John Falter is a graduate student at Western Carolina University studying rhetoric, and also attended New College of Florida, where he met Rev. Ilene. He has called the Blue Ridge home for over 6 years and moved to the area for its unique spiritual culture: a whimsical milieu of pagan ideas, eastern thought, and American metaphysics we might call “New Age.” In the mix of all this, he’s styled himself a “wizard” and, from this vocation, engages a semi active pagan ministry, mostly as a communicator.

His sermon, “On Solstice, Nature and the Wheel of the Year,” centers on the manner in which ritual can unite various religious traditions by their mutual engagement with the same set of natural symbols. When it’s hot, we’re all sweating. And when it’s cold, we all decide, for some reason, to decorate our homes and give gifts. In his sermon, John will dance with the ambiguities of nature and nurture in our rituals, and argue ultimately on the function they have to create meaning where people may have their sense of progress.

This month's theme: Hope

Speaker: John Falter

The first guiding Principle of Unitarian Universalism is the inherent worth and dignity of every person. UUTC welcomes all—persons of various ages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, theological and political beliefs, socio-economic status, educational backgrounds, abilities and ethnicities. Services are at 9:15 and 11:00am. The building is wheelchair accessible, dress may be casual and visitors of all ages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, abilities, and beliefs are warmly welcomed.

Infant care is available during both services.

Join us for coffee between services at 10:30am!

 photo by RK Young