March 1 – A Profile in Ambiguity – Although his tenure in the White House was consumed by domestic issues, most notably the Civil War, few historic presidents are as widely known or well-loved outside the United States as Abraham Lincoln. Born on the same day as Charles Darwin, 200 years ago, Lincoln has proven to be far less controversial in religious circles than the naturalist who shares his birthday. Every faith would like to claim him, it seems. This is strange, indeed, since Lincoln’s religious views were ambivalent, at best, or antagonistic, at worst, notwithstanding his clever invocations of the language of reverence. Rev. Stefan M. Jonasson
March 15 – The Possibility-Driven Life – Pastor Rick Warren was recently the centre of much controversy after he was invited to offer the invocation at the inauguration of Barack Obama in January. For many, this may have been the first they ever heard of Rick Warren; for others, he is well-known as the author of The Purpose-Driven Life. As it turned out, his inaugural prayer was rather pedestrian; so is the theology behind his book! I’m sceptical of people who believe they have a foreknowledge of their life’s purpose, or anyone else’s for that matter. Our lives are driven by our responses to the possibilities we encounter, rather than the fulfillment of some preordained purpose. Rev. Stefan M. Jonasson
Services begin at 11:00 a.m. at the Arborg Unitarian Church, Ingolfs Street at River Road, followed by light refreshments. Everyone welcome!
