Lay Leader: Monte Jordan  Speaker: Murray Richmond.

After 33 years of debate, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) voted to join Unitarian Universalist and allow openly gay people in same-sex relationships to be ordained as ministers, elders and deacons. Many who come to UU from other faiths have experienced the struggle to reconcile personal belief with teachings of the faith of their birth.  Murray Richmond, a Presbyterian minister for 17 years, will talk about his personal path of discovery and faith, which offers insight into the larger social direction unfolding in communities of faith.

Lay Leader: Doug Toelle   Speaker: Walt Bennish. The Swiss Philosopher Karl Jaspers called the period in world history between 800 BCE and 200 BCE the “Axial Age.” Extraordinary individuals and events are crowded into this period. In China it was the time of Confucius, Lao Tze, and Mo Tze. In India it was the Upanisads, the Bhagavad Gita, Mahavira, and Buddha. In Persia Zoroaster put forward his conception of the cosmic process as a struggle between good and evil gods. In Palestine it was the time of the prophets: Elijah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, etc., and in Greece, the philosophers Heraclitus, Parmenides, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle. This was the age in which questions were asked to define reality, values, the meaning of human existence. Dr. Bennish  will discuss the Axial Age and compare and relate these individuals and events to one another and to our time.

Lay Leader: Lisa Sporleder  Members and visitors of the fellowship are invited to bring and share poetry that has touched their lives.  This year we hope to focus upon one or more of the UU Principles that guide our lives.

Lay Leaders: Jana Peirce and Laenne Thompson. How much do you know about your fellow UUFF members and friends? This Sunday we’ll have an opportunity to get to know each other better and out Whale Coast guests. Learn about each other’s past and what gives meaning to our lives.

On this 4th-of-July-Eve, many Americans are gathering for picnics, camping, and fireworks as they celebrate the anniversary of our declaration to be an independent and free country. Today’s thoughts are not meant to be a history lesson, but there might be some surprising factoids about how America became who we think we are. What does freedom mean to you? At what cost is freedom worth it? Are we responsible or obligated to assist other individuals or countries in their quest for freedom? How does the separation of church and state concept work for us? Planning some really good music, too!