UUFA Sunday Morning Program Committee

        The Sunday Morning Program Committee (SMPC) plans and
        implements year-round Sunday morning services during times
        when our minister doesn't speak. The committee works with our
        minister to facilitate and to plan shared programs. Members
        arrange for speakers from within and from outside the
        Fellowship. 


           Current Working Schedule    (Backup Programs & Program Ideas)
           Programs in 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
           Recommended Programs to Share with Iowa Congregations  

           Agenda for upcoming meeting
           Facilitator Duties  Chair Setup  
           Workshop Notes  

           Committee Members 
           Resources 
           Fellowship Musicians 



        Current Working Schedule Jun. 2008 - May. 2009
                                                            
                                            

                                             

                   June 2008
             Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa 
              1  2  3  4  5  6  7 <-- Sam in Okoboji June 7-8 
              8  9 10 11 12 13 14                                             
             15 16 17 18 19 20 21 <-- Sunday Morning Program Committee Meeting
             22 23 24 25 26 27 28 <-- GA June 25-29
             29 30

 
       Jun   1  "Communion of Flowers"       Speakers: Rev. Brian Eslinger  [162]
                                             Facilitators: Sarah Carlson
                                             Accompanist: Peggy Earnshaw
                                             Special Music:
                                             
             Flowers play a part in many religious traditions, including our own.
             This Sunday we'll explore those roles, from their roots to their blooms,
             and participate in our annual flower communion. Please bring a flower
             (or a bunch) to share as part of our communion service.                                            

 
       Jun   8  "Beauty"                     Speakers: Rev. Brian Eslinger  [128]
                                             Facilitators: Linda Barnes
                                             Accompanist: Anne Kimber
                                             Special Music:

             Is Keats right that "beauty is truth, truth beauty," or is beauty in the
             eye of the beholder? As we enter a season during which the earth's
             beauty is on display, we'll spend some time exploring what makes beauty
             beautiful.
                                             

       Jun  15  "Discovering the Point of"   Speakers: Phil Jones   [100 after kids left]
                   Self-Empowerment"         Facilitators: Sarah Carlson
                                             Accompanist: Peggy Earnshaw
                                             Special Music:
                                             
             Phil Jones, also known as Shiva, has performed extensively throughout
             the world, pioneering the blending of Hindu chants and Eastern
             philosophies in his blues/rock music format. Time spent with the
             Aborigines in his native Australia gave him insight into and 
             appreciation for the vibrational similarities of ancient chants and the
             ancient didgeridoos. For 30 years, he has traveled the world using sound
             as a form of healing, empowerment, and meditation.

 
       Jun  22  "Summer Solstice"            Speakers: Jean Marie & Tammy Hartmann  [103]
                                             Facilitators: Chris in for Sarah Carlson
           [Solstice was Jun 20 23:59 UTC]   Accompanist: Anne Kimber
                                             Special Music:

             We celebrate this time of productivity, growth, and ripening. The dream
             seeds that rested through the dark winter and then sprouted in the
             spring now begin to bear fruit
                                             
                                             
 
       Jun  29  "Lessons from our Fathers"   Speakers: Claire R, Mark W, Sam W  [91]
                                             Facilitators: Mark and Sam
                                             Accompanist: Mary Richards
                                             Special Music:
                                             
             Yes, we know it's two weeks after Father's Day, but several Fellowship
             members will discuss what they have learned from their fathers and other
             mentors in advance of a congregational conversation on the subject.
                                            



                   July 2008
             Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa 
                    1  2  3  4  5
              6  7  8  9 10 11 12 <-- Sunday Morning Program Committee Meeting
             13 14 15 16 17 18 19
             20 21 22 23 24 25 26
    Sam  --> 27 28 29 30 31
    In
    Mason City


       Jul   6  "Strengthening Families"     Speakers: Lee and Ginny Molgaard  [78]
                                             Facilitators: Sam Wormley
                                             Accompanist: Ginny Molgaard
                                             Special Music:
                                             
             The Molgaards will share how a family tragedy and the challenges that
             followed led to the development of a curriculum that is being used all
             over the US, as well as in several other countries. The Strengthening
             Families Program: For Parents and Youth 10-14 is helping young people
             and their parents connect on a deep level and has been successful in
             lowering teen substance abuse and other problems. 

                                             
                                             
       Jul  13  "A Bridge at the Edge        Speakers: Erv Klaas  [78]
                   of the World"             Facilitators: Jon Hunstock & Sam Wormley
                                             Accompanist: Peggy Earnshaw in for Mary Richards
                                             Special Music:
                                             

       Jul  20  "Rhetoric of Belief"         Speakers: Kay Puttock  [102]
                                             Facilitators: Jean Marie and Greta Anderson
                                             Accompanist: Peggy Earnshaw
                                             Special Music:
                                             
             When UU's use a word like "miraculous" are they merely making a
             rhetorical flourish meaning "fortunate," or do they need to be directed
             to read the Skeptical Inquirer? I think there is a more interesting area
             for inquiry and exploration between these two extremes, especially when
             one looks at modern process theology and ancient wisdom such as Daoism.
                                             
                                             
                                             
                                             
       Jul  27  "Reaching Out to Others"     Speakers: Greta Anderson & Linda Barnes
                                             Facilitators: Toby
                [Mary Richards Brunch]       Accompanist: Anne Kimber
                  at H. Gunderson home       Special Music:
                                             
             The Ames chapter of "elevate", an Iowa-wide group of teens in foster
             care, will lead a service in how to reach out to others, especially to
             teens -- and the value and impact such gestures can have. Throughout the
             year, elevate youth meet to support each other, advocate on foster care
             issues with our legislators, and educate the public through art and
             spoken presentations.  
                                             
                                             
                                             
                  August 2008
             Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa 
                             1  2
              3  4  5  6  7  8  9 <-- Sunday Morning Program Committee Meeting?
             10 11 12 13 14 15 16
             17 18 19 20 21 22 23 <-- PSD Program Council Retreat Agu 22-24
             24 25 26 27 28 29 30
             31



       Aug   3  "A Meditation Retreat        Speakers: Deborah Kline
                       Into Sensation"       Facilitators: Sarah Carlson 
                                             Accompanist: Ginny Molgaard
                                             Special Music:
                                             
             Engage your senses to ease the mind beyond thought into relaxed, present
             moment awareness. You are invited to participate in sensations of touch,
             taste, sight, smell, sound, and movement in five-minute intervals of
             focused attention. Experiencing these simple, brief encounters can
             enhance your well-being. These mini-retreats can be easily inserted into
             your daily life, at work and at play.
                                             
                                             
       Aug  10  "Two Unlikely Unitarians"    Speakers: Xenda Lindel
                                             Facilitators: Marty Helland & Sam Wormley
                                             Accompanist: Mary Richards
                                             Special Music:
                                             
             The service is about two historical figures, one of whom
             we claim (Servetus) and one of whom we quote (Jesus). Join
             us as we explore the parallels between these historic men. 

                                             
       Aug  17  "developing the Spirit"      Speakers: Rev. Brian Eslinger
                                             Facilitators: Joel Geske??
                                             Accompanist: Peggy Earnshaw
                                             Special Music:
                                             
       Aug  24  "Summer in a Jar"            Speakers: Rev. Brian Eslinger
              [Salsa Communion]              Facilitators: Sarar Carlson & Amy Slagell
                                             Accompanist: Ginny Molgaard 
                                             Special Music:
                                             
       Aug  31  "The Dark Side of the        Speakers: Toby Ewing and Sam Wormley
                      Universe"              Facilitators: Toby Ewing and Sam Wormley
                                             Accompanist: Anne Kimber
                                             Special Music:
                                             
             In the UU Hymn, "We Laugh, We Cry", the last verse ends
             with "even to question, truly is an answer". When speaking
             of the universe as a whole, the scientific community has
             no choice but to question... for all the stars, galaxies,
             you and me... we only make up 4% of the whole. Join Toby
             and Sam as we explore the Dark Side of the Universe.
 


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        Transition from single 10am service to two services at 9am and 11am
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                          September 2008
                       Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa 
                           1  2  3  4  5  6
                        7  8  9 10 11 12 13 <-- Sunday Morning Program Committee Meeting
       Sam at Storm    14 15 16 17 18 19 20
       Lake Area UU -> 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
                       28 29 30



       Sep   7                               Speakers: Rev. Brian Eslinger
                [Water Communion]            Facilitators:
               [All Congregational]          Accompanist:
              [Children - 1st 15 min]        Special Music:
                                             
       Sep  14  "Arguing with God"           Speakers: Rev. Brian Eslinger
                                             Facilitators:
                                             Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
                                             
       Sep  21                               Speakers: Rev. Brian Eslinger & Linda Barnes
                [Equinox Sep 22 15:44 UTC]   Facilitators:
                [Children - 1st 15 min]      Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
                                             
       Sep  28  "Laughing Service"           Speakers: TBD
                                             Facilitators:
                                             Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
                                             
                                             

                 October 2008
             Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa 
                       1  2  3  4
              5  6  7  8  9 10 11 <-- Sunday Morning Program Committee Meeting
             12 13 14 15 16 17 18
             19 20 21 22 23 24 25
             26 27 28 29 30 31



       Oct   5  "home?"                      Speakers: Rev. Brian Eslinger
               [Children - 1st 15 min]       Facilitators:
                                             Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
                                             
       Oct  12  "An Existentialist           Speakers: Rev. Brian Eslinger & Thomas Eslinger
                 Without the Angst"          Facilitators:
                                             Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
                                             
       Oct  19 "Harvest Festival"            Speakers: Rev. Brian Eslinger & Linda Barnes
               [All Congregational]          Facilitators:
                                             Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
                                             
       Oct  26                               Speakers:
                                             Facilitators:
                                             Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
 


                 November 2008
                      Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa 
                                         1
       Toby Ewing -->  2  3  4  5  6  7  8 <-- Sunday Morning Program Committee Meeting
       at Storm Lake   9 10 11 12 13 14 15
                      16 17 18 19 20 21 22
                      23 24 25 26 27 28 29
                      30


       Nov   2  "Day of the Dead"            Speakers: Rev. Brian Eslinger & Youth Con
                [Children - 1st 15 min]      Facilitators:
                                             Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
                                             
       Nov   9                               Speakers:
                                             Facilitators:
                                             Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
                                             
       Nov  16  "Question Box"               Speakers: Rev. Brian Eslinger
               [Children - 1st 15 min]       Facilitators:
                                             Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
                                             
       Nov  23                               Speakers:
                                             Facilitators:
                                             Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
 
       Nov  30  "A People's Faith"           Speakers: Rev. Brian Eslinger
               [Children - 1st 15 min]       Facilitators:
                                             Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
 
        -----------------------------------------------------------------------
        The Rev. Brian Eslinger is on Sabbatical from December 2008 through   
        most of March 2009...  Rev. Mark Stringer will be our first will be out
        first Sabbatical minister. Sabbatical Ideas
        
          o Selva Leman (Hispanic perspctive)
          o Marjan Mokhtariam (Women's Affairs Chair)
          o Clark Wolf (Ass Prof Philosophy - Dir Bioethics Prog
          o My UU Journey - Amy Slagell? Art Konar?
          o Vic Moss
          o Hindu Cultural Center (Straws contacts)
            
          
        -----------------------------------------------------------------------

                 December 2008
             Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa 
                 1  2  3  4  5  6
              7  8  9 10 11 12 13 <-- Sunday Morning Program Committee Meeting
             14 15 16 17 18 19 20
             21 22 23 24 25 26 27
             28 29 30 31

                                             
       Dec   7   "TBD"                       Speakers: Rev. Mark Stringer
                                             Facilitators:
                                             Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
                                             
       Dec  14  "Stories of the Season"      Speakers: Lori Allen
                 [All Congregational]        Facilitators:
                                             Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
                                             
       Dec  21   "TBD"                       Speakers: Kali Hayslett
                                             Facilitators:
                                             Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
 
       Dec  28   "Walking in Another's Shoe" Speakers: Greta Anderson & Sam Wormley
                 [Children - 1st 15 min]     Facilitators:
                                             Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
 


                 January 2009
             Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa 
                          1  2  3
              4  5  6  7  8  9 10 <-- Sunday Morning Program Committee Meeting
             11 12 13 14 15 16 17
             18 19 20 21 22 23 24
             25 26 27 28 29 30 31

                                             
       Jan   4  "TBD"                        Speakers: Rev. Roger Butts
                                             Facilitators:
                                             Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
                                             
       Jan  11                               Speakers:
                 [Children - 1st 15 min]     Facilitators:
                                             Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
                                             
       Jan  18  "TBD"                        Speakers: Mary Sawyer
                                             Facilitators:
                                             Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
 
       Jan  25  "TBD"                        Speakers: Lori Allen
                 [Children - 1st 15 min]     Facilitators:
                                             Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
 


                 February 2009
             Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa 
              1  2  3  4  5  6  7
              8  9 10 11 12 13 14 <-- Sunday Morning Program Committee Meeting
             15 16 17 18 19 20 21
             22 23 24 25 26 27 28
                                             
        -----------------------------------------------------------------------
        Two Week Mini Series: Tranformations   ???
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       Feb   1                               Speakers:
                                             Facilitators:
                                             Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
                                             
       Feb   8                               Speakers:
                 [Children - 1st 15 min]     Facilitators:
                                             Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
                                             
       Feb  15   {Youth Lead Services]       Speakers:
                                             Facilitators:
                                             Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
 
       Feb  22   "TBD"                       Speakers: Dawn Cooley
                 [Children - 1st 15 min]     Facilitators:
                                             Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
 

                  March 2009
             Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa 
              1  2  3  4  5  6  7
              8  9 10 11 12 13 14 <-- Sunday Morning Program Committee Meeting
             15 16 17 18 19 20 21 <-- Spring Break
             22 23 24 25 26 27 28
             29 30 31

                                             


       Mar   1   "TBD"                       Speakers: Eva Cameron
                                             Facilitators:
                                             Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
                                             
       Mar   8   "TBD"                       Speakers: Rev. Selva Lehman
                 [Children - 1st 15 min]     Facilitators: Linda Barnes?
                                             Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
                                             
       Mar  15                               Speakers:
                                             Facilitators:
                                             Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
 
       Mar  22   "Wind"                      Speakers: Mary Richards (Shepherd)
                 [Children - 1st 15 min]     Facilitators:
                                             Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
 
       Mar  29                               Speakers: Rev. Brian Eslinger
                                             Facilitators:
                                             Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
 

                  April 2009
             Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa 
                       1  2  3  4 <-- Prairie Star District Conference in Duluth (April 3-5 "Out Blue Boat Home")
              5  6  7  8  9 10 11 <-- Sunday Morning Program Committee Meeting 
             12 13 14 15 16 17 18
             19 20 21 22 23 24 25
             26 27 28 29 30

 
       Apr   5                               Speakers:
                                             Facilitators:
                [Children - 1st 15 min]      Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
                                             
       Apr  12                               Speakers:
                                             Facilitators:
                                             Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
 
       Apr  19                               Speakers:
                [All Congregational]         Facilitators:
                 [Earth Day]                 Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
 
       Apr  26                               Speakers:
                                             Facilitators:
                                             Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
 


                   May 2009
             Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa 
                             1  2
              3  4  5  6  7  8  9 <-- Sunday Morning Program Committee Meeting
             10 11 12 13 14 15 16
             17 18 19 20 21 22 23
             24 25 26 27 28 29 30
             31

 
 
       May   3                               Speakers:            
              [Annual Meeting follows]       Facilitators:
                 [Children - 1st 15 min]     Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
                                             
       May  10                               Speakers:
                                             Facilitators:
                                             Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
                                             
       May  17  "Fine Arts Sunday"           Speakers:
                [All Congregational]         Facilitators:
                                             Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
 
       May  24                               Speakers:
                                             Facilitators:
                                             Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:


        -----------------------------------------------------------------------
        Transition to single 10am service from two services at 9am and 11am
        -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
       May  31                               Speakers:
                                             Facilitators:
                                             Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
 

   

        Backup ("hip pocket") Programs
          o  Singing Sunday (congregational member choose their favorites)
          o  Congregational Sharing (topical)
       

        Potential Program Ideas

          o  Brian Eslinger
               -Christian Literature, Historical Christianity  
               -Debarah Tanner's "Conflict"
               -Elevator Answers - What UU's believe
               -Reader's Theater Pieces - The Firebugs by Max Frisch
               -Shakespeare (Characterization vs Characters)
               
               -Religious Ideals that challenge me:
                 o Harmony    (Taoism)
                 o Devotion   (Islam)
                 o Satyagrahi (Gandhi)
                 o Ahimsa     (Jain)
                 o Agape      (Christianity)

          o  Cathy Nelson     
               -Crying
               
          o  Kelly Poole
               -Late Bloomers - Past connections
               -Militant Agnostic: I don't know and you don't either!
               -Hildegaard von Bingen (1098-1179) 
               -Aglaonike was a Greek astronomer during the 5th century BC 

          o  Chris White
               -"Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Prices"
               -Karen Armstrong, "The Battle for God"