"The Pursuit of Happiness"

(Happiness is a fairly universal goal in the animal kingdom. It is written in our American Constitution that we have a right to pursue that elusive quality of happiness. Happiness has many faces and is a complex concept. We will look at what research tells us are chacteristics of "happy people"and current thinking on how to achieve "happiness".)

Twila Preston

Music by Pat Leahy

(There have been a number of serious books critical of religion in recent years, among them "The God Delusion"by Oxford professor Richard Dawkins. I want to take a fresh look at some of them in this sermon.)

Music by Pat Cook

Music by

Sandy Stephenson

Karen Mackey

Music by

Eleanor May Patterson

Music by Pat Leahy

"Spiritual Atheism"

(Greg takes the unusual step of combining these two words, risking offense to not only spiritually oriented folks, but ardent atheists as well.)

Greg Nooney

Music by Pat Cook

"Expanding our Perceptions"

(The dominant discourse of our church tends to focus on evolution and science, with the "natural world" being seen as "all that there is." This tends to render invisible the experiences of many of us who regularly and consistently feel, see, and/or interact with spirits, energies, or other entities from other realms or dimensions, or have other experiences of a spiritual nature. In today's service, two of those individuals have graciousy agreed to share with us.)

Featuring David Wiepen and Jodi Melnichak

Music by Sandy Stephenson

"Cultivate Happiness Now"

(Your internal happiness is up to you. Experience one woman’s journey to figure this out. Deborah will share her story using gardening as a metaphor and her original music as a backdrop. Rather than hedonistic, this unconditional happiness comes from your inner wisdom. What will you plant in your garden this spring? Happiness seeds will be available this Sunday.)

"Shamanism: Yesterday and Today"

(The practice of Shamanism has a long and rich history and can be said to exist today as a identified practice and as a theme in the practice of most religions and alternative healing modalities.)

Joyce Klimek

Music by Pat Cook

Mike Melnichak

Music by Pat Leahy

Of Life Immense: The Prophetic Vision of Walt Whitman (Read Text)

(Rev. Knapp's talk will be followed by a book signing

during coffee hour in the Safford Room.)

Rev. Ronald Knapp

Music by Pat Cook

Jan Kooiker

Music by Sandy Stephenson

Joyce Klimek

Music by

Eleanor May Patterson

RE Children & Teachers and Green Sanctuary Committee

Music by Pat Leahy

"The Butterfly Effect"

(Why do we feel empathy with the victims of war, hunger, terror and natural disasters? Dr. Hutchins tells the experiences of a child living under the Nazi occupation of Poland and during the Warsaw Uprising. She relates her personal trauma to the terrors suffered by the victims of the 9-11 attacks.)

Dr. Danuta Zamojska Hutchins

Music by Pat Leahy

Grace Linden

Music by Pat Cook

Dr. Dave Paulsrud

Music by

Eleanor May Patterson

Paul Seaman

Music by

Year End Picnic -

Adams' Nature Preserve

(click on link for map & info.)

Located 2 miles SW of McCook Lake, Exit 4 off I-29

Forum - "Favorite Excerpts

from Literature"

In-Gathering Picnic:
The In-Gathering picnic will be held August 31st, 12:00 PM. We have Shelter # 3 at Riverside Park, Sioux City.

Oct. 5 - 11:00 a.m.

Nov. 2 - 11:00 a.m.

Dec. 7 - 11:00 a.m.