International Sunday

May 4th International Sunday: Transylvanian Unitarians (or “Wait, I didn’t know we were related to VAMPIRES ! “)  You can  listen to the  Rev. Eva Cameron  and be inspired by the deep history of our Transylvanian Unitarian ‘cousins’ by clicking here.

I’m A Christian! No, I’m a Christian! - Rev. Eva Cameron & Jim Paprocki

This April 27th service had the Rev Eva Cameron and member Jim Paprocki exchanging views and responding to questions about what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist and a Christian.  To listen to this service click here.

Earth Day: A Service for All Ages

An April 20th Earth Day Celebration of our Mother Earth with all our hearts, minds and senses. Lots of music, stories and sing - alongs. To listen to this service click here.

From Conflict to Reconciliation: Children’s Story - Pam Hays

During the April 13th service about the conflict in Northern Ireland and the efforts at reconciliation, Pam Hays did a children’s story time about conflict and resolution.  To listen to the story click here.

From Conflict to Reconciliation: Northern Ireland - Al & Pam Hays

Al & Pam gav a brief historical overview of how the conflict in Northern Ireland emerged and then presented a readers theater based on the reflections of people in adjoining Pretestant and Catholic communities about their efforts at working togehter.  This presentation was done on Sunday April 13th.  To listen to the service click here.

UU Prairie Home Entertainment Fundraiser - April 9 2008

A very talented group of UUs and friends got together to entertain each other with songs and music and stories to raise funds and send 2 of our UU musicians to Unitarian Universalist Musician’s Network Conference in Boston.

The conference provides professional development and networking opportunities for Music Directors, Choir Directors, Church Musicians, and Composers of U.U. music. To listen to this fun event click here.

Silent Thunder - Rev. Eva Cameron & Julie Fischer

 Silent Thunder ~~ Rev. Eva Cameron, Julie Fischer to hear this presentation about inspiration and science based on the book Silent Thunder click here.

Liberation Theology - Rev Eva Cameron

Rev. Eva Cameron shares her experiences growing up as a “minority” in the community, and her views on liberation theology and the Rev. Wright’s sermons. This timely service looks at more then the “sound bites” which have been in the news about the Rev Wright and to the historical context of liberation theology. To listen to this service click here.

Children’s Story - Easter Sunday - Rev. Eva Cameron

Rev. Eva Cameron shares the story of Easter with the children on Easter Sunday.  To listen to this Easter story click here.

Palm Sunday

Tim Purdum, explores the meaning of Palm Sunday from the point of view of a UU Christian.  Where can UU’s find meaning in this story.To listen to this service click here. 

Women In UU History - Karen Impola

March is Women’s History Month and UU Karen Impola looks at the contribution of some UU women from the past.  To listen to this service click here.

Children’s Story - Dorthea Dix - Kathy Klink-Zeitz

The Director of Religious Education, Kathy Klink-Zeitz told the children a story about a famous Unitarian Universalist woman Dorthea Dix.  To listen to this story click here.

Stewardship Sunday - Finance Committee

This Sunday Service was presented by the Finance Committee. The subject of the sermon, by Mike Knapp, was The Generosity of Giving. This years the stewardship committee asked members and friends to bring their pledges to the service and they were collected during the service after a special meditation led by Mary Kay Madsen. To listen to this service click here.

My Favorite Things - Brittany,Sue & Coltan

During the Stewardship Sunday Service we had a special treat, when 3 of our members sang an original song about their favorite UU things sung to the tune of a familiar song.  To Listen to the song click here.

(to the tune of “My Favorite Things” from the Sound of Music).

 “Interesting sermons and music and choir

Poker night and youth group and a chalice on fire

Hospitality, friends and the joy that they bring

These are a few of our fave UU things.

Chili cook-off!

 

Treats and Talents!

 

Things that help us thrive,

 

We simply remember our fave UU things

 

And then we pledge LOTS…to the Stewardship Drive.”

Why I’m a Mennonite - Rev. Susan Janzen

This service was a pulpit exchange. Pastor Susan Janzen is with the Cedar Falls Mennonite Church. She shared with us her experiences as a life long Mennonite and as a Pastor for the last 10 years. This is part of our “Shouting Over the Back of the Elephant” experience. To listen to the service click here.

Love - The Service For All Ages Team

During this service we recognized some of our new members with a short ceremony. The service theme was an exploration on the theme of “love” using the tradition of valentines. To Listen to this creative exploration about this key element ( Love) of most religious faiths click here.

A Nautralist Looks at the Seventh Principle - Lynn Brant

One of our members, a recently retired professor of geology looks at one of our UU Principles.  To listen to this service click here.

Butter and Cream - Rev Eva Cameron

We say we celebrate the inherent goodness in each person, but sometimes, when it comes right down to it, many of our interactions here at church have to do with business.  What can we do to take the time to really sow our interest and care?  To listen to this service click here.

Dancing Over the Back of the Elephant - Lara Martinsen-Burell

In today’s service lay member Lara Martinsen-Burell introduced the concept of contact improvisational dance and shared some thoughts of her personal journey. To listen to this service click here.

Annual Question Box Sunday - Rev Eva Cameron

During what has become annual event, members of the congregation had the opportunity to put questions for the Minister in a “Question Box” located in the fellowship hall for several weeks.  During this service the Rev. Eva Cameron answered as many as she could.  To listen to this service click here.

Where Do We Find Our Courage

Drawing on the rich legacy of African American spiritual and gospel music, we explore the role that music played during the civil rights movement and how music can give us courage to continue our quest for social justice today.To listen to this service click here. Celeste Bembry and members of the UNI George Walker Society of Music joined us to celelebrate the power of music in times of trouble and adversity.

Anniversary Sunday - Rev. Eva Cameron

This celebration of our anniversary in the Cedar Valley begins with an original piano piece by one of our members. This celebration recalls Jan. 5, 1875 when the Universalist Church was established in Waterloo. Del Carpenter and Eva revisit an old Universalist sermon, old hymns and share a communion with the congregation using the old communion service from the Universalist Church. To listen to this service click here.

Family Candlelight Christmas Eve Service

The Rev. Eva Cameron and Worship Associate John Miller lead the congregation in a service of carols, scripture and a modern tale. To listen to this sevice click here

Christmas Pagent - Service for All Ages

Listen as members of the congregation preform a Christmas Pagent. Click here.

Midwinter Revels-Light in the Time of Darkness

Service for All Ages Team. During the service which incorporates music, poetry, pagentry and ritual we examine what people across the nothern hemisphere have done through the ages to find light and hope at the darkest time of year. To listen to this service click here.

Longing - The Rev. Eva Cameron

The darker side of the season, the things we or our children think we “want” for Christmas. Does our vision of the ‘perfect’ Christmas never turn out exactly as we dreamed - this side of longing. To listen to this service click here.

Looking Inside - Rev Eva Cameron

Sometimes our sense of health, of purpose, of interconnectedness can only be born when we deeply examine our lives - what we have been given. In this season of anticipation of a great event, let’s begin by taking a look at our spiritual birth. To listen to this service click here.

A Faith for Atheists, Agnostics, and Me - Del Carpenter

Contrary to the title, this is not about a system of religious beliefs or lack therof. To listen to this sermon about a faith stance we share and that is useable by anyone click here.

The Life of Pi: Annual Auction Item Sermon

The Rev. Eva Cameron each year at the Treats and Talents Auction offers a sermon based on a book. To listen to this years sermon on”The Life of Pi” Click here.

New Member In-Gathering Nov 11th 2007

This is the part of the Sunday Service where the newest members of this Unitarian Universalist Congregation were welcomed into the society.  To listen to the ceremony click here.

Ministry - Rev. Eva Cameron

At this special Sunday Service 3 persons were commissioned as Lay Ministers. The Rev. Eva Cameron discusses the different titles used for the leader of a religious congregation and each of the new Lay Ministers takes an opportunity to share with the congregation. To listen to this service click here.

Now is the Time - Rev. Eva Cameron

We set aside this day to join with each other in honoring our larger movement. The theme is “Now is the Time”. Now is the time for growing our faith. Now is the time to reach out, with our unique message of how precious each and every body, each and every culture, each and every species on the planet is. Now is the time to grow - and we hope to be able to do it together, across the country. To listen to this service click here.

Gandhi’s Birthday/Gandhi Jayanti

Gandhi’s vision of creating change - large institutional, political change - altered the world. Not just in his lown life’s work, but in the vision he gave to the whole world. To listen to this celebration of Gandhi’s life click here. Hari Shankar also shares his story of his childhood in India when Ghandi was living there.

Fall Equinox: A Service for All Ages

Karen Impola and Deblyn Russell. Fall leaves, crisp apples, and woolen sweaters…this is what fall means to some. What does it mean spiritually? The service for all ages team led us in a celebration of fall. To listen to this service click here.

Yom Kippur - Rev. Eva Cameron

Judy Harrington and the Rev. Eva Cameron shared with us some of the Jewish thoughts and practices about Yom Kippur this special Day of Atonement. To listen to this service click here.

Torn Between the Desire - Rev Eva Cameron

A line by E.B. White caught Eva’s eye, and made her think about the many times we are trapped between our many goals and dreams for life. To listen to this sedrvice about the exploration about seeking balance in our desire to save the world and to savor the world click here.

Labor Day - Rev Eva Cameron

This Labor Day Service by Rev. Eva Cameron and Worship Associate Del Carpenter honors those who labor on our behalf. This was a chapel service followed by the singing of some traditional labor songs. Our annual work party and pot luck picnic followed the service. To listen to the service click here.

Water Communion: A Service for All Ages

An end of summer service where attendees bring a vial of water that represents some thing or some place meaningful to them from the summer.  To listen to this service click here.

Shouting Over the Back of the Elephant

Thoughts on this year’s Spiritual Theme. The Rev. Eva Cameron shares thoughts about this years theme which is based on the ancient Hindu story of the blind man and the elephant. To listen to this service click here.

The Fatherhood Journey - Sean McNally

In honor of Father’s Day, Sean McNally shares some thoughts on being a son and being a father in today’s society. To hear this service click here.

Even UU’s Get the Blues - Karen Impola

The Sass! Trio join us for a service on music that is sad, or “blue”, and why it can sometimes make us feel so GOOD: and also on humorous songs that make us laugh about things that we don’t usually consider funny. Guest presenters are the Sass! Trio ( Songwriters Sandy Andina and Susan Urban, plus singer Kate Early) from Chicago, Illinois. To listen to this service click here

Refuge - Rev Eva Cameron

Religion often speaks in terms of ‘refuge’, From Wildlife Refuges to taking Refuge in the Buddha, Eva will explore the significance of this concept in her life. To listen to this service click here.

Earth Day - Service For All Ages Team

Click here to hear this service of music, poetry and song put on by the Service for All Ages Team and the Family Choir.  After the song the entire congregation went outside to tour the grounds and view the gardens.

Annual Meeting - April 29, 2007

The business meeting of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Black Hawk County.  To listen to the recorded session of the meeting click here.

Celebration RE Youth

A special service for the UU youth that are moving on to adulthood, and to thank all the volunteers who helped with this years Religious Education of our UU youth.  To listen to this service click here.

Why Do We Find Hope in Bunny Rabbits - Rev. Eva Cameron

Click here to listen to this service

Child Dedication April 2007

Click here to listen to this years Child Dedication

“The Pickwick Papers” - The Rev. Eva Cameron.

Sue Wilson bid on a sermon preached from a book of her choice at the Treats & Talents action. She won a sermon, and picked the book “The Pickwick Papers” because she feels a strong resonance with the themes of the book in connecting with the world today. Come and hear Eva give her thoughts on the book and its themes. To listen to the service click here.

Fair and Balanced Giving - The Stewardship Committee

To listen to this service about Generousity and Stewardship click here.

Do We Really Care About One Another - Jim Paprocki

Jim Paprocki and John Miller lead this lay service. To listen to this service click here.

Living in UUville - UU Youth

Join the UU Youth as they show us around UUville. They have been inhabiting an imaginary private UU school and village where they make the rules. To Listen to the service click here.

Chinese New Year - Rev. Eva Cameron

After the UU Children present a Chinese New Year play, the Rev. Eva Cameron shared stories about New Year’s celebrations in China. To listen to this service click here.

The Call - Rev. Eva Cameron

The Rev. Eva Cameron shares what it means to be “called” to the ministry. To listen to this service click here.

First Friday - Bahai Faith Celebration

Members of the Bahai faith were invited to our monthly First Friday potluck to share with us about their faith. To listen click here.

Growing Up In American - Rev. Eva Cameron

What messages and values are our children learning in this time? Is humankind progressing, or are we “going to hell in a hand-basket”? What might the future hold and what does that mean to us? To listen to this sermon click here.

Techno God - Rev. Eva Cameron

An exploration of the connection/blending between a belief in God and a belief in technology. To listen to this service click here.

In Brokenness You Shine - Rev. Eva Cameron

Rev. Eva Cameron shares her thoughts about the song “In Brokenness You Shine”. To listen to this service click here.

Anniversary Sunday - Rev Eva Cameron (As The Rev. Effie Jones)

The Rev Eva Cameron takes us back over 100 years ago when the Rev Effie Jones was a Universalist Minister in Waterloo.

To listen to this service click here.

Making Meaning at Christmas - Rev Eva Cameron

A Christmas Eve service with the Rev Eva Cameron and John Miller. To listen to this service click here.

Seasons Greetings - Rev Eva Cameron and Karen Impola

A service of music, with musical guests Bittersweet Christmas Band and the Cedar Valley Singers.  To listen to this service click here.

Why Are They Eating Poison? - Rev. Eva Cameron

Sermon preached by Rev. Eva Cameron, with contribution by Del Carpenter, Worship Associate

Story for all Ages preceding Sermon
Many years ago, when I was a minister at another church, a kid asked me a question that I have always remembered. We were standing at Coffee Hour, and around us people were all munching on the treats that were provided. Now, I need to tell you a bit about that boy, so that you’ll understand his question. This was a boy whose parents home-schooled him. That means that he didn’t know a lot about other people, or other ways, than the way his parents raised him. They were people who were real lovers of peace, and healthy living. The whole family ate healthy, wholesome foods, and the children were taught about some of the things that people in society do that really are unhealthy — watching too much TV. He had only been coming to the church for a short time. So, there we were, in the middle of coffee hour. And he looked up at me, and asked, “Why are they eating poison?”

Recycling the Dollar - Rev. Eva Cameron

by Rev. Eva Cameron and Jim Paprocki, Worship Associate

The whole idea of preaching this sermon started last summer, when I visited my old childhood home of Yellow Springs, Ohio. Some of you may have heard of Yellow Springs; it’s the home of Antioch College, which is a pretty radical campus. I lived there from 1967 until 1978. And what I remember of it was that it was a small town with a lot of alternative people living in it.

Our Lady of Guadelupe - First Friday Celebration

This is one of our first Friday celebrations.  On

the first friday of each month we have a pot-

luck and a celebration.  This month we explored

the celebration by the  Catholics of Our Lady of

Guadelupe.

To listen to this program click here

Question Box Sunday - Rev. Eva Cameron

The Rev Eva Cameron answers questions placed

in the question box.

To listen to this service click here

Articulating Your UU Faith - Congregational Members

A collection of thoughts and ideas by the congregational members who took the 5-week class. Click here to listen to the service.

This service was a collection of thoughts and ideas by the congregational members who took the 5-week class, Articulating Your UU Faith. The text for this service is not included in this posting.

Listen to the audio file to appreciate these gems of wisdom.

When Bad Things Happen to Good People - Rev Eva Cameron

A sermon about Harold Kushner’s book, When Bad Things Happen to Good People. To listen to this service click here.

The text of the sermon begins here..

Today I will speak to you about Harold Kushner’s book, When Bad Things Happen to Good People. Kushner’s motivation in writing this book was the spiritual journey that he encountered as he lived with the fact that his infant son had been diagnosed with progeria. This is a disease that causes rapid premature aging and early death, usually at about the age that most children are going through puberty.

Celebrating our Dead - Rev. Eva Cameron

To listen to this service click here.

Cultivating Gratitude - Rev. Eva Cameron

To listen to this service click here

Albert Einstein said: “A hundred times every day, I remind myself that my inner and outer life depends on the labors of other men, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the measure as I have received and am still receiving.”

Conversations With A Cab Driver - Mike Knapp

Click here to listen to this service

While at General Assembly this summer I visited the local river boat casino one evening. On the cab ride back to my hotel, the cab driver suddenly turned to me and asked, “So, just what is it that Unitarians Universalists believe?”

Repentence is Good, But Prevention is Better - Rev. Eva Cameron

Exploring the relationship between repentance and preventation. To listen to this service click here

Sermon in Conversation Form by Rev. Eva Cameron and Del Carpenter, Worship Associate

Eva: Today’s sermon title comes from a sign I saw on a church one time. It read “Repentance is Good, but Prevention is Better.” This really got me to thinking: Did I agree with this message? What does it really mean to repent, and what exactly do they mean by prevention?