Author: Jude Genereaux

The Blue Hills UU’s final service for August will view portions of the recording of the Sunday morning worship service held at the Unitarian Universalist Association’s General Assembly this past June – this, their largest annual  gathering, was held in Baltimore, Maryland.   

Conducting the service is the Rev. Dr. Nicole Kirk, professor of Unitarian history at Meadville-Lombard, who also serves as resident minister of All Souls UU in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  Rev Kirk provides an uplifting message on how our Unitarian history provides inspiration today as we face the chaos and cruelty of the present moment.

All are invited to Blue Hills UU services which are held at10 a.m. Sunday mornings in the fellowship hall, located at 230 W. Messenger St. in Rice Lake, and also on Zoom. The zoom link is sent to members, however all interested may request this week’s link by request at  mydogknows@gmail.com

What would it be like for a proverbial Martian to explore modern American Christianity, in all of its variety?   Blue Hills UU’s will be challenged to “Explore Christianity from the Outside” at our Sunday service, August 24^th with Arthur Thexton, in hopes of discovering new ways UUs may learn from the search.

Thexton returns to Rice Lake every several weeks via Zoom, to address friends and fellow Unitarians as we return to fellowship.   Blue Hills UU invites everyone to services, beginning at 10 a.m. Sunday mornings in the fellowship hall, 230 W. Messenger St., Rice Lake, and also on Zoom. The zoom link is sent to members, however all interested may request this week’s link by request at  mydogknows@gmail.com

Rain, death and destruction … how funny is that???   Blue Hill Unitarian Universalist’s traveling pastor, Dennis Peters, shares that while planning to introduce his service talking about rain, inspired by the ballad “Yesterday I Heard the Rain” – his message took a left turn.  For even though having both hands on the wheel, Peters began remembering jokes from over the years about death and disaster.  But what’s funny about that?  All are invited to share his observations – and he assures us he “doesn’t think it will drag you down.”

Each third Sunday of the month, Blue Hills UUs gather for Pot Luck after the service; members and friends are encouraged to bring a dish to pass and stay awhile to enjoy time for camaraderie & nourishment. 

Blue Hills UU invites everyone to services, beginning at 10 a.m. Sunday mornings in the fellowship hall, 230 W. Messenger St., Rice Lake, and also on Zoom. The zoom link is sent to members, however all interested may request this week’s link by contacting jimbradley4335@gmail.com.

Our service at Blue Hills UU Sunday, August 10th will be hosted by member Irene Asp, who will lead a discussion regarding the balance between free speech and hate speech. A short film describing how this issue is dealt with in Germany will provide the foundation for the discussion.

Blue Hills UU invites everyone to services, beginning at 10 a.m. Sunday mornings in the fellowship hall, 230 W. Messenger St., Rice Lake, and also on Zoom. The zoom link is sent to members, however all interested may request this week’s link by contacting patriciashifferd@gmail.com.

Sunday, August 3^rd brings the return of Rev Terry Cummings to the Blue Hills Unitarian Universalist pulpit, for an in depth consideration of one of UU’s long standing principles: “To affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person, as well as justice, equity and compassion in human relations.”

It isn’t always easy to reconcile these ideals in times of disagreement or change, especially when reasonable minds can differ on the issues at hand.  On Sunday, Rev. Terry Cummings will reflect on ways in which we might apply our UU values in such times, with specific reference to an issue that seemingly has been in the news more than ever before, that of transgender rights and freedoms.

Blue Hills UU invites everyone to services, beginning at 10 a.m. Sunday mornings in the fellowship hall, 230 W. Messenger St., Rice Lake, and also on Zoom. The zoom link is sent to members, however all interested may request this week’s link by contacting patriciashifferd@gmail.com.

Many of us at Blue Hills UU have followed the changes in our national UU organization based in Boston and the summer gatherings of Unitarian Universalists at our annual General Assembly the past several years. Our own Judy Barisonzi and Pat Shifferd have attended as our appointed delegates to many of the sessions during this time.  This past June, Judy attended the business sessions on line via Zoom etal.

Also attending, in person at these summer sessions, has been our friend and oft-zoomed speaker at our Sunday services, Arthur Thexton.  As a life long Unitarian,  Thexton attended Meadville/Lombard Theological School, receiving  an M.A. in Religious Studies from the University of Chicago Divinity School in 1974, before continuing an education in the practice of law.

Both Arthur and Judy will be with us this coming Sunday, July 27^th to share their impressions and take-aways from the current UU-GA of this summer; we might expect some of the issues we’ve been concerned about regarding changes to our Unitarian practices and traditions will be addressed.  Be with us for what should be an informative and valuable Sunday morning for those caring about the future of our religious faith.

Blue Hills UU invites everyone to services, beginning at 10 a.m. Sunday mornings in the fellowship hall, 230 W. Messenger St., Rice Lake, and also on Zoom. The zoom link is sent to members, however all interested may request this weeks link by contacting patriciashifferd@gmail.com.

For Unitarian-Universalists, the words “spirituality” and “sacred” can be difficult to hang meaning upon. They may refer to traditional theologies, which UU’s by definition may question, or the use of these words may evoke vague,  diverse images where no common concept is possible.

On Sunday, July 20^th, Blue Hills UU will present a recorded sermon by Rev. Kate Rohde, in which we are invited to contemplate how the idea of “the sacred” may be captured as a coherent concept. There will be plenty of time for discussion and sharing at the end of the presentation.

Each third Sunday of the month, Blue Hills UUs gather for Pot Luck after the service; members and friends are encouraged to bring a dish to pass and stay awhile to enjoy time for camaraderie & nourishment. 

Blue Hills UU invites everyone to services, beginning at 10 a.m. Sunday mornings in the fellowship hall, 230 W. Messenger St., Rice Lake, and also on Zoom. The zoom link is sent to members, however all interested may request this weeks link by contacting mvanetten32@gmail.com.

Roots.  We all have ‘em.  What are those of Unitarian Universalism? Evolved directly from Christian origins at the outset of the Reformation in the mid-1500’s, to embracing, and discarding, theological beliefs over the centuries, UU has evolved as a rational religion.  As science raises questions about religious beliefs and traditions, Unitarianism has sought to incorporate belief with discovery and reason.   

Sunday, July 13^th., Rev. Terry Cummings will reflect on the intersection of science and faith. Those in attendance and online will have opportunity to share their beliefs, questions and a vision of the future of our Unitarian Universalist religious faith as it continues to grow.

Blue Hills UU invites everyone to our services beginning at 10 a.m. Sunday mornings in the fellowship hall, 230 W. Messenger St., Rice Lake, and also on Zoom. The zoom link is sent to members, however all interested may request it by contacting patriciashifferd@gmail.com.

“What Does Democracy Look Like?”  Congregants of the Blue Hills Unitarian Universalist Fellowship will be challenged to envision and share their thoughts as to what makes for a true democracy, and how it functions.   As we begin the month of July with celebrations of our nation’s freedom and traditions, the Sunday, July 6th service will feature a discussion of what we think democracy actually is, as well as a celebration of the democratic values we as a fellowship support. 

Attendees are invited to bring a short reading or poem that relates to the concept and responsibilities of a free citizenry, as well as a red, white or blue refreshment to share during a morning “Fourth of July” coffee break. 

Blue Hills UU invites everyone to our services beginning at 10 a.m. Sunday mornings in the fellowship hall, 230 W. Messenger St., Rice Lake, and also on Zoom. The zoom link is sent to members, however all interested may request it by contacting patriciashifferd@gmail.com.

Blue Hills Unitarian Universalists return again to Oklahoma this last Sunday in June, to savor another outstanding recorded service from the “All Souls Unitarian” church in Tulsa.  

In this special service leaders from a wide variety of religious denominations in Tulsa were invited to join in a program of solidarity with their local immigrants.  While the morning is oriented to their community, this will surely inspire our own efforts in supporting the immigrant population here in the upper midwest, Barron, Rice Lake and Eau Claire.

Blue Hills UU invites everyone to our services beginning at 10 a.m. Sunday mornings in the fellowship hall, 230 W. Messenger St., Rice Lake, and also on Zoom. The zoom link is sent to members, however all interested may request it by contacting patriciashifferd@gmail.com.