Second and Fourth Sundays at the Free Congregation

Second and Fourth Sunday programs begin at 10:00 am with our ‘gathering’ music.

All Second and Fourth Sundays include a Unitarian Universalist order of service.  From September through April, our Speaker Andrew Kerr leads both these Sundays, and during the summer months he generally presides over Fourth Sundays.  In Andrew’s absence, guest ministers or speakers preside over the service or give the Reflection.

Here is a description of our typical Unitarian Universalist order of service, as led by Andrew.  (Guest ministers and speakers are free to vary the order or its ingredients.)

Gathering. At 10:10 am, our musician will play J.S. Bach’s “Prelude in C major” to announce the start of the program.

Announcements. A member of the congregation, usually the President of the Board, will provide brief news and describe upcoming events.  New visitors are invited to say a little about themselves if they wish.

Music. The congregation sings two hymns, generally from the UU hymnal.  Our musician may also sing and play a variety of other music: classical and Broadway musicals are favorites!   UU Sundays always begin with a musical prelude and end with a postlude.

Joys and Concerns. Sharing the joys and concerns in our lives strengthens our community and provides an opportunity to give and to receive comfort, support, and companionship.  Guests and members are welcome to share.  We do not have one particular ritual associated with this sharing: we might light candles, we might place a pebble in water…

Readings. These are poems or short selections of texts that connect in some way to the theme of the program.

Reflection. Andrew generally speaks for 15-20 minutes; the subject matter is drawn from a variety of religious topics.  If Andrew is not presiding, a guest speaker or minister will give the Reflection and, often, preside over the entire program.  The goal of the Reflection is to spark thinking, feeling, and discussion about the topic.  Topics have included freedom, romantic love, play, and nirvana.  For a list of past Reflection topics, click here.  For the full text of some of Andrew’s Reflections, click here.

Congregational Dialogue. Religion is something to explore with others.  Our congregation believes that this part of the program is especially important; many of our guest ministers and speakers, unaccustomed to “talkbacks” as part of a Sunday “church” program, find it particularly exciting.  Attendees are invited to respond to the Reflection or, more generally, to the theme of the program.  Discussions get lively!

Please join us; you are always welcome!

2nd & 4th Sunday Programs on the Event Calendar

Sunday, April 28, 2013, 10 a.m., Sally Dahir will speak about the Richland Center Sister City project with Sta Teresa in Nicaragua

The Richland Center Sister City project with Sta Teresa in Nicaragua, 25 years of cooperation, is an amazing story. Sally is now on the board and am learning about how they’ve worked to empower poor villagers to improve their lives in a way that doesn’t harm the environment.  One of the biggest problems in the third world is how to sustain people without destroying the environment on which they depend. It is a delicate balance. They have struggled with making the work they do sustainable, making sure the villagers are the first to be consulted on what projects they want, and to build community groups that will stay after we are gone.

Sally Dahir spent 2 years working in El Salvador in Peace Corps in the late 1970s.  This was her first glimpse of the potentially destructive nature of American foreign policy, especially in Central America. She has always worked on peace issues and tried to stay in touch with this part of the world. When she moved to the Richland Center area and heard about this group, she started attending their meetings, read all their newsletters and then visited the Sta Teresa region in Nicaragua to see their work first hand.

Sunday, May 12, 2013, 10 a.m. Mother's Day Meeting

This Sunday we will be meeting as a congregation to vote on a proposal from the Ad Hoc Search committee. They have been tasked to find us Associate Speakers to take Andrew's place.  So we will have a complimentary breakfast, pancakes and such, and then meet briefly to vote on the Search committee recommendations.