The SUUF Podcast

Second Best Time

September 19

Joseph Bednarik

The proverb goes like this: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is today.” This sermon explores our ever-present second best time, and the lives we choose to live there.

Global Warming and the Arctic

September 5, 2021

Professor Mike Steele, PhD

Mike Steele is Senior Principal Oceanographer at the University of Washington, specializing in the large scale circulation of sea ice and water in the Arctic Ocean. He will talk to us in terms we can understand about the oceans and the effects of climate change in our world.

My spiritual journey into newspaper publishing

August 29, 2021

Ken Stern

Ken Stern has been publishing the La Conner Weekly News for four years now, but his spiritual journey into newspaper ownership has been lifelong. It is not only a job and an adventure: running a weekly newspaper offers Ken the opportunity to grow into himself, work at realizing more than one UU principle and to live a life of integrity and service. And, he really enjoys the miracle and gift of friendship that brought him here.

Love at the Border

August 22, 2021

Mary Ellen Robinson, Linda Riggers

When the call for help came, several Catholic Sisters responded. Among them were Sisters Linda Riggers and Mary Ellen Robinson, retired educators and members of the order, Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary. They spent 3-plus weeks volunteering in a Texas mass shelter for unaccompanied minors and at a welcome center for vulnerable families, all asylum seekers who undertook a harrowing journey and stepped across the border to seek safety and escape desperate poverty.

Children of the Valley

August 15, 2021

Flora Lucatero

Flora Lucatero, Executive Director of Children of the Valley, is joining us today to share the story of this very important program. Their three cornerstones of care: academic assistance, enrichment activities, and social-emotional learning, allow underserved youth to flourish. After starting small, it has grown over the last two years to accommodate 100 children at two sites in the Skagit Valley. Come and hear how COV provides a place of nurturing for those who deserve it the most.

League of Women Voters

August 8, 2021

Wendy Sanderson
 
2020 celebrated one hundred years by what began as a grassroots organization called the League of Women Voters, thanks to the efforts by champions of the Women's Suffrage Movement in 1920. What began as a "mighty political experiment" designed to help 20 million women carry out their new responsibilities as voters, it has grown into a leading nonpartisan force encouraging informed participation in government. They help us understand major public policy issues, and provide education and advocacy. Today we'll hear from Wende Sanderson, president of the local Skagit Valley league.

An Eighth Principle?

July 11, 2021

Kathy Roche-Zuiko

Kathy will introduce an idea that has some support within the UU community: adding an 8th Principle to the seven faith principles that are currently the backbone of our religion. Attracting sentiment both for and against, the main issue is adopting a statement about dismantling racism and oppression, and working to build a diverse multicultural community, both within our UU denomination and in our society as a whole. But how to do this, the wording, the practice, the acceptance... this is the difficult part. Let's talk about it and look at this proposal from many angles.

My Peace Corp Story

July 4, 2021

Donna Rieper

Donna starts us off with a presentation about her experience as a Peace Corp volunteer in Honduras. She will tell us about her work in small animal husbandry in Choluteca. Hasta entonces!

How to Speak Zenglish

Jonathan Prescott

June 13, 2021

Zen is filled with stories and sayings that don’t seem to make sense. Zen Masters shout, stomp, and strike; they blow out candles and leave students in the dark; they answer students with silence. What does it all mean? Join Jonathan Prescott for a behind-the-scenes guide to understanding the intimate, elegant, and entertaining language of Zenglish.

Blessing for Our Pets

May 30, 2021

Rev. Barbara Davenport

Pets are our friends, our family, and often our sources of comfort and acceptance. Today we have invited Rev. Barbara Davenport to return with a “Blessing” for our animal friends. After all, many of our pets have gone the extra mile during the past year of sorrow and isolation! After the blessing, grab your pet, put him/her/it/them in front of the camera for a “revue” so we can see your pals. Very briefly, tell us about your pet(s) and let them smile for the camera!