Discussion forum: 9:15 a.m.
Service: 10:15 a.m.

Sunday, November 2
Forum: Workplace spirituality: In “Can Spirituality Help at Work?” Stephanie Anagnoson refers to Religion and the Workplace by Douglas Hicks, who recommends “respectful pluralism” for the variety of ways people bring religion and spirituality to work. But he also observes that bringing religion and spirituality into the workplace can cause conflict, including wearing religious symbols, displaying religious or spiritual symbols, and religious invitations, proselityzation, and solicitation. (UU World, Fall 2008, page 57)
In what sense is spirituality relevant to your worklife? How would you handle a coworker’s wearing of religious symbols that you objected to? Where would you draw the line in terms of allowing certain religious practices to happen in the workplace?
Service: Glen Lakes presents "Am I Turning Invisible or Just Aging?" Glen Lakes will share some personal experiences and research about getting older. Our Fellowship has a number of senior citizens; he will invite you to share the advantages and disadvantage of aging. Music will be provided by Patrick Bihlmaier.

Sunday, November 9
Forum: "To provide a place for personal spiritual growth within an open and affirming community." This is our mission statement. Does it accurately reflect our sense of what our mission is?  Does it need to be reworked?
Service: Barb Gutsch presents "Getting Serious About Your Unitarian Universalism", a sermon by Reverend Scott W. Alexander. As a follow-up to Reverend Voss' sermon about how we wear our UU faith, we will explore how we live our UU faith and what we commit to as Unitarian Universalists. Music will be provided by Myrna Spicer.

Sunday, November 16
Forum: I've heard that marriage is like a monastery in some ways. It is usually entered at a relatively young age, it is relatively hard to get out of, it is a commitment for life, and so it forces those involved to change and grow. If you've been in a marriage or a long-term relationship, what have you learned from it?
Service: Prairie Poets and Writers present "In Abundance." They will read from their own poems and prose, illustrating gratitude either from their own lives or within a work of fiction. From poetry-in-bricks to prairie fire, their words will evoke images of life in the heartland. Writers include Margaret Wigley Westall, Judy Magnuson Lilly, Bev Lethem Davis, and Jackie Magnuson Ash. Music will be provided by RoJean Loucks.

Sunday, November 23
Forum: One of my cats is dying tonight and I have vowed never to let someone else "put to sleep" an animal of mine. Consequently, I have a question that I think needs addressing, which is: What would it take for you to kill someone you loved?
Service: Yvonne Gibbons and Willow Leanders present Stone Soup and A Guest at Your Table. Each year at this time, friends and families in UU congregations participate in the UU tradition of Guest at Your Table. In support of the UU Service Committee, we will share Stories of Hope which connect with people in the United States and around the world who are working hard to advance human rights -- and protect their own rights. Music will be provided by violinist, Manda Deegan. A stone soup luncheon will follow the service. 

Sunday, November 30
Forum: New parent: In “Letter to a New Parent,” Meg Barnhouse writes that it’s important not to heed those who issue dire warnings about parenthood. “Enjoy this baby and enjoy your newly expanded heart,” she counsels. (UU World, Fall 2008, page 18)
If you are a parent, how has parenthood changed you? What advice do you wish someone had given you? What would you like to tell new parents? Someone recently told me that, given a choice now, she would hesitate to bring a child into the world because of the uncertain future she saw for that child. She cited ecological problems (shortages of clean water and air), shortages of energy, and widening income disparities. Do you agree with this idea? Why or why not?
Service: Barb Gutsch will facilitate an "All Fellowship Open Mic." In celebration of thanks and fellowship, join us for a morning of poetry, storytelling, music, dance, art, or anything else that moves your spirit. Come prepared to share your favorite poem, story, song, dance, art, or music. Regular music will be provided by the UUFSalina 1/2 hour choir. (All are welcome to join us at 8:30 am, before the forum, to prepare music for the service.) 

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Upcoming events

April 3-5
2009 Prairie Star District Annual Conference in Duluth, Minnesota
If you would like to present a workshop at the Prairie Star District (PSD) Annual Conference in 2009, applications are now being accepted. We invite you to consider the opportunity to present a workshop that speaks to either the theme (Our BlueBoat Home: Living the Seventh Principle) or to the nuts and bolts of nurturing our congregations and their members. Proposals for multi-generational workshops are encouraged. More information is available on the Annual Conference page of the PSD Web site. The deadline to apply is September 26.