This Week at UUP: Food For Thought

The Unitarian Universalists of Petaluma
Nurture Your Spirit. Help Heal Our World.


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ANNOUNCEMENTS AND UPCOMING EVENTS

Annual Religious Education Garage and Bake Sale
Saturday, August 29th at the Greaney's home, 8 Nob Hill Terrace
Please come support this important fundraiser!

5th Sunday Luncheon and Informational Presentation - August 30, 12:00- 2:00 p.m.
Please plan to stay after the service this Sunday to enjoy a tasty lunch prepared for you by the Social Responsibility Committee and the Religious Education Classes. Afterwards, UUP's Leadership Council would like to share some informaton with you from their recent meeting with PCD staff members Cilla Raughley and Jeanelyse Adams. No charge for the fellowship and information. Donations of any amount towards the cost of the lunch would be most welcome.

Fall Women's Retreat!
October 9-11 at Bodega Bay! Join a small group of wonderful women for a weekend of talking, cooking, creating and beach walking together! Please reserve your spot ASAP! We have room for about ten women; cost is dependent on the exact number participating but is about $140/per person. Contact T Hathaway with reservations/questions.

The UUP fall social-cultural season begins soon!
The first event will be going to the Cinnabar to see "Always Patsy Cline" on September 11th. It was here last year to rave reviews and returns. So, get your own ticket and email Dick Allen the number in your party, as Cinnabar will save us seats together. We will simultaneously celebrate Jean Conrad's birthday and two years as president of UUP Board of Trustee with a dinner gathering somewhere to be determined before the play. So, get your ticket (visit http://www.cinnabartheater.org/ or call 763-8920), and let Dick know you are going.

Progressive Festival is coming up! Can you help?
The Progressive Festival is Sunday, Sept. 20th from noon to 5 pm. In the past, UUP has hosted a table with brochures, etc. as an outreach activity. If we do this again this year, we need a minimum of 6 volunteers to work the event. That means gathering material, setting up before noon, staffing the table and packing up at 5 pm. Interested? Speak to Phil Boyle or any Board member ASAP!

New Member Sunday - September 13
If you have been attending UUP for awhile and have found something of value to you here, we hope that you are considering membership. We will be welcoming new members into the congregation on Sunday, September 13 and invite you to join us at that time. Please contact David Dodd or Hope Stewart to learn more. You may also speak to any Board member about the joys and responsibilities of church membership.

Gather Ye Water and Stones
When you're out and about on travels, journeys and adventures this summer, remember to gather water and stones to share at our annual Water and Stones participation worship service scheduled for September 13th.


UPCOMING SUNDAY SERVICES
(Social time with refreshments begins at 10:00 am, at the Petaluma Woman's Club, 518 B Street. Worship service begins at 10:30 am.)

Sunday, August 30th: Food for Thought: UU Values and Eating to Care for the World
Worship Leader: Joyce Tischler, assisted by the UUP Social Responsibility Committee
Our personal choices of what to eat have global implications on the environment, human hunger, poverty and social inequality, animal welfare and climate change. As individuals and as a liberal religion, how can we build an ethical, sustainable and peaceful world through our everyday food choices?
This service will be followed by a scrumptious (and very ethical!) 5th Sunday Luncheon. Please join us.

Sunday, September 6th: Creativity as a Spiritual Practice
Guest speaker: Rev. Tristy Taylor
Worship Leader: Diana Spaulding
We are all walking unique paths as we live our lives to the fullest. As we make choices and commitments, we are taking an active role in creating our lives. I call this process 'Crafting an Authentic Life', or 'Co-Creating with Spirit'. When we make a regular, spiritual practice of creating, we can create a more lively and dynamic creative life as well as feel a deeper connection to ourselves, our communities and the divine.

Sunday, September 13: Coming Home: Our Annual Water and Stones Ritual
Worship Leader: Jodi Boyle
As summer draws to a close, let us gather together again. Bring the water and stones that you collected on your summer excursions and adventures, and we will share them with each other as we reflect on our journeys in this intergenerational, participation service.

Regularly Scheduled Meetings / Events:
"Larking About" (UUP's choir) rehearses each Wednesday evening from 8 to 9:30 pm at the home of Diana Spaulding and David Dodd. New singers are always welcome!
UUP Men's Group meets September 4, Friday, from 7:30 to 9:30 at the home of George Beeler. All UUP men are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Links:
www.uupetaluma.org
Facebook Page (be sociable with UUP friends!)
Flickr Gallery

Berkelly's Blog

UUP member Berkley Sturgeon and UUP friend and speaker Kelley Brisbois have started a wonderful blog, "Berkelly's Blog" (click the title above to visit), focusing on the use of locally grown and produced foods to prepare wonderful meals. This is right in line with the topic of yesterday's worship service: "Food For Thought: UU Values and Eating to Care for the World."

Religious Education Update: August 23, 2009

What is the place of science in Unitarian Universalism?

In Unitarian Universalism, scientific knowledge is considered compatible with religious beliefs. In fact, our denomination has adopted a list of sources which includes, “Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science.” Many UU’s are inspired by natural beauty, by spending time in the wilderness, or by discovering the complexities of our physical world.

While most Americans respect science and scientists, many choose teachings of their faith traditions over scientific theories. Scott Keeter, Director of Survey Research for the Pew Forum wrote in 2007, “Indeed, while virtually all scientists agree that life on Earth has evolved over billions of years, public opinion polling over the last few decades has shown that between 40% and 50% of Americans consistently reject the very idea of natural evolution, largely on the grounds that it conflicts with biblical accounts of creation. Indeed, according to a 2006 survey from the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life and the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, 42% of Americans reject the notion that life on earth evolved and believe instead that humans and other living things have always existed in their present form. “ While no particular belief is required of UU’s, I suspect that few of us subscribe to the concept that humans co-existed with dinosaurs.

When discussing science with our UUP children and youth, I encourage them to think for themselves and ask questions. Last week, I told our children the story of Galileo, who was forced by the Catholic church to recant his statement that the earth revolves around the sun. My point with the children is not to say that UU’s are better than people of other faiths, but that we promote the use of reason and the individual search for truth and meaning. Also, science does not produce the Truth, but that it does create models that best explain the evidence we experience. Perhaps one of our UUP youth will someday use his or her mind to develop a theory that advances science and changes how we view our amazing world.


Marlene Abel
Director of Religious Education