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Our neighbor Dr. Steve Carlson of Shell Lake will visit Blue Hills UU on November 10th to share his experience with modern Quakers: what they believe, how they conduct their business, and how they act in society.

In an informal forum Steve will share his spiritual journey, which began as a Lutheran. Sequentially, he became an atheist, an agnostic, a person interested in Eastern religions, followed by a return to the Lutheran church, then to the Methodists before he finally became a full member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Eau Claire. The morning promises to stimulate thoughtful discussion and insight.

A short time for fellowship and light nourishment will follow the 10:00 a.m. service. All are welcome at Blue Hills UU.

One of the tenets of being a Universalist-Unitarian is the stand taken “in the service of justice”; our national UU Service Committee advances human rights through grassroots collaborations.  Sunday, November 3rd, member Linda Thompson will talk about the work of  our organization, and kick off for our own yearly “Guest at Your Table” project. 

The Service begins at 10:00 a.m., followed by a time for gathering and light snacks in the Fellowship Hall.   Blue Hills UU is a welcoming congregation located at 230 W Messenger in Rice Lake, and we invite all to attend.

A very special program will be presented at the Blue Hills Unitarian-Universalist fellowship on October 27^th, with the community invited to attend.  

Local song writer, playwright and actor Kevin McMullin of Sarona will bring to us a large part of his current collection of vignettes and song from his performance “Into the Black Sea: Stories of Darkness and Light”.

Kevin observes that “Walking dark roads is sometimes a part of daily life” and will share his recent experience, focusing on the inevitable “How will these travels transform us?

This special Sunday Service begins at 10:00 a.m. at the Blue Hills UU, 230 W. Messenger St in Rice Lake.   There will be a short talk back session after Kevin’s service, and a time for fellowship & light lunch will conclude the morning.  BHUU welcomes everyone, always.

Rice Lake Blue Hills Unitarian-Universalists welcome Pastor Dennis Peters again to our fellowship this coming Sunday, October 20^th.   His sermon will focus on the treasures to be found in autumn. “The joy, the melancholy, the reflection … what do we find when we reach within”;  Peters challenges us to “ponder the imponderables”.

After concluding the 10 a.m. service, there will be a time for fellowship and light nourishment;  this “Third Sunday” of October features our monthly Pot Luck, always a highlight of our time together and all are invited.    

A musical Sunday service at Blue Hills Unitarian-Universalist fellowship will be offered through the talents of FEBRUARY SKY, folksingers Phil Cooper & Susan Urban. “Hearken Now, the Darkness Comes”, a celebration of the last-harvest holiday of Samhain will begin at 10:00 a.m., October 13^th.  In the course of the service, ancient traditions are observed in reflection of their significance in our modern lives.

The Celtic word “Samhain” means “summer’s end”, a holiday noting the beginning of winter and a time for giving thanks for a good harvest, and also the time of year when the veil between the worlds of the living and dead is said to be the thinnest.  The dead are invited back for loving remembrance, so all are invited to bring a photo or memento of a departed loved one to place on our Samhain altar.

Blue Hills Unitarian-Universalists welcome the Rev. Julie Lepp, Lifespan Minister for the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Eau Claire, to Rice Lake October 6^th .  Rev Lepp asks the fellowship “Mirror, Mirror On The Wall – What do we see each time we gaze into the mirror?

Taking from the work of Roger Housden, we’ll ask ourselves to consider “What does our familiar face reflect of the heart and soul of our life?” Are you the same person deep down that you see in the mirror?  Come join us on Sunday as we reflect on “Self Portrait” by David Whyte.

Located at 230 W Messenger St, the Blue Hills UU is a welcoming congregation, inviting all to visit and stay for a time of light nourishment and fellowship after the 10:00 service.

A two tiered effort takes place Sunday Sept 29^th at the Blue Hills Unitarian-Universalist fellowship. 10:00 a.m. brings Kent Shifferd to the podium in Rice Lake with his message as to “The Future We Can Have”.  Professor Emeritus of Northland College and member of BHUU, Dr. Shifferd is well versed in, and deeply concerned over the environmental challenges we now face. His sermon will focus on critical solutions to the global ecological crisis needed and the extensive changes we need to make now in our beliefs, values and social institutions.  “This includes the economy and technology if we are to continue as a successful species on this beautiful planet.” Shifferd draws on many sources to describe what a successful world could look like and how we might get there.

A “talk-back” session following the service will consider “What do we do here and now?” and offer time for those attending to share thoughts and concerns. All are welcome to attend Blue Hills UU, located at 230 W Messenger in Rice Lake, and invited to stay for light nourishment and fellowship after the 10:00 service.

A new addition at BHUU is the creation of a “Drum Circle”; a brief first meeting will be led by Brian Rude this same Sunday at 12:00 noon.  Together we will beat out exciting rhythms like “Peanut Butter Sandwich” and “Mac & Cheese.” It’s community building and lots of fun!

This “Fifth Sunday” of a month also marks the time several northwestern UU fellowships congregate as one. The River Falls Unitarian-Universalist Society will host representatives from St Croix Falls, Menomonie and Rice Lake at their service 10:30 a.m. located at N8010 HWY 65 River Falls. 

Our Blue Hills U-U fellowship enthusiastically welcomes once again Rev Phil Lund of St Paul, MN to conduct the service on September 22nd.   A member of the MidAmerica Region of the UUA, pastor Lund holds a Master of Divinity degree from Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago, a certificate in InterSpiritual Counseling from One Spirit Learning Alliance in New York, and has completed a wealth of additional training in counseling and meditation arts.

Rev Lund’s sermon will address the topic of “(W)hol(e)iness”.  In explanation, Lund points out that both wholeness and holiness are about relationship—a living relationship to all things.  “When we find what is holy in ourselves, in others, and in creation, we find ourselves in relationship with the whole.”  His service  will explore how nurturing that relationship can be a path toward wholeness and holiness.   A short talk-back session after the service will enable the congregation to ask questions and share observations.

Please remember that Service now begins at 10 a.m. on Sundays; we welcome everyone to Blue Hills UU, and to stay for fellowship and light nourishment after the service.

September 15th brings member Ginny Gelineau of the Rice Lake Blue Hills Unitarian-Universalist fellowship to lead the service; “In Defense of Anger” will be the focus of her message. Do we too often try to silence anger? Or should we pay attention to this important alert system to danger, which can often be a healthy reaction to intolerable conditions. Anger also helps us identify our own boundaries, so while holding onto it can be harmful, it may also be lifesaving. 

A short talk-back session after the 10:00 a.m. service will give us time to explore and share thoughts this coming Sunday morning.

Everyone is always welcome at the BHUU, located at 230 Messenger St in Rice Lake. The Third Sunday of the month is “Pot Luck”, so plan to stay and visit awhile after the service.

On Sunday, September 1^st., the Blue Hills Unitarian-Universalist fellowship of Rice Lake will host “Soapbox Sunday” – a favorite gathering for UU’s when everyone is given opportunity to share topical concerns regarding our culture and society at large.  This Forum on the First will be led by member Carlin Stelzer beginning at 10:30 a.m.

Following all gatherings, the congregation invites those attending to join them for light nourishment in the fellowship hall.