Author: Jude Genereaux

The March 5^th Service at Blue Hills UU will include a presentation on “Justice” and what that means.  Former member of BHUU, Ken Hood will be with us once again through the magic of Zoom, to share insight on a program known as “Jonah – Advancing Hope”, a non-profit that has been active in the Chippewa Valley for over 15 years.  

Ken will be joined by organizers Lynn Buske and Michelle Pride to introduce us to JONAH, an interfaith organization working in partnership with religious groups who choose to work with individual activists and donor members of all faiths.  “We believe that our work is about building community and building capacity to address the root causes of poverty and injustice;  we come together for this important and public work because when every person does better, everyone does better.”

Come be with us in our sanctuary Sunday at 10 a.m., or on Zoom.  The Zoom link is sent to members;  all others interested may request it from patriciashifferd@gmail.com.  Gathering for fellowship & coffee after the service is encouraged.  https://bluehillsuu.org

There are many ways we choose to get through the winter months:  hobbies, winter sports, travel – and reading.  We of BHUU might fairly well be described as “book worms”, as my guess is the per capita number of books read by members is above the national average.  

The Service this last Sunday of February will feature our own Book Reviews – with all attending invited to share some of their most engaging finds of the past few months.  Member Judith Barisonzi will host the hour, and keep a list of titles brought forth to share with all after.

Come be with us in our sanctuary Sunday at 10 a.m., or on Zoom as we explore the treasure to be found in books.  The Zoom link is sent to members, and all  others interested who may request it from patriciashifferd@gmail.com.  Gathering for fellowship & coffee after the service is encouraged.  https://bluehillsuu.org

We’ve all heard of Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, but did you know she was a Universalist?  In conducting our service Sunday February 19 at Blue Hills Unitarian-Universalist, Chaplain Dennis Peters will highlight some of the other facets of this impactive nurse, schoolteacher, patent office worker’s life.

Ch Peters notes that “At 5 feet nothing, Clarissa Harlowe Barton was one of the giants of her time, pushing for women’s equality in treatment and pay.”  During the Civil War, Barton provided care for soldiers on both sides of struggle;  Peters reports “When a cause was important to her, she pushed, bullied and badgered to make change – including President Lincoln!”

Sunday the 19^th marks the return of our “Third Sunday Pot Lucks” at Blue Hills UU;  bring a dish to pass and be with us as we gather downstairs for fellowship. 

All who seek insight are welcome at BHUU, 230 W. Messenger in Rice Lake.  The 10 a.m. Service can be accessed via Zoom;  the link is sent to members, but others interested may request it from patriciashifferd@gmail.com.  Gathering for fellowship & coffee after the service is encouraged.   https://bluehillsuu.org

As in all groups, growth may bring change;  so too the Unitarian-Universalists on a national scale.  Our UU Association has chosen to review and re-write some of our founding statements, and the Blue Hills fellowship has been energetically investigating the controversy that has emerged within our denomination, both as to the process and specific wording of proposed changes. 

Article II of our UUA by-laws contains the description of what we stand for, and is seen as the foundational statement of our beliefs.  A controversy surrounds not only the proposed language to replace our current “Principles and Sources”, which have traditionally focused on our most important values, but also in how we grapple with the thorny issue of racism.

Our service on February 12 will review what is being proposed and to help us decide what position, if any, we choose to take as a fellowship as this long, complicated approval process moves forward.   Be with us Sunday at 10 a.m., either in the sanctuary or on Zoom as we take on this most important challenge to our association in stating “Who” we are and what we believe.  The Zoom link is sent to members, but others interested may request it from patriciashifferd@gmail.com.  Gathering for fellowship & coffee after the service is encouraged.   https://bluehillsuu.org

Blue Hills Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Rice Lake will honor Black History month by focusing on the history of progress UU’s have made in our efforts to be inclusive to people of all cultures, races and backgrounds.   Arthur Thexton of  Wauwatosa’s UU West congregation will present a short exploration of our Unitarian and Universalist histories as they relate to race and racism during our February 5^th service at Blue Hills UU, 10 a.m.

A frequent guest speaker at BHUU, Arthur successfully attended the Meadville Lombard Theological School, then studied at the University of Chicago before obtaining his law degree from the UW Madison.  He served as Assistant District Attorney in Barron County during the mid-1980’s and lived with his family in Rice Lake.  

All who seek insight are welcome at BHUU, 230 W. Messenger in Rice Lake.  The 10 a.m. Service can be accessed via Zoom;  the link is sent to members, but others interested may request it from patriciashifferd@gmail.com.  Wearing masks is optional for those attending in person, although recommendations of the CDC are followed;  we do expect all to be fully vaccinated.  Gathering for fellowship & coffee after the service is encouraged.   https://bluehillsuu.org

The seven Principles and six Sources of Unitarian Universalism included in Article II of the Bylaws of the Unitarian Universalist Association, are viewed by many of us as the essential founding documents of our faith.

Article II is currently being revised by a special Commission, whose most recent draft proposes eliminating them altogether, and replace with a set of values that focus on dismantling structural racism, building a beloved community, and ensuring accountability from member congregations.

In our Sunday service January 29^th our Board Chairman will lead us in examining the origin of the Principles & Sources in hopes of better understanding the controversy this proposal has engendered.   

As time permits, we will look at the most recent draft from the “Article II Commission” to consider what position Blue Hills UU wants to take,and what action, if any, we wish to engage in.  

Members of the Blue Hills Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship in Rice Lake will take a deeper look into the history of the European conquest of the Americas, guided by the research of Dr. Kent Shifferd on Sunday January 22^nd. Kent will consider “Bullies Justice:  Terra Nullius and The Doctrine of Discovery” during the 10 a.m. Service

The Doctrine lays out a rationalization for the theft of indigenous lands;  even as we are aware that we live in the traditional lands of the Anishinaabe people, many of us find it shocking to hear the bold words of Pope Nicholas V., 1455, granting “Free and ample faculty … to invade, search out, capture, vanquish and subdue all Saracens and pagans whatsoever, and other enemies of Christ.”

All who seek insight are welcome at BHUU, 230 W. Messenger in Rice Lake.  The 10 a.m. Service can be accessed via Zoom;  the link is sent to members, but others interested may request it from patriciashifferd@gmail.com.  Wearing masks is optional for those attending in person, although recommendations of the CDC are followed;  we do expect all to be fully vaccinated.  Gathering for fellowship & coffee after the service is encouraged.   https://bluehillsuu.org

Our traveling Chaplain Dennis Peters returns to Blue Hills Unitarian-Universalist fellowship to conduct the Service on Sunday, January 15^th.   Promising “A Lighter Touch” for the new year, Dennis says “Humor is a requirement to maintain our sanity.”  So even if “we’ve already gone ‘round the bend – humor becomes our last cognitive function.  You can decide which is the case.” 

Apologizing in advance, Ch Peters notes he may be in jeopardy of demolishing favorite beliefs or chosen “alternative facts”, for he also states “It is the minister’s job to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable.” Sounds like an enlightening morning at Blue Hills UU.

All who seek insight are welcome at BHUU, 230 W. Messenger in Rice Lake.  The 10 a.m. Service can be accessed via Zoom;  the link is sent to members, but others interested may request it from patriciashifferd@gmail.com.  Wearing masks is optional for those attending in person, although recommendations of the CDC are followed;  we do expect all to be fully vaccinated.  Gathering for fellowship & coffee after the service is encouraged.   https://bluehillsuu.org

Our own Pat Barry will conduct the service at Blue Hills Unitarian-Universalist fellowship, Sunday January 8^th, entwining as part of it Part III of a program she has prepared for us.  In “Our Stories”, Pat’s mission is to guide us all to a broader understanding of the importance of recalling, understanding and recording our personal and family histories. 

Barry queries “How have these histories affected us?” and notes that her plan is to encourage the fellowship to spend a some of our time together telling remembered favorite tales;  she will share a few prompts to inspire those attending.

All who seek insight are welcome at Blue Hills Unitarian Universalist fellowship, 230 W. Messenger in Rice Lake.  The 10 a.m. Service can be accessed via Zoom;  the link is sent to members, but others interested may request it from patriciashifferd@gmail.com.  Wearing masks is optional for those attending in person, although recommendations of the CDC are followed;  we do expect all to be fully vaccinated.  Gathering for fellowship & coffee after the service is encouraged.   https://bluehillsuu.org

On the very first day of 2023, we at Blue Hills UU will be reminded to “Look Both Ways”, as we reflect on the New Year with member Judy Barisonzi at 10 a.m.  The passage from one year to the next is traditionally a time for spiritual reflection, and Judy invites us to “Spend this time looking back and forward together.” And – to bring writing and drawing supplies for an interactive hour.

All who seek insight are welcome at Blue Hills Unitarian Universalist fellowship, 230 W. Messenger in Rice Lake.  Both a free-range discussion period at 9 a.m. and the 10 a.m. Service can be accessed via Zoom; the link is sent to members, but anyone interested may request it from patriciashifferd@gmail.com.  Wearing masks is optional for those attending in person, although recommendations of the CDC are followed;  we do expect all to be fully vaccinated.  Gathering for fellowship & coffee after the service is encouraged.   https://bluehillsuu.org