February 5 -- Social Sunday -- Brunch at Jake's
        :)  For those interested in gathering for a Sunday morning brunch social:  meet at Jake's Supper Club on Lake Tainter (north of Menomonie) at 10 am.

February 10 -- Fri. -12N - Program Cmte. meeting at the Golden Leaf Cafe

*Feb.  12 -- Sunday,  10 am -- "This Thing Called Love (Rated PG-13) "         Facilitator: Juliana Schmidt
A candid glimpse of sexual preference and its effect on social behavior, how men both gay and straight differ from women, and why same-sex relationships evoke fear and anger in social conservatives.  The title comes from Cole Porter's hit song, "What is this thing called love?"
Our visiting minister, the Rev. Nancy Holden of the River Falls UU congregation, will end her message with a challenge to UUs to “come out” as allies of the gay community.  This service is in keeping with the Unitarian Universalist Association's theme for the year, "STANDING ON THE SIDE OF LOVE".
Following the service:  POTLUCK! & an informal discussion / consulting session with Rev. Holden concerning congregational matters (growth, etc.). So plan on sticking around for a bit :) and munching and discussing!

Feb. 11 -- Sat. -- A Square Dance & Potluck! -- at the Prairie
 Farm Community Hall.  UU friend Willie Williams will be
 providing some of the music.  Come and dance!

February 14 -- Tues -- 7 pm -- UU Board Meeting at the Tainter

Feb.  19 -- Sunday, 10 a.m. -  Socrates Cafe
 A "3rd Sunday" discussion group meeting in the meeting room of the Golden Leaf Cafe on Stout Road (Hwy. 29 East). Discussion of current topics of interest; no preparation necessary!

*February  26 -- Sunday,  10 am -- "Conservatism   vs. Progressivism"       Facilitator: Elizabeth Spader
Guest speaker Tom Vellenga  was senior advisor on national security to then-White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta and senior advisor on environmental cleanup, health, and safety to then-Secretary of Energy Federico Peña in the Clinton Administration. He has administered public programs at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School and served as executive director of the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy. He holds an M.A. from the School for Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at The Johns Hopkins University and a B.A. from Williams College.

March  4 -- Social Sunday --  5:30 pm -- Potluck  supper social
hosted by the Spaders at their house! (720 River Hts. Rd, Menomonie).  To RSVP (& to get a potluck assignment), please email >elizabeth@elizabethspader.com<

 *March 11 -- Sunday, 10 a.m. - "My Theological Journey through
Christian Feminism and Beyond"              Facilitator:  Dennis Peters

We are pleased to have Denise Blake as our guest speaker today.  Of her background, she writes:
I was raised with a twin sister and two older brothers in a Lutheran clergy home, moving from the west coast (Seattle and Spokane, WA) to Prairie Farm, Wisconsin in the late 1960's.  My father served as a Lutheran pastor for 60 years before his retirement.  I graduated from UW-River Falls with an Instrumental Music Education degree and have taught band for several years.  Having questions about God, I earned several theololgical degrees while I was teaching music: (Master of Arts - Theology, Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary, St. Paul, MN; Master of Divinity - Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, New Jersey; and Ph.D. - Theology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN).  Throughout the years I have served as an interim lay pastor for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).  I am currently a substitute teacher in the Eau Claire Area Schools.

March 13 -- Tues. -- 7 pm -- UU  Board Meeting at the Mabel Tainter.

March   18 -- Sunday, 10 am -- Socrates Cafe (Golden Leaf Cafe)

       
*March   25 -- Sunday, 10 am --  Topic to Be announced
        We welcome guest minister Rev. Nancy Holden to our pulpit again!  

Looking  ahead to Spring!! :

April  1  -- Social Sunday -- 10 am -- Coffee at the Acoustic
                                in downtown Menomonie
        April  7  -- Passover
        April  8  -- Easter Sunday service -- TBA
        April 15 -- Socrates Cafe at the Golden Leaf Cafe
        April 22 --  Paul Helgeson has offered to talk about his recent trip
 to Cuba, & political & social conditions there
        April 29 --  A spring hike or picnic? -- TBA
        May 6   --   ANNUAL MEETING of USM
May 13 -- (Mothers' Day) -- "Maiden, Mother, Crone: Honoring
 the Goddess" -- Guest speaker: Em Hermann
        May 20 -- Socrates Cafe at the Golden Leaf Cafe
        May 27 -- Flower Communion service (traditional)