What happens when a splash of Fairbanksans enters a sea of Unitarians in an ocean of Mormons? Find out this Sunday when we hear reports from “GA” — the annual meeting of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations that just wrapped up at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. GA offers five days of music, worship, business, lectures, classes and workshops on a range of topics from soul work and social witness to fund raising and governance. Since no two people will have the same experience with so much to choose from, we’ve asked several participants to share what they learned and what they loved at GA 2009.  Lay leader, Phil Osborn. Various speakers. Pianist, Yuri Bult-Ito.

This Sunday: In a recent New York Times article, author and food activist Michael Pollan asks why we should bother trying to change our lifestyles when the immensity of the climate change problem dwarfs any possible personal response. Yet he argues that growing your own food — even just a little — is one of the most powerful things an individual can do to change the cheap-energy mind. For the second Sunday in our series on ethical eating, we’ve invited accomplished local gardener Dr. Walter Benesch to philosophize on why he gardens. Lay leader, Rich Seifert. Accompanist, Vera Alexander. Read More »

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Join us in celebrating midsummer’s day with songs, stories and readings dedicated to Sol (the sun). Summer solstice literally means the day the sun stands still. In the far north, it means more than that – an almost never-ending day when Earth itself seems to pause in its rotation to mark the culmination of the sun’s long slow ascent against the sky and take a deep breath before beginning its downward journey toward winter. This pagan-flavored service will help us appreciate the importance of this eternal cycle to Native American and other Earth-based spiritualities. Whale Coast guests and any UUFF members who wish to join them will canoe down the Chena to the service. Lay leader, David Welch.

UUA Pamphlets – Great background reading and source of quotes and ideas. These are the UUA pamphlets you see when you come in the meeting hall. You can order them or read them in their entirety on the web. General topics include basic introductions to Unitarian Universalism, Children & Youth, Diversity, Faith of a… (Humanist, Theist, UU Buddhist), History Perspectives, UU Views of… (Evil, the Bible, the Church, God, Prayer). to read pamphlets online, look for the “To read this pamphlet click here” link on the UUA Bookstore order page for the pamphlet.

6:30 p.m. Friday – Help us welcome Barbara and Jaco to Fairbanks. The potluck is being hosted by Brian Rogers and Sherry Modrow at the Chancellor’s Residence on campus. Come when you can. Bring a main dish, side dish or dessert to share.

In a radical little movie last summer, the robot WALL-E helps humanity come to its senses after generations of luxurious meaninglessness. Our journey, too, can include learning to become “more than the sum of our wants.” Guest ministers, Revs. Barbara Wells ten Hove and Jaco B. ten Hove are both “homebred” UUs, were ordained in the mid-1980s, married in 1990 and served separate congregations in the Seattle area. During that time, they made a few trips up to Fairbanks to preach and teach. Then they began a co-ministry in Maryland in 1998, but last summer they returned to the Seattle area, now co-ministering at Cedars UU Church, on Bainbridge Island, Wash., so we lured them back to Fairbanks for a visit. Read More »

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Do you dream of being able to articulate briefly, intelligently and compellingly what UU is all about when people ask? Have you ever had difficulty explaining your personal beliefs to others, even your kids? That’s a common complaint of Unitarian Universalists, and it’s the reason Barbara and Jaco ten Hove designed this 5-session course on Articulating Your UU Faith. They have found creative ways to encourage folks to explore and express the basics of Unitarian Universalism in positive ways — rather than reciting a list of all the things you don’t believe. Read More »

Please come to the Second UUFF Yard Party of the season this Saturday, June 6th, 11 AM to 3 PM. The late morning start gives you time to make it to the Pioneer Home Yard Sale before hand. We only had a handful of hard workers attending the First Yard Party last month and we need MORE helpers this time. There are two projects that cannot wait, so bring your tools or at least your work gloves and join in the fun. Here are some exciting new developments: Read More »

No plume of smoke will rise from the convention center in Salt Lake City, but in just over two weeks UU delegates from across the continent will pick a new UUA president. Who we vote for may influence the role and focus of the UUA in our congregations and the image UUs project in national dialogues on such interfaith issues as war, immigration reform, abortion rights, gay marriage and climate change. Two of our UUFF delegates to the General Assembly will introduce us to the candidates and lead a discussion on the future direction of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). In the week following the service we will send out an online survey so UFF members can advise our delegates on how they would like the delegates to vote. Speakers, Phil Osborn and Lisa Sporleder. Lay leader, Jenny Cady. Accompanist, Vera Alexander.