Recent PSWIRL Theme Speakers

Recent PSWIRL Theme Speakers and Topics

Please click on underlined Theme Talk to get detailed information.

2013 Tom Owen-Towle (Unitarian Universalist Minister Emeritus, First Universalist Unitarian Church of San Diego)

"Nurturing Our Whole Being"
The key to a healthy existence is nourishing six zones of the Self: body, mind, heart, spirit, conscience, and soul. Through presentation and exercises, we will explore the challenges of each zone. We can never fully repay the Creation for the gift of our existence, but we can
respond through taking good (not perfect) care of our selves.

The Reverend Tom Owen-Towle has written two dozen books on self-growth and spiritual maturity. This workshop will draw from his writings as well as 45 years of parish ministry.

2012 Matthew Crary (Unitarian Universalist Minister, Riverside Universalist Unitarian Church)

"What's Going On?" The title of Marvin Gaye's 1971 socially conscious masterpiece is our theme. Inspired by the Occupy Movement, the "Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream" symposium of the Pachamama Alliance and the lifelong work of Joanna Macy, the Rev. Crary will lead participants in grappling with what's going on in our individual lives, and in our world including the environment, socially and spiritually.

The Reverend Matthew Crary has served the Riverside UU congregation for almost nine years. During that time he's found a calling to the ministry of innovation. He's discovered that innovation in our lives arises not for its sake alone, but from the matching our spiritual growth to the needs of our world. In his 2012 sabbatical, he has explored his own spiritual growth as a minister, husband, father and human being and the environmental, social and faith needs surrounding us today. He brings his learnings and revelations on innovation to PSWIRL 2012.

2011 Michael Dowd (Unitarian Universalist Minister) and Connie Barlow (Scientist)

"Thank God for Evolution, the Marriage of Science and Religion"

Details about their workshop series is available if you click on http://thegreatstory.org/pswirl-2011.pdf. More information about these speakers and their philosophy are given at http://www.thegreatstory.org/. Please also click here to see the book "Green space, green time: the way of science" by Connie C. Barlow. Also, check out http://evolutionizeyourlife.com/free-online-class.php.

2010 Rev. Stefanie Etzbach-Dale, Unitarian Universalist Church of Verdugo Hills

"There But For The Grace Of..."

2009 Jim VanderWeele, Minister, Unitarian Universalist Minister from New Orleans

"The Secret Working Together in Time of Crisis"

2008 Jim Grant, Unitarian Universalist Minister

"The Struggle to Become Human"

2007 John Morehouse, Minister of the Pacific Unitarian Church in Rancho Palos Verdes

"Making Peace from the Inside Out"

2006 Jon Dobrer, Minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fullerton

“Islam, Judaism and Christianity Intertwined: What Does It Mean For You?”

2005 Marguerite Lovett, Minister of the Unitarian/Universalist Church of Long Beach

“Can We Stand The Test?”