Recent Programs

Join us Sunday, May 4, 2025 at 11am in person or on ZOOM, as Alex Swift

presents
 

"The Meaning of Mystery"

What  is the meaning of life? What is love? What is a soul? When we   encounter things that we do not understand, that we cannot understand   with our current means, what do we do? Do we simply accept that we will   never know? Or do we try to figure it out anyway? Please join us for  an  exploration of life's greatest mysteries as we ask the even bigger   question, why do you think anything is meaningful at all?  

Everyone is encouraged to stay for Coffee and Conversation after the service.

Join us Sunday, April 27, 2025 at 11am in person or on ZOOM, as Röy Romano

presents

"Walpurgis  Night"

Celebrations  of the changing seasons are many and varied all over the world. One of  these that is observed throughout countries in Northern and Central  Europe is Walpurgis Night,  Saint Walpurga's Eve, or Wapurgisnacht.   Like so many holidays, it is named after and celebrates a Christian  saint while also incorporating traditions of earlier religions that were  observed in that area during the same time of year. Once again in the  spring, as in the autumn, the veil between the worlds is thin and  mysterious things can happen...

Join  us in the fullness of Spring to celebrate the end of the long dark   night by observing Europe’s springtime second Halloween:  Walpurgisnacht.    

Everyone is encouraged to stay for Coffee and Conversation after the service.

**************************  

Join us Sunday, April 20, 2025 at 11am in person or on ZOOM, as LUUF member Catherine Nasch presents

"Rebirth and Renewal"

There  is a great joy welcoming the hyacinths and daffodils as they push their  way out through the earth. A sigh of relief that the winter may truly  be behind us. Spring has sprung, and the eternal question appears. "What  is longing to break through in you?"

Together  we will explore several of the world's religious rituals, spiritual  paths that evoke and describe this mystery. As human beings who inhabit  this earth with all other life forms, and every year, we awaken from the  slumber of winter, to rise again renewed and refreshed. 

******************

 Join us Sunday, April 13, 2025 at 11am in person or on ZOOM, as we welcome back Rev. Allen Wells to present
"The Second Singularity"

A Singularity has many meanings in various fields. In social terms, it refers to   a context in which a small change can cause a large effect. It is being applied in various ways to the development of GAI, Generative Artificial Intelligence.

Rev. Wells will consider the subject from his own perspective, "I would like to reconsider the basic cause of climate change and our commitment to GAI in light of The Buddha’s teaching as to the primacy of the body”.  As always a Discussion period will follow his presentation.

Everyone is encouraged to stay for Coffee and Conversation after the service.

************************* 

 Join us Sunday, April 6, 2025 at 11am in person or on ZOOM, as LUUF members Richard Nasch and Carol Swift present

"Passover: Why is This Night Different?"

"Why is this night different from all other nights?" is a question asked fairly early in the Passover Seder, the ritual dinner  held the first night or first two nights of  Passover. This year Passover, one of the most important holidays of the Jewish calendar, takes place from the evening of April 12th to the evening of April 20th. It celebrates the Exodus of the Jews from Egypt and their escape from slavery into freedom. This has been an powerful story of hope throughout troubled times for all people whose religion or culture has Judeo-Christian roots, and can speak to anyone about hope for a better future.

Everyone is encouraged to stay for Coffee and Conversation after the service.

 ***********************

 Sunday, March 30, 2025 at 11am in person or on ZOOM, Join us as welcome guest speaker Jane Prendergast to present

"Sister 8 - Lucrezia Borgia"

To mark Women History Month, Jane Prendergast, author of soon-to-be-published book "Sixteen Sisters," will present "Sister 8 - Lucrezia Borgia." An Italian noblewoman, the daughter of Pope Alexander VI of the powerful House of Borgia, the renowned beauty was a pawn in a series of marriages her father conspired to increase his wealth and of the Borgia sovereignty.  Lucrezia lived through tragedy and notoriety in the splendor and corruption of the Italian Renaissance. Her strength of character and endurance of circumstances deserves universal sympathy and respect.  

Everyone is encouraged to stay for Coffee and Conversation after the service.

Click here to see Upcoming Services or go to the tab under "Services."

*************************

 Sunday, March 23, 2025 at 11am in person or on ZOOM, Join us as LUUF member Janice Kirn presents
 

"Forgiveness"

How  does forgiveness impact your day to  day life?  How is forgiveness a  form of self-care?   Those and other questions will be explored as we  look at aspects of  forgiveness and how they can impact our lives and  therefore, our society and our world.

Everyone is encouraged to stay for Coffee and Conversation after the service.

 *******************

 Sunday, March 16, 2025 at 11am in person or on ZOOM, Join us for
 

"THE DRUIDS PATH AND CELTIC MYSTICISM"

Journey  to the Magical Scottish Highlands where we will share an  exploration  of the path of the Viking Mystics, known as the Druids,  It  is in  their footprint where Celtic Mythology and Spirituality has its  roots.   Learn about the ancient sites that used the same mathematical   equations that predate and align with the Great Pyramids.  As we travel   this landscape through stone circles and faerie pools, we reconnect to   the journey of the Holy Grail.   

Everyone is encouraged to stay for Coffee and Conversation after the service.

*************** 

 Sunday, March 9, 2025 at 11am in person or on ZOOM, Join us for
 

"Saving Democracy, Part 1"

The   experts say that we will be in a constitutional crisis if this or that   happens. To many of us, it seems like we have been in a constitutional   crisis for weeks or much longer.  This  Sunday, Janice Kirn will lead  the service exploring where we stand as a country and what we can do as  concerned citizens.  

Everyone is encouraged to stay for Coffee and Conversation after the service.

****************  

Join us Sunday, March 2, 2025 at 11am in person or on ZOOM, as we welcome back Rev. Allen Wells to present

 “LIVING WITH THE LIMINAL”

Liminal  times or spaces are those that are transitional or transformative.   Rev. Wells will examine the possibility of living in what appear to be  “end times” by living in “the meantime.” As Rev. Wells puts it, "Such  times  of uncertainty are the hardest because we feel the most  vulnerable.   But, for the same reason, I am finding, we may be  unusually open to new  possibilities, surprising creativity, and  extraordinary spiritual depth.”
 

Everyone is encouraged to stay for Coffee and Conversation after the service.

*******************

Sunday, February 23, 2025 at 11am in person or on ZOOM, Float like a butterfly, Sting like a bee, Join us in 

"Honoring Muhammad Ali!"

Muhammad  Ali was born on January 17, 1942, in Louisville, Kentucky as Cassius  Marcellus Clay Jr.. Although he was best known as  a World Heavyweight  Champion Boxer and Olympic Gold Medalist, he became an icon by combining  those accomplishments with his activism against the Vietnam War and  fight for recognition as a conscientious objector.

This  Sunday, Janice Kirn will lead the service exporing a complex individual  who was both beloved and vilified in his own time.  

Everyone is encouraged to stay for Coffee and Conversation after the service.

 ************************** 

Happy President's Day!

Join us on Sunday, February 16, 2025 at 11am in person or on ZOOM as we explore

The Presidents and Unitarianism

Unitarianism  has roots in early Christianity, but was defined as a denomination in  Europe in the late 16th century. It moved to North America in the early  1700's  with its strongest footholds in New England.  Unitarianism's  beliefs  were however, part of the religious discussion throughout the  colonies and later, the new United States.

From  the 18th century through the 20th century, four Presidents of the  United States identified as Unitarians with one other expressing  Unitarian beliefs without actually identifying as such. Various other  early presidents are thought to be Deists with beliefs in common with  Unitarianism. 

On  this Presidents Day weekend, we will look at the development of  Unitarianism and the U.S. Presidents who practiced and sometimes wrote  about it. What were the early beliefs? How did they develop into what we  know today? What did our U.S. Presidents have to say about it? (We  won't forget the First Ladies, and will throw the possible Universalist  president into the discussion as well. )

Everyone is encouraged to stay for Coffee and Conversation after the service.

Click here to see Upcoming Services or go to the tab under "News.

"********************************************************************* 

Join us on Sunday, February 9, 2025 at 11am in person or on ZOOM when Luuf member, Moira, will present

"Happy New Year, Trees!" 

Tu  Bishvat, or The New Year for Trees, is a Jewish holiday that this year  will be celebrated from sundown Wed, Feb 12 through sundown Thu, Feb 13.  It is a celebration of the season in which the earliest-blooming trees  in the Land of Israel emerge from their winter sleep and begin a new  fruit-bearing cycle.

Although  the trees are still asleep around us, it is good to be reminded that  they will begin to awaken in a few weeks, and nature will show us her  power of renewal again.

Everyone is encouraged to stay for Coffee and Conversation after the service.

Click here to see Upcoming Services or go to the tab under "News."

 *******************************

Join us on Sunday, February 2, 2025 at 11am in person or on ZOOM when Min Mulholland will present

"Wok-a-Holic Pho Dim Sum" (A Lunar New Year Observance)

I  dream of grandmother’s claypot stew, pomegranate sauce, braised black  beans.  My mouth floods.  Please do not rouse me, else wake me in Paris.  Oui. Café au lait et bao buns, Wok Inn on Rue Saint Michel, sushi at  Uncle Giusseppe’s. The world is ever merging. Deluxe conversation tables  abound, wherefore ‘In every dish, a thousand stories are woven.’ 

Warm welcome to all for Coffee and Conversation after the service.

**************************

Join us on Sunday, January 26, 2025 at 11am in person or on ZOOM when we welcome back musical performers the DeMasi Brothers to present

"THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES STILL" 

Contemporary UU folk singers Joseph and John DeMasi present  an  inspiring and uplifting musical service to honor and celebrate the   birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. and to remind us that the struggle  for equality, equity, diversity and inclusion for all continues still. 

LUUF  always looks forward to welcoming the DeMasi Brothers. Award-winning   twin brothers Joseph and John DeMasi are contemporary folk singers,   songwriters and recording artists whose songs are imbued with their   Unitarian Universalist beliefs of love, inclusion, tolerance,   understanding, and worth and dignity for all. With Joseph on guitar and   John on guitar and fiddle, the DeMasi Brothers bring a unique musical   experience full of wit, humor, intellect, and poignancy to every  concert  and  show they perform. 

Everyone is encouraged to stay for Coffee and Conversation after the service.

 ********************************

Join us on Sunday, January 19, 2025 at 11am in person or on ZOOM when LUUF member Carol Swift will present

"Martin Luther King Jr. and Unitarian Universalism" 

As  we celebrate the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the  week of what would have been his 96th birthday, we look at his long  relationship to Unitarian Universalism. It is well known that he and his  wife both frequented Unitarian churches in their young adult lives. He  also was friends with, and collaborated with Unitarian Universalist  ministers in his social activism. In 1966,  Dr. King gave the Ware  Lecture at the UUA General Assembly, mentioning some of these  connections and warning the audience not to "sleep through the  Revolution." In addition, Dr. King apparently at one time considered  becoming a Unitarian.

We  will look at this history, and at the interesting question raised by  Rosemary Bray McNatt in a 2002 UUWorld article, "What would have  happened if Martin Luther King Jr. had cast his lot with the Unitarian  Universalists?"  

Everyone is encouraged to stay for Coffee and Conversation after the service. 

*************************************

Join us on Sunday, January 12, 2025 at 11am in person or on ZOOM when we welcome first time guest speaker, Kubra Karagoz to present

"M. Fethullah Gülen and A Muslim Scholar's Impact on the World " 

Ms.  Karagoz will introduce us to the impact of M. Fethullah Gülen, a  Turkish  teacher, scholar, author and preacher who was beloved by  members of the international movement he started. We at LUUF became  aware of Mr. Gülen from our dealings with members of the Peace Island  Institute that he founded. Mr. Gülen was the  spiritual leader of a movement for social and civic reform, known as the Hizmet (“service”) movement or the Gülen movement.  He  emphasized education,  interfaith and intercultural dialogue, science,  democracy, and spirituality, while condemning violence.  Mr. Gülen was a  controversial figure in Turkey, and as a result spent his last years  living and teaching in Pennsylvania where he passed away this past  October. Our condolences go out to his many followers. 

Everyone is encouraged to stay for Coffee and Conversation after the service.

 *******************

Happy New Year!

Join us on Sunday, January 5, 2025 at 11am in person or on ZOOM when LUUF member Alex Swift presents,

"Should You be Afraid of the A.I. Revolution? " 

Are  you afraid that A.I. (Artificial Intelligence) will destroy  humanity?  Are you hopeful that A.I. will bring a new era of peace and  prosperity?  Are you completely confused by the concept of A.I. and are  just trying  to understand what it is? Rejoice humans! Alex Swift will  explore the  latest issues and developments in the field of A.I., what  they mean for  the world, and for us everyday people, and will attempt to  answer the  question "Should you be afraid?". 

Everyone is encouraged to stay for Coffee and Conversation after the service 

***************************

Happy Holidays!

Join us on Sunday, December 29, 2024 at 11am in person or on ZOOM for a  festive & jolly service presented by LUUF member Min Mulholland,

"Great Expectations . . . or Else" 

With  the New Year mere days away, you may already feel like tackling  societal conflicts, the wars, eliminating suffering.  But this Sunday,  the “. . . or Else” will be featured.  The  world is a better place with  you in it - even beautiful.  An auditing  of that fact will be exposed  beside complementary songs and poetry

.  . . all are warmly welcome.

Everyone is encouraged to stay for Coffee and Conversation after the service.

 ***********************

Happy Holidays!

Join us on Sunday, December  22, 2024 at 11am in person or on ZOOM as  everyone is invited to bring their creative works to share in  community. Whether joyful or contemplative, verbal or visual,  conventional or avant-garde, contribute what you wish to 

 Merrie Creativeness (With Open Mic!)

Our  own LUUF member, Moira, will conduct the service and start us off. As  she says, "Come one, come all and list to the tale of woe and sadness  that is my own story of how I came to terms with the winter holiday.  After  my brief anecdotal talk, the floor will be opened up to all who  would  like to share anything of their own making, be it animal,  vegetable, or  mineral -- moving or static. Spoken word creations  --  painted, fabric, photographic, sculptural arts -- edible creations --   scrapbooks  -- musical offerings  --  recycling crafts!

Whatsoever you can think of that expresses your inner creativity, do tell and show!"

Everyone is encouraged to stay for Coffee and Conversation after the service.

 *********************

Join us on Sunday, December 15, 2024 at 11am in person or on ZOOM as we welcome back Rev. Allen Wells to explore

 "WHAT IS REAL?" 

We  will take a look at how we may tell what is true from what is a  fake,  with a little prodding from the great Universalist showman and  huxter,  P.T. Barnum. (Yes, of Barnum and Baily Circus fame.) 

Rev.     Wells  has been part of the UU world since the 1960s, and has been a     Guest Minister at LUUF for at least 20 years.  He is now the  community     minister at the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship, and once  served     congregations in Weymouth, MA,  Hollis Queens, Brooklyn, and  Rockland  County, NY.  He directed  The Allen Wells Center for  Psychotherapy  and   Healing in Morristown NJ.  He now teaches  meditation and has a  private  practice in mindfulness  based  counseling.   

Everyone is encouraged to stay for Coffee and Conversation after the service. 

*******************

Join us on Sunday, December 8, 2024 at 11am in person or on ZOOM as we welcome back Steve Cohn for an interactive presentation of

" The Book of Obstacles:  More Than One Side to a Tarot Card"

 Steve  Cohn is a musician, composer, and painter.   His earliest drawings  began with an abstract interpretation of tarot cards.  

He  explains "Readings done with my original [tarot] deck are directed at  discovering the obstacles current in the  life of the person who is  being read for. These obstacles appear at  exactly the moment the person  is ready to learn  from them. The reading reveals the tools by  which  one may understand and transcend these obstacles.

One  of the purposes of this  approach is to emphasize that an obstacle,  like a problem, is a valuable  part of the process of being a human  being. And through this process,  one will be able to  discover the  appropriate decisions in order to carry out the vision of  one's life."

This  will be an interactive presentation with hands on work-shopping and  will exceed our usual time frame. You are welcome to come for as much of  the service as your schedule will allow.

Everyone is encouraged to stay for Coffee and Conversation after the service.

*******************

Happy Thanksgiving!

Join us on Sunday, December 1, 2024 at 11am in person or on ZOOM as LUUF member Janice Kirn presents

"Soon: Is Patience Really a Virtue?"

The  time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, for Christians, is known as  Advent. It is a time of watchful waiting for Christ, but  what does it  mean to be watchfully waiting in our regular lives, our everyday lives?  How do we go about being patient in a world where all we feel is rushed,  rushed, and rushed?

We  will explore the concept of patience as we enter a season packed with  holidays from various religions and cultures each with its own  traditions and expectations.

There  will be a post-Thanksgiving a potluck after the service. Everyone is  encouraged to stay to enjoy food and community. You are welcome to bring  something to contribute only if you wish to.

As always, there will also be a  bin for donations to the Wayne Interfaith Food Pantry.

 *************

Join us on Sunday, November 24, 2024 at 11am in person or on ZOOM for

"Thankfulness and Gratitude in Hard Times"

As  the Holiday Season quickly approaches, it is easy to be thankful if  things are going well.  It is more difficult when things are not going well. However, it has been found that those who feel grateful,  experience a myriad of benefits, both mental and physical. So how do we  help ourselves experience thankfulness and gratitude when there  are so  many reasons to feel more negative emotions?

We  will explore various ways people have suggested  generating  thankfulness. We will then open the floor to a discussion of both the  solutions we have found, and some of the barriers we may have  experienced, when trying to finding a path to Thankfulness and Gratitude  when things are not going well.

Everyone is invited to stay for Coffee and Conversation after the service, during which we will be putting together  toy boxes for young children who have been displaced from their homes.

Click here to see Upcoming Services or go to the tab under "News."

 ************************

Join us on Sunday, November 17, 2024 at 11am in person or on ZOOM for

"I Am What I Am: An Exploration of Identity"

Identity  of kinds is an inherent part of the human experience. It can bring  unity to a group just as  it can be used to cause division. It can make  individuals feel a sense of wholeness as well as alienation. 

Unitarian  Universalism's first, third and fourth Principles are about the  inherent worth and dignity of every person, acceptance of one another,  and a free and responsible search for truth and meaning respectively.  Gender identity has been and is being used as a political football to  divide us, but it is not the only identity being used this way. More  often than not, we will be identified by others in the way most obvious  or important to them, whether race, gender, age, ethnicity, religion,  physical ability, mental ability, political affiliation, legal status,  or any of a myriad of other things. 

However,  though we may outwardly be part of the groups other people identify us  with, it may not reflect what is most important to us and how we  identify internally. Each of us has many different cultures and  subcultures we belong to, and often parts of our sense of identity have a  relationship to those cultures. But what elements actually end up being  most important to us, and how does that combine into who we feel we  truly are?  

We  will explore these questions together, as well as taking time to  observe Transgender Day of Remembrance by acknowledging the transgender  members of our larger community who we have lost through violence in the  United States this past year. 

Everyone is invited to stay for Coffee and Conversation after the service.

 ****************

Join us on Sunday, November 10, 2024 at 11am in person or on ZOOM as we welcome Rev. Charles Loflin,  Executive Director of UU Faith Action NJ to present

"We Can Do Hard Things"

In   planning and policy  fields, a "wicked problem” is one that is   difficult or impossible to  solve because of incomplete, contradictory,   and changing requirements  that are often difficult to recognize.   Classic examples of wicked  problems include: Climate change,  Education,  Sustainability, and Income  Inequality. How can  our  Unitarian  Universalist faith perspective guide  us in our approach to  wicked  problems? 

Everyone is invited to stay for Coffee and Conversation after the service.

 **********************

Join us on Sunday, November 3, 2024 at 11am in person or on ZOOM as LUUF member Janice Kirn presents

"One Vote, One Voice"

The  only way to ensure democracy, is to value our vote and to  participate  in elections. This year the status of our country as a free  nation is  on the ballot. Please join us on November 3rd as we dive into  the  importance of the individual vote. The importance of speaking up.  The  importance of turning voices into action by virtue of exercising our   vote. 

Election Day is November 5th, but early voting has started on NJ and ends at 6:00 pm November 3rd. Click here for more information on early voting in NJ.

All are invited for Coffee and Conversation after the Service.

 *************

Join us on Sunday, October 27, 2024 at 11am in person or on ZOOM as LUUF members Cathy and Rich Nasch present

"All Saints Day aka Day of the Dead"

This  is the time of year when many cultures honor the dead and consider the  veil between the living and the dead to be thinnest. On November 1st All  Saints Day is celebrated by various Christian denominations all over  the world by going to church to honor Christian saints and martyrs who  are in heaven, and to pray for the dead. The Day of the Dead or el Día  de los Muertos , is also celebrated on November 1st and  2nd in Mexico  honoring deceased loved ones by various traditions including bringing  food and flowers to their graves to share.

Join  us to explore ALL SAINTS DAY aka DAY OF THE DEAD. Bring a  photo, a  special food, or just a fond recollection in remembrance of a deceased  loved one for a short, respectful ritual in the traditional  Mexican  way. 

All are invited for Coffee and Conversation after the Service.

 ******************

Join us on Sunday, October 20, 2024 at 11am in person or on ZOOM as we welcome back Rev Allen Wells to present

"LIVING WELL WITH CLIMATE CHANGE"

The  naturalist poet, Wendell Berry has written:  “Be joyful though you   have considered all the facts.”  From a different perspective, if you   look deeply and distinguish between the oneness of the world which is a   fact and our historical mythology and theology which has taught us   separation and professed the need for dominance, we can find meaning  and  even live with joy!  

Rev.   Wells  has been part of the UU world since the 1960s, and has been a   Guest Minister at LUUF for at least 20 years.  He is now the community    minister at the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship, and once served    congregations in Weymouth, MA,  Hollis Queens, Brooklyn, and Rockland   County, NY.  He directed  The Allen Wells Center for Psychotherapy and   Healing in Morristown NJ.  He now teaches meditation and has a private   practice in mindfulness  based counseling.   

All are invited for Coffee and Conversation after the Service.

Click here to see Upcoming Services or go to the tab under "News."

**********************************

October 13, 2024 Poetry Slalom

Join us on Sunday, October 13, 2024 at 11am in person or on ZOOM as LUUF member Moira leads us through a 

"Poetry Slalom: Where Text and Art Hit the Wall"

This  Sunday Moira will take us on a journey through how and when Poetry and  visual arts connect with, and  reflect each other in fully realizing the  composer's message.  She will present a brief overview of poets who  have done this, before opening the floor for attendees to either share  poetry and art that follows the same general theme, or to share anything   that is meaningful to them, whether serious or comic, original or  written by others. So bring your contribution to share, or just come to  listen and discuss. 

Anyone who would like to share visuals electronically, can send a photo or graphic to Luufnews@gmail.com for inclusion in the service presentation.

All are invited for Coffee and Conversation after the Service.

Click here to see Upcoming Services or go to the tab under "News."

************* 

Join us on Sunday, October 6, 2024 at 11am in person or on ZOOM as LUUF member Janice Kirn leads us in a 

"Blessing of the Animals"

A  version of The Blessing of the Animals is held in many different  religions world wide. In  Catholicism, it is performed on the Feast of  Saint Francis of Assisi, October 4th.  It is a celebration of the animals of the world by honoring and blessing those animals that enrich or have enriched our lives. 

Saint Francis is associated with the patronage of animals and the environment.  October 4 has since become World Animal Day.

This  service will take place outdoors either in our walled garden, or on our  wrap around porch. Everyone is encouraged to bring their pet, companion  animal, or a picture of a special animal in your life. Please bring  appropriate restraints and snacks to make sure your animal can be  controlled for the safety of everyone. 

All are invited for Coffee and Conversation after the Service. 

 *****************

Join us on Sunday, Sept 29, 2024 at 11am in person or on ZOOM as we examine the way that

"Every Issue Has Many Sides"

As humans we like things to be simple, but whether we are  talking about interpersonal relationships,  social situations, or political conflicts, most things are complex. This desire for simplicity can make people vulnerable to jumping to conclusions or being manipulated by others.

Unitarian Universalism's 1st and 2nd Principles recognize " The inherent worth and dignity of every person" and call on us to practice "Justice, equity and compassion in human relations."  We will explore why a willingness to  look at issues from many sides and factoring in many components can help us in trying to follow these Principles.

All are invited for Coffee and Conversation after the Service. 

****************************** 

Happy Fall!

Join us on Sunday, Sept 22, 2024 at 11am in person or on ZOOM as we celebrate the turning of the seasons  with

"Autumnal Equinox Traditions"

The  2024 Autumnal or Fall Equinox will happen at 8:43 am ET on Sunday,  September 22nd. Together we can explore the traditions practiced to mark  this often overlooked milestone. 

This  time of year is busy and we are often distracted, but it is time of  year that has been spiritually significant for various cultures for  millennia. Most traditions in the Northern Hemisphere connect it to the  harvest and for some, the beginning of the new year. Let's take some  time to focus on this moment in the natural world and see what  traditions speak to us.

All are invited for Coffee and Conversation after the Service. 

 *****************

Join us on Sunday, September 15, 2024 at 11am in person or on ZOOM as LUUF member Min Mulholland leads us in a program celebrating Hispanic-American Heritage,

"Flight of Dreams"

On  Sunday September 15, we will celebrate the robust influences  emanating  from our ancestral Latin America.  There is no escaping  Hispanic  Heritage Month because we live and enjoy it daily. 
Does an  hour pass without thought or mention of any one of the  following:  Alex  Rodriguez, Frida Kahlo, Sonia Sotomayor, JLo, potato,  corn?  Join us  with a memory of the hour that excluded any such thought  or  mention. 

All are invited to Coffee and Conversation following the service.

************************************

Join us on Sunday, September 8, 2024 at 11am in person or on ZOOM as we come back together to begin the 2024-2025 Service Year with our

"In-Gathering Water Service"

LUUF's   Water Ceremony is based on the Unitarian Universalist ceremony started   in 1980. The original authors have said "the ocean is considered by  many  to be the place from which all life on our planet came—it is the  womb  of life—and that amniotic waters surround each of us prenatally,  we now  realize that [the service]was for us a new story of creation.”

Bring   water to share from a place that is important to you or use the water   we will have available. We will combine the waters while participants   share water's personal connections as well as any global thoughts they   may care to share. As we combine the water from all our sources, we   commit ourselves to each other and our larger community in the coming   year.

All are invited to Coffee and Conversation following the service.

********************************************

Join us on Sunday, June 30, 2024 at 11am in person or on ZOOM for 

"Summer Solstice Traditions"

The summer solstice occurred last week and is the official beginning of summer.   Like the winter solstice, the summer solstice has been celebrated throughout history by cultures all over the world. We will look at some of those traditions as we celebrate our last regular program of the service year, and look forward to the beginning of of our Summer Sunday Porch chats each Sunday at 10 am from July 14-Aug 25.

Everyone is encouraged to stay for Coffee and Conversation after the service.

 ********************************

Join us on Sunday, June 23, 2024 at 11am in person or on ZOOM for 

"Nurturing a Beloved Community"

The term "Beloved Community" was first coined by  philosopher-theologian Josiah Royce in the early 20th century, then popularized by Martin Luther King Jr. as he envisioned a global movement dedicated to the principles of nonviolence and the wellbeing of all peoples throughout the world. Since then it has been redefined many times to fit the needs of  various groups, including by Unitarian Universalists. 

This Sunday, while respecting the history and complexity of the Beloved Community, we will recognize it on a smaller scale, that of a small congregation made up of individuals who support each other and the work of the congregation to create a better future in whatever ways we can. 

Everyone is encouraged to stay for Coffee and Conversation after the service.

******************** 

Join us on Sunday, June 16, 2024 at 11am in person or on ZOOM as LUUF Co-President, Rich Nasch leads our 

"Father's Day Celebration!"

Father's Day was inaugurated in 1910  by a woman who was raised by a single father to celebrate fathers, fathering and fatherhood. In many ways the concept of   what fatherhood entails has changed and expanded since then.  Rich Nasch,  as a father, will give his take on the subject and invite discussion from everyone present.

Everyone is encouraged to stay for Coffee and Conversation after the service.

 *****************************************

Join us on Sunday, June 9, 2024 at 11am in person or on ZOOM as we  come together to celebrate community and the natural diversity of our world with the 

"Flower Ceremony"

One of the things that the Flower Ceremony symbolizes is the way diverse individuals come together to make a beautiful whole. For this celebration, bring flowers virtually or in-person, or use one from those that will be supplied  to make our bouquet. Then share, if you are willing, your connection to the flower you brought and a different one you choose from the bouquet to take home. (Virtual flowers can be sent to LUUFnews@gmail.com through Saturday, June 8 for inclusion in the service.)

Everyone is encouraged to stay for Coffee and Conversation after the service.

Join us on Sunday, June 2, 2024 at 11am in person or on ZOOM as we welcome back Rev. Allen Wells for

"PERSONAL IDENTITY AND IDENTITY POLITICS" 

Personal identity is a huge issue for everyone as they are growing up trying to understand who they are and how they fit into their society. For many people this becomes even more difficult if they do not naturally fit into the expected "norms" of the society they are raised in.  No matter  what one's personal identity is, identity politics inevitably impacts each of us in both obvious and subtle ways.  Let’s evaluate the personal identity and identity politics benefits and bedevilments from a spiritual perspective. 

Everyone is encouraged to join us for the  Wayne for Change 4th Annual Pride Festival after the service!  See below or on our special events page for more information.

************************************ 

Join us on Sunday, May 26, 2024 at 11am in person or on ZOOM for

"Memorial Day Remembrance" 

The catastrophe that was the U.S. Civil War was the impetus for Decoration Day, the original name for Memorial Day.  It was a day to decorate graves of fallen soldiers with flowers, remember them, and mourn them. In this service, attendees will be free to express the thoughts and feelings this day inspires in them both positively and negatively in an open discussion.  

Everyone is encouraged to join for Coffee and Conversation following the service.

********************** 

May is Jewish-American Heritage Month!

Join us on Sunday, May 19, 2024 at 11am in person or on ZOOM for

"Honoring Jewish-American Contributions" 

 In 2006, President George W. Bush proclaimed May as Jewish American Heritage Month.  This Sunday we will explore some of the myriad of contributions, from science to the arts to spirituality, that Jewish-Americans have made  in the last 370 years since the first permanent Jewish community was established in what would become the United States of America.   

Everyone is encouraged to join for Coffee and Conversation following the service.

*************************

Happy Mothers Day!

Join us on Sunday, May 12, 2024 at 11am in person or on ZOOM for a 

" Mothers Day Celebration!" 

Mothers have been recognized by societies throughout history in many different ways and for many different reasons. We will look at this history while celebrating all the people who take on the mothering role. We will take time for everyone to share thoughts on mothers, on being mothers and on those who  act as mothers.

Everyone is encouraged to join for Coffee and Conversation following the service.

 *****************************

Join us on Sunday, May 5, 2024 at 11am in person or on ZOOM as we welcome back Rev. Allen Wells to present 

" Everything is a  Verb,  Including You " 

Language is a powerful tool in all elements of human society.  Grammar is used  to help standardize the language to enhance communication while at the same time can also be used as a means of control by societies, subcultures and individuals. However, grammar, like language and life itself, is fluid  changing over time  though natural forces, but also through personal intention.

Rev Wells says, "With you I'd like to play with the thought that variations in our grammar can introduce us to new ways of being in the world."

Rev. Wells  has been part of the UU world since the 1960s, and has been a Guest Minister at LUUF for at least 20 years.  He is now the community  minister at the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship, and once served  congregations in Weymouth, MA,  Hollis Queens, Brooklyn, and Rockland County, NY.  He directed  The Allen Wells Center for Psychotherapy and Healing in Morristown NJ.  He now teaches meditation and has a private practice in mindfulness  based counseling.   

Everyone is encouraged to join for Coffee and Conversation following the service.

 ***************************************

Join us on Sunday, April 28, 2024 at 11am in person or on ZOOM as we welcome guest speaker  Bill Prinzivalli to present 

"Improv as a Spiritual Practice" 

Improvisational theater, or improv, is performed spontaneously without a written script through collaboration with other performers. As with so many other art forms, it can be used in many ways far beyond that of its original intent. The art-form of improv has many principles that are considered spiritual, including acceptance, generosity, authenticity, deep listening, and selflessness. The session will describe and demonstrate these interconnections. 

Bill Prinzivalli is President of the Metaphysical Center of NJ.  He has been with MCNJ for many years as a student, teacher, advisor, and now President.  He is also an  entrepreneur, executive coach, organizational consultant, author, speaker, improviser, and program creator/facilitator. 

Everyone is encouraged to join for Coffee and Conversation following the service.

*************************** 

April is Earth Month!

Join us on Sunday, April 21, 2024 at 11am in person or on ZOOM for 

" Earth Day: How Are We Doing? " 

The first Earth Day was April 22, 1970. That day galvanized  the country, inspiring 20 million people, 10% of the population, to rally in streets, parks, auditoriums and schools to demonstrate for change in government policies, business policies and cultural attitudes toward how we treat the Earth. It has been 54 years. So how are we doing?

We will look at the progress and the disappointments as we try to answer that very important question.

Everyone is encouraged to join the coffee and conversation following the service.

 ****************************************************

April is Poetry Month!

Join us on Sunday, April 14, 2024 at 11am in person or on ZOOM for our

" Annual Poetry Celebration " 

Bring poetry to share or just come to enjoy what others bring. It can be original or simply something you found that speaks to you. It can be serious or comic, full of hidden meaning or bluntly said.  Come and celebrate the varied joys of poetry!

Everyone is encouraged to join the coffee and conversation following the service.

 ****************************

Join us on Sunday, April 7, 2024 at 11am in person or on ZOOM as we welcome back Rev. Allen Wells to present:

" You Aren’t Who You Think You Are " 

The subject of identity is complex. It us both a personal and social/political. Rev Wells will take a brief look at how we develop personal identity, how  "identity politics”, contributes to political incohesion, and how we have the marvelous ability to dissolve our identity into the experience of oneness.   

Everyone is encouraged to join the coffee and conversation following the service. 

**************************

Happy Easter!

Join us on Sunday, March 31, 2024 at 11am in person or on ZOOM as we explore:

"Easter and Resurrection" 

Easter ends Christian Holy Week. This week consists of an arc going from triumph through betrayal and tragedy, finally ending with hope in the form of resurrection.   Unitarian Universalism  draws from sources as diverse as science, poetry, scripture, and personal experience. Among the six sources our congregations affirm and promote is Jewish and Christian teachings as well as other world religions. We will look at the story of the Christian Holy Week and explore the concept of Hope as embodied in the concept of resurrection.

Everyone is encouraged to join the coffee and conversation following the service.

********************************* 

Happy Spring!

Join us on March 24, 2024 at 11am in person or on ZOOM as we explore the question:

"What is the Meaning of the Spring Equinox?" 

There is the astronomical meaning of the Spring, or Vernal Equinox, but beyond that definition, cultures, religions and individuals have imbued it with deep spiritual and emotional significance throughout history up to the present day. This can be said of the Autumnal Equinox and both Solstices as well. However, since the Vernal Equinox of 2024 will usher in the Spring season at 11:09 pm on Tuesday, March 17, this Sunday we will explore some of the various meanings of the  Spring Equinox. A discussion will follow the presentation.

Everyone is encouraged to join the coffee and conversation following the service.

 ****************************

Join us on March 17, 2024 at 11am in person or on ZOOM as we welcome back guest speaker Rev. Allen Wells to present, 

"Two Kinds of People" 

Rev. Wells says:

There are two kinds of people, those who believe there are two kinds of people and those who do not.  Those who believe there are, see the world as divided.  Those who do not, see the world as fundamentally whole.  Let’s explore this paradox together this Sunday!    

Everyone is encouraged to join the coffee and conversation following the service.

 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Happy Women's History Month! 

Join us in person o