Services for 2004 - 2005

June 4 - 6	DUUC Garage Sale
Throughout the summer	Lise Wolff is offering herbal classes this summer. Click here to learn more.
June 18, July 16 and August 20	Drumming with Jamie Meyer. Drumming circle will be held on the 3rd Fridays of June, July and August. They will be at Hidden Falls Park , which is on the east side of the Mississippi , near the airport. They will be held "weather permitting," so I will be sending out emails confirming each one. If you send me a list of names, I can add them to my list for the summer. Or, you can forward things to your list, but then you will need to check your email often if the weather is iffy. Did he tell you about the Boundary Waters retreats this summer? Unistar in the fall? Also, if you folks don't have services in the summer, Jaime and Kate Tucker will be doing a service together on June 13 at 10 AM, on healing. So there's lots going on, and all of the Dakota folks are most welcome!
September 5, 2004	No service on Labor Day weekend.
September 12, 2004	Water Communion, We will welcome each other back during this first service of our church year, in which we blend our various water samples, collected from our summer activities. Also, let's "shake up the vibes" in our ever-renewing space. Bring your drums and other percussive instruments for some singing/rocking tunes. (Note: RE classes will start on September 19th.)
September 19, 2004	"The Missing Mary", led by DUUC members Shalamar Sibley and Bob Bartlow. It will take a look at the disappearance of the Magdalen from the early Christian Church. Beginning with Dan Brown's bestseller, The DaVinci Code, and drawing from the works of scholars, we'll journey back through time to explore this mysterious and poorly-understood woman who may once have been a central figure in the church.
September 26, 2004	"The Lessons I've Learned", by guest speaker Dave Nimmer, a former, news director, reporter and talk-show host. He will talk about sharing his personal discoveries he has made during his approach to middle age, and explaining to us what he has discarded along his journey through life so far.
October 3, 2004	Chuck McKown, DUUC member, will lead the service. Subject to be announced.
October 10, 2004	To be announced.
October 17, 2004	To be announced.
October 24, 2004	Luella Green, a member of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, will present a dramatic reenactment and portrayal of Mabeth Hurd Paige, Minnesota's first female legislator.
October 31, 2004	Taking words from various writers, we will explore and intuit about death and life after death. We'll make time also, in our own Day of the Dead ceremony, for you to share your memories about loved ones past. Bring mementos to symbolize their lives and honor their personalities.
November 7, 2004	Stuart Webb will give a presentation on Buddhism. If you are interested, you can take a primer on Buddhism prior to the meeting by going to www.religioustolerance.org/buddhism.shtml, This article provides objective information about Buddhism. Stuart Webb is a colleague of DUUC member Bruce Peck at the Collaborative Law Institute.
November 14, 2004	"Energy Healing" by Larraine Goedde. Lorraine Goedde, LPN, CMT, is an Intuitive Energy Healer. After 26 years as a nurse, 2 years in Chiropractic education and 6 years as a massage therapist, she was led to her present path. For the last 7 years she's facilitated nearly 4000 sessions and has been amazed at the healing capacity of others. She'll explain how energy healing works, how YOU have the ability to do it, and how it can change your life physically, emotionally and, especially, spiritually.
November 21, 2004	Gretchen Murr of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) will present their stories to our congregation. PFLAG promotes the health and well being of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-gendered persons, their families and friends, through support, education and advocacy. PFLAG seeks to create opportunities for dialogue and to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity.
November 28, 2004	Are You Thankful to be a UU? How is UUism relevant in today’s world? DUUC members, Margaret Kinney and Roxann Snyder, will lead a service discussing the relevance of DUUC’s activities in our world. In keeping with our tradition of Thanksgiving, we will celebrate the sharing of bread. This is also a service where relatives of members are invited to participate. Bring a relative to the service.
December 5, 2004	Laurencia Kyariga, a scientist from the Serengeti Children's Foundation, will speak to us about her work of raising money to build wells for children in Tanzania in order that they might have clean water to drink.
December 12, 2004	"What Did Jesus Really Say?" by Sandy Longfellow, M.D.iv. Ms. Longfellow has her Masters of Divinity from United Theological Seminary and she will lead a discussion on the Gospel Of Thomas, one of the Gnostic gospels found in 1945 in Egypt. The Gospel of Thomas, which contains verses and quotes from Jesus, is thought to be the oldest gospel.
December 19, 2004	Winter Solstice celebration, which will be led by DUUC member Bruce Peck.
December 26, 2004	Join us for a Christmas celebration of music and thanksgiving. Numerous members of our church will lead this service.
January 2, 2005	Simply Said presented by DUUC member Mary Whitfield. Mary will read several children’s books that state simply what is God, how to start a day, what is important in life and how to be happy.
January 9, 2005	Kay Dawson from the First Unitarian Society will present: Yes! In My Back Yard! (YIMBY). Are UU’s part of the problem, or part of the solution, to the Affordable Housing shortage? UUAHP, the Unitarian Universalist Affordable Housing Partnership, presents a participatory service designed to inspire, motivate, educate and make you laugh. The UU Musicians, from the First Unitarian Society, provide rousing music to complete the theme.
January 16, 2005	DUUC member Shalamar Sibley will present "The Most Dangerous Person In America" a reflection on our culture’s response to Martin Luther King.
January 23, 2005	UU minister Dawn Cooley presents: " Worship Together! " This multigenerational service brings home the importance of people of all ages being together on Sunday morning. Rather than a how-to, this is an actual multi-generational service that, while it does contain some helpful information, focuses instead on the experience itself.
January 30, 2005	DUUC member Chuck Mckown will lead a service to be announced later.
February 6, 2005	"America's Real Religion" by DUUC member Roxan Snyder. We will reflect upon the importance of the Super Bowl and its similarities to an organized religion.
February 13, 2005	"Love" Inspired by Saint Valentine's Day, we'll take world-view look at love. What is it? What are its forms? What does it mean to you? Ideas on Love from Tolstoy, Martin Luther King, Jr., Gandhi and lesser-known love experts will be explored.
February 20, 2005	A Chinese New Year Celebration: by Vicki Gee-Treft, DUUC member, will share the traditions of Chinese New Year, including lucky money and edible treats.
February 27, 2005	"Spiritual Paths for Nontheists" by Don Allen, a UU member from Pilgrim House in Arden Hills, will ask the questions, "Where is the line between the God of western religion and spiritual power of secular wonder and awe? Does it matter what language we use in talking about our personal experiences of the spiritual or mystical in our lives? Are we as Unitarians on the growing edge of creative theology, or moving beyond it?" I hear some good discussion already.
March 6, 2005	"Masks of Eternity" from The Power of Myth series with Joseph Campbell and Bill Moyers. Is God the source of energy or the manifestation of energy? Campbell provides challenging insights into the concepts of God, religion and eternity. Led by Roxann Snyder
March 13, 2005	Pledge Sunday: We as members of Dakota UU review our accomplishments of the past year. (We’ve done A LOT!) We will evaluate our current financial situation, future projects, and contemplate our own pledges to sustain our church. We are having an indoor picnic and will be serving lunch during the meeting. Members and non-members are invited to join us. So come to church with ideas and hungry for lunch!
March 20, 2005	"The Universalist Heretic" by Pam Vincent. Ms. Vincent is a member of the First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis. She will use historical records and newspaper accounts to re-create the issues and events surrounding the heresy trial of the Rev. Herman Bisbee, of the First Universalist Society of St. Anthony. This piece of history is relatively unknown to many local Unitarians.
March 27, 2005	Paul Wright will present "Mysteries of the Universe: How Science Affirms and Challenges Theology" based upon a Sermon by the Rev. Susan Manker-Seale. As science studies the universe, we learn how tiny and fragile we are as passengers of "Spaceship Earth". Science challenges theology to broaden its concept of universal being or of the possible nature of a god or gods, and to discard the claims that one religion could have the only true handle on religious revelation.
April 3, 2005	"Prose and Poetry " led by DUUC member Bruce Peck. We will discuss the power of the written and spoken word, through shared selections. The congregation will have an opportunity to participate in the discussion, and, as they may choose, to share some short selections of things that they have written. We will talk about the creative process of writing prose, poetry and music.
April 10, 2005	We will practice the Buddhist meditation of "Forgiveness and Loving Kindness". The meditation is taken from "The Inner Art of Meditation" video by Jack Kornfield, Ph.D. Kornfield lived as a Buddhist monk in Asia at the time of the Vietnam War. He holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and is currently a meditation instructor in California.
April 17, 2005	Spirituality and Jazz - Led by DUUC members Bruce Peck and Chuck McKown. We will discuss and share through jazz music ways in which we access our spirituality through music. We will look at the spiritual connection with simply listening to jazz or other music, and the spiritual aspects of performing jazz or other music.
April 24, 2005	Grant Pylkas, DUUC member, will read from his recently-published novel, "Sneakteaching." This story is about two young addicts who compromise a high school principal. The tale talks though the trials and tribulations of a teacher struggling with his role as a mentor and an employee. The teacher goes through a great struggle to achieve some kind of peace with himself and his students. Chapter One is the set up to the story and should be the catalyst to a great discussion.
May 1, 2005	Please join us, members and nonmembers, for our annual Congregational Meeting. We'll discuss DUUC's present and future, as well as enjoy a pot-luck brunch.
May 8, 2005	Join us for one of our time-honored annual rituals, the Flower Communion. Bring a flower to give, and receive one in return. We'll also host a plant sale to raise funds for the church, so dig up those extra perennials and bring them to church that day. AND, we will celebrate the arrival of a new church member, born in March. We'll take a few minutes to welcome this daughter into our church community in a child dedication ceremony.
May 15, 2005	DUUC's Youth Group will challenge and inspire us with their service, "Moral Dilemmas." Join them as they confront ethical dilemmas in their daily lives by trying to live their UU principles.
May 22, 2005	This is our last scheduled service until September. We will bring back a DUUC favorite, a Blessing of the Animals, and weather permitting, it will held outdoors. So please make sure you have a leash or cage for all 4-legged critters, crawlers, or winged pets. You can also bring a photo or stuffed animal to represent your pet.
June 12, 2005	An informal gathering to discuss the following topic: Self Esteem and Humility, are kids getting to much of one or the other? What's the proper balance?
July 10, 2005	An informal gathering to discuss the following topic: TBD.
August 14, 2005	An informal gathering to discuss the following topic: Kelly and I will be glad to start off the conversation by sharing our Camp UniStar experience. If other "UniStar-ians" want to contribute regarding their week, that would be great. Kelly, the kids and I will be just getting back the day before the service.