First Existentialist Congregation
An independent member of the Unitarian Universalist Association
In this two-person discussion/debate, Leon will take the agnostic/atheist position: “As god disappeared, the universe grew more awesome and fascinating and my life became more relaxed, peaceful, and loving.” Rick will argue his heathen perspective: “God is. We have choices.” It is a matter of semantics.
Facilitator: Libby Ware
Musician: Jean Heinrich and the E-Chorus
How did we reach a point where our ways of life and livelihood threaten irreversible damage to the biosphere we depend on to survive? We got here by forgetting what indigenous people have always understood: matter and spirit are one, and life on the material plane is a spiritual path. Our best guide on this path is the Earth itself and its community of species. If we walk or sit in any place that remains wild, listening quietly, we can begin to hear it speaking to us from inside, from the depths of spirit, where we too remain wild, and enter a personal relationship with the world that nurtures and sustains us.
Facilitator: Marsha Mitchiner
Musician: William Chelton
“An Inside Look at Motherhood”
Three members of First Existentialist Congregation tell about their experiences as mothers.
Facilitator: Sara Drew
Musician: Jean Heinrich
Hunger and poverty are considered “wicked problems” by social scientists. How might we journey in our understanding of hunger and poverty and be moved to meaningful action?
Facilitator: Wade Marbaugh
Musician: Snake Oil Medicine Show Band with Craig Rafuse
“60% Water”
In honor of Earth Day we’ll take a deeper look at water and what it means to us: our bodies, our spirits, our communities, and our planet.
Facilitator: Charlene Ball
Musician: William Chelton
“Sacred Violence”
Paul and Terra will describe their journey of “Sacred Violence”—the direct production of basic needs in order to minimize participation in the violent economic systems that support our lives. For the last two decades, they have partially liberated themselves from these systems, and they will discuss the limits and implications of that liberation.
Facilitator: Cindy Lou Who
Musician: E-Band
“A Zen Interpretation of Science and Religion”
Keiji Nishitani was one of the most brilliant (and challenging) representatives of the “Kyoto School,” a Japanese philosophical lineage that sought a creative fusion of European philosophy (especially existentialism) with the Zen Buddhist philosophy of emptiness. Nishitani, who studied under both Martin Heidegger and Kyoto School founder Kitaro Nishida, recognized that the Modern West could not produce an adequate solution to the conflict between science and religion. What he offered in their place was, in a manner of speaking, a Zen transformation of both.
Facilitator: D. Patton White
Musician: Mick Kinney
“Divine strangers: warnings from antiquity about hospitality!”
Facilitator: Wade Marbaugh
Musician: Craig Rafuse
“Stories of Renewal and Rebirth”
Spring has sprung, and Eostre is upon us. “Ostara, Eástre seems therefore to have been the divinity of the radiant dawn, of upspringing light, a spectacle that brings joy and blessing, whose meaning could be easily adapted by the resurrection-day of the Christian’s God.” (Grimm) We will open the floor for anyone who cares to share a brief story, thought, poem, song, visual art, dance of rebirth or renewal. We will also have on hand materials to add to our Spring Tapestry hanging at the front of the sanctuary.
Facilitator: D. Patton White
Musician: Charlie Vogt
As a Christian minister for years, I have spoken many a Palm Sunday message – but not like this one that I will do.
Leon has wandered for 86 years. Good and bad things have happened to him in this journey. The best things have been a wonderful wife of 63 years, three great adult children, seven beautiful grandchildren, and some spiritual and philosophical growth along the way. Leon has had four careers: Christian missionary, pastor, computer programmer, and addictions counselor, but he says that a part-time job of teacher of English to immigrants was the most fun (8 years). He has gone from fundamentalist Christian to evangelical, to liberal Christian, to agnostic/atheist. His goal now is to learn to love more and better.
Facilitator: Libby Ware
Musician: Jean Heinrich