Speakers for May

  Our Sunday services at 11:00 a.m. feature a different guest speaker each week, either a member of our congregation or someone from the surrounding community. We address a variety of topics, from literature and history to politics, religious thought and social issues. We welcome suggestions for speakers, please contact Donna Orchard donnaforchard@gmail.com

May 6

Speakers: DOUG BAULOS
Title: Art/Science/Rational/Emotional
Summary: Science is an objective and rational pursuit of natural truths. Art is a subjective and emotional pursuit of human creativity. We are often taught that these two categories, with their associated practices; artifacts and institutions, are opposites. But, how are they really intertwined in the same endeavor, understanding and representation of the world around us? Doug Baulos’s drawings, installations, and books have been exhibited/published both nationally and
internationally. His current works are explorations (visual) and meditations (poetry) that center on his ideas of spirituality, love, death, shelter, and hope. His books and installations hope to explode process into an embodied visual narrative, a sculpture of our inner life.
Introduction: Pinky Bass

May 20

Speaker:  IRENE WEGNER
Title: Flower Basket Sharing
Summary: In the spring, Unitarian Universalist churches all over America hold flower basket sharing to bring people together. The ritual was created by Norbert Capek, who became a UU minister upon his immigrating from Czechoslovakia. He had been arrested in 1941 for his Unitarian beliefs and sent to Dachua. The people there had so much “baggage” that
he turned to nature to find elements of a communion that could be shared by all. Irene Wegner, a member of the FUF, was a founding member of the Heartland Unitarian Universalist Church in Carmel, Indiana. It was there that she participated in the Flower Communion. The exchange of flowers means that I shall walk without reservation, with anyone—regardless of their social status or former religious affiliation—as long as they are ready and willing to go along in search of truth and service to man.
Introduction: Jane Finger

May 13

Speaker: HELEN EARL
Title: It’s Only Influenza
Summary: The brevity of the influenza pandemic of 1918 posed great problems to doctors at the time. It has posed great problems to historians ever since. Helen Earl grew up in Findlay, Ohio, and graduated from Findlay College. Having received her library training at Wright State University, she taught history for two years and was a high school librarian for twenty-eight years. For many years, she was on the County Mental Health Board and was the precinct captain at the polls. Both members of our Fellowship, she and husband Charlie have two children.
Introduction: Gwen Snyder



May 27

Speaker: NALL HOLLIS
Title: Fifty-two Stations of the Cross
Summary: The internationally known American artist who uses the simple name “Nall” will describe how his fifty-two images present to us the opportunity to explore our material pasts and to elevate our souls. Nall Hollis had a privileged Alabama upbringing and displayed an artistic talent at a young age. He majored in art at the University of Alabama and then spent most of the seventies studying art in Paris. Returning to his roots, he became the artist in residence at UA. He currently maintains a studio and gallery in Fairhope, where he is a member of the Unitarian Fellowship. His work will be exhibited there in July and August.
Introduction: Melinda Hicks