Blog

UPDATED on 3/24/2019

To our BHUU Fellowship:   

Your BHUU Board has discussed steps taken and advisories sent from our national leadership, the UUA, both within our recent Board meeting and via e-mail. At this time all meetings at our Fellowship building on West Messenger Street are suspended.

       We, the Board want to assure you that:

• We are monitoring the situation and will take steps in line with what our local public health agency advises as they develop;
  
• We are working on a phone tree and other ways to stay in touch with our members spread across Northwest Wisconsin;

 Everyone:  Keep heart and Stay Well.  Spring is in the air.

As part of the Blue Hills Unitarian-Universalist 10 a.m. church service, Sunday March 15^th will feature a discussion of the the UUA’s common read, “An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the U.S.”   Most of us know bits and pieces of our country’s past experience with first inhabitants, but this enlightening text shares the depth of U.S. history rarely covered.     Former Lay Leader April Nielsen will lead the fellowship in exploring the dynamics of this text.

Religious education is offered to our youth at 10:30, and the “Third Sunday” potluck will take place after the Service.   All are always welcome at BHUU, located at 230 W Messenger in Rice Lake.  

The 10 a.m. Service at Blue Hills Unitarian Universalist fellowship, March 8^th reminds us of our responsibilities to the sacred home we are blessed with, Mother Earth.  How has civilization driven trouble for the earth?  And how might we develop an ecologically sustainable future?   Our service leader Dr. Kent Shifferd, offers two brief homilies: “The Seven Major Mistakes of Homo Sapiens” and “How We Saved Civilization” for consideration, inviting the congregation’s thoughts during the talk-back session that follows.

All attending are invited to stay for coffee & light nourishment after conclusion of the  Service; the fellowship Board meeting follows at 12:00 noon and is open to everyone.  The Blue Hills UU is located at 230 W Messenger in Rice Lake. 

In honor of Aldo Leopold Week March 1-8^th , the Blue Hills Unitarian Universalists will consider the work of this noted Wisconsin environmentalist at Service March 1^st.  Leopold’s legacy continues in league with other influential naturalists from Wisconsin – John Muir, Gaylord Nelson, August Derleth and a shared legacy with Minnesota’s Sigurd Olson.  

Jude Genereaux will lead the 10:00 service at BHUU, inviting participants to bring remembrances and meaningful passages of these great Wisconsinites to share during the talk back session following.

All are welcome at BHUU, and to stay for fellowship and light snacks after the service.  We are located at 230 W Messenger in Rice Lake and invite you to attend.      

www.aldoleopold.org/event/aldo-leopold-week/

As a member of the Seattle Men’s Chorus, David Hart found music, the enjoyment and making of, brought some of life’s finest hours to his own life as well as others.  A former Baptist minister, Dave will share his thoughts and musical talent in conducting the service at Blue Hills Unitarian Universalist fellowship Sunday February 23^rd;   his sermon will address “Coming Out Through Music”, offering insight and understanding.

Following time for fellowship and light snacks after the 10:00 service, the BHUU’s will gather for a monthly drum circle at 12:00 noon.  All are invited to visit the fellowship, located at 230 W Messenger St in Rice Lake.

Sunday February 16^th brings fellow member Judith Barisonzi to lead the 10:00 Service at Blue Hills Unitarian Universalist fellowship.  Reporting on a recent Webinar series offered through our national UUA affiliation, “Small Congregations, Infinite Possibilities”, her message will seek to define the nature of small congregations.  During the talk-back session, those interested will be invited to help lay the groundwork for ways a  small group may build sustainable strength.      

This particular Sunday also offers time for religious education offered to younger members, and is followed by the third Sunday Potluck every one is invited to attend.  BHUU is located at 230 W Messenger in Rice Lake.

Pat Shifferd, Emerita Professor of Sociology, Northland College, will lead the Service at Blue Hills UU Sunday, February 9^th.  

Prompting our “Reflections on Winter”, Shifferd will consider how we, as well as wildlife, cope in these months, seeking to bring focus to the gifts of the season.  Those attending are invited to share where each of us finds beauty in winter and its corresponding solitudes through poetry or music; if you have a favorite poem or remembrance, please bring them along.    

After the 10:00 Service, all are invited to stay for fellowship and light nourishment, as well as the BHUU Board meeting at 12:00 noon.  The BHUU is a welcoming congregation, located at 230 W. Messenger in Rice Lake. 

Our friend and member/music director Brian Rude will conduct the Service at Blue Hills Unitarian Universalist fellowship on Sunday, February 2^nd.   As sermon topic Mr Rude has chosen the issue of “Societal Health” and will lead us in exploring what the term actually means.   How important is it to have a “healthy society? And how is one distinguished from a “sick society?”  Examples should generate constructive thought and questions for the talk-back session that follows. 

The BHUU invites those attending to stay for light nourishment and fellowship after the 10:00 a.m. Service.   We are a small but welcoming congregation and invite all who are interested to attend,  230 W Messenger in Rice Lake.

The Service at Blue Hills Unitarian Universalist fellowship Sunday January 26^th will include a Celebration of Books and Reading.  Without this critical human tool we have to wonder -where would we be?   Those attending are encouraged to “Come prepared to share reading suggestions for the cold winter months, along with a brief comment on the book(s) chosen.”  A list will be compiled and circulated to everyone soon after;  those aware of poems or a brief reading on the value of books are invited to share those as well.

After the 10 a.m. Service, all are invited to stay for coffee and light nourishment, as well as the Drum Circle which meets at 12 noon.    BHUU is located at 230 W Messenger in Rice Lake and is a Welcoming congregation.

Blue Hills Unitarian-Universalist fellowship in Rice Lake will explore the book”A Year of Living Kindly: Choices That Will Change Your Life and the World Around You” by Donna Cameron as part of their Service on Sunday January 19th.   

Cameron posits that “Just being nice will not be enough to save the civility of today’s world.  It will take the patience and focus of true and loving kindness.”  The 10 a.m. Service will include a summary of Cameron’s recently published book, followed by conversation about individual choices we can all make.

All are welcome at the BHUU, located at 230 W Messenger in Rice Lake.  The Service is followed by a time for fellowship and gathering for light nourishment; our monthly Pot Luck will take place at 12 noon, which is always open to everyone.