UUCSV - Past Programs

Tapes of some previous programs are available

Text of Some Messages is Now Online

Sunday, July 13, 2008 11 a.m.

A Community of Ministers

Calen Rayne

We explore the concept of a community of ministers, a congregation where each person assumes a responsibility to minister to each other and our global community.

Calen has a BA from Purdue, a MFA from Naropa, and a DMin from Wisdom University. Calen is minister of the Wisdom Tabernacle, and a member of the leadership group of First UU Church of Second Life. Calen has been a circuit rider for UU congregations from New Hampshire to Florida, in the tradition of Emerson, since 1995, and is a member of UU Society for Community Ministries and Spiritual Directors International.

Sunday, July 6, 2008 11 a.m.

“Un-Indebtedness Day!”

Meg Barnhouse and other UUCSV friends

Come and celebrate the miraculously early retirement of the ENTIRETY of the mortgage debt which was incurred a scant four years ago when UUCSV acquired the building and land which we now happily call home! Of course, we will ALWAYS be indebted to the "quiet visionaries" who made this extraordinary accomplishment possible -- namely, ourselves! This will be an occasion to dramatize some of our congregational milestones and consider the prospects of our collective future. And, of course, let's have a picnic!

Meg Barnhouse is the full-time minister of the UU Church of Spartanburg SC, and is a published author and radio personality with an ardent local following. Meg was the featured guest speaker on April 4, 2000 at the Lakeview House in Black Mountain, the event which resulted in the creation of UUCSV.

Sunday, June 29, 2008 11 a.m.

“To Love Your Neighbor As Your Self”

Dale Allen Hoffman

It is written that nearly 2,000 years ago, Yeshua (Jesus) was asked the question “What is the greatest commandment of the Law?” According to the King James Bible, this was His reply: “The Lord our God is One. Love the Lord your God with all of your heart; With all of your mind; With all of your soul; And with all of your strength; And Love your neighbor as yourself.” When viewed from their original Aramaic perspective, these words are perhaps the most radical spiritual teaching ever offered to humanity. Dale will provide an opportunity to experience the meaning of this teaching in its original context.

Dale Allen Hoffman (www.daleallenhoffman.com) is a 13-year scholar and teacher of spiritual insights from the ancient Aramaic language and culture. He has been a featured writer and guest for several publications and radio programs. Dale is the Director of the international Aramaic Healing Circle. In its original form, Dale's Asheville, NC, Aramaic Healing Circles had attendees traveling from several neighboring states week after week to learn and apply the transformative insights from this ancient culture. In late April of 2008, Dale shut down the weekly Asheville Circle so that he could better focus on the next level of getting this work out to the world.

Most significant for Dale has been his close personal work with dr. michael ryce (www.whyagain.com), whose Aramaic healing work was the basis for many of the insights from James Redfield’s best selling Celestine Prophecy book series. Dale is currently working with dr. ryce to translate teachings from The Kahburis Manuscript, the oldest known complete Eastern Canon New Testament, directly from its ancient Aramaic into modern English with “Eyes that see and ears that hear.”

Sunday, June 22, 2008 11 a.m.

“There’s Always Something to Do in the Garden”

Rev. Sarah York

Growing things in the garden offers a metaphor for how we grow our spirits in a religious community where people come with very diverse needs. During this service we will celebrate the Flower Festival Ceremony, also known as the Flower Communion. Please bring a flower to put in our big bouquet and experience the beauty we create together.

Sarah York (formerly Sara Moores Campbell) is a Unitarian Universalist minister and author of four books, including “Remembering Well: Rituals for Celebrating Life and Mourning Death” and “Pilgrim Heart: The Inner Journey Home.” She also authored three reading selections in the UU hymnal. She has a Bachelor’s degree from Wake Forest, a Masters from Duke, a Masters of Divinity from Harvard, and an Honorary Doctorate from Meadville-Lombard Theological School. After serving in settled ministry most of her career, she became an accredited interim minister. Sarah is semi-retired to her farm near Asheville, NC with her husband Chuck Campbell. She serves the Asheville church part-time as Assistant Minister for Pastoral Care, preaches once a month at UUCSV, and consults as needed with congregational leaders.

Sunday, June 15, 2008 11 a.m.

Special Father’s Day Service

Tim Perry

Unfortunately, in the past, some of our services on Father's Day have failed to present fathers in the best possible light. This year, we hope to break that accidental tradition by presenting a celebration of those who exemplify what a father should be. Several of our regulars will share memories of their fathers or others who filled that role in their lives.

Sunday, June 8, 2008 11 a.m.

“Existentialist Spirituality”

Sally Beth Shore

Existentialism frequently gets a bad rap, being associated with fear, nausea, despair, etc., over the human condition. However, my read (limited as it is) of this 20th century philosophical movement is that it introduced a vital freedom, which we Unitarian Universalists generally accept in our thinking about religion and spirituality. Today's service looks at what central tenets can be found in existentialism, and how we might use them to enrich our lives and the world. Find out if you are already a practicing existentialist!

Sally Beth Shore is student minister at the UU Church of Asheville, and studying at Meadville Lombard Divinity School in Chicago. She serves as adjunct instructor of Environmental Science and teaches at local prisons for UNCA. Mother of three.

Sunday, June 1, 2008 11 a.m.

“Blue Eyes Looking Into Dark Eyes....”

Ymani Simmons

In March of 2007 22 Americans went to the Islamic Republic of Iran as civilian diplomats with the Fellowship of Reconciliation. Ymani Simmons, western North Carolina resident, was one of those individuals. Meeting the Iranian people, seeing the beauty and allowing communication and understanding to develop presents a perspective not known before and a quest for promoting peace continues to unfold within a deeply spiritual journey.

Ymani Simmons has called the mountains of western North Carolina home for 20 years. Peace and justice have spoken in undeniable voices since childhood. By accepting responsibility and accountability for what her government has done in her name, Ymani has completely immersed herself as a peace maker. Upon returning from Iran she quit her job as an advertising executive with WNC Woman magazine and devotes her life to living and promoting peace. Ymani has founded Crossroads of Peace (www.crossroadsofpeace.com) where several peace-related programs will be offered - Bridge to Iran Tours, a Peace Pal program (fully translated email pen pal program), non-violence training workshops, a Peace Makers Speakers Bureau, to name a few. She follows the spiritual way of life of the Native American branch of her family tree - Chickasaw and Cherokee.

A 28 minute video, “Listen to Iran's People,” a call for peace by video maker, Margot Smith, March 2007 FOR delegate will be shown after the service for anyone interested in viewing.

Sunday, May 25, 2008 11 a.m.

“Between the Lines”

The Congregation, with Sue Stone and Evelyn Carter

This is a service of music and audience participation. The title comes from the supplement to our hymnbook “Singing the Living Tradition” that contains information about the compositions. We will feature the works of UU composers and poets, Ric Masten, Shelley Jackson Denham, Mary Grigolia, and Joyce Poley. Included are favorite hymns inspired by William Blake, Carloyn McDade, the Shakers, the African-American tradition and other sources. A ritual of memory and a story for all ages are featured as well. Our children will be present for the first half hour, with the elementary and preschool classes leaving for activities in the RE classrooms for the remainder of the service.

Sunday, May 18, 2008 11 a.m.

“Remembering Well”

Rev. Sarah York

Drawing from themes in her book “Remembering Well: Rituals for Celebrating Life and Mourning Death,” Sarah York’s sermon will reflect on how we confront death and grieve in western culture. (See “Rituals of Remembrance for the Seasons of Grief” below for workshop on this topic.)

Sunday, May 11, 2008 11 a.m.

“Rites of Passage”

Religious Education Coordinator, Teachers, Youth, and Children

A special, milestone year is celebrated as we honor THREE graduating Seniors – Robin Tynes, Aaron Gilmour, and Joseph Neff. Each youth will be introduced by their parents and recognized in a “Bridging Ceremony” to welcome them to young adulthood. The service will also feature our middle and elementary students, telling us about their curricula for the past year. The toddler/preschool children will also take part and will introduce themselves to the congregation. Young musicians will play, and teachers and other religious education volunteers will be recognized for their time and dedication. Come this special Sunday to celebrate the future leaders of UUCSV and the wider UU world.

Please join us for a covered dish potluck following the Sunday Service on May 11th to honor our graduates.

Sunday, May 4, 2008 11 a.m.

“Leaping the Bonfire: Ancient Holydays and Modern Rites of Passage”

H. Byron Ballard

"Jack be nimble, Jack be quick, Jack jumped over the candlestick." Ancient people had practical reasons for some of the things that modern folks do, like jumping over a bonfire. We use the practices of our ancestors in new ways, using the transformative power of the classical elements to effect and mark conscious change in our lives. Beginning with the element of fire, we'll explore those transitions and rites of passage that deserve our attention and celebration. Join H. Byron Ballard to learn more about modern Beltane traditions and how they are mirrored in rites of passage.

H. Byron Ballard has deep roots in the mountains of western North Carolina where she is active as a priestess of Inanna, Pagan activist, playwright and mom. She holds an MFA in Theatre from Trinity University and circles weekly (and occasionally weakly) with an American Tribal Pagan group. She is a member of WARD, an elder of SerpentStone, an affiliate of the WHISPER community, a founding trustee of the Coalition of Earth Religions for Education and Support and a Willful Harpy. Her interfaith affiliations include the United Religions Initiative and the Interfaith Council. She is also a board member of the local chapter of the ACLU. In her copious free time she is still learning Irish Gaelic and to play the fiddle. And gardening, for the sake of her sanity.

Sunday, April 27, 2008 11 a.m.

“Taking Risks on the Path of Wisdom”

Rev. Sarah York

With inspiration from Sophia (the Greek word for wisdom as well as the Hebrew expression of the feminine divine) this sermon on the classic Greek virtue of prudence explores the role of wisdom in making life choices.

Sunday, April 20, 2008 11 a.m.

“Ayurveda: A Spiritual Path”

Julia Monet-Bolka, MA Vedic Science

Ayurveda is a 5,000-year-old system of health and wisdom, originating as a branch of the Vedas from India and is recognized today worldwide as a path of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being. The word Ayurveda in Sanskrit means, ‘Science of Life’ or ‘Knowledge of Life.’

Ayurveda promotes perfect health, wealth and enlightenment. The knowledge and experience of Ayurveda enables us to live more simply, more joyfully, more abundantly and with less stress. One learns about the deepest aspect of ones Self and how to live in harmony with the Laws of the Universe.

In this talk, Julia will outline the basic principles involved in determining one’s psychophysiological (mind-body) type (called “doshas”), and how someone one can easily engage this universal wisdom of Ayurveda to balance their body, mind and spirit on a daily basis.

Julia Monet-Bolka is an Ayurvedic Consultant, Skincare Specialist and a Clothing Designer in Asheville. Born in Canada, Julia grew up in the world of competitive figure skating, and later, turned professional, establishing a career with Ice Follies. After achieving her childhood dreams, she focused her passion on inner growth, studying with Vedic Masters from India and around the world. She is a master teacher of many Vedic disciplines, including Ayurvedic meditation, yoga, beauty, health, cooking, nutrition, exercise and lifestyle. Julia consults, teaches and designs her own line of JMonet Women’s Clothing in Asheville where she lives with her husband Max and daughter Simone.

Sunday, April 13, 2008 11 a.m.

The Greek and the Hebrew

Tom Patteson

Tom's theme will be the historical components of the present American cultural struggle, including its roots in the Hebrew (or personal) worldview and the Greek (or scientific) worldview, and the place of Unitarian identity within that struggle.

Tom Patteson is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelors in Philosophy. In addition, he holds a Masters in Architecture from Virginia Tech and a Masters of Divinity from San Francisco Theological Seminary. Tom is a candidate for the ministry in the Presbyterian Church. He and his wife Lynn live in Black Mountain with their four-year-old daughter Elizabeth.

Sunday, April 6, 2008 11 a.m.

"The Cost of the War in Iraq"

Lyle Peterson & Social Action Committee

In 2008, the year of the 40th anniversary of Dr. King’s assassination, let us honor his legacy by restoring justice for the people of the United States and the people of Iraq. The war in Iraq has drained this nation’s resources, created a humanitarian crisis in Iraq, and left a multitude of needs at home unmet, including the disgraceful lack of resources and commitment to rebuilding the Gulf Coast.

Our speaker, Lyle Peterson, grew up in Nebraska and attended the University of Nebraska, beginning about two years after ROTC became optional. Vietnam was heating up at the time, and he asked his father, a WWII veteran along with two of his brothers, what he thought he should do. He surprised him by saying “I think the Petersen family has provided enough soldiers for this century.” Lyle elected to forgo ROTC and thus postponed the necessity for making a choice for four years. Upon graduation in 1970 his options were fewer, so he enlisted in the US Army Reserve and served for six years. His duty MOS was Drill Sergeant.

Lyle opposed the Vietnam war, but not actively. He has been ambivalent about our subsequent wars, but was moved to anger by the clear illegality of the Iraq war and became one of the charter members of Chapter 099 (North Carolina) Veterans for Peace. For the past five years he has participated in all the activities of the VFP chapter, including serving two years as its president.

Sunday, March 30, 2008 11 a.m.

“Recovering Our Relationship with the Natural World”

Tayria Ward, Ph.D.

Innate within every human is the capability to communicate with every aspect of the non-human world—plant, tree, raven, river, rock, wind, stars, sky. Indigenous people conducted these conversations with ease; the language was clear. Over the last centuries of moving with rapidity toward modernization, we have stopped listening, and started depending upon technology—TV, computers and newspapers—to tell us the information we think we need. We talk only to each other as humans, and have forgotten the relationship we once had with the natural world. This loss has caused a severe pathology spreading through the whole species—psychologically, emotionally, spiritually, physically and ecologically—we have lost the way and we suffer. We need to wake up, remember, before we as a species destroy our nest, the planet we call home. We can, we will, and we must recover, but it takes individuals, one at a time, to see where we made the wrong turn and commit to turning around.

Tayria Ward has a Ph.D. in depth psychology. She was a minister in an inter-faith community for 20 years, after which she taught at the college and graduate level. During a visit to Africa she became fascinated by the ease with which the native people were able to communicate with the natural world around them, and was able to learn some of their techniques. She moved to North Carolina from Los Angeles in 2004 to start a retreat center in the mountains, in a location of wilderness and beauty conducive to the deep work of recovering these indigenous sensibilities. In addition to leading retreats at her center, Tayria leads dream groups, does dream consultations, and offers private counseling.

Sunday, March 23, 2008 11 a.m.

“Life Before Death” (Easter Sunday)

Rev. Sarah York

The Easter story is not really about life after death; it is about how we give meaning to life before death. Join us for a celebration of the awakenings of spring and the awakening of the human spirit.

The RE children will be participating in the first part of the service, where they will likely present egg-making traditions from around the world that the children will design.

Sunday, March 16, 2008 11 a.m.

“Being Reverently Green”

The Green Sanctuary Committee

The UU Congregation of the Swannanoa Valley has chosen to become a Green Sanctuary. The committee charged with leading UUCSV to that goal recognizes that success will rest on respect for the congregation through communication while building congregational awareness of ecological and environmental issues. The GS Committee hopes to help UUCSV by connecting spiritual practice and environmental consciousness with commitment to personal lifestyle changes.

The Green Sanctuary Committee maintains an informational bulletin board in the foyer of the church. The committee meets on the third Sunday of every month at 9:30 a.m. New members are always welcome.

Sunday, March 9, 2008 11 a.m.

“Peace Plan for the Gender Wars”

Rudolf Ballentine, M.D.

The often-conflictive relationship between male and female exists not just in the outside world, but within each human being. The psyche of each person of whatever gender has both masculine and feminine aspects, and the relationship between the two shows up in the outer world in our relationships with each other, with the Earth, and with our own bodies. We see the results in domestic violence, ecological imbalance, unhealthy lifestyles, and a medical system that often does more harm than good. What can we do to heal this difficult marriage of the inner masculine and feminine, and what would a healthy relationship between the two look like?

Rudy Ballentine, a retired holistic physician, currently teaches workshops on Tantra, yoga and planetary healing. He is the author of several books, including “Radical Healing.” He studied psychology at Duke University and the University of Paris, and received his M.D. from Duke. He was on the faculty of the Louisiana State University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, and studied the Ayurvedic and homeopathic systems of medicine in India. He spent 12 years as the president of the Himalayan Institute in New York State, and 18 years as director of its Combined Therapy Program. Rudy will be at Earthaven Ecovillage this summer, sharing his knowledge of holistic health as part of its Permaculture workshops.

Sunday, March 2, 2008 11 a.m.

Restorative Justice in Action: Stories from the World

Marty Price

From community-based Victim-Offender Reconciliation Programs, to Neo-Nazi hate crimes, to death row. From suicide bombings in Tel-Aviv, to house demolitions in the West Bank, to a revolution in criminal justice in South America, to the General Assembly of the United Nations, Marty will share with us how the application of restorative justice principles and practices are transforming our understanding about crime, justice, conflict and peacemaking.

Marty Price is a nationally and internationally recognized pioneer in restorative justice and victim-offender mediation, especially crimes of severe violence, including drunk driving deaths and other homicides. A social worker turned lawyermediator, he is the founding director of the Victim-Offender Reconciliation Program Information & Resource Center, and director of the International Education and Outreach Program of the Restorative Justice Resource Center. He has trained and consulted in most of the United States and in many other countries.

Marty’s mission is to bring restorative justice reform to our criminal justice system, empowering victims, offenders and communities to heal the effects of crime and curb recidivism, offering our society a more effective and humanistic alternative to the growing outcry for more prisons and more punishment. There will be time for discussion after the service.

Sunday, February 24, 2008 11 a.m.

“The Economy of the Spirit”

Rev. Sarah York

As a congregation, we have lifted off together like geese getting into formation. We know where we want to go, and now we will pledge the support for getting there. Sarah York, our Ministerial Consultant, will talk about the spiritual aspects of giving, including the benefits of being part of a community on the move.

Following the service, there we be an all-congregation, full potluck party at the church to help us kick off this year's Annual Budget Drive. Food, music, and other fun will be had by all. If you have a special dish to share in this potluck, contact Karen McClelland (606-8514). Also talk with Karen if you'd like to help with the party music or fun events.

Sunday, February 17, 2008 11 a.m.

“Alchemy and Mysticism: Journey on a Labyrinth”Text

Rev. Dr. Calen Rayne

UUCSV now has a labyrinth on the property, and we will explore the alchemical nature of labyrinths… their ability to bring about an inner transformation of the human psyche.

Calen has a MFA from Naropa, a DMin from Wisdom University, and is minister of the Wisdom Tabernacle. Calen is a Veriditas certified labyrinth facilitator and a member of the UU Society for Community Ministries. Calen designs and consults on labyrinths and sacred landscapes.

Sunday, February 10, 2008 11 a.m.

“The Enneagram as Spiritual Path”

Jeanine Siler Jones

The Enneagram is an ancient system that can provide a spiritual and psychological map that helps us discern the filters we automatically use with the world. By becoming more aware, or "waking up" as the mystics call it, we find choices in the midst of our reactivity which shifts our attention, allowing new paths to emerge. Jeanine will briefly introduce the system and talk about various levels of engagement with it that can bring desired healing and change.

Jeanine Siler Jones is a therapist and certified Enneagram teacher in the Narrative Tradition. She uses the Enneagram in therapy, leads small groups, and offers larger retreats periodically. By deeply engaging this map, she has found tools to interact compassionately with herself and others. Her children say she talks about the Enneagram "all the time". She would say it really excites her and it is hard to stay quiet about it!

Sunday, February 3, 2008 11 a.m.

“A Legacy of Non-Violence: Gandhi, King, Mandela”

Delano E. Lewis

Del Lewis served as Ambassador to South Africa under President Clinton, and was the CEO of National Public Radio from 1994 to 1998. He is currently a Senior Fellow at New Mexico State University, and serves on the Board of Trustees of Colgate-Palmolive Company, Eastman Kodak Company, and Chalk, Inc. He and his wife Gayle come to us by virtue of his engagement as the keynote speaker at this year's annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast, which is being held on Saturday, February 2.

Sunday, January 27, 2008 11 a.m.

“Aids Ministry from a UU Perspective”

Rev. Amy Brooks

The idea of a broken and hurting world in need of healing has been captured dramatically by the AIDS pandemic. This idea is reflected in much of Christian theology – the sinfulness of humanity and our need for redemption. Indeed, in my work with people living with HIV and AIDS, these have been common topics for discussion. How do we make sense of this as UU’s, and perhaps more importantly, how do we minister when our theology and our world view don’t quite match? After 12 years of AIDS ministry and 14 years of ministry in the Christian context, I’d love to share some of my experiences and what I think we have to offer.

Rev. Amy Brooks is an ordained UU minister and has spent most of her career with the Regional AIDS Interfaith Network in Charlotte, North Carolina. While at RAIN, she and her colleagues were recognized by the Ford Foundation’s “Leadership for a Changing World Award” and the “Community Peace Building Award” from the Search for Common Ground. She trained at Harvard Divinity School where she earned her M.Div. in 1992 and fulfilled 2 years as a chaplain resident at Carolinas’ Medical Center. She and her husband reside in Huntersville, NC with their three dogs.

Sunday, January 20, 2008 11 a.m.

“The Joy of Life Review”

Sheridan Hill

Black Mountain author Sheridan Hill will discuss "The Joy of Life Review." Hill will draw upon her experience as a personal biographer and tell stories that illustrate the open-hearted life. Her book, “My Name As A Prayer,” is a memoir of healing the mother-daughter relationship; the book also delves into end-of-life questions.

Hill is a cradle Unitarian who grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina, and looks forward to her visit to the home flock.

Sunday, January 13, 2008 11 a.m.

“Is God a Euphemism?"

Rev. Sarah York

About this sermon title, Sarah writes, “Someone told me once that he thought God was a euphemism. The dictionary defines a euphemism as ‘the substitution of an agreeable or inoffensive expression for one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant.’ Hmmm. How might that apply to the notion of God?”

Sunday, January 6, 2008 11 a.m.

“The Promise of Paradox: Our Binary Spiritual Reality”

Dr. Michael Frandsen

Dr. Michael Frandsen is a minister of word and sacrament in the Presbyterian Church and a Princeton alum. He is a German immigrant and currently teaches religion, philosophy and psychology at AB Tech. He is a licensed professional counselor and maintains a small consulting practice at his home in Montreat. The father of four grown children, Michael and his wife Diane have lived here just a little over a year.

Sunday, December 30, 2007 11 a.m.

“Pascal's Wager”

Phil Fryberger

As another amazing year draws to a close, we will consider our place in the tapestry of life, and celebrate the disappearance of the old and the arrival of the new in our "traditional" way. What does the title have to do with this transition, you may ask? Let's hope we all find out, before it's too late!

Phil Fryberger is a financial advisor, music lover, husband of Dawn, father of Annelies and Carolyn, and a founding member of UUCSV.

Sunday, December 23, 2007 11 a.m.

“Kiss the Joy as it Flies”

The Rev. Sarah York

In this sermon, Sarah York borrows her title from a poem by William Blake, and will reflect on the nature of joy, particularly in its relationship to sorrow.

Sunday, December 16, 2007 11 a.m.

“Celebrating the Holidays in Music”

Congregation, featuring RE Classes and Choir

Music inspired by the traditions of December is perhaps the most familiar and beautiful that we know. This service will celebrate the compositions of many poets and musicians, among them Unitarian Universalists of the past, as well as contemporaries. Our marvelous hymnbook is the main source of music to be sung by the Religious Education classes, the Warblers and the congregation. Instrumentalists will also be featured as we learn about the composers and the traditions that inspire them. Come to sing or just listen to the many talents of our congregation as we celebrate in community.

The four RE classes, our dedicated Warblers (choir of volunteer singers), the congregation, and any instrumentalists, who want to join us, provide our service today. (See article elsewhere in this newsletter)

Sunday, December 9, 2007 11 a.m.

“Whatever You Do Not Know About Judaism and Have Not Had a Chance to Ask”

Sam and Lulla Shermis

Both Sam and Lulla have been presenting programs on Jewish Studies for past 30 years. Very active in the Jewish community and members of Beth Ha Tephila Congregation since moving here from Indiana a little over ten years ago, they are passionate about dialogue between the Christian and Jewish people and started formal discussions 15 years ago. Sam Shermis was a Professor at Purdue University in Educational Foundational Studies and Lulla was an Academic Advisor. There will be time for questions and answers after their presentation.

Sunday, December 2, 2007 11 a.m.

"High Mom!"

Scott Traxler

The story of virgin birth is integral to most the world's religions. The myth of the Virgin Mary continues to be retold in both secular and religious settings. In a look at the origins of the Marian Myth, we'll discover why this story still has meaning in the 21st Century.

UUCSV member Scott Traxler recently moved back to Black Mountain after some 12 years in Florida. He is a retired professor of management and humanities, wonderful husband of Ruh (her description), and habitual procrastinator.....

Sunday, November 25, 2007 11 a.m.

“Born of the Spirit?”

Tim Perry

I would like to continue our exploration of the notion of "A Kinder, Gentler Christianity" which was presented in my last sermon. This time, I hope to share an odd little synthesis of ideas that occurred to me recently, having to do with the intellectual, emotional, and spiritual evolution of our species. I believe some light could be shed on our current global state of affairs by evolutionary psychology and the Christian concept of the battle between the "flesh" and the "spirit" straight from the words of Jesus and the much-maligned (among liberals) Apostle Paul. You could even bring your Bibles! (Well, let's not get crazy, here.)

Sunday, November 18, 2007 11 a.m.

“A Harvest of Gratitude”

The Rev. Sarah York & Co.

We gather as a community of all ages for an uplifting celebration of Thanksgiving, that will include singing, story, and ritual, plus holiday reflections from Sarah. UU Service Committee “Guest at Your Table” boxes will be distributed. Please bring an offering of non-perishable food for a procession of giving that will occur during the service. Members of the Program Committee and the Religious Education Committee will join with Sarah to plan and conduct this intergenerational service.

Sunday, November 11, 2007 11 a.m.

“My Theological Unified Theory of Everything” Text

rev charlie kast

In my 25 years of ministry I focused on encouraging members to articulate their personal (creedal) belief. Since I retired I have continued my own search and recently came up with a personal brief statement which answers for me all questions of religion in one sentence.

charlie kast retired as minister of The Community Church of Chapel Hill UU in August, 2006. He graduated from Starr King School for Ministry (UU) in 1981 and has served three congregations: Lexington, KY; Chicago, IL; and Chapel Hill, and is now honored to be minister emeritus of the latter. In a former life he was a fundamentalist Baptist and a political conservative. He also has single-foster parented 125 youths. His main spiritual discipline is baseball; as a devotee of the Chicago Cubs he has learned the lessons of loss and suffering.

Sunday, November 4, 2007 11 a.m.

"Adventures in Mythology"

3rd Principle Covenant Group

Over the past year, our covenant group explored the meaning of the third UU principle, which calls on us to "affirm and promote acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations." Toward that end, and in conjunction with the ongoing presentation of the "Power of Myth" interviews with Joseph Campbell, members of our group will share some of the recollections, "guiding stars", and discoveries that make up our individual and collective spiritual journeys.

Sunday, October 28, 2007 11 a.m.

"Fallen Leaves"

Byron Ballard

As we enjoy the bittersweet beauty of autumn in the mountains, we are faced with fallen leaves everywhere. And as more and more Americans are looking to their ancestral past through genealogy and family histories, we begin to recognize the fallen leaves that have made us who we are. We will honor them and the "fallen leaves" that protect our nation's interests [Oil?—Ed.] in Iraq and Afghanistan with a traditional Samhain memorial.

Sunday, October 21, 2007 11 a.m.

“This I Believe”

Carolyn Shorkey

This lay led service is generated from the publication, “This I Believe, The Personal Philosophies of Remarkable Men and Women,” edited by Jay Allison and Dan Gediman, in association with National Public Radio. This radio project was not designed as a springboard for the expression of religious dogma. Rather, it is the telling of one’s own personal beliefs, the principles that guide a life. Carolyn Shorkey will guide us through the history of the radio series. We’ll witness the reading of several core belief statements. You’ll hear selected recorded essays which have been aired on the radio. Guidelines for writing your own essay will also be presented.

Carolyn Shorkey is a charter member of UUCSV and a retired teacher of blind and visually impaired children. She has participated in lay led services addressing such topics as the beauty of nature, prayer, and transition to spring marked by the vernal equinox.

Sunday, October 14, 2007 11 a.m. New Member Sunday

“Enlightenment Religion and the Uses of Endarkenment”

The Rev. Sarah York

Endarkenment—What’s that? It is a word Sarah has made up, as she explores our UU heritage of enlightenment religion and transcendentalist spirituality in the context of the 21st century. Children and teens will join us for the first part of the service.

Sunday, October 7, 2007 11 a.m.

“Turning Toward Home”

Ned Martin

Ned Martin, Outreach Coordinator for the AHOPE Day Center in Asheville, will reflect on what it means to be present with men and women who are homeless. What are the challenges facing them...and us? How can we help those experiencing homelessness begin to turn toward home? Reflecting on his own spiritual journey, Ned will look at the turnings that might occur within those of us who engage in this work and the importance of our and other congregations' ongoing volunteer support of AHOPE and other homeless efforts.

Ned grew up in Roanoke, VA, graduated from William & Mary, and received his M. Div from Duke University. He spent a year in St. Andrews, Scotland, served a Methodist congregation in Haywood County for three years, and is pursuing his interest in Jungian Psychology at the Haden Institute in Flat Rock, NC. Ned and Jennifer McSwain just got married in May 2007. She continues her work as a Methodist campus minister at UNCA, and they both try to apply their experiences to their two cats who, apparently, fight all the time.

Sunday, September 30, 2007 11 a.m.

“Creating a Green Sanctuary”

Green Sanctuary Committee

On this day we officially launch UUCSV's drive to become a UUA-accredited Green Sanctuary. The congregation plays an important role in the design, implementation, and success of this one to two-year-long effort. Our Mission is "to focus on the theological, spiritual, and ethical aspects of human activities that affect the health and sustainability of the living earth." The Green Sanctuary Committee will lead our congregation as we: use our Sunday services and other activities to identify and address environmental matters, live the values described in UU's Seventh Principle, and promote responsible collaboration among various church and community groups.

Sunday, September 23, 2007 11 a.m.

“Songs of Woodie Guthrie”

Carl Gombert and Friends

July 14th marked the ninety-fifth anniversary of the birth of Woody Guthrie, America’s pre-eminent hard travelin’ folk troubadour. Through his many classic songs, Woody championed the underdogs: the working stiffs and immigrants, the disenfranchised and powerless, the homeless, the downtrodden and the poor. With music, he affirmed the inherent worth and dignity of every individual. Join us as we celebrate a man who spent his life promoting the principles that we embrace as Unitarian Universalists.

Carl Gombert is Professor of Art at Maryville College, a member of the TVUUC, and now on the steering committee for a new Blount County congregation. Terry Bunde is Professor of Chemistry at Maryville College and a member of the New Providence Presbyterian Church in Maryville, TN. Niki Schrock is a systems analyst for Ruby Tuesday's, Inc. and a member of the TVUUC.

Sunday, September 16, 2007 11 a.m.

“What A Journey! A Welcoming Congregation Year”

Our Congregation began a Journey a year ago to educate ourselves about challenges and issues facing Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender church and community members. Through nine educational workshops and other events, we explored many aspects of their experiences and civil rights struggles. Four members from the Congregation will share what this process has meant to them, Robin Tynes, Jim Carillon, Jen Stump, and Tim Perry.

Also, Minister Emeritus Dick Stennett will share his thoughts on the process and why our vote, in the Congregational Meeting following the service, to affirm ourselves as a Welcoming Congregation is important. The sanctuary will be decorated with murals, photos, charts, lists, and other mementoes from the past year's activities, and there will be a slide show collage not-to-miss. Come be inspired and be part of our Congregation's history!

Sunday, September 9, 2007 11 a.m., Ingathering Sunday

“Living in Community: The Most Difficult Spiritual Discipline”

Sarah York

As we welcome the children for the first part of the service, we celebrate community, and explore the challenges and rewards of being in community together.

Sunday, September 2, 2007 11 a.m.

“A Reinvention of Work As Prayer”

Rev. Doctor Calen Rayne, Music by Marina Raye

On this Labor Day, we will explore a new way of looking at our work in light of our spiritual journeys, How can we turn what we do to earn a living, our "work," into a "prayer." How can we best contribute to the "Great Work," that of building a more compassionate world.

The Reverend Doctor Calen Rayne has a MFA from Naropa University and a DMin degree from Wisdom University. Calen is minister of the Wisdom Tabernacle, an interactive, experiential exploration of world wisdom traditions in downtown Black Mountain, and has been a circuit rider for UU congregations since 1995.

Marina Raye is known internationally as the "Feminine Voice of the Native Flute." She was born in Africa where she spent her first ten years. She draws inspiration from her deep love of the Earth as she shares her vision of the awakening of peace in every heart. Her instruments are hand-crafted by her husband, flute maker Charlie Oakwind. Marina and Charlie live in Black Mountain, where they are building a solar-powered home. They are committed to living gently on the Earth.

Sunday, August 26, 2007 11 a.m.

“Love in the Open”

Rev. Sarah York

What is the role of the religious community when it comes to taking a stand on the rights of same sex-couples? Although we may not all agree on some of the issues, we have an opportunity to offer religious leadership for equality at many levels. As the congregation prepares to vote on becoming a Welcoming Congregation, we will consider what it means to promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person.

Sunday, August 19, 2007 11 a.m.

“A Kinder, Gentler Christianity”

Tim Perry

Having recently had my imagination jump-started by reading Marcus Borg's “The Heart of Christianity,” I began to wonder if there was any way that I could still find meaning in the faith I left - or rather, the faith that left me - after a lifetime of devotion just a few years ago. I'm still not sure, but I thought it might be interesting to explore the possibility of a radically different, non-literalist, non-Fundamentalist kind of Christianity among friends.

Sunday, August 12, 2007 11 a.m.

“Heeding the Call”

Melissa Mummert

In this service, we'll consider what it means to be "called." We'll consider how we might tune in and respond to our souls' deepest yearnings.

Melissa Mummert is a Unitarian Universalist community minister located in Charlotte, NC. She coordinates a domestic violence program for female inmates at the Mecklenburg County Jail.

Sunday, August 5, 2007 11 a.m.

“From Then Until Now: August 6, 1945 Until Today”

Tomorrow is the anniversary of our dropping the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Sitting in a circle with shared silence, readings and reflections we will seek to remember, grieve, heal and hope. If you would like to help prepare and participate in our service please contact Don Pfister.

Sunday, July 29, 2007 11 a.m.

“To See Yourself in the Other”

Annelies Fryberger

This Sunday, Annelies will share her recent experience of visiting Black Mountain's partner church in Medeser, Romania. We will contemplate such questions as: Why travel? What is "foreign"? How far do you have to go to get truly lost? We will learn about and experience another interpretation of Unitarianism, we will sing in Hungarian, and funny stories involving various barnyard animals will be told.

Annelies Fryberger is the prodigal daughter of Phil Fryberger and Dawn Wilson. After graduating from Oberlin College and Conservatory with degrees in French and piano performance, she spent two years teaching English in the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe. She spent the summer of 2007 traveling in Europe, one of her stops being our partner church in Medeser, Romania. She will begin work on her master's degree in interpretation in Paris in October.

Sunday, July 22, 2007 11 a.m.

All Church Picnic

In lieu of a formal service on July 22nd, we will be celebrating our church community with a picnic. We will gather in the sanctuary at 11:00 a.m. where we will be welcoming everyone, lighting candles of joys and concerns, and reading a meditation about community. WHAT YOU NEED TO DO AND BRING: Sign up at church or email Milt and Carolyn (cashorkey@bellsouth.net) so we can estimate supplies, tables, and grills that will be needed. Bring a dish to pass with a picnic theme and protein to put on the grill. Carolyn and Milt will provide buns and condiments. Hospitality Committee will provide beverages and place settings. Evelyn Carter will be leading a People Bingo game, and feel free to bring any lawn games you have. You are welcome to bring lawn chairs and picnic blankets to the gathering as well. Looking forward to seeing you at the picnic.

Sunday, July 15, 2007 11 a.m.

“Getting Body and Soul Back Together”

Rev. Sarah York

In the early centuries of the Christian Church, body and soul got separated, and the body has had a bad rap in Western culture ever since. We will explore how the church influenced our attitudes toward our bodies, consider the consequences, and think about how we can get body and soul back together.

Sunday, July 8, 2007 11 a.m.

“Rev. Hannah Jewett Powell, Inmans Chapel, and COLD MOUNTAIN”

Carol R. Simmons

The service will present a monologue of Rev. Hannah Jewett Powell and a tribute to the leadership of this remarkable Universalist minister under the sponsorship of the Universalist Women's National Missionary Society. Her devoted service and leadership invigorated the defunct Inmans Chapel (located near Waynesville, NC) and provided many social, educational, and health service projects so needed by the community which was suffering from very difficult economic times resulting from the reduction of operations of the local Suncrest Lumber Company, the largest employer in the area. The service will reveal the connections of Miss Powell, Inmans Chapel Universalist Church; the founder of the church, the Rev. James Anderson Inman; and the fictional novel COLD MOUNTAIN, written by a descendant of Rev. Inman and the son of one of Miss Powell's students. The program will be followed by a "field trip" for any who want to drive out to visit the historic Inman's Chapel building.

Carol R. Simmons is a 5th generation Universalist, having grown up in the now closed Unitarian Universalist Church in Kinston, NC. She is presently a member of Outlaw's Bridge Universalist Church in Duplin County, NC and is a retired librarian/media coordinator and graduate of East Carolina University with a MAEd Degree in Library Media Services. She retired after 32 1/2 years in the public schools in Lenoir County, NC. It was at a youth institute at Inman Chapel that she and her husband first met before they were teens. So Inman Chapel has always been a very special place for them. Carol also served on the first Liberal Religious Youth Continental Board as southeast (southern states) representative, and attended the first LRY Continental Convention in Cheshire, CT. So she has been active in the denomination for many years!

Sunday, July 1, 2007 11 a.m.

"Breaking Free" Text

Dick Stennett

Today we celebrate the third anniversary of this place, 500 Montreat Road, as the home base of our religious community. And what better way could we celebrate than to focus on the essence of what it means to be a human being which I believe is the same thing as the essence of what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist. Appropriately today is also the beginning of the Fourth of July Celebration - the time when we remember the birthing of this our homeland, the celebration of our Independence, the "breaking free" from the rule of British authority. “Breaking Free” is our theme today as we seek to give expression to that “essence” of who we are as human beings, remembering all the while that we shall once again fail in this endeavor for as Rumi said it so poignantly: “All words and images deceive our glory.”

Sunday, June 24, 2007 11 a.m.

“Living from the Inside Out”

Rev. Sarah York

Whether you are a recent graduate or a retiree (or anything else in between), your task in life is to find meaningful employment of your time and your personal gifts. In this sermon, Sarah York looks at the challenge and the adventure of living from the inside out.

Sarah York (formerly Sara Moores Campbell) is a Unitarian Universalist minister and author of four books, including Remembering Well: Rituals for Celebrating Life and Mourning Death and Pilgrim Heart: The Inner Journey Home. She also authored three reading selections in the UU hymnal. She has a Bachelor’s degree from Wake Forest, a Masters from Duke, a Masters of Divinity from Harvard, and an Honorary Doctorate from Meadville-Lombard Theological School. After serving in settled ministry most of her career, she became an accredited interim minister. Sarah is semi-retired this year to her farm near Asheville with her husband Chuck Campbell. She serves the Asheville church part-time as Pastoral Care Consultant. You can learn more about Sarah and her books at her web site, www.sarahyork.com.

Sunday, June 17, 2007 11 a.m.

“Men’s Work: Healing Self, Healing the World”

Jeffrey Goldwasser

Men in our society have traditionally not taken care of themselves. They have been providers and protectors, but have not looked inside to understand themselves, their shadows and the effect they are having on their loved ones.

The man that I am is the father that I am.

In indigenous societies when a boy reached a certain age he was taken from his mother’s world and initiated into being a man. This was done for his safety and the safety of the society as a whole. We have lost touch with this and suffer its consequences. Jeffrey will explore initiation, male archetypes, shadow and living in our modern world as a conscious man.

Jeffrey Goldwasser’s passion is healing – healing self, family and community. He has been a chiropractor for 22 years and involved in the healing arts for 30 years. Healing for him involves not just the physical, but also the mental and spiritual levels. He believes when we change ourselves, we change the world. He currently practices in Asheville and Sylva, and has lived in the area for 8 years since moving here from Greenfield, Massachusetts. Jeffrey has been actively working with men for 14 years, and for the last 7 years he has been a leader in the Man-Kind Project, a non-profit educational and training organization for men. He has led 27 trainings and has been a part of starting two centers, one of them in the Carolinas. “Men have suffered because of what they have done to themselves and the world,” he says. Men’s work is one way to heal both. Though not a father himself, he is a mentor, healer and teacher for many.

Sunday, June 10, 2007 11 a.m.

“Sunshine and Shadows”

Shari Spires

A presentation of poetry and the quilts that inspired them. Ms. Spires finds love, understanding and humor by using poetry to explore the peaks, depths and unexpected events of ordinary life.

She is a founding member of UUCSV and former congregational president. Before retirement, she was a newspaper journalist and began writing poetry after moving to Black Mountain in 1996. Her book Sunshine and Shadows, was published in 2002. Her grandmother taught her to quilt when she was 5 years old.

Sunday, June 3, 2007 11 a.m.

Einstein and Technologies of the Sacred

Rev. Dr. Calen Rayne

On this Flower Communion Sunday we will explore holotropic states of consciousness, known as “technologies of the sacred” in world wisdom traditions, and their relation to “Einstein’s unfinished symphony,” his theory concerning gravitational waves and the primordial sound of our universe. (Don’t worry; it’s not as complicated as it sounds.) Please bring a flower to share as we celebrate a UU tradition.

Calen Rayne has a MFA from Naropa University and a DMin degree from Wisdom University, where he is a consultant for special projects. Calen is minister of the Wisdom Tabernacle in downtown Black Mountain. The Tabernacle is an interactive, experiential, exploration of world wisdom traditions. He has been a circuit rider for UU churches since 1995.

Sunday, May 27, 2007 11 a.m.

“Who Are Our Heroes?”

Tim Perry & Kim Taylor

The former Charismatic Episcopal Priest, Tim Perry, and the social worker, Kim Taylor, discuss, debate and muse about heroes on this Sunday before Memorial Day. What, why and who are heroes.

Sunday, May 20, 2007 11 a.m.

“Spirituality, Faith, and Appreciation at Home and Around the World”

Children and Youth of the Congregation, Sybil Argintar, RE Coordinator

The children and youth of the congregation will lead this service, showcasing what they have learned through the school year. Younger children will present faith traditions and symbolism from around the world, including Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Wiccan and Native American, Islam, and Unitarian Universalism. The teens will touch upon their work as a covenant group and what this has meant to their spiritual growth. We will take time to honor and appreciate all of our volunteer leaders in the religious education program this year who have given so much of themselves to our children. Please join us for a memorable morning.

Sunday, May 13, 2007 11 a.m.

“Wishing You a Divine Mother's Day”

Rhianne Dove

In every culture in age after age, the awareness of a greater Mother love, The Mother of us All, has been an active part of Life. In this era when much is rumbling under the surface, the folly of man is coming to a head of pollution, war, control, and other unpleasant symptoms of the times. This is creating a world that has closed its heart to Life in many ways, and when we close our hearts, our way to the Mother is also cut off. This is because the heart is the portal to the love of the Mother, also known as the Divine Mother or The Goddess (with numerous names to describe her). As our hearts open, in a way that many of us are experiencing at this amazing time in our evolution, a tremendous attraction to the Goddess as Mother is returning.

My experience and journey into the portal of the Mother has been a transformational, continual twenty three year voyage of change and exploration. As the courage to open more, to love more, to nurture and nourish more comes and is realized, I become stronger and more alive. Through poetry, song and words, I can relay some of my experience, and offer to hold open the portal to the heart of the Mother, inviting you to know her more deeply.

Rhianne Dove stood on a mountain top in Sedona, Arizona twenty-three years ago and prayed for the "Magic" to be returned to her life. At that moment she was connected to the Divine Feminine presence of Life within her heart, and a creative well spring flowed forth. As a result, she has devoted her life to the calling of inspiring others to be connected as well. This calling has taken her around the globe, teaching workshops, offering intuitive sessions, facilitating ceremonies, giving Keynote presentations, and performing her sacred theatre and music. Also a prolific writer and artist, Rhianne is currently working on the design of a new form of educational "Play" for all ages, and a model of a teaching festival to be implemented in communities all over the world.

Sunday, May 6, 2007 11 a.m.

“Justice Sunday: Darfur Road Map to Peace, and Reconciliation”

Elmoiz Abunura

The UU Service Committee has chosen “Drumbeat for Darfur” as the focus for this year’s Justice Sunday. The reality of the Darfur crisis is clear. There has been a vicious civil war resulting in thousands of people killed and hundreds of thousands of civilians displaced inside Darfur and in Chad. Growing up in Sudan, Elmoiz Abunura has a unique perspective and will share his analysis and recommendation for peace and reconciliation.

Elmoiz Abunura is a human rights advocate, a Sufi Muslim, and a former prisoner of conscience in Iraq under Saddam Hussein. He grew up in Sudan and Iraq. He was forced to leave Sudan after the militant Islamic movement, the National Islamic Front, staged a military coup in 1989. He was granted political asylum in this country and later became a naturalized citizen. From 1996 -- 2003, he was Director of UNCA’s Africana Studies program and a lecturer in the Department of Political Science. He currently works as an economic and political consultant on Africa, and the Middle East. He is a member of Amnesty International and other human rights organizations. He and his family live in Asheville.

Sunday, April 29, 2007 11 a.m.

“Bring Your Garlands Home!”

H. Byron Ballard

How is it we can feel so disconnected with the beautiful planet on which we live, even in the face of a mountain spring? Come play with ancient Celtic notions of Beltane --dancing into nature, adorning yourself with blossoms and dew, and celebrating Life in all its messy power. And yes – the annual Maypole dance!

Sunday, April 22, 2007 11 a.m.

“It Takes 10,000 Villages”

Sue Miller and Belinda Box

Ten Thousand Villages, a North American non-profit fair trade retail group, supports artisans in developing countries by establishing long-term working relationships with them, paying a fair price for their products, providing cash advances and prompt final payments, and offering design assistance. We will hear stories of how individuals, families, and communities have been able to rise above dire circumstances to become accomplished artisans through their relationship with Ten Thousand Villages. Since music is such an important part of so many cultures, we will also have a chance to hear (and play) a variety of ethnic music and instruments!

Sue Miller grew up in Indiana with a combined Quaker-Presbyterian background, and a long history of volunteer work. After finishing her undergraduate degree in biology and sociology, she lived in Massachusetts and worked in software development for many years. A long-time member of the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church in Lexington, MA, Sue moved to Western NC and started working at 10,000 Villages last winter. Belinda Box – a member of UUCSV - moved to the U.S. from West Yorkshire, England, and has lived in North Carolina for five years. She graduated from Exeter University, also with a degree in biology. Bel involves herself in community causes, including greenway development and environmental protection, and volunteers regularly at Black Mountain primary and elementary schools. Bel has worked at Ten Thousand Villages since 2002, and is extremely committed to the principals of fair trade and micro credit as means to address poverty in the developing world.

Sunday, April 15, 2007 11 a.m.

“The Still Point: Silence Song Sanctuary”

Jenne Sluder

Jenne Sluder is a native of the mountains of western North Carolina. Since childhood she has found inspiration and sustenance in attuning her inner landscape to the outdoors. She is a graduate of Guilford College, where she explored the ways in which Nature has influenced perceptions and beliefs in both Eastern and Western religions. Minoring in music, she created an independent study on the roots of song in early cultures. She had the opportunity to experience her findings first hand years later while living and working amongst the Nandi tribe in western Kenya, Africa. She is a student of Buddhism and will begin her graduate studies this summer through Naropa University, an institution of Buddhist heritage, studying Transpersonal Ecopsychology. She is passionate about creative expression, conscious aging, and the revival of intimacy within the human community and through the lens of Nature.

On April 15th, Jenne invites us to shift our attention to what T.S. Eliot calls "the still point of the turning world"--the ever-present Spaciousness that lies buried beneath our expectations, ambitions, opinions and to-do lists. Through poetry, song, story and silence, we will seek to remind ourselves (again and again) of the unceasing abundance and balance of the present moment. In an increasingly human-centered world that has its pedal to the metal, we are called to refine the art of inhabiting both realms, to move in and out of stillness, to move in and out of the dance. Likewise, together we will plumb both the depths of poetry and of silence. Jenne also greatly looks forward to sharing stories of her experiences in Africa as well as her gift of voice and song.

Sunday, April 8, 2007 11 a.m.

“EASTER: Breath in, Breathe out, Resurrect a dream!”

Sally-Beth Shore

The themes of Easter are Resurrection, Rebirth, Renewal, and Life amidst Death. Whether you believe in the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth or not, you are invited to spend some time thinking about a broader notion of resurrection. While my own belief system doesn't have much room for the reawakening of the dead, there's a lot of space for resurrection-- of dreams, ideas, and institutions. Believing in resurrection means believing in possibility against evidence. With that interpretation, it might be easier to understand how the early Christians perpetuated a belief that their mentor and Savior had come back from the dead. Even if we aren't prepared to resurrect the dead, what other possibilities of resurrection might we engage in and find useful on our journey?

Sally-Beth Shore is a seminary student at Meadville Lombard UU Theological School in Chicago. She lives in Asheville with her husband and three children.

Our elementary class of Religious Education will present a short program of "Easter Eggs Around the World" at the beginning of the service.

Sunday, April 1, 2007 11 a.m.

“Who Are You If Not UU? Thoughts for April Fool's Day”

Holly Lux-Sullivan

Often when asked what UUs believe, we reply in the negative: We don't believe in X, Y, or Z. But we don't always consider who we are because of our Unitarian Universalist faith. This April Fool's Day, we'll put on our self-teasing hats and imagine who we might be -- for better and for worse -- if we were not UUs.

Holly Lux-Sullivan is a member of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Hillsborough and a seminarian at Meadville Lombard Theological School. She works as a page designer and copy editor at the News & Record in Greensboro when she isn't at church or school. Holly and her husband, Kevin, have a very retired greyhound and a sassy cat. The family lives happily in Mebane, where there are more churches in a five-block radius than anywhere they've ever been; Holly thinks it's a sign, but she's not sure of what!

Sunday, March 18, 2007 11 a.m.
Postponed until Sunday, March 25

“Sacred Activism”

Andrew Harvey

Sacred Activism is the product of the union of a profound spiritual and mystical knowledge and understanding, and its attendant compassion, peace, energy, clarity and vision, with focused, wise, radical action in the world. Harvey says, “we have very little time in which to awaken and transform ourselves, to be able to preserve the planet, and to heal the divisions between the powerful and the powerless.”

Andrew Harvey was born in south India in 1952. At the age of 21, he became the youngest person ever to be awarded a fellowship to All Soul’s College, England’s highest academic honor. He has taught at Oxford University, Cornell University, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, The California Institute of Integral Studies, and the University of Creation Spirituality as well as at various spiritual centers around the world. He was the subject of the 1993 BBC film documentary, The Making of a Modern Mystic. Andrew Harvey is Professor of Sacred Activism at Wisdom University

Sunday, March 11, 2007 11 a.m. (Daylight Saving Time Begins)

“The Most Radical Thing You Can Do - International Partnership & the 6th Principle”

John Dale

In my sermon I will briefly trace the history of Unitarian theology and our denomination, and then make the case for International Partnerships with other liberal religious institutions.

John is a member of the Board of Trustees on the UU Partner Church Council. He was born in St. Louis, MO and spent his childhood in Cocoa Beach, FL. He attended Emory University in Atlanta and then spent nearly 30 years in the telecommunications industry. Since his retirement in 2003 John has been living in Marosvasarhely, Romania where he helps to oversee the UUPCC Pilgrimage Service which helps facilitate the visits of North American UUs to the holy and historic places of Transylvania.

Special music by our own 11-year-old violinist, Emily Eliot-Gaines, who was born in Romania. We will meet with John Dale after the service to discuss our own Partner Church in Medeser.

Sunday, March 4, 2007 11 a.m.

"Spiritual Awakenings, American Style, 2007-1740."

Samuel S. Hill

Our society today is in the midst of a spiritual awakening. Make of it what one will, there is significant stirring taking place. It has been this way, off and on, from Jonathan Edwards in 1740 to the second Great Awakening on the frontier, followed by Charles G. Finney, Dwight L. Moody, Billy Sunday, and the early Billy Graham. (Maybe even William Ellery Channing of Unitarian fame belongs in his frame. He certainly shook things up.) What features do they share? In particular, what is the place of WORSHIP in them?

Samuel S. Hill, an early Baptist pastor and Episcopal layman since 1973, professor emeritus of religion at the University of Florida, husband of Helen and father of Charles and Sarah, has four degrees including an M.A. in English from Vanderbilt, and a Ph.D. in Religion from Duke. Some of his areas of special interest are religion in the American South, comparative studies of western religions, and religion and politics. His most recent of many publications is “Southern Churches in Crisis, Revisited” (1999).

Sunday, February 25, 2007 11 a.m.

“Without Vision the People Will Perish”

The Reverend Jacqueline Luck

Reverend Luck serves the Jackson UU congregation in Mississippi where she learned about "The Little Professor of Piney Woods," and his school 20 miles south of Jackson for the children and grandchildren of freed slaves. In 1954, the Professor was featured on Ralph Edward's television show: "This is Your Life." Join us as we reflect on this inspirational story and its challenge to us.

Sunday, February 18, 2007 11 a.m.

“What Would You Do if You Were Free?”

Rev. Melissa Mummert

What does "freedom" mean in its truest, deepest sense? Is true freedom simply the right to do whatever we want to do? Some of the incarcerated women with whom I work have taught me some important lessons on this subject, which I will share in this service.

Rev. Melissa Mummert is a UU community minister in Charlotte, NC. She coordinates a domestic violence education program for female inmates at the Mecklenburg County Jail. She recently completed her first documentary about a woman who received two life sentences for her minor role in a drug conspiracy.

Sunday, February 11, 2007 11 a.m.

"Listening into Life"

Rev. Martha Hodges

The theologian Paul Tillich wrote, "All things and all people ... want us to listen; they want us to understand their intrinsic claims, their justice of being... but we can give it only through the love that listens." Listening, whether to nature, music, another person or our own inner voice, can be a spiritual practice and a transformative act. Guest speaker Rev. Martha Hodges will share her reflections on how "holy listening" can change our reality, creating new life in both the listener and the world that is speaking.

Martha Hodges comes to us from Dayton, OH, where she is currently serving the Miami Valley UU Fellowship. She is a native of Ithaca, NY and a lifelong Unitarian Universalist. She is a 2004 graduate of our UU seminary in Chicago, Meadville Lombard Theological School. She entered the ministry after previous careers as a labor activist, a teacher of English as a Second Language, a college instructor and the coordinator of an adult literacy program.

Sunday, February 4, 2007 11 a.m.

"Hope in Troubled Times"

Rev. Jean Rowe

A woman whose spouse recently developed a particularly nasty form of cancer said to me: “I never really knew what hope is. Now I do. Hope is living as if things will turn out well, even though all the signs point in the wrong direction. Hope means not giving up. Hope means turning in the right direction and never wavering.”

The new year is a good time for a renewal of hope in our lives.

Jean Rowe retired last year after 13 years as the first Minister of the Neshoba UU Church in Cordova, Tennessee, outside Memphis. She just celebrated the 25th anniversary of her ordination. She’s a graduate of Tufts University and Andover Newton Theological School, both in the Boston area and has been a member of various UUA committees involved in ministerial education and preparation. She and her husband, Lackey, and their very old cat, Desdemona, live happily in Brevard, where each week the congregations chants “It’s great to be alive in Transylvania County.” She is the new choir director for the Brevard UUs, serves on the Worship Committee, and is Canvass Chair 2007.

This is Canvass Kickoff Sunday -- stay tuned for details!

Sunday, January 28, 2007 11 a.m.

The Cosmic Law of Oneness: Practicing Meaningful Religion in an Existential Age

Ras Berhane Kassa

In this age of technology and confusion, is it possible for us to find faith in a loving God? How does the God of Oneness dissolve the matrix of abstraction that separates us all from each other and the earth? Berhane suggests that we each take responsibility for developing our own mindfulness-based spiritual practice.

Ras Berhane Kassa is a Cosmic Zen instructor, music healer, spiritual writer and poet. Born on a day signifying cosmic unity, June 13, 1966 on the island of Trinidad, Berhane became a devotee of Yeheshua the Christ around 5 years of age. He soon got into Taoist and Zen philosophy and practice. He has studied all aspects of esoteric or mystical spirituality including Carl Jung, Kabbalah, Rastafari, Ramakrishna, Buddhism, Krishnamurti and Aldus Huxley's distillation of perennial philosophy. The Beatles and Bob Marley are among his major musical gurus. He was commissioned to teach by a Native American Shaman in 1996 and is now gathering true friends in facilitating the birth of The Temple of Compassion to alleviate suffering and promote creative living world wide.

Sunday, January 21, 2007 11 a.m.

“The First Principle: A Conversation Between Friends”

Kim Taylor and Tim Perry

As UUs we define ourselves (as much as we can BE defined) by the Seven Principles. The first, and probably the most basic of these is our claim to ". . . affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person." Yet, historically, we have taken an exclusively pro choice stand on abortion, seemingly without considering what rights the unborn might have. Some would say that there is a glaring contradiction between our words and our deeds.

Unfortunately, very few are actually talking about it, so of course, we will attempt to examine this subject by sharing a dialogue. What if we could pretend for a moment that our minds aren't made up, and actually listen to what the other side is saying? It seemed like a good idea to us, so that's what we did, and we invite you to share in the results of our honest, open discussion on a very touchy subject.

Tim is a former Fundamentalist, a former Priest, a former Roman Catholic, and a former some would say "recovering" member of the Christian Right. Like many of us, he has changed his mind, at one time or another, about almost everything he ever held as true. Since the collapse of his Christian belief structure, he has joyously become a Unitarian Universalist, and is currently mismanaging our office, and at the age of 41, deciding what he wants to be when he grows up.

Kim is a social worker, foster parent, author and relatively new UU.

Sunday, January 14, 2007 11 a.m.

“Worship Services: Recent and Future“

"Holy and beautiful the custom which brings us together, ... To face our ideals, To remember our loved ones in absence, To give thanks, to make confession, To offer forgiveness, To be enlightened, and to be strengthened. Through this quiet hour breathes the worship of ages" These are words from the very first of the "Readings" in the back of our hymnal.

Instead of a sermon we will devote up to 35 minutes to sitting in both silence and conversation to receive your feedback on our Sunday Services during the last two months and look toward the future. The last year without a minister has been a challenge for our small Program and Worship Committee which welcomes any of you who would like to join us for our monthly planning meetings.

Sunday, January 7, 2007 11 a.m.

“One Step at a Time - Willow's AT Journey”

Amy Mullins

In the spring of 2006, our very own Amy Mullins, set out on a 2000 mile journey to hike the Appalachian Trail, a footpath extending from Georgia to Maine. Come join us as Amy shares her challenges, her triumphs and tales of her travels in hopes of lending a fresh perspective for us all in the coming New Year!

Sunday, December 31, 2006 11 a.m.

“Dances of Universal Peace”

Darilyn Dealy

These are simple circle dances which celebrate the joy and peace in each of us. As we share and revivify our love and joy, we integrate ourselves with the power of Peace through the practice of meditative circle dances and walks, with singing and chanting of Divine Names and sacred phrases from many spiritual traditions. There are no performers or audience, just ourselves, doing moving meditation and celebration. No experience is needed. We form the circle together. Come join hands and create peace -- within and without.

Darilyn is a former member of the Asheville UU church, and has been participating in the Dances of Universal Peace locally and elsewhere since the early 1990's. She is currently training to become a certified Dance leader. The Dances are offered at 7pm on the second Sunday of each month, at the Asheville Arts Center, 308 Merrimon Avenue in Asheville.

Sunday, December 31, 2006 9 p.m.

New Year's Eve

For those of you who don't already have other plans, UUCSV will host a celebration of the New Year from 9 pm until -- with refreshments, music, dancing, and any other appropriate entertainment which might surface amongst our multi-talented membership. Watch for details in the Sunday bulletins........

Sunday, December 24, 2006 11 a.m.

“An Aramaic Christmas”

Rahmaneh and Tomas Meyers

We will hear about the meaning of the word in Aramaic and Hebrew that was translated "christ" and how we can choose to ever more deeply birth the commitment that is described by the original word; also, how the traditional Christmas story has some value in terms of insight into Near Eastern customs and psychology, and how the Qu'ran carries on the tale in its way. Returning to our time, how we might use the new season (ushered in for some via the winter solstice, and for others, the new year) to clear us of outdated thought forms and emotional holdings, so as to allow and celebrate the innate life intelligence flowing through us, in us, and as us, in service of All that Is.

For the past ten years, Rahmaneh Meyers has been researching the words of Jesus in Aramaic, which echo core concepts explored by Old Testament prophets, the prophet Mohammed, and people of peace today. She teaches, participates in interfaith gatherings, writes, counsels, and serves "the great awakening" any way she can. She is a mostly retired yoga and meditation teacher, Reiki "master," massage therapist, Montessori teacher, and NLP practitioner. She currently interweaves ancient wisdom with New Thought, music, and movement, and thus keeps her ministry vital and juicy. Tomas, her partner of 34 years, often shares some of his poetry which awakens sleeping synapses in our infinitely wondrous minds.

Thursday, December 21, 7 p.m.

Solstice Service

Byron Ballard

In old Europe, the people believed that the gods slept from the cross-quarter day at the beginning of November and were awakened with the birth of the Sacred Child at the White Solstice. At this festival of light--the first of the ancient new year--we sit in the deep silence of the winter and bring forth the light in a fiery celebration of the rebirth of the sun. Come and join Byron Ballard for this joyful and intense solstice celebration on this, the longest night of the year. And don't forget your noisemaker (rattle, drum, flute) for the raucous finale.

Byron Ballard is a Dianic priestess and co-founder of the Coalition of Earth Religions for Education and Support/CERES in Asheville. She is a mom, writer, bookseller and village Witch.

Sunday, December 17, 2006 11 a.m.

“Chutes & Ladders: A Spiritual Path”

Rev. Todd Eklof

"Play is an important part of human nature, but sometimes our childhood games lay the ground rules for the games people play as adults. If our big city streets are looking too much like the violent video game, "Grand Theft Auto," and our global economy is being treated like a game of "Monopoly," maybe it's time to find a better game upon which to model our behavior. If society is to move beyond violence and greed, perhaps we need to return to the past, to what we learned as children by playing the simple game of Chutes & Ladders."

Rev. Todd Eklof was ordained and installed as minister of Clifton Unitarian Church in Louisville, Kentucky in 1999. Originally from California, Todd studied theology and philosophy at Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas. He has his Master of Arts in Religious Studies from Spalding University and is in the DMin program at Wisdom University. He is also the first Certified Affiliate Member of the American Philosophical Practitioners Association (APPA).

Sunday, December 10, 2006 11 a.m.

“Gifts from the Generations”

Religious Education Classes

As we approach the winter holidays, the children and youth of the congregation will delight you with their portrayals of Unitarian Universalists who have enriched our seasonal celebrations with music, literature, and traditions. Other important contributions from our forebears will be presented as well. Come to be enlightened about our history and amazed at our remarkable children and youth as we celebrate the season together.

Sunday, December 3, 2006 11 a.m.

“Church and State”

Marc Mullinax

During the last two election cycles, faith and politics have each served as the shadow side of each other. Yet there seems to be a sense, whether it's the war in Iraq, same-sex marriage, or scandals involving Congressional pages, that faith must somehow inform politics and public morality. The way that handshake works (a high-five? a tepid, limp-fish grasp?) has been nd will continue to be part of the public debate about what kind of nation the United States has been and shall be. "Who belongs here? To what kind of nation shall we belong?"

Marc Mullinax chairs the Religion and Philosophy Department at Mars Hill College, where he has taught since 2001. His dissertation and subsequent scholarly work involves the roles of ideology and faith. Such intersecting passions leads him to be a cultural critic on matters of religion, society, politics, faith and good taste. His weekly adventures in such matters are recorded on p. 21 each week of "The Asheville Daily Planet," but are also played out in every classroom experience at Mars Hill College, especially in such courses as "Critics of Christianity," "Religions in America," "Imagined Worlds: Heaven, Hell and Middle Earth," courses on East Asian religions, and in General Education courses which question the fundamentals of human nature and creativity. Marc also teaches "spinning" classes at the Asheville YMCA, races bicycles with the Asheville Bike Racing Team, and frequents the Black Mountain bakery every Saturday morning with his best friend. He has one daughter, Sophie, a sophomore at Wake Forest University. In November, he became a cancer survivor.

Sunday, November 26, 2006 11 a.m.

“In Search of Global Warming’s Silver Lining“

Sally Beth Shore

This past summer, the Unitarian Universalist Association’s General Assembly passed a Statement of Conscience on Global Warming, a resounding commitment on the part of its member congregations to take action on personal, congregational and community levels to combat the problem of increasing carbon dioxide emissions caused, for the most part by fossil fuel combustion. But many of us feel uncertain about how we can really hope to make a difference in the face of such a global problem. And as we hear the bad news of rising sea levels, melting ice caps, and slowing ocean currents, it's easy to fall prey to anger, blame and resignation. But is there a silver lining? Could this situation actually call forth the best that is within us?

Sally Beth Shore has lived in Asheville for the past six years. She grew up in Southern Pines, and attended UNC-Chapel Hill, where she received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Earth and Environmental Sciences. She began studying at Meadville-Lombard Theological School in Chicago last January and will return again this January for another round of intensive coursework. She has three children and is married to Michael Shore whom she met while serving in the US Peace Corps in Mali. She teaches Environmental Science part-time for UNCA.

Sunday, November 19, 2006 11 a.m.

“Let Us Give Thanks”

We all know how Thanksgiving day sometimes plays out, right ? A day stuffed full of turkey and pumpkin pie, a couple of football games on the tube, and best of all, the post-Thanksgiving day shopping splurge!

But Elizabeth Roberts and Elias Amidon, editors of Earth Prayers, remind us of the importance of expressing gratitude, through prayer. "Perhaps the greatest gift we humans have to offer the rest of creation is our heartfelt appreciation. Our praise and thanksgiving is as essential a part of life's give and take as are the cycles of oxygen and water or any other nourishment flowing through this biosphere."

Join us this Sunday in an intergenerational, lay-led service as we explore the role of gratitude and praise in our lives. Anyone interested in shaping this service please contact Rebecca Williams.

Sunday, November 12, 2006 11 a.m.

“From My Grandmother’s Attic”

Rev. Amy Brooks

Do you like to crawl into attics looking for treasures of a distant past? Some years ago, I received a small stack of old newspapers and clippings from my grandmother’s attic. Among other things, this treasure contains several editions from 1876 and 1877 of the “Star in the West” which was a “Universalist family newspaper”. It is intriguing what gems you can find on its pages. For example, one writer noted “I learned that there are many good Christians among the people who call themselves “Evangelical”! In my experience today, I think I could say “I have learned there are many good UU’s among the people who call themselves “Christian”! On a lighter note this two-liner was at the bottom of one column on the first page, “The tongue is like a

Unitarian Universalist

Congregation of the Swannanoa Valley

Religious Freedom --- Diverse Perspectives

Tapes of some previous programs are available

Text of Some Messages is Now Online

Sunday, July 13, 2008 11 a.m.

A Community of Ministers

Calen Rayne

Sunday, July 6, 2008 11 a.m.

“Un-Indebtedness Day!”

Meg Barnhouse and other UUCSV friends

Sunday, June 29, 2008 11 a.m.

“To Love Your Neighbor As Your Self”

Dale Allen Hoffman

Sunday, June 22, 2008 11 a.m.

“There’s Always Something to Do in the Garden”

Rev. Sarah York

Sunday, June 15, 2008 11 a.m.

Special Father’s Day Service

Tim Perry

Sunday, June 8, 2008 11 a.m.

“Existentialist Spirituality”

Sally Beth Shore

Sunday, June 1, 2008 11 a.m.

“Blue Eyes Looking Into Dark Eyes....”

Ymani Simmons

Sunday, May 25, 2008 11 a.m.

“Between the Lines”

The Congregation, with Sue Stone and Evelyn Carter

Sunday, May 18, 2008 11 a.m.

“Remembering Well”

Rev. Sarah York

Sunday, May 11, 2008 11 a.m.

“Rites of Passage”

Religious Education Coordinator, Teachers, Youth, and Children

Sunday, May 4, 2008 11 a.m.

“Leaping the Bonfire: Ancient Holydays and Modern Rites of Passage”

H. Byron Ballard

Sunday, April 27, 2008 11 a.m.

“Taking Risks on the Path of Wisdom”

Rev. Sarah York

Sunday, April 20, 2008 11 a.m.

“Ayurveda: A Spiritual Path”

Julia Monet-Bolka, MA Vedic Science

Sunday, April 13, 2008 11 a.m.

The Greek and the Hebrew

Tom Patteson

Sunday, April 6, 2008 11 a.m.

"The Cost of the War in Iraq"

Lyle Peterson & Social Action Committee

Sunday, March 30, 2008 11 a.m.

“Recovering Our Relationship with the Natural World”

Tayria Ward, Ph.D.

Sunday, March 23, 2008 11 a.m.

“Life Before Death” (Easter Sunday)

Rev. Sarah York

Sunday, March 16, 2008 11 a.m.

“Being Reverently Green”

The Green Sanctuary Committee

Sunday, March 9, 2008 11 a.m.

“Peace Plan for the Gender Wars”

Rudolf Ballentine, M.D.

Sunday, March 2, 2008 11 a.m.

Restorative Justice in Action: Stories from the World

Marty Price

Sunday, February 24, 2008 11 a.m.

“The Economy of the Spirit”

Rev. Sarah York

Sunday, February 17, 2008 11 a.m.

“Alchemy and Mysticism: Journey on a Labyrinth”Text

Rev. Dr. Calen Rayne

Sunday, February 10, 2008 11 a.m.

“The Enneagram as Spiritual Path”

Jeanine Siler Jones

Sunday, February 3, 2008 11 a.m.

“A Legacy of Non-Violence: Gandhi, King, Mandela”

Delano E. Lewis

Sunday, January 27, 2008 11 a.m.

“Aids Ministry from a UU Perspective”

Rev. Amy Brooks