Sunday, December 15 — MAKING PEACE WITH CHRISTMAS

Sunday morning, December 15 — ARBORG UNITARIAN CHURCH, 11:00 a.m.

Sunday evening, December 15 — GIMLI UNITARIAN CHURCH, 7:00 p.m.

MAKING PEACE WITH CHRISTMAS — In recent years, there's been much prattle about the so-called "War on Christmas," the successor complaint to the old demands to "put Christ back in Christmas," as if Jesus had somehow gone missing for those who sought to honour him. Much like the wars on poverty, drugs, and terror, the "War on Christmas" is a bogus conflict that masks the real problem — some people want to take the Yuletide hostage for their own narrow views and partisan ends.  Let's make peace with Christmas instead — peace with our own conflicted memories and feelings about the holiday, peace with our families and friends, peace with merchants and even malcontents, and most especially peace with our neighbours who keep the season differently but who keep it holy nonetheless.  And having made peace with the season, may we then go forth as agents of peace in the world.

All are welcome! Refreshments will follow each service.

In Arborg, participants are invited to bring apparel, toys, or nonperishable foodstuffs for The Mitten Tree, which will be presented to the local Christmas Cheer Board.

In Gimli, the service will feature a celebration of candlelight and carols.

Sunday, September 1, 2013

Sunday, September 1 at 11:00 a.m. — OUT WHERE WE BELONG — My family doctor recently introduced me to the notion of “nature-deficit disorder,” the hypothesis that many modern maladies can be traced to a lack of quality time outdoors. I thought we were having a philosophical discussion but it’s entirely possible I was being diagnosed. — Rev. Stefan M. Jonasson

Services are in the congregation’s landmark building at 76 Second Avenue, near Centre Street. Dress is casual — after all, it's summer!

Sunday, August 18 — Menacing Moralizers

Sunday, August 18 at 11:00 a.m. — MENACING MORALIZERS — “When the body politic is immune to moralizers,” writes A.C. Grayling, “they merely appear comical.” But there’s nothing comical about the prudish moralizers who try to creep into others’ bedrooms and living rooms through public policy. In some places, they’ve become a menace to individual freedom! — Rev. Stefan M. Jonasson

Services are in the congregation’s landmark building at 76 Second Avenue, near Centre Street. Dress is casual — after all, it's summer!

Sunday, August 4 — Leaving Home

Sunday, August 4 at 11:00 a.m. — LEAVING HOME — In May, we said goodbye to the home that Kathleen’s parents built and where she lived her entire childhood. All of our lives we take our leave of places that have meaning for us. The leaving-home experience of the Icelandic immigrants that we honor during Icelandic Festival is a big part of this weekend. How we make meaning of these leave-takings will be the focus of this sermon. — Rev. Wayne Arnason and Rev. Kathleen Rolenz

Services are in the congregation’s landmark building at 76 Second Avenue, near Centre Street. Dress is casual — after all, it's summer!

Sunday, July 21 — Patience and Other Virtues

Sunday, July 21 at 11:00 a.m. — PATIENCE AND OTHER VIRTUES — This service explores particular qualities foundational to promoting greatness, both collective and individual.  How might they be especially relevant for our faith? — Rev. Millie Rochester

Services are in the congregation’s landmark building at 76 Second Avenue, near Centre Street. Dress is casual — after all, it's summer!

Sunday, July 7 — Wise as Serpents, Harmless as Doves

Sunday, July 7 at 11:00 a.m. — WISE AS SERPENTS, HARMLESS AS DOVES — Instead of the Flaming Chalice, the symbol of Hungarian Unitarians is the serpent and the dove, an allusion to the biblical verse, “I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” Are we? — Rev. Stefan M. Jonasson

Services are in the congregation’s landmark building at 76 Second Avenue, near Centre Street. Dress is casual — after all, it's summer!

Summer Sundays at Gimli Unitarian Church

Gimli Unitarian Church will open for the summer season on Sunday, July 7, 2013, continuing on the first and third Sundays of the month until the final service of the season on Sunday, September 1. Services are at 11:00 a.m. in the congregation’s landmark building at 76 Second Avenue.  Dress is casual -- after all, it's cottage season! 

July 7 — Wise as Serpents, Harmless as Doves — Instead of the Flaming Chalice, the symbol of Hungarian Unitarians is the serpent and the dove, an allusion to the biblical verse, “I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” Are we? Rev. Stefan M. Jonasson

July 21 — Patience and Other Virtues — This service explores particular qualities foundational to promoting greatness, both collective and individual.  How might they be especially relevant for our faith? Rev. Millie Rochester

August 4 — Leaving Home — In May, we said goodbye to the home that Kathleen’s parents built and where she lived her entire childhood. All of our lives we take our leave of places that have meaning for us. The leaving-home experience of the Icelandic immigrants that we honor during Icelandic Festival is a big part of this weekend. How we make meaning of these leave-takings will be the focus of this sermon. Rev. Wayne Arnason and Rev. Kathleen Rolenz

August 18 — Menacing Moralizers — “When the body politic is immune to moralizers,” writes A.C. Grayling, “they merely appear comical.” But there’s nothing comical about the prudish moralizers who try to creep into others’ bedrooms and living rooms through public policy. In some places, they’ve become a menace to individual freedom! Rev. Stefan M. Jonasson

September 1 — Out Where We Belong — My family doctor recently introduced me to the notion of “nature-deficit disorder,” the hypothesis that many modern maladies can be traced to a lack of quality time outdoors. I thought we were having a philosophical discussion but it’s entirely possible I was being diagnosed. Rev. Stefan M. Jonasson