Compelling programming is a top priority in UUSRF’s strategic plan.
We aspire to be a vibrant and inclusive spiritual and social organization that is a cornerstone of our communities. If you can speak or know of someone else who can speak on a topic that will help us achieve our vision please contact Don Leake (don.leake52@gmail.com) or any other board member.
Mar. 2 “The Practice of Trust” – Alison Page
In religious circles, talk of trust most often revolves around having faith that life will look after us. For instance, our Christian friends sing hymns about God “watching over us” and keeping “an eye on the sparrow.” Our Jewish friends lift up the Exodus story to encourage faith that God will help us make our way even when things look bleak. Likewise, prayer practice for our Muslim friends is all about reminding oneself that you are in Allah’s safe hands. We UUs voice similar sentiments through the language of trusting “a Love that will not let us go.”
On March 2nd we will discuss trust. We will talk about how to recognize it and how to nurture it in our spiritual and personal lives.
Poetry Group meets after the service.
Program Committee is meeting after the service.
Mar. 9 “One Planet, One Habitation, A Bahá’í Perspective on – Recasting Humanity’s Relationship with the Natural World” – Max Locher and Nancy Murphy (Daylight Saving Starts)
Max and Nancy are Bahá’ís living in River Falls for the past three years. They both work from home, Max, as a Data Engineer and Nancy volunteers with the Regional Bahá’í Training Institute as a coordinator of their distance learning program in Wisconsin. Their passion is to build vibrancy in communities and engage regularly with their neighbors for games and conversations. They will present the spiritual principles underpinning the concepts in the document “One Planet, One Habitation”. The group will be invited to discuss the ideas and give practical steps for application of the principles.
Mar. 16 “The Physics of Cathedrals, the Art of Stained Glass, and Charlie Sheen’s Family” – Eileen Korenic
Eileen is a retired UWRF physics professor known for her engaging lectures. Her talk will cover how history, science and art developments often happened in parallel and sometimes with seesawing contributions to each other’s growth. Beginning in the 1200’s, the physics of cathedral architecture and the art of stained glass windows influenced changes in each other and in religious practices. These changes can be seen throughout Europe and, in particular, along the Paris to western Spain pilgrimage route called the Camino. In this presentation, we will see the intertwining of science and art as well as a glimpse of the Camino itself, some images courtesy of the members of, believe it or not, Charlie Sheen’s family!
Poetry Group meets after the service.
Mar. 23 “Building Community Trust in Local Government” – Alan Tuchtenhagen – RF school board member – In the current divisive political environment, how does a local unit of government work to cultivate and sustain public trust? How can those units effectively provide information and engage in discussions that are inclusive of the community at large? What is the culture of the board and how does that affect community trust? Communication is critical, but navigating the plethora of media platforms is a challenge. How do you move forward when the very nature of the democratic process in a local community means that everyone will not always agree?
Alan has retired from his associate vice Chancellor position at UWRF and from Augsburg University as Director of the Center for Leadership Studies and the Master of Arts in Leadership. He has served on the River Fall school board for the last 17 years.
The Social Action Committee will meet after the service.
Book Club will meet after the service.
Mar. 30 “The Blue Forest: Poems of Struggle and Hope” – Thomas R Smith
Poet Thomas R. Smith will read from his new chapbook The Blue Forest: Poems of Struggle and Hope and discuss self-publication as a means of contributing to positive political change in a reactionary time. He will also touch on ways we can all pitch in our talents and help to support and advance progressive movements.
The Social Action Committee will meet after the service.