Adult Spiritual Growth & Development · 2015-03-07 · researched the adult lives of hundreds of...
Transcript of Adult Spiritual Growth & Development · 2015-03-07 · researched the adult lives of hundreds of...
Adult Spiritual Growth & Development
Courses & Events Spring 2015
First Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Ann Arbor
4001 Ann Arbor-Saline Rd.
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48103
Phone: 734-665-6158
www.uuaa.org
Conversations that matter
The First Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Ann Arbor
Guided by Section 1.1 of our Governing Policies, the Adult Education Advisory Team plans to engage the minds, hearts, and whole selves of adult learners in our community. With the understanding that the Unitarian Universalist (UU) journey is one of an ongoing quest for truth and meaning, we will provide adult participants with opportunities to:
Develop an integrated sense of their own UU and UUAA identity;
Find resources for negotiating the various stages of their life journey;
Be empowered to live their beliefs through their actions;
Cultivate spiritual deepening and develop spiritual practices;
Enrich their understanding of the world around us;
Build connections with others.
Members: Charley Burleigh, Bruce Gibb; Bett Weston, Bev Black, and Carol Acitelli
Design: Angelina Zaytsev
About the Adult Education Advisory Team
Dear All,
Welcome to the Spring 2015 Adult SGD Program! The Adult Education Advisory Team, guided by its mission statement, has compiled the follow-ing offerings. These pages contain descriptions of the courses offered by Adult SGD, Pastoral Care, Challenging Racism, Social Justice and Welcom-ing Ministries. If you have any questions or comments about the Adult SGD Program, I welcome them.
With care, Sandy Garges Director of Spiritual Growth and Development
Adult Spiritual Growth & Development 2
The First Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Ann Arbor
Course/Event Title Page No.
Welcome Ministries
Introduction to Our Faith 4
Offered by Other UUAA Programs
Workshop: Islam & Muslims 101 5
Film & Discussion: Pay 2 Play 5
Book Discussion: The Selma Awakening 6
Workshop: African-American UUs: Exploring Our Heritage and History
6
Workshop: Improving Your Memory 7
Offered by Adult SGD
The Art of Storytelling 8
Reclaiming Prophetic Witness 8
Awareness of Mind 9
Aging Well—The Harvard Study 10
True Love 101 11
Youth Mental Health First Aid 11
SafeTALK 12
Sit & Laugh Bunch 13
Reflection & Learning Project on Israel-Palestine 13
Writing Our Obituaries 14
Great Lakes & Environmental Action 15
Social Media 15
The Unparalleled Challenges of the Coming Decades 15
Active Dream Workshop 16
Cakes for the Queen of Heaven 17
Group/Event Title
UUAA Community of Writers: Organizational Meeting 18
Introduction to Our Faith
This one-day workshop is an introduction to Unitarian Universalism for
both newcomers and long-time members. Taught by UUAA ministers
with assistance from lay members of the congregation, topics include
the history of Unitarian Universalism and this congregation, how this
congregation is governed, how to get involved at UUAA, the meaning
and responsibilities of membership, and participants’ own spiritual jour-
neys. Register at least one week prior to the workshop.
Offered by Welcoming Ministries
Facilitators: UUAA ministers
Register: At the Involvement Table during Social Hour or by email to
Hannah Hotchkiss, Welcome Ministries Coordinator, [email protected]
Details: Single-session workshops on Saturdays, March 21, 2015 (sign-
up by March 15) and June 13, 2015 (sign-up by June7), 10:00 AM – 2:30
PM
Location: Fahs Chapel
Max # of participants: 20
Adult Spiritual Growth & Development 4
HOW TO REGISTER FOR COURSES Registration opens at 10:30 am on Sunday, March 8th, using one of the following two options:
by email to the address provided in the description (mention course by name),
by paper form at the Adult Spiritual Growth & Development table during Social Hour on March 8th, 15th or 22nd.
Registration is not required for some courses or events where no email registration instruction is found in their descriptions. Registration continues for each respective course or event until the day prior to that course or event.
Course & Event Descriptions
Workshop: Islam & Muslims 101
Standing on the side of love with our neighbors begins by learning about
who they are. Come to this discussion to learn more about what Mus-
lims believe, how they practice and where they come from. We'll ad-
dress common UU misperceptions about Muslims and the active efforts
to promote and fund Islamophobia in America that are contributing to
such misperceptions. Presenter Jaye Starr Boz was raised as a UU before
embracing Islam. She is currently completing an M.A. in Islamic Studies
& Christian Muslim Relations at Hartford Seminary as well as a G.C. in
Chaplaincy.
Offered by Social Justice Council and Challenging Racism
Details: Sunday, March 15, 1:00 – 2:30 PM
Location: Fahs Chapel
Max # of Participants: 40
Film & Discussion: Pay 2 Play
The film Pay 2 Play follows filmmaker John
Ennis' quest to find a way out from under the
Pay 2 Play System, where Politicians reward
their donors with even larger sums from the
public treasury -- through contracts, tax cuts,
and deregulation. Pay 2 Play: Democracy's
High Stakes is the layman's guidebook to tak-
ing back our democracy.
Offered by Challenging Racism, the Social Jus-
tice Council, League of Women Voters, ROAD
(Reclaiming our American Democracy) and
Spring 2015 Course Catalog 5
Course & Event Descriptions
Interfaith Council for Peace & Justice
Facilitator: Lucia Heinold
Details: Saturday, April 18, 1:00-4:00 PM
Location: Fahs Chapel
Max # of Participants: 40
Book Discussion: The Selma Awakening
Community book discussion of The Selma
Awakening: How the Civil Rights Movement
Tested and Changed Unitarian Universalism, by
UU Rev. Mark Morrison-Reed. Rev. Mark Morri-
son-Reed will be preaching at UUAA on May 3rd.
The book is available at our QUUest Bookstore
or from UUA. An eBook is available in the Ama-
zon Kindle Store and on Google Play.
Offered by Challenging Racism
Facilitators: Charlie Pekarek and Lucia Heinold
Register by email: Lucia Heinold <[email protected]> or Kathy Frie-
drichs <[email protected]>
Details: Sunday, April 19, 2015, 1:00-2:30 PM
Location: Jackson Chapel
Max # of Participants: 30
Workshop: African-American UUs: Exploring Our
Heritage and History
Sign up for a workshop with UU minister and author Reverend Mark
Morrison-Reed on Saturday, May 2 from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM. We
will focus on exploring our heritage and history involving African-
Adult Spiritual Growth & Development 6
Course & Event Descriptions
American UUs through the written works of Rev. Mark Morrison-Reed.
It’s 2+ hours of lively UU history as seen through his various books and
includes a debriefing lunch at 1:00.
Offered by Challenging Racism
Facilitator: Rev. Mark Morrison-Reed
Register by email: Lucia Heinold <[email protected]> or Kathy Frie-
drichs <[email protected]>
Details: Saturday, May 2, 2015, 10:00 AM- 2:00 PM
Location: Fahs Chapel
Max # of Participants: 40
Workshop: Improving Your Memory
Why can’t we remember like we used to? What can we do when we are
starting to forget? Lynn Stern, social worker at the University of Michi-
gan, will present an informative session on how memory works, how
memory changes with age, factors that affect memory and a host of
memory improvement techniques. There will be time for questions or
concerns. Lynn’s updated book Improving Your Memory - How to Re-
member What You’re Starting to Forget will be available for $20, cash or
check.
Offered by Pastoral Care – Education
Presenter: Lynn Stern, Social Worker at the University of Michigan
Medical Center’s Geriatrics Center
Facilitator: Emily Simon
Register by email: Terry Madden <[email protected]>
Details: Saturday, April 18, 10:00 – 11:30 AM
Location: Fahs Chapel
Max # of Participants: 40
Spring 2015 Course Catalog 7
Course & Event Descriptions
The Art of Storytelling
Telling and listening to stories is a way for people to enjoy and cherish
one another’s company. Storytelling is also an effective way to teach, to
inspire, to heal, and to delight. Whether you want to hone your story-
telling skills to use in front of an audience or around a fire with friends,
this class is for you. Have fun while learning to relax in front of other
people and let your creativity blossom. This interactive course will help
you shape ideas, and gain experience in the effectiveness of body and
vocal techniques. Beginners are welcome as well as those with more
experience.
Facilitator: Bev Black
Register by email: Bev Black <[email protected]>
Details: Four sessions; Mondays, March 16, 23, 30 & April 6, 2015,
7:00 – 9:00 PM
Location: Brown Room
Max # of participants: 12 Min #: 6
Reclaiming Prophetic Witness
This class will be based on Reclaiming Prophetic Witness: Liberal Religion
in the Public Square by Paul Rasor (Skinner House Books, 2013) that was
selected as the UUA “Common Read” for 2014-2015. Rasor observes
that many liberals are uncomfortable with talking about our faith as the
well from which spring our social justice commitments. The book in-
cludes insights from our theological heritage and our history that have
bearing for us today, and calls us to prophetic, faith-based justice work.
All participants will be expected to read the pages 1-27 of the book be-
fore the first session. The book will be available in the UUAA Quest
bookstore on March 8th.
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Course & Event Descriptions
Class discussion will test Rasors’s ideas against personal experiences and
invite participants to share their reactions, reflections and stories in a
safe trusting space. We’ll also explore ways the framework in the book
might strengthen social justice and witness work as individuals and as
members of the Congregation. Coffee and bagels will be shared.
Facilitator: Joan Burleigh
Register by email & questions: Joan Burleigh <[email protected]>
Details: Two sessions; Saturday, March 21 and 28
Location: Brown Room
Max # of participants: 10
Awareness of Mind
Discover meditation as a form of yoga based on practices adapted to
everyday life and our natural capacity for moral uprightness. Supported
by discussion, practice, and readings drawn from Mahayana Buddhist
sources, class members experience Awareness of Mind as the natural
complement of our Upright Mind as addressed in the fall class. Note
that the two classes may be taken in any order. Awareness of Mind pro-
vides critical support for taking the practice of engaged Buddhism be-
yond the “6 AM sanctuary.”
Facilitator: Charley Burleigh
Register by email: Charley Burleigh <[email protected]>
Syllabus available
Details: Four sessions; Tuesdays, March 24, 31, April 7 & 14,
7:00—9:00 PM
Location: Brown Room
Max # of participants: 16 Min #: 6
Spring 2015 Course Catalog 9
Course & Event Descriptions
Aging Well—The Harvard Study
The 75-year longitudinal study on Adult Development, the “Grant study”
researched the adult lives of hundreds of men who were sophomores at
Harvard from the 1930s and ‘40s. Bill Bradley and JFK were among these
men who disclosed their own participation in the study. A 2012 book
written on the study’s findings, Triumphs of Experience, is authored by
one of the more recent directors of the study, George Vaillant. Two At-
lantic articles summarize the book’s findings and, like the book, use
amalgams of men’s stories to personalize and relate key points learned
about patterns of successful (and not so successful) living.
George Vaillant: “Positive aging must reflect vital reaction
to change, to disease and to environmental imbalance.”
There will be two summary articles sent to participants ahead of the
first class meeting. These are from The Atlantic Monthly that summarize
the findings from the Grant Study, the longest in American history.
Anyone is welcome to purchase the book, but the discussion will chiefly
pull from the two articles over our three sessions.
Facilitator: Barb Cherem
Register by email: Barb Cherem, < [email protected] >
Details: Three sessions; Tuesdays, April 21, 28, May 5, 7:00—9:00 PM
Location: Brown Room
Max # of participants: 20 Min #: 6
Adult Spiritual Growth & Development 10
Course & Event Descriptions
True Love 101
Being able to create successful relationships is the basis of living a life of
meaning where we thrive and not just survive. This workshop is based
on the book True Love 101: Guide to Discovering, Creating, and Sustain-
ing True Love, by Nancy L. Davis, LMSW, LMFT, as well as her thirty-
eight years of working with individuals and couples. During this interac-
tive workshop we will explore the experience of love, the power of
thought, projection, and judgment, the power of our needs, as well as
how to make very different choices which result in discovering, creating,
and sustaining truly loving relationships. Come and learn, laugh, and
leave knowing how to create successful relationships with ourselves and
others.
Facilitator: Nancy Davis
Register by email: Nancy Davis <[email protected]>
Details: Single-session; Saturday, May 9, 1:00 – 4:30 PM
Location: Fahs Chapel
Max # of participants: 40 Min #: 20
Youth Mental Health First Aid
Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family mem-
bers, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and hu-
man services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adoles-
cent & young adult (age 12-25) who is experiencing a mental health or
addictions challenge or is in crisis. The course introduces common men-
tal health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development,
and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both
crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depres-
Spring 2015 Course Catalog 11
Course & Event Descriptions
sion, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive
behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders. People tak-
ing the course learn a lot about their own mental health and about men-
tal illness resources for all. Workbooks $18 but class is free. There will
be ½ hour break, and attendees need to bring their own lunch.
Facilitator: Robbi Duda, RN
Register by email: Robbi Duda <[email protected]>
Details: Single-session; Saturday, March 28, 9:00 Am – 5:00 PM
Location: Jackson Chapel
Max # of participants: 30 Min #: 20
Safe Talk
SafeTALK is a 3 hour workshop that prepares anyone over the age of 15,
regardless of prior experience or training, to become a suicide-alert
helper. Most people with thoughts of suicide don’t truly want to die but
are struggling with the pain in their lives. Through their words and ac-
tions, they invite other people help to stay alive. SafeTALK-trained help-
ers practice how to recognize these invitations and take action by con-
necting them with life-saving intervention resources. Class free though
manual kits are $8 each.
Facilitator: Robbi Duda, RN
Register by email: Robbi Duda <[email protected]>
Details: Single-session; Saturday, April 11, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Location: Jackson Chapel
Max # of participants: 30 Min #: 20
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Course & Event Descriptions
Sit & Laugh Bunch
Learn to release your happiness by laughing with a certified facilitator of
the American School of Laughter Yoga. Programs have been held at UU-
AA, First Baptist Church of Ann Arbor, Pittsfield Senior Center, Carpenter
Place and National Association of Retired Federal Employees.
Facilitator: Barb Gales
Register by email: Barb Gales <[email protected]>
Details: Single-session; Monday, April 13, 1:00—3:00 PM
Location: Emerson Room
Max # of participants: 25 Min #: 5
Reflection & Learning Project on Israel-Palestine
Do you wish you had a better understanding of the conflict in Israel-
Palestine? Historic and fundamental shifts are taking place in this con-
flict, and in the roles of key segments of world and American society. For
various reasons, many UUs are ill informed on this issue. As a result, in
contrast to other historical human rights movements, we as a communi-
Spring 2015 Course Catalog 13
Course & Event Descriptions
ty are limited in our ability to make a positive contribution toward miti-
gating this issue. This course is designed to expose and foster a re-
spectful discussion on the fundamental issues driving this conflict.
For information, see UUJME’s website:
www.uujme.org/home/TakeAction/LearnandReflect.aspx.
Facilitators: Mark Jagner and Anne Garcia
Register by email: Anne Garcia <[email protected]>
Details: Five sessions; Thursdays, March 4, 11, 18 & 25 and April 1, 7:00
PM – 9:00 PM. Participants are invited to join the class after March 4
and before March 11.
Location: Jackson Chapel, March 4, 18 & April 1; David Room, March 11
& 25
Max # of participants: 20 Min #: 10
Writing Our Obituaries
How would you like to be remembered? Write your very own obituary –
write it in first person (‘I’), create a short humorous history, or a litany of
your accomplishments and heirs you leave behind. It can even be a love
poem to those you have loved most in this one short life.
Come join us in a two-day seminar to write your obituary the way you
want it to be read and published.
Facilitator: Pat Kuessner
Register by email: Pat Kuessner <[email protected]>
Details: Two sessions; Tuesday, April 21 & 28, 7:00—9:00 PM
Location: Brown Room
Max # of participants: 20 Min #: 10
Course & Event Descriptions
Adult Spiritual Growth & Development 14
Great Lakes & Environmental Action
Learn about recent trends in Great Lakes research and education. Dis-
cover how you may strengthen or reconnect to the Great Lakes, a criti-
cal resource locally, regionally, nationally and globally. We will also dis-
cuss the fact that a number of key scientists are UUAA members.
Facilitator: Elizabeth LaPorte
Register by email: Elizabeth LaPorte <[email protected]>
Details: Single-session; Monday, March 30, 7:00—9:00 PM
Location: Young Room
Max # of Participants: 24 Min #: 10
Social Media
Learn how to navigate Facebook and use it as part of your social justice
work.
Facilitator: Bethany Ramirez
Register by email: Bethany Ramirez < [email protected] >
Details: Single-session; Saturday, March 28, 10:00 AM – 12:00 NOON
Location: Jackson Chapel
Max # of participants: 30 Min #: 5
The Unparalleled Challenges of the Coming Dec-
ades
The gravity of the challenges confronting humanity this century is un-
paralleled in more ways than at any time in the history of civilization.
What distinguishes this century from previous centuries is its degree of
interconnectedness. Catastrophes in previous centuries generally were
more isolated and were much less likely to metastasize regionally or
Course & Event Descriptions
Spring 2015 Course Catalog 15
globally. Technological advances in communication, transportation, bur-
geoning of population have increased our interconnectedness. Adverse
environmental change is possibly the most serious crisis. But it is the
intersecting or converging nature of the stresses which is its basic char-
acteristic. No single crisis occurs in isolation.
Facilitator: Bennett Stark
Register by email: Bennett Stark <[email protected]>
Details: Four sessions; Thursdays, April 9, 16, 23 & 30, 7:00 – 9:00 PM
Location: Emerson Room
Max # of Participants: 20 Min #: 7
Active Dream Workshop
We have been dreamed by our ancestors. Just as we have
dreams for our own lives and those of our children and the
generations to come, our ancestors dreamed of us.
On Saturday May 9th as part of The World Day of Active Dreaming,
groups all around the world will be gathering to dream together. Here
at UUAA, using the tools of Active Dreaming (conscious dream journeys,
dream theater and dream re-entry) we will be gathering to commune
with our ancestors of the past and future to explore how we were
dreamed and how we are dreaming those in the future. Bring your
dreams and sense of as we explore Dreaming with the Ancestors.
Facilitator: Julie Tumbarello
Register by email: Julie Tumbarello <[email protected]>
Details: Single-session; Saturday, May 9, 1:00 – 4:00 PM
Location: Harper Room
Max # of Participants: 20 Min #: 5
Course & Event Descriptions
Adult Spiritual Growth & Development 16
Cakes for the Queen of Heaven
"Cakes for the Queen of Heaven” is a woman honoring adult RE curricu-
lum by Rev. Shirley Ranck. It examines pre-Judeo Christian cultures that
may have worshiped the female as divine. The concepts of equality and
reverence for the female in a religious setting are eye-opening to many
participants.
More than Goddess 101, this workshop series examines important ele-
ments of today’s women’s lives; personal, interpersonal and societal. It
examines how our culture has been influenced by Judeo Christian val-
ues. The primary question raised is: How would your life have been
different if, when growing up, the divine had been imaged as female?
Participants are encouraged to share their own experiences and beliefs,
creating trust and strong bonds of friendship.
Please join the circle of women only for this 7 week program. There will
be time for getting to know each other, tea and learning. We’ll start with
supper provided by the co-facilitators at 6:30 PM on March 27th.
Facilitator: Bett Weston, Carol Acitelli and Royla Furniss
Register by email: Carol Acitelli <[email protected]>
Details: Eight sessions; Friday, March 27, 6:30—9:00 PM and Fridays,
April 10, 17 & 24 and May 1, 8, and 15, 7:00—9:00 PM
Location: Young Room
Max # of Participants: 9 Min #: 6
Course & Event Descriptions
Spring 2015 Course Catalog 17
UUAA Community of Writers: Organizational Meeting
Writers (beginning, advanced, potential) interested in forming an open,
supportive community to foster self-awareness, spiritual growth, crea-
tive expression, and social witness through the writing arts are invited to
attend an organizational meeting on Sunday, March 29th from 1:00 to
2:30 in Jackson Chapel. The group's shared leadership design would
mean that any of its members could lead an individual session or series
of sessions focused on a particular theme, form of writing (including po-
etry, drama, fiction, nonfiction, memoir, journaling and blogging), or
purpose for writing. Come with your ideas for activities and events that
you would be interested in attending and/or leading.
Lead Organizer: Becca Manery
Register/questions by email: Rebecca Manery <[email protected]>
Details: Initial session; Saturday, March 29, 1:00 – 2:30 PM
Location: Jackson Chapel
Max # of Participants: 30 Min #: 5
Adult Spiritual Growth & Development - Spring 2015 Course Catalog 18
Group/ Event Description