Programs Potentially Available from UUFA
The following programs have been recommended for sharing with other
congregations. If your congregation is interested, please make
contact and arrangements with the contact person(s) listed below.
Availability: High
Title: "Communitarian Family Values"
Contact: EWING, Toby, 515 233-6088, ewing@iastate.edu
Faster than raising your own family! More powerful than a
casual circle of friends! Enables you to leap tall
obstacles with grace and joy! In our mobile society,
"chosen families" often replace the extended families of
yore. We'll talk about how a chosen family works, how to
build a community, and why you should be part of one.
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Availability: High
Title: "A Devil's Chaplain: Reflections on Hope, Lies, Science, and Love"
Contact: RICHARDS, Mary, 515 292-8174, maryrich@isunet.net
Is the theory of natural selection incompatible with religious
beliefs that teach compassion? Enjoy Richard Dawkins's first
essay in his book of the same name, in which he discusses the
historical responses to the theory of evolution and his view of
how we can both accept nature's "cruel indifference" as embodied
in natural selection and glory in the power to negate such
indifference with hope and ethical progress.
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Availability: Remote
Title: "UU Principles and Modern Science"
Contact: STRUCK, Curt, 515 232-7721, curt@iastate.edu
UU principles advise us to follow "humanist teachings which counsel
us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and (which)
warn us against idolatries of the mind and the spirit." The discoveries
and theories of modern science, and the physical sciences in particular,
do more than provide us a shield of rationality to protect us against
such "idolatries." The mysterious paradoxes and hidden dimensions of
these "empirically tested" conceptual frameworks encourage our awe and
wonder of our universe.
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Availability: Medium
Title: "What did the Transcendentalists Transcend?"
Contact: VALLIER, Jane, 515 232-1639, fvallier1@mchsi.com jevall@iastate.edu
Our New England Transcendentalist founders were a curious
lot of human beings, and a small lot at that. How could so
few people have such a disproportionate effect on American
culture and religion? Open to wonder and given over to an
almost bizarre individuality, they laid a foundation for an
American counterculture that has both religious and secular
dimensions today.
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Availability: Medium
Title: "The Morality of Abortion"
Contact: JACOB, Krista, 515 233-4279, KJacob9870@aol.com
Abortion is one of the most common surgical procedures performed
in the United States. On a global level, the abortion issue is
inextricably linked to social justice issues such as poverty, over
population, and women's societal status. Yet, because of the highly
political and controversial nature of this issue, the personal and
spiritual aspects are frequently neglected.
Krista Jacob, editor of "Our Choices, Our Lives: Unapologetic
Writings on Abortion", will share experiences from her work as
an abortion counselor and will touch on personal and spiritual
dimensions of abortion.
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Availability: High
Title: "Was George Washington a closet Unitarian?"
Contact: KELLER, Clair, 515, 232-1282, ckeller@iastate.edu
This presentation will focus on George Washington's religious
beliefs and practices in private life, Commander-in-Chief of the
Continental Army, and President. It will conclude by addressing
the question whether or not his views and practices were
consistent with 18th Century Unitarianism.
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Availability: Medium
Title: "Strengthening Families"
Contact: MOLGAARD, Ginny & Lee, 515 292-1359, vmolgaar@iastate.edu
Strengthening Families -- Lee and Ginny Molgaard 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.
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Availability: Medium
Title: "G. Verdi: Italy's first Mega-star"
Contact: BEAL, Anita, 515 292-2699, AnitaMBeal@aol.com
Giuseppe Verdi was much more than a composer of operatic music. He
was strongly anticlerical and would drive his wife to church but he
would not enter. He was known for his love of farming, calling
himself the "Farmer of Busetto". He was kind to those who were in
need. One of his greatest hopes was to see Italy united as one
Nation. He helped accomplish this through his fiery and patriotic
music.
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Availability: Medium
Title: "Reading the Landscape"
Contact: EELLS, Jean, 515 832-4687, jceells@wmtel.net jceells@ncn.net
Reading the landscape is a lifelong pursuit of literacy of a different sort.
There are plenty of myths to challenge whether you are at the "picture book"
level or that of advanced texts. What does it mean for our UU lives?
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Availability: Medium
Title: "Witches and Pagans and Satan, Oh My!"
Contact: EWING, Toby, 515 233-6088, ewing@iastate.edu
In this time of pumpkins and goblins, we see witches lurking on many
porches and lawns. Who are these witches, and why does Western culture
have such an ambivalent relationship with them? I'll explore some of
the history linking the Judeo-Christian tradition with witches, pagans,
and Satan.
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Availability: High
Title: "One Man's Religion"
Contact: RICHARDS, Mary, 515 292-8174, maryrich@isunet.net
Every institution creates myths. These often involve stories about
pillars of the community. This service will draw from elements of
services created by Bob Richards over 20 years ago.
A special informational forum on "Smart Growth and the proposed new
mall" will be presented between services beginning at 10:10am. Members
of the Ames Smart Growth Coalition will make a 20-30 minute presentation
and then be available to answer questions. The Ames City Council will
decide in January whether or not to approve a land use policy map
change that would open the door for a large regional mall at 13th
Street and I-35. For more information contact Erv Klaas, 233-3327.
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Availability: High
Title: "The Beloved Community"
Contact: SAWYER, Mary, 515 292-6960, sawyerm@iastate.edu
In today's world of strife and turmoil, we are called to intentional
in building community. Martin Luther King's words remain a source of
wisdom and guidance for this task.
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Availability: High
Title: "Dumpster Diving as a Sacred Duty"
Contact: EWING, Toby, 515 233-6088, ewing@iastate.edu
Contact: BARNES, Linda, 641 482-3185, highhopes@prairieinet.net
On this Sunday closest to Earth Day, we contemplate the
mantra "reduce, re-use, recycle." As a society we remember
(however reluctantly) to reduce and recycle. but somehow we
usually overlook the "re-use". How does an ecosystem re-use
and recycle, why doesn't it reduce, and what can we learn
from its recyclers and garbage collectors?
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Availability: Low
Title: "Does Prayer Have a Place in our UU Congregation?"
Contact: SHERMAN, Benette, 515 292-3169, benettesherman@mchsi.com
Contact: BURKHALTER, Laurence 515 232-6786
Join us as we explore the question, "Does Prayer Have a Place in our
UU Congregation?" from the perspectives of Larry Burkhalter and
Benette Sherman and through poetry, dance, and music performed by
the Fellowship Voices and the Music Men.
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Availability: High
Title: "Spirituality of Work - Teacher"
Contact: BARNES, Linda, 641 482-3185, highhopes@prairieinet.net
Contact: DEBINSKI, Diane, 515 292-9145, debinski@iastate.edu
Join us as we explore the incredible spirituality of
teaching others.
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Availability: High
Title: "Tomato Blessings & Radish Teachings: After the Ecstasy, the Laundry"
Contact: PUTTOCK, Kay, 515 292-4578, kay.puttock@mnsu.edu stanhenning@netscape.net
Can routine chores become a meditative experience? Come
and share your own stories of finding spirituality in the
mundane and join us in a celebration of food and cooking
after the service. (Food contributions welcome but not
necessary)
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Availability: High
Title: "Spirituality of Work - Healing"
Contact: CORY, Cynthia, 515 296-0338, cacory@dmacc.cc.ia.us
Beyond the science of medicine lies the art of healing.
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Availability: Medium
Title: "Vocation: Callings and Conundrums"
Contact: Sue Kelsey suzannekelsey@msn.com
Spirituality of Work: Writer - "Vocation: Callings and Conundrums"
Frederich Buechner writes that vocation is the "place where your deep
gladness meets the world's deep need." Sue Kelsey will share personal
experiences about calling and vocation, along with wisdom from Quaker
educator Parker Palmer and psychologist James Hillman.
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Availability: Medium
Title: "Spirituality of Work: Artist"
Contact: DOW, Jean Hagert, 515 292-1839, je524ro@isunet.net
Contact: KYBER, Ashley, 515 232-0677, ekyber@iastate.edu
The two Fellowship artists share their reflections on the
spiritual in Art and in its birthing. What aspects of the creative
divine catches your attention? What drives some people to capture
that encounter as Art? Can ANYTHING be done as Art? Join us in
reflection and conversations.
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Availability: High
Title: "Three Revolutions in Cosmology"
Contact: WORMLEY, Sam, 515 296-2627, swormley1@mchsi.com
Contact: EWING, Toby, 515 233-6088, ewing@iastate.edu
Two thousand years ago we could easily imagine ourselves to be
the purpose of creation. In the last four hundred year
Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo, Newton and Einstein shook our ideas
that the Earth was the center of Universe. We now know that we
are on a habitable planet, circling an average star, lost on the
edge of a typical galaxy in a lost corner of the universe. The
Big picture has changed again in the last few year. Join us and
find out why! And find out why we are so connected!
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Availability: High
Title: "The Copernican Principle"
Contact: WORMLEY, Sam, 515 296-2627, swormley1@mchsi.com
Contact: EWING, Toby, 515 233-6088, ewing@iastate.edu
The Copernican Principle is a basic statement in physics that there
should be no "special" observers. For example, the Aristotelian model
of the solar system in the Middle Ages placed the Earth at the center
of the solar system, a unique place since it "appears" that everything
revolved around the Earth. The implications of Copernicus' work can
not be exaggerated. His views challenged the literal interpretation of
Scripture, the philosophical and metaphysical foundations of moral
theory, and even common sense itself. We Explore the connection between
the Copernican Principle and our UU Principles.
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Availability: High
Title: "Miraculous Year (1905)"
Contact: WORMLEY, Sam, 515 296-2627, swormley1@mchsi.com
Contact: EWING, Toby, 515 233-6088, ewing@iastate.edu
In 1905 an anonymous patent clerk in Bern rewrote the laws of
physics in his spare time. In little more than eight months in
1905 he completed five papers that would change the world for
ever. Spanning three quite distinct topics - Einstein overturned
our view of space and time, showed that it is insufficient to
describe light purely as a wave, and laid the foundations for
the discovery of atoms. Join us as we share the the excitement
of this Miraculous Year (1905).
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Availability: Medium
Title: "My Point of Light in the Darkness"
Contact: KAZMIERSKI, Carole, 515 296-4869, CDK1830@hotmail.com
Contact: BEAL, Wayne, 515 292-2699, WRBeal@aol.com
Points of Light in the Darkness: As the Winter Solstice approaches,
daylight dwindles. While we now have more evening hours to cuddle up by
the fire to read or listen to music, the lack of sunlight and cold
temperatures often dampen our moods. What can buoy us up and cheer us
during long winter nights? Fellowship members will share music and
words that sustain them in the dark season of the year.
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Availability: High
Title: ""What's in It for Us? Christianity and Community"
Contact: SAWYER, Mary, 515 292-6960, sawyerm@iastate.edu
Unitarian Universalism draws from many religious traditions,
including Christianity. Within the membership, however, the
level of comfort with this tradition is varied. How this reality
plays in our project of community-building may depend on which
Christianity we look to for resources.
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Availability: High
Title: "Greed is good" vs "Justice and compassion are better"
Contact: SAWYER, Mary, 515 292-6960, sawyerm@iastate.edu
Mary Sawyer will be our chief guide in this program exploring
how our society's chief economic and political influences,
capitalism and protestantism, gave us our "greed is good" ethic,
and the ways in which we can buck the trend and live by an ethic
that embodies justice, compassion and actively caring for
others.
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Availability: High
Title: "Justice Walking"
Contact: SAWYER, Mary, 515 292-6960, sawyerm@iastate.edu
Contact: REDDICK, Beverly, 515 292-6960, sawyerm@iastate.edu
Poverty in Story County doesn't loiter on street corners; it waits on
tables, provides child care, cleans offices, and stocks shelves at the
discount store. Today's program will open eyes and hearts to the tough
realities of Story County's working poor. It will also introduce a
model for long-term, broad-based community organizing that can empower
us to walk the walk of justice for lasting social change.
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Availability: High
Title: "A Spiritual First"
Contact: WITHERSPOON, Mark, 515 233-3806, spoons@raccoon.com spoons@iastate.edu
Thirty percent of Americans think the First Amendment gives us too much
freedom and 75 percent of high school students don't know anything --
and don't care to know anything -- about one of the foundations of our
democracy. Amid these troubling statistics, we turn our attention to
the spiritual nature of our First Amendment and how its freedoms
dovetail with our UU principles.
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Availability: High
Title: "What Does it Mean to Love"
Contact: POOLE, Kelly, snickering@myself.com
What does it mean to love? The dictionary provides us many
definitions of love: a deep, tender, ineffable feeling of
affection (e.g., toward a person); to like or desire
enthusiastically (e.g., chocolate); or an intense emotional
attachment or response (e.g., to art)... Join us as we discuss
together the great loves of our lives.