Adult Religious Education Fall 2009
Click here to register for any of the following classes or call (215) 563-3980
Course fee: $20 each or $5 for additional courses. Scholarships available.
Unless otherwise noted, all courses will be held at the First Unitarian Church.
Unitarian Universalism & You
Free Brunch, 12:30 pm, Parish Room
Jan 3, Feb 7, March 7, April 4, May 2, June 6
Are you interested in learning more about Unitarian Universalism and would like to know how to become a member of the First Church Family? If so, drop-in for a free brunch and orientation held on the first Sunday of each month. Also, on the third Sundays of each month those interested can participate in the New Member Ceremony. For details contact Membership Ministry Team co-chairs Eva Baker and Wendy Jastrzab.
Membership 101
Third Sundays at 10 am before our New Member Ceremony
included in our 11:00 a.m. service, Parish Room, Free
Jan 17, Feb 21, March 21, April 18, May 16, June 20
Designed as a sort of a follow-up to our UU & You Orientation, Membership 101 acclimates new members with more specific information about the church and how it works, like governance, religious education, pledging, communications, property and grounds, the structure of our Ministry Teams and Board. The group meets at 10:00 a.m. on the third Sunday of each month, coinciding with our monthly New Member Ceremony during our worship service.
Gateway to Religious Communities
Once a month, January - December 2010
Have you ever wanted to visit area faith communities and meet Sikhs, Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Jews, Bahai's, Lenape Indians and Quakers? The First Unitarian Church is a proud participant in the first ever city-wide effort to help you receive a tour of area faith communities, to attend their worship service and to ask questions of various religious leaders. This is a fantastic way to deepen your knowledge of world religions, to meet members of different religious communities and to expand one's awareness. During 2010 there are 12 host sites that take turns welcoming registrants once a month. To learn about the specific dates and locations and to register please visit the website of the Interfaith Center of Greater Philadelphia at www.interfaithcenterpa.org or contact Andrea Brooks at abrooks@interfaithcenterpa.org or (215) 222-1012. A six-visit family pass is $30 dollars or $20 for individuals or you can sign up for a one-time family pass for $10 or $5 for individuals.
Tutoring Reading
Wednesdays, Jan 20, 27 and Feb 3, 10 from 7-8:30 p.m., Fahs Room. Free.
With the First UU church adopting Education/Literacy as the church-wide social justice theme, we anticipate an increased interest in volunteer tutoring among our congregation. This four-session workshop will introduce new tutors to the research and methods involved in teaching (1) reading and/or (2) study skills. This workshop can be supplemented by a related course, Tutoring Study Skills, which begins shortly after this course ends. Tutoring Reading will briefly cover what the current research shows about learning to read, then move on to the four pillars of reading competency: phonemic awareness, phonetics, comprehension and fluency. Tutors will leave the course with the knowledge of how to estimate their students’ reading abilities and with suggestions of methods and materials that work. Facilitators: Sharon Tomalin, Joan Forman and others.
UU Circle of Men
Tuesdays, Feb 2- April 6, 6:30–8:30 p.m., Chapel, $20
Co-create a community of men for eight-weeks and experience activities and rituals that promote honesty, self-disclosure and fun. The class will follow the eight-week outline in Bill Kauth’s A Circle of Men: The Original Manual for Men’s Support Groups (the book is neither required nor necessary to participate). Scott Youmans has been active in progressive men¹s groups since 2002. There will be no class on February 16 or March 16.
Tutoring Study Skills
Wednesdays, Feb 24, March 3, 10, 17 from 7–8:30 pm, Fahs Room, Free
With the First UU church adopting Education/Literacy as the church-wide social justice theme, we anticipate an increased interest in volunteer tutoring among our congregation. This four-session workshop will introduce new tutors to the research and methods involved in teaching (1) reading and/or (2) study skills. This workshop can be supplemented by a related course, Tutoring Reading, which begins in late January. Tutoring Study Skills, will address the needs of the more competent or adult reader who needs support in specific course work. Tutors will leave the course with the knowledge and tools to help their students better organize their learning and their study materials. Facilitators: Sharon Tomalin, Joan Forman and others.
Authentic Movement & Contemplative Dance
Saturday, February 27 from 12–3:30 pm, Parish Room, $20
Authentic Movement (also known as Contemplative Dance), is a form of moving meditation, simple yet profound, in which we allow our bodies to lead us in movement and/or stillness as we release self-criticism and allow ourselves to be moved into deeper awareness. The movement is unchoreographed, unaccompanied by music, instead flowing from the mover's internal impulse in the moment. As part of the Authentic Movement process, we also have the opportunity to serve as witness to others' movement, releasing judgment of the mover and her/his movements. Instead we notice our inner responses to the movement and to the experience as witness as another aspect of focusing on our own self-awareness. No dance experience necessary for participation! Please wear comfortable clothing (socks or bare feet work best) and bring a writing and/or drawing notebook and pens, pencils, markers, etc. (I will bring some of these materials as well for those who may not have them.) If you have further questions, please contact Ann-Michele Corbi Potvin at tava44@yahoo.com.
Ethical Eating
Mondays, March 1–29 from 7–9 pm, 2nd floor Shared Ministry Suite, $20
What constitutes food? How much should be eaten? Where does our food come from? How is it produced and by whom? What is ethical eating? These are some of the questions each participant will have the opportunity to answer for oneself. The workshop will conclude by crafting a self-defined Consumption Covenant that will apply various spiritual practices to one’s dietary goals. Source text include In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan; A Diet for a New America; the documentary Food Inc.; and Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingslover. Facilitated by Rev. Nate Walker
The Poem as Stillpoint
Mondays, March 8-April 5, 7:00 p.m. Fahs Room, $20
These five weeks we will practice reading a few poets closely (e.g. Wallace Stevens, WC Williams, Denise Levertov, Elizabeth Bishop & Philip Larkin) to enjoy collaborative learning and the centering in the present that results from focusing on a poem. For those who want to purchase them, the poems will be chosen from the following books: Selected Poems by William Carlos Williams; Elizabeth Bishop, The Complete Poems; Denise Levertov, The Life Around Us; and Collected Poems by Philip Larkin. [All are poems are available online from Abe Books.] Facilitated by Heather Speirs.
A Delicate Balance: the Work of Committed Relationships
Saturday, March 27, 2009 from 9:30-4:30, Olympia Brown Room (third floor)
Over and over, we hear couples say that being a couple is "hard work" but rarely do people say what the work is or how it is done. This workshop will provide the basic guidelines for understanding what a committed relationship is (regardless of the couple’s sexual orientation), how to identify when your relationship is in or out of balance, and the steps to take to begin to re-balance when it is needed. Since every couple is different, there will be differences in what couples feel is balance for them. This is not a daylong therapy group. However, we will seek examples from participants about how the concepts relate to personal experiences. Sharing will be based on your willingness. We will start with a brief discussion about respecting confidentiality. The workshop is based on an unpublished manuscript written by the leaders. It was prompted by an invitation from a young person to speak about marriage at their wedding as well as their long experience in working with individuals and couples. They have been married for 45 years and still work at maintaining balance in their relationship. Plan to bring a bag lunch as we will work through the noon hour. Facilitated by Mark B. Peterson, Ed.D. and Carol S. Peterson, MSW.
Homophobia & the Bible
Monday, April 12 from 7–9:30 pm, Second Floor Ministry Suite, Free
Join Rev. Nate for a free showing of the moving documentary entitled “For the Bible Tells Me So” that reveals the stunning clash between religion and homosexuality. A brief discussion will take place after the film. Facilitator: Rev. Nate Walker.
ADORE: A Dialogue on Race & Ethnicity
Monday, April 19 from 7–9:30 pm, Second Floor Ministry Suite, Free
Three-time Oscar winning film, Crash, will serve as the text for us to explore issues of race and ethnicity in the United States. The following quote will serve as our starting point for the discussion: “It's the sense of touch. In any real city, you walk, you know? You brush past people, people bump into you. In L.A., nobody touches you. We're always behind this metal and glass. I think we miss that touch so much, that we crash into each other, just so we can feel something.” Facilitated by Rev. Nate Walker.
Joseph Priestley District Conference
April 16-17, 2010 Friday night and Saturday 9 am – 6 pm
The Park Ridge at Valley Forge Hotel & Conference Center
Join sixty-seven area congregations to develop and strengthen a community of healthy Unitarian Universalists organizations, striving for diversity of theology and culture, deepening our sense of mutual accountability to each other and the movement. To register for this conference please visit www.jpduua.org.
Everyday Spiritual Practices
Mondays, May 10, 17, 24, 31, June 7, 14 from 7–8:30 pm, $20 book fee
Second floor Shared Ministry Suite
Inspired by Scott Alexander’s book, this workshop will explore various pathways for enriching your life. This hands-on workshop will engage participants in the spiritual disciplines of the mind, the heart, the will, the body and the soul. The cost of the book is $20 to be paid to the church at the first session.
Visit Tibet in India
Sunday, January 31, 12:30 PM, Chapel, $20
Two delightful short videos filmed at the Tibetan Bon Menri Monastery in Dolanji, India. HH the 33rd shown by Karin Tetlow. The films are “Khalong: The Summer Ritual of Menri Monastery” (11 minutes): A colorful celebratory ritual that purifies negativity and recharges blessings with prayers,. flags and fire; and “The Dedication of the Zhang Bod Documentation Centre:” His Holiness the Dali Lama visits the Menri Monastery and the 33rd Abbot of Menri. The new documentation center collects and records materials related to the Bon. Bon is the oldest spiritual tradition of Tibet that predates the rise of Tibetan Buddhism. Often described as shamanistic, its ancient roots derive from a profound respect for nature and emphasize the healing of physical and environmental as well as spiritual afflictions. Often dismissed as primitive, Bon is now recognized as a major spiritual tradition that believes divinity resides in all natural systems. Bon is the source of much Tibetan ritual such as flying Tibetan flags and calling on the five elements of earth, water, fire, air and space.
Ongoing Workshops
Meditation Group
Sundays, 10:15 -10:45 am, Chapel, Free
Breathing in, we breathe in peace. Breathing out we breathe out love. Center yourself before the main service by gathering in the chapel Sunday mornings through June 13th.
Depression Support Group
First Sundays of each month, 12:30 am, Second floor, Fahs Room, Free
Jan 3, Feb 7, March 7, April 4, May 2, June 6
A small group ministry is available to those who are struggling with depression. Members and friends of the church gather after service on the first Sunday of every month to provide support by listening to one another and to share problems, ideas and resources. Facilitators: Arcenia Rosal, 215-561-6506, and Lynn Rubin, 215-837-3371.
Women’s Reading Group
First Mondays of every month, offsite, Free
The Women’s Reading Group meets monthly in members’ homes. Books are chosen by participants in the group. A small collection is taken at each meeting, and donated to a charity chosen by the group. Book titles and meeting places are listed in the Beacon and in the worship announcement sheet. For information on the next book and meeting place, please call program contact Ginny Beier, 215-545-7831, vhbeier@hep.upenn.edu.
Singing as Spiritual Practice
Thursdays, 7:30 pm, Parish Room, Free
The choir is open to all who love to sing and who have found singing for church services a significant part of their worship experience. Rehearsals are on Thursday evenings from 7:30 to 9:00 pm in the Parish Room, and on Sunday mornings from 10-10:45 am. We are a multi-generational group of singers who enjoy each others’ company and enjoy making “a joyful noise.” Singers must be able to read music. For more information contact our Music Director, Jen Hayman at jen@philauu.org.
Spirit Seekers
Third Fridays, 7 pm, Emerson Room, Free
The Native American Spirituality Group for Women has changed its name to Spirit Seekers and is open to new members at any time, and meets all year. Instead of using a text as a learning tool, we will invite speakers and concentrate on a different topic each month, such as the Medicine Wheel, local tribes, etc. Spirit Seekers will meet from January to June, and continue to be an all-women group for now. Contact Connie Baker at conniejaz1@gmail.com for more info. Aho!
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