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BUUF

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

  
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SUNDAY Services are at the Theosophical Society, 355 Wickham Terrace, Brisbane, (Spring Hill) Queensland 4000

We meet together every second and fourth Sunday of the month at 10am as a fellowship of reasoning and spiritual individuals to nurture our spirit.

You are invited to arrive from 9.45 am for the service and join us afterwards for tea or coffee and a light lunch. Please check the Calendar below for full details.

Part of the meeting format includes an address followed by discussion. These discussions often continue into the lunch/social hour.

Children are welcome and if you provide sufficient advance notice we can generally arrange a childminder to come along so you can listen to the service undisturbed. The more notice we have the better. Our format for a children's program changes from time to time to align with the ages of children attending. We endeavour to be flexible and as accommodating as possible to the needs of all our children and youth.

For BUUF members preparing a service,

>>> click here to download a template for MS word <<<

to download a service template
also see "What are we seeking when we come together" .

Typical meeting structure

  • Welcome and Opening Words
  • Words of Reconciliation
  • Music / Songs
  • Lighting of the Chalice
  • Reading
  • Address / Main presentation
  • Reflection on topic / discussion
  • Sharing of personal joys and concerns
  • Closing Music / Songs
  • Extinguishing the Chalice
  • Announcements

Calendar of Services & Celebrations


2013

26 MayDavid KingLife and death
12 MayAdiMothers Day for all
28 AprilRenee HillsSelf Esteem vs Self Compassion
14 AprilLynn KellyA free and responsible search for meaning
24 MarchGillChanting: the right brain of religion
10 March Kathryn YoungLoss and Grief
24 February Rob MacPhersonThe Chalice
10 FebruaryReneeWelcome to 2013 with a traditional UU Water Communion Service

2012

23 DecemberJed PerkinsChristmas and Summer Solstice Celebration - *** please email info@brisbaneuu.org.au for service location ***
9 DecemberSussanahCherish the Earth and its Creatures
25 NovemberJames and Renee HillsForgiveness: The freedom to evolve (with thanks to Rob Macpherson from the Adelaide UU Church)
11 NovemberKevin KeefeRed Cross Humanitarian
28 OctoberCarolyn HarrodTS Humanitarian Outreach
14 OctoberJames HillsGratitude 
21 SeptemberGillService on Sacred Music
9 SeptemberCollaborativeMeet at 10am at the Theosophical Centre where an art show is running. Morning tea/coffee available with proceeds from sales goiing to social justice programs (water wells in Kenya etc). After a time of art appreciation we will move to the park over the road for discussion and then a shared lunch at a venue to be decided.
26 AugustReneeThe UU Chalice
12 AugustBob HillAll that I learned
22 JulyJodi HollowayModern Ethics Issues
8 JulyRay ComptonHabitat for humanity
24 June Jody Holloway Winter solstice, earth awareness
10 June Maria Proctor Humanist society of Qld
27 May James Addressing Social Justice issues with the UU UNO
13 May Renee Mother's day reflection
22nd April
 Helen Styles Project Micha social justice activities
9  April Chalice Circle Memorial gathering for Scott McKenzie to be held on Sunday 8th April at Brisbane Theosophical Society. This will be an opportunity for all to experience a Chalice Circle and  for those who knew Scott to acknowledge our appreciation for his presence and his contribution to our Fellowship; to reflect on what it means for us to be Unitarian Universalists.
25 March Jody Holloway Inspiring hope and positive change
11 March James and Renee Embracing our Communities, our World, our Identities - report on the International Council of Unitarian Universalists conference in the Philippines
Feb 22nd 2012 Glenys Fallon Practical Spirituality
Feb  12th 2012 Bruce Rigsby Aboriginal issues and spirituality
Jan 22nd 2012
 Renee
 Water Ceremony - see UU Traditions - Water Ceremony

2011
December 18
 Rev Jed Perkins
 Christmas service and social lunch  Location: James and Renee Hills home at Brookfield - email james@brisbaneuu.org.au for directions
Bring a plate of food to share and some drinks for an end of year social gathering afterwards
November 27
 Guest speaker from Friends of the Earth
 FOE - engaging at grass roots level for the environment, for peace and for social justice
November 13
 Jodi
 Positive psychology and compassion
October 22
 Lynne
 Friendship
October 8
 Fay
 Peace and Palestine
September 25
 Jed                                                             
What is a religion, and is Unitarian Universalism a religion?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
September 11
 Renee
 Springtime reflections




Winter Themes 2011
June Winter Solstice, shortest day - 21 June, Fire festival, Healing ritual, Burning old troubles
July NAIDOC week celebrates the survival of Indigenous culture and the Indigenous contribution to modern Australia
August Hiroshima Day commemorates the dropping of the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima in Japan on August 6, 1945. It is observed in many parts of the world with special vigils and peace marches. 

Date
Event
Description
Presenter
June 12th June Sunday Service The changing notions of community Tony Hall
  27th June Sunday Service Social Justice - the challenges of people identifying as LGBTI Rob
July 10th July Sunday Service Social Justice - Peace Work - How,When, Where and Why Annette Brownlie
  24th July Sunday Service Social Justice - the homeless and displaced people in our cities Adie
August 14th August Sunday Service Social Justice - Local initiatives and a KIVA update James
  28th Aug Sunday Service ** At Mercy Place, ANZUUA Conference** - service will be taken by Rev Peter Ferguson from the Perth Unitarian Rev Peter Ferguson
  27th - 29th ANZUUA Conf ANZUUA Conference - Brisbane James

 

2011 Archive

 
Summer Themes 2010 - 2011
December Celebrate Summer Solstice - longest day (the summer solstice) 21st December
January Holidays, family time, a time to include those who do not have family, are lonley, or far from friends
February Rain, breaking of the hot summer, coming together and sharing water from our travels, mingled with the past

Date
Event
Description
Presenter
December
05-Dec-10
 Sunday Service Guest Speaker - Ram, co-ordinator of the Multi-Faith Centre in Brisbane Frances
 
19-Dec-10
 Xmas (& Solstice) Celebration Service on Christmas traditions, festivals and Solstice - at James and Renee house; email for address Jody
January
02-Jan-11
 No Service No Service this Sunday  
 
16-Jan-11
 Sunday Service Water Ceremony - Coming together again bringing water to pool together - see information on the Water Ceremony at the page on UU Traditions  
 
30-Jan-11
 Sunday Service 5th Sunday: activity to be advised  
February 6-Feb-11 Sunday Service Guest Speaker - Wendy Flannery, a Sister of Mercy from Believing Women for a Culture of Peace Frances
  20-Feb-11 Sunday Service Stories from BUUF’s Beginnings (celebrating anniversary of BUUF) - at the Theosophical Society, 355 Wickham Terrace Brisbane http://www.theosophyqld.org.au/brisb_lodge.htm Jai
 
Autumn Themes 2011
March AUTUMN EQUINOX: Mar 20th, first day of Autumn - the centre of the Sun's light crosses the Equator moving northward.
April Harvest Festival, Thanksgiving, Reflect on past six months, Insights on the life from the past stories, Gratitude.
On April 22nd, Earth Day explores what we can do to make a difference, by saving energy and reducing pollution, Gaia
May The Day of the Dead is a holiday celebrated in Autumn in the Northern hemisphere (on the 1st and 2nd of November) by people of Mexican heritage, where gatherings of family and friends remember friends and relatives who have died. Also Catholic All Saints  and All Souls Day. 

Date
Event
Description
Presenter
March 1-Mar-11 Sunday Service Guest Speaker - Tony Hall is speaking on Backyards -  building communities Frances
  15-Mar-11 Planning Planning activity at venue to be advised

 
  27-Mar-11 Sinday Service "A Sense of Place" - location is at the Theosophical Society - see Directions page Renee
April
03-Apr-11
 Sunday Service Featuring a film on Uranium Frances
 
17-Apr-11
 Sunday Service    
May
12-May-11
 Sunday Service Visiting speaker  
 
26-May-11
 Sunday Service Service by Gill  
 
30-May-11
 Saturday Night Social Justice Activity Rob

 

 

2010 Archive

list of past services for 2010
Spring Themes 2101
September Spring - Renewal, Growth, New Ideas, Sowing Seeds for Future; Spring Equinox: September 22,  - the centre of the Sun's light crosses the Equator moving southward.
October 9 October Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement -a day of fasting commencing at sunset on the 10th and finishing at nightfall on the 11th - the most sacred date in the Jewish calendar.
November Air Theme - Storms, Clouds , Night sky, (and the Leonids Meteor Shower peaks around 18 November each year)

Date
Event
Description
Presenter
September
05-Sep-10
 Sunday Service

Guest speaker from Friends of the Earth

  
 
19-Sep-10
 Sunday Service Meeting in Toowoomba (park location tba) followed by Carnival of Flowers Kathryn
October
03-Oct-10
 Sunday Service Art as Healing Krystyna
 
13-Oct-10
 Sunday Service What is our creed? Jed Perkins
 
31-Oct-10
 Sunday Service Workshop to develop mission statement - all welcome // bring plate of food // Venue: James and Renee home (email for address)  
November
07-Nov-09
 Sunday Service Tolerance James
 
21-Nov-09
 Sunday Service TBA  
Winter Themes 2010
June Winter Solstice, shortest day - 21 June, Fire festival, Healing ritual, Burning old troubles
July NAIDOC week celebrates the survival of Indigenous culture and the Indigenous contribution to modern Australia
August Hiroshima Day commemorates the dropping of the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima in Japan on August 6, 1945. It is observed in many parts of the world with special vigils and peace marches. 

Date
Event
Description
Presenter
June 6th June 10   Giving and generosity - lessons from Kiva James
  20th June   Be the Change (you want to see in the world) James
July 4th July 10   Zen Budhism Stephen Furrer
  18th July   No service - BUUF Retreat next weekend  
30th July - 1st August RETREAT BUUF Retreat at Springbrook Mountain (Friday night to Sunday afternoon)  
August 1st August RETREAT see above  
  15th Aug 10   Tolerance Adie
  29th Aug 10 5th Sunday Workshop  
Autumn Themes 2010
March AUTUMN EQUINOX: Mar 20th, first day of Autumn - the centre of the Sun's light crosses the Equator moving northward.
April Harvest Festival, Thanksgiving, Reflect on past six months, Insights on the life from the past stories, Gratitude.
On April 22nd, Earth Day explores what we can do to make a difference, by saving energy and reducing pollution, Gaia
May The Day of the Dead is a holiday celebrated in Autumn in the Northern hemisphere (on the 1st and 2nd of November) by people of Mexican heritage, where gatherings of family and friends remember friends and relatives who have died. Also Catholic All Saints  and All Souls Day. 

Date
Event
Description
Presenter
March 7-Mar-10 Sunday Service Meditations on Love Lynne
  21-Mar-10 Sunday Service Loving Kindness

Kathryn & Jai; Music: Luke
April
04-Apr-09
 Sunday Service Gratitude James
 
18-Apr-09
 Sunday Service Why do Atheists go to church? Kathryn
May
02-May-09
 Sunday Service   Kathryn
 
16-May-09
 Sunday Service My journey from Goth to now Meg
 
29-May-09
 Night Social event Social Justice Activity - raising funds to help in social justice activities through Kiva with microloans to entrepreneur across the globe especially in 3rd world countries Rob
 
Summer Themes 2009 - 2010
December Celebrate Summer Solstice - longest day (the summer solstice) 21st December
January Holidays, family time, a time to include those who do not have family, are lonley, or far from friends
February Rain, breaking of the hot summer, coming together and sharing water from our travels, mingled with the past
 
January
17-Jan-10
 Sunday Service The Story of Stuff Kathryn, James
 
31-Jan-10
 Sunday Service Calculating Carbon James
February 7-Feb-10 Water Ceremony Coming together again bringing water to pool together - see information on the Water Ceremony at the page on UU Traditions  
  21-Feb-10 Sunday Service On Love Lynne

 

2009 Archive

list of past services starting March 2009

Autumn 2009

Date
Event
Description
Presenter
March
01-Mar-09
 Sunday Service Ethical Eating Kathryn C
 
15-Mar-09
 Sunday Service On Thanksgiving Kathryn Y
 
28-Mar-09
 All Heretics Day All Heretics Day - Saturday 1pm Panel
April
05-Apr-09
 Sunday Service Earth Day - Guest Speaker, Donald Gibson Donald Gibson
 
19-Apr-09
 Sunday Service Unitarianism - a three stranded rope: tolerance, rationalism and Christianity Jai
May
02-May-09
 Sunday Service Death (topical, see May entry above about "Day of the Dead" remembrance) Adi
 
17-May-09
 Sunday Service Counter child trafficing Aaron
 
31-May-09
 5th Sunday Activity Roma Street Parkland self guided Art Walk, commencing 1.30pm at the Celebration Lawn entry plaza
(art walk number 4 ) 		 
Winter 2009

Date
Event
Description
Presenter
June
07-Jun-09
 Sunday Service Nourishing Terrains and Australian Indigenous peoples connections to country James
 
20-Jun-09
 Winter Solstice Celebrating Winter Solstice - NO SERVICE AT BBC as BBC is not available - Sat night 20th at Northey Street Farm
July
05-Jul-09
 Sunday Service Recognising the Needs of Urban Aborigines (  Linking with Indiginous Culture - NAIDOC week 5-7 July) Frances
 
17-19-Jul
 Retreat Retreat weekend - NO service at BBC - retreat at Springbrook from Friday night to Sunday afternoon  
August
02-Aug-08
 Sunday Service Focus on Peace / Hiroshima Day Kathryn
 
16-Aug-09
 Sunday Service Sunday service Kathryn
 
30-Aug-09
 5th Sunday Muck in day helping James at Brookfield starting 10am - email james@brisbaneuu.org.au for details  
Spring 2009

Date
Event
Description
Presenter
September
06-Sep-09
 Sunday Service Experiences in Personal Growth Rob
 
20-Sep-09
 Sunday Service Peace comes with Justice Frances
October
04-Oct-09
 Sunday Service Ten Rules for Being Human Kathryn
 
18-Oct-09
 Sunday Service Guest speaker Karin Cheyne will show "Footprints Along Kurilpa" video (30 mins). Karin ran the project involving homeless people at Kurilpa Point involving oral history and video documentary. Kurilpa Point is on the Brisbane River South Bank - Kurilpa Park is next to the Gallery of Modern Art. Hosted by Wendy
November
01-Nov-09
 Sunday Service A re-presentation the address given by Rev Peter Ferguson (ANZUUA President and Minister for the Perth UU congregation) at the recent ANZUUA General meeting in Sydney, on "The Sacred Heresies of Unitarianism against the Iron Bed of Christian Orthodoxy" Rob & James
 
15-Nov-09
 Sunday Service Aspects of Healing: Viewpoints & Expressions Kathryn
 
29-Nov-09
 5th Sunday Picnic at Southport meeting in park opposite Australia Fair  
         
Summer 2008 - 2009

Date
Event
Description
Presenter
December
06-Dec-09
 Sunday Service Presentation by Rick on his spiritual journey Rick
 
20-Dec-09
 Solstice Celebration The Spirit of Christmas service then Christmas Lunch / Party - venue is James & Renee house Adi
January
03-Jan-10
 No Service No Service this Sunday  
 
17-Jan-10
 Sunday Service The Story of Stuff Kathryn, James
 
31-Jan-10
 Sunday Service Calculating Carbon James
February 7-Feb-10 Water Ceremony Coming together again bringing water to pool together - see information on the Water Ceremony at the page on UU Traditions  
  21-Feb-10 Sunday Service On Love Lynne