Catholic Campus Ministry Center,
Pomona Road (County Route 575), Galloway Township
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
2005
Top of pageJanuary 2
Power is How You Get Things Done
Guest Minister Rev. Dave Hunter
Used properly, power is a wonderful thing. Drawing on sources from Starhawk to Rosa Parks to Woody Allen, Dave will discuss five forms of power.
January 9
The Morality of Global Climate Change
Guest speaker Chad A. Tolman
The GA this year chose the Threat of Global Warming as the study and action issue for UUA congregations for 2004-2006. Dr. Tolman, who has followed the issue for 15 years, will explain why climate change is not only a threat to human societies and natural ecosystems, but is also a profound moral and religious issue, on which we must act. A video, We Are All Smith Islanders, and discussion will follow the service.
January 16
John the Baptist and His Star Pupil
Rev. George E Blair III
Essene influence on two great Jewish leaders in the first century, and what we can learn from this ancient Jewish philosophy.
January 23
The Sermon on the Mount
Rev. George E Blair III
The great sermon as recounted by Matthew has its counterpart in Luke's Sermon on the Plain. What is the humanist philosophy of Jesus, and how does it differ from what has become Christian orthodoxy? A heretic's viewpoint.
January 30
The Zen of Oz
Rev. George E Blair III
What can we learn about Zen Buddhism from the movie The Wizard of Oz?
Is there really “no place like home?” An intergenerational service.
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February 6
The Annual Sex Sermon
Rev. George E Blair III
What's new in sex and religion--particularly in the current political climate in the United States? How does birth control, sex education, condom distribution, homosexuality, bisexuality, polyamory and stem-cell research play in a "conservative" climate?
February 13
Looking Back and Forward
Rev. George E Blair III
The fifth anniversary of Charter Sunday. Where have we come from, and where are we going?
February 20
“The Barn’s Burned Down… Now I Can See the Moon”
Lay leader Barbara Reynolds and others
This Zen saying is the inspiration for a service about overcoming adversity. Barbara Reynolds and others will share personal stories of finding blessings in life's challenges.
February 27
Reincarnation
Lay leader Marsha Hannah
“There's nothing wrong with you that reincarnation won't cure.”
One of our longtime members will share her views on the idea of reincarnation.
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March 6
Lent, Ramadan, and Yom Kippur: The Religious Tradition of Fasting
Rev. George E Blair III
Why fast? What is the religious implication of starving oneself?
Why don't Protestants or UU's fast?
March 13
Miracles in the Religious Tradition
Rev. George E Blair III
All major religions have miracles -- events that seem to defy the laws of nature -- the unexpected deus ex machina that saves the day of the religious saint. What do we make of miracles in the modern age?
March 20
A Home for U and U
Rev. George E Blair III and Lay leader Karen York
Think of it as Day One of our Capital Campaign. How can we make our commitment “real”? What words and deeds can we use to make our dreams bear fruit? Why do we need a “bricks and mortar” home – isn’t it enough just to have each other? Let us look inward and outward to plan for our future.
March 27
The Western Tradition Easter
Rev. George E Blair III
What are the traditions surrounding this day in the Roman Catholic and Protestant Calendar? Why is it today? What does Easter mean for us today?
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April 3
Evolving Our Ecological Spiritualities
Guest speaker Connie Barlow
Connie, along with her husband Michael Dowd, are itinerant evangelists of the epic of evolution as a sacred story which bridges science and religion, providing common ground for spiritual seekers. Just as ecology has informed our reverence for Earth, evolution’s teachings of time can deepen our spiritual connection with the Cosmos.
April 10
Children, Teens, and Grief
Guest speaker Pat Smith, LCSW
How can we be there for our children and the children in our community after they experience the death of a loved one? Pat is a co-director of The Alcove, a non-profit organization that offers grief support to children and their families. Often the parent(s) in such a situation, overwhelmed with grief themselves, can’t offer the emotional support that children need during this difficult time.
April 17
First Amendment: Separation of Church and State
Guest speaker Janice Rael
Americans United for Separation of Church and State seeks to keep our govern-ment out of the clutches of those who would promote or allow state-sponsored religion. What is happening in today’s America to threaten the secular nature of our society? Why is secular better?
Janice will have a question and answer session after the service.
April 24
The Other Palm Sunday (Eastern Orthodox)
Rev. George E Blair III
Why are we celebrating Palm Sunday after Easter? The history of Palm Sunday and the Eastern Orthodox church. We also celebrate Passover this day with our Jewish friends.
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May 1 11:00 am !!!
Orthodox Easter, Beltane and Birding Sunday
Rev. George E Blair III
Easter in the Eastern Orthodox and Pagan Traditions. Why is the Western Easter so early, and the Eastern Easter so late? What is the connection in the religious mind between resurrection, spring, and flying in the sky?
This service will be at the usual place, but begin at 11:00 a.m. instead of 10:00.
May 8
Strengthening Our Partnership in Building a Liberal Faith
Guest speaker Richard Speck, Joseph Priestley District Executive
The UUCSJS is on the verge of new space and a new vision for growing Unitarian Universalism in southern New Jersey. How can the JPD and the UUA help spread the liberal gospel in this region? What are the ways that we can partner with you in achieving your expanded vision? Rev. Speck will discuss this with you as he comes to visit and see the great progress we have made.
May 15
Habemus Papam
Rev. George E Blair III
Never before and never again will we have a former member of the Hitler Youth and an army deserter elected Pope. Why does it matter to us, and the world, about the proclivities of Pope Benedict XVI -- what good and what bad can come from this papacy?
May 22
What is Truth?
Rev. George E Blair III
An inquiry into the nature of truth, and why, for the most part, we don't want to be confused with the facts. Why sociology is not common sense.
May 29
The Dedication of Peace Memorials
Rev. George E Blair III
War memorials abound, but periods of peace, understanding, and prosperity barely make themselves into our national consciousness. Lest we forget the brothers Berrigan...
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June 5
Only Siths Think in Absolutes
Rev. George E Blair III
Enter "Star Wars" and "anti-Bush" into your search engine and you’ll get over 18,600 hits. The impossibility of this led me to watch the movie and decide to present this sermon on the religious and political values of the Star Wars movies. May the force be with you.
June 12
Embryonic Warfare: the Stem Cell Debate
Rev. George E Blair III
Why has this issue become such a hot one, and why are the opponents of embryonic stem cell research largely limited to George W. Bush, a few evangelical Christians, the Roman Catholic Church, and one UU minister? An examination of the ethics -- not the science -- of this issue.
June 19
Our Fathers
Coordinated by Jack Miller
At this Intergenerational Service we will share stories, poems, pictures, songs, and anecdotes about our fathers. A potluck lunch and outdoor games will follow the service.
June 26
Reclaiming the Western Meditative Tradition
Lay leader Ben Luoma
Ben will be discussing the meditative and tradition of the western world from Aristotle to the Medieval Christian Mystics. He will talk about these traditions and practices, and why they’ve received so little popular attention of late compared to the meditative traditions of Asia.
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July 3
Naturalistic Ethics: Do We Need God to be Good?
Lay leader Michael Cluff
Many assume that morality can only come from the explicit laws of a deity. Is it possible for a naturalistic, mechanistic universe to compel humans to be moral? Or does such a universe mean that anything goes?
July 10
Things That Go ‘Bump’ in the Night
Rev. George E Blair III
Spiritism, Kirlian photography, ghosts, hauntings and such like.
July 17
Why Some People are Lucky, and Some are Not
Rev. George E Blair III
This service will attempt to explain how my wife has won two vacation trips and the only thing I won was a lifetime with her. Actually, it seems like I got the better part of the deal. Does Providence smile more widely on some lives than others?
July 24
Magic: As You See It, So It Is
Guest speaker Marcus Evans Bluefeather
Be careful what you wish for, as wishes do come true. Marcus will talk about Manitou, an Algonquin term meaning Great Spirit, which combines the meanings of Spirit, mystery, magic, and generally is applied to the manifestation of some form of power that is not readily understood or coming from elsewhere.
July 31
Tai Chi, Qigong, and Spirituality
Lay leader Stacy Hagan
What do these ancient martial arts have to do with spirituality? What health benefits are gained from practice of these forms? We will explore these questions with verbal explanation and hands-on demonstration.
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August 7
Plato's Phaedo: The case for eternal life
Rev. George E Blair III
Socrates is not afraid to die, because his philosophical investigations have convinced him that the soul is immortal. Early Christians integrated Platonic ideas about the soul along with Jewish ideas of resurrection of the body, and came up with their own ideas of eternal life. What heaven might be like.
August 14
Justice: The Republic of Plato
Rev. George E Blair III
Everyone thinks Justice is a good thing, but people don't agree on what it is. How Plato helped clarify things, or would have, but nobody reads him.
August 21
Voices of Vision
Lay leader Barbara Miller, UUCSJS Music Director
Barbara Miller, our Music Director, recently attended the UU Musicians Network (UUMN) retreat in Denver. These gatherings always re-energize her and she will share her inspiration and discoveries with us, which include Sufi and Hebrew choral music, chanting, and music for healing.
August 28
Yoga: Another Path
Lay leader Ginni Stadler
Ginni will present a narrative on the origins of Yoga, its many aspects and its intended purpose. The service will conclude with a Yoga meditation practice.
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September 4
Judaism, Christianity, Islam: a view from their sacred texts
Guest Speaker Dr. Ali Wassil
Dr. Wassil, an author, world traveler, and philosopher, has been called An International Ambassador of Peace by Carl Sandburg and currently resides in Atlantic City. He will include related thoughts from Thomas Jefferson and Theodore Parker, and has agreed to a question/answer time at the conclusion.
September 11
Revenge and Its Alternatives
Rev. George E Blair III
What is the purpose and impulse for revenge all about? How is it enshrined and controlled in law and most of Western Philosophy, and why is it repudiated by Jesus and the Buddha? What would Jesus do? What would the Buddha advise?
September 18
The Volunteer State
Rev. George E Blair III
For the first time in eight years, I returned to the church of my shortest ministry in Belvidere, Tennessee. What I found there surprise me, and gave me new hope and insight in the power of the laity and consensus building for the good of the church. This Sunday, let's discover what each of us can do to help.
September 25
Walking the Walk towards Zero
Lay leader Jon Luoma
The current UUA study and action issue is global warming. A guest sermon by Dr. Chad Tolman in January of this year brought us the moral context, and the pending tragedy for the world’s poor, of this phenomenon. So if it’s time for us to take action as individuals or a group, what can we actually do? (Hint: Lots!)
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October 2
Calvin and the Theology of Repressed Sexuality
Rev. George E Blair III
Jean Calvin of France had a secret -- he was in love with another man.
How Jean Calvin became John Calvin, and created a bleak theology profoundly
pessimistic about the nature of sinful humanity. What happens to us when we suppress
who we are. Current Catholic debate.
October 9
Stranger in a Strange Land
Guest speaker Kim Mason,
JPD Director for Young Adult and Campus Ministry
Why is Young Adult Campus Ministry important for the growth of Unitarian Universalism? How can we build intergenerational congregations?
October 16
No One Ever Expects the Spanish Inquisition
Rev. George E Blair III
The history of Christian persecution as a paradigm for persecution of all types. What happens when we earnestly and truly believe that we must torture and kill people in order to save our society.
October 23
Weaving a Rainbow
Guest speaker Vince Grimm,
CEO of the non-profit group GABLES of Cape May County
Vince will discuss his life as a gay activist and the role of GABLES in protecting the human dignity and human rights of lesbians, gays and bisexuals. Learn how we can work with the area's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community to better promote the second principle of the Unitarian Universalist Association.
October 30
Samhain: A Festival of Endings and Transformation
Guest minister Rev. Amara Willey
October 31, or Samhain, is the new year in the turning of the Wheel of the Year for earth-based religions, and is the oldest celebration in history. It's a time to remember the losses of the previous year, a time to mourn, and a time to welcome the new beginnings that the changing year will bring.
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November 6
All Saints
Rev. George E Blair III
Do you have a memory of someone special that you'd like to share with us?
The saints aren't just the official list, you know. This Sunday we will remember the saints and angels
who have touched our lives, and are no longer with us in body.
November 13
All Sinners
Rev. George E Blair III
"That's why I call myself a witch now: the Wicked Witch of the West, if you want the full glory of it.
As long as people are going to call you a lunatic anyway,
why not get the benefit of it?
It liberates you from convention.” An examination of wickedness -- are we born wicked,
do we become wicked, or do we have wickedness thrust upon us? With liberal reference to
Wicked -- the Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire, and songs from the Broadway play.
November 20
Perspectives on the Holocaust from a Child Survivor
Guest speaker Fred Spiegel
Fred Spiegel, a child survivor of the Holocaust, was born in Germany, escaped to Holland after Kristallnacht to
live with relatives, then sent to three camps, including the infamous Bergen-Belsen. Now retired, Fred lectures at schools and
colleges about his experiences as a child during the Holocaust.
November 27
The Advent Tradition: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”
Rev. George E Blair III
What does it mean to be a Christian and not believe that Jesus was God incarnate?
Should I be a Jesusian (Kathie Benner's coinage) or a Jesuit (Society of Jesus) instead?
Why Advent, and why do I drag it in every December to a mostly nonchristian congregation? Just stubborn, I guess.
December 4
Waiting for Godot
Rev. George E Blair III
“But that is not the question. What we are doing here, that is the question.
And we are blessed in this, that we happen to know the answer. Yes, in this
immense confusion one thing alone is clear. We are waiting for Godot to come.”
The classic play by Samuel Becket asks the serious advent question:
“Who are we waiting for?” Will Messiah come this year?
December 11
The December Dilemma
Rev. George E Blair III
Jews and Jehovah's Witnesses and Muslims suffer "Santaclaustrophobia"
as the season deepens -- from holiday decorations in stores to decorated
streets to music on the radio. What's a UU to do? How can we celebrate
the December holidays with any integrity?
December 18
Yule Pageant
Our annual holiday pageant focuses this time on the pagan holiday of Yule, celebrated at the time of the Winter Solstice. Come join an Icelandic family as they and the fairies, elves, trolls and dwarves await the annual coming of Thor in his goat-drawn sleigh.December 25
SPECIAL TIME: 11 a.m.
CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICE. Join us in a service of lessons and carols. The Christmas Story as related by Matthew, Luke, Muhammad, James, pseudo-Matthew and the Sibylline Oracles. Traditional Christmas carols sung a cappella!January 1
SPECIAL TIME: 11 a.m.
NEW YEAR'S DAY SERVICE. One hour later, so you can sleep off the night before. Start the year off right with a service of new beginnings!Return to top of page