uufdc

SYNCHRONICITY IN OUR DAILY LIVES: DO THINGS REALLY HAPPEN FOR A REASON?

We have all experienced events that appear to have miraculously coincided at meaningful times in our lives. While many attribute these experiences to random chance or mere coincidence, it has been argued that synchronized occurrences may be forms of divine intervention - designed as signposts to capture our conscious attention and guide us through the maze of life.

Dr. Steiner’s presentation will explore the concepts of synchronicity in our daily lives and highlight the value and importance of remaining mindful of these unique and inspirational experiences.

Dr. Linda Steiner holds a Ph.D. in Applied Social Psychology from Loyola University. Over the last 18 years, she has worked as a university educator and is currently an associate lecturer at University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. She is known in Door County as the author of, “Why Is It…? , a regular column featured in the Peninsula Pulse from 2008-2011.

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RICH PEOPLE

A meditation on wealth.

With a first career in investments and finance and a second career in ministry, Joan has known rich people from many walks of life.

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THE SACRED POWER OF MUSIC

Around the globe and in every culture sacred observance is closely tied to music.  Brian Pertl will lead us on an exploration of both familiar and non-familiar sacred music traditions. During this journey we will be asking the question of why music is such a vital part of human spirituality.

Dean of the Lawrence Conservatory of Music, Brian Pertl has done fieldwork in Australia studying the didjeridu, and fieldwork in Tibet, Nepal, and India studying Tibetan Buddhist sacred music. He earned his master’s degree in ethnomusicology. After working at Microsoft as an ethnomusicologist for 16 years, he returned to Lawrence to assume his current role.

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TWO EXTRAORDINARY AMERICAN "ENVIRONMENTALISTS”

One was a woman - the other a man

One was born to modest means - the other to wealth and privilege

Both died tragically young

Both left us an imperishable legacy

Dick Smythe is an entomologist retired from the research division of the US Forest Service. Before kindergarten he started collecting feathers and insects. In college he majored in biology, then earned a PhD in entomology. Throughout his lifetime, Dick has maintained an interest in the natural world. He is active in a number of environmental organizations, is an avid reader, especially in the biological sciences and theology, and enjoys being out-of-doors throughout the year.

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LANGUAGE LESSONS FOR THE JOURNEY

How fluent are you in the language and images of your individual spiritual journey?  This will be a reflection on how well the Fellowship is doing to embody the fourth Principle in Unitarian Universalism: “Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations.”

Cynthia Johnson, a retired Unitarian Universalist minister who served UU congregations in Texas and Oklahoma, joined UUFDC in 2000 when she and Al moved to Door County. Cynthia is active as an artist and a poet. She enjoys family and friends, nature, travel, and reading and writing.

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The word Easter is derived from Eostre, the name of a goddess whose festival was held at the vernal equinox, although it is now better known as a festival that celebrates the resurrection of Christ, or The Passover, or a time to give gifts of eggs to our friends and families. What better way to celebrate the diverse meanings of this day than in original poetry by members and friends of this Fellowship!  From memories of Easters long ago and far away to current images, in voices that range from joyful to ironic, serious to playful, our poets will seek to awaken a fresh response to this holiday.

Participating poets include Sharon Auberle. David Clowers, Hanne Gault, Phil Hansotia, Cynthia Johnson, Poet Laureate Barbara Larsen , Estella Lauter, Nancy Rafal, Jack Redell, and Henry Timm.

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ETHICAL COMMUNICATION

Most of us spend very little time thinking about the way in which we communicate.  We speak to convey our thoughts and to get our needs met.  We act based on our understanding of our obligations and to demonstrate our feelings.  The manner in which we speak and act conveys a great deal more than most of us are aware.  Our manner of communication reflects who we are and what we value.  The way in which we communicate shapes the character and the content of our relationships.

Laura is an attorney, mediator, and educator and has mediated a wide variety of disputes for over 12 year. She has taught conflict resolution, ethics, critical thinking and problem-solving, political science, business law, and social responsibility. Laura currently serves as Executive Director of the Mediation Center of Greater Green Bay, Inc.  She also volunteers as a Court-Appointed Special Advocate for abused and neglected children and serves on the Board of Trustees for an orphanage in Johannesburg, South Africa.  Most importantly, she is the proud mother of two daughters, Emma and Kathryn.

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JUSTICE IS THE HUMAN RIGHT TO WATER

The Environmental Justice Task Force of UUSC has chosen this theme for Justice Sunday. The human right to water entitles everyone to sufficient, safe, acceptable, physically accessible, and affordable water for personal and domestic use. There is a global water crisis which threatens people's right to adequate water. More people are losing their access to clean, affordable water in the US and overseas, and too often the victims are poor people, women and racial and ethnic minorities. The service will examine the importance of water, some of the crises and threats, and some action steps.

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WOMEN AND POVERTY

On or near International Women’s Day each year, we pause to celebrate women, but also to consider how women are faring in contemporary societies.  Even in the U.S., one sixth of the population lives below the poverty line and a disproportionate number are women, often single parents.  Beginning with the first two principles of Unitarian Universalist Covenant, but especially the belief in justice, equality and compassion in human relations, Estella Lauter will ask how we think about poverty in the U.S.; how the dominant view of poverty has affected women; and how Unitarians might make a better case for our first principles.

Although Estella has worn several “hats” that are relevant to this topic (student, waitress, wife, mother, teacher, administrator, poet), in this talk she will draw on her own early experiences of poverty and religion coupled with her (almost) lifelong reading in women’s studies  and her more recent reading of economics and political philosophy.

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THE ART OF HERESY The word heretic comes from the Greek root 'hairetikos' and originally meant the state or condition of an individual who had the ability or freedom to choose or make up his mind. Only later was it a description of a person who dissented from accepted belief and dogma. Being a heretic is the price of all creativity. Phil Sweet is a long-time friend of UUFDC, and a marvelous and insightful story-teller. He served as minister of Hope Church in Sturgeon Bay and two rural churches in western Minnesota.

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