Blog

Chaplain Dennis Peters will travel to Rice Lake September 24th to present the Sunday Service at Blue Hills Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.   As proponents of interfaith relations, UU’s regard pluralism as an important characteristic of their faith.  Ch Peters will lead an inquiry into an evaluation of what that requires – and how related beliefs determine what being a UU asks of members.    

After a successful career in IT, Ch Peters shifted his focus to Spiritual Care, completing a Masters of Arts in Religious Leadership, concentrating on Interfaith Chaplaincy.   The Master’s program included spiritual support for individuals and an ongoing study of different faiths as part of this journey, and   completed his first chaplaincy unit at a daytime center for those without homes, or living with addiction or mental health issues.

All are invited to attend services in the sanctuary at 10 a.m. Sundays, 230 W. Messenger, Rice Lake, or on Zoom; the link is sent to members, but all interested may request it by contacting patriciashifferd@gmail.com. https://bluehillsuu.org

As the Congregational Life Consultant for the Midwestern Region of UUA, Rev Phil Lund MN will address the Blue Hills Unitarian Universalist Fellowship on Sunday September 17^th.   His message will focus on the importance of UU’s historical  mission of being a welcoming religion.   Lund notes that “As the number of people seeking religious community continues to decline, the importance of UU’s ability to be our most responsive selves, is an asset that becomes more important than ever.” 

Rev Lund of has served the Midwestern UU congregations in the area of faith formation and spiritual growth as a religious educator for over twenty years;  he holds a Master of Divinity degree from Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago and resides in St Paul, MN.

All are invited to attend services in the sanctuary at 10 a.m. Sundays, 230 W. Messenger, Rice Lake, or on Zoom.  For those attending service on Zoom, the Order of Service is attached, below.  Zoom link is sent to members, but anyone interested may request it by contacting patriciashifferd@gmail.com. https://bluehillsuu.org

Assembling.  Homecoming.  Returning.   We Blue Hills UU’s will carry on our tradition of celebrating the quieting of summer activities and travels, as we return to school, to work, to home – and our fellowship.  Our “Ingathering” service this year will transition from bringing a rock commemorating our travels, to a special celebration of the importance of water in our lives, as well as in that of all beings on our planet.

Please join us Sunday September 10^th – and bring a small contribution of water  collected from a source important to you.  We will combine all such treasures as we reflect on the sacredness of water – and also spend time sharing our summer revelations before gathering for a POTLUCK after the service.

All are invited to attend services in the sanctuary at 10 a.m. Sundays, 230 W. Messenger, Rice Lake, or on Zoom.  For those attending service on Zoom, the Order of Service is attached, below.  Zoom link is sent to members, but anyone interested may request it by contacting patriciashifferd@gmail.com. https://bluehillsuu.org

Once again, we at Rice Lake’s Blue Hills Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship will gather to share the microphone and express what’s on our mind, as we gather for “Soapbox Sunday” this first of September Services on the 2^nd.   Long a tradition of UU’s everywhere is to find time to convey concerns and passions, information, attitudes and discoveries.  Time will be allotted at the podium to all who are interested in relating what’s captured their attention, whether it be politics, a new awareness, or the latest VIP book they’ve found.

All are invited to attend services in the sanctuary at 10 a.m. Sundays, 230 W. Messenger, Rice Lake, or on Zoom.  For those attending service on Zoom, the Order of Service is attached, below.  Zoom link is sent to members, but anyone interested may request it by contacting patriciashifferd@gmail.com. https://bluehillsuu.org

Blue Hills Unitarian Universalist Fellowship welcomes Dr. Kent Shifferd Sunday, August 28th. to share insight as he introduces his most recent book project, “Betraying Jesus: the Tragedy Of Christian Violence.”

Why was Jesus, who taught love and compassion, so badly betrayed by many of his followers who practiced violence in his name?  This contradiction of intent and action has mystified many through the centuries … what is there to do about it?

Dr Shifferd is Prof Emeritus who taught environmental history and ethics for twenty five years at Northland College and former Executive Director of the Wisconsin Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies.

All are invited to attend services in the sanctuary, 10 a.m. Sundays, 230 W. Messenger, Rice Lake, or on Zoom.  For those attending service on Zoom, the Order of Service is attached, below.  Zoom link is sent to members, but anyone interested may request it by contacting patriciashifferd@gmail.com. https://bluehillsuu.org

God is Love. 1 John 4:16   Yes, but “Who”, what is God?   How do we answer this question?  Does this sound like an impossible task?  Or do each of us have a firm concept guiding our understanding?  

Coming from many different religious backgrounds and practices as we do, Blue Hills Unitarian Universalist chaplain Dennis Peters will lead the Rice Lake Fellowship in going back in time to explore this, Sunday August 20th.   As an extremely important goal to most of us, Chaplain Peters calls to “Let us begin”

All are reminded that this will also be our THIRD SUNDAY POT LUCK and are invited to attend at the sanctuary 10 a.m. Sundays, 230 W. Messenger, Rice Lake, or on Zoom.  For those attending service on Zoom, the Order of Service is attached, below.  Zoom link is sent to members, but anyone interested may request it by contacting patriciashifferd@gmail.com. https://bluehillsuu.org

Our Service this coming Sunday, August 13, will be a wrap-up of discussion and consideration of the changes suggested at the recent UUA General Assembly, focusing on the changes suggested to our UU Principles and Sources.   Our delegates to the GA, Pat Shifferd and Judy Barisonzi have reported their findings and now will be time for the fellowship to consider the UUA’s intentions.

Those attending on Sunday will break into small discussion groups, to then share their conclusions and direction with the full body.  The national effort won’t be finalized until summer 2024, but in the meantime, we as Blue Hills UU’s will determine our view of these changes and convey them to the UUA.  We hope all members of our fellowship will engage in this concern.

All are invited to attend at the sanctuary 10 a.m. Sundays, 230 W. Messenger, Rice Lake, or on Zoom.  For those attending service on Zoom, the Order of Service is attached, below.  Zoom link is sent to members, but anyone interested may request it by contacting patriciashifferd@gmail.com. https://bluehillsuu.org

Blue Hills Unitarian Universalist Fellowship welcomes a new face to our fellowship this coming Sunday, August 6^th. as we welcome Rev Terry Cummings to conduct the service.  Many of us claiming summer as our favorite time of year, are startled as August seems to come “so soon”;  Rev Cummings service, “Seasons of the Heart” will suggest to us how to keep summer alive in our hearts regardless of our age, or the page we turn over on the calendar.

Rev. Terry Cummings earned her Master of Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York in May of 2016, and was ordained jointly by both the Central Unitarian Church of Paramus, and the UU Congregation of Montclair, New Jersey.  Formerly a partner in a New York city law firm, she has practiced law in NY state since 1982.

All are invited to attend at the sanctuary 10 a.m. Sundays, 230 W. Messenger, Rice Lake, or on Zoom.  For those attending service on Zoom, the Order of Service is attached, below.  Zoom link is sent to members, but anyone interested may request it by contacting patriciashifferd@gmail.com. https://bluehillsuu.org

To many of us, it’s important to weave a sense of spirituality throughout our daily lives. Arthur Thexton returns to the Blue Hills Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Sunday July 30th. to help us find ways to do this. Noting “Our day-to-day lives are filled with interactions that are often frustrating, irritating,” Arthur challenges us to find ways to confront such times consistent with our spiritual and religious beliefs – “in ways that may even help us grow.”

A one time resident of Rice Lake, Mr Thexton speaks regularly at UU congregations, referring to himself as “a part-time, itinerant, circuit-riding lay preacher in the UU tradition.” After completing studies at the Meadville Lombard Theological School, Thexton attended the University of Chicago before obtaining his law degree from UW Madison. He served as Assistant District Attorney in Barron County during the mid-1980’s, now residing in Wauwatosa, WI with his family.

All are invited to attend at the sanctuary 10 a.m. Sundays, 230 W. Messenger, Rice Lake, or on Zoom. For those attending service on Zoom, the Order of Service is attached, below. Zoom link is sent to members, but anyone interested may request it by contacting patriciashifferd@gmail.com. https://bluehillsuu.org

Sunday, July 23^rd will bring our delegates to the recent UUA General Assembly back to front & center, to share with us the “rest of the story” – their findings, impressions and conclusions brought home from their attendance.  Pat Shifferd and Judy Barisonzi spent many hours focused on the happenings in Pittsburgh, as our leaders and fellow UU’s reported, debated on, and struggled to justify changes, not only to our leadership, but to some of the core values we have long believed in as members.

Please join the conversation that will follow, as Pat & Judy conclude their report – for change in our organization seems imminent.   How will we proceed as Unitarian Universalists in the midst of “change” not always fully understood – some of it unwelcome to many of us.   We know one thing for sure:  We ARE Unitarian Universalists.  And we shall remain. 

All are invited to attend at the sanctuary, 230 W. Messenger, Rice Lake, or on Zoom. The Zoom link is sent to members, but anyone interested may request it by contacting patriciashifferd@gmail.com. https://bluehillsuu.org