Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Pottstown

A Celebration of Doubts • Speaker: Emily Quarles-Mowrer

90’s rock band Eve 6 tells us that when we swallow our doubt we “find nothing but faith in nothing.”  Our Fourth Principle, “A free and responsible search for truth and meaning,” reminds us that doubt is not the end of the journey.  Doubt can instead be a springboard towards the answers that deepen our faith and our connections to one another.

More Wonder: As Promised • Speaker: Miranda Van Horn

In her poem “Swan,” Mary Oliver describes the swan and asks her reader, “Did you see it in the morning, rising into the silvery air, an armful of white blossoms, a perfect commotion of silk and linen as it leaned into the bondage of its wings: a snowbank, a bank of lilies… And did you feel it, in your heart, how it pertained to everything?” Oliver knew well how to find and express wonder. Recent scientific studies suggest that people who look for and recognize wonder in their environment stay healthier, heal faster, and increase the likelihood that they’ll get better at finding even more wonder. This program is a consideration of the new science of awe — an extension of my summer talk on natural wonders when I’d promised to share a meditation thatcan help you find more wonder in your surroundings. This time, I’ll keep my promise.

Lay Leader: Jon Dreazen

We often forget that the UUA was formed by two coequal liberal religious faiths— Unitarians and Universalists. I feel that we tend to think of Unitarians as the large U in the name of our faith and the Universalists as the small U. The Unitarian message tends to be one of complex humanism whereas the Universalist message is simple and straightforward—a loving God would never consign anyone to a terrible place called hell. Or even simpler still—God is love. I will discuss the earliest incarnations of Universalism which date back to the beginnings of Christianity and came to the New World and set up shop just down the road from us in Oley, PA.

Coffee Hour follows the Service

The Day of the Dead — Lay Speaker: Mary Ryan

We celebrate Halloween in a couple of days. It’s one of many celebrations around the world at this time of the year. In the past we’ve learned about some of these. Mexico celebrates the Day of the Dead this week, too. This morning we’ll learn about this holiday and share amusing stories of some of those who have left our lives.

Coffee Hour follows the Service.

Who Rescued Who? Lay Leader: Emily Quarles-Mowrer

Recently there was a news story about a stray dog who adopted a nursing home. Touching stories like these lead us to struggle to recognize that dogs have their own thoughts and motivations, without anthropomorphizing their behaviors. Join us as we think about why dogs are drawn to humans and why humans are drawn to dogs.

Third Sunday Potluck follows the Service Please bring something tasty to share.