Join us for music of the season and giving to those less fortunate.
This Month
Our theme for December is “presence,” an uncommon one to be sure. We normally associate this month with holiday greetings of “Peace on earth” or “joy.” Maybe presence is what we need, to deal with the stress associated with this time of year when many are decorating, buying and wrapping gifts, and perhaps preparing meals for a large group, or even having to avoid conflict at the dinner table. With all the “hustle and bustle” presence is perhaps the present we need to give ourselves. What is presence anyway? Presence as a spiritual practice has been defined as: “the intentional act of being fully aware and mindful of the present moment, often with the understanding that you are connected to a higher power or divine presence, essentially “showing up” in the current moment rather than being lost in thoughts about the past or future; it involves actively noticing and engaging with your surroundings and internal experiences.” We UU’s are not uniform regarding belief in a “divine” presence but we all share in the importance of being “fully present and mindful,” as a spiritual practice. Even with the stress of the holidays and the disappointment many of us are feeling about the state of our politics, our UU message is: allow yourself to be present for the love of family and friendships and the natural beauty we find even in the darkness of winter. And if you are looking for an alternative to more traditional Christmas observances, our fellowship may be a good fit for you. In any case, you will be most welcome to attend. We will have a guest presenter for our worship on Dec. 8th, Rev. Roger Butts from Ft. Collins and we will have a Winter Solstice intergenerational service on Dec. 22nd. Please feel free to join us.
All are welcome.
Victor Ashear Sheridan Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
We meet every Sunday at 10:00 am at 1950 East Brundage Lane. More information below
Events in December
Reverend Roger Butts will be speaking at the Universalist Unitarian Fellowship of Sheridan on December 8th. All are welcome to hear his Sermon The Best Gift Imaginable (Presence) “This old beautiful, bruised world is one big invitation: to be present. Present to your life, present to others, present to the natural world, present to the Big Mystery. As a hospital and hospice chaplain, I know the best gift we can give another (and ourselves) is our full attention, a loving intention, and our presence. Let us explore together.”
Reverend Roger Butts was ordained in 2002 by the Unitarian Church in Davenport, Iowa. His writings have appeared in How We Are Called, Sources of Our Faith, Testimony, and Shelter in This Place (all published by Skinner House, an imprint of the Unitarian Universalist Association). He is a hospice chaplain in Fort Collins, Colorado. Previously, he has served UU congregations in North Carolina, Iowa, and Colorado. For one year, he was an organizer against the death penalty in Colorado. His wife is a minister in the United Church of Christ. They have three young adult children and two furry black labs. He believes humor and grace will save us all.
Reverend Butts is an accomplished author. To learn more about his published works click on the links below.
Interfaith
- Diwali: Festival of Lights (Hindu) – Tue, Oct 29, 2024 – Sun, Nov 3, 2024
- Advent (Christian) Dec. 1 – Dec. 24, 2024 (more here and here)
- Hanukkah (Jewish) – Dec. 25, 2024 – Jan. 2, 2025 (more here)
- Bodhi Day (Buddha’s Enlightenment) – Dec. 8 (more here & here)
- Chalica (UU) Starts Dec. 2, 2024, first Monday in December and lasts seven days (more here & here)
- Yule, Solstice (Pagan/Wiccan) – Dec. 21
- Christmas Eve – Dec. 24, 2024 (Tuesday)
- Christmas Day – Dec. 25, 2024 (Wednesday)
- Holy Innocents Day (Christian) – Dec. 28
- Watch Night/Freedom’s Eve (Christian) – Dec. 31
- Kwanzaa – Dec. 26 – Jan. 1 (more here)
National Holidays & Cultural
- Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month
- Seasonal Depression Awareness Month
- World AIDS Day – Dec. 1 (more here)
- Rosa Parks Arrested – Dec. 1 (1955)
- International Day of Persons with Disabilities – Dec. 3
- The Montgomery Bus Boycott – Dec. 5, 1955 – Dec. 20, 1956
- Human Rights Day – Dec. 10
- Anniversary of Sandy Hook Shootings – Dec. 14 (2012)
- Montgomery’s buses are desegregated – Dec. 21 (1956)
- Boxing Day (Canada) Dec. 26 (more here)
- Native American Heritage Month
- Alzheimer’s Awareness Month
For Fun and On the Fringe
- Nobel Prize Day – Dec. 10
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas shown for first time – Dec. 18, 1966
- Festivus for the rest of us – Dec. 23
For the Curious
We invite you to explore this site and learn more about who we are. On this site, you can learn What to Expect in Worship, you can read our About Us page, our Mission, Vision & Covenant page and our Beliefs page.
Services are held at 10 AM every Sunday, at 1950 East Brundage Lane, Sheridan, Wyoming. We hope you’ll stay for coffee, treats and conversation after service. On the fourth Sunday of each month, we’ll also have a potluck; even if you don’t bring a dish, we would love to share lunch.
For weekly program listings, see: Upcoming Worship Services. For past service presentations written by fellowship members see: Presentations from Past Services The meditation group meets every Sunday at 7 PM at the same place. For details see: Meditation Group.
If you are interested in becoming a member please see our Membership page For contact information or to join our email list see: Contacts