| Join Us! |
| Ministerium Meeting The River Falls Ministerium continues to pursue the idea of building two tiny houses for homeless individuals in our community. This month’s discussion, attended by Maureen Ash, furthered the project by inviting the man who was instrumental in starting the tiny house village in Chippewa Falls (Hope Village) to speak to our group.Luther Memorial is interested in hosting the two tiny houses on their property and has applied for a grant to assist with creating bathroom access to their building. First Congregational has committed $10,000 to the project to fund and build one house.Our Neighbor’s Place will participate in the project, giving us expertise in what needs exist and what resources are available to meet them. We will explore partnering with UWRF social-work department to provide internship opportunities for students and to take advantage of their developing skills and knowledge. This project will target primarily single people. The Ministerium envisions it as a LLC, and Luther Memorial will pursue this designation. There will be many, many ways for people to support this project, whether with a one-time contribution of money, goods, or labor or with ongoing financial support. Maureen is compiling a list of ways to be involved. Program Committee – October 1, 2025 by Zoom. Contact Alison Page at UUSRFon65@gmail.com with your ideas for speakers. Caring Circle – October 8, 2025, 7PM. Meeting via Zoom. Administration Committee – The committee met on Sept. 14 to plan for upcoming work. The minutes are here. The next meeting is October 5th after the service. New members are always welcome. There is much to do to keep our building and grounds in shape. UUSRF Board – October 15 at 6:30. You are welcome to attend and follow the business of UUSRF. Contact Alison Page (UUSRFon65@gmail.com) for the link. Book Club – The club meets on the second and fourth Sundays after the service. The book for fall is World of Wonders by Aimee Nezhukumatathil chosen in part because of its seemingly overall humorous tone. Good for our times we thought. It’s a small book of essays blending memoir with nature writing – using different animals and plants as metaphors for personal experiences, identity, and belonging. Read with us starting 9/28/25 or drop in later. New members are welcome. Live Poets – The group meets the 1st and 3rd Sundays after the service. Anyone who enjoys poetry is welcome to share a favorite poem or listen to selections shared by others. |
| Announcements |
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| UUSRF Children’s Spiritual Education This year we plan to re-launch a Spiritual Education Program. Unitarian religious education for children focuses on nurturing ethical, social development, and spiritual exploration within a supportive community. Programs in UU spiritual education emphasize building resilience, encouraging children to connect with their own sense of purpose, and fostering respect for themselves and others. UUs believe that religious learning is a lifelong journey, and children’s programs play a vital role in shaping their understanding of Unitarian Universalist principles and values. If this sounds like something you would be interested in participating in, please contact Alison directly at 715-821-8820. Hope For Earth Event – September 18 Partnering for Our Sustainable Future: A Community ConversationCurious about how we can make our community a stronger, more sustainable, and more connected place to live? Come join your neighbors for an evening of meaningful conversation, creative ideas, and community-building. Together, we’ll explore practical ways to improve everyday life, like making energy more affordable, reducing waste, strengthening local food systems, and creating inviting green spaces. You’ll learn about different focus areas of the initiative and share your thoughts helping to shape the future of our community. No experience needed, just your ideas and energy. Light refreshments provided. Free and open to all. RSVP’s appreciated here. |
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Social Action Opportunity – Help Us Stop Book Banning! We are counter-force, a group of Wisconsin UUers dedicated to peacefully opposing attacks on our schools, our libraries, our local governments, and our democratic values.We monitor announcements of upcoming events, such as school board meetings and county and municipal board meetings.We pay attention to agendas of these events for topics and upcoming votes regarding constitutional and civil rights.When we learn of upcoming attacks, we mobilize to show up at events, speak at events, write letters to board members, communicate with elected officials, and write letters to the editor. counter-force.org has resources for all the above activities. Join us! Jens’ Garden Update – The strawberry plants need a new home as they’ve outgrown the space allotted to them. If you’d like some for your home garden, email UUSRFon65@gmail.com and put “Strawberries” in the subject heading. Sunday Services and Technology – If you missed last Sunday’s service, you missed Maureen Ash’s thoughtful presentation “Watershed Preservation as Community Resilience”. Here’s a quote from her talk: “We’re all our own little circle and we link with other circles and make a big circle. And that links with another circle and before long you have social fabric. Just as the Kinni drains into the St. Croix, which drains into the Mississippi, we are linked together. And I don’t love to sew, but I can sew. And I know where there is fabric, you can make something. Even if it’s just a bag for carrying things. And in the case of a community, we carry each other. And in doing so, we preserve the soil that sustains us.” Check it out on our YouTube Channel at https://uusrf.org/service-videos/. |
| Caring Circle Updates |
The UUSRF Caring Circle wants you to know that you are important and there is someone here for you in an emergency. If you are feeling the loss of connections due to health or other concerns or a loss of someone close to you, please reach out to the UUSRF Caring Circle. Text Nancy Miller (715-821-1748) or Vicki Aarsheim at 715-821-1435 to connect with the Circle team. We are committed to helping you make connections when you need them. |
| UU Musings |
A poem shared by Maureen Ash on Sunday, September 14. The service is recorded our YouTube Channel. Devotion The heart can think of no devotionGreater than being shore to the oceanHolding the curve of one positionCounting an endless repetition. Robert Frost |
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| Join us on the banks of the Kinnickinnic River at the Green Pastures Family Farm in River Falls, WI, on Saturday, October 4th, for the second annual Nature Fest! Over 300 people attended in 2024. This year’s event includes expanded activities such as live music, food trucks, nature-based activities, arts and crafts, river ecology station, local organizations, casting lessons, and much more!Tickets can be purchased on our website. They sold out last year, so get them while they are available! Doors open at 1:00 pm and the event goes until 7:00 pm.Proceeds from this event will support the Kinnickinnic River Land Trust’s mission of conserving and protecting the Kinnickinnic River and its watershed. |
| Announcements |
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Harvest in Hope: Fall Fundraiser to Support Local Health ServicesThe Free Clinic of Pierce & St. Croix Counties is thrilled to announce its annual fall fundraiser, Harvest in Hope, happening Sunday, October 12, from 1:00 – 4:00 PM at Forestville Vines, located at W8101 690th Avenue, River Falls, Wisconsin. Guests can look forward to live entertainment by local singer songwriter, Clint Meyer, delicious food and refreshments, a silent auction, and an opportunity to connect with a community that’s turning compassion into action. The fundraiser directly supports the Free Clinic’s mission of providing high-quality, no-cost medical care, lab services, and pharmacy support to help our neighbors in need. More information and tickets are available here. |
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Empty Bowls Join us for a heartwarming event at Saint Bridget Catholic Church in River Falls. At Empty Bowls, we come together to fight hunger in our community. This event is a chance to enjoy delicious soup, connect with friends, and make a difference. During the event, you’ll be able to try all types of soup from different vendors and vote for your favorites in several categories. By purchasing a ticket you’ll be able to choose a bowl to remind you of those experiencing hunger in our community and support ONP, which helps those in need through the Backpack Program in the River Falls School District and The Day Center. Come and fill your bowl with love, compassion, and hope. Together, we can make a difference in our local community. See you there!Event: October 23, 2025 from 5-7pm @ St. Bridget’s Church.Buy Tickets: at the door, at the Day Center, on Eventbrite |
Sunday Services Online Rev. Ted Tollefsen spoke last Sunday on practicing compassion: “We have in the closing words a pretty good summary about compassion in our tradition. Return to no person evil for evil. That’s how we break the cycle of vengeance and counter-vengeance. Strengthen the faint-hearted, support the weak, help the suffering. That’s looking out for people who are hurting the most and offering care to the least among us. And finally, that wonderful conclusion to our closing words. Honor all beings. Not just us. Not just two-leggeds, but the whole interdependent web of life.” This service and more are on our YouTube Channel at https://uusrf.org/service-videos/. Live-streamed services are also available at this link. |