Unitarian Universalists of Basel

On Sunday, January 13 our service was given by the Rev. Steve Dick:

"The Differences That Unite Us: Unitarian Universalism Is An Illusion".

Steve also lead an illustrated talk on Unitarian Universalism around the World as Reflected in ICUU member groups.

Folks often misuse the word and think that an illusion is something that does not exist, but it actually means that something is not as it seems. Did you know that your sense of self is also an illusion and that you – yes you --- are more complex in nature than the galaxy in which our planet home lives? Come hear more as how the way we respond to our differences is the secret of our common identity.

The strength of our identity is being like a stone, understanding that stones do change over time mould by the water or weather, perhaps not seen it is so gradual. But a stone much like poet Charles Simic describes when he writes:

Go inside a stone
That would be my way.
Let somebody else become a dove
Or gnash with a tiger's tooth.
I am happy to be a stone.

From the outside the stone is a riddle:
No one knows how to answer it.
Yet within, it must be cool and quiet
Even though a cow steps on it full weight,
Even though a child throws it in a river;
The stone sinks, slow, unperturbed
To the river bottom
Where the fishes come to knock on it
And listen.

I have seen sparks fly out
When two stones are rubbed,
So perhaps it is not dark inside after all;
Perhaps there is a moon shining
From somewhere, as though behind a hill—
Just enough light to make out
The strange writings, the star-charts
On the inner walls.

~ Charles Simic ~

About Steve:

Survived 21,949 days so far. Born in USA but lived majority of life elsewhere. Lived as an adult in four different countries. Became Unitarian in US but trained as minister in UK. Helped start Unitarian Universalist congregations in five countries and a group for cross Europe that is now 30 years old.

First Unitarian job in Europe was on staff of International Association of Religious Freedom followed by service as a parish minister in South London, then District Minister for London and the Southeast and a brief stint as Chief Executive of the British General Assembly of Unitarian Churches before becoming ICUU Executive Secretary in 2009. Married to a Dutch woman. Carries two passports.

Understands and speaks a number of languages badly.

Please join us on Sunday, December 9 at 11:00

Our visiting guest minister is the Rev. Art Lester, who will be sharing his sermon, "Your Bear to Cross" as well as a children of all ages story, "The Donkey Who Saved Christmas", since it's that season. (It's an original one, so you won't find it anywhere.)

Following the service and refreshment break, from 13:00 - 14:30 Art will lead a workshop/ discussion that will focus on the basis of ethical behaviour, something along the lines of: "What's Right? What's Wrong?" Not too intellectual, but enough stimulus for philosophy-tasters.

On February 10 at 11:00 the Reverend Anthony David visited from Atlanta and delivered our sermon:

Help, Gimme, Thank You: A Spirituality of Prayer for Unitarian Universalists

Prayer is as old as time and as vast as human experience, found in every culture across history. But can prayer be meaningful today? What if you don't believe in a personal God, or in any kind of God at all? Let's take a closer look.

Rev. Anthony David bio

Rev. Anthony David grew up in Alberta, Canada and moved to the United States (Texas) when he was 12. He's a former college professor of philosophy, and his lifelong passion is figure skating. He and his ice dancing partner won gold at the 2011 Adult National Figure Skating Championships, held at Salt Lake City, Utah. Ordained in 2004, Rev. David's first ministry involved planting a new kind of Unitarian Universalist church in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, called Pathways. Since 2007, he has been the Senior Minister of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta (UUCA), the largest UU congregation in the Southeast. He is currently on a five-month sabbatical from UUCA.

Dr. Christopher Heinrichs gave his sermon, "Discovering the Sacred"

Who is Chris Heinrichs?

A self-described 'Jack-of-all-trades; master-of-none' combined with Peter Pan, Chris was born and raised in the central farming valley of California surfing the leading crest of the Baby-Boomer wave. The seventh son in a family of nine children, his formative years were spend among cotton and alfalfa fields, attending a very small, rural school. Raised in a family of modest means, by the time he graduated from high school, he had lived in seven houses, none with more than three bedrooms nor more than one bathroom.

He initially attended Stanford University as a geology major but this was interrupted by the draft. He served a little less than three years in the US Army as a Vietnamese Linguist. This included a tour as a Voice Intercept Operator in Vietnam where he honed his skills as an eavesdropper. Leaving the Army armed with the GI Bill and a new bride (Peggy, his wife of 42 years) he returned to school at the University of Texas at El Paso and continued on to Texas Tech Medical School. To pay for his education he enrolled in the US Air Force Health Professions Scholarship Program and traded money for school for four years of medical service to the USAF. Much to his surprise, he and the Air Force were compatible leading to a full career as an Air Force flight surgeon. His last assignment brought him, and his lovely bride, to Ramstein AB, Germany. He separated from the Air Force in Germany, remained joined to Peggy and now is the dependent spouse of a DoD Dependent Schools teacher and occupies his time as journeyman house elf.

A lifelong Unitarian, Dr Heinrichs has served on several church boards including president of the San Antonio Unitarian Universalist Church, past-president of the EUU, and is currently Programs Chair of the Kaiserslautern UU Fellowship.

Sunday, October 14, we welcomed visiting UU minister, Amy Carol Webb.

A well-known singer and songwriter, Amy lead us in a very musical and spiritual service.

Learn more about Amy at http://www.amycarolwebb.com

Her Sermon is titled "Da Capo al Fine"

Da Capo Al Fine is a musical notation directing the musician to go to the beginning and play through to the end. What can "da capo al fine" mean to our faith, our work in the world, our intentions to be who we mean to be as individuals and as Unitarian Universalists?

The Reverend Amy Carol Webb grew up knowing she wanted to sing and preach. After a long and winding spiritual road, she found her full voice in Unitarian Universalism, and was ordained in May 2011. She is currently working as a hospice Chaplain, and is Consulting Minister to the River of Grass Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Davie, Florida. In addition, she continues to minister through music, performing and composing music to expand and explore the humanity in divinity and the divinity in humanity. She has just released her 9th CD, entitled “Welcome Home,” and is working on her first book on the work of Unitarian Universalists in the social justice movement.  www.amycarolwebb.com