January 22, 2023
"Simplicity and Silence"
The heart of Buddhism is practice, the experience of having a different relationship with ourselves and with the things around us, of actually abstracting ourselves for a time from attachment, from grasping, and so – at least for a time – to put dukkha, suffering, away from us. What can we learn from such practices?
Our sermon for this Sunday will explore the life of Henry David Thoreau and how his choices to “live deliberately” impacted those who loved him. Thoreau suggests that we should all live our lives deliberately and with purpose, but can we do so without using or abusing others in our lives?
January 08, 2023
While the character Ruth may or may not have been a “bombshell," the book was deliberately fashioned to explode in the minds of complacent admirers of some of the Bible’s other books.
Prelude: Nancy Donnelly, pianist
Welcome & Lighting of the Chalice
Hymn: #58 “Ring Out, Wild Bells” to the tune TRURO
The Traditional Christmas Candle Light Service. A service of readings and carols with special music for all ages.
The Unitarian Church in Fall River
December 11, 2022
“Our Social Justice Forebears: The Transcendentalists and Brook Farm”
The Transcendentalists of the early 19th century greatly influenced our Unitarian religion and our Unitarian Universalism of today. Their exuberance in literature, poetry, spirituality and social justice rippled through the society of their day. But who were they and what was their connection to Brook Farm?
“Frederick Douglass in Massachusetts”
It was during his first seven years of freedom, spent in Massachusetts, that this escaped slave became the civil-rights hero we read about.
Guest Minister: Rev. Richard Trudeau
“Wisdom of Leadership from Ancient Hindu Epics and more”
We welcome back Rev. David Horst of Norwich, Conn., for our Thanksgiving service. In his sermon, “Kitchen Graces,” David reflects on his passion for cooking and how he finds spiritual nourishment in the kitchen. He also has a passion for singing and performs Cheryl Wheeler’s “When Fall Comes to New England.” We’ll begin the service by singing Henry Alford's Thanksgiving classic “Come, Ye Thankful People” and conclude with David sharing his favorite recipe for cranberry sauce. You are welcome to bring a Thanksgiving recipe to share, too!
This Veterans day we will honor our Veterans and explore whether acts of bravery are driven by courage or a belief that we are following a course that is true. Courage or Faith will ask us to consider times in our personal lives when we act out of our core values and faith rather than or in addition to courage.
This week, our guest minister is Rev. Richard Trudeau, who was for 17 years the minister of the UU Church of Weymouth, Mass. and for 35 years a teacher of math and the history of astronomy at Stonehill College in Easton. He is the author of two books for UUs: Universalism 101 and Bible Stories for Skeptics. Now semi-retired, he is a member of the Unitarian Church in Fall River. He is married to Susan O'Connor, who after many careers is spending her retirement as a genealogist.