The Interlake Unitarian

Sunday, January 15 — In Search of Wisdom

2012-01-09T22:09:00.000-08:00

Sunday, January 15, at 11:00 a.m. — IN SEARCH OF WISDOM — Mortimer J. Adler postulates that religions areeither creedal or preceptorial in nature. Like Confucianism and Shinto, not to mention the tradition ofEcclesiastes and Solomon, Unitarian Universalism is preceptorial. This is the first in a series — “Truth In Religion: Where Unitarian Universalism Fits.” Rev. Stefan M. Jonasson will preach.

Arborg Unitarian Church is located at the corner of Inglolf Street and River Road. Dress is informal and all are welcome. Light refreshments are served following the service.

Sunday, December 18 - Christmas in the Interlake

2011-12-17T17:32:00.000-08:00

Sunday morning, December 18, at ARBORG UNITARIAN CHURCH, 11:00 a.m. – GHOSTS OF CHRISTMAS PAST – In the spirit of Charles Dickens, we will explore how the gathering of family and friends, communing across the generations, offers one of the enduring meanings of Christmas.

Sunday evening, December 18, at GIMLI UNITARIAN CHURCH, 7:00 p.m. – HOLY NIGHTS – A celebration of candelight and carols as we enter the Yuletide. All our welcome.

Sunday, November 20 - Willpower

2011-11-19T13:52:00.001-08:00

Sunday, November 20, at 11:00 a.m. – WILLPOWER – Shakespeare wrote, "Our bodies are gardens, to which our wills are gardeners." In their new book, Willpower, Roy F. Baumeister and John Tierney explore the human capacity for self-control, which they argue is our greatest strength as a species, even though it’s often in short supply. Along the way, they look at "decision fatigue" and explain why self-esteem does not lead to self-control. In the end, it's less clear which is the garden and which is the gardener. Rev. Stefan Jonasson will preach.

Arborg Unitarian Church is located at the corner of Inglolf Street and River Road. Dress is informal and all are welcome. Light refreshments are served following the service.

Sunday, October 16 - Gathering Where We Did Not Sow

2011-10-15T07:49:00.000-07:00

Sunday, October 16, at 11:00 a.m. – GATHERING WHERE WE DID NOT SOW – In his song "I Walk the Unfrequented Road," the great Unitarian poet and hymnist, Frederick Lucian Hosmer, wrote, "I gather where I did not sow, / And bind the mystic sheaf, / The amber air, the river’s flow, / The rustle of the leaf." In this season of bounty, we will reflect upon the blessings that come to us through no effort on our part. Hosmer was born on this day in 1840; he was the author of many of our most beloved hymns, including "Forward Through the Ages" and "O Day of Light and Gladness." Rev. Stefan Jonasson will preach.

Arborg Unitarian Church is located at the corner of Inglolf Street and River Road. Dress is informal and all are welcome. Light refreshments are served following the service.

Sunday, September 18 - Deep Democracy

2011-09-11T17:14:00.000-07:00

Sunday, September 18, at 11:00 a.m. – DEEP DEMOCRACY – The looming provincial election reminds us that voting is the signature act of a democracy. However, a truly democratic society demands a depth of awareness, participation and equity that goes far beyond voting. Unitarian Universalism affirms "the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large." For us, democracy is an article of faith. Rev. Stefan Jonasson will preach.

Services resume at Arborg Unitarian Church this Sunday and will continue on the third Sunday of each month until May. Dress is informal and all are welcome.

Summer services at Gimli Unitarian Church concluded on Labour Day Weekend and the church is now closed for the season. There will be a Christmas Service in Gimli on Sunday, December 18, at 7:00 p.m. Watch this page for details.

Sunday, September 4 – Does Liberal Religion Have a Future?

2011-09-03T12:01:00.002-07:00

Sunday, September 4 at 11:00 a.m. – DOES LIBERAL RELIGION HAVE A FUTURE? – In 'The Future of Faith', Harvard theologian Harvey Cox paints a picture of a dramatically changing religious landscape. How does the liberal church fit into that future? Or does it? Rev. Stefan Jonasson will preach.

Gimli Unitarian Church is located on Second Avenue, just north of Centre Street. Dress is casual — after all, it's cottage season!— and light refreshments are served following the service.

Sunday, September 4 – Does Liberal Religion Have a Future?

2011-09-03T12:01:00.001-07:00

Sunday, September 4 – Does Liberal Religion Have a Future?

2011-09-03T12:01:00.000-07:00

"Funday" at Hnausa Unitarian Centre

2011-09-01T21:22:00.000-07:00

Sunday, September 4, 2011 ...

FAMILY BARBECUE LUNCH at 12:30 p.m. with a ventriloquist, "The Dave and Louie Show," at 2:00. Tickets are just $8.

A TRIBUTE TO PATSY CLINE featuring Laurie Sutherland. Tickets are just $25 and include a barbecue dinner at 4:30 p.m. with the show at 6:00 p.m.

Tickets are available from Arborg Nic Nacs, Arborg Livestock Supplies, Riverton Friendship Centre, and Rona or Johnson's in Gimli. Or call Sandra (376-5176) or Deanne (376-5404).

www.unitariancentre.com

Sunday, August 21 - Fairy Trails

2011-08-20T15:34:00.001-07:00

Sunday, August 21 at 11:00 a.m. — FAIRY TRAILS — Other people take vacations; I go on pilgrimages. This summer, I wandered through the lands of Hans Christian Andersen and the Brothers Grimm, looking for traces of tales and harbingers of truth. Rev. Stefan M. Jonasson will preach.

Gimli Unitarian Church is located on Second Avenue, just north of Centre Street. Dress is casual — after all, it's cottage season!— and light refreshments are served following the service.

Sunday, July 31 - Music of the Heart

2011-07-25T00:35:00.000-07:00

Sunday, July 31 at 11:00 a.m. - MUSIC OF THE HEART – According to an old joke, Unitarian Universalists have a hard time singing in unison because we are continually reading ahead to check that we agree with the lyrics. This service explores how, whether or not it includes words, music has the potential to uniquely give voice to the spirit. Rev. Millie Rochester is minister of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Winnipeg.

Gimli Unitarian Church is located on Second Avenue, just north of Centre Street. Dress is casual — after all, it's cottage season!— and light refreshments are served following the service.

Claire Rudyk will preach on Sunday, August 7, and Rev. Stefan Jonasson will return to the pulpit for the remaining Sundays this summer: August 21 and September 4.

Sunday, July 17 - A Magical Mystery Tour!

2011-07-14T22:45:00.000-07:00

Sunday, July 17 at 11:00 a.m. — TÖFRANDI RÁÐGÁTA FERÐ—MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR — Rev. Wayne Arnason and Rev. Kathleen Rolenz have just returned from a week on a tour bus, driving around Iceland with fifty-nine relatives! Their magical mystery tour resulted in some life lessons about lineage, heritage, family, and patience -- all of which they will share this Sunday morning.

Gimli Unitarian Church is located on Second Avenue, just north of Centre Street. Dress is casual — after all, it's cottage season! — and light refreshments are served following the service.

Rev. Millie Rochester will preach on Sunday, July 31, during the Icelandic Festival long weekend. The summer season will continue with services on August 7, August 21 and September 4.

Summer Services at Gimli Commence July 3rd

2011-06-30T12:14:00.000-07:00

Summer services will resume at the Gimli Unitarian Church on Sunday, July 3 at 11:00 a.m., and continue on the "odd Sundays" of the month until Labour Day.

Rev. Stefan Jonasson will preach at the opening service: Are You Sure About That? -- In his book On Being Certain, neurologist and novelist Robert A. Burton explores the murky world of how and why we believe we are right—even when we’re wrong! Does our sense of certainty flow from our abilities to reason and understand? Or are we simply hardwired to believe?

On July 17, Rev. Wayne Arnason and Rev. Kathleen Rolenz will take people on a Töfrandi ráðgáta ferð—Magical Mystery Tour – They will have just returned from a week on a tour bus, driving around Iceland with fifty-nine relatives! Their magical mystery tour is sure to result some life lessons about lineage, heritage, family, and patience?

Rev. Millie Rochester will preach of Sunday, July 31, during the Icelandic Festival long weekend. The summer season will continue with services on August 7, August 21 and September 4.

Check the Intelake Unitarians' website for service details at http://www.interlakeunitarians.blogspot.com/.

The historic Gimli Unitarian Church is located on Second Avenue, just north of Centre Street.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

2011-05-14T04:47:00.000-07:00

Sunday, May 15, at 11:00 a.m. – OUR KINDRED FELLOWSHIPS – Fifty years ago on this day, the American Unitarian Association and the Universalist Church of America consolidated to establish the Unitarian Universalist Association. We will examine the events that brought together these two distinctive liberal religious traditions and reflect of upon the fruits of their merger. Rev. Stefan Jonasson will preach.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

2011-04-16T13:02:00.000-07:00

Sunday, April 17, at 11:00 a.m. – DOES THE HISTORICAL JESUS REALLY MATTER? – On the eve of the twenty-fifth anniversary of The Jesus Seminar last fall, Peter Laarman suggested it was a “good time to ask what difference it makes when the Jesus of history turns out to be considerably more interesting than the myth-encrusted Christ created by the church over the centuries. Or does it make any difference at all?” As long as truth matters, and as long as Jesus is claimed as an authority in both politics and religion, then the search to uncover the Jesus of history does indeed matter. Rev. Stefan Jonasson will preach.

Sunday, March 20, 2011

2011-03-16T21:31:00.000-07:00

Sunday, March 20, at 11:00 a.m. - THE ART OF LOVING - Don Ayre recalls the extremes of idealism and realism of the 60s and 70s and the rhetoric of the "Make Love, Not War" era. Erich Fromm's The Art of Loving was one of the books that sparked the movement but it was lost in the violence of the antiwar protests and demonstrations against the "system." Today there is a renewed call for the development of a more caring global community which will reactivate the need for the art of loving. Unitarian Universalism could play a key role. Our pulpit guest this morning will be Don Ayre of Winnipeg.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

2011-01-19T18:43:00.000-08:00

Sunday, February 20, at 11:00 a.m. - IT SOUNDS LIKE SCRIPTURE TO ME: THE KING JAMES BIBLE AFTER FOUR CENTURIES - The most familiar version of the Bible in English—the King James, or Authorized Version—was published in 1611 after a rigorous process of translation and editing under the guidance of a group of scholars who came to be called "God's secretaries." Although its language is increasingly difficult to understand, it is still the translation that "sounds like scripture" to our ears and it remains favoured as the "authentic" Bible in most people's estimation. We will celebrate the poetry of the King James Version while learning about its origins and its limitations. Rev. Stefan Jonasson will preach.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

2011-01-14T15:41:00.000-08:00

Sunday, January 16, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. – TOLERATING THE INTOLERABLE – In proper doses, rat poison helps to prevent heart attacks but, taken in excess, it can kill more than a rat. We often here it said that "too much of a good thing" is harmful to us. Have we taken the doctrine of tolerance too far? Should we be less tolerant of some things than we have been? Are there limits to tolerance? Rev. Stefan Jonasson will preach.

Sunday, December 19, 2010 - Christmas!

2010-12-18T15:47:00.000-08:00

Sunday, December 19 at 11:00 a.m. – LEARNING NEW WAYS FROM THE OLD – In her playful Yuletide song, "The Christians and the Pagans," folk musician Dar Williams sings, "Lighting trees in darkness / Learning new ways from the old / Making sense of history / And drawing warmth out of the cold." We will celebrate the life of the present moment while making sense of the crazy history of this magical season! As is our custom, we invite those joining us for this service to bring gifts for The Mitten Tree—clothing, nonperishable food items, toys and gifts—to be passed on to the Arborg Cheer Board. Rev. Stefan Jonasson will preach.

2010-11-20T23:43:00.000-08:00

Sunday, November 21 at 11:00 a.m. – GOD WHISPERERS – In recent years, the popular imagination has been introduced to "horse whisperers" and "ghost whisperers," individuals who seem to enjoy a mystical relationship to creatures and phenomena around us. My personal favourite is the "dog whisperer," Cesar Millan, whose television program and books provide fascinating insights into the behaviour of our canine friends and who seems personally capable of making any dog behave itself, no matter how aggressive. It got me wondering: Are there any God whisperers? There are certainly many aggressive expressions of religion in the world, so how is it that some have come to emphasize a God of love over and against more violent images of the divine? Rev. Stefan Jonasson will preach.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

2010-09-20T13:19:00.000-07:00

Sunday, October 17 at 11:00 a.m. – ISLAM: BEYOND THE HYSTERIA – Between the recent threat to burn the Qur'an by an obscure and delusional pastor in Florida and the public furor over the building of a Muslim community centre near "Ground Zero" in New York City, much public discourse about Islam has tipped decidedly in the direction of bigotry and irrationality. While I find the teachings of Islam to be no more compelling than those of other orthodoxies in religion, the anger and antipathy of too many people is grounded in ignorance and fear. Our aspiration for global community and world peace demands that we seek to understand Islam, whether or not we are convinced by its teachings. Rev. Stefan Jonasson will preach.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

2010-09-17T18:50:00.000-07:00

Sunday, September 19 at 11:00 a.m. – THE CASE FOR RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY – Theodore Parker called upon the church to be "a means of reforming the world." While he challenged nearly every religious assumption and convention of his day, Parker held that religious communities could be invaluable institutions in nurturing the spiritual life of individuals and promoting the welfare of society by examining each in light of conscience, reason and universal ends. Rev. Stefan Jonasson will preach.

Summer Sundays at Gimli Unitarian Church

2010-06-28T11:29:00.000-07:00

The Gimli Unitarian Church will open for the summer season on Sunday, July 4, 2010, continuing on the "odd" Sundays of the month (1st, 3rd, 5th) until the final service of the season on Sunday, September 5. 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 4: Looking Earth in the Eye – “A lake is … earth’s eye; looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature,” wrote Henry David Thoreau. In ancient times, many people believed they could look into others’ souls by gazing deeply into their eyes, while today some people believe they can measure another’s health in the same way. If we gazed into the world’s lakes and oceans, what would they tell us about Earth’s health? And what might change if we gazed upon the earth as its lovers? Rev. Stefan M. Jonasson

July 18: Deep-Sea Unitarians – An active Unitarian lay leader and incurable lover of ocean cruises (not to mention a few lakes and canals), Don McKinnon will reflect on what he has learned while on the high seas and while safely anchored at port. What inner yearnings lead a person to sea? Or to church? Don McKinnon

August 1: Living on the Volcano – Although the Icelandic volcano has been off the front pages for a while now, it lives as an archetype and ever-present reality in the consciousness of Icelanders. The unpredictability of the natural world, which is our home, has long caused Icelanders to ask "on what can we depend?” Rev. Wayne Arnason & Rev. Kathleen Rolenz

August 15: Half Measures – We’ve been taught to think of half measures negatively, as though they are always of a “cup half empty” variety. But what if our half measures were a reflection of abundance and generosity? In their book The Power of Half, Kevin and Hannah Salwen invite us to consider our power to change the world if we invest half of something we treasure—anything!—for the benefit of others. Rev. Stefan M. Jonasson

August 29: The Restless Imagination – “The imagination is always restless and suggests a variety of thoughts,” wrote John Locke. Advocating the quest for knowledge, mass education, and loving truth for its own sake, Locke saw how we make incoming knowledge our own by reflecting on what we learn with restless imaginations. Rev. Stefan M. Jonasson

September 5: Living Along the Back Roads – The poet of the autumn spirit, Robert Frost, spoke for all who travel the back roads of life when he wrote, “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by.” In travel and in life, leaving the superhighway to stroll along the side streets and back roads can indeed make all the difference. Rev. Stefan M. Jonasson

Sunday, June 6, 2010

2010-06-04T17:19:00.000-07:00

Sunday, June 6 at 11:00 a.m. at Hnausa Unitarian Camp – THE JOY OF THE PRESENT MOMENT – "Does the sun shine on me today that I may reflect on yesterday?" asked Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. "That I may endeavor to foresee and to control what can neither be foreseen nor controlled—the destiny of tomorrow?" Should we not strive to live in the present moment and savor its joys? There is no better day to reflect upon this question than the one on which we gather for our annual picnic. Come to have your spirit fed; material sustenance and fellowship will follow! Rev. Stefan Jonasson will preach.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

2010-04-17T17:36:00.000-07:00

Sunday, April 18 at 11:00 a.m. – OUR GLOBAL MOVEMENT – Unitarianism is not a major religious tradition, although it is a global one. We will look at our thinly-spread and diverse tradition as it is manifested around the world—its commonalities and its differences. Rev. Stefan Jonasson will preach.

Easter Sunday 2010

2010-04-03T10:53:00.000-07:00

Sunday, April 4 at 11:00 a.m. – PILGRIMS ON THE EMMAUS ROAD – There will be a special Easter service on the first Sunday of April, after which we will return to our new pattern of meeting on the third Sunday of each month. Drawing from the writing of James Freeman Clarke (who was born 200 years ago on this day!) and Paul Trudinger, we will look at the story of Jesus’s encounter with his disciples along the Emmaus Road on the day he is reported to have been resurrected, looking for new meanings for modern times. Rev. Stefan Jonasson will preach.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

2010-03-19T05:20:00.000-07:00

Sunday, March 21 at 11:00 a.m. - METRE-MAKING ARGUMENTS – In his essay, “The Poet,” Ralph Waldo Emerson declared that “it is not metres, but a metre-making argument, that makes a poem,—a thought so passionate and alive, that, like the spirit of a plant or an animal, it has an architecture of its own, and adorns nature with a new thing.” On World Poetry Day, we will reflect upon the nature and value of the poetic spirit, from the ancient psalmist to the modern lyricist. Rev. Stefan Jonasson will preach.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

2010-02-20T02:46:00.000-08:00

Sunday, February 21 at 11:00 a.m. - THE COURAGE TO LOSE - When I look despairingly at some leaders—whether in politics or business, labour or other public institutions—I am heartened to remember that the behaviours and attitudes that most trouble me have been around since the beginning of history. More than a century ago, Brooke Herford pointed out that the greatest shortcoming among political leaders was that they “seldom have the courage to be defeated.” Herford believed that in the “courage for present failure and defeat lies the surest pledge of ultimate victory!” Maybe, maybe not—but how we win or lose is more important than success itself. Rev. Stefan Jonasson will preach.

Sunday, January 17, 2010

2009-12-28T16:26:00.000-08:00

Sunday, January 17 at 11:00 a.m. – DISPOSED TO BE HAPPY – Benjamin Franklin observed that there are two sorts of people—those who are "disposed to be happy" and, well, all the rest! Those who go through life with an unhappy air tend to be "discontented themselves, and by their remarks, sour the pleasure of society, offend personally many people, and make themselves everywhere disagreeable." In contrast, I choose to be disposed towards happiness. Rev. Stefan M. Jonasson will preach.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

2009-12-19T21:30:00.000-08:00

Sunday, December 20 at 11:00 a.m. – CHRISTMAS SERVICE – Our annual family Christmas service is a time of homecoming, caroling and reflection. As is our custom, we invite those joining us for this service to bring gifts for The Mitten Tree—clothing, nonperishable food items, toys and gifts—to be passed on to the Arborg Cheer Board. Rev. Stefan M. Jonasson will preach and the Arborg Unitarian Chorus will sing.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

2009-12-05T18:04:00.000-08:00

Sunday, December 6 at 11:00 a.m. – ON SAINT NICHOLAS – "A Visit from St. Nicholas" (better known as "The Night Before Christmas"), first published anonymously in 1823, is largely responsible for the modern conception of Santa Claus, including his physical appearance, the night of his visit, his mode of transportation,the number and names of his reindeer, and the tradition that he brings toys to children. Prior to the poem, American ideas about Saint Nicholas and other Christmas visitors varied considerably. On the anniversary of the death of Nicholas of Myra in 346, we will explore the life of this historic ‘saint’ and how he became Santa Claus. Sylvia Sigurdson will preach.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

2009-11-14T11:15:00.000-08:00

Sunday, November 15 at 11:00 a.m. – A BURNING KISS FROM GOD – Francis Dávid, the apostle of Unitarianism in Transylvania, described his call to preach as "a burning kiss from God." On this day each year, our Transylvanian sisters and brothers commemorate his martyr’s death in a cell at Castle Déva while celebrating his life and influence. We will join them this year in recalling the provocative teachings of this prophet of our faith, whose portrait addressing the Diet of Torda hangs in all of our churches in Manitoba, as in countless Unitarian churches and homes around the globe. Rev. Stefan M. Jonasson will preach.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

2009-10-28T19:13:00.001-07:00

Sunday, November 1 at 11:00 a.m. – LINGERING AT THE BONE ORCHARD – Whenever we would wander by the community cemetery out at Point Roberts, my grandfather would always refer to it as the "bone orchard." I don't think I'm especially morbid, but I've always found great comfort and inspiration wandering among the weathered stones of cemeteries. They feel more like "soul orchards" to me, gardens of memory and, curiously enough, of hope. At this time of year when we seem most conscious of the things of the spirit, I'd like to reflect on the life-celebrating value of cemeteries. Rev. Stefan M. Jonasson will preach.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

2009-10-17T02:15:00.000-07:00

Sunday, October 18 – OUR REFRESHING FAITH – I recently received a message from an old friend who took exception to the theme for this year's regional gathering of Unitarians from across Western Canada, which was: "Unitarianism: An Evolution of Faith." In particular, he objected to the word faith, which he equates with uncritical belief—"blind faith"—and considers one of the most destructive products of human culture. He’s not alone: many Unitarians seem to have an allergy to words like 'faith' … and 'religious'! If my friend had been on the receiving end of the accusation directed at me by a fundamentalist some years ago—"Oh, ye of little faith!"—he would have gladly replied, "That’s for sure!" Not me! I'm overflowing with faith and I'm willing to bet that you are, too! On the sesquicentennial of the birth of John Dewey, author of A Common Faith, we'll explore our refreshing and remarkable faith. 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!

Sunday, September 20, 2009

2009-09-19T11:20:00.000-07:00

Sunday, September 20 - INTO THE DRAGON'S DEN - One of my favourite television shows is Dragon’s Den, which airs on CBC. The program features five prominent Canadian venture capitalists, who review proposals for new business ventures or expansions, offering their bottom-line judgments by actually buying a piece of the action in those ventures they deem promising. They each have a keen sense of economic value, yet is this truly what’s most important in human life? I sometimes fantasize about appearing on Dragon’s Den to pitch them the promising enterprise we know as liberal religion. I wonder if any of them would invest? 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!

Gimli Unitarian Church is now closed for the winter months. Services will resume there next summer.

Summer Sundays at Gimli Unitarian Church

2009-06-24T10:10:00.000-07:00

Sunday, July 5 - UNBELIEVABLE! – When Alice, of Alice in Wonderland fame, proffered that “one can’t believe impossible things,” the Queen responded, “Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” While reading Norman Mailer’s mistitled last book, On God, I was reminded that even the most brilliant minds are capable of believing many impossible things. Rev. Stefan M. Jonasson

Sunday, July 19 - MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT—STILL RELEVANT TODAY? – Mary Wollstonecraft, arguably the first feminist, wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Woman in 1792. Her ideas were, for that time, impetuous yet determined, coming from her choice to live a lifestyle frowned upon—a single woman attempting to survive by writing and teaching. Do her words ring true today? Or have we met all the challenges she outlined? Sylvia Sigurdson

Sunday, August 2 - COMING TO HOLM – During our 2005 visit to Iceland, one of the best memories we brought back was from a Holm visit—a Bill Holm visit that is. Holm's sense of place was rooted in his love of landscape and country. His poetry and essays were deeply connected to the mystery and wonder of those things he saw outside his window—wherever in the world he happened to be. Rev. Wayne Arnason & Rev. Kathleen Rolenz

Sunday, August 16 - FROM GENEVA TO TEHRAN – Following the recent electoral charade in Iran, I watched events unfold in that country with a mixture of hopefulness and horror, resignation and revulsion. No good can come of it when a country’s government is subject to a religious hierarchy rather than its citizens. I will reflect on the folly of theocracy and the inestimable value of secular, democratic society. Rev. Stefan M. Jonasson

Sunday, August 30 - SETTING SAIL – Oliver Wendell Holmes observed that “we must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it—but we must sail, and not drift, nor lie at anchor.” Most people seem content to drift through life, or anchor themselves to yesterday’s opinions. Are we not called to sail with the winds of fortune? Rev. Stefan M. Jonasson

Sunday, September 6 - SEVERAL MORE LIVES TO LIVE – Henry David Thoreau left his one-room cabin by Walden Pond on this day in 1847, declaring he still had “several more lives to live.” In earlier times, some believed that cats had nine lives, while a modern soap opera suggests we have but one life to live. How many lives have you lived? Rev. Stefan M. Jonasson

Sunday, April 5, 2009

2009-04-04T22:17:00.001-07:00

Sunday, April 5 - A GOOD WORD FOR JUDAS - A few years ago, my friend and professor Paul Trudinger published his book "A Good Word for Jesus" and, not surprisingly, I addressed this theme in my Christmas sermon that year. Well, as the Easter season approaches, is it possible to conceive of a good word for Judas? Recent scholarship has greatly expanded our knowledge of this shadowy figure, who is remembered for his betrayal of Jesus in the events leading to the crucifixion. Is it time to reassess our estimate of the ultimate traitor in the history of Christendom? 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!

The Annual Meeting of both the Arborg Unitarian Church and the Gimli Unitarian Church will follow the service. A light lunch will be provided before the meeting.

March Services

2009-03-14T12:27:00.000-07:00

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!

February Services

2009-02-13T07:44:00.000-08:00

February 1 – Hold On to Your Hats: All of Unitarian Universalist History in Just Under Two Thousand Words – “Our uncle asks about the new-fangled questionable religion we’ve stumbled into—he’s never heard of it before—and it sounds a little sketchy to him. The guy across the hall thinks we’ve joined a cult that someone dreamt up ten minutes ago. The mom of our child’s friend wants to be supportive—or maybe just tolerant—but not supportive enough to recognize a religion that has no grounding in history—that’s her impression, anyway.” Well, Rev. Jane Rzepka of the Church of the Larger Fellowship answers back with her distillation of our history into about one word per year! Lay Service

February 15 – From So Simple a Beginning – Two hundred years after his birth, Charles Darwin remains a controversial figure, especially among people of faith. However, evolution is a fact and Darwin’s theory concerning its mechanism remains a milestone in our modern scientific understanding of the world in which we live. Having articulated his theory of natural selection, Darwin himself marveled that, “from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been and are being evolved.” 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!

January Services

2009-01-02T21:17:00.000-08:00

January 4: no service today.

January 18: A Prayer for Spiritual Diversity - This day marks the beginning of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Now, I have no objection to Christians everywhere seeking that spirit of unity in faith which brings people together in pursuit of holy ends. But our capacity for religious chauvinism has always troubled me, so I fear that, for some, their aspirations for Christian unity will be confused with their desire for doctrinal sameness. As a corrective, I will pray for spiritual diversity, knowing that a deeper unity can grow only from our awareness and appreciation of religious differences. 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!

December Services

2008-12-06T22:34:00.000-08:00

December 7: Imagine No Religion – While watching Bill Maher’s satirical documentary, Religulous, the words of John Lennon’s utopian anthem “Imagine” entered my thoughts: “Imagine there’s no countries. / It isn’t hard to do. / Nothing to kill or die for, / and no religion too. / Imagine all the people / Living life in peace.” Imagine no religion? In Maher’s view, religion seems ridiculous, at its best, and an incitement to violence, at its worst. On leaving the theatre, imagining a world without religion seemed like a good idea. Or is it? Rev. Stefan M. Jonasson

December 21: The Feast of Stephen (Colbert) – Christmas is such an ancient festival that it’s very easy to fall into a rut at this time of year. While the economic downtown may serve to curtail the worst of the season’s consumer excesses, there's no reason why merriment can't prevail. This year, humorist Stephen Colbert has reminded us what G.K. Chesterton meant when he wrote, "Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly!" Join us for a light-hearted celebration of the festival of light. As is our custom, we invite those joining us for this service to bring gifts for The Mitten Tree -- clothing, nonperishable food items, toys and gifts -- to be passed on to the Arborg Cheer Board. 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!

November Services

2008-10-29T21:35:00.000-07:00

November 2: The Slippery Path Called Life – In Angels of the Universe, Einar Már Guðmundsson’s protagonist laments, “I still don’t know why I didn’t manage to keep a better footing on the slippery path called life, why some people go through it straight down the main road while others wander endlessly around dim alleyways.” In affirming the worth and dignity of persons, we will ponder this slippery path. Rev. Stefan M. Jonasson

November 16: Seeking Our Universalist Self – Ever since Unitarians and Universalists merged into one religious entity in 1961, there has been confusion and discussion around our two-part name. It behoves us to rediscover, understand and treasure our Universalist origins and to celebrate our dual name. We should, with pride and conviction – and more often – say both words together: Unitarian Universalist. Dr. Donald A. Bailey

Services begin at 11:00 a.m. at the Arborg Unitarian Church, Ingolfs Street at River Road, followed by light refreshments. Everyone welcome!