We are entering an era which will bring about radical changes in how we view the world.  A paradigm shift is under way: while the economy switches into no-growth gear, quality-of-life will replace standard-of-living as the genuine indicator of human progress.  We will realise that nature is setting boundaries that put constraints on what the planet can provide, mainly by the growing shortage of natural resources.  This talk addresses how the infinite-growth paradigm is failing, especially our debt-based economy run by flat currencies.  However, not all is lost. The era of sharing has begun!

Dr. Peter Berg was born and raised in Germany. He holds an undergraduate degree in physics from the University of Muenster, Germany, and a PhD in Mathematics from the University of Bristol, UK (2001). He is now associate professor of physics at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology and director of its Energy and the Environment program.  Besides research that relates to fuel cells and energy-economic models, his interests encompass the impact of resource scarcity and a world oil production peak on the global economy and our way-of-life.  Peter's true passion lies in writing and giving public talks about our home, Earth.

Get ready for a brief trivia quiz that will appeal to people of all ages (hopefully).  Then, based on the last answer of the quiz, Ric will discuss what might be understood as spiritual values from this classic and unusual source.  We will continue the discussion by expanding upon an old text and what it might mean for a purposeful community.

Rickey Lee Jones is pursuing a Master of Divinity degree from Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago-a Unitarian Universalist seminary.  He is currently involved in a two-year part time ministerial internship at the Unitarian Fellowship of Peterborough.  This is Ric's final year of study towards what will be his second Master's degree (M.Div).

Bahi Krishnakanthan is a motivational speaker, facilitator and therapist who lives in Ajax.  Previously a successful business woman and community activist,  she has won numerous accolades and  awards for her work  with women, immigrants, human rights groups, and other community development projects in Durham Region .  In 2005, she was the recipient of a Durham Region Women of Distinction award and  in 2008, the  Governor General's Caring Canadian award.   Bahi currently chooses to focus her energy on helping others find their own true calling so that they might live more purposefully and passionately.

Join us as we welcome the New Year, contemplate what we resolve to do better in 2012 and say farewell to those regrets and errors that are holding us back.

In Fire Communion, we write on slips of flash paper those things that no longer serve us and we symbolically release or let them go by burning them in the fire.  White stones are an opportunity to set a new intention (something we would like to develop in ourselves, e.g., more patience) for the coming year.  People note their intention with a word or two written on the stone and often keep the stone in a prominent place as a reminder of what they would like to accomplish.  This inter-generational service appeals to many different ages.  This is what we did last year.  Details may change, but the theme remains!

Peter Lauricella was born in Boston, Ma. and spent almost all of his life in suburban Boston. He has been married to Marilyn for almost 44 years, and together they immigrated to Canada and settled in Port Perry so that they could be loving, everyday grand parents.  A former active member of First Parish UU Church in Bridgewater, MA, Peter is currently a member of the UUCD Worship Committee.