‘Don’t Panic!’ is title of Sunday’s message
Songwriter Doug Benecke will give the talk “Don’t Panic!” at the Unity of Whidbey service on Sunday.
Say “mayday” at the wrong time and people will look to aid those in distress. But for our church community, this coming Sunday is an opening to the flowering spirit of spring, exploring the traditional meaning of this time, and inviting all to join the celebration, and cast off any lingering winter angst.
Benecke will join with violinist Talia Toni Marcus to lead the fun, joined by special musical guests. Chris Nelson will serve as platform assistant.
All are welcome. Unity gathers at 10 a.m. at its church at 5671 Crawford Road.
A Course in Miracles group meets from 3:30 to 5 p.m.
Visit Unity of Whidbey’s website at http://www.unityofwhidbeyisland.org for more information.
Understanding hope as a dynamic process
Hope is an essential component in our humanity and is present in many dimensions found in both our everyday and spiritual lives. The increased awareness of hope as a dynamic reality in our lives enables us to live life more fully on all levels.
Starting this Sunday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Freeland, Cathy Fans- low-Brunjes will present a two-part session on the dynamic process of hope.
Fanslow-Brunjes, an internationally acclaimed expert in the fields of death, dying, grief and hospice care, was the keynote speaker at the First International Congress for Hospice and Pallative Care in Rome.
The class will be held at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, May 1 in the Fireside Room of Trinity Lutheran Church.
Change amid our ecological challenges
How can we respond to ecological challenges and turn them into opportunities for self-transformation?
At the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Whidbey Island service on Sunday, speaker Kurt Hoelting will explore this issue in light of his experience as a commercial fisherman, environmentalist and ordained United Church of Christ minister.
Hoelting is author of “The Circumference of Home: One Man’s Yearlong Quest for a Radically Local Life.”
All are welcome. Values-based children’s religious exploration classes and childcare will be provided.
The service is at 10 a.m. at 20103 Highway 525, just north of Freeland. Check www.whidbey.com/uucwi for more information.
Book of Joshua series continues
Many times in our life we all take sides and make choices that are important to us. Sunday morning at South Whidbey Community Church, Pastor Darrell Wenzek will speak on the topic, “You Have a Choice to Make: regardless of how people respond to you, there is nothing better than to be on God’s side.”
This sermon is part of a continuing series from the Old Testament Book of Joshua, and is based on Chapters 9 and 10.
Sunday worship at SWCC is from 10 to 11 a.m. and is preceded by an adult learning forum at 9 a.m., with Stan Walker leading a study in the Book of First Corinthians, and Rick Zapata leading a study in the Book of Genesis: the life of the Patriarchs.
For further information about the church and services, call 221-1220 or check out
Sermon looks at divine authority
“The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee,” (Jeremiah 31:3).
The story of the prodigal son illustrates that each of us, at any time, can turn to the arms of divine love for support, understanding and protection.
On Sunday, May 1, the Christian Science lesson behind this parable of everlasting love, in contrast to everlasting punishment, will be examined in connection with the Lord’s Prayer line, “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”
Services begin at 10:30 a.m. at 15910 Highway 525.
All are invited for this focus on understanding what it means to live by “divine authority.”
An inter-religious understanding
Author and educator Duncan Ferguson will speak on the theme “Is There Room for us all in the Dance?” — a discussion of inter-religious literacy and understanding — at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 3 in the Fireside Room at Langley United Methodist Church.
The conversation will be based on Ferguson’s recent book, “Exploring the Spirituality of the World Religions.” Special attention will be given to current unrest in the Middle East and the conflicts that arise over differing religious beliefs and practices.
Duncan has a doctorate degree in religious studies from the University of Edinburgh, has taught religion at the university level and has traveled in many parts of the world, gaining firsthand knowledge of the religious traditions of the human family.
