Author: Jude Genereaux

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

Each of us has our own personal mountain to scale. Have they been a positive experience? What has it entailed for you?  When you reach the summit, and look down, what do you see? We often seek spiritual guidance in meeting these personal challenges;  where do each of us seek to find it?   Chaplain Dennis Peters will journey to Rice Lake this coming Sunday, July 16, to broach this topic with the Blue Hills Unitarian Universalists in Sunday Service, 10 a.m. 

Our third Sunday Pot Luck will take place immediately after service, so bring a dish to pass and join us downstairs for fellowship and nourishment to both heart and soul. 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

Report from the UUA General Assembly: our fearless delegates, Pat Shifferd and Judy Barisonzi attended via the magic of cyberspace the recent gathering of our national UU Association at annual meeting, this past week in Pittsburgh.  Most of you are aware there has been a effort to discard our long time “Principles and Sources” of Unitarian-Universalism, and replace them with simpler wording; this has been the issue that has most captured our interest. 

Both at our own services and amongst ourselves, we BHUU’rs have reviewed, considered, pondered and rejected the changes being suggested, both in committee and at our own annual meeting held this past May 21st.  Anyone wishing copy of those minutes, please contact your treasurer.   

Judy & Pat will report what is most likely the “final decisions” made at the GA this past week.  Are you on the edge of your seat in anticipation?  I am! 

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

One of our favorite days approaches, as we anticipate a pet service, “Soapbox Sunday” at our Blue Hills UU fellowship this coming Sunday July 2^nd.  All present are invited to suggest a topic or issue that has hooked their interest, share some background information, their opinion and hopefully initiate an energetic discussion and info-sharing session.

An effort will be made to divide time evenly between those who wish to pick our brains, titillate our interest and prompt us to action.   So prep yourself for a lively morning, guaranteed to bring focus to our most driving passions.    

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

“Let Freedom Ring” is the theme Blue Hills Unitarian Universalists bring to the fellowship in anticipation of our nation’s July celebrations, with the traveling DeMasi Brothers in LIVE session, to set the tone with contemporary folk music.  

Award-winning twin brothers Joseph & John DeMasi, songwriters and recording artists’ songs are imbued with their Unitarian Universalist belief in  love, inclusion, tolerance, understanding, with worth and dignity for all.   “Many of the freedoms we have taken for granted are coming under attack” notes the DeMasi’s “including women’s rights to choose, freedom of speech, freedom to vote, freedom from book censorship and many others.” The DeMasi’s protest these challenges with music and song at the 10 a.m. Service, Sunday June 25^th.

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

In Sunday Service, 10 a.m. June 18^th, our traveling Chaplain Dennis Peters will challenge the fellowship of Blue Hills Unitarian-Universalists to consider what constitutes “Golden” as a standard in human relationship. 

How do we treat family members? Pets?  Do we aim for the best for them and treat them well? What about neighbors? Not just the ones considered to be friends, but how about the one who keeps threatening to sue those around him over property line or other disputes – or those who generate conspiracy theories about… everything?   How does the “Golden Rule” impact and inspire your life?

We expect a lively discussion to be part of our morning with Ch Peters, and invite all to attend at the sanctuary, 230 W. Messenger, Rice Lake, or on Zoom.  The Zoom link is sent to members, but all who may be interested may request it by contacting patriciashifferd@gmail.com. https://bluehillsuu.org

Sunday will be a very special day for all of us at Blue Hills UU, as we gather to honor the life of our dear Waldo Asp.  For many years, Waldo and his wife Irene have been members of BHUU, with dual residences in the Cities and Stone Lake.   A beloved man, Waldo worked tirelessly for our fellowship and his community, both inspirationally and as a skilled carpenter and volunteer in many arenas.  His list of projects is long, and his shadow reflected in every corner of our humble abode, as well as the Stone Lake and Hayward area.

Having lost his physical presence this past spring, March 21st at the age of 88, Irene and family, many friends and our members will gather at 10 a.m., Blue Hills UU, to remember Waldo, share memories and celebrate the many years we were gifted with his peaceful and inspiring presence;  both as a pastor and a teacher, Waldo was a living example of how to live an inclusive life.  

All are invited to attend at the sanctuary, 230 W. Messenger, Rice Lake at 10 a.m.

Rev Phillip Lund of St. Paul, MN travels to be with the Blue Hills Unitarian Universalists to conduct the Sunday Service June 4^th, at 10 a.m.   His homily, “The Spiritual Disciple of Love” comes at an integral time for UU’s across the nation, as our national organization considers the centrality of “love” as a driving force in our core meaning.

With twenty years experience serving congregations in the area of faith formation and spiritual growth as a religious educator, Rev Lund is a congregational life consultant working for the MidAmerica Region of the Unitarian Universalist Association.  He holds a Master of Divinity degree from Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago.

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

Tradition!   Ritual, heritage, folklore … from the sacred to the conventional, we all maintain habits of every day life.  What traditions and rituals have we, as Blue Hills UU’s, incorporated into our fellowship?  How do we honor certain days and times of the year?  We light candles at specific interludes during Sunday service, chant certain lines and have our favorite hymns – are there others?  Are there some that have been forgotten along the way, or additional practices we might like to adopt?  

This Sunday, May 28^th our fellowship will explore the ways we choose to acknowledge the sacred and the holy times in our lives, and also consider ways we might expand ways to acknowledge important events and the universal truths we honor. 

After the service, we will share in the vernal ceremony known as “Spring Cleaning”,  as together we will spruce up the interior and grounds at our fellowship.   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.

Each May our membership gathers for our ANNUAL MEETING – to elect new officers and adopt a budget for the coming fiscal year, which begins July 1.  This will be an especially important session for Blue Hills UU’s, as we are also asked to respond to our national organization as it meets in General Assembly this June, where they will be considering the adoption of new “Principles and Sources”, as well as offering their selection of a new President of UUA for a six year term, asking our approval of all.

Two of our members, Judith Barisonzi and Pat Shifferd, will be our delegates to the UUA-GA via Zoom, and it is important we express to them our fellowship’s wishes in all of the above.  Please join us this coming Sunday morning at 10 a.m. to vote on these most important issues, and then stay for our THIRD SUNDAY POT LUCK downstairs, with food, fellowship and conviviality to be provided by all.

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