Postlude LCUUD service 20241117

Prelude for LCUUF service, 20241017

Presenter: Michael Reason, Service Associate: Michael Swords.
Michael Reason, our Music Director and Artistic Director of the Lake Chapala Orchestra, will present an exploration of how music is not just a universal language that influences all of us, but is also a universal power that has healing potential both physically and emotionally.

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Ted Fahy: Presenter, D’Vorah Kelley: Service Associate.
“Repair seems a simple word, but it can hold far deeper meaning. Sunday’s reflection is about one Physician’s lifelong journey discovering how mending patients was far more than treating them, and was transformative to both healer and healed.”

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Presenter: Al Castleman, Service Associate: Kriss Gang.
This Sunday begins our annual Pledge Drive. The theme for last year’s campaign was “Building the Beloved Community.” Today’s service will take a look at what we have accomplished together this year, as well as what resources will we need to meet the challenges and opportunities of the coming year.

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Presenter: June Ejuchi, Service Associate: Dee Dee Camhi.
This special Day of the Dead service will feature LCUUF member June Eguchi’s compelling presentation entitled “What is a Near Death Experience?” She will share with us her own experience and give detailed background information about this phenomenon. The program will also honor family and friends of many of our UU members who have passed.

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The US presidential election is next month. It is a toss up as to whether it will be President Harris or President Trump. We will dispassionately discuss the global implications , from the view of the International Community, of either of them becoming President.
Moderated by Bob Koches.

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Presenter: Rev. D’Vorah Kelley, Service Associate: Priscilla Taylor.
Mary Oliver was a prolific award-winning poet before her death in 2019. Her poems often touch on spiritual topics like God and prayer, even though she rarely talked much about churches, official beliefs, or other things people often associate with religion. She became an unconventional spiritual teacher for many people because she wrote a lot about God, what might come after death, and the questions all humans face about why we are here. “We all wonder about God,” Mary said. “Who is God? What’s going to happen when we die?”

For many of us long time Unitarian Universalists, Mary Oliver is the unofficial Poet Laureate of Unitarian Universalism. Today’s service will offer seven of her poems that explore the theme of “Life, Death, and Everything In Between”. There will be a Time For Reflection as part of this service.

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A very exciting Climate Justice Revival is sweeping the UU world this Fall and LCUUF is going to be part of it as we participate in a UU Climate Justice Revival to collectively reimagine a spirit-filled and liberatory future. Through conversations, worship, and advocacy, we will join other UU congregations and begin to realize climate justice and collective liberation in our communities.

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Presenter: Rev. Matt Alspaugh, Service Associate: Joan Ward.
In the aboriginal communities in Australia, the word ‘Dadirri’ means “inner deep listening and quiet still awareness.” Such listening may involve words, but it also may involve connecting beyond words. In this service, we explore the idea of dadirri, deep listening: listening to ourselves, deeply listening to others around us, even listening to what is around us, be it the earth, God, or the universe.

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Join us as we begin to reimagine a spirit-filled and liberatory future. We will begin to explore the complexities of climate justice from the unique perspective of immigrants in Mexico, where the impacts of global warming are increasingly visible. This sermon will delve into the ethical responsibilities we carry as privileged residents in a country facing significant environmental challenges. We’ll reflect on how our Unitarian Universalist principles can guide us in addressing climate injustices while navigating our roles as guests in a nation grappling with the consequences of global environmental change.

Then join us on October 13th for a Climate Justice Revival Sunday to continue the dialogue!

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Join us for an engaging exploration of Climate Justice through a Unitarian Universalist humanist lens. We'll examine the disproportionate impacts of climate change on marginalized communities and discuss ethical approaches to address these inequities. This discussion will focus on understanding the intersection of environmental concerns and social justice from a humanist perspective within the UU tradition.
Hosted by Bob Koches

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Presenter: Richard Clarke, Service Associate: Carol Johnson/
Explore the fascinating concept of “Our Four Brains.” In this enlightening talk inspired by Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, Richard Clarke will dive into how each brain—split between our hemispheres and old and new brain structures—has distinct capabilities and personalities. Discover insights into how these four brains shape our sense of Self and interactions. Learn to balance and harness these unique characters for a richer, more connected life, particularly through meditation and mindfulness. Join us for a deep dive into the brain’s complex landscape and its profound implications for personal growth and spiritual practice.

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Rev. Matt Alspaugh, Presenter D'vorah Kelley, Service Associate.
Every morning as we wake up, become gradually more conscious, aware, we find ourselves with an invitation into the future, into another day, and further, into the rest of our lives. How do we open this invitation? Where does it lead us? Who do we invite to join us along the way?

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We explore the question whether women govern better than men, drawing on research, historical examples, and contemporary case studies. Together, we will examine the unique leadership styles, collaborative approaches, and empathetic decision-making often exhibited by women in positions of power. Engage in thought-provoking conversations that challenge traditional narratives and celebrate the strengths of diverse leadership Note: this topic was selected before the current events of the Kamala Harris presidential run.

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Presenter: Dee Dee Camhi, Service Associate: Priscilla Taylor.
Are we living in a world of scarcity? Too many people living today have this mindset–the apocryphal view that the world is changing—but for the worst. Look at all the negative forces occurring in the world. But also look at all that is positive in the world. Join us to visit this scarcity mindset and analyze the concept of abundance. And all that we have to be grateful for.

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Medleys arranged and played by Don Beaudreau Piano

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Presenter: Rev. Matt Alspaugh with Service Associate Carol Johnson
There’s an idea that there is only a thin veneer of civilization, with things like law and authority, that keeps us all in check, keep us from becoming savage beasts. It seems like common sense, to the point that it’s a movie trope that the civilized street crowd becomes a a raging mob on the least provocation. But is it true? What does the science say? What is required to keep us civilized? As we’ll see, it’s complicated.

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Presenter: Rev. Tim Boeve, Service Associate: Joan Ward
Rev. Boeve’s presentation arises from the book “Think Again,” by NYT bestselling author Adam Grant, an organizational psychologist, named Wharton’s top-rated professor for seven straight years. Grant argues that “Intelligence is usually seen as the ability to think and learn, but in a rapidly changing world, there’s another set of cognitive skills that might matter more: the ability to rethink and unlearn.”

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Presenter: Rev. Matt Alspaugh
When I was in seminary, I once commented about the uniqueness of UU Sunday services, and my instructor (in UU history and polity) said, “not at all, they are very much like Calvinist, Protestant services. That’s their history.” I was shocked! So, even though our message is different, the format of our services is not. How do we square these traditions with our desire to be different? And, how do we prepare and present our Sunday Services in the first place?

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