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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

“Bread and Roses.”  What does this refer to?  Chaplain Dennis Peters will share  what made the phrase memorable after first being uttered by the suffragist Helen Todd: “The worker must have bread, but she must have roses, too.”

Later becoming popularized in James Oppenheim’s poem, it was adopted as the theme of the textiles workers strike in 1912.  

Ch Peters will share a study of the phrase at Blue Hills Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Sunday, Service, May 14^th.  “Todd attempted to express how the right to vote would gain for working women and society not only a greater income, but the finer things in life as well – life’s “roses”.  Peters delves into how this may apply to life in the 21^st century.

Blue Hills UU Sunday Services begin at 10 a.m. All are invited to attend in the sanctuary at 230 W. Messenger, Rice Lake, or on Zoom. The Zoom link is sent to members, although all interested may request it by contacting patriciashifferd@gmail.com. Gathering for fellowship & coffee after the service is encouraged. https://bluehillsuu.org

Self described as an “itinerant, circuit-riding lay preacher” Arthur Thexton returns to Blue Hills UU this coming Sunday, April 30^th to continue a study into  “UU Traditions, Old and New.  Exploring what they mean and why they are important, Thexton points out that “Central to UUs host of traditions and rituals is the standard of congregational independence and freedom of the pulpit for over 200 years.”

More recently, UU’s  adopted “Six Sources and Seven Principles” as guides for all congregations;  Thexton will share their history and that of traditional ceremonies practiced at particular seasons, such as the Flower Communion, created in the 1930’s by Rev. Norbert Čapek for his Unitarian congregation in Czechoslovakia.

Thexton attended Meadville/Lombard Theological School, then received his M.A. in Religious Studies from the University of Chicago Divinity School in 1974, after graduating cum laude from Beloit College in 1972.  He went on to earn a J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1977.  He was at one time a resident of Rice Lake while serving as Assistant District Attorney in Barron County during, now residing in Wauwatosa, WI with his family

Blue Hills UU Sunday Services begin at 10 a.m. All are invited to attend in the sanctuary at 230 W. Messenger, Rice Lake, or on Zoom. The Zoom link is sent to members, although all interested may request it by contacting patriciashifferd@gmail.com. Gathering for fellowship & coffee after the service is encouraged. https://bluehillsuu.org

Blue Hills Unitarian Universalists once again welcome Arthur Thexton, to   conduct the Sunday Service April 30^th.  “UU Traditions, Old and New” will be presented by Thexton over two sessions, exploring what they mean and why they are important.

Thexton points out that “Central to UUs host of traditions and rituals is the standard of congregational independence and freedom of the pulpit, both part of Unitarianism for at least 200 years.” The six sources and seven principles that guide UU’s are more recent, as is the Chalice Lighting at the beginning of Services. Thexton will share the history of these, as well as traditional words of wedding vows and the Flower Communion, created in the 1930’s by Rev. Norbert Čapek for his Unitarian congregation in Czechoslovakia.

At one time a resident of Rice Lake, Mr Thexton speaks regularly at UU congregations, referring to himself as “a part-time, itinerant, circuit-riding lay preacher in the UU tradition.”  He now resides in Wauwatosa, WI with his family.

Blue Hills UU Sunday Services begin at 10 a.m. All are invited to attend in the sanctuary at 230 W. Messenger, Rice Lake, or on Zoom. The Zoom link is sent to members, although all interested may request it by contacting patriciashifferd@gmail.com. Gathering for fellowship & coffee after the service is encouraged. https://bluehillsuu.org

In honor of Earth Day, 2023 Blue Hills Unitarian Universalists will host a video produced by the UU “Ministry for Earth” on Sunday April 23^rd.   In seeking peace, liberty, justice and a respect for the interdependent web of all existence, UU’s acknowledge that climate chaos will cause the exact opposite. 

Averting climate crisis is critical to the vision and lived expression of Unitarian Universalism;  in creation of an online platform, networking, resource-sharing and communication tools for UU’s are offered through the coalition “Create Climate Justice Net” (CCJnet).  The Ministry for Earth video will share perspective and encouragement in reaching these goals.

Blue Hills UU Sunday Services begin at 10 a.m.  All are invited to attend in the sanctuary at 230 W. Messenger, Rice Lake, or on Zoom.  The Zoom link is sent to members, although all interested may request it by contacting  patriciashifferd@gmail.com.  Gathering for fellowship & coffee after the service is encouraged. https://bluehillsuu.org

Have you ever had occasion to ask yourself “Who am I?” Most of the human theological stances define human beings as body, mind and spirit, or soul.  Where in all of that does the individual reside?  What part remains after a traumatic brain injury?  Or Alzheimer’s?

Chaplain Dennis Peters will share with the Blue Hills Unitarian-Universalists personal experiences that caused him to explore this intricate topic during the Sunday Service, April 16^th.  A lively discussion is expected to follow.

Blue Hills UU Sunday Services begin at 10 a.m.  All are invited to attend in the sanctuary at 230 W. Messenger, Rice Lake, or on Zoom. The Zoom link is sent to members, although all interested may request it from patriciashifferd@gmail.com.  Gathering for fellowship & coffee after the service is encouraged. https://bluehillsuu.org

Blue Hills Unitarian-Universalists will commemorate Easter Sunday and the reawakening of spring with music and poetry on April 9^th , 10 a.m.   The connection between the jubilation of Easter and the regeneration of life and spirit marks a time of celebration in nearly all cultures. 

Favorite hymns have been chosen to observe this joyful time, as well as selected poems and readings to highlight the importance of the holy morning.   A short video from the History channel highlighting Easter traditions around the world will be shown.

Blue Hills UU Sunday Services begin at 10 a.m.  All are invited to be with us in our sanctuary, 230 W. Messenger, Rice Lake, or on Zoom. The Zoom link is sent to members; all others interested may request it from patriciashifferd@gmail.com. Gathering for fellowship & coffee after the service is encouraged. https://bluehillsuu.org