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The Friendly Forum

Sunday Dec 18 2022 - NO FRIENDLY FORUM: Instead those who have expressed an interest in setting up Friendly Forum equipment for hybrid Zoom/In-House session please come to RM 113 after the Sunday Service.

  • The Friendly Forum is open to all, and topics are scheduled based on suggestions from participants. The topics may be spiritual or material, entertaining or serious, UUCF-related or not. We seek to create a safe, welcoming place to learn, freely express opinions, and to be informed of the opinions of others.
  • The coordinators for scheduling future Friendly Forums thru the end of 2022 are David Purvis () and Samantha Purvis ().

Upcoming Sessions - Sundays at 11:45am in Rm 113 and on Zoom at:

Dec 18 2022 - NO FRIENDLY FORUM: Instead those who have expressed an interest in setting up Friendly Forum equipment for hybrid Zoom/In-House session please come to RM 113 after the Sunday Service.

Dec 25 2022 - NO FRIENDLY FORUM

Previous Sessions

Dec 11 2022 - Dec Split-Plate Recipient: Kenya Connection

Dec 4 2022 - What's on YOUR Bucket List

Nov 27 2022 - DRT: Indigenous People Month

Nov 20 2022 - Meet and Greet with Jing-Jy Chen, the featured artist in our Blanche Ames Gallery.

Nov 13 2022 - Nov Split-Plate Recipient: BLUU (Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism)

Nov 6 2022 - NO FRIENDLY FORUM THIS WEEK

Oct 30 2022 - NO FRIENDLY FORUM THIS WEEK

Oct 23 2022 - Dismantling Racism Team presents The Sum of Us Podcast,
“Orlando, FL: The Land of Second Chances”Oct 16 2022 - NO FRIENDLY FORUM THIS WEEK

Oct 9 2022 - NO FRIENDLY FORUM THIS WEEK

Oct 2 2022 - Soap Box Sunday; Attendees are invited to bring a topic. We will randomly use those for discussion

Sep 25 2022 - NO FRIENDLY FORUM THIS WEEK

Sep 18 2022 - NO FRIENDLY FORUM THIS WEEK

Sep 11 2022 - NO FRIENDLY FORUM THIS WEEK

Sep 4 2022 - NO FRIENDLY FORUM THIS WEEK - Please attend the Art Show Reception in Rm 113

Aug 28 2022 - Dismantling Racism Team presents an interview with Dr David Campt, an expert in dialogue, inclusion, and racial equity

Aug 21 2022 - Soapbox Sunday - Please bring a topic you would like to discuss. We will randomly select them for discussion.

Aug 14 2022 - Aug Split-Plate Recipient; Empowering Community Leaders Network

Aug 7 2022 - "The Tempestry: Over a Century of Frederick County Climate Data" - join us to discuss the fabric art hanging on the wall of our Sanctuary this month"

July 31 2022 - The "Establishment Clause". What does it really establish? Presentation and discussion lead by Samantha Purvis.

July 24 2022 - “How the Bad Blood Started," a 1619 Project presentation on the disparities in health outcomes that persist in the U.S. today. Discussion will include local disparities and possible actions to address them. Facilitated by UUCF's Dismantling Racism Team

July 17 2022 - NO FRIENDLY FORUM THIS WEEK

July 10 2022 - July Split-Plate Recipient: AARCH African American Research - Cultural History

July 3 2022 - Artist Talk & Reception for New Art Show Opening: "On the Way: Walking the Camino de Santiago" by Claudia Giannini -- join us for an introspective journey along the famous Spanish pilgrimage routes

June 26 2022 - June Split-Plate Recipient: I Believe in Me

June 19 2022 - Wired up and Ready to Go - Electrify Everthing! Presentation and discussion led by Barb Trader and Kathleen Rall.

June 12 2022 - No Friendly Forum; instead please attend the UUCF Annual Meeting

June 5 2022 - "A Brief Tour through 61 Years of UUCF," celebrating Our Congregation's 61st Anniversary!" with Bob Clegg and a panel of longtime UUCF Members

May 29 2022 - Pursuit of Happiness: Presentation and discussion led by Zakir Bengali

May 22 2022 - The Making of Asian America: A History, led by UUCF's Dismantling Racism Team (Rooms 113 & Zoom)

May 15 2022 - Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind - Presentation and discussion led by Zakir Bengali about the book by the same title by Yuval Noah Harari

May 8 - May Split-Plate Recipient

May 1 2022 - NO FRIENDLY FORUM THIS WEEK - Please attend the Art Show Reception

Apr 24 2022 - Critical Race Theory: Presentation and discussion led by out Dismantling Racism Team

Apr 17 2022 - Deep Listening: Presentation and discussion led by our Welcome Ministry

Apr 10 2022 - Apr Split-Plate Recipient: Cambodia Reads - Presentation and discussion led by Carolyn Judd

Apr 3 2022 - Reimagining our Principles. Presentation and discussion led by Kathryn Adams

Mar 27 2022 - Is it time for Frederick County to consider Reparations? Join Roger Sobkowiak and the Dismantling Racism Team for a spirited discussion of Reparations. Speaker offered ti email his documents to those who would request them via his email rsobkow@yahoo.com

Mar 20 2022 - Soap Box Sunday - Special Edition: Ukraine - What Can We Do? Prepare to discuss. URLs discussed during the session:

From The Nation (and the Washington Post) Katrina Van den Heuvel "We must end the war in Ukraine, and all wars"

Zelenski's unedited speech transcript is attached in PDF. The New York Times printed the whole transcript, but divided it up into paragraphs separated by the NYT Commentary. If folks want to slog through the commentary, here is the link:

Finally, here are links to three articles in today's Washington Post Outlook -- which was in our delivery box when we got home:

1. "Russia's military is inept" https://tinyurl.com/2p8penjr

2. "One thing Russia's power plants weren't built to survive: War" https://tinyurl.com/mrw3pbt7

3. Neo-Nazis are exploiting Russia's invasion for their own purposes" https://tinyurl.com/4jjkd6ft

Mar 13 2022 - Mar Split-Plate Recipient: Justice Jobs. Presentation and discussion led by Bob Clegg.

Feb 27 2022 - Black History Month topic: “Belonging Through Connection”. Video featuring Bell Hooks, feminist, author, and activist, in conversation with John A. Powell. Presentation and discussion led by our Dismantling Racism Team.

Feb 20 2022 - The Birth of American Music, a 1619 Project podcast. Presentation and discussion lead by Lynn Wagner

Feb 13 2022 - Feb Split-Plate Recipient: Able and Willing. Presentation and discussion lead by Jim Carpenter.

Feb 6 2022 NO FRIENDLY FORUM - Congregational Conversation with Reverend Carl

Jan 30 2022 - Maryland Lynching Memorial Project; Presentation and Discussion led by the Dismantling Racism Team

Jan 23 2022 - Parents' Role in Public Education

Jan 16 2022 - NO FRIENDLY FORUM THIS WEEK - Please attend the Art Show Reception via Zoom (same link as for Friendly Forum)

Jan 9 2022 - Jan Split-Plate Recipient

Jan 2 2022 - Soap Box Sunday; Attendees are invited to bring a topic. We will randomly use those for discussion

Dec 26 2021 - NO FRIENDLY FORUM.

Dec 19 2021 - NO FRIENDLY FORUM; instead Widening the Welcome: Presentation and discussion led by the Welcoming Ministry in Rm 113 and via Zoom at: https://zoom.us/j/95531719685?pwd=TnN4clJaYWtJTE9Wejkwdys1dTNRdz09

Dec 12 2021 - Dec Split-Plate Recipient: Kenya Connection. Presentation and discussion led by Bob Ladner

Dec 5 2021 - Soap Box Sunday; Attendees are invited to bring a topic. We will randomly use those for discussion

Nov 28 2021 - Examining Unconscious Bias. Presentation and discussion lead by our Intern Minister, Kathryn Adams

Nov 21 2021 - PURPLE, a new short documentary from political mediation organization Resetting the Table (RTT) and Emmy Award-winning Transient Pictures. Presentation and discussion in Rm 113 and via Zoom

Nov 14 2021 - Nov Split-Plate Recipient: Black Lives UU (BLUU). Presentation and Discussion led by Carol Antoniewicz

Nov 7 2021 - NO FRIENDLY FORUM THIS WEEK - Please attend the Art Show Reception

Oct 31 2021 - Halloween and Racism

Oct 24 2021 - A Right to Misinform? - Section 230 and Social Media: Section 230 and Social Media

Oct 17 2021 - Maryland Campaign for Environmental Human Rights: Presentation and discussion led by Nina Cardin.

Oct 10 2021 - Oct Split-Plate Recipient UU@UN

Oct 3 2021 - Soap Box Sunday; Attendees are invited to bring a topic. We will randomly use those for discussion

Sep 26 2021 - How About Some Good News!? Participants invited to share good news items from anywhere in the press/media

Sep 19 2021 - How You Can Help Support Afghan Refugees: Presentation and discussion lead by Marilou Barratt

Sep 12 2021 - Sep Split-Plate Recipient - Blessings in a Backpack: Presentation and discussion led by Angela Abrishami

Sep 5 2021 - NO FRIENDLY FORUM THIS WEEK - Please attend the Art Show Reception in Rm 113

Aug 22 2021 - NO FRIENDLY FORUM THIS WEEK.

Aug 15 2021 - Sexism - Then and Now: Discussion led by Sam Purvis.

Aug 8 2021 - Aug Split-Plate Recipient: Empowering Community Leaders Network - Presentation and discussion lead by James Kelly and Phyllis York

Aug 1 2021 - Soap Box Sunday; Attendees are invited to bring a topic. We will randomly use those for discussion

July 25 2021 - TBD

July 18 2021 - NO FRIENDLY FORUM THIS WEEK - Please attend the Art Show Reception via Zoom (same link as for Friendly Forum) or LIVE in Room 125

July 11 2021 - July Split-Plate Recipient: AARCH and Remembering David Key. Presentation and discussion led by the UUCF Dismantling Racism Team.

July 4 2021 - Soap Box Sunday; Attendees are invited to bring a topic. We will randomly use those for discussion

Jun 27 2021 - America Talks Follow-up - Let's share our experiences with this

Jun 20 2021 - June Split-Plate Recipient - I Believe in Me, Inc. : Presentation and discussion led by Lisa Bromfield


Jun 13 2021 - NO FRIENDLY FORUM. Instead, attend the UUCF Annual Business Meeting

Jun 6 2021 - Soap Box Sunday; Attendees are invited to bring a topic. We will randomly use those for discussion

May 30 2021 - Bridging the Abyss: Our political environment is a dumpster fire, but what can we do? Discussion and presentation led by Sam Purvis.

May 23 2021 - UUA Common Read Discussion of Imani Perry’s "Breathe: A Letter to My Sons", led by Rev. Carl and Intern Minister Jen.

May 16 2021 - Generation Change - Leadership Evolving: Every generation's youth are, as a group, uniquely different. What do we see in the generation rising now to face the challenges to today's world?

May 9 2021 - May Split-Plate Recipient - Student Homelessness Initiative Partnership (SHIP): Presentation and discussion led by Betsy Bainbridge


May 2 2021 - NO FRIENDLY FORUM THIS WEEK - Please attend the Art Show Reception via Zoom (same link as for Friendly Forum)

Apr 25 2021 - First 100 Days: How's It Going, Joe?

Apr 18 2021 - NO FRIENDLY FORUM THIS WEEK - Please attend the Art Show Reception via Zoom (same link as for Friendly Forum)

Apr 11 2021 - April Split-Plate Recipient - Cambodia Reads: Presentation and discussion led by Carolyn Judd

Apr 4 2021 - Soap Box Sunday; Attendees are invited to bring a topic. We will randomly use those for discussion

Mar 28 2021 - The Filibuster: 'Nuff Said? - Presentation and discussion led by Sam Purvis

Mar 21 2021 - “Revolutionary Love: A Women’s History Month Conversation.” Presentation and discussion led by Jen Raffensperger

Mar 14 2021 - March Split-Plate Recipient - Justice Jobs of MD, Inc. : Presentation and discussion led by Bob Clegg


Mar 7 2021 - Soap Box Sunday - Attendees are invited to bring a topic. We will randomly use those for discussion.

Feb 28 2021 - Lethal Autonomous Weapons: Is the Terminator Here? Presentation and discussion moderated by Dave Purvis.

Feb 21 2021 - COVID-19 Vaccinations: Tips and Tricks --- Open Discussion - Share your experiences getting (or trying to get) vaccinated

Feb 14 2021 - February Split-Plate Recipient - Able and Willing: Presentation and discussion led by Mary Kruhm


Feb 7 2021 - NO FRIENDLY FORUM THIS WEEK - Please attend the Art Show Reception via Zoom (same link as for Friendly Forum)

Jan 31 2021 - Media Savvy: Critical Consumption of News; Open Discussion


Jan 24 2021 - Conservatism? What's that?: Open Discussion


Jan 17 2021 - So, How Is YOUR Democracy Doing?

Jan 10 2021 - January Split-Plate Recipient - UULM-MD: Presentation and discussion led by Steve Buckingham


Jan 3 2021 - Soap Box Sunday; Attendees are invited to bring a topic. We will randomly use those for discussion

Dec 27 2020 - Living under an Autocracy: Presentation and Discussion led by Sam Purvis

Dec 20 2020 - Resources for Immigrant Support and Empowerment - R.I.S.E.: Presentation and Discussion led by Mary Ford

Dec 13 2020 - Dec Split-Plate Recipient - Kenya Connection


Dec 6 2020 - Soap Box Sunday; Attendees are invited to bring a topic. We will randomly use those for discussion

Nov 29 2020 - UU The Vote at UUCF: The Year in Review - Presentation and Discussion led by Dick Roblin

Nov 22 2020 - Special Congregational Budget Meeting

Nov 15 2020 - Soap Box Sunday Special Edition: Elections Results - How Are You Feeling?

Nov Split-Plate Recipient: Unitarian Universalist Service Committee - Presentation and Discussion by Carly Cronon and Bill Butler

Oct 25 2020 - Five Wishes - End of Life Planning: presentation and discussion led by Becky Smock. Please preview the following before attending:


Oct 18th - Oct Split-Plate Recipient: UU-UN. Presentation and discussion led by Joanne Spivey.
https://zoom.us/j/95531719685?pwd=TnN4clJaYWtJTE9Wejkwdys1dTNRdz09

Oct 11 2020 - Decolonizing Wealth: Presentation and discussion led by Jen Raffensperger

Oct 4 2020 - Green Burial: presentation and discussion led by Carolyn and Michael Judd

Sep 27 2020 - RIGGED - Voter Suppression; video presentation followed by open discussion.

Sep 20 2020 - Frederick March for Justice: Presentation and Discussion led by Akiyyah Billups and Lisa Bromfield

Sep 13 2020 - What Motivated the Swing Voters?

Sep 6 2020 - Please attend the Visual Arts Committee Zoom meeting at 11:45

Aug 30 2020 - The Republican National Convention: What Did You See - What Do You Think?

Aug 23 2020 - The Democratic National Convention: What Did You See - What Do You Think?

Aug 16 2020 - Soap Box Sunday - we haven't done this is a while, so log in with a topic you'd like to discuss.






(The short link to this page is frederickuu.org/FriendlyForum.)