Prairie Unitarian Universalist Society: Recent Episodes
Prairie Unitarian Universalist Society
Remember when friends and neighbors would drop by? Maybe friends were out on a walk and stopped by, or neighbors just came over to chat. Today, unexpected visitors can feel…
We tend to primarily think of creativity in personal terms. Sadly, whether we have “it” or not. We not only have it, it has us, all of us. We begin by realizing the…
The Battle of Blair Mountain, the largest labor uprising in the US post Civil War, took place from late August to early September in 1921. This presentation will provide lessons…
This talk honors the struggles and triumphs of lesbian parents in Madison, Wisconsin who raised children in the 1980s to early 2000s before legal rights and social safety nets were…
Visual artist Beth Racette will give a short talk about her Gaia Paintings which she’s been working on since 2010. The talk will be followed by an art activity in…
Stories are humanity’s most powerful teaching tool, carrying life lessons and identity across generations. The great spiritual teachers—Jesus with his parables, Buddha with his tales, Indigenous elders with their wisdom…
Frances Gage was a poet, novelist, journalist, activist and frequent speaker for abolition, women’s suffrage, and temperance. While much of 19th-century progressivism was centered in the Northeast, she brought her…
Honesty and kindness are crucial for all our relationships as they foster respect, trust, and authentic connections. Honesty allows for transparency and kindness preserves the person or group’s dignity, even…
“Enthusiasm is common. Endurance is rare”, is a piece of wisdom from the author and psychologist Angela Duckworth. We live in a society that often values what’s quick, easy, and…
As Spring unfolds, we see buds forming, the scent of fresh growth, and birds returning. How might we connect the new life emerging around us to our own lives? In…
Hope is not a vague feeling that things will “just work out,” because history tells us that life rarely goes that way. Rather, hope is a verb, more than a…
This talk will focus on addressing the ways that Western dominant religions have been mechanisms of colonialism, empire, and oppression. This work aims to center “folks who have been wounded…
One can understand the antipathy sufferers from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) feel toward darkness, their sense of dread as winter approaches. But in general, darkness gets a bad rap in…
We share poems by Keats, MacLeish, Thomas, Frost, and others, to explore and discover multiple meanings to be found in the Fall season.
The Bible is a rich resource that does not lend itself to singular interpretations. In Vicar Vica-Etta Henrietta Steels’ study and work, she endeavors to free the messages and hope…
A brief history of the labor movement, some thoughts on where the labor movement is currently, where it is going and why it matters.
Christian nationalism is a cultural framework that conflates American identity with an exclusive form of religious identity. Based on the myth that America was founded as a Christian nation and…
A memoir of a young man’s escape from the life and stigma of living with a rare form of epilepsy in the 60s.
The UUA’s annual General Assembly took place virtually this year from June 20-23. Two of our Prairie delegates will recap their experiences at workshops and business meetings, including the voting…
n this reflection on Thomas Jefferson, Rev. Ralph Tyksinski will explore the complexity of Thomas Jefferson’s religious beliefs and why, identified as a Unitarian, they have a bearing on today’s…
For most Americans, daily life goes on as usual while authoritarianism continues its creeping rise. And that’s part of the playbook, a feeling of normalcy as freedoms and democracy erode.…
Wisconsin Hmong 101 will give a brief overview of the Hmong in Wisconsin, why the Hmong came to Wisconsin, who are the Hmong and challenges and milestones. Our speaker cofounded…
The world is messed up. What keeps you going? Let’s share some positivity in honor of green shoots, shorter nights, and warmer days. If you have a story that brings…
We are excited to have an intergenerational service on April 21st featuring Ken Lonnquist who will serenade us with songs related to nature. Prairie had Ken Lonnquist and Friends perform…
The fight for the women’s vote in the U.S. coincided with dramatic changes in cooking and nutrition, led by Unitarian Fannie Farmer.
Prairie member Gary Gates will talk about his recycling efforts and some of the ways he tries to go lightly on the earth.
On this Easter Sunday we explore and share the ways Unitarian Universalists discover and celebrate the many resurrections of the season.
Experiences of international parliaments, congresses, and partnerships. Ralph Tyksinski will review the Parliament of World Religions he attended in Chicago last August as well as other international connections. Peter Marion…
Karla Thennes, Executive Director of Porchlight, will describe Porchlight’s 5 core programs to help the homeless in our community, current needs and demographics.
This service will reflect on our species’ role and responsibility to other species while showing delightful photos of penguins, albatross, elephant seals, sea lions, and yes, striated caracaras.
This Sunday we’ve invited Rev. Anthony Wade as our guest speaker. Rev. Wade is the pastor from our neighboring 2nd Baptist Congregation, just down the street from Prairie. His presentation…
The panel will describe their personal experiences and tell how these experiences directed their actions later in their lives.
A place to be yourself. To relax. To know you belong and are welcome. These describe the best kinds of home. As UU’s we aspire to make our congregations warm and…
Rev. Dr. Schuler’s presentation will be based on his recently published book by the same name. Elements of the discourse will include a description of “doctrinal” humanism as he understands…
Unitarian Universalism has neither dogma nor creed. We are not asked to believe based on blind faith, but to inquire deeply. During today’s service, we will explore one of life’s…
Scores of Freie Gemeinde (Freethought Societies) were established by German immigrants to the U.S. starting around the middle of the 19th century. The Free Congregation of Sauk County (FCSC) appears…
In this presentation, we will review the rights and restrictions of pregnant people in Wisconsin both before and after the Dobbs vs Jackson Women’s Health decision which recriminalized abortion in…
The summer solstice is that fleeting moment of the year when our day is filled with the most light. But how do we hold onto the light when we know that darkness…
Memorial Day is dedicated to remembering those that gave their lives in war. In addition to honoring the losses, what will it take to create a future where fewer lives…
Director of Dane County Office of Energy & Climate Change will talk about the funding available to make climate action more affordable.
This Sunday, join Rev. Matt and a panel of Prairie members that have been reviewing the proposed updates to Article II of the UUA Bylaws (which includes the Principles and…
Easter and Passover are celebrated this month, but this time of year is about much more than dying eggs and eating matzo. The Spring Equinox last month, and the biblical…
We live in a society that worships perfection, but a church built around the altar of perfection creates nothing more than a big, empty house.
Loving puppies, loving chocolate, and loving sunsets is easy. But loving our ancestors, loving our enemies, loving ourselves…some important love takes a little more work.
This Sunday, January 22nd, marks the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision that validated a woman’s right to make her own healthcare decisions regarding pregnancy, which was overturned by…
It is generally and universally accepted by the world’s philosophies and religions that human beings are born with three native intelligences: Thinking, Feeling, and Doing. Learning to use each one…
Article II of the bylaws that form the foundation of our Unitarian Universalist Association of congregations is titled, “Principles and Purposes.” Because we are a living tradition and hold the…
In a society founded on the myth of rugged individualism, the practice of turning to community for support in times of strife can feel unnatural. It’s time to cast off…
Our democracy is under attack. Although the attack has taken its most blatant forms in the past eight years, the assault began in the 1950’s and has been building strength…
Prairie member Gene Kain is the creator of Prairie’s current art installation. Horrific images of war in the Ukraine rekindled his childhood memories of World War II. By the age…
Frida Ballard and Socorro Cortez will discuss the work that Worker Justice Wisconsin does, and the role that faith communities can play in fighting exploitation and labor injustice. Labor in…
We do a lot of things in this community. And we do a lot of things really well. But do ever remember to take some time to reflect upon why…
Higginson commanded a regiment of black soldiers during the Civil War. The program will cover his background, his role in the Civil War, his writings and his friendships.
The current Prairie Covenant group chose to explore the theme of “Celebrating Blessings” this month, which seems like a worthy topic to consider as we begin to gather back together…
AJ Hardie will be speaking on Willma’s Fund, a program of OutReach LGBTQ+ Community Center. Willma’s Fund was started in 2011 by Donald Haar (who performs drag as Willma Flynn-Stone)…
Online social media is ubiquitous. Between Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok, these platforms have come to dominate the flow of information through our society. This consolidated information flow has dangerous…
Political Scientist Yoshiko Herrera will provide insight into the ongoing war in Ukraine. This talk is sponsored by BadgerTalks.
On Sunday, July 3, Marlborough Community Garden participants Mary Mullen and Barbara Park will present “Growing an International Village Through Community Gardening.” With a slide show, they will demonstrate how…
Unitarian Laura M. Towne left Pennsylvania in 1861 to work for abolition in the South Carolina sea islands. Her efforts resulted in the Penn Center, the first school in the…
Reflections and projections from a new minister looking back on their first year in the role and ahead to what the future might hold for this amazing community.
Memorial Day, originally Decoration Day, is observed to honor the fallen who died in military conflict. In this program we will share our wartime experiences in stories and song, and…
This week, our minister will examine current issues related to Artificial Intelligence through a UU lens, the focus selected by the winning bidder on the “Choose the Sermon Topic” offering…
We’ll hear the history of the Prairie maypole tradition and (weather pending) have a maypole ceremony outside.
As UU’s, we draw from many sources to help us make meaning of the realities we face in the present day. As we collectively emerge from the trials of a…
Eugene will explain what MOSES (Madison Organizing in Strength, Equity, and Solidarity for Criminal Justice Reform) does, on its own and through its affiliation with the statewide umbrella group WISDOM…