Buxmont Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Podcast

July 18: “A Leaner, More democratic General Assembly?” Speakers: BuxMont’s General Assembly Delegates Being a member of BuxMont means you are connected to a wider community of UUs. Four thousand of those UUs gathered in Minneapolis the last week in June to vote on changes to our Purposes and Principles, approve new ways to elect the UUA President and Moderator, select a new Congregational Study Action Issue and vote on the wording of the Peace Making Statement of Conscience. The delegates also voted on shrinking General Assembly from five days to two and a half and significantly reducing the number of delegates. Join our delegates this morning as they bring the experience of GA home to BuxMont. Learn what the UUA is doing to remake itself into a more democratic institution.

July 11: “Our Great Task” Speaker: Rev. Daniel S. Schatz In an age of disastrous oil spills and international terrorism, it is easy to become discouraged. As Unitarian Universalists, what is our great task in this age, and what are the challenges that await?

July 4: “Independence of the Spirit” Speaker: Jim Phynn We hold these truths to be self-evident: that freedom of thought and independence of spirit are UU virtues along with respect for the interdependent web of existence and the inherent worth and dignity of all humans. Join us on Independence Day for an open discussion of the way we, as UUs, approach and embrace our freedoms.

June 20: “Ask the Minister” Speaker: Rev. Daniel S. Schatz During the past month BuxMont members and friends have contributed numerous questions to this “question box” service. This Sunday, Dan will open the box and address the questions on our minds.

June 27: “The Soul’s Own Speech” Speaker: Dena Condron, MMT, MT-BC, LPC Music has been a part of human culture for thousands of years, serving important cultural and spiritual functions. In recent centuries, songs have served to rally, comfort, and encourage both cultures and individuals. BuxMont member Dena Condron, a board-certified music therapist and lifelong musician, will explore some of these songs and their impact on both a societal and personal level.

June 13: “Flowers of the Soul” Speakers: Rev. Daniel S. Schatz, Jansen Wendell, and John Hook Our annual intergenerational flower service will celebrate the beauty in diversity, with stories, special music, and ritual. Please bring a cut flower with you to the service for this uniquely Unitarian Universalist celebration.

June 6: “Exploring Death: From Stonehenge to Avatar” Speaker: Laurie Brooks It’s the only guarantee in everyone’s life and yet no one really knows what happens. Spiritual practices have been dedicated to death since humans have existed. What is the same over the millennia? What is different? What are the commonalties throughout religions and time? Come and see how your theories compare with history. While the subject matter is deep, it won’t be grim—there are even some laughs!

May 30: “May is Mental Health Month; Let’s Talk about It” Speaker: Barbara French The mentally ill not only need appropriate services and other assistance, but especially deserve our respect, understanding, and advocacy. Those whose families are deeply touched by such illnesses find themselves in a unique position to address these needs. Mrs. French, a retired missionary, Methodist churchwoman, and grade school teacher, will share her experiences with mental illness in her family and in the public arena. As an advocate and activist, she has brought services for the mentally ill to her hometown of Corry, Pa., and continues to serve on the boards of local, county, and state agencies including NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) of Erie County and Warren State Hospital (as a trustee). Myths about mental illness abound. Mrs. French will address both myths and facts and discuss effective coping strategies for the mentally ill and their families and friends.

May 23: “Candide and Happiness” Speakers: John Hook and the BuxMont Choir What is happiness? In our annual choral music service we will explore this question using Leonard Bernstein’s musical adaptation of Voltaire’s classic satire, Candide. Much of the “sermon” will be sung as we go from learning of “The Best of All Possible Worlds” to concluding that we must “Make Our Garden Grow.”

May 16, 2010 Speaker: Rev. Daniel S. Schatz The ancient Chinese philosophy of Taoism emphasizes unity withthe natural flow of the universe. In its many forms, Taoism hasmuch to teach Unitarian Universalists today.

April 18, 2010 Sohaib Sultan, through his books and public lectures on Islam andon Muslim-Western relations, is committed to promoting mutualunderstanding and dialogue between Christian and Muslim faithcommunities. Sultan studied at Hartford Theological Seminary,pursuing a master’s degree in Islamic studies and Christian-Muslimrelations. He is Princeton University’s Muslim life coordinator/chaplain and author of The Koran for Dummies and The Quranand Sayings of Prophet Muhammad.

February 14: True Colors Speakers: BuxMont Interweave members The Interweave organization of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, and heterosexual allies at BuxMont welcome the congregation to a celebration of our lives as sexual and gender minorities and those who actively support us. We will share stories of triumph and struggle and through this expression, establish a more authentic relationship with the members of our congregation and our own Unitarian Universalist values.

February 2, 2010 Reflections on winter. A circle service, sharing and meditation.

TITLE: How To Cheat Death:  Getting the Most Out of This Terminal Condition Called Life     SPEAKER: Jeff Bredenberg          Jeff shares his reflections on his battle with brain cancer and some of the truths he has learned along the way.  Despite the sobering subject matter, Jeff promises that his legendary sense of humor will shine through.  This service is designed for anyone who is coping with serious illness, the people who love them, and anyone who just plain cherishes what it means to be alive.

January 24: A Unitarian Universalist Theology of Liberation Speaker: Rev. Daniel S. Schatz Liberation theology grows out of a Christian tradition, which emphasizes the Bible’s message for the poor and the oppressed. What do Unitarian Universalists have to learn from this tradition? Could we create a liberation theology of our own?

January 17: Inward Springs Speaker: Rev. Daniel S. Schatz The path of truth seeking has always been basic to our Unitarian Universalist way of life. This is especially true in the way we teach our children.

January 3: Ring in the New Year Speakers: Rev. Daniel S. Schatz, Jansen Wendell, and John Hook This special intergenerational service will honor New Year’s traditions from across the world and through history, with special music, stories, and celebration!

December 13: "Against All Odds" Speaker: Rev. Daniel S. Schatz The story of Chanukah is far more than a tale of menorahs and oil. At its heart it tells how a small group with the courage of their faith struggled against impossible odds and prevailed.

December 6: "Getting Real" Speaker: Rev. Daniel S. Schatz The phrase "Get real" held meaning long before it was appropriated by the TV therapists. When applied to our own lives, "getting real" may be the highest, most difficult, and most rewarding of callings.

In recent years, Unitarian Universalists have placed a great deal of importance on our Principles and Purposes. These Principles, which are currently in the process of being revised, have become familiar to most of us. But what are they? Are they our "creedless creed"? Or are they something else entirely?