As the leaves turn and the weather turns cold, our thoughts often turn to the change of season. What lessons can we glean from the season’s change and our human response?

On this special Sunday we will celebrate the message of Unitarian Universalism, support the Association that supports us, and raise energy as we move forward in our mission of becoming a beacon for Unitarian Universalist values in Bucks and Montgomery counties and a haven for all who would find a home here. This service will include a special collection to honor our commitment to the Joseph Priestley District and the Unitarian Universalist Association.

The Alternatives to Violence Program, with which Rev. Schatz worked during his sabbatical, emphasizes the idea of a Transforming Power within each of us. What is Transforming Power, and how can we use it for personal and social change?

Rev. Jerry Johnson, a retired American Baptist minister, will share his spiritual journey since he began attending BuxMont in 2008. He became a member that year and is now serving on several committees. Although his Christian faith was very liberal and far from orthodox, he still considers himself a Christian and has joined UU Christians. His reflections will include his modified Christian beliefs, current spiritual practice and hope for continued spiritual formation here at BuxMont.

In the season of turning, of the Jewish high holy days and of nature’s changes, how might we renew our spirits for the work before us?

October 18, 2009 Fair share request

October 18, 2009 Get ready to meet the multitude

September 20: “How We Believe”
Speakers: Rev. Daniel S. Schatz
As lifelong seekers, Unitarian Universalists often give a great deal of attention to what we believe. Equally important is the question “How do we believe?”

September 13: “Welcome Old and New”
Speakers: Rev. Daniel S. Schatz and Jansen Wendell
Our annual intergenerational ingathering service will celebrate the spirit of welcome, as we come together once again.

September 6: “Who Was Starr King, and Should We Care?”
Speaker: Nancy Bruce
Nancy will give a biographical sketch of this 19th- UU minister, lecturer, and writer with emphasis contributions to California Civil War politics.

TITLE:                        Wild Goose Chases and Other Theological Quandaries

SPEAKERS:               Rev. Daniel S. Schatz

At the heart of Unitarian Universalism is a questing spirit—a seeker’s path that all of us share, individually and collectively. How does the search for truth shape our religion?

TITLE:                        Piercing the Clouds

SPEAKERS:               Rev. Daniel S. Schatz

Unitarian Universalists are often uncomfortable with the idea of prayer because it suggests a theology that not all of us hold. However, there are ways of thinking about prayer that can include people of every theology, from Atheist to Theist and beyond.

 

TITLE:                        Standing on the Side of Love

 

SPEAKERS:               Buxmont's General Assembly

                                    Delegates and Attendees

 

Being a member of Buxmont means you are connected to a wider community of UUs.  Four Thousand of those UUs gathered in Salt Lake City the last week in June to select a new president and chart a course for our denomination for the coming year.  Join the delegates and attendees this morning as they bring the experience of GA home to Buxmont through stories and videos clips.  Learn what being connected to a larger liberal religious movement means to you and our fellowship.

 

TITLE:            Theopolitics: The Faltering but Ongoing War

                        on Equality and Knowledge

 

SPEAKERS:   Mel Seesholtz, Ph.D.

 

Mel Seesholtz holds a Ph.D. in literary and linguistic theory and is professor of English at Penn State Abington. He will present an informative and provocative lecture to address the issue of religion as a target for theopolitics via the use of religious beliefs to justify denying gay and lesbian Americans’ civil equality in relation to housing, employment and marriage. The other major target of theopolitics to be addressed is science, particularly the theory of evolution. There will be a round table discussion following the Service between Dr. Seesholtz and interested members of the congregation.

July 26: “NOLA: Four Years After Katrina”
Speakers: BuxMont Katrina project volunteers
This past winter, several BuxMonters spent a week at the First UU Church of New Orleans volunteering with the New Orleans Rebirth Center, a project started by the UUSC after Hurricane Katrina and run by the city’s three UU congregations. Ruth Aschmann, Elaine Barkan, Yvonne Marlier, Jeanne Phillips, Jane Turkel, and Linda Wisniewski will share their personal stories about the people who survived the storm, the social justice projects they worked on during the week, and how UUs can continue to help in the recovery.

July 12 and 19: “Some Thoughts on Self-Actualization from the Perspectives of Psychology and Religion”
Speaker: Lance Roberds
Lance has spoken at BuxMont several times in the past, last in May of 2008. He’s going to use two Sundays in a row to address a subject that could easily require a semester. Self actualization refers to the full realization of one’s potential. The term was popularized back in the 1960s by Abraham Maslow in a somewhat limited sense. Lance will be speaking more broadly. In the field of religious thought he is most influenced by Feuerbach, Tillich, and Hartshorne. In psychology his thought is most influenced by Rogers, Fromm, and Frankl. Lance is a psychotherapist by profession and also has a Master of Divinity.

July 12 and 19: “Some Thoughts on Self-Actualization from the Perspectives of Psychology and Religion” post Sermon Discussion.
Speaker: Lance Roberds
Lance has spoken at BuxMont several times in the past, last in May of 2008. He’s going to use two Sundays in a row to address a subject that could easily require a semester. Self actualization refers to the full realization of one’s potential. The term was popularized back in the 1960s by Abraham Maslow in a somewhat limited sense. Lance will be speaking more broadly. In the field of religious thought he is most influenced by Feuerbach, Tillich, and Hartshorne. In psychology his thought is most influenced by Rogers, Fromm, and Frankl. Lance is a psychotherapist by profession and also has a Master of Divinity.

July 12 and 19: “Some Thoughts on Self-Actualization from the Perspectives of Psychology and Religion”
Speaker: Lance Roberds
Lance has spoken at BuxMont several times in the past, last in May of 2008. He’s going to use two Sundays in a row to address a subject that could easily require a semester. Self actualization refers to the full realization of one’s potential. The term was popularized back in the 1960s by Abraham Maslow in a somewhat limited sense. Lance will be speaking more broadly. In the field of religious thought he is most influenced by Feuerbach, Tillich, and Hartshorne. In psychology his thought is most influenced by Rogers, Fromm, and Frankl. Lance is a psychotherapist by profession and also has a Master of Divinity.

July 12 and 19: “Some Thoughts on Self-Actualization from the Perspectives of Psychology and Religion”
Speaker: Lance Roberds
Lance has spoken at BuxMont several times in the past, last in May of 2008. He’s going to use two Sundays in a row to address a subject that could easily require a semester. Self actualization refers to the full realization of one’s potential. The term was popularized back in the 1960s by Abraham Maslow in a somewhat limited sense. Lance will be speaking more broadly. In the field of religious thought he is most influenced by Feuerbach, Tillich, and Hartshorne. In psychology his thought is most influenced by Rogers, Fromm, and Frankl. Lance is a psychotherapist by profession and also has a Master of Divinity.

July 12 and 19: “Some Thoughts on Self-Actualization from the Perspectives of Psychology and Religion”
Speaker: Lance Roberds
Lance has spoken at BuxMont several times in the past, last in May of 2008. He’s going to use two Sundays in a row to address a subject that could easily require a semester. Self actualization refers to the full realization of one’s potential. The term was popularized back in the 1960s by Abraham Maslow in a somewhat limited sense. Lance will be speaking more broadly. In the field of religious thought he is most influenced by Feuerbach, Tillich, and Hartshorne. In psychology his thought is most influenced by Rogers, Fromm, and Frankl. Lance is a psychotherapist by profession and also has a Master of Divinity.

Speakers: Program Committee
The June 28 Service is first in a series of panel discussions that the Program Committee is planning. The subject is “Spirituality,” a wonderful word that many BuxMonters want to see more of in our services, but a word that means different things to different people. Aubrey McWatt will moderate the panel discussion around questions geared to reveal individual interpretations of Spirituality among panel members who represent a balanced cross-section of viewpoints necessary for an enthusiastic discussion. Panelists are Rev. Jerry Johnson, Jen Kloss, John Hook and Carol Myers. We will not take questions during the Service but will invite panelists and congregants back into the Sanctuary after coffee for a half hour discussion of points of view that were not covered during the panel discussion.

Speaker: Rev. Daniel S. Schatz
During the past month BuxMont members and friends have contributed numerous questions to this “question box” service. This Sunday, Dan will open the box and address the questions on our minds.

Intergenerational Service
Flowers are short lived, but carry with them the seeds of new and ongoing life. During our annual flower service this year, we will celebrate the dedication of new children and the bridging of youth. We will also bid farewell to Robin Pugh on her last Sunday at BuxMont. Please bring a cut flower with you to the service.

Speaker: Laurie Brooks
How do you reconcile these two issues? What role does belief play during this difficult time? Are there changes that occur in your beliefs when you most need comfort? Laurie gives a personal glimpse into her struggle to be spiritual during critical illness and its aftermath.

Speakers: Amber Bartol and Markus Fire
The Coming of Age Service is an opportunity for the adults in our Fellowship to explore the current thinking of our 14- and 15 year-olds regarding religion. The students have spent the year discussing religious ideas and refining their own spirituality. Each student will give a short presentation of the credo he or she developed with the aid of a mentor from the congregation. This is the opposite of confirmation in the traditional sense in that we ask teenagers to use their minds—not to memorize a set of criteria.

Speaker: Rev. Daniel S. Schatz
Religion is often couched in the language of service— whether to a divine entity or to other people. Unitarian Universalists, too, have ways of serving the values we hold most dear. In the process, we find ourselves deeply empowered.

Speaker: Adios Zhanymkanov
An exchange student from Kazakhstan currently attending Hatboro-Horsham High School and a visitor to our senior youth group, Mr. Zhanymkanov will share a closer look at his country, its culture, government and relations with the United States.

Speaker: Rev. Daniel S. Schatz
When we think of “home,” different images come to mind. Some might imagine a house, while others see a group of people, or some other vision. What makes a home? What makes BuxMont a spiritual home? There will be a ceremony recognizing new members as part of this service.

Speakers: Rev. Daniel S. Schatz and Sabbatical Committee
As congregation and minister come together again, we will share the stories of our spiritual adventures over the last six months.

April 26: Maasai Culture and Traditions
Speakers: Maasai guests
Maasai guests from Kenya, E. Africa will share their beautiful culture and ancient indigenous traditions. Sponsored by MCEP (Maasai Cultural Exchange Project), a Bucks County grassroots nonprofit, the Maasai tribe encourage global awareness regarding drought and famine and their desperate need for water and education for children and women. Maasai elders teach peace and conflict resolution, environmental and ecological practices, and family traditions and dynamics. The Maasai women will display and offer unique beadwork and handicrafts for sale to offset the high cost of education for their children. “Ashe Oleng”—Thank you very much.

April 19: Six Impossible Things
Speaker: Rev. Sandra Fees
Humans have the unique capability to glimpse the impossible. The White Queen in Alice in Wonderland tells Alice she can imagine “six impossible things before breakfast.” In this service, we will consider how we can push against the limits of science and imagination to allow the impossible to become possible.

April 12: The Light of the World
Speaker: Robin Pugh
Jesus is sometimes called “the light of the world” because he helped to bring the light of love into people’s hearts. We will revisit the events of Holy week in this inter generational service and reflect on what UUs can learn from Jesus.

April 5: Writing to Change the World
Speaker: Rev. Judy Welles
Whether we claim it or not, all of us are writers. What characteristics of being a writer will serve us in our development as human beings, helping us to become our unique selves and say the things that only we can say?

March 29: Health Care By Cynthia Jones
  A discussion of Health care by the Peace and Justice Committee.

March 22, 2008 Youthful UU's
   Our annual Youth service.

March 15: “Are We Actors or Authors?”
Speaker: Rev. Mark Hayes
Rev. Mark Hayes is minister of the UU Fellowship of Centre County, State College, PA. He will lead this service on the question of free will. “To what extent do we write the scripts of our own lives, and to what extent are we merely playing our prescribed roles?”

March 8: “A Sacred Journey”
Speaker: Rabbi Marcia Prager
We often think of the Jewish spiritual journey as beginning with the physical and spiritual liberation from slavery in Egypt, celebrated with the holiday of Pesach (Passover) and culminating with the revelation of Torah on Mt. Sinai, celebrated with the holiday of Shavuot (which in the Christian calendar became Pentecost). But there is another sacred journey that we can travel in between the late winter holiday of Purim and Pesach! Intrigued? Come learn! What is the spiritual journey from Pesach to Shavuot? And what is the journey from Purim to Pesach? How can walking each of these spiritual pilgrimages help us see our own lives in new ways and live into renewed possibilities for growth and selfawareness?

March 1: Presentation by Rev. Dr. Richard Speck
Speaker: Rev. Dr. Richard Speck
Rev. Dr. Richard Speck is the District Executive of the Joseph Priestley District. He works in a collaborative manner to lead the District in all aspects of operation. Rev. Speck is also available to consult with individual congregations on various topics such as stewardship, growth, healthy congregations, etc.

February 22: Fastnacht, MardiGras, and Lenten Traditions
Speakers: Intergenerational Service
Many Catholic and Protestant believers throughout the world have a period of celebration prior to the solemnity of Lent. Join us in an Intergenerational Service as we learn about, and participate in traditions of this period in the Christian Calendar.

February 15th 2009: Bending Toward Justice

February 8: Talking About Evolution with Young Children
Speaker: Professor Colin Purrington
Colin Purrington is Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at Swarthmore College. He is associated with PA Citizens for Science, a group promoting the ideas he will discuss. Dr. Purrington will talk about how parents can homeschool their kids in evolution, even if their children attend a regular school. He’ll also talk about why it's important to do so, and also about why children are actually rather interested in the topic. He will talk about why various groups like to suppress the teaching of evolution and is especially keen on discussing why liberal, NPR-listening, Volvo-driving academics also like to suppress the topic for young children.

February 1: “Love Made Visible”
Speaker: Rev. Peter Friedrichs
Rev. Peter Friedrichs, minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County, will lead our worship with Ruth McDevitt. Rev. Friedrichs will reflect on what it takes to make a church, and how we are called to minister to each other in beloved community. As we embark on our annual Stewardship Campaign, we will ask ourselves how we might express our commitment to each other, to the church and to our larger faith. Rev. Peter Friedrichs has served as pastor of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County in Media, Pa., since August 2006. He is a 2006graduate of Andover Newton Theological School, where hewas awarded the James Luther Adams Prize for LiberalTheological Studies. Peter is a self-described “recovering attorney” who practiced law in Portland, Maine, for nearly20 years before entering the ministry. He is pleased to return to BuxMont, where he preached his pre-candidating sermon to the Search Committee from Media before being
called to serve that congregation.

January 25: “Crossing Borders”
Speaker: Rev. Charles J. Stephens
Rev. Stephens, minister at the Unitarian Universalist Church at Washington Crossing, will talk about his visit to Israel and Palestine. He writes, “My experience in Israel and Palestine confirms for me what Frost wrote: ‘Something there is that doesn’t love a wall.’ There are strongly differing opinions about walls. The Compassionate Listening Tour of Israel and Palestine that I participated in with an interfaith group of Rabbis, Imams, ministers and several lay leaders far exceeded my highest expectations.”

January 18: “Partners: Bound by Covenant”
Speaker: Rev. Kate Seitz Bortner
You may think the world of law enforcement and the world of church are as far apart as it is possible to get. In her 22 years of community ministry with the York City Police Department, Rev. Bortner learned lessons about how very similar they are. Join us this morning as she shares with us some of the amazing things she learned.

January 11: “Neighborhood Notes”
Speakers: Cindy Ruenes, Brian Pearson and the Neighborhood Notes teens

Cindy and Brian and a group of teen volunteers from the Community Conservatory in Doylestown will share with us their experiences with the Neighborhood Notes Program. Teen volunteers with the Neighborhood Notes program teach music, theater and visual art to those less fortunate in our area. The program is a wonderful artistic cultural exchange program right here in Bucks County. The teens involved in this program are all talented artists who benefit from teaching and learning from each other. Our service will include poetry and music as well as inspirational stories.

January 4: “The Two-Headed God”
Speaker: Rev. Deborah Mero
Rev. Mero comes to us from the Unitarian Fellowship of West Chester. We are caught at this time of year in the conundrum of looking in both directions like the two-head Roman God Janus. While we spend most of our time looking forward to what lies ahead, the new year forces us into seeing the cycles of life and both our past and future at the same time.