Presenters: Revs. Wayne Arnason and Kathleen Rolenz, Service Associate: Hyacinthe Miller.
When Rev. Kathleen retired from full time parish ministry in June of this year, she and Rev. Wayne asked themselves: “what does life look like now?” That conversation stimulated more questions, such as: “How do I spend the time I have–and on what–and does it add meaning and purpose to our days?” These are religious and spiritual questions for all of us, at any age or stage of life. Come explore them with us!

The humanist discussion group will explore the intersection of biocentrism, quantum physics, and consciousness, emphasizing rigorous scientific inquiry. We will examine how emerging scientific theories challenge traditional views of reality and life’s centrality; the scientific principles underlying biocentrism, and how life and consciousness are integral to understanding the universe.
Led by Bob Koches

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Presenter: Rev. Matt Alspaugh, Service Associate: Lynn Cleek
It appears that the idea of representative democracy is in trouble, as voters in numerous countries have chosen to elect authoritarian leaders who are shifting those countries away from democracy. So maybe it’s time to take a long view about how democracy might be fixed, and one idea is to move away from representative democracy, or at least diminish the power of representatives. We’ll explore one idea, ‘sortition’ where representatives are randomly chosen, much like juries are in much of the world. Could random choice even work? Could it yield outcomes better than what we’re seeing with elected representatives? How might this jibe with our 5th principle, “The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large?” We’ll reflect on this idea, and democracy in general.

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Presenter: Rev. D’Vorah Kelley, Service Associate: Sandy Wallin
We all know the deep human longing for connection. We long to belong. We long to be seen, understood, and embraced for who we are. And we long for those bonds that give our lives meaning, depth, and purpose. But what does it mean to truly belong? Is it just about having a place to sit, or is it about something more?
Join us as we look at two of our UU Values, and see how they work together to make our fellowship a Place to Belong, a place where YOU belong.

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Presenter: Richard Clarke, Service Associate: Carol Johnson
We are all seekers on Life’s journey. In this engaging talk, Richard Clarke draws on the Zen parable of the Ten Bulls to illuminate the timeless stages of spiritual awakening. He will focus especially on the early steps many of us know well – searching for meaning, catching glimpses of our true nature, and beginning to live what we discover. Whether you’ve been on the path for years or are simply curious about life’s deeper dimensions, you’ll find insight, encouragement, and practical guidance for cultivating peace and presence right where you are.

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Rev. Matt Alspaugh, Presenter
Michael Swords, Service Associate

It seems that so much troubling is happening all at once: climate change is accelerating, democracies are under attack, capitalism is fissuring a growing inequality, this on top of our own individual struggles, health challenges, issues with family and friends. Is it possible to be grateful even in the face of all this? Should we even try? We will explore the potential of gratitude in times like these.

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Presenter: Bob Koches, Service Associate: Carol Johnson.
This Sunday is our traditional Day of the Dead Service. As in Mexican culture we take time to remember our loved ones. In the spirit of the day , Bob Koches will reflect on his journey of loss with his message titled “They Are Always with Us” . There will be a slide show of loved ones of our members. Rev. Mary Doane will provide the music.

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Rev. Matt Alspaugh, Speaker
Lamar Allen, Service Associate

The poet William Blake wrote,
To see the world in a grain of sand,
and a heaven in a wildflower,
hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
and eternity in an hour.

We’ll explore how we relate to infinity as a mathematical and philosophical concept, and some of the paradoxes that arise from physical ideas of infinite space and eternal time. How do we make sense of such expansive ideas?

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Compassion and empathy for a UU secular humanist means embracing a deep understanding and care for others grounded in shared human experience rather than religious beliefs. These qualities inspire ethical living by affirming the inherent worth and dignity of every person. In this discussion, we will explore what compassion and empathy signify for secular humanism and how they nurture a just and connected community.
Led by Bob Koches.

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Presenter: Gregg Kemp, Service Associate: Tim Boeve.
What is mystical poetry and why is it important to to human spiritual development? Jelaluddin Rumi, the 12th century mystical poet, has become the most read poet in North America and in the world. Why has Rumi’s poetry and that of Hafiz, and other Sufi poets become so popular? How can one mine the value of these profound metaphorical lines? Greg will dive deep into this subject to demystify this profound topic.
BIO :
Greg Kemp has been a 3HO Kundalini yoga teacher, Sheik of the Whirling Dervishes (the 700 year old tradition of Rumi), and Minister of the Essentialist Church of Christ. He, and his co-conspirator in love and life, Alicia, co-founded Project Somos Learning Village in Guatemala, where they lived onsite for 13 years. He now lives in Ajijic with Alicia, and their 3 dogs.

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Rev. Matt Alspaugh, Presenter, Hyacinthe Miller, Service Associate.
The beating heart at the center of all great religion is empathy for the suffering of those around us. It takes practice to open the heart, to be aware of this suffering and ultimately respond to it, rather than turning away. We will examine how we can become more compassionate as spiritual practice, a part of our everyday life.

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Presenters: Ted Fahy and Kriss Gang —
This will be our annual Water Communion. You are invited to bring a small amount of water – from your travels or from your house: the water that we will be sharing is a visual expression of how we as a fellowship commit to sharing not just this water, but our lives, our values, and our commitment to LCUUF.

The LCUUF Fellowship is a special part of many of our lives — as a spiritual home, a place to share our gifts, a sanctuary from a troubled world, and/or a community of care. And not just on Sundays. We also know that the work of this Fellowship, both within the congregation as well as in the Lakeside community, takes our Time, our Talents and our Treasure. The newly formed Stewardship Team is proposing a year-round stewardship program that will be our opportunity to support the work of the church with our gifts. Within this framework we will share why being good stewards is vital to a healthy Fellowship , as well as the Annual Pledge Drive, which begins today!

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The Sept. humanist discussion will explore the growing global assault on science, examining how misinformation, political interference, and funding cuts threaten evidence-based knowledge. We will discuss the social and ethical implications of diminishing trust in scientific institutions and ways to advocate for science literacy and integrity
Hosted by Bob Koches

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Presenters: Mike Blanco, Tim Boeve, June Wilson, Susanne Bjorne —
Service Associate: Bob Koches —
Last year from September through June, people met once a month in a Soul Matters Chalice Circle group. A Soul Matters Chalice Circle is a small group that meets regularly to engage in spiritual growth through facilitated sharing and deep, compassionate listening. These are not discussion or therapy groups, but an opportunity to explore monthly themes and curated resources from the Soul Matters Sharing Circle, to explore personal and spiritual topics, and foster deeper connections with each other and our community. Today we will hear from several members of LCUUF who attended one of the Chalice Circles last year.

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Alicia Knox: Presenter–Greg Kemp: Service Associate —
As a story doula and photographer, Alicia believes it is essential we preserve our life stories before they’re lost forever. Through a multimedia presentation featuring the Project Somos Children’s Learning Village in Guatemala, she will share where her inspiration for preserving stories came from. She will talk about why getting your stories in order at this chapter of your life, isn’t just meaningful—it’s critical. The messy, beautiful, complicated truth of your life deserves to be preserved. Your grandchildren aren’t just going to thank you—they’re going to treasure these stories as their inheritance.

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Scott Grace: Presenter- June Eguchi: Service Associate-
It can be hard staying human these days in such a divisive, world. Scott Grace, through music, poetry, and a little comedy, will bring us some Mark Twain homespun wisdom, and share his experiments with being a depolarizer in a polarized world.

WARNING: Scott Grace has been described as a cross between John Denver, Robin Williams and Dr. Seuss, is wanted by the authorities for creating the peace, as well as defying the law of gravity with levity. He is a singer songwriter, comedian, life coach, author, and is known as “The Spiritual Dr. Seuss”

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Janice Kimball: Presenter, Carol Johnson: Service Associate.
“Sight may be our most precious sense — but do we truly see? This Sunday, Janice Kimball invites us to look beyond the obvious and discover the deeper richness of perception. Drawing on art, science, and lived experience, she explores how we can nurture the skill of seeing — not just with our eyes, but with our awareness and imagination. Whether you have perfect vision or vision challenges, this talk will open new ways of perceiving the world around you. Join us for an inspiring morning of insight and reflection.”

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Led by Bob Koches.

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Presenter: Rev. D’Vorah Kelley. Service Associate: Colleen Beery
“Stillness
just stillness
like my world seldom knows
inside I have an expressway
that never slows down,
always full of going somewhere
always another thing to do.”

In our busy lives, in our stressful world, worry, frustration, confusion, sleeplessness and fear are all too familiar components of the chaotic mind, and lead us away from stillness in both mind and body. Yet even in the midst of a chaotic environment – an external “storm”, it is possible to find inner stillness. Eckhart Tolle tells us that stillness is where creativity and solutions to problems are found.

If you find yourselves as most of us do in, living in a chaotic world from things beyond your control, on that expressway that never slows down, then this service is for you!

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Presenter: Rev. Matt Alspaugh. Service Associate: Priscilla Taylor
“What do Unitarian Universalists (UUs) believe?” This seems like an important question, an obvious question to ask, especially if you are coming from a Protestant Christian background as do many folks in the USA and Canada. But belief is not the whole picture for UUs. The fact is, UUs can hold a wide variety of spiritual and ethical beliefs and still find they belong in the UU movement. And our beliefs can change over time, and we can still find our home in the UU world. So there’s more than just belief that defines us. We’ll explore some of the things beyond belief that hold us together, help us get along even with this variety of belief, and help each us evolve our beliefs as our lives call us to do so.

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