March 16, 2025

Traveling minister Dennis Peters will address the Blue Hills Unitarian Universalist Fellowship on March 16th. in an attempt to consider how societal problems and issues that vex us might successfully be corrected.   As caring and kind human beings, we may not be able to save the world – but we know how to solve those in our daily lives and even in our communities. We understand right from wrong.

Be with as we grapple with Part Two of a discussion of “What is Wrong?” with the world;   Peters challenges us to  put our thinking caps on and come up with some answers.

Dennis Peters

Third Sunday is also our monthly gathering for Pot Luck at BHUU, so members and friends are encouraged to bring a dish to pass and plan to enjoy camaraderie & nourishment with members and friends.

Blue Hills UU invites everyone to services, beginning at 10 a.m. Sunday mornings in the fellowship hall, 230 W. Messenger St., Rice Lake, and also on Zoom. The zoom link is sent to members, however all interested may request it by contacting patriciashifferd@gmail.com.

March 9, 2025

Nancy Pike, representing “Immigration Advocates” has visited Blue Hills Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in the past on behalf of our Somalian neighbors in Barron.  She will return this coming Sunday, March 9th with an informative report regarding issues and responses available as deportation efforts have shifted into high gear by the recently installed administration in Washington D.C.

International Dinner, Barron 2017

Blue Hills UU invites everyone to services, beginning at 10 a.m. Sunday mornings in the fellowship hall, 230 W. Messenger St., Rice Lake, and also on Zoom. The zoom link is sent to members, however all interested may request it by contacting patriciashifferd@gmail.com.

March 2, 2025

On March 2nd, Blue Hills Unitarians will celebrate sound: music and the spoken word, which have the power to inspire, inform, ask questions, provide answers, and bring us together. Our gracious pianist, Kathy Schultz will be available to play hymns as requested. Those attending are invited to bring a favorite poem, quotation, or reading.  

Don Karsky leading the band

Blue Hills UU invites everyone to services, beginning at 10 a.m. Sunday mornings in the fellowship hall, 230 W. Messenger St., Rice Lake, and also on Zoom. The zoom link is sent to members, however all interested may request it by contacting patriciashifferd@gmail.com.

February 23, 2025

We are gifted this coming Sunday, February 23rd, to be able to enjoy a recorded service from the Vancouver North Shore Unitarians of Canada, with whom we have shared (virtually) some exceptional Sunday mornings in the past. “Where the Light Begins: A UU Perspective of Grace” as hosted by Rebecca Lindley is certain to fill our morning with hope, spiritual connection and a deeper understanding of what we Unitarians look for as we seek a depth of meaning in our conflicted world.

Dr. Rebecca Lindley

Blue Hills UU invites everyone to services, beginning at 10 a.m. Sunday mornings in the fellowship hall, 230 W. Messenger St., Rice Lake, and also on Zoom. The zoom link is sent to members, however all interested may request it by contacting patriciashifferd@gmail.com.

February 16, 2025

This coming Sunday, February 16th ,  Chaplain Dennis Peters asks the provocative question: “What is Wrong?”  In order to discover solutions, we first need to know what the problem is  — Ch Peters offers as a starting point, to explore with Blue Hills UU’s  some of the (many) problems in the world today, with an attempt to roll in some warmth and humor where we’re able.

The next step, for another time, we’ll attempt to discover solutions. Ch. Peters invites us to “Come walk with me through our world today, so we may think about the world of tomorrow.”

Ch Dennis Peters & Lilly

Blue Hills  UU Fellowship will host our monthly potluck this same Sunday morning, so members and friends are encouraged to bring a dish to pass and plan to enjoy camaraderie & nourishment with members and friends.

Blue Hills UU invites everyone to our services, which begin at 10 a.m. Sunday mornings in the fellowship hall at 230 W. Messenger St., Rice Lake and also on Zoom. The zoom link is sent to members, and anyone interested may request it by contacting patriciashifferd@gmail.com. https://bluehillsuu.org

February 9, 2025

Sunday February 9th, Rev. Terry Cummings will reflect on the positive aspects of our “shadow” with Blue Hills Unitarian-Universalists, and how it may lead to spiritual growth as we move through the stages of our lives. Psychiatrist Carl Jung wrote of a person’s subconscious dimension of personality, and the dark side he called the ‘shadow’ –but Rev Cummings goal is to lift that vision:  rather than ‘our shadow’ being a negative, dark side of personality, it is just one part of a whole.

“By embracing that concept, we may be encouraged to try new things, to forgive ourselves for what we feel is negative and to consider ways we may become more fully engaged with ‘Who’ we are, especially as the responsibilities of parenting and careers begin to recede.”

Blue Hills UU invites everyone to services, beginning at 10 a.m. Sunday mornings in the fellowship hall, 230 W. Messenger St., Rice Lake, and also on Zoom. The zoom link is sent to members, however all interested may request it by contacting patriciashifferd@gmail.com.

FEBRUARY! 2, 2025

Active BHUU member Judith Barisonzi takes to the pulpit Sunday February 2nd, to lead us in considering one of the prime “principles” at the heart of our beliefs as a UU:  “The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large.” Judy suggests that “As we make our way this year through a re-examination of the principles and sources of Unitarian-Universalism, it seems a proper time to devote some thought and discussion to our 5th Principle:  What actually is the “right of conscience?  Do we truly believe in it?  And why is it necessary to the functioning of a democracy?”

Judith Barisonzi

We will also be taking up a special collection as our fellowship seeks to raise funds for “World Relief,” an organization whose mission is to aid immigrants already in this country, as they seek relocation.  The Chippewa Valley branch of World Relief, as part of the larger organization, was recently notified of severe cuts in funding by the federal government -impacting close to 4,000 newly arrived refugees already in the U.S., 175 of whom are already here in Wisconsin.

Blue Hills UU invites everyone to our services, which begin at 10 a.m. Sunday mornings in the fellowship hall at 230 W. Messenger St., Rice Lake, and are also on Zoom. The zoom link is sent to members, however all interested may request it by contacting patriciashifferd@gmail.com.

January 26, 2025

Blue Hills Unitarian Universalist Fellowship enthusiastically welcomes Rick StGermaine, Prof. Emeritus UW Eau Claire, as guest speaker Sunday, January 26th.  Currently the Director of Education and historian for our neighboring LCO tribe, Dr StGermaine’s experience and list of accomplishments include over 11 years of service as Tribal Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe Tribe; he resides with his family on the reservation near Hayward.

In exploring “The Anishinaabe World View: LCO Experience” StGermaine will share with us research on the evolution of Midewiwin spiritual way of life among the Lac Courte Oreilles tribal people, summarizing a three day examination of “several thousand pieces of spiritual artifacts” that he and a team of LCO elders examined at the Milwaukee Public Museum this past autumn.  “This collection is from a time that a host of anthropologists conducted years of research at LCO examining and studying their spiritual ceremonies during 1898-1911, 1932, and 1939-43.”  

Rick StGermaine

Blue Hills UU invites everyone to services, beginning at 10 a.m. Sunday mornings at 230 W. Messenger St., Rice Lake and on Zoom. The zoom link is sent to members, and all interested may request it by contacting patriciashifferd@gmail.com. https://bluehillsuu.org

January 19, 2025

Returning to the Blue Hills Unitarian Universalist pulpit, Chaplain Dennis Peters asks the fellowship “Where has the time gone?”  What time, really, is it?  The Chicago Transit Authority questioned “Does Anybody Really Know What Time it Is?”

Ch Dennis invites us to take a look at how we got here, from wherever it was we were – and should we consider time travel too?  Is that what we’re doing right now?  Bring your thoughts to share as we delve into life’s most curious conundrums.

Ch Dennis Peters

Blue Hills UU invites everyone to services, beginning at 10 a.m. Sunday mornings at 230 W. Messenger St., Rice Lake and on Zoom. The zoom link is sent to members, and anyone interested may request it by contacting patriciashifferd@gmail.com. https://bluehillsuu.org

January 12, 2025

Rev Phil Lund of St Paul, Minnesota, will conduct the Sunday Service at Blue Hills Unitarian Universalist Fellowship on January 12th.  As our Congregational Life Consultant of UUA’s MidAmerica staff, Rev Lund offers to lead us in “… exploring some of the keys to human connection that congregations can use in building lives and communities that are healthier and happier.”

In welcoming Rev Lund to Rice Lake, our fellowship will host the monthly potluck a week earlier, so members and friends can share more time with Phil.  Please bring a dish to pass and plan to enjoy camaraderie & nourishment with members and friends.

Rev Phil Lund

Blue Hills UU invites everyone to our services, which begin at 10 a.m. Sunday mornings in the fellowship hall at 230 W. Messenger St., Rice Lake and also on Zoom. The zoom link is sent to members, and anyone interested may request it by contacting patriciashifferd@gmail.com. https://bluehillsuu.org