Author: Jude Genereaux

Our friend and fellow UU Art Thexton will be with Blue Hills Unitarians on Sunday October 12^th to continue his series “How to Believe in God.”  Beginning a few years ago, Arthur shared with us the first of three sermons relating to religion in all of its forms, including atheism, humanism and agnosticism.  

Noting that all of these are actually a faith, and that it is incorrect to refer to any variety of difference as having “no faith,” Thexton will explore with the Blue Hills Fellowship what it means to be spiritual for a UU.  Our mornings with our “part-time, itinerant, circuit-riding, lay preacher” Arthur Thexton are always enlightening.

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

Rev. Terry Cummings will conduct the Service this first Sunday of October at Blue Hills UU, bringing us a message from the Old Testament.  The prophet Michah had this to say:  “People should do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with their God.”    

Being on the side of justice, especially social justice, is the goal of many faith communities, although sometimes bearing witness and advocating for justice-centered causes can draw us into the arena of politics.   Rev Cummings will reflect on how the politics of social justice can sometimes be divisive and affect communities of faith.

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 mvanetten32@gmail.com.

Blue Hills Unitarian Universalists of Rice Lake welcomes Nick Schweitzer of Sauk County September 28th, who will be in attendance at the Rice Lake Fellowship Sunday, to conduct the Sunday Service.  As a congregation and Board member of the Free Congregation of Sauk County, a Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Mr Schweitzer will speak of the Counter-Force Project – “a group of  individuals dedicated to peacefully opposing attacks on our schools, our libraries, our local governments and our civic values.”

The Free Congregation of Sauk County is a free-thought society without creeds or ministers, founded in 1852 as a “Freie Gemeinde” by 19th-century German immigrants, and still meets in the historic Park Hall built in 1884.

Following the service, Mr Schweitzer will be hosted to lunch with members.  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

Prepare yourself for an uplifting morning Sunday, September 21st at Blue Hills UU!  One of our chief organizers, Judy Barisonzi will lead the morning’s thought train by informing and inquiring of us “Why Story Telling Matters.”   As a writer and family historian, we may expect enlightenment.

Woven into our time together will be a celebration of a significant day in the life of  another of our members, Robert Hasman.  We expect Bob will be with us to share Pot Luck on his quite special Birthday morning.   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, and on this Sunday morning:  to celebrate Bob!

Blue Hills UUs invite 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.

What is the “Alternatives to Violence Project” ?  Rev Jo Green of Palmdale, CA will Zoom into Blue Hills Unitarian Universalist Fellowship the morning of September 14^th to share her experience as a Board member for the Project.

In addressing “Freedom As a State of Mind”, Rev Green shares that “In this day and age in our nation, the definition of freedom seems much different than when our country was founded.”  What does freedom mean to you?  Do we take for granted the freedoms that are exemplified in our Constitution?  Where does spirituality and the Holy integrate into our definition of freedom?  “Let us explore together next Sunday how spirituality and our values, which include freedom, exemplify how UU’s live in the world.”

Rev Green graduated from Starr King School for the Ministry with a Master of Divinity degree and completed her Internship and Residency at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Cherry Hill. After serving five different congregations, she has retired and is enjoying her time guest preaching, volunteering and being on the Board of the Alternatives to Justice Project.

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 mvanetten32@gmail.com.

For our annual “Ingathering” service, our small but spirited fellowship will share in a celebration of favorite hymns and readings.  Kathy Schultz will play our choices of hymns from either the gray or teal hymnals, and Readings will be those which have inspired a member or brief selections that add meaning to life.

An added highlight will the unveiling of a impactful work of art given as a gift to our fellowship by Judy Barisonzi’s daughter Jeanette in honor of Judy’s birthday. The artist, Jean Arcola of Stone Lake, will attend and perhaps stay for refreshments with us.  Let’s fill the house on this joyful morning!   

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 mydogknows@gmail.com

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.