Unitarian Universalists announce February schedule

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“You must cherish one another. You must work — we all must work — to make this world worthy of its children.” —Pablo Casals, Catalan cellist, composer and conductor. 

I begin this month thinking about the nearly 100 people marching in downtown Pagosa at the March for Equality in mid-January. Pagosa Unitarian Universalist (UU) Fellowship members and friends participated, carried the UU banner and helped to get the word out in the local paper. We also added Action Sunday this past month as we gathered to put together care bags and discussed how to practice living our shared values with love at the center. 

You can read more about the shared values of UU at https://www.uua.org/beliefs/shared-values.

Personally, I planted seeds in a small pot near my window, and they have sprouted.

When I see my grandchildren online, I am reminded that my presence is to simply be there with them. In those short moments of connection, I am planting tiny seeds of hope, mostly for myself, and reminds me that the ground I walk on is holy ground.

May the sustaining friendships and connections you make be seeds of hope for you.

Sunday services and programs

Feb. 2

Meditation practice: 9 a.m.

Sunday service: 10:30 a.m., “Exploring the Nature of Prayer, Consciousness, and Quantum Physics” with Julie Loar.

Prayer is a universal human expression that exists in every human culture and is a practice found in religions across time. Prayer is a way to communicate with the sacred, divine, the transcendent realm or the supernatural. In our time, quantum physics is revealing the interconnectedness of the universe, what we may think of as “god” and the nature of consciousness. 

Philosopher of science Ervin Laszlo has said, “We are beginning to see the entire universe as a holographically interlinked network of energy and information, organically whole and self-referential at all scales of its existence.” 

Loar will help us explore the question: What might be the relationship between prayer, quantum physics and consciousness?  

Loar is a long-time resident of Pagosa Springs and is an award-winning author of eight books and dozens of articles. She has served the Pagosa UU Fellowship on both the service planning team and steering committee. 

Feb. 9    

Meditation practice and dharma talk: 9 to 10:15 a.m.

Going Deeper Sharing Circle: 10:30 a.m.

We come together in this small-group setting to share with one another and practice deep listening. We explore themes of recent topics, and leave space for reflection and for whatever else is on our hearts. Come make friends in this lightly facilitated group. Light refreshments are offered.

Feb. 16

Meditation practice: 9 a.m.

Sunday service: 10:30 a.m., “The End is Never the End” by the Rev. Sean Neil-Barron (streamed sermon).

The radical 19th century Unitarian minister and theologian Theodore Parker shared the following in a sermon in the 1850s: “I do not pretend to understand the moral universe; the arc is a long one, my eye reaches but little ways; I cannot calculate the curve and complete the figure by the experience of sight, I can divine it by conscience. And from what I see I am sure it bends towards justice.”

We may be more familiar with Martin Luther King Jr.’s reference in his speech from 1968, which used this quote as inspiration.

Neil-Barron, associate minister of Foothills Unitarian, will take us on a journey with his sermon from the series “No Matter What Happens.” 

Neil-Barron states, “No matter what, there is a mess to clean up, all around you … just because hope seems to be gone does not mean hope is at an end.” 

Join us for a dive back into our partnership with Foothills Unitarian Church and this timely theme.

Feb. 23

Meditation practice and dharma talk: 9 to 10:15 a.m.

Action Sunday: 10:30 a.m.

Jean Smith, Pagosa UU’s representation to the Pagosa Outreach Connection (POC), will share about the work of POC as we create a path to building community while putting our values into action. We will also have letter-writing resources to let our voice be heard.