unitarianfellowshipregina

Presenter: Glenna Ottenbreit-Born

--
“The care of the Earth is our most ancient and most worthy, and after all our most pleasing responsibility.” Wendell Berry, American novelist, poet, environmental activist, cultural critic and farmer, will be discussed. 

Presenter: Bernadette Kutarna

The Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music was developed by the late Dr. Helen Bonny, Music Therapist, when she learned that listening to western classical music in an altered state of consciousness facilitated exploration of one's inner world. Through a process of relaxation, focus and specifically chosen music listening, individuals were able to access their inner strengths, release creative blocks and work toward resolution of dilemmas. This person-focused work is usually done on an individual basis. As part of this presentation, we did a short imagery and music process as a group.

Presenter: Barbara Swanson:  (note: unfortunately we missed recording the first few minutes of the presentation)

    Most faith traditions use chanting to elevate human utterance, connect with the transcendent, effect personal transformation, and give meaning to spiritual journey. The often simple, sometimes formulaic melodies of chant provide a unique and powerful way to enter into spiritual practice. Looking briefly at two of the world’s chanting traditions, Christian and Jewish, provides insight into how and why chant has been used to give meaning to spiritual life.

Presenter: Michele Sorensen

Using a variety of resources, this course provides a rationale and background into a beginning and continually changing understanding of sexual identity. Pedagogical and instructional implications for teachers are explored, with a view towards creating an understanding of the complexities of sexual identity. 

Presenter: Lee Ward:

  Thomas Jefferson is well known as the author of the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson also played an important role in redefining the role of religion in modern democratic society. This presentation looks at Jefferson’s efforts to create the foundation of a civil religion that would be compatible with natural rights and democratic governments. Jefferson’s efforts to rewrite the Gospels is a central part of his larger project to establish a moral philosophy that is adapted to what Jefferson takes to be the political, social and economic requirements of a democratic age. 

Presenter: Liz James. 
What does "Spiritual Practice" look like for Unitarians? Prayer. Meditation. Fasting. Pilgrimage. Most religions have some form of spiritual practice as part of their teachings. What does spiritual practice look like through a Unitarian lens, and why can it be so hard sometimes to "keep it up"? What about people who don't identify with the term "spiritual"? What are the common threads of spiritual practices around the world and through time, and what do we have to learn from them?

Presenter: Eldon Soifer
Tolerance is an odd virtue, because you can really tolerate only things you don't like or don't approve of. Nevertheless, people often think it's very important to tolerate others' beliefs. Sometimes the claim that we should tolerate others is grounded in the observation that, in the past, people who were confident that they knew the truth about things such as ethics and religion, ended up doing a lot of terrible things. It is suggested that we should take a more modest approach to our beliefs, and this is often taken to mean that we should accept that our beliefs are no better or worse than anybody else's, they're just the ones we happen to have. On this view, there are no objective truths about morals, only relative ones. Yet it turns out that such "relativism" is a philosophical view that stands in need of defense just as much as any other--and there are important reasons for thinking that it might not be right. Furthermore, relativism in any case might not be able to provide the justification for tolerance that drew many people to it in the first place.

(note:  the first part of the presentation had to be recorded in a different location at a later time, so the listener may notice a change in the sound of the recording about halfway through)

Presenter: Joanne Green
Unitarians and traditional Christian beliefs about Easter are sometimes an uncomfortable combination in today's Unitarian congregations. We're never sure how to celebrate, or if we should celebrate. Over the past 180 years Unitarian Universalists have grown from a primarily Christian belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ to the variety of beliefs we have today. Joanne explores the history of Unitarians and Easter, with excerpts from a talk by Rev. Phillip Hewitt of Vancouver. 

Today Mikayla Schultz gave us some insight on what it means to be transgendered.  Starting with her own experience coming out as transgender heralded by a story she suggested for the Leader Post 5 years ago for National Coming Out Day on October 11th, Mikayla has since worked tirelessly for awareness and education about the transgender community.  She was able to tell of about some of her successes and her goals to achieve fair treatment in our society in terms of education, employment and health care.  

Presenters:  Helen Christiansen and Joanne Green.
Donna Cowley was unable to give her presentation this morning, so Sunday Service Chair, Helen Christiansen and President, Joanne Green decided to present a sermon by Fiona Heath, Minister of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Durham at Whitby, Ontario. In this sermon, Rev Heath explains what it means to her to be a Unitarian.  This is a very good discussion for anyone who is unfamiliar with Unitarian Universalism and would like to know what it's all about.