at the corner of Pomona Road and Liebig Stree in Galloway,
near the North entrance to Richard Stockton College.
Directions
Sunday Services start at 10:00 am and last till about 11:00 am.
Child care and a children's program is available.
A coffee hour for socializing follows the service.
Jan -- Feb -- Mar -- Apr -- May -- Jun -- Jul -- Aug -- Sep -- Oct -- Nov -- Dec
2010
Top of pageSeptember 5
Common Ground Uncommon
Guest speaker Dr. Nancy Ashton
Using the example of a group on abortion she participated in, Dr. Nancy Ashton will share her thoughts on seeking common ground when people very much disagree. Our families, communities, nations, and the world benefit when we can work together beyond divisive ideas; indeed, the future may depend on this.
September 12
Ingathering and Water Communion
Lay speaker Richard Grzywinski
Mark your calendars for the traditional Water Communion Service on September 12. Our water communion Service this year will be preceded by a short play entitled “I, Water.” It is an original first-person account of the history of water written specifically for our UUCSJS congregation. It will use movement, dramatic expression, music, song, poetry, storytelling, and, most importantly, a mural painted by our RE students representing key elements of the story.
Remember to bring a small amount of water from your travels or waters having some special meaning to you. We will combine that water with waters from previous years. This tradition has various meanings to UU congregations: some see it as a symbolic welcoming back from summer vacation travels, others as a welcoming to new members, others as a reaffirmation of our sixth principle using water as the symbol of interconnectedness, and still others as a representation of the melding of past with present.
September 19
Sharing the Flame
Guest speaker Joan Priest
3,300 Unitarian Universalists in the Joseph Priestley District come together three times a year to light the flame for others outside their own congregations so that they may have strong congregations and advance Unitarian Universalism. This Sunday UUSJS is celebrating Chalice Lighter Sunday, a special time to focus on this program within the Joseph Priestley District that has helped eight congregations numbering over 750,000 members to get started and to grow. Joan Priest, Director of Development for the JPD, will visit our pulpit and bring a sermon that focuses on sharing our gifts.
September 26
Hope Needs Only Hands and Hearts
Guest speaker Marc Adams
Marc Adams will speak from his experiences growing up as the son of a fundamentalist Baptist minister. In an effort to save his own life, he decided at age 16 to rebel against his parents and attend Jerry Falwell's Liberty University where he thought he could find a way to change his behavior from homosexual to heterosexual. His experience there changed his life and jump started his journey to self acceptance and personal freedom. He bridges the serious discussion with humor and all-encompassing human compassion.
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August 1
Adventures of a New UU
Lay speaker Charlie Roberts
Charlie will talk about some of the interesting things he discovered about being a UU and what it really means to be a UU.
August 8
Environmental Sustainability: Beyond Lightbulbs to Collective Wisdom
Guest speaker Stacey Kennealy
It’s becoming easier and easier to make better environmental choices in the marketplace, but is this enough? This talk will challenge us to think beyond our current ideas of “greening”, and will lift up success stories of congregations and schools pushing the limits of sustainability, achieving results no one could have imagined.
August 15
Adventures of a UU Atheist
Lay speaker Michael Cluff
In the next segment of our series “Adventures of a UU [fill-in-the-blank],” Michael discusses the challenges of being an atheist – even within the friendly UU community. How does a nonbeliever find meaning? Is it possible to advocate for atheism without being a jerk about it? Do atheists melt when words like “faith” and “worship” are used? And most important, how should UU atheists fill out surveys asking us our religion?
August 22
A String and a Prayer
Lay speaker Barbara Miller
What is a UU Humanist doing using prayer beads? Seeking a way to deepen her spiritual life, Barbara Miller discovered this modern day practice deeply rooted in world religious tradition.
August 29
My General Assembly (GA) Experience
Lay speaker Richard Grzywinski
Calling it “absolutely the most spiritually uplifting event I could ever have imagined,” Richard will share his experiences as our congregation's delegate to the annual UUA General Assembly , held this year June 23 through 27, in Minneapolis.
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July 4
COMMON SENSE – The pamphlet that sparked revolution(s)
Lay speaker Carl Benner
As we celebrate the birth of our nation, today's talk will describe the accepted values that had to be challenged before a Declaration of Independance could be written.
July 11
Mountain Meadow: A Safe Haven for Youth from LGBTQ Families
Guest speakers Carolyn T. Thompson and Tessa Corcoran-Sayers
Youth from diverse backgrounds will share their experiences growing up in LGBTQ families.
July 18
Walking with Peace
Guest speaker Bruce Nichols
This service will celebrate the life, work and teachings of Peace Pilgrim, an American woman who dedicated her life to the cause of peace in a unique and powerful way. Drawing inspiration from this remarkable person who truly “walked her talk” for a peaceful world, we will be looking at the interconnections between inner and outer peace and how these manifest in our lives and in the world.
July 25
A Letter From Your Minister
Guest minister Rev. Libby Smith
Using the format of a letter to a fictional congregation (one that looks a lot like UUCSJS!) , Rev. Smith explores the joys and and the challenges of part-time ministry. Following the service, she will facilitate a congregational discussion about ministry, answer questions about her own half-time consulting ministry, and help us seek clarity about our needs and expectations.
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June 6
RE Sunday and Flower Communion
Coordinated by Heidi Jannsch and the RE Classes
"Once, in a beautiful, faraway land ... there fell a Truth."
Based on the book Old Turtle and the Broken Truth by Douglass Wood, this service for all ages will be presented by our Children's Religious Education students. The service encourages us to be mindful of the small and wonderful truths in our lives and to be thankful to those who help us recognize these truths.
Don't forget to bring a flower for the flower communion.
June 13
A Place to Live for Everyone
Guest speaker Rohn Hein
Our guest will be speaking about the need for people to advocate for affordable housing within our communities. The many gains made by New Jersey to provide afforable housing since the Mt. Laurel decision in 1975 are threatened by proposed legislation in the State legislature, and by the rhetoric of Governor Chris Christie who has warned that he wishes to gut the Council on Afforable Housing.
Mr Hein hopes to provide some education about this struggle and to offer suggestions on how people can become involved.
June 20
Revelations of Fatherhood
Lay speaker Richard Grzywinski
Readings, original and published poetry, and singing with music selected or composed and performed in a collaborative effort by the UUCSJS Men's Discussion Group. The service will be based upon the themes of "fatherhood" and "maleness." Message: Lessons learned or impressions gained from my father and/or from being a father, presented by several UUCSJS members.
June 27
That Good Ole Time Religion, Universalism!
Guest speaker Donna Renfro, Divinity student
Universal Salvation has meant many things, and it always means everyone's included.
And helped! Can Universalism help us now, to become the religion for our time? Yes, we can!
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May 2
Parenting Perfection
Lay speaker Jim Woodcock
It is a daunting challenge to raise a child well, even though we may have the best of intentions. Today’s talk will compassionately look at some of the traps which we parents may fall into. But perhaps there is a way by which all of us, parents and children alike, can find redemption from our missteps. (postponed from February 7)
May 9
Adventures of a UU Hindu
Guest minister Rev. Manish Mishra
Rev. Mishra, recently installed as Minister of the UU Church in Cherry Hill, will share his experience of coming to Unitarian Universalism from a Hindu background, and how our UU understanding of religious pluralism impacted his life. Join us on this special Sunday as we explore a central tenet of our faith - religious diversity - and reflect on its impact in our own lives.
May 16 11:00 am
Celebrating Our Feathered Friends
Guest minister Rev. Dr. Marie DeYoung
Drawing on the poetry of Emily Dickenson and the music of Western composers, Rev. deYoung’s message will explore the sounds, the colors, the feelings of joy and abundance inspired by the birds that share our world.
Potluck will follow.
May 23
Margaret Fuller
Led by members of the UUCSJS Margaret Fuller Circle
The Margaret Fuller Bicentennial is an opportunity to celebrate and learn about an extraordinary woman and continue her global vision of equality and human rights. The Bicentennial hopes to raise awareness of Margaret Fuller, so that her story may inspire people of all ages to follow her lead and think independently, express their thoughts clearly, defend their convictions with courage, learn through dialogue and the free exchange of opinions, believe in the equality of all people, and be open to change.
May 30
Do I Need a Bucket List?
Lay speaker Robert Baum
Not for Bob. Just as he forces himself not to obsess over checking e-mails, texts, and twitters (tweets?), not putting virtual friends above real friends, and not having to cross things off his chores list, he also will not have a bucket list of phenomenal things to check off before he dies. Rather, Bob wants to live in the moment and stay true to daily and weekly joys that give meaning to life.
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April 4
Fulfilling the Promise
Lay speaker Paul Utts
What commitments do we make to ourselves and to each other as Unitarian Universalists of the South Jersey Shore? Paul Utts, past president of our Board of Trustees, will share his thoughts.
April 11
Books and the Spirituality of Reading
Guest minister Rev. Tim Barger
Consider that humans are the only beings who read. Reading is a passion for some of us, and it all started with “once upon a time.” The influence of books and stories on the self and on religious life is special. This sermon addresses the wonder of books, the spirituality of reading, and what is sacred about text.
April 18
Good and Evil: Hope and Heroism in the 21st Century
Guest speaker David Chapman
Why do good people, people with high ethical standards and sound theological beliefs, often fail to keep their decisions and actions at the same level of goodness as their moral guidelines? Dave’s talk involves a look at good and evil in light of the science of our 21st century, and what it means for us individually, socially, and spiritually. Dave makes a call for a new definition of heroism and moral character.
April 25
Justice and Equality for All!
Lay speaker Alison Maxfield, LSW
Unitarian Universalism is built upon the foundation of justice, equity and compassion in human relations. We strive to make the world a better place; but, how do we proceed? UU's also believe in the inherent worth and dignity of every person; but, how can those with low self esteem believe they are worthwhile? This sermon will examine oppression, diversity and how to become an ally for the oppressed.
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March 7
Unitarian History: World War II Footnotes
Lay speaker Bill Felix
The subject of the sermon is the WWII activities of three Unitarians. Charles Rhind Joy and the Rev and Mrs Waitstill Sharp. These three helped hundreds flee the Nazi regime.
March 14
All Creatures Great and Small, or Things You Can Learn From Your Dog
Lay speaker Richard Grzywinski
Are you become increasingly overwhelmed by issues regarding animal rights? How should you respond? What is the proper ethical relationship between human and non-human animals? Better yet, why should we even trouble ourselves with this question? Can reason and philosophy provide the answers, or must we reach within to our own spirituality?
March 21
Talking About the “T” Word
Guest minister Rev. Jeff Gamblée
As we move into the post modern age, we UUs are finding our former orthodoxy of “reason and fact” in religion is softening with our desire for mystery and transcendence. Pastor Jef will speak of ghosts, quote historical Unitarians, acknowledge today’s peace vigil and share his take on the hunger with which we (almost) dare not speak.
March 28
Making Choices
Guest speaker Dr. Carol Rittner
During the Holocaust, people who today we refer to as “righteous gentiles” – rescuers, or, in Ervin Staub’s words, “active bystanders” – were a very small minority, not at all representative of the attitudes and responses of most non-Jews in Nazi-occupied Europe during World War II and the Hitler era. They highlight the issue of “choice”, that is the power of a person to choose an option when faced with the question, “Whose side am I on?” What is the role of “good” people in difficult times?
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February 7
Parenting Perfection
Lay speaker Jim Woodcock
It is a daunting challenge to raise a child well, even though we may have the best of intentions. Today’s talk will compassionately look at some of the traps which we parents may fall into. But perhaps there is a way by which all of us, parents and children alike, can find redemption from our missteps.
February 14
After the Love is Gone
Guest minister Rev Dr Om Prakash
There is a biblical verse that says one should love the Lord their God with all their heart, soul, body and strength, and equal to it, love thy neighbor as thyself. Equal to it is usually translated as “like it.” What does this mean when we hear fundamentalists railing against the Immigrant and Gay, Lesbian, Transgender and Bisexual Communities, or being ahead when it comes to the desire for war? In our service we will discuss real love and its application, and how our world is being depleted and destroyed because of lack of a simple, heartfelt love.
February 21
Twice a phoenix: Reflections on the life of Tsutomu Yamaguchi
Guest speaker Dr Robert Nichols
Tsutomu Yamaguchi was a Japanese engineer who in August 1945 survived the atomic blast in Hiroshima, then a few days later, the next atomic explosion in his home of Nagasaki. Perhaps a hundred or more people experienced and survived both events. After the war he worked as a translator, teacher, and then again for his previous firm. Memories of death and loss haunted him. He became a poet who published late in life when he also took on public roles against nuclear weapons.
February 28
There Be Dragons Here
Guest minister Rev Dr Len DeRoche
Early European maps marked the end the world as they knew it with the statement, “There be Dragons here.” Locations where people had never gone or returned from, were thought to contain dragons; so it is with our inner lives. Len looks at looking in these dark places.
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January 3
Unitarian Universalist History Series: Part 3 – 1893 to 1961: The Rise of Humanism
Lay speaker Michael Cluff
Thanks to Darwin, Nietzsche, and the rise of American freethought in the late 19th century, Unitarian thinking evolves toward "religious humanism." Will Unitarians and Universalists agree on a "religion without God"? Can they survive resurgent Christian Fundamentalism? Don't change that dial!
January 10
UUism and Shiism
Guest speaker Amy Glenn
What do you know about Shia Islam? About 15% of the world’s 1.3 billion Muslims are Shia, with majority Shia in Lebanon, Iraq, Bahrain, and Iran. What similarities, if any, exist between this minority expression of Islam and our Unitarian Universalism?
January 17
The Morality of Global Climate Change
Guest speaker Chad Tolman
Climate change is not only a scientific, economic, political, and national security issue; it is a profound moral and ethical issue that demands a response from those who value the inherent worth and dignity of all people and who want to preserve the interdependent web of existence of which we are a part. Chad realizes that we have done a lot, but hopes to inspire us to even greater action on behalf of future generations and Earth’s other creatures. After the service Chad will expand on the topic with a presentation going into greater depth, with opportunity for dialog.
January 24
Unitarian Universalist History Series: Part 4 – 1961 to the Present: “An Unexamined Faith is Not Worth Having”
Lay speaker Jim Gentile
This quote from James Luther Adams sets the theme of the final Sunday in which we examine our UU tradition. The message will examine our responsibility to respect the dedication of those who came before us, define who we are as a community, and vigorously embrace the deep roots of our tradition, which intertwines relentless examination and universal compassion. The service will be followed by a Congregation-wide workshop to enable us, as a community, to further examine who we are and, most importantly, who we seek to become.
January 31
Are You a Poet and Don’t Know It?
Led by Barbara Miller
Join us for our traditional annual poetry service, in which congregation members share their favorite poetry – some original.
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