Past
Services
February 28th
“Faith as
Commitment and Practical Living”
Reverend Luck
February 21st
January 31st
This is another in the series of sermons I am preaching in an effort to deepen our education us about theology regardless of our individual beliefs. My primary reference is Karyn Armstrong's book: The Case for God, an intelligent discussion of theology and contemporary biblical scholarship.
January 10th
January 3rd
“What's in a Name?”
Joe Adams
December 27th
“The
Irresistible Quest and Light for the
Homeward Journey Along God's Road"
Gary
Daught
Gary Daught
is the director of the library at Milligan College
and a former Mennonite pastor. He will speak from the bibli-
cal story of The Magi, a narrative associated with the birth of
Jesus.
December 20th
“In
the Winter of Our Spiritual Lives”
Rev. Luck
December 13th
“A
Hanukkah Story of Receiving”
Rev. Luck
December 6th
“Festival
of Lights”
November
22nd
Rev Luck
This, our service of gratitude and Thanksgiving, is always joyful one so I do hope to celebrate it with you. Deep appreciation is a spiritual value we can practice everyday as we “grow our souls” together.HVUUC's Religious Services Committee
Rev Luck
This Sunday is Association Sunday, which your Board of Trustees voted to support. This Sunday you can make a special offering beyond your gift to HVUUC, if you wish, in support of the national Association and the ministry of --"Building the World We Dream Of.”
Rev
Luck
For
our Jewish friends the holiest of all days, Yom Kippur, begins at
sunset this Sunday. Our service will be a consideration of
acknowledging our misdeeds and our ability to forgive – most important
abilities for spiritual maturity and for our own happiness.
HVUUC Member Joe Adams
This is a sermon about
evolving religious life -- the process
of aspiring to a higher, more dynamic, religious experience.
The Reverend Jacqueline Luck
On this
Father's Day I will look to the Universalist half of our
faith tradition and speak on service as prayer.
June 14
“The
Inherent Worth and Dignity of all People?”
The Reverend Jacqueline Luck and Kim Ray
The
first Welcoming Congregations study group met May
31, and it seems a good time for us to consider what
our Unitarian Universalist first principle means to us. We
affirm and support the principle, but what does that mean
for our lives? And for our congregation? We'll consider the
complexities and joys in living the ethics of our religion.
June 7
The Reverend Jacqueline Luck
The Reverend Jacqueline Luck
The Reverend
Jacqueline Luck
In
the spirit of Ralph Waldo Emerson was born May 25, 1803. I
think
we'll take the occasion of his birthday to talk about
the Transcendentalist and the message Waldo and his
friends
might have for Unitarian Universalist today.
The Reverend Jacqueline Luck
March 15
The Reverend Jacqueline Luck
March 8
“The Joy of Giving”The Reverend Jacqueline Luck
March 1
February 22
“Courage in the Face of Fear”The Reverend Jacqueline Luck
Recently I heard someone say, that as a child he thought courage was not being afraid, but as an adult he realized that courage meant doing what you needed to do even though you were afraid. I think this would be a fine topic for us to explore on a Sunday morning.
February 15The Reverend Jacqueline Luck
This is an annual sermon on the relationship of religion and science as part of the national Clergy Letter Project and Evolution Weekend. Both organized to reiterate that neither religion or science necessarily need oppose the other.
February 1
“Revelations of the Third Kind”HVUUC Member Charlie Mattioli
The challenge of building our spiritual storied walls and painted windows in the salts and acids of modern science."Love and Death"
The Reverend Jacqueline Luck
January 18
“Strength to Love”The Reverend Jacqueline Luck
I'm reading a book of King's sermons in preparation and will share with you some of what I learn and some of what inspires me in the sermons which are not his more renown sermons.
November 30
September 21
"Coming Home"
“May
Peace Prevail On Earth
The Reverend Jacqueline Luck
At Holston Valley UU Church there is a Peace Pole planted near the meditation area with May Peace Prevail On Earth in various languages. World Peace Day is September 21. When the pole was planted? What languages are on it? Has the world changed- become more peaceful? Since reading The Tent of Abraham I feel more hopeful.
“A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE: Your Brain's Creation Story”
Special Guest Speaker, Connie Barlow
Unitarian Universalists, as freethinkers, have long appreciated the scientific endeavor for what it can tell us about the vast Universe and the depths of prehistory. The young sciences of Evolutionary Psychology and Evolutionary Brain Science are now beginning to offer practical tools that can assist us in leading fulfilled, on-purpose lives. Indeed, these sciences teach that "inherited proclivities," which served our pre-human ancestors, are at the root of our most challenging personal issues today: relationship troubles and our tendencies to use food and other substances in unhealthy ways. Connie Barlow and her husband, Rev. Michael Dowd, have presented programs at more than 250 UU churches and fellowships. Their "evolutionary evangelism" is a featured article in the spring 2006 issue of UU World. Their website: www.TheGreatStory.org
The Reverend Jacqueline Luck
Just in case you are tempted to worship at Saint Mattress by the Springs (credit Kim Ray for the laugh) Labor Day Sunday, I've chosen to do a sermon on jokes about UU's---I know you don't want to miss these groaners! Laughter is not only good for us physically, it is good for our souls as well we all know. My colleague, Erika Hewlett, collected the jokes and shared them with me several years ago.
August 24August 17
“Dreaming
Heaven on Earth the Toltec Way”
Tish
Kashdan
Tish Kashdan will share some of
her insights and
experiences with Toltec teachings made popular by Don Miguel Ruiz,
author of The Four Agreements.
August 10
"The Fire of Commitment”
Anna Olsen UUA Trustee from Thomas Jefferson District
What can we gain in being a congregation in association with thousands of others? Some examples will be given of the exciting work being done by the association on our behalf and what there is to anticipate in the coming months. You will especially be challenged to think about what you are personally committed to getting done for justice in our world. After the service you are welcome to discuss with Anna, your concerns or give input about our association.
August 3
"What a difference a flake makes."
Ann LeCroy
Thinking about how sometimes the least recognized act or least sparkling person can make a significant difference.
July
27
July 20
"Trees"
CUUPS ServiceJuly 13
Bill KirkwoodJuly 6
“Me”
June 29
“Roots Hold Me Close”
June
22
June 15
“Father’s Day”June 8
“Marriage and Other Rites of Passage”This sermon began with an article on marriage, but evolved to other rites of passage a UU minister officiates: Unions, Marriages, Baby Welcoming Services, Naming Ceremonies, Dedications, Memorial Services and Funerals.
June
1
Installation of
new HVUUC Board of
Trustees officers
This is the sermon request of Raj and Sharmi Mehta, an option purchased at Holston Valley UU Church’s silent auction. Join us as we consider this modern day Saint of the Catholic Church.
May
25
Reverend
Ralph Hutchison
May
18
"A King of
Shreds and
Patches" (Shakespeare),
Sean
O'Sullivan
May
11
“Mother’s Day
and Flower Service”
The Reverend
Jacqueline Luck
Norbert
Capek created a flower service
before his arrest in 1941for
his Czechoslovakian Unitarian church of over 3,800 members. I invite
you to
bring cut flowers to share with others in the congregation this Sunday
as we
celebrate Mother’s Day with this beautiful service that has become
Unitarian
Universalist liturgy for many.
May
4
“Nature
Mysticism”
The Reverend
Jacqueline Luck
Liberals
are often stereotyped as tree-huggers, and I imagine most of us are
somewhat,
but perhaps our passion is something more than merely “hugging” trees?
Join us
as we consider mysticism and in particular nature mysticism as a
spiritual path
of Unitarian Universalists..
April
27
“Our Work Towards
a
HVUUC Senior
Youth R.E. Service
The
Senior Youth will present
their annual service which will focus on the work they have been doing
to
further the dream of a US Department of Peace. Come and learn
about this
effort and what you can do as well.
April
20
“Paul, NPR and
Prayer”,
The Reverend
Jacqueline Luck
This
service is one which explores "not praying" as prayer. Join us as we
think outside the box.
April
13
“Storytelling,
etc.”
Joe Adams
April
6
“Vocabulary
for
Religious Liberals”
The
Reverend Jacqueline
Luck
.
March
30
Justice Sunday
and Ingathering of New Members
The
Reverend Jacqueline
Luck
This
Sunday
has been designated Justice Sunday by the Unitarian Universalist
Service Committee.
The Justice Committee and I are gathering information about issues in
the
Tri-Cities area, more than likely the sermon will focus on homelessness
in this
area and the work of IHN (The Interfaith Hospitality Network) of which
Holston
Valley has been working with for a long time
March
23
Easter
Sunday - “Ode to Joy”,
The
Reverend Jacqueline
Luck
Coming
out of the liturgical shadows of the past
week into the joy of new life, of resurrection from what is deadening
to our
spirits and souls is the theme of this Easter Service. It would be
wonderful if
some brought flowers for the sanctuary to further the theme of rebirth,
resurrection and great joy.
March
21
A
Special Tenebrae Service
The
Reverend Jacqueline
Luck
I
experienced my first Tenebrae
Services at First
Unitarian Society of San Francisco, one of our older congregations. The
word Tenebrae
is Latin, meaning shadows, and
Catholics and Protestants celebrate the service. The rites associated
with Tenebrae may be
derived from customs that are connected to
the Jewish fast day of Tisha
B'Av
when Lamentations is read. It is a service in which a congregation
intentionally enters the shadow of the valleys of life. The music will
be
classical, and candles will be extinguished one at a time until the
sanctuary
is dark. (Childcare is available if requested in advance.)
March
16
“Palm
Sunday - Turning Our Faces Toward
The
Reverend Jacqueline Luck
This image of Jesus turning his face toward
March
9
“How
Coyote Lost His Song, Music and Dance…or How We All Need Each
Other”
This
Service will be presented by the Kindergarten through Junior Youth
Religious
Education Classes.
March
2
“The
The
Reverend Jacqueline Luck
Part
of
my sense of call is toward helping parents as I can. I remember well
the
difficulties of the time, and plan to use sources helpful to me as well
as my
learnings as we contemplate parenting for Unitarian Universalist
parents, aunts
and uncles, grandparents and neighbors. In many ways our parenting is
distinct
both in liberating and empowering ways, and other times somewhat
limiting.
February
24
“Glimmers of Gold, Wealth in Your Dreams”
The
Dream
Covenant Group
Please
join us as members of the Dream Covenant
Group share how studying their dreams has impacted their
lives. Also, we
will learn how dreams have played a role in religious history..
February
17
“Growing
in Love and Respect”
The
Reverend Jacqueline
Luck
If you like stories, especially ones about your minister, some of them
embarrassing, some very poignant, as she learned to love and respect
those with
sexual identities other than hetero, join us in worship as we caste an
eye to
Saint Valentine's Day.
February
10
“Evolution
Sunday: Religion and Science”
The
Reverend Jacqueline
Luck
Each year of my ministry I have participated in Evolution Sunday as it
was
first called, and is now Evolution Weekend to be inclusive of those
whose
services are on Friday and Saturday. The sermon is on the relationship
of
religion and science.
February
3
“The
Sacrament of Giving”
The
Reverend Jacqueline
Luck
This congregation gathers in the Tri Cities area thankful for this
diverse and
progressive congregation; it is a valuable part of our lives. This
service will
focus on the sacrament of giving to your church and its message of
faith with
reason, that truth is not sealed, that embraces diversity, and the
interdependence of all life.
January
27
“Small
Group Ministry Possibilities”
The Reverend
Jacqueline Luck
Come
hear
about possibilities for you to become a member of a small group, or
covenant
group, at
January
20
“Without
Vision the People Will Perish”
The Reverend
Jacqueline Luck
Come
hear
the inspiring story of The Little Professor of Piney Woods, an
African
American who started a school for African American children in
January
13
“The
Many Meanings of Music”
HVUUC’s Music
Covenant
Group
We
would like to invite anyone with drums to bring them and come
about 10
minutes early on that Sunday.
January
6
“Looking
Ahead”
The
Reverend Jacqueline
Luck
We’ll
begin with the Dedication of the
December
30
“Call
Me Ishmael -
An Exploration of the
Voice of Ishmael from the time of Abraham,
in Moby
Dick, and
from a Modern Perspective”
Allen
Dyer
Allen Dyer,
MD speaks at HVUUC from time to time. He is a
Professor of
Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Quillen
College
of Medicine, ETSU.
December
24
Christmas
Eve Candle Light Service
The
Reverend Jacqueline
Luck
Join
us in this most beautiful of traditional services for Christmas Eve.
Bring the
children and the visiting relatives, or a neighbor. This is an
intergenerational and family oriented worship service.
December
23
“The
Birth”
The
Reverend Jacqueline
Luck
In
this service we will explore birthing of that which gives us hope and
makes
life worth living in mythology and as personal spiritual practice
.
December
16
“Festival
of Lights”
December
9
“Prepare a
Room “
The
Reverend Jacqueline Luck
Preparation is fundamental to any endeavor, and for this fecund season
preparations need to be made for the birthing of new life. Join us as
we
prepare room within our lives for what is good, true and holy..
December
2
“People, Look
East
“
The Reverend
Jacqueline Luck
This is a season when it is so easy to get caught up in what is really
not
important at all. This service will offer spiritual grounding as we
move into
this season of hope and joy on this first Sunday of Advent.
November
25
“Giving
Thanks “
HVUUC
Members and Friends
November
18
“Thanks
Living “
The
Reverend Jacqueline
Luck
Gratitude,
perhaps the most important spiritual practices, cannot be practiced too
often.
Join us in a communal giving of thanks and reminder to thanks
living
through out the year.
November
11
“Veteran’s
Reflections “
The
Reverend Jacqueline
Luck
It
is my hope that
those of you within the congregation who are veterans will let me know
so we
can plan a service around what serving in the military meant for you
and its
consequences in your lives.
November
4
“Michael
Servetus, A
Liberal
Religious Heretic and Martyr “
Ingathering for
new members
The Reverend
Jacqueline Luck
Plan
to be at church to
welcome Holston Valley Unitarian Universalist Church’s newest members.
Since
the first of November is All Soul’s Day, a Christian holy day for
remembering
the saints of the faith, I plan to speak on the life and influence of
Michael Servetus on
your liberal religion.
October
28
“Life
Transitions”
CUUPS Service
Please
bring a photo or small item for a special altar for the dead and
extended
candles of community to our ancestors and those who have passed away
this year.
October
21
“The Great
Divide II: Change within Theism”
The
Reverend Jacqueline
Luck
Unitarian
Universalist congregations often seem to be
divided between humanist and theist theological lines, each holding at
various
times that they are being marginalized. Each side of this divide seems
to view
the other side suspiciously; each regards the other as non-changing.
Let's look
at Theism this Sunday to see if it is indeed concretized
October
14
“Association
Sunday”
The
Reverend Jacqueline
Luck
This
Sunday is
being referred to as Association Sunday
throughout the UU world. We in
October
7
“The
Great Divide: Humanism”
The
Reverend Jacqueline Luck
Unitarian
Universalist congregations often seem to be
divided between humanist and theist theological lines, each holding at
various
times that they are being marginalized. Each side of this divide seems
to view
the other side suspiciously; each regards the other as non-changing.
Let's look
at Theism this Sunday to see if it is indeed concretized.
September
30
“Water
Ceremony “
Intergenerational
Service
September
23
“New
Beginnings “
The
Reverend Jacqueline
Luck
There has been much change in
September
16
“Divine Uncertainties:
Doubt as a Sacrament in a Liberal Religion“
HVUUC
Member Charlie Mattioli
In our
search for spiritual wisdom that relates to
Life's Great
Mysteries, uncertainty and doubt may serve to deepen
our search for
truth while bringing us humility and reverence. But our
openness and
liberalness can only serve us well if a sense of the sacred
commits us to
a loving, compassionate life.
September
9
“The
Storm“
The
Reverend Jacqueline
Luck
”There was a time in this country when each generation expected to have
more than
their parents, but that is no longer a realistic expectation," the
reporter said, Success must be On this Sunday between
August 29 and
September 11, Thomas Jefferson District Executive, Annette Marquis will
join me
in the pulpit to share some narratives of Katrina and insights we have
drawn
about the aftermath of trauma.
September
2
“Redefining
"Success“
The
Reverend Jacqueline
Luck
”There was a time in this country when each generation expected to have
more
than their parents, but that is no longer a realistic expectation," the
reporter said, Success must be redefined.
August
26
“Great
Expectations”
Reverend
Jacqueline Luck
August
19
“In
Beauty It Is Begun”
Reverend
Jacqueline Luck
With this sermon delivered on the first Sunday of a new ministry may we
begin
in Beauty.
August
12
Joe Adams
Aug
5
"All the Women
in Me" - an honoring of the women
who make us who we are.
HVUUC
Women’s
Service
July
29
"Human
Creativity through the eyes of a Quantum Mechanic"
Gerald
Keep
July
22
“Delivering the Goods”
Randy
Sanders
July
15
CUUPS
Service (Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans)
July
8
“Respect”
Brita
Clark
July
1
“A
Little Lower than the
Angels”
Joe
Adams
June
24
“The Search for
Wisdom: a Dark
Commentary”
Jeff Gold
I’ve
always been a
searcher after wisdom, a passionate seeker. Socrates has been my role
model in
what I took to be a noble calling. I’ve studied and taught some of the
great
works of philosophy for 30-40 years. Now, at the end of my career, I
face some
dark and embarrassing questions. Perhaps what I thought was going on
was not
what was really going on.
Jeff
Gold is a professor of philosophy at
June
17
“Music
from the Heart”
HVUUC
members and friends
June
10
“Reflections
on
Our Shared Interim Ministry”
Rev.
Christine
Riley
This
will
be my last Sunday with this remarkable congregation.
This
morning I share my reflections on our time together in shared Interim
Ministry,
and offer my reflections around this faith community’s growing edges,
its
challenges, and its’ many accomplishments and strengths.
This Interim Ministry
period has been
challenging but productive in so many areas. A time for closure,
fellowship,
and well-earned celebration
June
3
“Delineating
Congregational Character”
Rev.
Christine Riley
Unitarian
Universalist Churches which successfully navigate the
dynamic changes that accompany growth have several characteristics in
common.
Embracing the blessings; while concurrently addressing the challenges,
of a
growing congregation are essential components of a fruitful shared
ministry.
This morning we reflect on the qualities of liberal faith communities
which are
truly transformative in the lives of their members and which impact
society.
May
27
“The James Reeb
Story: An Ordinary Man, An
Extraordinary Sacrifice”
Rev. Christine
Riley
James
Reeb’s life was very
similar to many of ours. He
was married, pursued his vocation, and had
a family. His
commitment to social
justice activism called him to work in the civil right’s movement in
this
country in the 1960’s. Sadly
he became a
martyr to this cause. What
can we learn today from his life, and
his choices ?
Come learn more about this
remarkable
Unitarian Universalist.
May
20
Rev.
Christine Riley
May
13
“An
Epic Journey into the
Abyss of Sub-consciousness: A Philosophical Evaluation of the Random
Firing of
Neurons”
Senior
Youth Group
May
6
“How exactly did we get here? A look
at the evolution debate today.”
Dave Calvert
When
the aliens land on our planet and begin to quiz us, the first question
they
will ask is “have you figured out evolution yet?’ And we
might answer
proudly “yes we have – but a whole lot of us are sore troubled by the
idea” 150 years
ago Charles Darwin wrote “ There is a
grandeur in this view of life” (that life designed itself).
The
Fundamentalists say the grandeur belongs only to a supernatural creator
(who
did all the designing or just the big parts – opinions vary).
Mainstream
religion tries to agree with both camps – looking clumsy doing it.
Discovering evolution brought us an incredible
piece of information
about ourselves. What are we doing with it?
April
29
“Living
the UU Principles”
Children’s
Service (1st grade thru Jr. Youth)
April
22
“There Is
Rev.
Jacqueline Luck
April
15
“Ones Like
Us”
Rev. Jacqueline
Luck
April
8
“Jesus and
the
Easter Bunny: What they have in common.
What we can learn from them.”
Reverend
Christine Riley, Interim
Minister
This
Easter
morning we consider how “resurrection” can be meaningful for all
Unitarian Universalists,
regardless of our personal theological
perspective. Together
we will reflect on
how this powerful message is one which we are called to share with the
world. Come
celebrate Easter in a way
that is congruent with our liberal religious faith.
April
1
"Is
Christianity Bad for the Environment?"
Kevin
O’Donnell
March
25
“What
is a Unitarian?”
Gail
Stenstad
Dr.
Stenstad has long been a
favorite speaker at HVUUC. She is
a member of the Philosophy and the Religious Studies departments at
ETSU. Today
she will examine this question from linguist and religious perspectives.
March
18
“Reflections on
“Moral Values”: A Unitarian Universalist
Perspective”,
Reverend
Christine Riley, Interim Minister
Over
the past
decade the public arena has been dominated by
the religious conservative version of “moral values”.
As religious liberals we have too often endured
the insidious consequences of this reality across the spectrum of our
daily
lives. This morning
we reflect on how we
as individuals, and as faith communities, might become more effective
in
discerning and sharing our liberal religious perspectives.
We are challenged to share
our Unitarian Universalist based moral
values in a manner that offers legitimate hope of shaping a
more
compassionate and more just world.
Yes, we UU’s DO have “moral values”, too.
March
11
“Giving Up Me
for Lent”
Bill Kirkwood
For Christians
Lent is supposed to be a time to practice self-sacrifice and
self-discipline,
but all great religions teach these virtues. In
this sermon we’ll explore
the meaning of self-sacrifice and how to practice it wisely.
March
4
“My Melungeon
Odyssy?”
Lisa Alther
Lisa Alther
will discuss the
journeys she took to archeological digs and historical sites around the
Southeast in
her attempt to discover
the origins of the Melungeons.
She will also summarize the findings presented in her new
memoir
KINFOLKS: THE
SEARCH FOR MY MELUNGEON
ANCESTORS, and the impact they had on her own sense of identity.
February
25
“Regrets”
Reverend
Christine Riley, Interim
Minister
I suspect that
each of us have more
than a few regrets. How do they originate? Are they innate or learned? Are regrets rooted in
morality and
spirituality, or embedded in psychology and logic?
Together we discern how Unitarianism and
Universalism both offer us resources for living better with our regrets
February
18
“It’s All About
Love”
Reverend
Christine Riley, Interim
Minister
Love, we all
know what love is,
... or
do we?
We can sense when it is present and we yearn for its
return when it is
absent. Yet love is unexpectedly challenging to define, frustratingly
difficult
to hold on to, and too often bewilders our abilities to give it freely. Today we reflect on this
elusive yet
essential element of our lives. How
might Unitarian Universalism shape our capacity to nurture love, and to
more
often be capable of extending love without “strings attached”? How does
our
individual theological stance influence how we love, and what/whom we
love in
this life?
February
11
“Recognizing
Abundance”
Reverend
Christine Riley, Interim
Minister
This morning we explore the wisdom of the world’s great faith traditions theological perspectives with respect to “living from an attitude of abundance”. Discerning how our personal history and contemporary western world society impact our beliefs, emotions, and decisions around abundance vs. neediness can be challenging, but our liberal faith offers us guidance.
February
4
“Minding Dementia”
Felicia Mitchell.
In
this talk, I look at some of the common metaphors for dementia that we
find in
popular culture and selected books, as I contrast them with my own
private and
poetical metaphors and invite others to think of their own. How we talk
about
dementia can affect the way we perceive people with it, and it can also
affect
our own relationships with our minds. Acknowledging that dementia is
not a
monolithic disorder and that it presents itself in diverse ways,
including
profoundly troubling ways, I am interested in exploring particularly
how
something like Alzheimer's Disease can teach us more about what it
means to be
essentially human. What is left when the ability to add numbers or read
books
or communicate clearly is gone? The answer to that question is
profoundly
personal, yet I share my own modest answers as I invite a reflection
intended
as much for the spirit as for the mind.
January
28
Dr. Stephen
Fisher
January
21
“Guidelines To
Live By”
Reverend Riley
As
we move
into this bright New Year it is an appropriate time to pause and to
reflect
upon what are our personal guidelines by which we shape our lives, make
our
daily choices, come to determine what we believe about family or world
events. What criteria do we use
? Do we
have concise, readily employable guidelines which we have discerned
well, and
which support us as we are confronted by ever-more complex ethical
questions
and encounter those inevitable individual life challenges? Where and
how does
our liberal Unitarian Universalist faith fit into all this?
January
14
"A Unitarian
Universalist Perspective on Eco-Spirituality"
Rev. Christine
Riley
Many
Unitarian Universalists
affirm a connection with The
Sacred through a relationship with what our Seventh Principle names as
“the
interdependent web of existence”. From a purely
anthropocentric
orientation, discerning how we might better integrate our liberal
faith’s
tenets with our daily choices is both challenging and
essential. Whether
our personal theology is theist, Christian, Hindu, Pagan, or other,
understanding our relationship with all life forms with which we share
this
planet is an essential component of our spiritual maturation. Together
we will
explore this timely topic
January
7
"Confronting
Our Dragons"
Rev. Christine
Riley
On
this
first Sunday of the New Year we will reflect on how we might more
productively
confront that which challenges us most in our lives. As we go about the
process
we call “living” most of us inevitably accumulate things which distress
or
frighten us. This morning we will consider how our Unitarian
Universalist
faith can support us in living this year with greater courage.
December
31, 2006
“As Time Goes
By”
Rev. Joe Adams
December
24
Join
us for
an intergenerational service full of Christmas carols and music. There will not be an
evening service on
Christmas Eve, so this Sunday morning service will be like those we
typically
have on Christmas Eve. Stay
after the
service and join us for a Christmas potluck luncheon.
December
17
“Rescuing
Christmas”
Reverend
Christine Riley, Interim
Minister
A
look at
the Jungian Shadow: The part of ourselves we don’t know or try to hide.
Maura
Ubinger is a member of the
Unitarian Universalist Church of
the Highlands in
December
10
Festival of
Lights
An
Intergenerational Service
December
3
“More
Than We Think We Are: How Self-Identity Impacts Our Faith”
Reverend
Christine Riley, Interim
Minister
Self-identity and self-esteem inform
our every moment. How
do they shape our theological beliefs and
influence our spiritual lives? Come
explore
how our internal messages about ourselves mold our view of our role in
this
life, our destiny, and our religious beliefs.
November
26
“A Bounty of
Blessings”
Reverend
Christine Riley, Interim
Minister
On
this
Thanksgiving Sunday we reflect on the abundance which we live immersed
in. Why is it that we so often more readily dwell on the
negative and
take for granted our blessings? Discerning ways to bring greater
awareness of
all that we each have to be thankful for is this morning’s focus
November
19
“Gibberish”
Reverend
Christine Riley, Interim
Minister
Our
contemporary world persistently bombards us with a deluge of
information and mis-information.
The language of the post-modern society is
stuffed with techno-speak and double talk. Sorting out what
is important
to ourselves, relevant
to our lives, and influential
in our spiritual maturation is a daunting task. This morning
we reflect
on the intellectual and spiritual challenges resulting from living in
this
reality.
November
12
"The Evolution
of the Idea of
God from the Hindu Perspective"
Jay Mehta
November
5
Me and My
Shadow”
Maura Ubinger
A
look at
the Jungian Shadow: The part of ourselves we don’t know or try to hide.
Maura
Ubinger is a member of the
Unitarian Universalist Church of
the Highlands in
October
29
CUUPS
Service
October
22
“Anger
as Spiritual Path”
Reverend
Christine Riley
Can
it be that
emotion, which is so often destructive and
hurtful, might be harnessed and employed as an aid to spiritual
maturation?
Anger is generally perceived as a negative power. However, we will
reflect
together on its immense potential for positive outcomes. By more deeply
understanding the true nature of anger we move towards deeper
fellowship and
personal spiritual growth.
October
15
October
8
"Being Good for
Nothing"
Rev. Sarah York
As religious
liberals, we are not motivated toward
moral behavior by the fear of everlasting punishment or the hope of
heavenly reward.
What is it in our faith, then, that calls us toward goodness?
Sarah York
(formerly Sara Moores
Campbell) is a Unitarian Universalist minister and author of four
books,
including Remembering Well: Rituals for Celebrating Life and Mourning
Death.
She has a Bachelor's degree from
October
1
“The Van Gogh
Cafe - Beyond
Categorical Thinking”
Keith Kron
“Will
the
new minister hear me? Will my concerns and needs be met? Will
the
minister understand what I’m living with? How will the community
respond to our
minister? ’In answering these questions, a picture of the “ideal
minister”
(categorized by age, gender, gender identity, nationality, physical
ability,
race, and sexual orientation) comes to mind. With this picture in
place, it can
be easy to unintentionally exclude ministers who fall into certain
categories.
At times, as we get caught up in comparing candidates to our “picture,”
we can
even forget what it is we hoped for in a minister.
On the weekend of October 1st, HVUUC will participate in the Beyond Categorical Thinking workshop offered by the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) for congregations involved in the search for a new minister. The Search Committee invites all congregational leaders, members, and friends to participate in this workshop.
September
24
“In Our Own
Best Interest: A
Perspective Rooted Our Unitarian
Universalist Faith”
Reverend
Christine Riley
Whether
the
focus is inter-national, national, personal life-related, or
congregational,
comprehending how to best insure “our own rights” are safeguarded is
more
complicated than ever before. This morning we reflect on how a
Unitarian
Universalist based orientation supports a world view which is at once
humane
and optimistic, while also being both realistic and pragmatic. Yes, we can simultaneously uphold personal
rights and those of society or the congregation, and remain in harmony
with our
faith.
September
17
“Covenantal
Sharing”
Reverend
Christine Riley.
***Covenant
Group
Worship Service***
This
morning we consider what it means to be in a covenantal relationship. Universalist faith. Last
Spring we launched HVUUC’s
first Covenant Groups, which were enthusiastically embraced. Today we
will
begin sign up for Covenant Groups for this church year. Some Covenant
Groups
will meet for a pre-determined number of sessions, while others will be
on-going. All Covenant Groups will be limited in enrollment.
Sign
up
early!
Please
come
hear the details regarding participating
in this spiritually and intellectually enlivening process. I will share
why
Covenant Groups have been tremendously successful in many UU
congregations and
how they empower individuals and are supportive of more meaningful
fellowship.
The Covenant Group Facilitators and I believe that Covenant Groups at
HVUUC
will be avenues to deeper fellowship and will also offer opportunities
to
strengthen our shared understanding regarding our role as people of
liberal
faith in today’s challenging world.
As
a part
of today’s Worship Service each Small Covenant Group Facilitator will
offer their
personal perspective on what covenantal sharing in our Unitarian
Universalist
religion means to them, and what their hopes are for the Covenant Group
which
they will facilitate. I
urge you not to
miss this hearing from our Facilitators.
TODAY WILL BE
OPENING DAY FOR COVENANT GROUP SIGN UP.
September
10
“Mentoring”
Reverend
Christine Riley
*** Religious
Education Teacher Dedication Ceremony ***
Today
Religious Education Classes for our children and all youth will begin
meeting. After we
celebrate our RE
Teacher Dedication Ceremony we will reflect on the crucial need for
mentoring
of our children. Today’s reality is one which frequently sends both
adults and
children conflicting messages about morals, life priorities, and how we
should
shape our relationships in this life.
What
is
this congregation’s appropriate role in mentoring in this challenging
reality? What is
our personal
responsibility in this area, as Unitarian Universalists?
September
3
“Stories from
the Heart of
Community”
Doc
and Guerry McConnell
Doc
and Guerry McConnell will share
their gift of stories with the
congregation.
August 27
Annual
Homecoming and Water Ceremony
"Sustaining The Living Waters"
Rev. Christine Riley
This
morning we gather to share our lives
and liberal faith through participating in a uniquely Unitarian
Universalist
worship tradition, Water Ceremony. Please remember to bring your saved
water
from this past year’s travels (or from a special place near home) and
share why
this place was/is meaningful for you.
As people of liberal religious
faith we come together for a multitude of reasons. Ours is not a
religion which
seeks to homogenize the religious journey, but rather one which
empowers each
of us to discern our own truths. A key component is honing our
willingness to
be aware and to be open to the voice of our own truest conscience, The
Sacred,
The Great Mystery of which we are a part. Today we reflect together on
where
HVUUC has been as a congregation and why remaining open to new
potential in the
year ahead is essential. Together we sustain the “Living Waters” of
fellowship
and the future of liberal religion here in
August
20
"A Time for Impertinence and
Irreverence: The Liberal Religious Imperative in Times Such As These"
Rev. Christine Riley
Today we consider why the current world situation is especially
abundant with
peril to those of liberal faith. We will also reflect together on how
our
present national status quo continues to undermine religious freedom.
Let us
pause and ask ourselves what is our proper role as Unitarian Universalists in this time rife
with complexities and
challenges.
August 13
"The
Art of Being a Supportive
Person”
Rev. Erin Swenson
The Reverend
Dr. Erin
Swenson is an ordained Presbyterian minister (PCUSA) and a licensed
marriage
and family therapist. In 1996 she became the first known mainstream
Protestant
minister to make an open gender transition while remaining in ordained
office.
She provides counseling for individuals with gender identity issues and
their
families from her office at Morningside Presbyterian Church in midtown
August 7
"More
than Your Mother, More
than Your Father:
Self-discipline—the need and the challenge" – Dr. William Kirkwood
Dr.
William
Kirkwood earned the Ph.D., M.S. and B.S. degrees from
July 30
“Laughter
Yoga: Modern
Innovations & Applications
of an Ancient Technique”, Sharmi
Mehta
Laughter Yoga
is a
mixture of yogic stretches, laughter exercises and synchronized
breathing. The
presentation will explore spiritual, empowering and therapeutic aspects
of
Laughter Yoga. If feasible we will enjoy simple Laughter Yoga
exercises.
July 23
A
Retrospective Glance Regarding
a 25 year Meditation
Practice – Dr. Jeff Gold
“I have
been
meditating daily for the past 25 years. In this talk, I will
present my
observations based on my personal practice: the joys, the
disappointments, the frustrations, the magical moments, the boring
moments, and
the times of disillusionment. I have found that most
presentations on
meditation stress the peaks and overlook the valleys. I will
try to be
totally honest about my experiences as a long time meditator.”
July 16
"Honoring
the Divine Masculine",
HVUUC
CUUPS
Join CUUPS as
they honor
the Divine Masculine in song and poem.
July 9
"Lessons
from a Galilean Jew", Rev. Joe Adams
July 2
"Jingoism
v. Gentle
Statesmanship: Considering
Patriotism on the 4th of July." Katie Doman,
HVUUC Member
What does
being a patriot
really entail? Are we hawks or doves (or Dixie
Chicks)? If we don't
fit neatly into a specific category, how do we navigate the gray area?
Can we
still build national community, even if we disagree? This is one
woman's
attempt to find some answers based on our UU principles.
June 25
Wire
Kwire
Wire Kwire
is an eclectic music group made up of three women: Ellen Matthews and
Linda Waltner of HVUUC
and Tammy Davis. They perform on a variety
of instruments --hammered dulcimers, guitar, fiddle, viola, and banjo.
They
sing in three-part harmony as well. They have performed at HVUUC a
number of
times in the past.
June 18
“Arguments
With My Father”, Dave
Calvert
June 11
“Re-Thinking
Prayer”, Reverend
Christine Riley
“Prayer”,
this word can
conjure up a variety of responses in us all.
As Unitarian Universalists
what place does
prayer have in our lives? This
morning
we consider the potential for redefining prayer in a way that can be
more
personally meaningful, authentic, and relevant.
June 4
“Transitions”,
Reverend Jennifer
Slade
Transitions
are part of
what it means to be alive. This
is true
in our personal lives and in the life of a church community. How can we
navigate the transitions in our lives with love and grace?
The Rev. Slade serves as
the Ministerial
Settlement Representative for the UUA and the TJ District.
Her role is to provide
information and
support to congregations as they navigate the process of searching for
a new
member. The
congregation is invited to
stay after the service for a meeting where Rev. Slade will be available
to
answer questions about the search process.
May 28
“Memorial
Day Re-remembered”,
Reverend Christine
Riley
On this
Memorial Day we
will reflect together on what it truly means to “remember”. Often to remember is
defined as “to keep in
one’s thoughts, in one’s memory, to NOT forget”.
This is the definition of “remember” that I
have always understood, but recently I have found a fuller meaning to
“remembering”, one which embraces both Spirit and intellect. Today we
discern
what might Memorial Day truly signify to Unitarian Universalists,
and what might be found at the intersection of patriotism and liberal
religion.
May 21
“All
I Need to Know I Learned
From the Radio” -
Senior High Youth Service
May 14
Celebrating
Mothers -
A Tribute to Mothers Past, Present and Future, Wanda Earp
May 7
"Seeking
Beauty As Spiritual
Path" -
Reverend Christine Riley
Our lives
today are so
often hectic and stressful. Daily we are deluged with horrific images
of
violence both internationally and closer to home. Philosophers and
theologians
have long integrated a focus on beauty in our lives as part of their
spiritual
formation. Demanding both cognitive and psycho-spiritual keenness the
"yoga of beauty" challenges us in new ways.
April 30
“Meaningful
Membership: A Shared
Aspiration” Reverend
Christine Riley
We all come
to our church
seeking a multitude of things. Some of which we are cognizant of, while
others
remain elusive to our reflection and articulation. Growing deeper in
our
fellowship at HVUUC while simultaneously progressing toward a mutual
vision of
what Unitarian Universalism here in
How do we
fairly balance
personal hopes and needs with those of the congregation?
This church has journeyed
through times both
challenging and joyous to this day. The future envisioned for HVUUC
invites
deeper fellowship, further growth in membership, increased social
justice
out-reach, and richer spiritual lives. Today we reflect on how being
part of
this special liberal religious faith community can be more meaningful
for all.
April 23
“If
the Earth is the Lord's, How
Should We Live?”
Richard Moyer, Biology Professor at
Let us
consider the
blessings and possibilities of our place, the southern
April 16
EASTER SUNDAY
“Resurrection
for the Liberal
Religious” Reverend
Christine Riley
This morning
we gleam new
meaning from the Easter story. Coming
to
a place where this traditionally Christian holiday has relevance to us
as
contemporary Unitarian Universalists
requires us to
more deeply discern for ourselves what resurrection implies in our
faith
tradition.
April 9
"To
See the World in a Grain of
Sand" HVUUC
Member Charlie Mattioli
April
2
“Sacred
texts: A Unitarian
Universalist Perspective”
Reverend Christine Riley
Our UU
Statement of
Sources is foundational to genuinely comprehending what makes Unitarian
Universalism a unique religious tradition. In today’s world religiously
based
violence is commonplace. Yet, as Unitarian Universalists,
we are challenged to remain open to exploring, to truly hearing, the
wisdom
found in all the world’s great Sacred Texts. As UU’s
we are called to discern what is congruent with our liberal faith and
its call
to create a more peaceable and just world.
March 26
“Albert
Schweitzer: Universalism
Embodied” Interim
Minister, Reverend Christine Riley
This morning
we reflect
on “the 2nd U” in UU…Universalism, and how Schweitzer’s Universalist
faith
shaped his theology, ethics, and ultimately his entire life. His remarkable faith
journey is one worthy of
modern day Unitarian Universalists
being more
knowledgeable about. Come
share this
remarkable story of how one man’s liberal faith impacted the world.
March 19
"Beyond
the Shadow of
This service
celebrates
women's history month and is dedicated to the countless, mostly
unknown, women
who have willingly "stepped outside the box" and have made a
difference in our lives.
March 12
“Covenantal
Sharing” - Interim
Minister, Reverend
Christine Riley
***Covenant
Group Worship
Service***
This morning
we consider
what it means to be in a covenantal relationship, in the context of our
Unitarian Universalist faith. Since
early last Fall I have been meeting frequently with a dedicated group
of lay
leaders in preparation of launching a Small Group Ministry Program here
at HV
UUC.
GOOD NEWS:
The initial
Covenant Groups will meet for 4 Sessions this spring.
Come to learn
the details
about participating in this spiritually enlivening process. Hear why Covenant Groups
have been
tremendously successful in UU congregations from coast to coast, how
they both
empower individuals, and are supportive of more meaningful fellowship.
As a part of
today’s
Worship Service each Small Covenant Group Facilitator will offer their
personal
perspective on what covenantal sharing in our liberal faith tradition
means to
them, and what their hopes are for the group they will support through
this
process.
I urge you
not to miss
this Service....
March 5
“The
Music of Life and Spirit”, Angela Oudean
Along with a
hefty dose
of traditional Appalachian music, you’ll hear how music – and the songs
chosen
for this service in particular - connect to life and spirit.
February 26
“Seeking
Truth, Finding
Metaphor”, Rev. Christine
Riley
As Unitarian Universalists we proudly
proclaim that we affirm the “encouragement
of spiritual growth in our congregations”.
For this to happen we must each, individually, remain
committed to and
actively engaged in this pursuit of spiritual evolvement.
This morning we reflect on
whether searching
for THE TRUTH might be counterproductive.
While we yearn for “answers” concerning life’s most
important questions,
perhaps there is another avenue worthy of our consideration.
February 19
“Formulating
a Personal Theology
of Wealth”, Rev.
Christine Riley
As
contemporary liberal
religious people many of us struggle with our relationship with money. Whether we “have enough”,
“have more than we
need”, or “struggle to make ends meet”, our finances impact our
spiritual well
being. This morning
we explore how to
discern a personal “theology of wealth” that will be congruent with our
Unitarian Universalist faith.
February 12
"Uncommon
Grace" – Guest speaker
Molly
Catron.
Molly
Catron is a member of the National Storytelling Network, the
Molly
lives
with her husband, Wayne, on a farm in
February 5
“Love
is a Flower - You Its Only
Seed”, Linda Frances
January 29
“Walking
In Fellowship: The Path
Ahead”, Reverend
Christine Riley
***
This morning
we consider
what it means to be in a covenantal
“Roots
and Wings”
relationship, in the context of
our
Unitarian Universalist faith. I believe that respectful and caring
fellowship
is the cornerstone of healthy congregational polity. Done well it lifts
congregational relationships to a place where each person can explore
and
deepen their liberal faith and connections to the faith community.
Rather than
foster a reality of accepting the lowest common denominator, it
engenders a
sense of vitality rooted in mutually shared norms and common
aspirations.
January 22
“Unitarian
Christianity: What it
is and isn’t”,
Reverend Christine Riley
As modern
Unitarian Universalists our churches are
spiritual homes for folks
holding a wide spectrum of theological beliefs, including Christians. Both Unitarianism and
Universalism have their
origins in Christianity. What
does
Unitarian Universalist Christianity look like today?
Might a contemporary construct of Christianity
be compatible with /complimentary to our other beliefs?
January 15
“Fire
In The Belly:
Why Reverend Martin Luther King’s Work and Words Remain
Relevant”,
Reverend Christine Riley
Today we
discern together
why we ought not permit the legacy of Reverend King to become stagnated. In a nation where it is
now common place to question
the validity of our election process, and where our political and
cultural
reality often stifle effective input by people of liberal religious
faith,
Reverend King’s passionate voice for equality of access and influence
on our
government remains highly pertinent.
Our
Unitarian Universalist Principles call us toward shaping a more
democratic and
just world, but the task often seems daunting. Come hear how we can
make a
difference both as individuals and as a liberal religious community
January 8
“Give
What You Seek”, Bill
The Practice
of Loving
Communication. As
we enter the new year,
we will reflect on how to give those around us the attention, love and
understanding that we all seek.
January
1
“Milestones,
Turning Points and Words for the Journey”
A
service of
music and writings from our congregation
celebrating another new year.