UU Fellowship of Ligonier Valley

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Sunday Service

A welcoming home for liberal religious thought and action in eastern Westmoreland County
"The deeper we look into nature the more we recognize that it is full of life, and the more profoundly we know that all life is a secret, and we are all united to all in this life." ----Albert Schweitzer!!

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A welcoming congregation
The Unitarian Univeralist Fellowship of Ligonier Valley is a member congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Association. Ours is a denomination whose principles are based on tolerance and freedom of religious belief with an emphasis on the integration of faith and reason. Our roots date back at least 400 years to Poland and Transylvania. We have had many notable thinkers and activists such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Clara Barton and Albert Schweitzer as members. While our community's heritage is Judeo-Christian we find value in opening ourselves to a variety of religious experiences. In September 2007 we received the status of "Welcoming Congregation" from the Unitarian Universalist Association. This was the culmination of a two year long program including workshops, discussions and outreach programs designed to support the rights and worth of bisexual, gay and lesbian people and to make them and all other individuals to feel safe, secure and welcome in our congregation.

Our Sunday service starts at 10:30. It is followed by a break for snacks and coffee. After the break many stay for a lively discussion of the morning's topic.
 
 
"The only alternative to coexistence is codestruction." -Jawaharlal Nehru 

Schedule of Events for February
 
Services...

 
Feb.     7    Depth Perception  Many people talk about wanting spiritual depth.  Would we even know depth if we experienced it?  How do we develop depth perception? Presented by Joshua Searle-White, Ph.D., Psychology Department Chair, Allegheny College.

Feb.     14    Be My Valentine   Valentine’s Day brings thoughts of love, and if there is one place in the Bible where love predominates, it is the Song of Songs, aka the Song of Solomon.  Blooming  like a beautiful flower in the midst of a forest of weeds, this book extols the wonders of sensuality and of love. Presented by Dr. Sue Lau, retired Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Pittsburgh.

Feb.    21    When 1 + 1 involves 3   Rev. Lynn Acquafondata will explore a basic formula used in the messy world of human interaction at home and in community organizations. Wouldn’t it be so much simpler if it didn’t involve dealing with people?

Feb.     28    How Dreams Come True  Just back from another trip to Uganda, Dr. Waun will talk about how an idea becomes a dream if we can focus our attention in a positive way. She will update us on the newly completed construction project and nurse’s office for the school there, using photos and possibly video clips. She will also bring a new selection of crafts if anyone is interested in purchasing some.
 

 

Religious Education Classes...
Our classes provide religious education free of dogma. Exploring religious truth, meaning and experience is central to UU faith. In our communities and as individuals we seek lives of meaning anchored by values and a commitment to promote principles of justice, safety, tolerance and encouragement. For further information call 814-255-2676 or write to UU Fellowship of Ligonier Valley, 1730 Route 30 East, P. O. Box 692, Ligonier, PA 15658.
 
Junior High Class - Curriculum: Neighboring Faiths - Exploring Religions with Junior High Youth

Feb.     7     Unit 3-Exploring Roman Catholic, Episcopal, Eastern Orthodox and Russian Orthodox.
        Session 1: Ritual, Liturgy and Symbolism- Karlice Makuchan
Feb.    14    Unit 3- Session 2: Ritual, Beliefs and Practices of Catholicism
Primary Class
Feb.     7    Being a Friend Means Helping Each Other, using the book, George and Martha One Fine Day by J. Marshall. Roz Robitaille will lead.
Feb.    21    Sometimes I Need Help From Others, using the book Rachel Fister's Blister by A. MacDonald - Carrie Ferguson will lead

Baby Sitting Schedule
          Feb. 7-Jean Slusser Feb. 14- Pat MacKenzie Feb. 21- Fran Lynch Feb. 28- Daneen Kinsey March 7- Billie Miranda   


First Friday Events...
 CANCELLATION--The predicted snow storm makes it impossible for our speaker to remain in Western Pennsylvania until Friday. Everyone is invited to hear her speak at the University of Pittsburgh Greensburgon Thursday evening at Village Hall at 7:00 PM.
Friday, February 5th
(The topic is Investigative Journalism in a Democracy. Our speaker will be Deborah Nelson, Director of the Carnegie Seminar at the University of Maryland.
Ms. Nelson is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist. She has served as the Washington investigations editor for the Los Angeles Times. She has also reported for the Washington Post, The Seattle Times and The Chicago Sun-Times. Her national awards include a Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting and an AAAS Science Journalism award.)
 
The March 5th First Friday will feature a film, Out in the Silence, Love, hate and a quest for change. This film follows the story of a small Americannn toen confronting a firestorm of contreversary ignited by a same-sex wedding announcement in the local newspaper.
 
Refreshments and discussion follow.
 
The First Friday Series offers the public the opportunity to hear religious, philosophical or other vital topics affecting humankind. The belief set of a different religious tradition or other subject is presented and discussed each month.


Other Activities...
 
Our book discussion group meets at 7:00 PM on the second Wednesday of the month. February's selection is The March by E. L. Doctorow. All readers are welcome to participate. One is not required to be a member.
 March's selection is Howard's End by E. M. Forester. April's is The Rosendorf Quartet by Natham Saham.
 
Peace Group  The monthly meeting will be held on Feb. 19 at 7:00 PM at the residence of Joe Stierheim,located between our Fellowship building and Ligonier Valley Beach.
 
Meditation Group  Meets every Tuesday at 6:30 at the Ligonier Tavern for music and readings.
 
Game Night   Saturday, February 20th will be the meeting night this month. We will enjoy a pot luck dinner and play games chosen by the group. Favorites include word games such as Scrabble, Anagrams and Trivial Pursuit. When four interested players attend Bridge is sometimes played. Bring your own favorite game. We have enjoyed playing a variety of interesting new games in past sessions. Please contact Kathy Bold  to let her know what dish you plan to bring.
 
Crop Walk Results
We recently received a letter from the Ligonier Valley Association of Churches Crop Walk Coordinator, Rita Horrell. She thanked us for our participation with 11 walkers, but also notified us that the total amount of money raised from the 13 participating churches was $4,951.00 with a total of 80 registered walkers.
Our Fellowship's donation of $1, 358.00  was the largest given by any group.
A quarter of the total money collected will be returned to the community to be divided between the Salvation Army and the Ligonier Food  Pantry. The balance of the money that we raised will be sent to the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee. Ours is a small but growing and active Fellowship which strongly believes in service to humanity.
 
 
How to Find Us
From Ligonier, proceed east on Route 30 approximately 1.5 miles. We are on the right hand side just beyond the Ligonier Valley Beach. Coming from the east we are about 2 miles west of Laughlintown on the left side of Route 30. Look for a large blue sign with white lettering.