UUShoals Programs

Please scroll down to see past 2009 programs

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Shoals

-2009 -

Calendar of Events for December

December 6, 2009 – “So Our Children Can Fly” presented by Holly Dotson. On October 17, 2009, Ms. Dotson and her family attended the 2009 Mid-South District Healthy Congregation Conference in Huntsville, Alabama. She will be presenting a summary of the “So Our Children Can Fly” workshop led by Dr. Mark Hicks, author of the new UUA curriculum “Building the World We Dream About.” Potluck following the service in honor of Bob Ingram.

SPECIAL SERVICE – THURSDAY NIGHT, DECEMBER 10, 2009 - 7:00 P.M. WINTER SOLSTICE SERVICE FEATURING HARPIST – ANNETTE HARMAN

December 13, 2009 – Daphne Simpkins, Professor of Creative Writing at AUM, will present, “A Medley of Confessions”. This presentation will explore the impulse to confess journeys, longings, misdemeanors, and all sorts of sins against the self or others, which is actually viral these days if one explores websites with the word “true confessions” in it. But true confessions, while being widespread, require a leap of faith if one is to try and understand someone else’s journey toward truth or meaning, which is, classically, the impulse behind famous confessions like The Confessions of St. Augustus –a text which paved the way for more contemporary confessions told in autobiography and memoir. This presentation begins with Augustine but leaps forward to Anne Rice (Called Out of Darkness) and Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat, Pray Love) , and culminates in an end-of-the-year challenge to name one’s immediate quest, meditate upon one’s own journey, and look to our own futures with a greater sympathy for others, a refreshed regard for the human condition that produces quests and confessions, and perhaps enlarges our vocabulary so that we can come closer to naming what is, in so many way, ineffable.

December 20, 2009 – Caroline Lopez, local Kadampa Meditation teacher will present, “Happiness for the Holidays” Buddhist Teaching with Guided Meditation. The holidays can oftentimes be a challenging and stressful time for us. They can also be a wonderful opportunity to develop the minds of patience, love and compassion. This practical presentation will explore simple methods of “training the mind” that will help our holiday season be more relaxed, enjoyable, and fun!

December 27, 2009 – Bill Parkhurst will present, “Clara Barton- A Practical Mystic”. Beat the After-Christmas-Bah-Humbug blahs as Bill Parkhurst gives you his take on the life, times and beliefs of this internationally famous Universalist woman who became a Civil War “battlefield angel” and the founder of the American Red Cross. This female-force-to-be-reckoned-with was born on Christmas Day in 1821 to a middle-class family in Oxford, Massachusetts. Her life, needless to say, was both long and driven and the list of her accomplishments all the more wonderful because of the many odds she overcame. Let us spend the hour in rumination of one of our heroes of history.

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Shoals

-2009 -

Calendar of Events for November

November 1, 2009 - Dr. Larry Bates, Professor of Psychology at UNA, will present, “Bluegrass Music: Death, Violence, Jail, Adultery and God Mix”. Bluegrass music is perhaps the rawest form of music. It tackles some incredibly dark issues and spurns an entirely different genre of the blues. But is also seems to be indelibly connected to Christian music. The violence in its songs is the most disturbing of perhaps any songs ever sung, and many other songs are about cheating, prison, alcoholism, and dying. But don’t worry, the next song will be upbeat and have you dancing about the joys of life or singing about how sweet Jesus is. This talk will examine the paradox of killing and Christian themes in Bluegrass music.

November 8, 2009 – Singer/ Songwriter, Ken Sizemore from Panama City, Florida will present a musical program entitled, “Friendship—the Importance of Friends of All Ages”. From our youth to old age, friends play an important role in shaping our lives and in supporting us in times of trouble and of triumph. Old friends, new friends, best friends and mentors, we’ll thank them all.

November 15, 2009 – “Gardens of the Shoals”. Phillip Oliver, UU member and Assistant Professor of Library Science at UNA, has been writing articles about local gardens for Alabama Gardener magazine for the past three years. In this presentation, he will share photos of the gardens he as written about.

November 22, 2009 – “The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee”. Roasanne Sietins, volunteer with the Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee, will present a DVD presentation of the work of the sanctuary.

November 29, 2009 – Dr. Tom Kersen, Assistant Professor of Sociology, Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi will present, “Should I stay or should I go: Spiritual Seekers vs. Religious Stayers”. Why do you go to church? Is it comradeship, spiritual seeking, theology, or some other reason? Recent survey data hints that for many Unitarian Universalists, it is spiritual growth. What does this say about each of us? Are we religious seekers or “stayers?” What is the difference? What precipitates a person to follow such a quest? Recent research will address this and other questions.

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Shoals

-2009 -

Calendar of Events for October

October 4, 2009 – Cynthia Alby, Professor Education at Georgia College and State University, will present, “Wishing Well”. What exactly is a wish? Is wishing worthwhile? Is there a way to wish well? Is there power in a wish?

October 11, 2009 – Bob Ingram, president of the Ingram Institute and adjunct instructor in the Department of English at UNA, will present, “UU Heritage Week at Ferry Beach”. Mr. Ingram will show slides and describe the workshop he attended recently in Maine.

October 18, 2009 – Holly Dotson, English Instructor at NWSCC, will present, “The Freedom of Not Knowing”. This program will center on the fourth Unitarian Universalist Principle; A free and responsible search for truth and meaning. Ms. Dotson will discuss why this principle is important to her, what it means to her and how it impacts her life ( in her writing and teaching).

October 25, 2009 – Daphne Simpkins, Professor of Creative Writing at AUM, will present, “Catching Holiness: A fascination with poets and priests”. Beginning with Keats and his famous allusion to truth and beauty, this presentation will chase the concept of holiness as embodied in people who are intercessors of a sort – whether poet or priest. We will attempt to “catch holiness” for ourselves by simply pursuing, or at least recognizing, the existence of the sublime captured by poetry, but continue the race toward catching holiness in a continued pursuit of finding possible answers to the question about why people need sometimes, a confidante, sometimes, an intercessor between truth and beauty, and sometimes, a priest.

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Shoals

-2009 -

Calendar of Events for September

September 6, 2009 – Annette Harmon will present, “Exploring Early Folk Music”. Annette is an accomplished harpist, pianist and guitarist. She performs in the Shoals and surrounding areas and is employed as a Music Therapist.

September 13, 2009 – The UU congregation will celebrate the “Blending of the Waters” service. All members and visitors are encouraged to bring a small sampling of water from their summer travels to participate in this in-gathering service symbolizing the “coming together” of the community after the travels of summer.

September 20, 2009 – Betty Ingram, will present a program on “Sorenson Video Relay Services”. Sorenson Video Relay Services (SVRS) is a free 24-hour service for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community that enables anyone to conduct video relay calls with family, friends, or business associates. Calls are placed and received through a professional American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter via a high-speed Internet connection and VRS equipment. Betty Ingram has been certified since 1972 as an Interpreter for the Deaf and holds a Master’s Comprehensive Skills Certification (MCSC) from the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID).

September 27, 2009 – Dr. Thomas Osborne, Professor of History at the University of North Alabama, will present, “A Kind of Public Conscience’: William Ellery Channing and Rational Christianity.”

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Shoals

-2009 -

Calendar of Events for August

August 2, 2009 – Daphne Simpkins, Professor of Creative Writing at AUM, will present, “Bingo Virgin and other Confessions about Coming of Age”.

August 9, 2009 – Robert C. Stewart, Executive Director of the Alabama Humanities Foundation , will provide a multi-media overview of this statewide organization. The AHF’s mission is to create and foster opportunities to explore human values and meanings through the humanities. Humanities disciplines include, among others, history, literature, languages, ethics, philosophy, religious studies, art history, and archaeology.

August 16, 2009 – Bob Ingram , Adjunct Professor of English at UNA, will present, “Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Sign Language but Were Afraid to Ask”.

August 23, 2009 – Dolores Hydock, professional Actress and Storyteller from Birmingham, Alabama will present, “Father Knows Best”.

August 30, 2009 – Caroline Lopez will present, “Cooling The Heat of Anger”. Nothing is more disturbing and destructive than our minds of anger. Ms. Lopez will look and answer the questions, “What is Anger? “How do I reduce my anger, frustration and anxieties?” “Is it really possible to stop getting angry?”. Included in the program will be a meditation on the direct opponent to an angry mind.

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Shoals

-2009 -

Calendar of Events for July

July 5, 2009 – Dr. Larry Bates, Professor of Psychology at UNA, will present, “Fruity Naked People”. “The story of Adam and Eve is certainly a tale of many beginnings. In this talk we’ll focus on one moment in their lives, the ominous encounter with the famous tree, which ultimately led to the clothing industry. It’s just a brief walk in the metaphorical garden on a less than stellar day.”

July 12, 2009 – Caroline Lopez will present, “The Kadampa Meditation Group”. She will discuss the meditation group and what the group and Buddhism offers participants. She will lead a meditation and explain how meditation can help you in your daily life. Caroline Lopez has been studying Kadampa Buddhism for over 6 years and had been facilitating and teaching local branches for about 5 years, almost as long as she has been in Alabama. She is in an advanced Foundation Program Correspondence class given by her teacher, Gen Kelsang Mondrub, Resident Teacher at Rameshori Buddhist Center in Atlanta and also attends the center for empowerments and teachings throughout the year which she shares with her students. She has traveled throughout the United States and abroad to receive Kadam Dharma teachings. The Kadampa Meditation group meets at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Shoals every Wednesday evening at 6:00 p.m. for teaching , meditation and discussion, as well as socializing. Everyone, at any level of interest is welcome to come and enjoy the class.

July 19, 2009 – The Blue Navigators will kick off the Handy Festival at the UU Congregation. The Blue Navigators play a variety of blues, rock, country, and folk. Come start the Handy Festival with some great music and a fun laid back atmosphere.

July 26, 2009 – Dr. Lisa Jennings, UU Lay Minister and Research Scientist at UT- Memphis will bring the message and lead the congregation in worship.

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Shoals

-2009 -

Calendar of Events for June

June 6, 2009 – Saturday - Ken Sizemore In Concert! Music starts at 7:30 p.m. Ken will be singing songs of Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, Peter, Paul and Mary and many other great folk singers. The audience will get a list of over 300 songs they may request. This concert is free and refreshments will be provided. Come out for a fun and relaxing evening of good music and fellowship.

June 7, 2009 – Singer-songwriter, Ken Sizemore, originally from Nashville, Tennessee and now residing in Panama City, Florida will present a program of folk music entitled, “Justice, Equity, and Compassion”.

June 14, 2009- Cindy and Gerald Crawford will provide a program of photos and memories acquired during their May trip to Eastern Europe. The program is entitled “Eastern Europe on the Danube”. The main focus will be on the warm and friendly people, and the natural beauty of the Danube Basin from the Black Sea to Budapest. Other topics to be addressed will include religions in the area and the devastating wars between Bosnia, Croatia, and Serbia between 1991 and 1995 when the Socialist Federative Republic was being dissolved.

June 21, 2009 – Clark and Mary Eileen Mueller will present, “A Place We Have Been, But May Never Be Able to Return- Yemen”. The Muellers have traveled widely and always provide enjoyable and interesting programs.

June 28, 2009 – Singer and performer, Ken Shepsky from California will be with us to present a musical program entitled "The Music of Jerry Herman". He recently returned from a tour of Japan and will be making his home in the Shoals area as well as on the West Coast.

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Shoals

-2009 -

Calendar of Events for May

May 3, 2009 – Christie Bevis, Executive Director of the Northwest Alabama Community Health Association, will present a program on the mission and work of the health clinic and how others may get involved.

May 10, 2009 - “I Am One.” Robert Ingram, president of the Ingram Institute and adjunct instructor in the Department of English at the University of North Alabama, describes UU-led efforts to rebuild houses, churches, communities, and lives in New Orleans following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

May 17, 2009 – Dr. Lisa Jennings, Lay Minister with the UU Church on the River in Memphis and Vascular Research Scientist at UT-Memphis will present the program, “Leading from the Heart”. She will explain how "We create this place together, in every single one of its dimensions, through the energy, time, talent and money of all those who choose to belong here." Further, she will clarify the perspective that "We are not here in order to be busy. We are here in order to grow our souls."

May 24, 2009 – David Walton, local songwriter and musician will present a program of music on acoustic guitar and bamboo flute.

May 31, 2009- Bill Parkhurst, UUCS member and longtime Unitarian Universalist will present, “Pilgrim’s Progress: We don’t have theology, we dance!” Additionally, the topic for the discussion group on May 31, 2009 at 9:30 a.m. is “What do you want from your Church?”

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Shoals

-2009 -

Calendar of Events for April

April 5, 2009 – Dr. Larry Bates, Professor of Psychology at the University of North Alabama will present, “The Will to Believe: Another Look at William James’ Argument”. Pascal argued that believing in God made sense because the consequences of getting it wrong were not exactly good. Years later, W. K. Clifford argued that “it is wrong always, everywhere, and for anyone, to believe anything upon insufficient evidence” and thus introduced the concept of evidentiary morality. His contemporary, William James, one of the earliest American psychologists, then presented a series of lectures in which he defended the legitimacy of faith and countered Clifford’s Rule as irrational. This message examines William James “Will to Believe” lecture, a pragmatic argument for faith.

April 12, 2009 – Tim Kelley, Professor of English at Northwest-Shoals Community College, will present, “A Walk on the Wild Side with Henry Thoreau”.

April 19, 2009 – Dr. Thomas Osborne, Professor of History at the University of North Alabama, will present, “Fridtjof Nansen: Forgotten Hero of Humanity”. Outside of his native Norway, Nansen has been largely forgotten today, but he was one of the most admired heroes in the world a hundred years ago. He is very important in an amazing variety of things: arctic and Antarctic exploration, neurology, oceanography, Norway’s peaceful separation from Sweden, the sport of skiing, saving his country from starvation during World War I, the League of Nations, assistance to famine victims in Russia, creation of the international commitment to protect refugees and stateless persons. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1922. When he died in May, 1930, his funeral was held on Norway’s National Day and was probably the largest funeral procession in the history of the country. In spite of all that, the Norwegian state Lutheran church refused to allow him to be buried in consecrated ground, so he is buried in the lawn outside his own home.

April 26, 2009 – Annette Harman will present, “Music Therapy”. Annette has worked at Mitchell Hollingsworth Nursing and Rehab Center for almost 10 years. She has served in several capacities there, but is currently Large Group Activity Coordinator. She uses music therapy with the residents each week in the rehab wing and throughout the regular programming. She earned a Bachelor of Music Therapy from Shenandoah University with a major in classical harp music. She has worked as a Music Therapist in Virginia, Maryland and Alabama and has been a professional harpist for 25 years

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Shoals

-2009 -

Calendar of Events for March

March 1, 2009 – Program rescheduled as a result of the snow.

March 8, 2009 – A representative from the local PAWS organization ( Pets are Worth Saving) will present a program on their mission and activities.

March 15, 2009 – The Blue Navigators will present an acoustic musical program of songs varying from folk, rock, country and blues.

March 22, 2009 The University of North Alabama Chamber Choir will present their international program they will be doing in Florence, Italy. They are an elite group of singers chosen out of the Collegiate Singers, this ensemble is featured on and off campus at events such as the Renaissance Faire in Florence and on tour with the Collegiate Singers. They have the privilege of representing the University of North Alabama on the Music Department’s first international tour. They are under the direction of Ian Loeppky. Originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Mr. Loeppky has been the Assistant Professor and Director of Choral Activities at the University of North Alabama since the fall of 2003.

March 29, 2009 –(9:30 AM - UUCS Discussion Group will consider "Planning your own Funeral." This is a topic bound to make some of us uncomfortable but yet, through a rational process, we can consider what we can do to have our last wishes granted. The sky's the limit!) 11:00 AM - Douglas Howard Parkhurst (Bill's Vermont Cousin) will present a program entitled "Introducing Hosea Ballou". . As a life-long Universalist-Unitarian, graduate of Tuft's University and armchair historian and family archivist Doug will make sure your attendance will be well worth the effort. 12:30 PM - Second Annual UUCS Beech Branch Spring Fling and Hot Dog Roast. Weather permitting, we will caravan out to western Colbert County for an afternoon of food, fellowship and fun at Bill & Melissa's "Farm." The last week in March has been Bill's favorite week out at Beech Branch for many years with the weather cool enough to keep the insects and snakes down but warm enough to see the first blush of spring on the redbuds, dogwoods and trillium. Most vehicles will be able to make the last mile but, if you have a choice, trucks and SUVs are better suited because of their higher clearance. Hot dogs, buns, ketchup, mustard and drinks will be provided. If you'd like something else or would like to bring something to share, that's great! Finally, we'll have a Port-o-potty on-site for our use. If the weather proves daunting on this Sunday, we'll reschedule to the first Sunday in April (5th).

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Shoals

-2009 -

Calendar of Events for February

February 1, 2009 – Guest speaker, Linda Foshee, will present, “The Consequences of Universalism”. In a recent Pew Report, it was determined that most Americans don’t feel their religion is the only way to eternal life, even if their faith tradition teaches otherwise. This finding presents a scary scenario to conservative Christians.

February 8, 2009 – Dr. Randy Parker, Interim Director of the Cramer Children’s Center in Florence, will present a program on the organization and its work in our community. Dr. Parker is retired from NWSCC and began work with the Cramer Center in 2008.

February 15, 2009 – Dr. Tina Hubler, Professor of Biology and Genetics at the University of North Alabama and member of the UUCS, will present, “Everything Changes—Including Humans Over the Next One Million Years”. Dr. Hubler was “born and raised” in Pensacola, Florida. She graduated from Auburn University and worked as a chemist for ten years, followed by 6 years of teaching high school. She graduated from the University of South Alabama and then came to Florence to teach biology and genetics at UNA. She enjoys birds, gardening, dogs, reading, playing basketball. She loves living in NW Alabama, which she says one of her former students calls “God’s country”.

February 22, 2009 – Allison Wetherbee, Public Relations Director with Easter Seals Camp ASCCA will present a program on her life and the work of Camp ASCCA. Allison was born in Camden, Alabama in 1970. She was born with no arms and no legs. She attended Camp ASCCA for ten summers throughout her childhood. She attended college at AUM earning a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling. She began her current position in 2007. She has released a book entitled, “I Was Born This Way” in January 2009. “Sharing my own story and talking about Camp ASCCA is one in the same for me. I can’t tell about one without the other. Camp had a profound impact on my life as a child, and it is a significant part of my own story. Therefore, I will be sharing much of this background information in this presentation itself.”

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Shoals

-2009 -

Calendar of Events for January

January 4, 2009 – Bill Parkhurst, UU member and retired TVA employee, will present, “The Religions of China”.

January 11, 2009 – Dolores Hydock, renowned actress and storyteller from Birmingham, Alabama will present, “At Home Between Earth and Sky: Voices from Chandler Mountain”. Ms. Hydock comes to us on this visit through the Alabama Humanities Foundation Roads Scholar Program..

January 18, 2009 – Ken Sizemore, folk singer and songwriter, will present, “Love Songs of the Folk Era” on acoustic guitar. Ken worked for many years in Nashville and is now retired and living and performing in Panama City, Florida.

January 25, 2009 – Dr. Larry Bates, Professor of Psychology at the University of North Alabama, will present, “Fun Experiments in the Psychology of Religion”. “The psychology of religion integrates two rather strange partners, psychology and religion. But this odd pairing has yielded some experiments that are just fun to conduct and to read about. This speech will discuss some of the experiments in Dr. Bates’ lab currently investigating religious taboo, experiments in the pipeline to investigate, and some experiments by others that he wished he had thought of doing first”