellen Plummer is the Worship Associate for the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the RAFT Crisis Hotline, a program of NRV Community Services, which offers free paraprofessional phone counseling services to the community including suicide and crisis intervention, empathy and support, mental health and substance abuse information and referrals. The total donated is $103.50.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in Room A.
December 6: UUC member Bob Stimson will discuss The joys and work on the Appalachian Trail including a DVD of a hike on the Trail in 1997.
December 20: Have you ever wondered just where your money goes at UUC, and, what, if anything you can do about it? Treasurer Linda Powers will be on hand to tell you everything you wanted to know about the budget but were afraid to ask.
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Services: Jxanuary 2016
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
Each month, our services focus on a particular theme. This month we explore the theme of “Imagination”.
I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.
Albert Einstein
Everything you can imagine is real.
Pablo Picasso
What is the link between imagination and the spirit? What about “imagination” and what is &lauo;real”? How can we engage our imaginations in ways that foster new possibilities for personal and collective growth?
January 3: Rev. Dara Olandt, Imagination and Being. It is January, 2016. Let's get imaginative! Are there links between imagination, ethics, and the life of the spirit? What role does imagination play in the formation and growth of our religious, spiritual, and human identities? What does it mean to grow brave with our imaginations? What can we generate when we unleash imagination?
The UUC Choir will sing at the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Virginia Wounded Warrior Program. It was established by the 2008 General Assembly to ensure veterans who experienced stress-related injuries in combat, and their families, receive timely assessment, treatment and support. Services to veterans and their families include mental health, substance abuse and traumatic brain inury services as well as case management, outpatient, family support, and rehabilitation services. The total donated is $218.
January 10: Rev. Dara Olandt, “Brave New World?” Religious Imagination in the 21st Century. Today we explore the landscape of “religious America” today. What do the trends across the U.S. have to do with Unitarian Universalism? What is “transient”? What is “permanent”? In what ways does considering broader context help us orient towards areas for our own growth and transformation? All are welcome for this service of possibility.
All are invited to stay for the Second Sunday Potluck following the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the UU College of Social Justice, which was launched in June 2012 as a joint collaboration of the Unitarian Universalist Association and the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee. Its mission is to help Unitarian Universalists deepen and sustain the work of justice in their congregations and communities. UUCSJ offer service-learning journes for all ages, social justice trainings for high school youth, and internships for college-age young adults. The total donated is $223.
January 17: Rev. Dara Olandt, Towards Justice. How do we “imagine” justice? What does it mean to build, shape, and grow spiritually aware and alive movements for justice in our times? This Sunday's service is followed with a “meet-and-greet reception” with Andrae Hash and Keith Johnson of Virginia Organizing. All are welcome for this celebratory service and reception!
The UUC Chalice Choir will sing at the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is Virginia Organizing, a non-partisan statewide organization dedicated to challenging injustice by empowering people in local communities to address issues that affect the quality of their lives. The total donated is $378.
January 24: Service cancelled because of snow.
January 31: Worship Assoiate Earle Irwin and members of the Social Justice Steering Committee, Imagine ... Care for a Common Struggle. Exploring the theme of imagination and Patrick Kennedy's A Common Struggle: A Personal Journey through the Past and Future of Mental Illness and Addiction. Catherine Breese presents a Reading. Janet Sawyers, Earle Irwin, and Margo Walter share Reflectoins.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the National Alliance on Mental Illness that works to support the lives of those with mental illness. The total donated is $189.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in Room A.
Janiary 3: UUC Member Susan Baker will discuss work using Studs Terkel's book, Working, as a resource. We'll look at work in refreshing and sometimes jarring new ways. How does the unspoken hierarchy and status in jobs affect job satisfaction? Can work bring respectability? What does work do for the worker? How have changes in society, inventions and new technology affected jobs and workers' views of their jobs? Come prepared with a memory of all of the past paid jobs you have had. This talk is work!.
January 17: UUC Member Patrick Feucht will discuss solar energy applications.
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Services: February 2016
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
Each month, our services focus on a particular theme. This month we explore the theme of “Direction”.
Finding our direction can be tricky! How do we find our “direction”? How do we clarify “direction” in our personal and congregational lives? How and why do we choose a “brave” direction?
February 7: Rev. Dara Olandt with members of the Lay Pastoral Care Ministry, A Rose in Wintertime. Contributing to the service are members of the UUC Lay Pastoral Care Ministry Cynthia Luke, Jane Mahone, and Barbara Taylor, as well as UUC member Ben Logan. This morning we'll highlight the Caring Network of our congregation. We'll celebrate the Lay Pastoral Care Ministry and share the ways in which this ministry is available to provide listening and supportive presence to UUCers when need arises. We'll explore the hope possible when people accompany each other in purposeful, non-judgmental relationships. We'll also ask “what are the barriers to asking for help in times of distress?” All are welcome for this service of contemplation and celebration.
The UUC Choir and the UUC Junior Choir will sing at the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Help Save the Next Gir. This organization was selected in light of the recent and tragic death of Nicole Lovell. The total donated is $248.
February 14: Rev. Dara Olandt, Love & Direction in Digital Times. How does living in digital times both tax and strengthen relationships? How does living in the age of interconnection help or hinder us in finding and expressing love? How about living with purpose and direction? All are welcome for this service of joy and inquiry! New members will also be recognized this Sunday!
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Virginia Interfaith Childcare Center,, which provides affordable, licensed, high-quality childcare to low-income families in the NRV. The total donated is $280.
All are invited to stay for the Second Sunday Potluck following the service.
February 21: Rev. Dara Olandt with special guest speakers, Cathy Cordes and Dick Van Duizend, Unitarian Universalist Partnership Church Council, The Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship. Our International Partnership in Transylvania. Have you heard? We are starting a friendship with a Unitarian Partner Church in Transylvania! What is the Unitarian-Transylvanian connection? What is “partnership” all about? What is the Unitarian-Transylvanian connection, again? How can we be good partners? Why do UU congregations in the state grow international partnerships with Unitarians abroad? Today we will welcome two very special guests form the Unitarian Universalist Partnership Church Council to share with us their expertise in how to start a meaningful international partnership. All are welcome as we celebrate an evolving friendship and imagine its possibilities!
The UUC Choir will sing at the service. Also, special music will be provided by Glen Chilcote (percussion), Jacob Davenport (percussion), Jared Gibbs (piano), Natalie Gibbs (marimba), and Brian Peters (vibraphone).
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the UU Partner Church Council, which works to connect congregations around the world. The total donated is $223.
Stay for the post-service Meet & Greet reception, including additional presentation and Q & A with UU Partnership Church Council representatives. Check out http://www.uupcc.org for more information on the UU Partner Church program.
February 28: Worship Associate Ellen Plummer, Reflections on Our Monthly Theme: “Direction”. Join us as we continue to explore this month's worship theme of “Direction”: What role do we play in setting a direction in our lives? To whom or what do we turn to inspire, guide, challenge, and support our decisions and actions? What role does fate, destiny, faith, and self-efficacy play in shaping our journey?
Special music is provided by Charlie Skutt (cello).
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Sanctuary of Pastoral Hope and Healing, which provides an 8-day therapeutic experience for ministers in crisis. The total donated is $158.50.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in Room A.
February 7: Meredith Ledlie-Johnson, manager of the Food Security Project at the Virginia Tech Cooperative Extension, will discuss food security. What are food deserts, and how can we decrease them in Virginia?
February 21: UUC Member Darrel Clowes will discuss his travels along the Amazon.
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Services: March 2016
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
Each month, our services focus on a particular theme. This month we explore the theme of “Fate, Luck, Destiny”.
What is fate? What is luck? How about destiny? How do we end up on the road we are on, and how do things change? What can we decide, and what is beyond our control? What is the role of the inexplicable in shaping life's direction?
March 6: Rev. Dara Olandt, UU Lent?. Today we honor the messages and teachings of Lent, celebrated this time of year by our faith neighbors and some among us. What is Lent all about? How is Lent connected to our living tradition, Unitarian Universalism? What is relevant for Unitarian Universalists? How is Lent a time to deepen and challenge ourselves?
The UUC Choir will sing at the service, featuring Natalie Gibbs and Wayne Neu.
Additional music was performed during the service by Leon Kok (violin) and Jared Gibbs (piano).
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the UU Fellowship of Raleigh, NC to help support their efforts in voter registration as the right to vote has been seriously curtailed in NC over the past 6 years. The total donated is $192.
March 13: Rev. Don Johnson, Leader Emeritus of the St. Louis Ethical Culture Society, Embracing Life's Reality amid the Gift of Uncertainty. Reality is composed of this world of which we can on occasion have a partial perception and the set of worlds of which we almost never have any perception. Reality will never deliver up entirely the means to its own comprehension because it does not contain the rules for decoding which would allow us to uncover with certainty its nature and meaning. Yet, we can see this uncertainty as a gift which we can embrace in dynamic and fluid ways. Jane Aronson is the Worship Associate for the service.
Music was provided during the service by Ella Kromin (mezzo-soprano) & Jared Gibbs (piano), as well as George Tatum (piano).
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is our own Posse'16 in support of their efforts to send many of our youth to UUA General Assembly in Columbus, OH, June 22–26. The total donated is $1,522.
All are invited to stay for the Second Sunday Potluck following the service. We will also be celebrating the conclusion of the Dessert Parties! Come enjoy a special cake for dessert and celebrate the conclusion of this year's Mission-Covenant Focus Group Dessert Parties. Thanks to everyone who participated! Be sure to pick up the 2nd draft of the Mission-Covenant statement issued by the Refining Team which will be discussed next week (see below). The 2nd draft is based upon a journey of listening deeply to large and small groups of members and friends at UUC.
March 20: Rev. Dara Olandt, with Mission-Covenant Refining Team Members & Strategic Planning, “Our Year of Living Bravely” Mission, Purpose, Promise. This morning we celebrate this exciting juncture in the unfolding work of the Mission-Covenant process. Come learn about all that has been shared in the process, as our congregation rediscovers what calls us and brings us alive. All are welcome for this participatory service of joy, creativity and celebration.
The UUC Adult Choir and the UUC Chalice Choir will sing at the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Blue Ridge UU Cluster of Congregations for their gathering April 30 in Waynesboro. The total donated is $97.
Post Service: All are welcome to the feedback and discussion session with members of the Refining Team on the 2nd draft following today's service. Share your thoughts before the team issues the Final Draft statement which will be submitted for an up-or-down vote at the Congregational Meeting in the spring. Thank you for your participation!
March 27: Rev. Dara Olandt, Courageous Love, For the Beauty of the Earth. An intergenerational Easter service of hope, celebrating Earth's regeneration and renewal. Victoria Taylor and Karen Hager participated in the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Humane Society of Montgomery County to help with their care and treatment of homeless cats and dogs. The total donated is $264.70.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in Room A.
March 6: UUC Member Denise Mathews will discuss master naturalists, nature and health.
March 20: UUC Member Ted Veggeberg will lead a discussion on the Syrian refugee crisis. Is there a role for the military? How do we balance compassion and security?
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Services: April 2016
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
Each month, our services focus on a particular theme. This month we explore the theme of “Afterlife/Next”.
This month in worship we explore topics related to the notion of afterlif and what comes next> after we pass from this life. As human beings, this dimension of experience is filled with musing, mystery, and questions. What are your spiritual and religious questions regarding, death, the “end of life” and what happens “next”? What are your concerns, your hopes and fears? How can we be courageous in our questions regarding the end of life and what happens “afterward”? As Unitarian Universalists, we lift up religious
and spiritual guidance regarding death, the unknown, what is, and the cycle of life. All month we'll explore the tender, insightful theological and spiritual issues related to this topic.
April 3: Rev. Dara Olandt, Recognizing the Past, Stewarding the Future. This morning we explore the notion of past, present and future. What does it mean to experience a human “lifetime”? What does it mean to be part of the lifetime of a congregation? Today we kick off our Stewardship Campaign with a special commissioning and celebration of our UUC Stewards. Our annual UUC pledge campaign will run April 3 to 24. Please see page 2 in the April newsletter and the Fundraising/Stewardship page on our Web site for more information.
The UUC Choir will sing at the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the he UUSC/UUA Refugee Crisis Fund. It will be matched by the UU Congregation of Shelter Rock in Manhasset, NY. The total donated is $536.
April 10: Rev. Dara Olandt, “Being Mortal” and “The Guest House”. The Islamic sage Rumi wrote, “This being human is a guest house.” This morning we'll explore questions such as: What does it mean to be “mortal”? Drawing inspiration from Atul Gawande's Being Mortal, we'll reflect upon end-of-life issues, our human stories, and what we make of life's cycles and passages. What is in our hands? How do we practice both holding on and letting go? How can we approach the end of life with compassion for ourselves and one another? During the service, Isabel Berney gives an introduction to the UUC Memorial Garden.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is o Our House, a local organization that provides winter overnight shelter for homeless men. The total donated is $164.50.
All are invited to stay for the Second Sunday Potluck following the service.
An End-of-Life Workshop will be offered from 3–5 PM by Rev. Dara Olandt and Isabel Berney sponsored by the Memorial Committee. Workshop is appropriate for adults of all ages.
April 17: Rev. Dara Olandt with Worship Associate Earle Irwin, Afterlife/Next. This morning we explore what happens after we pass from this life. What happens after we die? Is it, as John Lennon suggests: “no hell below us, above us only sky”? What does Unitarian Universalism, our shared tradition, offer on this subject? And, how does that way in which we conceive of what comes “next” impact our lives here and now? Inspiration for this service comes from last year's question-box Sunday. All are welcome for this service of exploration.
The UUC Chalice Choir and the UUC Choir will sing at the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Ms. Wheelchair Virginia program whose goal is to educate, advocate, and raise awareness of the abilities and needs of those with disabilities. The funds will be used to help support travel expenses for this year's Ms. Wheelchair Virginia, Laura Tollin, a member of UUC, as she travels around the state educating the public. The total donated is $265.
April 24: Rev. Dara Olandt, Sundae Sunday. This morning we celebrate the conclusion of our Annual Stewardship Campaign. We'll honor our vibrant ministries, all of our members and friends, the present and future of our beloved congregation. And yes... you heard it right! We'll have a sundae bar for all to enjoy the success of a deliciously accomplished pledge drive. Victoria Taylor is the Worship Associate for the service.
Special music is provided during the service by Jim Kern (guitar & vocals), Jared Gibbs (piano), Patrick Turner (bass), and Bill Ray (drums).
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Blue Ridge UU Cluster of Congregations for the gathering April 30 in Waynesboro. The funds will cover 1) cost of invited speaker, UU educator Chris Crass, who will be leading the programming, 2) food and publicity, and 3) scholarships for those unable to cover registration costs. The program title is Developing Spiritual Leadership to Act against Racism and for Racial Justice. The total donated is $141.93.
Don't forget to turn your pledge cards in by April 24!
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in Room A.
April 3: UUC Member Janet Sawyers will lead a discussion of the book, Being Mortal in which Dr. Atul Gawande describes the inadequacies of our society's approach to end-of-life care and suggests some guidelines that can enable us to live out the final chapter of our lives with clear direction and purpose.
April 17: UUC Member George Lally will take a detailed look at the UUC Grounds Plan. Come learn more about this beautiful component of our congregation.
Services: May 2016
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
Each month, our services focus on a particular theme. This month we explore the theme of “Transformation”.
What is transformation? This Spring we explore the risk and hope of transformations.
We honor transformations large and small. Is transformation trying or inspiring? Easy or painful? Uncomfortable or joyful? Is it all of the above? How has transformation been in your own life?
What possibilities of transformation do you notice in your own life right now?
What does “bravery” have to do with transformation?
May 1: Rev. Dara Olandt, The Risk and Beauty of Transformation. Today we explore the month-long theme &ldauo;Transformation”. What does it mean to shift, change, transform? What is risky and inspiring about transformation? And, what does &ldauo;bravery&rdauo; have to do with transformation? Today we also celebrate an important milestone - the conclusion of the UUC Refining Team's work! The final Mission/Covenant statement will be shared. This statement will be submitted for an up/down vote at the Congregational Meeting on June 5 following the service. All are welcome for this service of inquiry and hope.
The UUC Choir will sing at the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the UUSC's (UU Service Committee) Earthquake Relief Fund to help support their ongoing efforts in Ecuador. The total donated is $204.50.
May 8: Rev. Dara Olandt, Unstoppable Love?! What is the contemporary, interfaith effort, &ldauo;Unstoppable Love&rdauo; all about? Today we also honor Mother's Day, its history and complexity. Worship Associate Jane Aronson shares a reflection titled, &ldauo;My thoughts on being a mother in today's world&rdauo;. And, we hold our annual Child Dedication celebrating new children and recognizing these young people and their families in our Sunday service. All are welcome for this service of celebration and joy.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Mayapple School: a wonderful, nature-based non-profit preschool program for children ages 3–6 located in Newport, VA. Many of the children receive financial assistance and food from the school. The total donated is $152.
All are invited to stay for the Second Sunday Potluck following the service.
May 15: Worship Associate Ellen Plummer. The theme for the service is World's Religions — Building Bridges, and members as well as Middle-School students contribute reflections. We explore the many other religions from which we can learn in an attempt to deepen our understanding of different faiths. How are we alike? What values do we share? How can we build bridges between our faiths?
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Blacksburg Farmers' Market to help support educational and outreach programs and the SNAP Double-Value Program. The total donated is $103.
May 22: High-School Youth Group (YRUU) with Youth Advisors and Rev. Dara Olandt. Today is the annual YRUU Bridging Service, in which the four high-school seniors are “bridged” out of the YRUU. New high schoolers are also welcomed into YRUU. All are welcome for this special service of joy and reflection.
The UUC Chalice Choir will sing at the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is Students Vs Cancer, whose goal is to help local students and teachers in SWVA beat the fight against cancer. This organization was chosen by our YRUU members. The total donated is $229.
May 29: Rev. Dara Olandt, who is assisted by Worship Associate Ellen Plummer and UUC member Peter Olandt. This is Memorial-Day weekend, and the theme of the service is Love Letters: War and Memory. We honor Memorial Day and also share love letters and memories of those who have experienced war. All are welcome for this service of memory and hope.
The UUC Choir will sing at the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is UU Military Ministry to purchase copies of the book, Bless All Who Serve, given FREE to those in the military, chaplains, and ministers. The total donated is $297.88.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in Room A.
May 1: UUC member Susan Baker will discuss Cuba including a brief history of Cuba's colonialism, revolution, and socialism. A recent traveler to Cuba, Susan will also show slides depicting life in Cuba and discuss how Cuba's socialism and the American embargo affect everyday life of Cuban citizens.
May 15: UUC member Becky Keller will discuss Bird Conservation including the current state of U.S. bird populations and how our actions matter.
Services: June 2016
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
Each month, our services focus on a particular theme. This month we explore the theme of “YES!”.
Just as long as I have breath, I must answer, Yes, to life;
though with pain I made my way, still with hope I meet each day.
If they ask what I did well, tell them I said, Yes, to life.
in my dream and in my dark, always: that elusive spark.
If they ask what I did well, tell them I said, Yes, to truth.
Just as long as my heart beats, I must answer, Yes, to love;
disappointment pierced me through, still I kept on loving you.
If they ask what I did best, tell them I said, Yes, to love.
Just as Long as I Have Breath
(Hymn #6 Singing the Living Tradition
Words: © 1981 Alicia S. Carpenter)
What do you think it means to answer“YES!” back to life, truthm and love?
June 5: Rev. Dara Olandt with Worship Associates Jim Kern and Ali Neff, Annual Multigenerational Flower Service. This service features a uniquely Unitarian ritual: our flower exchange honoring the vital nature of both individuality and community. All ages are welcome to participate in this service of celebration and hope. Please bring a flower from your yard, a park or roadside, or the store to exchange with others in the service. There will be extra flowers on hand, so come one and all! (Thanks to additional helping hands from the Worship Associates Program.)
The UUC Choir, plus a plus a vocal quartet (Chelsea Craine, Natalie Gibbs, Jane , and Paula Markham), will sing at the service.
A New-Members Celebration is held during the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is Apple Ridge Farm in Roanoke. Apple Ridge Farm transforms the lives of the community's underserved children and families through engagement in unparalleled educational, cultural and outdoor experiences. For 35 years Apple Ridge Farm has provided an environmental education and camping experience for more than 68,000 youth, many from Roanoke's inner-city neighborhoods and public housing projects.UU. The total donated is $162.50.
Today's service is followed by our Annual Meeting.
June 12: Rev. Dara Olandt, Yes... to Life!. Celebrating the courage to live whole-hearted and the Year of Living Bravely. What can it mean to answer back “YES!” to Life? This morning we celebrate the year and reflect upon our big theme of “living bravely”. What has been learned? Where can we, as individuals, and UUC as a congregation, go from here? Rev. Dara will share thoughts on the future of the congregation, a topic continued on June 19.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is Dress for Success NRV whose mission is to empower women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. The total donated is $219.
Today's service is followed by our Celebration of Shared Ministry & Farewell to Rev. Dara, Pete and Micah. All are welcome for this All-Congregation BBQ & Picnic. Come enjoy food from the grill, play on our beautiful grounds, and say goodbye to the Olandts!
June 19: Rev. Dara Olandt with Worship Associate Earle Irwin, Waking the Future's Promise. This Sunday Rev. Dara offers her last sermon at UUC and reflects upon our shared ministry. We also explore Fathers' Day and the complex journey of finding faith along life's surprising path. All are welcome for this service of appreciation and inquiry!
Music is provided dyring the sservice by Susan Barrett (piano) and Linda Plaut (violin).
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is Equality Florida's Pulse Victim Fund to directly support the victims' families and survivors of the tragic hate crime in Orlando. The total donated is $331.
June 26: Worship Associate Jane Mahone, A Service in Song —–The Hymn Service. All are welcome as we lift up favorites from our hymnals and discover the stories behind the music. Please join us for this joyful exploration through song.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is Intensive Community Treatment, which provides treatment to those with serious and persistant mental illness The total donated is $248.53.
Thanks to our very generous congregation, UUC donated $13,892.95 to local, national, and international charities during the 2015–16 fiscal year!
Sunday Circle does not meet during the summer
Services: July 2016
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
Each month, our services focus on a particular theme. This month we explore the theme of “ARTS and BEING HUMAN”.
July 3: Worship Associate David Lally will lead our annual Poetry Service. How does poetry inspire us and invite us to examine ourselves in the world in which we live? Several members and friends share poems they have written or just like.
Willie Caldwell will provide the music.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Clean Water Fund of the UU Congregation in Charleston, WV to help with their much good work providing relief to those areas affected by the recent severe and deadly flooding. The total donated is $171.
July 10: Worship Associate Victoria Taylor and guest, Ajeet Khalsa, will lead a Bhakti Service. Bhakti yoga is a spiritual path or spiritual practice within Hinduism focused on the cultivation of love and devotion through chanting and prayer. Ajeet will provide the music, along with drummer Chris T. K. Wimmer.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Blacksburg Yoga Collective, a traveling yoga collective committed to providing thoughtful, inspired, and affordable yoga offerings for the NRV. The total donated is $120.50.
All are welcome to stay for our monthly potluck following the service.
July 17: Hesham Rakha, a Trustee with the Islamic Society of the New River Valley, Exploring Ramadan. Jane Aronson is the Worship Associate for the service.
Willie Caldwell provides the music.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is NRV Master Gardener's Share the Spare. The total donated is $96.
July 24: Rev. Kirk Balin, On Being Religious: What Does It Mean to Be Religious?. “I have been troubled for a few decades about how lsquo;being religious’ is defined (or not); who is and who is not. My take is that either we're all religious — or none of us are!” Jim Kern is the Worship Associate for the service.
Susan Barrett (piano) and Linda Plaut (violin) provide the music.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Community Health Center of the NRV, which provides affordable, quality health care regardless of ability to pay or insurance status. The total donated is $264.50.
July 31: : Rev. Dr. Cathie Stivers with Worship Associate Earle Irwin, Making Beauty — A Human Necessity. Rev. Human beings are built and wired to be co-creators in the world. In fact, our beauty-making is needed for the perpetuation of life. Tapping into ancient and contemporary themes, Rev. Stivers will talk about beauty-making as an essential practice of being fully human.
Rick Masters provides the music.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Community Foundation of the NRV's Project Hope, which provides scholarships to local seniors who have experienced homelessness. The total donated is $127.50.
Sunday Circle does not meet during the summer
Services: August 2016
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
August 7: Reverend Don Rollins, The Ideas Peddler. Today is the first service led by our Interim Minister, Reverend Don Rollins. Rev. Don will lead us in a celebration of creativity and its role in the interim period.
Rev. Don and Worship Assciate Jim Kern will provide the music.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Montgomery County Emergency Assistance Program Project Hope, which helps to meet the emergency needs of low-income families in the NRV. The total donated is $298.
August 14: Reverend Don Rollins, Top Ten Reasons Why Liberal Religion Still Matters. It's important for any tribe to revisit its place in the world now and then. Rev. Don will suggest how our way of religion has unfinished and important business left to do.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Giles County Food Pantry (part of New River Community Action) to help provide food bags to low-income families in Giles County. The total donated is $260.
All are welcome to stay for our monthly potluck following the service.[>
August 21: The Posse Returns. Members of our Posse '16 contingent who attended this year's UUA General Assembly in Columbus, Ohio, in June will offer reflections of their awesome week with UUs from all over the country and world. We'll also sing hymns and songs from GA. Presenters are Worship Associate David Lally plus Ben Lally, Carol Kern, Chelsea Craine. Ellen Plummer is the Worship Associate for the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Standing on the Side of Love campaign of the UUA. The total donated is $163.
All are invited to stay following the service for our annual ICE CREAM SOCIAL sponsored by Lifespan Faith Development. Enjoy a delicious cone and hope for sunshine so we can be outdoors.
August 28: Reverend Don Rollins, The Water Communion. Join in as Rev. Don leads our annual intergenerational water ritual — a sharing of waters symbolizing spiritual places and/or experiences gained over the summer. The service includes reflections by Worship Associates Earle Irwin, Jim Kern, Rhonda Johnson, and Rev. Don. Jane Mahone is the Worship Associate for the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Unitarian Church of Baton Rouge's Flood Fund to assist those congregants who suffered home loss or damage due to the recent flooding. The total donated is $231.
Sunday Circle does not meet during the summer
Services: September 2016
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
September 4: Reverend Don Rollins, My Father's Labor Day. Rev. Don will lead us in a look at Labor Day through the eyes of the fading working class. Rhonda Johnson is the Worship Associate for the service.
The UUC Choir will sing at the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is ROC-United (Restaurant Opportunities Centers United), a UUSC partner that works to promote the rights of and fair treatment of restaurant workers. The total donated is $231.
September 11: Reverend Don Rollins, A Religious Liberal Theology of Evil. Our tradition is often criticized as a “sunshine religion” for its bedrock, First Principle belief in inherent worth and dignity. Rev. Don will make the case that our critics may be right. Jim Kern is the Worship Associate for the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the UU College of Social Justice, whose mission is to help UUs deepen and sustain the work of justice in their congregations and communities. Major areas of focus include immigration and climate change. UUCSJ offers experiential learning programs for youth and adults. The total donated is $134.
All are welcome to stay for our monthly potluck following the service.
September 18: Reverend Don Rollins, Why God Is a Baseball Fan. Process theology holds that everything is in flux, including God — or our notions thereof. If so, God is code for change — everywhere, all the time. Including sports. Jim Kern is the Worship Associate today and provides music during the service.
The UUC Choir will sing at the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Blacksburg Refugee Partnership (BRP) to help with the resettlement of two refugee families. Ten other faith communities and organizations are participating. Note that UUC will be supporting this effort with a donation of $100/month for the next year. To raise these funds, we will dedicate a ½-plate collection each month to BRP until the goal of $1200 is reached. The total donated is $594.
September 25: Dr. Carter Turner, United We Kneel: Patriotism, Division, and the Desperate Search for Optimism. No matter whom we elect as president in November, that person will likely start the job as one of the most despised presidents in American history. Are we strong enough as a nation to withstand the next four years? Is there anything we can do as individuals to begin bridging our divisions? And where do we find hope when there appears to be so little to find? Carter is the chair of the Department of Philosophy & Religious Studies at Radford University and is a former member of UUC. Jane Mahone is the Worship Associate for the service.
Music is provided during the service by Christopher Dunleavy (guitar) and by the UU Music Breakfast Club, featuring Jake Davenport (guitar); Susan Baker (percussion); Alan Moore (vocals); Meredith McCree (vocals & oboe); Kai Duncan (vocals & euphonium); Barbara Taylor (vocals); Rhonda Johnson (vocals); Jared Gibbs (vocals & piano); Natalie Gibbs (vocals & ukulele and xylophone).
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is Glade Church's Laundry Love Project, which assists those struggling financially by paying for their laundry to be washed and dried. The total donated is $49.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in the library.
September 4: UUC member Julia Lewis will discuss death with dignity.
September 18: Nathan Kranowski will discuss life and death for Jews in Nazi-occupied France.
Services: October 2016
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service
October 2: Rev. Don Rollins, Letters to Grandmother. It was Antoine de Saint-Exupery that reminded us that love and wisdom must be transmitted generation to generation. Rev. Don will lead us in a look at how important that process really is. Earle Irwin is the Worship Associate for the service.
UUC's Choir will sing at the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is Alzheimers Foundation of America, whose mission is to provide optimal care and services to those with dementia as well as to families and caregivers. The total donated is $208.
October 9: Rev. Don Rollins, Johnny Cash for President: 2016. Rev. Don will draw upon Cash's life and music to make the case for “wounded-healer” leadership in the White House. (Wear black, everybody!) Rhonda Johnson is the Worship Associate for the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the UU Service Committee to support their efforts in Haiti responding to the humanitarian crisis from the recent hurricane. The total donated is $321.
All are welcome to stay for our monthly potluck following the service.
October 16: Rev. Don Rollins, Silent No More: Domestic Violence. October is Domestic Violence Month. Rev. Don will lead us as we remember victims and rededicate ourselves to ending the pain. Jane Mahone is the Worship Associate for the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Blacksburg Interfaith Food Pantry in support of their efforts in feeding the hungry in our community. The total donated is $193.
UC's Choir will sing at the service.
October 23: The service today is lay-led by Worship Associates Steve Rameriz and Rhonda Johnson, and the topic is “How I Am a UU”. Often when talk about Unitarian Universalism, we talk about what we believe and WHY we are UU. Today we explore about our faith by sharing what we DO. After an introduction by Steve, Stephanie Gilmore, Sheila Winnett, and Ellen Plummerthree share how they live the values of Unitarian Universalism through their community action and service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Women's Resource Center in Radford, which helps women and children escape domestic abuse and violence. The total donated is $260.
October 30: Rev. Don Rollins, Hell? No!. On the heels of Halloween comes All Souls Day, a time of prayer for those in purgatory. What does Universalism, classic and modern, say about an afterlife? Rhonda Johnson is the Worship Associate for the service.
The ½-plate Collection: Thanks to your amazing generosity and the children's It's Scary to Be Hungry collection, $655.57, a $100 gift card to Kroger, plus 265 bags of food (total value of donation is $3213.30!!) will be donated to the Blacksburg Interfaith Food Pantry, which helps feed the hungry in our area.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in the library.
October 2: UUC member Mary Houska discusses The League of Women Voters.
Octomber 16: Nathan Kranowski discusses his efforts to obtain answers about his parents and himself in Nazi-occupied France.
Services: November 2016
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service,
Service and Event Cancelation:
In the event of snow or ice resulting in our canceling a Sunday service, a message will be sent to all those on our announcement listserv by 8:30 AM. You can also check for a message on our website, on our Facebook page, or go to wsls.com and look under the list of church closings. This should also run across the top of your TV screen on WSLS Channel 10.
November 6: Members of the Lay Pastoral Care Team, Mental Health Justice Ministries, and Reverend Don Rollins, Growing Shadows: Season Affective Disorder and the Spirit. All are welcome as we explore the link between depression and the soul. Earle Irwin is the Worship Associate for the service.
UUC's Choir will sing at the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the NRV Community Services which works to support those with mental illness, developmental disabilities and/or substance abuse disorders. The total donated is $387.
November 13: Trained UUA volunteer Jacqui C. Williams and UUC's Ministerial Search Committee, An Open-minded Search for a Settled Minister. How do the presumptions we carry keep us from making the best and fairest decision? As the congregation moves forward in its search for its new settled minister, doing so in an open-minded and open-hearted way is important. Today's worship service and Beyond Categorical Thinking workshop that followed the service will foster that process. Earle Irwin is the Worship Associate for the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism, which works to provide support, information and resources for Black UUs as well as to expand the role and visibility of Black UUs within our faith. The total donated is $171.
All are welcome to stay for our monthly potluck following the service and the Beyond Categorical Thinking workshop following the potluck.
November 20: YRUU (Young Religious Unitarian Universalists), Perspectives on Inclusion and Acceptance. This Sunday we offer a meaningful and celebratory worship serviced led by our high-school youth group members. All are welcome to grow, explore and be challenged in new ways by these powerful and engaging voices.
Chalice Singers: Lillian Hall, Ava Lazar, and Norine Rensberger
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Blacksburg Refugee Partnership (comprised of 11 faith communities including UUC and nine local community organizations) which works to resettle Syrian refugee families in Blacksburg. To date, one family has already arrived. The total donated is $231.
November 27: Reverend Don Rollins, Thanksgiving on East Point. From the writings of the late UU minister Alec Craig, Don, will present Alec's one-man story of life, family and gratitude. Rhonda Johnson is the Worship Associate for the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Giles County Emergency Assistance Program to support their good work in fighting poverty and helping the low income and unemployed. The total donated is $188.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in the library.
November 6: Peter Binkley discusses Open-Source Assistive Technology
November 20: Alan Heath discusses Climate Change.
Services: December 2016
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service,
Service and Event Cancelation:
In the event of snow or ice resulting in our canceling a Sunday service, a message will be sent to all those on our announcement listserv by 8:30 AM. You can also check for a message on our website, on our Facebook page, or go to wsls.com and look under the list of church closings. This should also run across the top of your TV screen on WSLS Channel 10.
December 4: Rev. Don Rollins, Checking In: Reflections on Our Shared Ministry. As we approach the midpoint of our scheduled interim ministry, our Interim Minister, Don Rollins, will offer some observations on our shared journey. Jim Kern is the Worship Associate for the service.
UUC's Choir will sing at the service. Chelsea Craine and Amado Ohland are soloists
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Giles Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee for the Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville Emergency Response Fund to support affected communities and non-profits helping victims of the recent wildfires with their ongoing needs. The total donated was $235.
December 11: Rev. Don Rollinsand Director of Lifespan Faith Development Karen Hager, UUC's annual Holiday Multi-Generational Service featuring our famous No-Rehearsal Holiday Pageant. This year, our non-rehearsed performers will present the holiday classic, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. We will once again be seated at tables, and those who have a buddy will get to sit with and meet their buddies.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Giles County Emergency Assistance Program to support their good work in fighting poverty and helping the low income and unemployed. The total donated was $250.
Everyone is then invited to stay for the potluck following the service.
December 18: Worship Associate Victoria Taylor, assisted by Worship Associate Rhonda Johnson, A Season of Miracles. With Christmas, we celebrate the miracle of birth. With Hanukkah, we celebrate the miracle of the oil that lasted for eight nights when it should have only lasted for one. With Solstice, we celebrate the return of the sun – a phenomenon that seemed like a miracle to the ancient Celts. In this season of celebrating ancient miracles, can we open our hearts and minds to recognize the possibility of miracles in our own lives?
UUC's Choir will sing at the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Giles County Emergency Assistance Program to support their good work in fighting poverty and helping the low income and unemployed. The total donated was $173.
December 25: Worship Associates Rhonda Johnson & Jim Kern, Hot Chocolate Communion. Join us for a laid back, intergenerational service of seasonal readings, songs, and sharing stories. (There will be no Children's RE classes or nursery care this morning.)
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Giles County Emergency Assistance Program to support their good work in fighting poverty and helping the low income and unemployed. The total donated was $49.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in the library.
December 4: Jim Copenheaver will present and discuss Why Humans Rule the World.
December 18: Carl Hansen will present A Decade of Observations of Four Species of Cavity Dwelling Birds.
Services: January 2017
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service,
Service and Event Cancelation:
In the event of snow or ice resulting in our canceling a Sunday service, a message will be sent to all those on our announcement listserv by 8:30 AM. You can also check for a message on our website, on our Facebook page, or go to wsls.com and look under the list of church closings. This should also run across the top of your TV screen on WSLS Channel 10.
January 1: Rev. Don Rollins and Worship Associate Jim Kern, Straight Up, How Do You Want to Be Remembered? We're all working on a legacy — several, really. As we begin a new year, Rev. Don will offer a reminder that what we do (and leave undone) affects others.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the NRV Agency on Aging to support their work to enhance the lives of older adults, their families, and caregivers through advocacy, information, and services. The total donated was $131.
There is no RE or nursery care today.
January 8: Service canceled because of snow.
January 15: Rev. Don Rollins, Fran Schindler, and Worship Associate Jane Mahone, Existential Angst and the Practicalities of Getting Dead. Your inevitable demise is hopefully not on your mind too often, but it's still something you should think about long enough to get everything in order. Doing so ensures that everything in your life is organized so others can see how you want to “get dead” and what you want to happen after you're gone. Rev. Don is joined by Fran Schindler of Final Exit Network, a registered non-profit organization that operates throughout the U.S. providing education on all end-of-life choices as well as a compassionate presence to those suffering from incurable diseases who have chosen to end their suffering.
UUC's Choir sang at the service, and Patrick Feuch (trupet) also played.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Final Exit Network. The total donated was $385.
January 22: Rev. Don Rollins with Worship Associate Rhonda Johnson, The Legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In order to accommodate last week's guest speaker, Rev. Don postponed the annual observance of MLK Day to this Sunday. We'll revisit Dr. King's legacy with help from a recorded sermon from Benjamin Hooks depicting the struggle for civil rights.
Special Music was provided by Chalice Singers (Lillian Hall, Ava Lazar, Norine Rensberger) and by Jared Gibbs (piano) and Patrick Turner (stand-up bass).
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Blacksburg Refugee Partnership to help with the resettling of refugee families in Blacksburg. The total donated was $278.
An informational meeting followed the service.
January 29: The service features a message titled Reflections delivered to us by Dr. Timothy Sands, President of Virginia Tech. The service includes a question-and-answer exchange between Dr. Sands and the Congregation. Dr. Sands was introduced by Worship Associate Ellen Plummer.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the YMCA at VT to support their many community programs in cooperation with VT. The total donated was $239.
A special congregational meeting followed the service to vote on proposed bylaws changes. All members are requested to attend, either in person or by proxy.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in the library.
January 1: Carl Hansen will discuss ethical considerations in the latest advances of genetic modification..
January 15: Fran Schindler of Final Exit Network presents the provocative topic, “Are You Planning to Die?”..
Services: February 2017
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service,
Service and Event Cancelation:
In the event of snow or ice resulting in our canceling a Sunday service, a message will be sent to all those on our announcement listserv by 8:30 AM. You can also check for a message on our website, on our Facebook page, or go to wsls.com and look under the list of church closings. This should also run across the top of your TV screen on WSLS Channel 10.
February 5: Reverend Don Rollins, All You Need is Love?. It's been forty years since John Lennon told us if life is the question, love is the answer. He was right...kind of. With the help of musical messengers, Rev. Don will suggest there's more to it than that. Earle Irwin is the Worship Associate for the service.
UUC's Choir will sing at the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Southern Region Chalice Lighters call to support extending the Pledge to End Racism program at the First UU Church of Richmond. This program is designed using a leadership development model so participants gain skills and develop competence in not only talking about racism, but in facilitating discussions about race, and then working together to organize Living the Pledge workshops for people throughout their community. The total donated was $233.
February 12: UUC Choir, A Valentine from the Choir. Join us for a music-filled Valentine Concert featuring our UUC Choir, pianist, and guest musicians. Choir Director Ella Kromin and pianist Jared Gibbs have put together a collection of songs and poems that speak to the many forms of love. You'll hear classic favorites, great contemporary pieces and new arrangements of familiar songs. Come, sit back, and be filled with the words and sounds. Victoria Taylor is the Worship Associate for the service.
Musicians: F.M. Turner (bass, Bill Ray (drims), Chelseaa Craine (flute), Jared Gibbs (piano).
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is NR Community Action's Rapid Rehousing Program to assist homeless individuals and families with rent and utilities. The total donated was $244.
All are invited to our monthly potluck following the service. Please bring a generous dish to share. As an additional sweet valentine to the congregation, choir members will provide all the desserts.
February 19: Reverend Don Rollins, Unitarian Universalism in 20 Questions. What do you say when Sean from Accounting wants to know about your religious views? Rev. Don and Lisa Evanylo will offer real-life answers to some of the real-life questions UUs encounter about who we are and what we believe. Jim Littlefield is the Worship Associate for the service.
UUC's Choir will sing at the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is our Partner Church in Szentivanlaborfalva, Hungary to help purchase a minibus to transport the sick and elderly to local activities, programs and festivities. The total donated was $349.
February 26: Reverend Don Rollins, Billie Holiday as Spiritual Guide. In light of the growing prejudice being aimed at America's religious and racial minorities, Rev. Don has elected to reschedule his service on UU Humanism for next month. This week's service will be a celebration of the troubled life and musical legacy of Billie Holiday. Victoria Taylor is the Worship Associate for the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the good work of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of SWVA in supporting families of critically ill children receiving medical care. This collection was in support of our Gr. 4–5 RE class (Dumbledore's Army) in their fight against the Sickness Horcrux. The total donated was $466, which includes $226 raised by Dumbledore's Army from soup-mix sales.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in the library.
February 5: Molly & Peter Lazar discuss Reducing Medication Dosing Errors through Simple and Innovative Methods.
February 19: Manna Lundberg discusses the Sport of Letterboxing.
Services: March 2017
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service,
Service and Event Cancelation:
In the event of snow or ice resulting in our canceling a Sunday service, a message will be sent to all those on our announcement listserv by 8:30 AM. You can also check for a message on our website, on our Facebook page, or go to wsls.com and look under the list of church closings. This should also run across the top of your TV screen on WSLS Channel 10.
March 5: Reverend Don Rollins, UU Humanism. Humanism has served as the primary paradigm for UUs for the better part of a century. Yet, many humanists are a bit foggy on where their tradition came from, and where it might be heading. Jim Kern is the Worship Associate for the service.
UUC's Choir will sing at the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the local NAACP Samuel L. Clark Memorial Scholarship Fund. Each year 5 x $500 scholarships are given to NAACP Youth Council members or children or grandchildren of NAACP members. Students must attend a 2-year or 4-year college or technical school in the fall following their high school graduation. The total donated was $211.
March 12: Worship Associate Rhonda Johnson, “One Wild and Precious Life”. As we look forward to Spring, are you looking back on your one wild and precious life? What's still ahead of you? In this special service, members of the congregation spanning various ages and stages of life address the question posed by poet Mary Oliver, “What would you do with your one wild and precious life?” The message is delivered by seven congregants: Natalie Gibbs (and her daughter Caroline), Ava Lazar, Willie Caldwell, Victoria Taylor, David Lally, Janet Sawyers, and Alan Heath.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is a UU-supported Welcome Table Community Center in Turley, OK which burned down March 2. It serves as a food bank and gathering center in this destitute part of the state. The total donated was $200.
All are invited to our monthly potluck following the service. Please bring a generous dish to share. As an additional sweet valentine to the congregation, choir members will provide all the desserts.
March 19: Spiritual director, Mims Driscoll, UU Mysticism. Led by Mims, we explore mysticism, within and without UUism. This is the second installment in a series on liberal religious thought and theology. Ellen Plummer is the Worship Associate for the service.
UUC's Choir will sing at the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is to support Showing Up: A Racial Justice Conference for Youth & Adults sponsored by the UU Blue Ridge Cluster of Congregations. The conference was held March 10–12, and congregations in the cluster (including UUC) are asked to provide financial assistance to help cover expenses. The total donated was $205.
March 26: Reverend Don Rollins, Mission, Music and Money. Rev. Don will help kick off the 2017–18 generosity campaign with a look at congregational basics, including money. Earle Irwin is the Worship Associate for the service.
UUC's Chalice Choir will sing at the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Special Olympics NRV, which provides athletic training and competition for adults and children with intellectual disabilities. The total donated was $206.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in the library.
March 5: Sam Pincus discusses Patriotism, Penmanship, and American Values: Schoolbooks and the Establishment of Our National Character”. We often refer to “our American values, especially politicians who claim to stand for them. But when and where did those values originate? What role did early schoolbooks play in their creation and spreading? We may laugh at Parson Weems' tale of George Washington and the cherry tree, but there was a serious theme behind it.
March 19: Karen Hager discusses Setting a Personal Sabbath. Sabbath is an ancient religious concept, long abandoned by religious liberals. Today, some folks are re-imagining it and finding benefit in adding personal Sabbath time to their lives. Come learn how to incorporate a Sabbath into your own life.
Services: April 2017
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service,
April 2: Rev. Don Rollins, UU Christianity. Rev. Don traces the roots and living tradition of progressive Christianity within our movement and beyond.
UUC's Choir will sing at the service, accompanied by Chelsea Craine (flute).
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Humane Society of Montgomery County. This will be combined with an additional ½-plate donation for HSMC on April 16. The total donated was $224.
April 9: Seeking Unity in Our Diversity. The service today is led by Itraab, an Arabic music ensemble that grew out of the Moss Arts Center's 2015 Islamic Worlds Festival. Itraab is composed of VT students, faculty & staff, and community members, and is led by Anne Elise. Their program will include traditional and contemporary Arabic songs, accompanied by qanun (78-string zither), 'ud (11-string lute), accordion, cello and percussion as well as a recitation from the Qur'an by Aimane Najmeddine. Worship Associates for the service are Rhonda Johnson and Ellen Plummer.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Blacksburg Interfaith Food Pantry to help feed the hungry in the NRV. The total donated was $362. This includes $150 that was donated previously.
All are invited to our monthly potluck following the service. Please bring a generous dish to share.
April 16: Rev. Don Rollins, Remembering and Overcoming. Rev. Don and Worship Team members will lead us as we mark both the 10th anniversary of the April 16 shootings at VT and Easter hope. (Note: the first part of the service will be child-friendly.) Earle Irwin is the Worship Associate for the service.
UUC's Choir will sing at the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Humane Society of Montgomery County to help our animal friends in need of a home. The total donated was $274.
April 23: Rev. Don Rollins, Stories from Church. This service is based on Don's experience growing up in an evangelical, Appalachian congregation. The lessons have more to do with life and UU congregations that you might think. Jim Kern is the Worship Associate for the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is UUC's Mental Health Justice Ministry to help support the showing of the film, Touched with Fire, being shown free at the Lyric on May 27 at 2 PM. The film portrays two bipolar patients who meet in a psychiatric hospital and begin a romance that brings out all the beauty and horror of their condition. The total donated was $384.
April 30: Settled-minister candidate Pam Philips, Finding Our Way. As Unitarian Universalists, we affirm individual searches for truth and meaning and encourage collective spiritual growth. Pam will explore how we might support and challenge each other to find our way. Ellen Plummer is the Worship Associate for the service.
Special music is provided during the service by our UU Music Breakfast Club, featuring Kai Duncan, Felicia Etzkorn, Patrick & Kim Feucht, Rhonda Johnson, Jane Mahone, Alan Moore, Barbara Taylor. and the Gibbs family (Jared, Natalie, Caroline, and James).
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Blacksburg Volunteer Fire Deptartment to help support all the good work they do for our community. The total donated was $267.
Stay for the Meet & Greet with Pam following the service.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in the library.
April 2: Elaine Myers discusses Death With Dignity — A Personal Story of Choice.
April 16: Matt Hart discusses NOVA (National Organization for Victim Assistance) Training and the Virginia Tech Tragedy, including why it's important to remember and what we can do to help others cope with tragedy.
April 23: Bonus Sunday Circle! Join Rev. Don for a discussion on UU history based on the UUA pamphlet, Unitarian Universalist Origins: Our Historic Faith. Want to read ahead? Follow this link for a preview.
Services: May 2017
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service,
May 7: Pam Philips, Ministerial Candidate, Courageous Love. As we envision a future together, how might we live into the mission of transforming ourselves, our community, and our world through courageous love? Ellen Plummer was the Worship Associate for the service.
UUC's Choir sang at the service. Special music guest, Tyler Flowers, played saxophone.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is to support Bending the Arc to Justice, a film by UUC Birmingham exploring the congregation's and Alabama's role in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. The total donated was $292.
After the service, at the special Congregational Meeting, the Congregation voted unanimously to call Pam as our Settled Minister.
May 14 (Mothers' Day): Nikki Giovanni, The Courage of Mothers. Renowned poet, activist and educator Nikki Giovanni has taught at Virginia Tech where she is a University Distinguished Professor since 1987. She has been recognized with several honors, including 25 honorary doctorates, a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship, several NAACP Image Awards, the Rosa Parks Women of Courage Award, the Langston Hughes Award and the Maya Angelou Lifetime Achievement Award. Victoria Taylor was the Worship Associate for the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is to support the NRV Re-entry Program, which provides guidance and resources to individuals being released from prison back to community. Our donation will be used specifically to support the transitional housing program. The total donated was $233.
All are invited to our monthly potluck following the service. Please bring a generous dish to share.
May 21: YRUU (high-school youth group), Bridging Ceremony. The graduating seniors shared thoughts about bridging from high school to adulthood, and the group welcomed rising freshman to YRUU for the fall.
During the service, Reverend Don Rollins welcomed new members into the congregation.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is
the Blacksburg Refugee Partnership to support efforts to help resettle refugee families in Blacksburg. This recipient was selected by our high school youth group, YRUU. The total donated was $134.
May 28: Rev. Don Rollins, Ric Masten: UU Troubadour. A preacher never knows what might happen when offering a sermon-of-your-choice for bid at a congregation's service auction. So far, my favorite is van Gough. My least? Why Cats Are More Fun Than Dogs. Don's feeling good about Marilyn & Frank DuPont's choice: UU traveling poet and musician, Rev. Ric Masten. In these times of trouble — both in the world and our denomination — come learn what Ric had to say about justice, joy, and hard times. Pam Philips read the meditation, and Rhonda Johnson was the Worship Associate for the survice.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the UU Church of Spartanburg, SC as part of a Chalice Lighter call to enable ADA accessibility improvements to their campus. The total donated was $130.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in the library.
May 7: Anne Campbell discusses Hospice House.
May 14: Tamin Younos discusses the topic, Bottled Water: panacea or plague?.
Services: June 2017
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service,
June 4: Today is the annual intergenerational UU Flower Communion, and it is aso Rev. Don Rollins last service at the UUC. At his request, we have removed from our Web site the podcasts of all his services. During the service Wayne Neu sang a song about Don written by George Lally titled “Hello Donald”. Don has given us permission to put and keep that presentation on our Sermon Archive page.
UUC's Choir sang during the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is to our local Head Start Program (part of New River Community Action), whose mission is to build on the unique strengths of children and families; through positive engagement, health education and a quality preschool experience. The total donated was $223.
June 11: Reverend Kirk Ballin, Getting High: Changing One's State of Mind. We all probably have some preconceived ideas and images in our minds when we hear the phrase, “Getting High”. Reverend Kirk hopes to make some modifications to those preconceived ideas and images. It's a topic that goes to the heart of our being human. Reverend Kirk is a part-time Visiting Minister to the Harrisonburg UUs and is a Program Coordinator of AgrAbility Virginia. Victoria Taylor is the Worship Associate for the survice.
UUC's Choir will sing at the service and will then be on summer hiatus until August. Soloists are Linda Pfeiffer, Sara Kominsky, and Nick Gowen.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is to Feeding America: Southwest Virginia to support their work fighting hunger in our area. The total donated was $214.
All are invited to our monthly potluck following the service. Please bring a generous dish to share.
June 18: Professor Alan Forrest, Self-Compassion and Loving-Kindness through Meditation. Do you ever find it difficult to experience compassion and self-love? How often do you engage in harmful self-talk that harshly criticizes and judges yourself? You cannot fully extend compassion and love to others if you're unable to extend them to yourself. By bringing loving kindness into your life, you will gradually experience deeper levels of love and compassion; both for self and for others. Loving-kindness is a boundless love that softens and opens the heart. It's important to note that loving-kindness also includes the essential qualities of compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity. This session will provide an overview of self-compassion and loving-kindness, a loving-kindness meditation, and how you can integrate them into your life as a way of cultivating inner healing. Dr. Forrest, Ed.D. is a Professor in the Department of Counselor Education at Radford University. Jane Mahone is the Worship Associate for the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is to the National Center for Fathering, which works to equip fathers to be actively engaged in the life of every child. The total donated was $128.
June 25: George Lally, Annual Poetry Service. How does poetry inspire us and invite us to examine ourselves in the world in which we live? Members and friends are invited to bring and share poems, either their own or those written by others that they admire. David Lally is the Worship Associate for the service.
Jim Kern provides the music during the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is to Preserve Montgomery County VA to help in their efforts to keep fracked gas pipelines from going through our county. The total donated was $148.
Sunday Circle is on Summer Break through August
Services: July 2017
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service,
July 2: The theme of today's servce is The Language of Music
and is led by the musical duo Constellation, featuring Eric Thomas (voice and guitar) and Helen Wolfson (hammered dulcimer). Music can evoke a range of strong emotions (including joy, sorrow, wisfulness, elation) and powerful images. In this service, Constallation uses their music to lead the congregation on a journey through a variety of emotions and images, from deep contemplation to celebration. Rhonda Johnson is the Worship Associae for the service.
There are no Children's RE classes today.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is to Micah's Backpack, which provides weekend meals for local low-income school children. The money will be used to purchase jars of peanut butter for their Peanut Butter from Heaven project. This past year, the community partnership with Micah's Backpack packed over 10,000 bags of food for kids in all Blacksburg schools, Valley Interfaith Childcare Center, and two Head Start programs. The total donated was $141.
July 9: Michele Deramo with Worship Associate Earle Irwin, White Allies' Humble Path. How can predominantly white congregations end racial injustice? It begins with a commitment to humbly walk a risky path, fraught with missteps and leading to places unknown. Michele Deramo is Assistant Provost for Diversity Education at Virginia Tech. On the sermon archive Web page, there are links to two articles she suggests we read as a follow-up to the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is to NRV Agency on Aging, which supports and enhances the lives of older adults, their families, and caretakers through advocacy, info and services. The total donated was $170.
All are invited to our monthly potluck following the service. Please bring a generous dish to share.
July 16: UUC member Ohland, with Worship Associate Victoria Taylor and musician Brian Peters, Circle Singing, an opportunity for individuals to gather as community and use their voices in an exploratory, free, safe and playful way. No special musical ability required so come make a joyful noise!
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is to our local United Way's Stuff the Bus Campaign, which provides school supplies to local children in need of them. The total donated was $181.
July 23: Rev. Paul Boothby with Worship Associate Jim Kern, What Would a UU Do? What does Unitarian Universalism look like in public life? Though we try to interject civility and find common ground in all situations, what do we do if we feel angry, afraid or uncertain? How do we respond from the heart of our values with people who seem unreasonable? Rev. Paul Boothby is a fifth-generation UU and identifies himself as a Religious Humanist. He has served First Unitarian Church of Lynchburg for ten years.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is to the Women's Resource Center in Radford, which provides programs and services to victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence. The total donated was $261.
July 30: Guest speaker Jim Best, with Worship Associate Victoria Taylor, Saying Yes: A Journey from Pain to Purpose. The meaning of experience, discovery and revelation have developed with increasing clarity. Jim's story collects the loose ends of a lifetime into a pattern only now evident, only now linking purpose to existence and self to community for a gay man. Jim has been a leader in the Floyd chapter of PFLAG for the past five years and is a member of Floyd Friends Meeting.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is to Radford-Fairlawn Daily Bread, which sponsors Meals on Wheels and free weekday lunches for those living in Radford and Fairlawn. The total donated was $109.
Sunday Circle is on Summer Break through August
Services: August 2017
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service,
August 6: Reverend Pam Philips with Worship Associate Earle Irwin, New Beginnings. The rhythms of life at church, and especially in a university community, mean that August is a time to look ahead to beginnings — a new church year, a new school year, a new ministry. So we'll consider what it means to begin again.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is to the Church of the Larger Fellowship, which is an independent UU online church serving and connecting UUs around the world. The total donated was $260.
August 13: Reverend Pam Philips with Worship Associate Jane Mahone, Confront the KKK! Expressions of hate have become all too common lately, from groups that were thought long gone, like the KKK, and newer, recently legitimized movements like the alt-right. The recent demonstrations by those promoting white nationalism in Charlottesville force us to consider how we should respond and what we are called to do as people of faith. [The title refers to a confrontation in July in Charlotetesvillewhile, and Rev Pam was there. Yesterday there was a larger confrontation in Charlottesville.]
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is to the Southern Poverty Law Center, which is dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry and to seeking justice for the most vulnerable members of our society. The total donated was $346.
All are invited to our monthly potluck following the service. Please bring a generous dish to share.
August 20: Reverend Pam Philips and UUC GA delegate Ellen Plummer with Worship Associate Rhonda Johnson, Lessons from New Orleans. This year's General Assembly brought unique challenges and opportunities as the Unitarian Universalist Association begins a new chapter in its commitment to anti-racism, anti-oppression, and multiculturalism. We'll share some highlights from GA and consider how being a part of the larger denomination might impact who we are and might become as the UUC.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is to Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism (BLUU), in honor of Jim Key, long-time UUA moderator. BLUU provides information, resources, and support for Black UUs and works to expand the role and visibility of Black UUs within our faith. The total donated was $288.
All are invited to stay following the service for our annual ice cream social sponsored by Lifespan Faith Development. Enjoy a delicious cone and hope for sunshine so we can be outdoors.
August 27: Reverend Pam Philips with Worship Associate Jim Kern, Intergenerational Water Communion. The annual celebration of a congregation's ingathering, practiced by UUs across the country. All are invited to bring water representing what we bring to this community. Whether from the tap at home or from some adventure — all water can be a source of inspiration, healing, rejuvenation, or sustenance. Likewise, we all bring unique gifts and perspectives that combine to create this beloved community. (No RE classes today, but nursery care is available.)
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is to the UU Service Committee's Emergency Humanitarian Crisis Fund to help those affected by famine in East Africa and a destructive cyclone in Burma. The total donated was $188.
Sunday Circle is on Summer Break through August
Services: September 2017
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service,
The theme for September is Welcoming.
September 3 Rev. Pam Philips with Worship Associate Jane Mahone, Welcome Home. As we begin a new church year, some of us are returning to a place that has felt like our spiritual home for years and others are “coming home” for the very first time. What is it that makes this a place where we have felt welcome? How might we extend that feeling of welcome to others who may want or need a new spiritual home?
UUC's Choir will sing at the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is to Houston's Coalition for the Homeless, which coordinates the city's response to homelessness and is working to find shelters with beds during the current crisis. The total donated was $346.
September 10: Andrew McKnight with Worship Associate Rhonda Johnson, Beyond Borders. Andrew is an award-winning UU poet and singer/songwriter from northern Virginia. This special musical service is rich with themes of welcoming new experiences and personal growth as we challenge our individual “comfort zones”. Andrew will also perform a concert on Saturday, September 9 at 7 PM in our sanctuary. | Andrew McKnight's Web site
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the UUA/UUSC Hurricane Harvey Recovery Fund. The total donatied is $574..
All are invited to our monthly potluck following the service. Please bring a generous dish to share.
September 17: Reverend Pam Philips with Worship Associate Jim Kern, Widening Our Welcome. As we consider what it means to feel welcomed, it's also helpful to consider how we might be better at welcoming, especially those with whom we don't feel comfortable. Are we keeping ourselves in a bubble here, preaching to the choir, listening to an echo chamber? What might we be missing by keeping our circle tightly drawn? What might we gain from opening our arms, our eyes, our hearts to people who are different from us, and how might we do that?
UUC's Choir will sing at the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is the Alzheimer's Association Central and Western VA Chapter, which works to eliminate the disease through the advancement of research and support for all affected. The total donated was $223.
September 24: Reverend Pam Philips with Worship Associate David Lally, Welcoming Unexpected Visitors. The Sufi poet, Rumi, reminds us that our lives bring unexpected (and sometimes unwelcome) situations, feelings, and ideas. How might we welcome all that comes our way with curiosity and openness?
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is to the UUA Hurricane Irma Recovery Fund to help those affected by the recent devastation. Funds will be used to assist UU congregations in repairing any damage, and to respond to the needs of their members' and their community's efforts to get back on its feet. The total donated was $348.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in the library.
September 3: Alan Moore will discuss The Radford Arsenal: 77 years of open burning on the New River.
September 17: Steve Keighton will provide an overview of the National Weather Service mission and services and discuss communicating for decision support.
Services: October 2017
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service,
The theme for October is Courage.
October 1: Reverend Nicole Kirk with Worship Associate Victoria Taylor, Clean Slate. During the latter half of September, Jews observed the High Holy Days including Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. It is a period of introspection and reflection and asking for forgiveness. It is an important spiritual practice and one that is done in community. This Sunday, we will explore the themes of Yom Kippur and its power.
Nicole is the Schulman Professor of UU History at Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago and a UU minister. She has served congregations in OH and NJ. Nicole has a Doctor of Ministry, and a Ph.D. in American Religious History from Princeton Theological Seminary. Her book, Wanamaker’s Temple: Business and Religion in the Wanamaker Department Store, is forthcoming from NYU Press in 2018.
UUC's Choir will sing at the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is to Virginia Interfaith Power & Light, which works to empower all faith communities across the state to achieve sustainable living and to respond to climate change. The total donated was $132.
October 8: Reverend Pam Philips with Worship Associate Earle Irwin, The Courage to Live and Let Live with Mental Illness. Following Mental Illness Awareness Week, we’ll consider how persons with mental illness and their loved ones must have courage simply to live their lives, not just because of the illness but because of the way it is perceived in our society.
UU Music Breakfast Club performed the prelude, offertory music, and postlude. Members: Alan Moore, Barbara Taylor, & Jamie McReynolds (vocals); Natalie Gibbs (voice and marimba); Jared Gibbs (piano).
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is to the Hurricane Maria Community Recovery Fund (recommended by the UUA) to support recovery in Puerto Rican communities from the devastation of Hurricane Maria. The total donated was $389.
All are invited to our monthly potluck following the service. In keeping in the spirit of our Frontier Days-themed auction on November 11 at 5 PM, please bring a theme-based generous dish to share, if possible.
October 15: Reverend Pam Philips with Worship Associate Jane Mahone, Braving the Wilderness of New Ways of Thinking. Some of our greatest fears come not from physical danger but from ideas that challenge the way we understand the world and our place in it. How can understanding those fears help us to be brave?
UUC's Choir will sing at the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is to the Blacksburg Interfaith Food Pantry, a joint ministry of over 25 congregations working to feed the hungry in our community. The total donated was $242.
October 22: Reverend Pam Philips with Worship Associate Rhonda Johnson, Diving into the Deep End: White Supremacy Teach-In. UU congregations across the country will be having special services this month to consider how our culture is one of white supremacy. Those of us who identify as white may have difficulty recognizing this about our culture because it is “the water we swim in”. This Sunday will require courage and the willingness to begin to understand what for some of us is a new way of thinking.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is to the Christiansburg Institute, Inc., which was founded as the Hill School, circa 1867 and was the first school to provide secondary education for African-Americans in Southwest VA. It closed in 1966 with desegregation. In 1996 Christiansburg Institute, Inc., was formed to preserve the remaining facilities and archives and to enact the legacy of the former school through serving the multi-cultural needs of today's NRV. The total donated was $236.
October 29: Reverend Pam Philips with Worship Associate Ellen Plummer, Facing Our Fears. With Halloween just around the corner, we're reminded that the world can be a scary place. The children will be participating in the annual “It's Scary to Be Hungry” collection of food for the Interfaith Food Pantry.
The ½-plate Collection: Thanks to the incredible generosity of UUC members and the local community's response to RE's It's Scary to Be Hungry collection at Kroger today, UUC will be donating $3229.78 in cash and non-perishable food items to the Blacksburg Interfaith Food Pantry that provides food to those in need in our community.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in the library.
October 1: Tina Smusz discusses Health hazards & social impacts of the Mountain Valley Pipeline.
October 15: Leslie Hager-Smith discusses Place Attachment, Resiliency, and All the Things We Cannot Legislate. Leslie is the Vice Mayor of Blacksburg and has been a member of our faith community for over 35 years. A fourth-generation Unitarian, she says she first discovered a talent for leadership here at UUC.
Services: November 2017
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service,
The theme for November is Abundance.
November 5: Rev. Pam Philips with Worship Associate Earle Irwin, Scarcity to Abundance. We often find ourselves believing ours is a world of scarcity, living from a place of fear that there is not enough. Where do those fears come from and how can we counteract them? Both Rev. Pam and WA Earle contributed to the sermon.
UUC's Choir will sing at the service, with a solo by Bill Patterson.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is to Plenty! Farm & Food Bank, an all-volunteer food program that provides fresh, healthy food goods and meals to residents in Floyd. The total donated was $235.
November 12: Rev. Pam Philips with Worship Associate Jim Kern, Noticing Wonders That Abound. With increasingly busy lives, it iss easy to get caught up in regrets of the past and worries for the future. How might welcoming abundance make our lives more wonder-full?
UUC's Choir are joined by the choir from the Unitarian Universalist Church of Roanoke for five songs during the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is to he Montgomery County Christmas Store, which assists low-income families during the Christmas season by providing a shopping experience characterized by choice and dignity. The total donated was $253.
All are invited to our monthly potluck following the service.
November 19: Youths' Perspective on Abundance. The annual late-Fall service led by our Young Religious Unitarian Universalists (YRUU) group.
The UUC Chalice Choir performed during the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is to the LifeStraw Safe Water Fund. The funds will be used to provide their water filtration/purification devices to those in areas affected by the recent hurricanes and where the water is contaminated with pathogens. This organization was selected by members of YRUU. The total donated was $155.
November 26: Rev. Pam Philips with Worship Associate Victoria Taylor. Abundance of the Universe. Looking up at the night sky with its seemingly infinite number of stars can fill us with a sense of connection to all that is, ever was, and will be. How might this sense of wonder and awe at the abundance of the universe inform how we live our lives?
There is no children’s RE today. Nursery care available.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is to the the Bobcat's Backpack Program, which provides bagged weekend meals for over 115 Radford public school students. The total donated was $158.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in the library.
November 5: Doug Sewall discusses Growing up (and old) with a serious physical handicap (polio).
November 19: Carl Hansen leads a discussion on What is a human: A philosophical view.
Services: December 2017
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service,
The theme for December is Hope.
December 3: Rev. Pam Philips with Worship Associate Jane Mahone, Sowing Hope. One of the entreaties in the Prayer of St. Francis asks where there is despair, let me sow hope. How might we sow hope in the world for others and ourselves?
UUC's Choir will sing at the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is to support our efforts on behalf of To Our House, the area's winter homeless shelter for men. Our dates for supporting the men with food preparation, provisions, and evening activities are February 3–9. The total donated was $321.
December 10: Karen Hager, Director of Lifespan Faith Development, and Rev. Pam Philips, The UUC Multi-Generational No Rehearsal Holiday Pageant. This year, our non-rehearsed performers will present Dr. Seuss's holiday classic How the Grinch stole Christmas. We will once again be seated at tables, and those who have a buddy will get to smeet and sit with their buddies.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is to Virginia Organizing, a grassroots organization dedicated to challenging injustice by empowering people in local communities to address issues that affect the quality of their lives. The total donated was $208.
All are invited to our monthly potluck following the service.
December 17: Rev. Pam Philips with Worship Associate Rhonda Johnson, Faith and Hope. As religious liberals, we sometimes have difficulties articulating our beliefs, our theology. What is the basis of our faith? In what do we have hope? How does it inform how we might act in the world?
UUC’s Choir will sing at the service, and additional special music during the service is provided by Cassandra Hanson (clarinet).
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is to NRV Cares for their work protecting children from abuse and strengthening families through education, advocacy, and community partnerships. The total donated was $268.
December 24: Rev. Pam Philips with Worship Associate Earle Irwin, Birth of Hope. On this day before Christmas, we'll explore how hope may be born in the darkest and coldest time of the year.
No RE or nursery care today.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is to UC’s Community Assistance Fund, which is used by Rev. Pam throughout the year to assist those from both UUC and the wider community needing help with rent, utilities, and food. The total donated was $158.
December 31:December 31: Worship Associate Victoria Taylor (asisted by WA Jim Kern who also provides the music), Hopes for the New Year. On the eve of the new year, we have an opportunity to set aside what no longer serves us and look toward the future with a sense of hope and renewal.
No RE or nursery care today.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is to New River Community Action, whose mission is to promote and support the well-being and self-reliance of individuals, families, and communities. The total donated was $152.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in the library.
December 3: Karen Hager and Liz Craine will discuss Identity Theft. Karen will discuss her experience as a victim of identity theft and steps taken for future protection. Liz will discuss online security and help answer technical questions from the group.
December 17: Anita Puckett will lead a discussion on Hillbilly Elegy.
Services: January 2018
10:00 AM in the Meeting Hall
Children’s Religious Education and nursery care
Everyone is invited to coffee & conversation following the service,
The theme for January is Intention.
January 7: Rev. Pam Philips with Worship Associate Ellen Plummer, Fulfilling Our Promise. Our mission and vision statements set ambitious intentions for who we are and want to be in the world. So how are we doing? We'll take time to reflect and explore how we might fulfill our promise.
UUC's Choir will sing at the service. Leon Kok (violin) and Jared Gibbs (piano) provide special music during the service.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is to UUSC’s (UU Service Committee) Guest at Your Table Program, which is UUSC's annual program to raise support for and awareness about their work to advance human rights around the world. The total donated was $340.
January 14: Rev. Pam Philips with Worship Associate Earle Irwin, The Promise and The Practice. What would it be like if our UU worship service centered entirely around the voices and the experiences of black Unitarian Universalists? What truths might we hear, however difficult? What might we learn? How might these black UU leaders teach us to be better allies, better siblings in faith, and even better citizens in our community? On this Sunday before Martin Luther King Day, we’ll intentionally listen to those voices.
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is to Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism (BLUU), which works to expand the role and visibility of Black UUs within our faith as well as providing information, resources, and support. The total donated was $606.
All are invited to our monthly potluck following the service.
January 21: Rev. Pam Philips with Worship Associate Rhonda Johnson, Living with Intention. Thoreau went to the woods to live deliberately, but most of us don't have that option. What does it mean to live deliberately? How might we live with intention, here and now?
During the service, music was provided by The Chalice Singers, UUC's Choir (soloist Nick Gowan), as well as three pieces by Leo Kok (violin) accompanied by Jared Gibbs (piano).
The ½-plate Collection recipient this week is to UUC's To Our House Program. UUC members will work to support homeless men in the area, February 3–9, by providing and serving meals and spending time with the men in the evening. The total donated was $263.
Sunday Circle
The Sunday Circle meets on the first and third Sundays of the month beginning at 8:30 AM.
All are welcome to join us for stimulating conversation. The group meets in the library.
January 7: Join Join Carl Hansen as he reflects on the topic, “What I have learned in the past 12 years of Bird Studies”.
January 21: Carol Davis will discuss Blacksburg Sustainability topics and service opportunities.