The LCUUF Podcast: Recent Episodes
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Podcast of Lake Chapala Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Sunday Services from Lake Chapala, Jalisco, Mexico. Services are from our membership, guest speakers, and our minister, Rev. Matt Alspaugh. Find out more at lakechapalauu.org
Ernest Hemingway once said, “Courage is grace under pressure.” Perhaps with this statement, he knew that courage covers more territory than the battlefield or the bullfighting ring. In this service we explore other kinds of courage, including the courage to say no. How do we make choices, how do we act, when external pressure pushes us in a different direction than that of our heart? How do we make peace with the outcome, even if it leads to pain? Rev. Matt Alspaugh gives the presentation and the Service Leader is D’Vorah Kelley
Local author & historian David Ellison speaks on the history of Mexican Independence day and the heroes of the revolution.
Local author & historian David Ellison speaks on the history of Mexican Independence day and the heroes of the revolution.
Although western culture reveres the idea of the rugged individualist, the reality is that we all depend on our groups to survive and thrive. It is our belonging to families, communities, nations, and ultimately the world that makes life worthwhile. What and to whom do we belong, and why? We’ll explore the nature of belonging, its benefits and its complexities. Rev. Matt Alspaugh presents the service.
The Water Communion is a Unitarian Universalist tradition celebrating the coming together of the community of people from different places. The water symbolizes that sense that, while we are separate, we are also united, that our ultimate ends will be as one. Come celebrate this ritual with us, either at the fellowship hall or on Zoom. Rev. Matt will give the talk and Deb Gang will be the service leader.
Mark Hollenstein has spent the last 20 years teaching, coaching, and helping people to seek personal transformative growth through means of becoming more in touch with the spiritual forces guiding our life. Mark, via video presentation, guides us in a brief journey to locate our own personal spirit guide. Roy Haynes is the service leader.
There is increasing evidence that being religious can be good for you. Religious people tend to be happier and live longer. But these benefits tend to come from certain religious practices, not beliefs. What happens if we disentangle the practices from the beliefs, even from the religion itself? Is this even ethical? We’ll explore these questions with some examples, and consider how we might experiment with various practices if we like. Rev. Matt Alspaugh gives the talk and Cat Barnett is the service leader.
Rev. Matt Alspaugh has been following the work of futurist Jane McGonigal, who uses massive multiplayer games as simulations to forecast the future. She believes that actively trying to imagine or daydream the future can make us more resilient, better prepared for whatever comes. Can we imagine optimistic rather than a dystopian futures? Will this help us? We spend a little time recalling possible futures. Anne Morris is the service leader.
”Here there be dragons” means dangerous or unexplored territories, in imitation of a medieval practice of putting illustrations of dragons, sea-monsters and other mythological creatures on uncharted areas of a map. Rev. D’Vorah Kelley shares her story – through song, readings, and a fairy tale in three parts of being confronted with one particular Dragon that showed up on her path and changed her life. Cate Howell is the service leader.
Unitarians and Universalists have traditionally led the charge for social change resisting unjust, cruel and morally reprehensible social norms like slavery, war, denial of human rights, minority oppression and religious zealotry. This Sunday ́s service will highlight Unitarian Universalist “Resistance” since the two denominations merged in 1961, focusing on our role in the civil rights movement, Viet Nam war protests, Immigration reform, marriage equality, economic justice, climate change and most recently the Black Lives Movement. Kriss Gang gives the presentation and Deb Gang is the service leader.
Rev. Matt Alspaugh gives the presentation.
Richard Rohr, a Christian theologian, calls out conventional Christianity on its attachment to ‘original sin’ versus an alternative concept of ‘original blessing.’ He notes that “the words ‘original sin’ are not in the New Testament. Yet the Church became so preoccupied with the fly in the ointment, the flaw in the beauty that we forgot and even missed out on any original blessing.” How did this happen? What might religion based on ‘original blessing’ look like? Rohr points to Celtic and Native spiritualities as examples. I wonder if ‘original blessing’ might be a core concept of our Unitarian Universalist values, a guide star to a better world. Let’s explore what ‘original blessing’ might offer us. Colleen Berry is the service leader.
Thousands of years ago, Indians defined four different spiritual paths, different approaches to getting closer to a higher power. These paths are action, devotion, meditation, and knowledge. These same paths are found in religions all around the world. Richard Clarke gives the message, Carol Johnson is the Service Leader
Thich Nhat Hanh, a Buddhist monk who died this year, wrote a book entitled "Being Peace". Cat Barnett talks about the theme in the book, and about ways to embody peace in the world. . D'Vorah Kelley is the service leader.
Amazing members have equally amazing mothers. Members Sue Kelley, Roy Haynes, Pamela Cucinell and Kathleen Pharis talk about their mothers. Cat Barnett is the Service Leader.
Kriss Gang is the presenter. The history of Unitarianism in North America can be roughly divided into four periods: precursor movements (early 18th century to c. 1800) the formative period (c. 1800–1835) a Transcendentalist period (c. 1835–1885) and the modern period (since 1885). This presentation will trace the history of Unitarianism in North America through these four distinct periods from the precursor movements up to the merger with the Universalists in 1961.
On Easter morning, we consider a take on the Easter story as one of awakening. What does the mythology of Jesus’ awakening mean for us? Perhaps we are called to see and care for one another in a new way. With Earth Day coming a few days after this service, perhaps we consider awakening to the calls of the earth, and reflect on what actions of care for the earth are being asked of us now. Rev. Matt Alspaugh gives the message and Annie Morris is the service leader
Joco Roets is a civil society development practitioner from South Africa. This service looks at community outreach and development. We will be challenged to look past our own perceptions of people’s poverty and rather challenge ourselves to come in with a listening pose. What do we hear? What are people talking about? What do they value? This process gives us the ability to appreciate history, context, and culture. Instead of prescribing solutions, we position ourselves to identify agency, encouraging people on ways to exercise this agency and grow it. We are not the drivers, we are but fellow travelers. As we listen, we see the new avenues for expanding that potential.
How much of the course of our lives is the result of the luck of the draw? Is it all purely chance, or pre-ordained, or maybe somewhere in between? How about the development of our species, or for that matter, all life on earth? We’ll look at the life of Charles Darwin, among others, as we consider these questions. Rev. Matt Alspaugh gives the message and Deb Gang is the service leader.
Consideration of free will and determinism has raged. The talk will give an overview of the topic from several different and differing perspectives. Lew Crippen gives the talk.
In Greek mythology, Sisyphus was punished for cheating death by being compelled to roll a heavy boulder uphill, only to see it roll back down just as he reached the top. We consider meaningless and difficult tasks to be Sisyphean in nature, and we worry that such tasks in life can lead to depression. How do we deal with the Sisyphean tasks in our lives? How do we reflect on aspects of our life history that were pointless and arduous? We’ll explore the stones we, too, roll. Rev. Matt Alspaugh gives the message.
We have all heard, “It is better to give than to receive.” This service will show just how true this is, and in how many ways, in terms of biology, in the neurochemistry of your brain, in evolution and care for the planet and in terms of powerful personal expression and spiritual growth. Richard Clarke gives the talk. Carol Johnson is the Service Leader.
Faith is a complex topic for us Unitarian Universalists. We don’t trust the blind faith that some other religious traditions. We are uncomfortable being told to ‘just believe.’ Yet, over time, many of us have developed an abiding faith, maybe better, enduring trust, in our answers to the deep questions of life. In this service, we’ll explore the nature of such faith, or trust in our own spiritual understandings. Rev. Matt Alspaugh gives the message.
The Polio-Covid Paradox is the personal story of the author, Janice Kimball, a polio survivor. It is also a carefully researched and documented article about the correlation between the Covid virus and the Poliovirus, whose variants are now suspected to be fibro- myalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, among others. It explores the effects of Post- Polio which gives insights into the problems Covid survivors might face in the future. Carol Johnson is the Service Leader.
Emptiness, sometimes called boundlessness, is the idea in Buddhism that our understanding of world of things is illusory, hiding a deeper, more interconnected reality. This idea is difficult, even impossible, to grasp cognitively, but may come to us through a spiritual experience like awakening. We don’t have to be practicing Buddhists to find appeal in this idea, suggested in our Principles as ‘the interconnected web of existence of which we are a part.’ Rev. Matt Alspaugh will give the talk and the Service Leader is Ellen McFarland. Includes a reading of the Heart Sutra and a guided meditation.
“The Beloved Community” is a term that was first coined in the early days of the 20th century by the philosopher-theologian Josiah Royce, who founded the Fellowship of Reconciliation, and later made popular by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Rev. D’Vorah Kelley, an Interfaith Minister and member of LCUUF, will leads the service entitled “Building the Beloved Community: One Drop at a Time”. The service will include a Story For All Ages: Higgens: A Drop of Water With A Dream. Joan Bellamy is the service leader.
Critical Race Theory is the idea that one can analyze systems, institutions, and power through the lens of racism. It developed in the United States in the 1980’s and is beginning to be applied in other countries today. It has come under attack by conservatives who see it as divisive and unpatriotic. We’ll explore how CRT fits in understanding the culture, the history, and perhaps the religion of the USA, and how it might be applicable elsewhere. We’ll also explore how CRT relates to UU values. Rev. Matt Alspaugh gives the talk and Service Leaders are Sue Kelley and Deb Gang.
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The last few years have brought a deepening of The Othering of America; Republicans vs Democrats, pro-vaccination vs anti-vaccination, Woke vs non-woke. Is this dynamic working for us? What now? Rev. Tim Schubert, founder and director of the Center for Spiritual Living in Ajijic gives the talk and the service leader is Eric Luria.
As this is the service just prior to our Annual General Meeting, let’s take time to reflect on what we’ve accomplished in the last year, and in the years before that. We’ll also consider what the future might hold, what big questions we might face, and how we might begin to explore, if not answer, them. Rev. Matt Alspaugh gives the sermon and the service leader is Lynn Cleek.
Long time LCUUF member Carol Powell tells of her journey from being a Catholic nun to becoming a Unitarian Universalist. The service leader is Lorna Dean.
The talk is excerpted from a sermon by Rev. Dr. Tony Larson about why you should not (or should) be a Unitarian Universalist and takes up the myth that UUs don’t stand for anything. The service leader is Cat Barnett, the message is delivered by Kathleen Pharis.
One of my Unitarian Universalist ministerial colleagues has said, “I often like to think of us as the religion of ‘Why not?!’” At our theological core is a sense of openness, of making space for possibility. We have an expansive religion, easily able to hold many ideas, beliefs, values, at once, all as possible. As we close out one year, and begin another, it’s a good time to reflect on what’s possible for us. Rev. Matt Alspaugh gives the sermon and Dee Dee Camhi is the Service Leader.
We take up one of the more challenging parts of the Biblical Christmas story, Matthew 2:13-23, sometimes known as “The Slaughter of the Innocents.” This text reveals a dark side of Christmas, as Herod, representing imperial power, has all the male infants in the Bethlehem region killed in a desperate attempt to eliminate the baby Jesus. This is not the stuff of Christmas carols and greeting cards! We delve into the complexities of this story, and how it might inform a thoughtful reading of scripture and other sacred texts. Message by Rev. Matt Alspaugh Fred Koesling is the Service leader
A Wendell Berry poem begins: To go in the dark with a light is to know the light. To know the dark, go dark. Our culture fears the darkness, chases it away. And yet, the darkness has much to offer us. But going into the dark can be fearful. In this season, it’s good to reflect on how we might relate with the darkness in our lives and in the world around us. We just might, as Berry tells us, learn that “the dark, too, blooms and sings.” Rev. Matt Alspaugh gives the sermon.
From the Lake Chapala Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, in Chapala Mexico. Our fellowship is home to many retired people with life experiences beyond the usual US and Canadian norms, and who have chosen to retire in Mexico.
Humankind has had a rapid and destructive impact on our planet. How might we hope to turn that around and thus become good ancestors? Fred Harland gives the talk and Mardele Harland is the Service Leader.
Most of us say we want a good life, but what does that mean? This has been a question for thinkers since at least the ancient Greeks (and Stoicism has reemerged in popularity in recent times). More recently, psychology has weighed in with ideas about the good life. We’ll explore what these might mean for us. Rev. Matt Alspaugh will give the talk and Liz Hill will be the service leader.
With all the trouble in the world today, it is often hard to just be thankful. Janice Kimball will explore the not so “textbook” truth of the origins of Thanksgiving in the United States and the ongoing conversation of not telling the truth about American history. Why is it so important to “color” the truth? How can we be thankful given our history? And what does that say about us? Janice Kimball gives the talk and Roy Haynes will be service leader.
Interoception is how; it’s the process of feeling your internal feelings. There is much scientific interest in this now, in how improving interoception can improve your life, your relationships, and your health. And there are easy ways to improve your interoception. Richard Clarke, our meditation expert,
A Lay-led service by Bob Koches. As a UU Humanist who just turned 80, Bob Koches reflects on aging and his search for spirituality. Kathleen Pharis is the Service Leader.
For more info go to lakechapalauu.org
A Lay-led service by Bob Koches. As a UU Humanist who just turned 80, Bob Koches reflects on aging and his search for spirituality. Kathleen Pharis is the Service Leader.
For more info go to lakechapalauu.org
The Mexican holiday, Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, invites us to explore the meaning of death, life, afterlife, and our connections with people living and dead. This Mexican holiday is important to celebrate for our UU Fellowship in Mexico. The talk is given by Rev. Matt Alspaugh and the Service Leader Dee Dee Cahmi.
Guest speaker, Loretta Downs lives at Lakeside, Lake Chapala, Mexico. She has many years of practice at hospital and hospice will talk about life, death, and companioning the dying.
Sunday Service from Lake Chapala Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, lakechapalauu.org
Lake Chapala Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Jalisco Mexico. Guest speaker Karen Carlson, a transgender woman, offers her thoughts on coming out, and tell some of her own story. She married over 30 years ago, a long time before she transitioned to being a woman full time.
Service October 17, 2021 Karen Carlson, a transgender woman, will offer her thoughts on coming out, and tell some of her own story. She married over 30 years ago, a long time before she transitioned to being a woman full time.
To find out more about LCUUF, go to lakechapalauu.org