We’ve been advised by Alexander Chalmers there are “Three Grand Essentials” for happiness in this life: something to do, someone to love, and something to hope for. Member Jude Genereaux will lead the Blue Hills Unitarian Universalists of Rice Lake to consider how each of these play a role in our own lives as we meet in person, Sunday August 1st 10 a.m. Discussion, with time for fellowship and coffee will follow.
Jude Genereaux
BHUU has returned to in-person gatherings at 230 W. Messenger, alternating weekly services on Zoom with some recorded for access later for those interested. All those attending in the fellowship hall are asked to be vaccinated; those who are not, please wear a mask.
Former resident of Rice Lake and current Board member of BHUU, Jim Bradley, Ph.D professor emeritus of Auburn University Alabama, will conduct the Sunday Service at Blue Hills Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 10 a.m. July 25.
Noting that in 2020, for the first time ever an all-female research team won a Nobel Prize in science – American molecular biologist, Jennifer Doudna, and French microbiologist, Emmanuelle Charpentier, won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their work on a gene-editing technology now known as CRISPR. This technology is revolutionizing cancer treatment and offering cures for certain genetic diseases such as sickle cell anemia. Both benefits and risks of the future use of CRISPR are significant and far-ranging.
Jim invites the fellowship to explore this together and “to contemplate how CRISPR challenges UU principles of respect for inherent, personal, human dignity, respect for the Democratic process, and respect for the interdependent web of life of which we are a part.”
Jim Bradley, Ph.D
BHUU has returned to in-person gatherings at 230 W. Messenger, and alternates weekly services on Zoom with some recorded for access by members later. The zoom link will be sent to members; all those interested in attending may contact Ken Hood at ken@bluehillsuu.org for the link needed. Those lacking cyberlink connection or equipment to enable participation are invited to meet in the fellowship hall located at 230 W Messenger, masked if not vaccinated, to watch the presentation on large screen ZOOM.
Blue Hills Unitarian Universalists will once again meet via ZOOM at 10 a.m. Sunday, July 18th, in order to enjoy the Service conducted by the Rev Erin Walter of Austin, Texas. Rev Walter calls to us to “Dance in the Desert” as we continue attempts to return to normal after the isolation of 2020.
Drawing upon the poetry of Rainer Maria Rilke and scripture, as well as her own spiritual practice of music-making, Rev. Walter will reflect on how we may endure ongoing struggle while embracing joy along the way. This service will include the diverse musical sources of Rev Walter’s and she encourages those attending to “Bring a tambourine!”
Rev Erin Walters
BHUU has returned to in-person gatherings at 230 W. Messenger, and alternates weekly services on Zoom with some recorded for access by members later. The zoom link will be sent to members; all those interested in attending may contact Ken Hood at ken@bluehillsuu.org for the link needed. Those lacking cyberlink connection or equipment to enable participation are invited to meet in the fellowship hall located at 230 W Messenger, masked if not vaccinated, to watch the presentation on large screen ZOOM.
On Sunday July 11, Blue Hills UU’s will tackle the topic “Death” during our Service at 10 a.m. Our visiting Chaplain Dennis Peters of Hillsdale assures us “this will be fun! It’s summer. Bright sunshine. Warm (Hot!) days. Baseball games. Concerts in the bandshell. Picnics. Fireworks—some sponsored, other… spontaneous! Green trees, lazy hammocks, walks with friends. What better time to talk about death?” Discussion always follows the Service, with time for fellowship and coffee after.
Ch Dennis Peters
We will meet in the church, 230 W. Messenger St in Rice Lake; BHUU has returned to in-person gatherings, alternating weekly services on Zoom with some recorded for access by members later. All those attending in the fellowship hall are asked to be vaccinated; those who are not, please wear a mask. Please see our website at bluehillsuu.org for specifics.
Sunday, July 4th, the Blue Hills UU”s will gather at Roux Park in Rice Lake for a potluck celebration and picnic. Time 11:00. Located at 1129 W Marshall, Roux Park is approx 3 blocks north of RL High School, where Poskin Street dead ends into Marshall.
Like our Memorial Day Picnic, please bring your utensils/plates, beverage and a dish to pass. We had such a great time then, let’s DO IT AGAIN!
Sunday June 27th marks the gathering of our annual UUA General Assembly, which will meet virtually this year at the First Universalist Church of Minneapolis. Our Blue Hills fellowship will meet in the church to watch the livestream event together on the big screen.
Please note the change in time > 11:00 < should you plan to attend with us.
The video access to the Worship Service may also be accessed at home with the link: https://www.uua.org/ga/off-site/2021/sunday-worship. This marks the largest annual gathering of UU’s in worship, with a “video & chat” to take place at 12 pm.
Fathers Day will be commemorated with special guest Rev Suzanne Wasilczuk conducting the service at Blue Hills Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 230 W Messenger in Rice Lake, 10 a.m. Rev Wasilczuk offers “May the Sun be Your Light” as we reflect on our Fathers and their impact in our lives. BHUU’s monthly potluck will follow.
A graduate of Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago, Rev Wasilczuk’s previous career was as a registered nurse, and now resides in Duluth, Minnesota with her husband. She preaches at the Mesabi UU Church in Virginia, Minnesota and also serves as part-time consultant to the Lakehead Unitarian Fellowship in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
Rev Suzanne Wasilczuk
BHUU has returned to in-person gatherings at 230 W. Messenger, but will alternate weekly services on Zoom, some to be recorded for access by members later. June 20th will be held in the fellowship hall and require all those attending be vaccinated. If there are those who are not, please wear a mask. Please see our website at bluehillsuu.org for specifics.
The UU’s of the Blue Hills Fellowship in Rice Lake welcome Chaplain Dennis Peters of Hillsdale to conduct the Sunday Service, June 13t at 10 a.m. Ch Peters invites us to explore “Stardust.” Using Carl Sagan’s famous observation “The cosmos is within each of us. We are made of star-stuff …” from the calcium in our teeth, to the iron in our blood “we are a way for the universe to know itself.” Ch Peters invites us to consider the Sagan assessment as a jumping off point to understand what “stardust” may actually mean to us.
BHUU has returned to in-person gatherings at 230 W. Messenger, with some alternating Services to continue on Zoom. June 13th will be held in the fellowship hall, and require all those attending be vaccinated. If there are those who are not, please then wear a mask. Please see our home page for specifics.
Blue Hills Unitarian Universalists welcome back to Rice Lake an old friend and fellow UU Arthur Thexton of the Milwaukee area, to lead us at Service this coming Sunday, January 17th. 10:00 a.m.
Arthur describes himself as an “upraised UU,” having grown up at the Unitarian Church in Summit (NJ); later attending Meadville/Lombard Theological School, he received his M.A. in Religious Studies from the University of Chicago Divinity School in 1974 after graduating cum laude from Beloit College in 1972. Then earning a J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1977, he spent the majority of his career in Madison, Wisconsin, but for a short time he served as our Family Support counselor at Barron County in the 1980’s.
Mr Thexton speaks regularly at UU congregations in Wisconsin, calling himself “a part-time, itinerant, circuit-riding, lay preacher in the UU tradition.” He served as a part-time night chaplain at Meriter Hospital in Madison for two years, and was active in community affairs, serving on the boards of the Wisconsin Coalition Against the Death Penalty, the Unemployment Compensation Appeals Clinic, the Williamson Street Grocery Coop, the James Reeb Unitarian-Universalist Congregation (which he helped found) and the North Madison Youth Soccer Club.
On January 17th. Arthur will explore with our Blue Hills UUs the question of what it means to be spiritual for a UU – why it’s a good thing, and how we do it.
Arthur Thexton
Blue Hills UU fellowship continues to meet via Zoom – the link will be sent to members, although all interested in these Services are invited to attend. Visitors may contact Ken Hood > ken@bluehillsuu.org < for the link needed to join the service. Those lacking cyberlink connection or equipment to enable participation and want to attend service are invited to meet IN the fellowship building located at 230 W Messenger, masked and distanced, to watch the presentation on large screen ZOOM.
Rice Lake’s Blue Hills Unitarian-Universalist fellowship will once again depend on the magic of ZOOM to bring us Eva Apelqvist, our guest speaker for the approaching Sunday service. As a writer, a librarian, an aggressive reader and a Unitarian, Eva has recognized the ways our UU principles and purposes are in sync with the point of view of public libraries. Observing that “These principles work very well in a public library context”, Eva will share this perspective with us beginning at 10:00 a.m. Sunday, June 7th.
BHUU members will find the link needed to connect on ZOOM sent to them by email later this week. We welcome all to participate at Blue Hills UU; serious parties wanting to take part may contact Ken Hood > ken@bluehillsuu.org for the link needed to join the service.
