UUCA - Adult Religious Education

ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Mission: Adult Religious Education (ARE) nurtures the lifelong development of the whole person - body, mind, heart, and spirit - through broad and flexible opportunities for study, exploration, reflection, and spiritual practice. ARE also nurtures the development of a whole community through courses on our relationships, our congregation, our faith movement, and our wider world.

Register for all classes by calling or emailing the office at adultregistration@uuca.org. Childcare may be reserved online.

Contacts: Rev. Anthony David, adavid @uuca.org, and Rev. Marti Keller, mkeller@uuca.org, 404-634-5134

SPRING & SUMMER 2008 SCHEDULE

Spring and Summer 2008 Adult Enrichment Classes and Programs at UUCA UUCA will give to the world a vibrant faith community for spiritual seekers that worship together, embracing lifelong religious learning and respecting different spiritual journeys.

SPECIAL EVENTS YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS:

SPECIAL: Re-Examining our UUA Principles and Purposes: Creed, Covenant, or Conundrum?

• Saturday, May 17, 9-noon in the Chapel

• Contact: Rev. Marti Keller, mkeller@uuca.org

• Our recent gifts survey revealed a high level of interest in learning more about Unitarian Universalism, its history and its undergirding sources of belief and principles. The UUA Commission on Appraisal is currently reviewing the principles and purposes covenant of our liberal faith association and encouraging congregations to do the same. This one session class is an opportunity to review and even challenge the assumptions behind these core statements. It will involve individual and group reflection. This class will be appropriate for those new to our community and longtime UUs. Those attending this year's General Assembly in Ft. Lauderdale Florida in June are especially urged to attend. Participants are encouraged to read minister emeritus Rev. Dr. Edward Frost's book With Purpose and Principle, which will be available in our bookstore. The leaders will be Rev. Marti Keller and Shirley Adams, member of the UUCA Board of Trustees.

SPECIAL: Justice Empowerment Workshop

• Saturday all day May 31

• Contact: Rev. Marti Keller, mkeller@uuca.org

• What have been our successes as a justice-seeking congregation? What are some new possibilities for social action and advocacy? What are the tools and structures we need to best live out our end statement: UUCA will give to the world people with a passion for social and economic justice who work together for human rights and a sustainable environment? Save all day Saturday May 31 for our Justice Empowerment Workshop, facilitated by Susan Leslie, Director of the Office of Congregational Advocacy and Witness. The basic purpose of this workshop--the first we have arranged in more than a decade--is for members of a congregation to assess the quality of their justice program and to make strategic decisions about new directions and focus. During this workshop, participants will reflect upon what they can do as a religious community to put their faith into practice.

ADULT ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS ON SUNDAYS

WEEKLY: Being a Unitarian Universalist Parent

• Sundays, April 13, 20, 27 and May 4, 12:30-2:00 pm, Room 216, (Youth Room)

• Contact: Pat Kahn, mailto:pkahn@uuca.org

• Throughout most of the Unitarian Universalist Association, most religious education centers on the weekly hour of Sunday morning classes, but most of us know this is not enough. Parents want to know how they can better understand and interpret UU values during the week. This 4 session class is designed to help! Please register by emailing Pat, and reserve childcare online at www.uuca.org at least one week in advance.

WEEKLY: Food and Spirituality

• Sundays, TBD by participants

• Contact: Cindy Brown, cmbrow4@learnlink.emory.edu

• Cindy Brown, our "seminarian in residence", has created a 5 week intergenerational summer RE program on "Food and Spirituality" as part of her Care of Creation class at Candler. If you are interested in participating, please contact Cindy Brown or Pat Kahn at mailto:pkahn@uuca.org so that we can choose dates (most likely in June) and a time - either during RE class time or after the service.

WEEKLY: Meditation

• Sundays, 8:30-9:25 am. until May 25; 9:00 - 9:55 am, June 1 - September 1

• Contact: Mike McHugh, mjmchugh@bellsouth.net, 770-270-5714.

• Listen to inspirational readings and do silent, guided, and walking meditations. "First Timers" to the Sunday Morning Meditation are invited to come at 8:15 am (instead of 8:30) for basic instruction in meditation.

WEEKLY: The Modern Mind

• Sundays, 9:30-10:45 am, through May 25, 9:00 - 9:50 am June I - September 1

• Contact: Ken Scott, libkps@emory.edu, 770-413-7555.

• In the spirit of open-minded support of each others' search for truth, this eclectic group reads and discusses books that challenge our minds and help to clarify our aspirations. We are currently reading "Six Myths about the Good Life: Thinking about what has Value" by Joel J. Kuppermann.

WEEKLY: UUCA Humanist Fellowship

• Sundays, 10:00-11:00 am through May 25, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm June 1 - September 1

• Contact: Louise White, 404-371-8072.

• The UUCA Humanist Fellowship is a group that discusses and learns about a broad range of topics related to humanist principles, such as seeking scientific understanding of the world around us and finding human solutions to human problems. We also learn about and seek to promote the strong humanist tradition in the UU community. Everyone is welcome.

ADULT ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS ON MONDAY

WEEKLY: End of Life Issues: A Road Map for Organizing Your Final Years

• Mondays, May 5-19 from 1:00 - 2:15 pm; June 2 - 16 from 1:00 - 2:15 pm; June 23 from 11:00 am - 12:15 pm; June 30 from 1:00 - 2:15 pm

• Contact: Knob Knobel, knob23@comcast.net

• Knob Knobel and other discussion leaders will explore a variety of critical end-of-life issues over the course of this eight session class. Some of the session topics are as follows: "medical intervention near of the end of life;" "hospitals, hospices, and longterm care;" "what you need to ask your elder law attorney, charitable giving, estate planning."

WEEKLY: Religion in Popular Film

• Monday evenings, March 11, 18, 25, April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 from 7:00 -9:00 pm

• Contact: Frank Casper, frankcasper@comcast.net

• This program is an exploration of religious themes and ideas that emerge in the cultural genre of popular movies. In this program religion, or in this case, religious ideas or themes, will mean any statement or dialogue in any given film that concerns or addresses itself to the nature of the world in which we live, and what it means to be human within that world. Some of these themes concern such issues as "the real world", what is and what is not real, whether there is a rational order and what that might mean, whether the world has any inherent meaning or value, and certainly love, faith, and justice. Statements like these are often made in films that are otherwise not explicitly or intentionally religious, but nonetheless convey a religious message along some or all of these lines. There is, for example, a rational and ordered cosmos in films as diverse as "It's A Wonderful Life" and "The Matrix", but what that means in each film is vastly different. This will be a fun way to explore the big issues.

BIWEEKLY: Giving And Receiving Empathy-A Spiritual Practice from NVC

• Mondays, 7-9pm on Feb. 11 and 25, March 10 and 24, and April 7 and 21.

• Contact: Carolyn P. Steinhaus, Carolyn.Steinhaus@comcast.net, 404-401-5722.

• Most of us have the experience of finding ourselves easily compassionate some of the time but not always. This class provides experience in deepening and extending the range of circumstances in which we can respond to others and ourselves compassionately. Empathy is a key concept in many forms of healing, compassionate communication, active listening. It is also crucial to deeply connecting in moments of joy and celebration. Understanding empathy will be our primary focus. We will distinguish empathy from near neighbors such as sympathy, advising, consoling, reassuring, etc. Each of us will explore a bit the inner territory that sometimes makes compassionate response difficult for us. We will actively practice with each other using both real circumstances if willingly offered and exercises constructed to teach. Instructor: Carolyn Steinhaus, MDiv. (Starr King School for the Ministry), Registered Facilitator (GaNVC).

ADULT ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS ON TUESDAY

BIWEEKLY: Jesus Seminar Study Group

• Second and Fourth Tuesdays, 7:30 - 9:00 pm.

• Contact: Sven Lovegren, solovegren@yahoo.com, 404-634-7750.

• This group developed as an outgrowth of the Westar Institute's Jesus Seminar that was held at UUCA in April 2004. The group concentrates on topics related to the historical Jesus, including the social, political, and theological context of early Christianity. The topics of future meetings are decided by the group, and may include reading additional books, discussion, or guest speakers.

ADULT ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS ON WEDNESDAY

EIGHT WEEKS: The Story of Your Life, Writing a Spiritual Autobiography

• Wednesdays starting May 7 and ending June 25, 7:30-9:00pm

• Contact: Lanie Damon at 768-665-4001 or ldamon@mindspring.com

• This class uses The Story of Your Life, Writing a Spiritual Autobiography, by Dan Wakefield, published by Beacon Press, 1990. The first half of the workshop, the first four weeks, consists of directed writing and drawing exercises, sharing done in the meeting times, and assignments for "homework." The second half, weeks 5-8, is participants sharing aloud their spiritual autobiographies, which are the final assignment, growing from the work done in the first four weeks of the course. The goal is an 8 - 10 page spiritual autobiography which participants share in the second half of the workshop, no more than four participants sharing each of the last four meetings, or portions / excerpts shared the last morning of a retreat weekend. Maximum of 16 participants. There will be a nominal materials fee for drawing materials to complete various assignments in the first four weeks.

FOUR WEEKS: Radical Welcome

• Weds at 6:30-8:00, June 4, 11, and 18. Plus closing brunch, Sunday, June 22, 11:30-2:00.

• Contact: Chance Hunter, chunter@uuca.org, or Pat Kahn, pkahn@uuca.org.

• Stephanie Spellers describes radically welcoming congregation as one that seeks to welcome the voices, presence and power of many groups---especially those who have been pushed to the margins, cast out, silenced or closeted. Join us as we explore the spirituality and practice of radical welcome and imagine new ways to practice radical welcome at UUCA. The class includes group discussion and reflections on short readings. Participants are encouraged to bring a brown bag dinner to the Wednesday night sessions.

EIGHT WEEKS: Buddhism Basics

• Wednesdays starting June 4 and ending July 23, 7:30-9:00 pm.

• Contact: Rev. Taiun M. Elliston at mailto:edai@earthlink.net or 404-895-0123.

• Buddhism Basics is a program developed by the founder and abbot of the Atlanta Soto Zen Center (www.aszc.org). ASZC is a non-profit organization incorporated in 1977, whose mission is to promote the practice and understanding of Zen Buddhism. The curriculum will address basic teachings of Buddhism and how they impact daily life in today's complex society. Topics include the eight dimensions as articulated in Buddhism's Noble Eightfold Path. Each will be the subject of one of the eight classes, and will focus on what is meant by "right" practice. They will be taken up in reverse order of the standard sequencing: 1. Meditation; 2. Mindfulness; 3. Effort; 4. Livelihood; 5. Action; 6. Speech; 7. Thought; 8. View or Understanding. Reference materials and visual aids will be provided.

FOUR WEEKS: The Changing Face of God

• Wednesdays, August 6, 13, 20, and 26, 6:30-8:00

• Contact: Chance Hunter, chunter@uuca.org

• What are some alternative ideas about God? Can God suffer? Does God change his/her mind? Does God prefer oppressed people over the privileged? Does God have to be all-powerful and all-knowing? The class centers around group discussion of the book The Changing Face of God, including essays by Jesus Seminar scholar Marcus Borg and NPR regular Karen Armstrong. Participants are encouraged to bring a brown bag dinner.

Human Origins and the Creation of Patriarchy

• Wednesdays, January 16 - April 30, Room 213

• Contact: David Slavin at dhslavi@emory.edu, 404-299-5566.

• The discussion includes the evolutionary history of the hominid genus, both biological and cultural; the central role of the female gender in the advancement of technology and cultural evolution from earliest origins to the domestication of plants and animals (Neolithic, agricultural revolution) and the gradual displacement of female-centered social organization by male dominated modes of production and reproduction. Why has this pattern been so consistent? Was it inevitable? What does it tell us about "human nature" and what hope is there for future reordering of society along more equitable lines? Does male privilege provide the foundation for other forms of privilege, such as racial inequality? Does male privilege act as a social control system? What is the origin of religion? Do humans have an evolutionary predilection towards belief? I will be drawing from several books for discussion and will make them available:

• Lauren Ristvet, In the Beginning (McGraw-Hill 2007) prehistory to archaic (pristine) civilizations (i.e. Sumerian, Egyptian, Harappan, Qin) [Ristvet is ancient historian at Ga State Univ. History Dept]
• Alexander Saxton, Religion and the Human Prospect, Monthly Review Press NY 2006
• Gerda Lerner, Creation of Patriarchy. Lerner is the dean and founding mother of women's history in the US. This book examines the "class war from 4000 BCE to about 500 BCE in which the patriarchy was enthroned in Mesopotamia, the Levant, and Greece. She "stands Engels on his head."

WEEKLY: BUDDHISM BOOK DISCUSSION

• Wednesdays Jan 9 - May 21, 2008 7:30-9:00pm

• Contact: Ben Kupronis, bbk3@cdc.gov

• Our group reads books related to Buddhism and discusses how what we've read applies to our own lives. There are no prerequisites other than an interest. New participants are always welcome. Experience or knowledge regarding Buddhism and/or meditation is NOT required. For the spring, we will read "A Path with Heart" by Jack Kornfield which is available at the UUCA bookstore.

MONTHLY: Laughter Yoga Club

• First Wednesdays, 7:30 - 8:15 pm

• Contact: Jean Woodall, jeanwoodall@comcast.net, 404-378-1673.

• Drop in one time or join the Laughter Yoga Club. It's good for what ails you. Laughter Yoga was started in India by Dr. Kataria to help boost health and the attitude of his patients. Now he is spreading this delightfully contagious activity all over the globe to help boost the health and attitude of the planet. An intergenerational experience, this class is open to children, youth and adults. For more information about Laughter Yoga go to www.laughteryoga.org. Jean Woodall has taught yoga and other wellness practices for many years. She has practiced craniosacral and massage therapy for 25 years, and has recently taken training in "laughter yoga," which she now enjoys sharing with UUCA.

ADULT ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS ON THURSDAY

MONTHLY: Third Thursday Cinema

• Third Thursdays, 7:00-9:00 pm.

• Contact: Renee Vorbach, reneeandmike@mindspring.com.

• The Peace Network offers a thought-provoking movie the third Thursday of each month.

ADULT ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS ON FRIDAY

MONTHLY: First Friday Sing Along

• First Fridays, 8:00-11:00 pm.

• Contact: Terry Carpenter, tcarpenter@uuca.org, 404-636-5253.

• Want an informal place to sing for a couple of hours, once a month, with older and newer friends? We will meet at 8 PM, and go to 10 or so, at UUCA in the Youth Room, next to the chapel. Our sole purpose will be to sing whatever we want to sing. The rules are simple -- the only talking expected is to introduce ourselves, and to request a song. Any person may request a song as long as someone there knows it and we have the words. Participants may bring guitars, drums, or other instruments to play along. We may sing a cappella or (most often) with guitar accompaniment. You can sing melody or harmony or whatever you want.

INTERESTED IN OFFERING A PROGRAM OR CLASS AT UUCA?

**For offerings this Fall (through December), please submit proposals as soon as possible for earlier consideration, but no later than Friday, August 1.**

Rev. Anthony David, Rev. Marti Keller, Cindy Hoffner, and Christine Ristaino have joined together to explore new directions in the Adult Religious Education Program. Our team is working towards providing a wider course selection as well as an opportunity for community members to explore spiritual, philosophical, and practical interests at a deeper level. Without wishing to limit course offerings here at UUCA (all courses are welcome), we have divided the Adult RE curriculum into four main categories: UU Core Identity and Theology (including all source traditions), Spiritual Practice (broadly defined), Life Skills, and Leadership and Service. We view these four categories as broad guidelines for structuring the program, and will be happy to talk with you about how your interests connect to one or more of these areas. Or, if you have other ideas for offerings that you think would enrich the program, please let us know!

We invite UUCA members and friends to submit a proposal for a course or workshop you are interested in offering during the next year (Fall or Winter/Spring terms of the 2008-09 year). If this is a new venture for you, we will be happy to work with you to develop your ideas. Of course, submitting a proposal is not a guarantee that a course will be selected; we will consider a variety of factors, including the range of other offerings and space availability.

Here's what we need in a course proposal (please include everything):

Name of the course/workshop
A brief description of the course/workshop. If the course is offered, this course description (possibly edited in consultation with the instructor) will be posted on the website and included in an Adult RE bulletin to be published before each term.
Preferred dates and times
Instructor's name and contact information for publication (phone and email)
A short personal instructor biography

Please email your proposal (in a Word attachment or the text of the email) to Christine Ristaino and/or Cindy Hoffner.

The Adult RE team will meet to review all proposals, and to plan the course schedule for each term. We will then be in contact with you about your submission. If your course is scheduled, we will consult with you about finalizing the schedule and the location of the course, as well as other details. With many courses, certain popular days and times, and limited space, there may be time/space conflicts that we will resolve at this point.

Regarding childcare: Childcare is available without reservation September through May on Sunday from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm and on Wednesday evenings from 5:30 to 9:15 pm (reservations on Wednesday are required during the summer). Program leaders may request childcare for times other than these by completing the "Event Planner Childcare Request" online at www.uuca.org. So, if your course is scheduled at a time other than Sunday morning or Wednesday evening and you want childcare to be available, you will need to complete this request. Once your request has been approved, you may advertise childcare in this way: "Childcare is available by reservation online at least one week in advance." If there are so few reservations that providing childcare at UUCA is not cost effective, parents will be asked to make their own arrangements for babysitting in their home and UUCA may pay a portion of those expenses.

Some final things to keep in mind:

If you are the instructor/facilitator of an Adult RE offering at UUCA, we are asking that you take a regular record of your class participants. Forms for this are located in the Adult RE mailbox (top row) in the UUCA office. Please do this for each session you teach/facilitate. You can return them to Rev. David's mailbox in the office.
As for UUCA publicity:

If your class is a special or one-session event, and you want to publicize it in the weekly Cliffhanger newsletter, please submit it to cliffhanger@uuca.org by Wednesday at noon. Since space in the Cliffhanger is limited, we ask for your patience and understanding if your announcement does not appear or is shortened.
If your class is ongoing, you do not need to submit anything special; the Cliffhanger will list it in the weekly calendar section.
If you would like to include an announcement in the monthly newsletter, please send it to newsletter@uuca.org. The deadline for submission is noon on the third Monday of each month (for the next month's newsletter).