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Welcome!
The First Unitarian Society of Madison (Unitarian Universalist), founded in 1878, has long stood as one of Madison’s most progressive faith communities. In a place “where spiritual curiosity and conscience connect,” over two thousand adults and children strive to develop deeper, richer, more generous and joyful lives. Visit us at our Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Meeting House.
Upcoming Events at the Meeting House
Sunday, August 1 at 9 & 11 a.m.
"A Celebration of Poetry and the Arts"
by members and friends of the Society
Come enjoy (and participate in) this special service which occurs every other year. Resident poets and aspiring poets will share original work, the FUS Dance Fellowship will perform a special piece, there will be lots of music and a little commentary. Visual artists will also have their creations on display in the Commons.
Musically, soprano (and FUS Children's and Youth Choir Director) Heather Thorpe will sing songs with texts by Emily Dickinson. Linda Warren will accompany on piano.
Sunday, August 8 at 9 & 11 a.m.
"A Compassionate Route to
Perfect Imperfection" by Lynn Kirsch
Surely one virtue we all support is compassion toward others. Nobody's perfect, right? Why then, are we so hard on ourselves when we fall short of perfection? After a few hundred yoga classes managed to help me unintentionally overcome a bout with perfectionism, I was inspired to understand my breakthrough. What I found was that self-compassion yields improvement much better than any plan (intentional or not) for perfection.
Musically, the Cassiopeia String Quartet will perform.
Sunday, August 15 at 9 & 11 a.m.
"Of Miracles and Magic,
and the Illusions that Give Us Hope"
by Karen Gustafson, Associate Minister
We as Unitarian Universalists pride ourselves as being people of reason more than people of faith. We want things to make sense, to be grounded in reality, to have rationale and explanations because that is what brings order to our lives. We do speak of the "senseless" and experience the irrational, often as negatives. Yet , are we not also sustained by much that we cannot explain, by perceptions that give us hope? What is it that draws human beings to non-rational explanations? The miracles of Jesus, the draw of the magician, the denial of scientific explanation by conservative religious traditions, do these have something in common? Do they offer something of value? The musical offerings will be played by Sam Livingston on his marimba.
Sunday, August 22, at 9 & 11 a.m.
"Why Be Good?"
by Karen Rose Gredler
Sounds like a simple question, but perhaps not. Mary Oliver says: "You do not have to be good." What does it mean to be good anyway, and why do most people aspire to goodness? Is our potential for good and bad behavior hard-wired, as some physiologists seem to be saying, or hereditary in a more spiritual manner, as many philosophers and religious leaders believe? Come join Karen Rose Gredler, FUS Lay Minister and local psychotherapist, in considering various answers to these not-so-simple questions.
Musically, soprano Amber Nicole Dilger will sing songs including For Good from the musical Wicked with Linda Warren collaborating on the piano.
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