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Upcoming Events
| Mar 10, 2013 10:30 AM | Reverend Jean M. Rowe "Life in the Balance" The Spring Equinox is coming this month when day and night are equally balanced for a few days, until we tilt toward the sun and the days lengthen again. Winter turns to spring. It seems like a good time to think about living in balance, especially in the realm of meaning and values. There are those who think they know the Truth, the Right Way, the Only Way. They insist that any other way is wrong, even heretical. (By the way, the word "heretic" comes from the ancient Greek for "able to choose." That's a pretty good label for a freethinker.) As one matures in matters of faith, however, one comes to see that much in the realm of meaning and value is not fixed, but paradoxical. Good values clash. Different meanings have ultimate worth. The mature seeker begins to understand this. Faith is good but so is reason. Belief is good but so is doubt. Contemplation is good but so is action. Achievement is good but so is charity and emptying oneself. Easter might be the ultimate paradox. It challenges us with death but also with renewed life. A mature person must find his or her way through the thickets of extremes, confronting paradoxical claims to a place of balance. The Spring Equinox seems a good time to seek balance in our lives. |
| Mar 24, 2013 10:30 AM | Reverend DiAnna Ritola "Birthing a New Self" In times of trnasition the pain of being surrounded by uncertainty can feel nearly overwhelming. Yet just because one chapter of life has ended or shifted does not mean that there is nothig but a void. It is within this sacred space that we are called to birth our new self and become more of who we really are as Divine Human Beings.__________________________________Rev. DiAnna Ritola received her ordination as an Interfaith Minister from The New Seminary for Interfaith Studies. She also has a private practice called Authentic Integration: Spiritual Sex and Intimacy Coaching, and is a professional speaker on the integration of spirituality and sexuality. DiAnna has been a member of the UU Congregation of Asheville since 2001 and has two daughters. She enjoys cooking and eating, yoga and crossword puzzles, and heartfelt conversation. Just to prove she could, DiAnna trained for and ran both a 1/2 marathon and a full marathon in the spring of 2012, she hasn't run much since. |
More ways to stay informed
A Newsletter is published monthly and mailed or emailed to members and friends of Thermal Belt UU.
UU Library
Our little rolling UU library is available for use. Look for the green cabinet on wheels. The library presently has about 80 books and miscellaneous pamphlets, DVDs and videos.
Any appropriate donations to the library are welcome. Said nicely, 'if the book is not suitable or is a duplicate' it will be donated to Steps to Hope.
Topics: spirituality, history, comparative religions, UU related books, etc.
Food Pantry
It's easy to forget that others in our area are in need of such staples as canned food, toilet paper, paper towels, soap. Bring your contributions to this ongoing project. Gretchen and Larry Boyd will make sure they are delivered to the Outreach Ministry Food Pantry.
Tryon, NC
