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2008 Programs
January 6 — New Year Resolutions
Have you made your New Year’s resolution or do you bother with it? The U.S. government even has a website to help people fulfill their resolutions. Chris Hall will share the history of making resolutions and we will discuss our resolutions and the value of making them. There will also be a short recognition of Winter Solstice.
January 13 — Humanism and Spirituality.
David Emerson-Krammer felt that he was addicted to marijuana and joined the Marijuana Anonymous 12 step program. The program requires that the participants select a higher power. As his higher power David selected humanism. Following a long period of agnosticism, David says this decision makes him feel like a born again atheist. David will discuss what he means by humanism, what it means to him, and the wonder he finds in a world without god.
January 20 — Buddhism
A core teaching of Buddhism is to be mindful, to really be aware of what’s going on around us and within us. Mindfulness is developed through the practice of meditation. It can affect all areas of life and lead to greater joy, compassion and equanimity. Michael Holt will talk about the very basics of Buddhism, how he practices, and how his life has changed as a result. Michael is a long-time member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Minnetonka, and has developed a Buddhist outlook in recent years. He makes his living taking care of databases for a large corporation. His principal avocation is practicing massage therapy.
January 27 — Guys and Gals, Hanging Together... separately.
What is the sense of satisfaction beyond the cultural expectations that males hang out with males and women hang out with females? Is the satisfaction that is reaped different for men than it is for women? Why do some guys say they prefer to hang out with women and some gals say they prefer to be with men? What can we learn from each other’s experiences that might enrich the time we hang out together with our own kind? Join Laurel and Claude Riedel in hearing their perspectives on this subject. Feel welcome to share your own experiences as well. Both Laurel and Claude are trained psychologists. Laurel had a private practice and then went on to become a midwife. Claude is currently in private practice and additionally is a thriving stained glass artist.
February 3 — Spiritual Guide Books
As many of you know, the tragic death of our good friend and Fellowship member Nancy Everson propelled me on a spiritual journey, which, I hope, never ends. During my journey so far, I have read several spiritual guide books, which I am donating to the Fellowship library. I asked to do this program so I could share with you what each of these books is about, how I came to read it and how it has aided me in this journey, with the hope that in doing so, these books will not just sit on the shelf in the A-frame stairwell. Laurie Gauer, Lake Fellowship Member
February 10 — Members Sharing
This Sunday’s program will feature members sharing their talents, whether making music, reading a favorite poem or telling a story. Get out your instruments or limber up your voice or share your literature and stories with the group. Try to let Marilyn Vialle or Chris Hall know if you are interested in sharing music or a reading.
February 17 — The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster according to Bobby Henderson
Fellowship members, Dan and Vicki Larson, will present a lively and humorous look at the book “The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.” According to church founder and author, Bobby Henderson, the universe and all life within it were created by a mystical and divine being: the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Within his book, the author outlines the true facts—dispelling such malicious myths as evolution (“only a theory”), science (“only a lot of theories”), and whether we’re really descended from apes.
February 24 — Adventure in Tibet
Anne Towey will join our Fellowship community to share her month-long adventure in Tibet with her three year old son. Bringing her son added amazing opportunities for growth for herself, her son and their travel companions. She will share her encounter with a culture where spirituality is the norm, rather than a Sunday event, her experiences with Tibetan Buddhist meditation and pictures from her trip. Anne has a meditation practice of one of the Tibetan traditions and views her work as a collaborative divorce attorney as ‘right livelihood.’
March 2 — Current Events Discussion
The Democratic Presidential campaign might be close to being finished with the Ohio and Texas primaries on March 4th. Who do you think will be the winner? On the other hand, Lake Fellowship member Les Kraus (our discussion leader) thinks perhaps we have talked about politics enough, so what other current events would you like to discuss? Bring your ideas and we’ll narrow the field down to 3 or 4 topics for a lively conversation!
March 9 — What is Fairness in our Society?
One definition of Justice is that Justice is fairness, but what is fairness? One individual might say that fairness is “Those who work harder should get more.” Another individual might say that fairness is “Every person gets one meal.” One book lists 10 different types of fairness. What is your idea of fairness? Fellowship member Chris Hall will lead a discussion on fairness.
March 16 — Minnesota History
2008 is Minnesota’s sesquicentennial. Melvin Aanerud will do a power point presentation on the 700 years of Minnesota history prior to statehood. Melvin is a twenty-year member and past chair of the Pilgrim House UU Fellowship in Arden Hills Minnesota. He is one of their lay facilitators and is a Stonetree speaker. In real life he is the assistant district director for the United States Small Business Administration.
March 23 — Spring Equinox and Easter Celebration
Come celebrate spring with our own new and ancient traditions and rituals, including our annual children’s treasure hunt and a potluck feast! Sign-up for the potluck will be posted on the bulletin board.
March 30 — Justice Sunday
The Unitarian Universalist Association has declared March 30th as Justice Sunday. Lake Fellowship member Alan Anderson will present a program and lead a discussion of how our Federal budget is an injustice beyond measure. The injustice of our spending is for future generations unforgivable. Alan will hand out copies of the Federal budget several weeks previous to March 30th.
April 6 — The Music of George Gershwin
Herb Holt, a frequent visitor to Lake Fellowship, will be playing George Gershwin. George and his brother Ira were marvels, and George was a very different kind of personality. It should be a fun program, as we hear good music and get to know the Gershwins. Herb Holt’s musical history dates back to his early childhood. He studied piano, violin and guitar and earned his living playing jazz with his own group. Herb owned his own business, Music Marketing, from 1968 until his retirement in 2002. He became interested in the history of musical entertainment in the United States and specializes in the years 1911-1943. This encapsulates the years of the jazz age which in turn emphasizes the great tunes we now refer to as standards, composed by the likes of Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, George Gershwin, Cole Porter, and Richard Rodgers.
April 13 — Reducing Population to a Truly Sustainable Level
“Of all the issues we face, none is more important than population growth,” began a National Geographic cover story on Population. Unless we act now, our current 6.6 billion is expected to reach 9 billion by 2050. Many believe that humanely reducing population to a truly sustainable level is the challenge of our time. Recent global assessments indicate that Earth’s resources can sustainably provide for only two billion people at the consumption level of an average European. (An average European consumes only half that of an average American.) It is imperative that we move rapidly to reduce human numbers. While activities like reducereuse- recycle and redistribution are all very important, none of them will make a meaningful difference unless population is also reduced. Our speaker, David Paxson is a national leader on the issue of population growth and stabilization. He has participated at international meetings -- including the United Nations Population Conference in Egypt -- and he has spoken to groups across the United States. He graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in Economics and a concentration in Environmental Education and Policy. He worked at the Center for Population Studies at the University of Minnesota. In 1991 David retired from the financial field and founded World Population Balance. Some members are strongly pro-life and others are pro-choice. They have respectfully agreed to disagree about the very difficult issue of abortion in order to focus energy upon raising awareness about the critical importance of stabilizing human numbers.
April 20 — A Bangladesh Wedding
Lake Fellowship member Sharon Dana recently made a trip to Bangladesh for a relative’s wedding. Sharon will present a program with photos and her impressions of attending a Muslim wedding in Bangladesh.
April 27 — Art Heals
Lake Fellowship member Cody Edwards introduces us to the concept of creativity as a tool for growth and healing. Cody will show how improvisation is one such creativity tool. Cody will be using personal experience that he has gained in healing from tragedies in his own life.
May 4 — Faith and Public Service
Mark Ritchie is Minnesota’s elected Secretary of State and a long-time member of First Universalist Church.
May 11 — Home Grown Unitarian Universalism
In the Spring 2008 UU World there is an excellent article about developing home-based community rituals that root UU adults and children. Author William Doherty argues that Sunday school is not enough to give kids a deep sense of UU identity; lifelong engagement with Unitarian Universalism must be rooted at home. Using this article, Lake Fellowship member Chris Hall will lead a discussion about the possibility of making Unitarian Universalism more a “traditional” part of our life.
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