Wednesday Dinner and Vespers October 4th

Dinner at 6:00 PM ·Vespers at 7:00 PM

Join us for a special evening of Vespers and decision-making. Our vespers will consider, in story, how we offer back to the world the love that makes us whole, and the work of our hands which makes this possible.

After our dinner and a time of story and sharing, we’ll generate a list of justice areas we think that we, as a community, should focus on together. Over the evening, and the following few weeks, we’ll vote to determine our top four communal justice priorities. This will help guide Revs. Audette and Claudia in their efforts and focus over the next year or two.

Because we are Stronger, Together! · Please RSVP here

Wednesday Dinner & Vespers

1st Wed. Dinner & Vespers are back…Join in!
September 6  Dinner, 6:00 PM & Vespers, 7:00 PM.  Join in an all ages exploration of this month’s theme “The Gift of Welcome” using the tale of “Mice in Council.” There is no fee for dinner.  RSVP to support this mid-week opportunity for fellowship and worship. 
 

 

 

 

 

1st Wednesday Dinner & Vespers: February 1

Soup & Bread, 6:00 PM & Vespers, 7:00 PM.
Join Rev. Cathy tonight for a quiet time of reflection, healing, and hope as we prepare ourselves to work for peace and justice in our community, our nation, and the world. 
We need one another when we mourn and would be comforted. We need one another when we are in trouble and afraid. We need one another when we would accomplish some great purpose, and cannot do it alone…-George E. OdellThere is no fee for dinner. Link for RSVP.
Vespers Leader: Rev. Cathy Harrington

 

 

 

 

Wednesday Vespers & Program: Nov 2

NOVEMBER 2
1st Wed. Dinner, 6:00 PM & Vespers, 7:00 PM. 
Vespers leader: Rev. Claudia; Musician:  Cellist, Quetzal Jordan
There is no fee for dinner. Click here to support this mid-week opportunity for fellowship and worship. Let us know if you plan to attend so we can plan accordingly. Thank you!

NEXT WEEK  we are on Zoom!
Vespers 6:30 PM  Vespers Leader: Bernise Lynch
Program 7:00 PM Liberation Conversations – Join us for an 8th Principle Reflection Circle facilitated by members of the 8th Principle Team and Rev. Claudia

 

 

Wednesday Vespers & Program: October 26

Vespers 6:30 PM (in person & YouTube) will be oriented to Samhain and include a ritual. Vespers Leaders: Blue Ridge CUUPS
Program 7:00 PM (in person only)  Drumming Circle with Nanette Manhart. Bring your drum. We will have a few available.

 

NEXT WEEK

November 2nd is the 1st Wed. Dinner & Vespers.
Vespers leader: Rev. Claudia;
Musician:  Cellist, Quetzal Jordan
There is no fee for dinner. We are recruiting volunteers to bring soup and/or bread for 10 people, and volunteers to help set up and clean up afterward. Click below to support this mid-week opportunity for fellowship and worship. Let us know if you plan to attend so we can plan accordingly. Thank you!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0548ada92ba2f85-november

 

 

 

Wednesday Vespers & Program: October 19

Vespers 6:30 PM (in person and YouTube); Vespers Leader: Neal Jones
Café, Cultura y Conversación, 7 PM; (in person and Zoom link available in the Wed. e-News)on
Co-facilitators: Michele Gregory & Rev. Claudia 
“Café, Cultura Y Conversación” is an opportunity for bilingual learning and conversation. We will be discussing the Asheville Art Museum exhibit “Border Cantos/Sonic Border.” If you have a chance to visit, use your cell to take a picture of what moves you in that exhibit. We will share in English and/or Español when we gather.

Next week:
Vespers 6:30 PM
(in person & YouTube) will be oriented to Samhain and include a ritual. Vespers Leaders: Blue Ridge CUUPS
Program 7:00 PM (in person only)  Drumming Circle with Nanette Manhart. Bring your drum. We will have a few available.

 

Wednesday Vespers & Program: October 12

Vespers 6:30 PM (in person and YouTube); Vespers Leader: Jeff Jones
Justice Conversation, 7 PM; (in person and Zoom link available in the Wed. e-News)
Serving at the El Paso Border -Speaker Jeff Jones  
For eleven and a half months beginning August 1, 2021, Jeff Jones served refugees and asylum seekers at the El Paso border.  He will describe his experiences living in the shelters including daily activities serving the guests, their happy as well as heart-wrenching stories, and the intensity of the service.

NEXT WEEK
Vespers Leader: Neal Jones (in person & YouTube) 
Program: “Café, Cultura y Conversación”; Facilitators: Rev. Claudia and Michele Gregory (in person only)
If you are interested in joining us Wed. Oct 19 after Vespers for “Café, Cultura y Conversación” an opportunity for bilingual learning and conversation, we will be discussing the Asheville Art Museum exhibit “Border Cantos/Sonic Border.” If you have a chance to visit, use your cell to take a picture of what moves you in that exhibit. We will share in English and/or Español when we gather Oct 19.

 

Wednesday Vespers & Program: October 5

October 5th  – Dinner 6PM & Peace Vespers 7PM.  
Join Rev. Cathy for a simple meal of soup and bread followed by a candlelight service of reflection in honor of Yom Kippur, the Jewish Holy Day of Atonement. With our roots firmly planted in both Judaism and Christianity, it is important to pause and remember.
There is no fee for dinner.

NEXT WEEK

Oct 12 
Vespers 6:30 PM; Vespers Leader Jeff Jones
Justice Conversation, 7 PM; Serving at the El Paso Border

Speaker Jeff Jones 

For eleven and a half months beginning August 1, 2021, Jeff Jones served refugees and asylum seekers at the El Paso border.  He will describe his experiences living in the shelters including daily activities serving the guests, their happy as well as heart-wrenching stories, and the intensity of the service.

Looking Ahead…

If you are interested in joining us Wed. Oct 19 after Vespers for “Café, Cultura Y Conversación” an opportunity for bilingual learning and conversation, we will be discussing the Asheville Art Museum exhibit “Border Cantos/Sonic Border.” If you have a chance to visit, use your cell to take a picture of what moves you in that exhibit. We will share in English and/or Español when we gather Oct 19.

https://www.ashevilleart.org/exhibitions/border-cantos/

Wednesday Vespers & Program: October 5

October 5th  – Dinner 6PM & Peace Vespers 7PM.  
Join Rev. Cathy for a simple meal of soup and bread followed by a candlelight service of reflection in honor of Yom Kippur, the Jewish Holy Day of Atonement. With our roots firmly planted in both Judaism and Christianity, it is important to pause and remember.
There is no fee for dinner.

NEXT WEEK

Oct 12 
Vespers 6:30 PM; Vespers Leader Jeff Jones
Justice Conversation, 7 PM; Serving at the El Paso Border

Speaker Jeff Jones 

For eleven and a half months beginning August 1, 2021, Jeff Jones served refugees and asylum seekers at the El Paso border.  He will describe his experiences living in the shelters including daily activities serving the guests, their happy as well as heart-wrenching stories, and the intensity of the service.

Looking Ahead…

If you are interested in joining us Wed. Oct 19 after Vespers for “Café, Cultura Y Conversación” an opportunity for bilingual learning and conversation, we will be discussing the Asheville Art Museum exhibit “Border Cantos/Sonic Border.” If you have a chance to visit, use your cell to take a picture of what moves you in that exhibit. We will share in English and/or Español when we gather Oct 19.

Wed. Vespers & Programs: September 28

Vespers 6:30 PM – Vespers Leader: Sequoyah Christine Rich 
Program 7:00PM – Spiritual Practices
Join us for an opportunity to learn about some of the practices of Buddhism. Sequoyah will lead us through a guided seated meditation and a guided walking meditation. She will also share about her experiences staying in a Buddhist Temple in Indonesia. Sequoyah currently co-leads the UU Asheville Buddhist Sangha and works as a Hospital Chaplain at the VA Medical Center. She graduated from Meadville Lombard Theological School with a Master of Religion.

In-person & Online at www.uuasheville.org/worship 

Looking Ahead….
October 5th 1st Wed. Dinner & Peace Vespers.  Join Rev. Cathy for a simple meal of soup and bread followed by a candlelight service of reflection in honor of Yom Kippur, the Jewish Holy Day of Atonement. With our roots firmly planted in both Judaism and Christianity, it is important to pause and remember.
There is no fee for dinner. We are recruiting volunteers to bring soup and/or bread for 10 people, and volunteers to help set up and clean up afterward. Click below to support this mid-week opportunity for fellowship and worship. Let us know if you plan to attend so we can plan accordingly. Thank you!
 https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0548ada92ba2f85-dinner

ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS & MONTHLY CALENDAR

Welcome Back! The Adult Faith Exploration Team has been busy planning for the new congregational year. We have two new offerings. A communal dinner and Peace Vigil every first Wednesday. Third Wednesdays you are invited to a bilingual conversation to explore Latiné culture and issues. Experimentation is alive and well and UU Asheville!

All Vespers services will be live-streamed. We’ll note on the calendar when programs are live-streamed or on Zoom.

Wow! So many details.  Please contact me with questions, feedback and/or program ideas.
Rev. Claudia, Minister of Faith Development, faithdev@uuasheville.org

2022-2023 Focus: Widening the Circle
1st Wed.      Dinner & Peace Vigil

2nd Wed.     Justice & Liberation Conversations

3rd Wed.     Café, Cultura y Conversación 
4th Wed.     Theology & Spiritual Practices

September Calendar – Belonging (Soul Matters Theme)
All Vespers in person/live streamed in September.
Program in person and via Zoom Sept. 14; Oct 12 (only these dates)

7     
Dinner 6:00PM 
Peace Vigil Vespers, 7:00 PM, Rev. Cathy Harrington

14    
Vespers 6:30 PM, Leader: Rev. Claudia
Program 7:00 PM: Justice Conversation: Jeff Owens with Moms Demand Action 

In 2005, John Owens was shot and nearly killed while entering the lobby of a Detroit television station by a man with a history of mental illness. Since that time, John has spoken about his experience and recovery at churches throughout Michigan and North Carolina, participated in gun safety forums, and wrote Op-Ed columns to support common sense gun legislation in the Detroit Free Press and the Asheville Citizen Times.  He is the Group Co-Lead of Mom’s Demand Action for Gun Sense in Western North Carolina. John is also a member of the Everytown Survivor Fellowship, a nationwide community of survivors working together to end gun violence.

21     
Vespers 6:30 PM, Leader: Michele Gregory, Rev Claudia
Program 7:00PM: Café, Cultura y Conversación
Join us for this bilingual opportunity to explore Latiné culture and issues while we practice and/or are exposed to the Spanish language. Our speaker will be Michele Gregory an Asheville native who has served as a bilingual caseworker for Buncombe County for 16 years.

28     
Vespers 6:30 PM,Leader: UU Sangha 
Program 7:00 PM: Buddhist Practices 

Vespers + Program Now on Summer Hiatus

We’ll be taking the summer off but plan to be back in action in September.  Planning has already started.  Right now, we’re expecting this faith development opportunity to continue on Zoom next year.  See you in September!

Adult Faith Development Planning Team: John Bloomer, Kim Collins, Sherry Lundquist, Jim Steffe, Kelly Wedell, with staff liaison Rev. Claudia Jiménez.

Vespers 6:30PM: Nourishing Our Spirits & 7:00 PM Spiritual Practices

Vespers: Nourishing Our Spirits. “What a gift we can give ourselves by paying attention to what our souls need and doing our best to give them that.” ~ Steve Garnaas-Holmes      Led by Rev. Cathy

Program 7 PM:  Gene Lambirth will talk about hiking as a spiritual practice and his journeys on the Camino de Santiago and other pilgrimages. What is it about this experience that can feed your soul and what lessons can you take from it that will allow you to lead a richer and more meaningful life?

Next Week:

Vespers Wed April 27 at 6:30 PM: Join Rev. Claudia for the final Vespers of this congregational year. We will explore the theme “nurturing beauty” engaging the question: How does the power of beauty affect your work for justice? Vespers will resume in September.

Program Wed  April 27  at 7 PM: Ecotheology & the Interplay Between the 1st and 7th Principles; Facilitator – Rev. Claudia

6:30PM Vespers: The God of Our Understanding & 7PM Program: Liberation Conversations

Vespers Wed April 13 at 6:30 PM: “The God of Our Understanding”

Bill Wilson, the co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, was highly skeptical of the existence of a personal God. To help make AA accessible to persons of all beliefs (or none), he wrote the 12-step program with the suggestion that we “turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understand [God].” 

As Unitarian Universalists who have many different beliefs (or none) regarding the existence of a higher power, who or what is the ultimate guiding principle, force or being in our lives? What practices do we have to help us cultivate or enlarge the existence of this guiding principle, force, or being in our daily lives? How can our practices help heal our hurting hearts and world? 

Rev. Terry Davis invites us to reflect upon these questions and then share our thoughts and feelings.

Program at 7 PM: Liberation Conversations. Join us for an update on the final congregational assessment report that will be shared at the end of the month. We will also discuss next steps and brainstorm ways to welcome all levels of experience into the work of collective liberation/anti-racism.   Facilitator: Rev. Claudia

Next week: Vespers Wed April 20 at 6:30 PM: Nourishing our Spirits

“What a gift we can give ourselves by paying attention to what our souls need and doing our best to give them that.” ~ Steve Garnaas-Holmes      Led by Rev. Cathy

Program Wed  April 20   at 7 PM:  Gene Lambirth will talk about hiking as a spiritual practice and his journeys on the Camino de Santiago and other pilgrimages. What is it about this experience that can feed your soul and what lessons can you take from it that will allow you to lead a richer and more meaningful life?

6:30 Vespers: Awakening & 7:00 PM Program: Theme Talk- Experiencing Awakening

Vespers  6:30 PM: Join Anna Martin in exploring our April theme of “Awakening” with poems, singing, sharing, and Lea Morris’ story of The Empty Cup.

Program 7 PM:  Welcome to Awakening – Our program will explore Awakening, the theme for April.  Does awakening arise slowly from experience, or is it more like an epiphany that hits us like a ton of bricks?  Are awakenings more apt to happen when you are younger or older?  What is your experience of awakening?  Facilitator: Jim Steffe

 

Next week: April 13

Vespers Wed April 13 at 6:30 PM: “The God of Our Understanding”

Bill Wilson, the co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, was highly skeptical of the existence of a personal God. To help make AA accessible to persons of all beliefs (or none), he wrote the 12-step program with the suggestion that we “turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understand [God].” 

As Unitarian Universalists who have many different beliefs (or none) regarding the existence of a higher power, who or what is the ultimate guiding principle, force or being in our lives? What practices do we have to help us cultivate or enlarge the existence of this guiding principle, force, or being in our daily lives? How can our practices help heal our hurting hearts and world? 

Rev. Terry Davis invites us to reflect upon these questions and then share our thoughts and feelings.

 

Program Wed April 13 at 7 PM: Liberation Conversations. Join us for an update on the final congregational assessment report that will be shared at the end of the month. We will also discuss next steps and brainstorm ways to welcome all levels of experience into the work of collective liberation/anti-racism.   Facilitator: Rev. Claudia

 

Vespers 6:30PM: Renewing Faith & 7:00 PM Program: Theology Ablaze – Forgiveness and Reconciliation

Vespers:  One of this month’s Soul Matters spiritual practices on the theme of Renewing Faith is, “Tell It.” Other peoples’ commitment to justice renews our own faith that a better world is possible. Their compassion and kindness renews our faith in humanity. Their bravery reignites our faith in ourselves. Whose faithfulness renews your own? And most importantly, have you told them?!  
Vespers Leader: Bob Wilson

Program: Join Rev. Claudia for an exploration on forgiveness. 

Is it an opportunity or an obligation? 

What are the obstacles to forgiveness? 

We will begin with these opening words: “Forgiveness is not forgetting- it is healing; it is freedom; it is being restored to wholeness; it is reopening our hearts to love.” – Rev. Wells Borg, Editor of “The Forgiveness Handbook”

March Calendar


Vespers Leader: Rev. Claudia
Program: Renewing Faith Theme Talk, Rev. Claudia

Vespers Leader: James Gamble
Program: Liberation Conversations: Final Listening Circle; 
Facilitator: Eleanor Lane, Scribe: Ed Prestemon

16 

Vespers Leader: Rev. Cathy
Program: Spiritual Practices – Cooking, Kim Collins

23 
Vespers Leader: Bob Wilson
Program: Theology Ablaze – Forgiveness and Reconciliation, Rev. Claudia

30 
Vespers Leader: Ruth Christie, Rev. Claudia (Transgender Day of Visibility)
Program: Theology Ablaze – Rev. Claudia

6:30 Vespers & 7:00 PM Program: Renewing Faith

6:30 PM Vespers: Join us as we launch this month’s theme: Renewing Faith
using the story “The Magical Yet” by Angela DiTerlizzi. Vespers leader: Rev. Claudia

7:00  PM Program will explore the concept faith. We begin exploring what faith means to us.
How has our faith been strengthened, renewed or weakened during this pandemic time?
Facilitator: Rev. Claudia

March Calendar

2
Vespers Leader: Rev. Claudia
Program: Renewing Faith Theme Talk, Rev. Claudia

9

Vespers Leader: James Gamble
Program: Liberation Conversations: Final Listening Circle;
Facilitator: Eleanor Lane, Scribe: Ed Prestemon

16

Vespers Leader: Rev. Cathy
Program: Spiritual Practices – Cooking, Kim Collins

23
Vespers Leader: Bob Wilson
Program: Theology Ablaze – Forgiveness and Reconciliation, Rev. Claudia

30
Vespers Leader: Rev. Claudia
Program: Theology Ablaze – Rev. Claudia

6:30 PM Vespers Leader Sharon LeDuc & 7:00 PM Theme Talk: Widening the Circle

Vespers at 6:30pm: Widening the Circle led by Sharon LeDuc
Program at 7pm: Widening the Circle Theme Talk, led by Rev Claudia. Matters theme: Widening the Circle. We will explore what it means to “widen the circle” in our search for meaning. A few questions to consider for our time together:
Are you a circle maker, circle joiner or circle avoider?
When has someone “widening the circle” made a difference in your life?
Who needs you to “widen the circle” for them?

February Calendar 

2

Vespers Leader: Rev. Claudia 

Program: Listening Circles, Eleanor Lane and Melissa Murphy

9

Vespers Leader: Kelly Wedell

Program: Listening Circles,  Ed Prestemon and Eleanor Lane

16

Vespers Leader: Rev. Cathy – Mourning the Earth
Program: Spiritual Practices – Zentangle, Colleen Finegan*

23

Vespers Leader: Sharon LeDuc

Program: Widening the Circle Theme Talk, Rev. Claudia

6:30 Vespers: Honoring Thich Nhat Hanh & 7:00 Program: Listening Circle

6:30 Vespers: Join Vespers leader Kelly Wedell in honoring Buddhist monk, peace activist, author, poet and teacher Thich Nhat Hahn.

7 PM Program – Listening Circle: come prepared to share your feedback on the draft report shared by the Racial Justice Advisory Council. If reading time is limited, focus on Sections 2 & 3. Facilitators: Ed Prestamon, Eleanor Lane

February Calendar 

2

Vespers Leader: Rev. Claudia 

Program: Listening Circles, Eleanor Lane and Melissa Murphy

9

Vespers Leader: Kelly Wedell

Program: Listening Circles,  Ed Prestemon and Eleanor Lane

16

Vespers Leader: Rev. Cathy – Mourning the Earth
Program: Spiritual Practices – Zentangle, Colleen Finegan*

23

Vespers Leader: Sharon LeDuc

Program: Widening the Circle Theme Talk, Rev. Claudia

*Supplies needed for Zentangles

1) Something to draw with: #2 pencil or Zentangle kit pencil

2) Something to draw on: Zentangle tiles available at Amazon or 4X4 pieces of white paper

3) Black Micron Pen .05.  (the .05 is very important- nothing larger)

Or very thin black sharpie type marker

4) Something to shade with: #2 pencil and Q-Tip NOTE: There are Zentangle kits available on Amazon. Some art stores sell them.

6:30 Vespers: Widening the Circle & 7:00 PM Program: Listening Circles

Join Rev. Claudia for 6:30 Vespers as we launch this month’s theme: Widening the Circle 

7 PM Program – Listening Circle: come prepared to share your feedback on the draft report shared by the Racial Justice Advisory Council. If reading time is limited, focus on Sections 2 & 3. Facilitators: Ed Prestamon, Eleanor Lane

February Calendar 

2

Vespers Leader: Rev. Claudia 

Program: Listening Circles, Eleanor Lane and Melissa Murphy

9

Vespers Leader: Kelly Wedell

Program: Listening Circles,  Ed Prestemon and Eleanor Lane

16

Vespers Leader: Rev. Cathy
Program: Spiritual Practices – Zentangle, Colleen Finegan*

23

Vespers Leader: Sharon LeDuc

Program: Widening the Circle Theme Talk, Rev. Claudia

 

*Supplies needed for Zentangles

1) Something to draw with: #2 pencil or Zentangle kit pencil

2) Something to draw on: Zentangle tiles available at Amazon or 4X4 pieces of white paper

3) Black Micron Pen .05.  (the .05 is very important- nothing larger)

Or very thin black sharpie type marker

4) Something to shade with: #2 pencil and Q-Tip NOTE: There are Zentangle kits available on Amazon. Some art stores sell them.

Vespers Living with Intention & Program: Spiritual Practices- Meditation

6:30pm Vespers Leader- Rev. Cathy Harrington – Living with Intention.
7pm Program Spiritual Practice – Meditation. Facilitator: Virginia Bower

January Calendar
5
Vespers Leader: Rev Claudia

Program: Theme Talk, Rev Claudia

12
Vespers Leader: Sherry Lundquist
Program: RJAC Liberation Conversations

19
Vespers Leader: Rev. Cathy
Program: Spiritual Practices – Meditation, Virginia Bower

26
Vespers Leader: Joyce Hooley-Gingrich
Program: Theology Ablaze – The Question of Evil, Rev. Claudia

Vespers & Program: Living with Intention

6:30pm Vespers – Join Rev. Claudia to welcome the new year with a meditative service exploring goals vs intentions as we welcome a new year.
7:00 pm Program – We will explore this month’s theme: Living With Intention using the Soul Matters Packet.

January Calendar

5

Vespers Leader: Rev Claudia

Program: Theme Talk, Rev Claudia 

Zoom Host: Jason Smith

12

Vespers Leader: Sherry Lundquist

Program: RJAC Liberation Conversations, TBA

Zoom Host: Steve Carter

19

Vespers Leader: Rev. Cathy
Program: Spiritual Practices – Meditation, Virginia Bower 

Zoom Host: Steve Reines

26

Vespers Leader: Joyce Hooley-Gingrich

Program: Theology, Rev. Claudia

Zoom Host: Jess Fox

Vespers 6:30 Rekindling the Flame & Program 7:00 PM Centering Love

In the bleak and cold winter,
We gather ourselves in
To light the fire to warm our spirits,
To kindle the flame of love and hope.

~ by Cynthia Landrum.

Join Rev. Cathy for reflection and music to warm your spirits during our last Vespers service of the year. 

Program – 7 p.m. Centering Love: “Loving-Those-We-Don’t-Yet-Know.” All are welcome to join with Nancy Bragg to center our action-oriented spiritual practice of “loving-those-we-don’t-yet-know.” As UUs, justice is our love-in-action spiritual practice in our wider community.

There will be no Vespers & Program Dec 22 & 29.
We welcome 2022 with Vespers & the monthly Theme Talk Program focused on “Living with Intention” on January 5th. Join us.

Enjoy the holidays!

Vespers 6:30PM Opening to Joy/ 7:00 PM No program – an invitation to learn about UU history with Dr. Sanyika

6:30pm Vespers-“It’s not joy that makes us grateful, it’s gratitude that makes us joyful.”~David Steindi-Rost.   Join Rev. Claudia for a meditative, music Vespers exploring the connection between joy and gratitude.


7pm Program –We are not offering our own program at 7pm. Instead we are inviting you to register for an important talk by Dr. Mtangulizi Sanyika offering a powerful opportunity to revisit UU history from the perspective of Black UUs. We invite you to attend the talk. The Zoom link for the Vespers service will be in Monday’s Worship eNews.

Then, the following day, Rev. Claudia will open a Zoom Room at 8pm (12/9) for those of you interested in discussing what you learned (Zoom link will be shared that Thursday in the Weekly eNews).  
 Click here to learn more about Dr. Sanyika. 

December Calendar

1 
Vespers Leader: Rev. Terry Davis

Program: Theme Talk – Rev. Claudia

Zoom Host: Steve Carter

8 
Vespers Leader: Rev. Claudia

No UUAvl program. An invitation to explore UU history
The Black UU Movement in the 1960’s; 7:00-9:30 PM
An invitation from the 8th Principle Project
Register here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMrc-6rpzMsEtedgnpr3LgKNdbnAA45MAgM

Zoom Host: Jason Smith

15 
Vespers Leader: Rev. Cathy
Program: Spiritual Practices – Nancy Bragg

Zoom Host: Steve Reines

22 and 29 No Vespers or Program

Vespers 6:30PM “Falling Up” & Program 7:00 PM Opening to Joy

In the Disney Pixar movie Up, the end is the beginning for Carl Fredrickson, a balloon salesman who loses his beloved wife Ellie and discovers what author and Franciscan priest Richard Rohr calls “the second half of life” – one that is characterized by necessary suffering or “falling upward” to enter a deeper spirituality and a more mature understanding of the essence of living. Join Rev. Terry Davis as we explore what is meant by Rohr when he says that “the way down is the way up.”

7 PM Program: Exploring this month’s theme – Opening to Joy. Facilitator: Rev. Claudia

December Calendar

1 
Vespers Leader: Rev. Terry Davis

Program: Theme Talk – Rev. Claudia

Zoom Host: Steve Carter

8 
Vespers Leader: Rev. Claudia

Program: Anti-racism conversation – Exploring UU history
The Black UU Movement in the 1960’s
An invitation from the 8th Principle Project; 7:00-9:30 PM
Register here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMrc-6rpzMsEtedgnpr3LgKNdbnAA45MAgM

Zoom Host: Jason Smith

15 
Vespers Leader: Rev. Cathy
Program: Spiritual Practices – Nancy Bragg

Zoom Host: Steve Reines

22 and 29 No Vespers or Program

6:30 Vespers: A Time for Gratitude & Lament

Join Rev. Claudia for a Vespers that invites us to reflect in virtual community on the joys and challenges of this past year. There will be no 7 PM program.

Looking to next month..
December Opening to Joy

1
Vespers Leader: Rev. Terry Davis

Program: Theme Talk – Rev. Claudia

Zoom Host: Steve Carter

8
Vespers Leader: Rev. Claudia

Program: Anti-racism conversation (TBA)

Zoom Host: Jason Smith

15
Vespers Leader: Rev. Cathy
Program: Spiritual Practices – Nancy Bragg

Zoom Host: Steve Reines

22 and 29 No Vespers or Program

Vespers 6:30 PM & Program 7:00 PM

Join Vespers leader Nancy Bragg for reflection on the month’s theme: Holding History
Program – Centering Love: “Loving-Those-We-Know.”
All are welcome to join with Nancy Bragg to center our action-oriented spiritual practice of “loving- those-we-know,” including our inherently worthy relatives, friends, and neighbors  – not always easy!

Wednesday Vespers & Program themes:

1st Wed.    Theme Talk or Special Program
Discussion about the monthly Soul Matters theme.

2nd Wed.    Liberation Conversations: Pursuing our Congregational Goals to practice Anti-racism. These conversations will provide updates on the work of the Racial Justice Advisory Council and an opportunity to ask questions and discuss why the work of liberation at UUAvl matters.

3rd Wed.    Spiritual Practices: Centering Love
Centering Love – Love is a core value of our UU faith. On the 3rd Wednesdays this fall at 7 p.m., we will center our spiritual practice of love-in-action with self, others, and the world. 

4th Wed.    Theology
We began with an introduction to theology: What is it? Do UUs do Theology? Future sessions will focus not theological themes: Hope, Death, Forgiveness, Reconciliation, Evil, Covenant. 

November Calendar – Theme: Holding History 

3       Vespers Leader:  Rev Claudia
Program: Theme Talk, Rev Claudia

10     Vespers Leader: Rev. Cathy
Program: Anti-racism conversation, Noah Hall, Rev Claudia

17     Vespers Leader: Nancy Bragg
Program: Spiritual Practices, Nancy Bragg

24     Thanksgiving Vespers Leader: Rev Claudia and/or Rev. Cathy

No Program