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Warm greetings on what may turn out to be a somewhat chilly Memorial Day weekend. Nevertheless, warm feelings will surely accompany the wedding I'm scheduled to conduct on Saturday for an FUS church school teacher and her fiance at the Gates of Heaven Synagogue – another historic Madison landmark. Sorry…the guest list is already filled.
But on Sunday we've got some provocative programs planned. While our country typically commemorates its fallen soldiers on Memorial Day, I want to use this occasion to investigate the larger question of guns, firearms and their place in the popular imagination. As it happens, there is a "war" going on in our very midst every year and every day and we aren't doing much about it. It's victims need to be recognized as well.
Also on Sunday, 12:30-2:30: Gun Violence Film and Discussion, in the Gaebler Living Room. Light lunch and childcare provided. Changing the Conversation brings the issue home to Wisconsin, re-framing it from a discussion of the Second Amendment to a focus on public health and safety.
Hope to see many of you at the Meeting House…
Michael
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the Flame!
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This Weekend... Sunday, May 26 at 9 & 11 a.m.
“God and Guns”
by Michael A. Schuler, Parish Minister
(Saturday Services discontinued until September 7)
The United States has a love affair with violence. We possess more guns per capita than any nation in the world, save Somalia. It pervades our popular entertainment and has too often informed our foreign policy decisions. We have no Department of Peace but do have a hydra-headed military establishment whose interests and priorities are almost never challenged. If an outsider were to guess which god Americans worshipped, he or she might say Mars, the god of war.
Musically, members of the FUS String Band will play Scottish, Irish and American folk tunes.
All Atrium services will be webcast
live at fusmadison.org/webcast
June 2
“Whistle While You Work?”
by Michael A. Schuler, Parish Minister
Do you work to live, or live to work? It is a curse (Genesis) or a blessing (Freud)? Through the ages human beings have exhibited a great deal of ambivalence toward work, and as we enter the more leisurely and reflective summer season, it seems an opportune time to dig more deeply into this meaty subject.
Musically, the Society Choir will sing Randall Thompson’s classic Choose Something Like a Star and Linda Warren will play harp solos by Nino Rota.
June 9
"Of Ministry and Other Matters of the Heart"
by Karen Gustafson, Associate Minister
So, is it really over? What is this minister/congregation relationship, any way? In these closing words, Karen will reflect on her understanding of these questions and upon what makes love last.
Musically, Amber Nicole Dilger will sing Everything Must Change by Bernard Ighner and the Meeting House Chorus will sing Jason Shelton’s All Lifted Hearts and If God Is Love, Then… by Michael Bomier.
This Sunday, May 26 • 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Gun Violence Film and Discussion • Gaebler Living Room • Light lunch and childcare provided. Changing the Conversation brings the issue of gun violence home to Wisconsin, re-framing it from a discussion of the Second Amendment to a focus on public health and safety.
Watch the trailer here: http://changegunviolence.com/about-2/films/changing-the-conversation-americas-gun-violence-epidemic. We also invite you to take our gun violence survey inserted in this weekend's program, or on line at fusmadison.org/gunviolence
Make a peace pole! All morning this Sunday you can add your part to FUS' vision of peace, made visible each year along University Bay. Decorate with friends or family, or perhaps honor someone lost to war. Join us out on University Bay Drive. Craft supplies will be available, or bring your own.
Young Adults (18-35+) Sunday Brunch • Sunday, May 19 • Meet after the 11 a.m. service, upstairs by the name tags, or at C's Restaurant and Bakery in Middleton at 12:30 a.m. RSVP to Elizabeth Bohuski, ebohuski@gmail.com.
Join us this Sunday for our first week of Summer Fun. All children 4-12 are welcome to join us after the message for all ages. There is no cost, just please sign your child in with Abby Whisler at the greeter's station before service. This week we will be decorating one of the peace poles that will be outside of church.
Plant-based Eating Group and Bratfest?
Yes! Bratfest is again offering a vegan option this year. Field Roast Frankfurters will be available and we're going to show our support for a plant based option. The plant-based eating group will be going together after the 11 a.m. services on Sunday, May 26. We will meet in front of the FUS library around 12:15, and carpooling will be an option. For questions contact Sara sandrewsbibliophile@gmail.com or (608)957-2392
Peace & Justice Book Club Cancelled The Peace and Justice Book Club meeting on Monday, May 27 (Memorial Day) has been cancelled. Tea and dessert will not be served! Watch for our June meeting... Questions? Carole Ayres at gone.knitting@hotmail.com.
The Spiritual Topics Book Group will meet Tuesday, May 28, at 7 p.m. in the Gaebler Living Room. Mark Shults and Denis Collins will facilitate a discussion of The Devil in Dover: An Insider's Story of Dogma vs Darwin in Small Town America by Lauri Lebo. Questions? Contact Judith Miller at 274-9288.
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