contact Laura to add info

Our Fellowship meets every Sunday (September - May) at 10:00 am at the

Headwaters Peace Center

1826 Mikrantip Rd SW

Bemidji, MN 56601

For more information contact:

huuf@headwatersuu.org

Join us by zoom using the link above or following this sign-in information:

Meeting ID: 960 3461 6935 Call in number: 1 (312) 626 6799

Click here for Google directions

December 3, 2023

Let the Mystery Be

Speaker and coordinator - Maggie Carlson

Sunday, December 3 begins our monthly theme: Mystery. What a great topic to give thought to during this holiday season. As Unitarian’s we find mystery regarding the spiritual realm to be complex and interesting. We do not claim a doctrine or recite a creed. Instead, we go about seeking our truth as we experience life. Join Maggie Carlson on Sunday to explore what it means to “let the mystery be.”

Maggie Carlson is a member of the HUUF community. She is a retired educator with 25 years experience in elementary school and 11 years at the Bemidji State University in the education department. She considers herself an “ethnic” Episcopalian, with the desire to explore the spiritual realm from a personal perspective. She finds herself most often inspired spirituality through nature and its complexities.

December 10, 2023

"Demystifying" the Causes of Homelessness

speaker - Reed Olson

coordinator - Barb Houg

Often, people look at all the unsheltered people in their nation or their community and they are mystified as to where everyone came from. Executive Director of the Nameless Coalition, Reed Olson would like to "demystify" the causes of homelessness.

In addition to his role as Director of the Nameless Coalition which operates the New Day Center and the Wolfe Shelter, Reed is a co-owner of the Wild Hare Bistro and has served on Bemidji's City Council and on the Beltrami County Board.

December 17, 2023

Deepening Darkness, Lengthening Light

speaker - Rev. Victoria Safford

coordinator - Tricia Andrews

As we move toward winter solstice in this part of the world, with hard news raging all around (and sometimes fear or loneliness within), what can ancient stories tell us about returning light, and hope? HUUF welcomes Rev. Victoria Safford as our guest speaker and musical guests The Swivets featuring NIkkiLee Nolden, Casey Rasmussen, and Lisa Mattson for this special solstice service.

A graduate of Vassar College and Yale Divinity School, Victoria served as lead minister at White Bear Unitarian Universalist Church in Mahtomedi MN for 22 years, following a ten-year ministry in Northhampton, MA. She lives on St. Paul's west side.

December 24, 2023

Winter Music Service

singer and coordinator - Paul Kivi

December 24th at 10 am is our annual winter music service coordinated by Paul Kivi, who will lead a couple classic hymns. Also performing are Shylan Rose, Barb Houg, Carolyn Towler, Brent McWithey, the Every Once in a While choir, and more. Join us for some Christmas Eve morning joy!

December 31, 2023

Gathering Fire

6:00 pm

speaker and coordinator - Maranda Stauffacher

Join us for an evening gathering around a fire (weather permitting) for a sharing circle reflecting on the past year and sharing our hopes for the coming year. This evening's service will start at 6:00PM. Bring your favorite New Years snack to share and chairs for around the fire. Beverages will be provided.

Please remember to continue bringing in donations for the Nameless Coalition for the Homeless on December 3rd and December 10th.

Reed Olson, director of the Nameless Coalition will be the speaker at HUUF on Sunday, December 10th. HUUF children will be able to present all of the items that have been donated to Reed Olson that day.

Items needed -

Gloves

Hats

Socks

Large jackets/coats*

Large/XL /XXL sweatshirts

XL/XXL T-shirts

Hygiene products (small toothpaste tubes, 3-in-1 body wash, band-aids, dixie cups)

Shelf-stable snacks (no prep needed)

*All clothing must be clean and in good condition

Items they can not accept are non-shelf-stable food or food that requires prep, blankets, children’s items, items not in good condition

If you have any comments or questions, please contact me on Sundays after service, or my phone number is:

218-209-7155.

Susanne Rabel

Welcome to The Gift of Mystery!

Our December theme is the Gift of Mystery where we will explore the dance between mystery and wonder. Paying attention to mystery reminds us how lucky we are to live

in an amazing world. Mystery is something which we don’t know, like the answer to “Why are we here?” “How did our universe come into being?” “What is God?” “Why do people die?” or “What is the meaning of life?” These are things that likely will never be answered and figured out. And that’s ok. The important part, says our faith, is to allow mysterious things to make us feel grateful and happy. Just like when you go to a magic show. We have no idea how the magician does their mysterious tricks; all we know is that we feel excited and lucky to be there to experience it!!

Mysterious things change how we feel. Mystery transforms us! When we feel life is boring, they make us feel that life is exciting. When we feel like a know-it-all, they make us humble and curious.

Sunday, December 3rd -

Session A: The Mystery of our Amazing World

Sunday, December 10th -

Session B: Noticing Mystery in the Ordinary

Sunday, December 17th -

Session C: The Mystery of the Returning Light (Winter Solstice)

Sunday, December 24th -

Service of music today. No RGL classes or childcare.

Sunday, December 31 -

Evening Gathering Fire 6:00 pm today. No RGL classes or childcare.

Meet the Members

Minna Furfaro

Tell us about your family

My husband, Tim, and I have been married for 13 years this December. We were both born and raised in Bemidji and are very happy that we were able to buy our first house and start our own family here. We've got two children; Fen, who is five, and Sulie, who is two.

Tell us three things you'd like us to know about you:

1. I love reading, mostly nonfiction books. Before we had Fen I worked at the Bemidji Public Library; my dream job! Libraries are my favorite places.

2. I also love music, movies and games but don't have as much leisure time to enjoy them as I would like.

3. Community building is really important to me and I'm delighted to be part of the HUUF community!

My journey to HUUF:

A few years ago I read a book called "The Spiritual Child" that talks about the importance of growing up in a spiritual community. I was lamenting to a friend that there was nothing that fit with my liberal values, and she suggested I look into UU. That's when I found HUUF. I was amazed to find exactly what I was hoping for. I'm so thankful to be part of it!

HUUF Committee Links

The Social Justice Committee will be meeting on Sunday December 10th at 11”15 (following the service).

Our agenda includes: (1) Review and approve the November meeting minutes (2) continue developing a plan for the Social Justice Coordinated service to be held January 7th, 2024. Past discussions and Suggestion ideas include “the power and love of the Circle” service (focusing on culture) and/ or holding a talking circle perhaps with a pot luck with all members invited to participate and share their individual story.

Social Justice Committee Meetings are open to all members and friends of HUUF.

HUUF is no longer using the PO Box address it has used in the past. From now on make sure that your are mailing any correspondence to:

Headwaters Peace Center

1826 Mikrantip Rd SW

Bemidji, MN 56601

Sunday Snacks

If you enjoy gathering after Sunday fellowship for coffee and treats maybe you would be willing to bring treats yourself one Sunday. Better yet, sign up with a friend and each bring something. It can be store bought or made at home. Follow the link below to sign up or let Candy Roberts-Salter know and she'll get you signed up

Snack Sign-Up Genius

Drumming Circle

December 21st - 6:00 pm

Come to the Peace Center and join in on a drumming circle led by Pete McDonell. Members and friends of all ages and abilities are encouraged to join. Bring your own instruments or come and use the ones provided.

The Soul Matters theme this month is:

The Gift of Mystery

If you'd like to access the packet for this month's theme follow the link below and enter the password: huuf23

The Gift of Mystery

UUA Article II Study Commission

Final Proposed Revisions of the UUA Bylaws

After extensive engagement with UUs across our faith tradition, the Article II Study Commission have completed their Final Proposed Revision to Article II of the UUA Bylaws. A link to the final document is included at the end of this article. This link also includes information about submitting any new amendments. There is a deadline of 5pm ET on February 1, 2024 for submitting any new amendments.

At the UUA General Assembly 2024, UUA's will come together and vote on whether to adopt this revision as the new Article II of the UUA Bylaws.

Final Proposed Revision to Article II

Soul Matters is excited about supporting the work of a new UU effort called AI & the Human, a small but growing group of folks working to bring the AI conversation into UU congregations. We are espeically grateful that AI & the Human is building a lot of their work around our monthly themes!

One piece of their work is hosting monthly interviews/discussions with academics, authors and AI researchers who focus on the intersection of AI and religion.

Should we be looking to robots to care for the aged and infirm? Can the touch of a robot ever equal the touch of a human? Should we imagine in ten years colonies of robots in nursing homes, working side-by-side with humans in providing care to those who so greatly need it? Listen to this discussion with Thomas Arnold, an expert on human-robot interaction at Tufts, and a scholar who came to robotics via a path that includes the pursuit of a Ph.D. in religious studies. He's a Visiting Scholar of Technology Ethics.

Follow this link to listen to November's AI and the Human conversation with Thomas Arnold, visiting scholar at Tufts University  