Author: Jude Genereaux

Blue Hills Unitarian Universalist Fellowship member, Dr. Kent Shifferd, will share an “Encounter With Buddhism”, his experiences and thoughts on Buddhism, at the Sunday, October 30th Service, 10 a.m.  Shifferd presents an overview of this way of thinking and living, noting its rapid popularity in the U.S. 

Considered a philosophy and a moral discipline, Buddhism originated in India, founded by Siddhartha Gautama in the 6th and 5th centuries BC, who according to legend, had been a Hindu prince.  Shifferd will lead us to consider what makes Buddhist Dharma an important path to finding peace of mind, as well as peace in today’s world.  

All seeking insight are welcome at BHUU.  Both the 10 a.m. Service and a free-range discussion period at 9 a.m. may be accessed via Zoom.  The link is sent to members, but all interested may contact patriciashifferd@gmail.com for the link.   Wearing masks is optional for those attending in person, although recommendations of the CDC are followed;  all are expected to be fully vaccinated.   Gathering for fellowship & coffee after the service is encouraged.

Member, Prof Emeritus Pat Shifferd will conduct the Sunday Service at Blue Hills Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Rice Lake October 23 at 10 a.m.,which will relate to the ramifications of changes in Wisconsin health care following the Supreme Court decision to abandon Roe v/ Wade protections.  How will this affect the availability of various procedures related to women’s reproductive care and surrounding issues?

After a brief look at the struggles of women in the 20th Century, the right to vote and   decent working conditions, Shifferd’s topic will turn to the legal and social controversies surrounding the issue of abortion.  With states now having control over access, huge differences exist from state to state.  As in Wisconsin, these divisions are more evident than ever, with anti-abortion groups pushing restrictions further and  women’s rights groups developing legal and social strategies to assist women in control over their lives. 

All seeking insight are welcome at BHUU.  Both the 10 a.m. Service and a free-range discussion period at 9 a.m. may be accessed via Zoom.  The link is sent to members, but all interested may contact patriciashifferd@gmail.com for the link.   Wearing masks is optional for those attending in person, although recommendations of the CDC are followed;  all are expected to be fully vaccinated.   Gathering for fellowship & coffee after the service is encouraged.

Blue Hills Unitarian Universalists welcome Chaplain Dennis Peters to the Rice Lake Fellowship Sunday October 16^th to present the service, centering on the Seventh Principle of UU:   “Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are (but) a part.” 

A response to both individualism and the environment, the Seventh Principle offers a solution to conflict between the individual and the group, in coming to “fully embrace something greater than ourselves”.  The interdependent web is expressed as the spirit of life of all living beings, not merely humans, and the “oneness of all existence”, enveloping our entire environment.  

FYI:  DUE TO THE STATUS OF OUR RE-SIDING PROJECT being in mid-stream, both our 10 a.m. service and 9 a.m. free-range discussion period will only be accessible via Zoom this Sunday.  The link is sent to members, but all who are interested may contact patriciashifferd@gmail.com for the link.  

There’s been a slight change in our Calendar this month, as we’re shifting services abit: our service planned for the 9th with Dennis Peters has been moved to October 16th and the formerly planned visit from Arthur Thexton that day, to sometime in November.

Sunday October 9th will feature a video on UU History, “Heritage of Heresy: Bisbee and Tuttle on the Universalist Frontier.” This will be shown at the church and of course on Zoom, with a focused discussion to follow led by member Judith Barisonzi; as always, our service begins at 10 a.m.

Those who seek insight are always welcome at BHUU. A free-range discussion period takes place before the service at 9 a.m., and as with the Service, may be accessed via Zoom. The link is sent to members, but all who are interested may contact patriciashifferd@gmail.com for the link. Wearing masks is optional for those attending in person, although recommendations of the CDC are followed; all are expected to be fully vaccinated. Gathering for fellowship & coffee after the service is encouraged.

Blue Hills Unitarian Universalist Fellowship invites you to attend their Sunday October 2nd Service, as they host the accomplished musician and poet Richard Terrill of Minneapolis.  Reading from his recent work “Essentially” and other collections, Terrill touches on subjects as disparate as jazz, trout fishing, neighbors, dogs, vintage movies and aging in hopes of generating discussion on craft and art in connection with our daily lives.  The Service begins at 10 a.m., 230 W. Messenger in Rice Lake. Richard Terrill is Professor Emeritus at Minnesota State, Mankato, and a Distinguished Faculty Scholar.  After growing up in Green Bay, Terrill   graduated from UW Wisconsin-Eau Claire, where he also discovered the joy of trout fishing in the Blue Hills. Those who seek insight are always welcome at BHUU.  A free-range discussion period takes place before the service at 9 a.m., and as with the Service, may be accessed via Zoom. The link is sent to members, but all who are interested may contact patriciashifferd@gmail.com for the link.   Wearing masks is optional for those attending in person; all are expected to be fully vaccinated.   Gathering for fellowship & coffee after the service is encouraged.

The service for September 24^th at Blue Hills Unitarian Universalist fellowship will consider the long and complex history of UU, extending from eastern Europe to California, and including the Upper Midwest.

The Rice Lake congregation will share a recent video compiled by the “Heritage and Archives Committee of the Prairie Star District”, former name of the local district, and its relevance to present issues in our faith community.   Led by member Judith Barisonzi, a focused discussion on the video “”Heritage of Heresy” will follow the viewing of the video at 10 a.m.

All who seek insight are welcome at Blue Hills UU, 230 W Messenger in Rice Lake. Those interested in attending a “free-range discussion” time before the service, are invited to tune in to Zoom at 9 a.m. or be at the church to take part. Services are also broadcast on Zoom; the link is sent to members, and all who are interested may contact patriciashifferd@gmail.com for the same.

Gathering for fellowship & coffee after the service is encouraged. Wearing masks is optional for those attending at the church; all are expected to be fully vaccinated.

Chaplain Dennis Peters will address the Blue Hills Unitarian Universalists, Sunday, September 18^th, 10 a.m. to explore “The Call to Action”, in context with the UU Sixth Principle: “The goal of world community, with peace, liberty and justice for all.”

For all of the very real and numerous problems in the world, there is a corresponding host of “helper” organizations with specific missions to meet these challenges, or at least assist with them.  Ch. Peters notes that “many of these groups have outreach in our area, and we may find local activities available right at our doorstep.”  Those in attendance will be encouraged to share experiences with action during the discussion period.

All who seek insight are welcome at Blue Hills UU, 230 W Messenger in Rice Lake.  Those interested in attending a “free-range discussion” time before the service, are invited to our Zoom-Room at 9 a.m., or be at the church to take part.  Services are broadcast on Zoom;  the link is sent to members and all interested may contact patriciashifferd@gmail.com for the same.

Gathering for fellowship & coffee after the service is encouraged. Wearing masks is optional for those attending at the church;  all are expected to be

fully vaccinated.

PR 2022-09-11

Unitarian Universalist Congregational Life Consultant, Rev Phil Lund will conduct the Service at Blue Hills UU Sunday, September 11^th., at 10 a.m.   His message, “Not Just Foolishly Romantic” is intended to help us be hopeful in these challenging times.

“Being hopeful is more than being foolishly romantic”, according to historian Howard Zinn.  It does however, require some effort on our part.  Rev Lund shares the good news, that every congregation can tap into the energy it needs to act to make this world a better place. Be with us as we explore how we can make this happen —individually and collectively—by “behaving magnificently” in defiance of all the hurt and heartbreak around us.

All who seek insight are welcome at Blue Hills UU, 230 W Messenger in Rice Lake. Those interested in attending a “free-range discussion” time before the service, are invited to tune in to Zoom at 9 a.m. or be at the church to take part.  Services are also broadcast on Zoom; the link is sent to members, but all who are interested are invited to contact patriciashifferd@gmail.com for the same.

Gathering for fellowship & coffee after the service is encouraged.  Wearing masks is optional for those attending at the church;  all are expected to be fully vaccinated. 

September 4, 2022

This coming Sunday, September 4^th.  we will gather in the backyard of our Blue Hills UU at 11 a.m. to commemorate “Ingathering”, with our traditional ceremony, celebrating our expected seasonal returns.  We will also enjoy a  much missed potluck luncheon.

Please bring a stone from your summer travels to add to our table of remembrances, and perhaps share with others what meaning it carries.  It could be from a special place, or perhaps it brings to mind something important to you?

Bring a dish to share following the brief service, and perhaps a lawn chair to meet either in the yard or the church downstairs.  If you don’t wish to navigate the inside stair case, come around the south end of the building where you will find the recently rebuilt steps at the back of the building.   

If you find yourself otherwise engaged this Labor Day weekend, you’re invited to send your commemorative rock with a friend, or we will find a time at later services for you to contribute.   This Sunday Service will not be on Zoom, and the “Discussion Hour” not held – so save your topic for Sept 11^th when both will reZoom.   Wearing masks is again optional for those attending inside the church as current CDC recommendations for our area have been upgraded;  all are expected to be fully vaccinated. 

Award winning twin brothers Joseph and John DeMasi will present their original musical service “Our Children are Watching”, for a morning of music and contemplation at Blue Hills Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 10 a.m. Sunday August 28^th. The contemporary folk singers, songwriters and recording artists create songs imbued with their Unitarian Universalist belief in love, inclusion, tolerance, understanding, and the worth and dignity of all. The brothers explain their goal “In this time of struggle and turmoil, how we use our UU values to guide us is the legacy our actions leave for future generations.” 

All who seek insight are welcome at Blue Hills UU, 230 W Messenger in Rice Lake. Those interested in attending a “free-range discussion” time before the service, are invited to tune in to Zoom at 9 a.m. or be at the church to take part.

BHUU requires wearing masks for those attending at the church in accordance with current CDC recommendations for our area, and expect all to be fully vaccinated.  Services are also broadcast on Zoom, the link sent to members although all who are interested are invited to contact patriciashifferd@gmail.com for the same. Gathering for fellowship after the service is encouraged, although gnoshing  & coffee have been suspended for the time being.