A lay-led groups, UU's of the Islands meets monthly, October - April, at 7:30 p.m. on the first Sunday of the month at the Friendship Hall of Sanibel Congregational United Church of Christ, 2050 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel Island. Virginia Jones is the group's local contact.

Schedule of Services for 2004 - 2005:

This yearıs services will feature respected local speakers on the theme of "Exploring Ethics and Values in our Relationship to the Natural World" as well as partnering with other programs to share speakers.

Nola Theiss, the director of the local UU program, says, "We live on a very unique island whose residents have agreed to OElive in harmony with nature. We want to explore what that means in a theological, ethical, and sustainable way. Weıve invited speakers from different religions and different points of view to help us understand how our religious beliefs meld with our view of ourselves as part of the natural world."

Everyone is welcome to attend the services. The goal of this yearıs program is to increase our awareness of the interconnectedness of our spiritual and earthly beliefs so that we can act on these beliefs.

Speakers and Topics:

November 7: Dr. Peter Blaze Corcoran, Director of the Center for Sustainability and Environmental Education: How do we develop Ethics and Values needed to Sustain the Earth?

December 5: Kristie Anders: Developing a Sense of Wonder in this Natural World.

January 2: Dr. Bruce Diamond: Humans and the Natural World in the Hebrew Scriptures: What the Bible says.

February 6: Rev. Ran Niehoff: Science, Spirtuality and the Natural World: Developing Mindfulness.

March 6: Reinventing our Niche as Members of the Earth Community (Speaker to be determined.)

April 3: Living our Ethics: An Action Plan for Ethical Beliefs about the Natural World. (Speaker to be determined.)