Learning and exploration are about the transformation of the individual, our community, and the larger society. Participation helps us grow in wisdom, compassion, and ethical living. See our upcoming activities, programs, and workshops for adults.
Thursday January 3 and 17: UU Men’s Group
The Men’s Group offers a special opportunity to the men of the congregation and other like-minded men to join our welcoming group in provocative and stimulating discussion and to get to know others with UU perspectives in a more meaningful way. The topic for January 3: Meritocracy is held as the route to success, but luck can be a major factor, good or bad. What part has luck played in your life? The topic for January 17: Was there ever a misfortune or bad incident in your life that in fact turned out ultimately to be a good turn of events? We meet from 7:30-9 pm in the NE Cottage. Contact: Richard Mathias.
Monday January 7 and 21: An Enjoyable Dive into Who and What We Are
Bill Blake will present an enjoyable dive into the who and what we are. This ongoing, twice-a-month class helps participants master specific meditation skills. We endeavor to answer the questions Who am I? (attitudes and beliefs) and What am I? (essence or true nature). This class will include meditations that explore participants’ spiritual goals. The monthly group meetings also focus on insights gained throughout the month. It is expected that participants will develop and enjoy a regular meditation practice. This group meets on the first and third Mondays from 7:30-9 pm in Classroom 3. Contact: Bill Blake.
Wednesday January 9: A Year to Live – Reminder (Registration Closed)
Meeting from 7-9 pm in the Sanctuary. Note, this is a closed group.
Saturday January 12: Come Dance with Us!
Learn international folk dancing with instructors Sandy Helperin and Teri Hoffman. Folk dancing is for anyone who loves to move to traditional music. No partners needed! New dancers are welcome. We meet from 7:00-8:30 pm in Forbes. Contact: Ellen Levy.
Saturday January 12 and 26: Collage Group with Stan Bemis
Do you wish to express yourself creatively in art, and yet may feel inadequate or untrained? Do you yearn to make an artistic statement, yet not sure how? Do you have too many catalogs, magazines, and advertisements, and haven’t a clue what to do with them? We welcome you to create your own collages with Stan Bemis! Stan works to bring joy and peace into people’s lives through creating art. He has taught many who didn’t realize they had creative talent, from all across the world – from California to Palestine/Israel. He welcomes any age, from youths to older adults. The goal of this group is to help foster personal worth and empowerment, entering that holy place within and having sacred fun. The objectives are 1. to create works of art and 2. possibly create cards for events or celebrations. We encourage you to bring your old magazines to work with as well. We meet from 10-12 pm in the NE Cottage. Contact: Stan Bemis or Sarah Robson.
Monday January 14 and 28: Open Meditation
We sit quietly for 20 minutes, walk with gentle awareness for 7 minutes, and explore the integration of meditation with ordinary life through journaling, readings, and sharing. Anyone who senses they would benefit from 20 minutes of silent, non-guided sitting is welcome to join us. We meet on the second, fourth, (and fifth) Mondays from 7:30-9 pm in Classroom 3. Contacts: Bev Shoenberger or Carol Ring.
Tuesday January 15: Women Over 60 Group
Want to enhance your life? Want more personal and spiritual growth? Want to be with other women who can relate to what you are going through? Then this group is for you! We meet from 10-11:30 am in Forbes. Contact: Sandra Beebe. Note, our January 1st meeting is canceled.
Saturday January 19 Conversations and Connections
Our guiding intention is to provide structure and opportunities for meaningful connections between individuals in our congregation. As the number of one-to-one connections grows over time there will be an expanding web of connections in our community based on trust and acceptance. We meet from 10-12 pm in Forbes. Contact: Bettye Barclay or Sue Stoyanoff.
Saturday January 26 and Wednesday January 30 Humanist Voices
Humanist Voices will read and discuss the book, “Is God a White Racist?” By Rev. William R. Jones, an African American UU minister, theologian, and professor. The work was originally published by Beacon Press in the 1970s. In this powerful examination of the early liberation methodology of James Cone and others, Jones questions whether their foundation for black Christian theism—the belief in an omnibenevolent God who has dominion over human history—can provide an adequate theological foundation to effectively dismantle the economic, social, and political framework of oppression. Seeing divine benevolence as part of oppression’s mechanism of disguise, Jones argues that black liberation theologians must adopt a new theism that is informed by humanism and its principle of the functional ultimacy of wo/man, where human choice and action determine whether our condition is slavery or freedom. We meet Saturday, January 26 from 4-6pm in Classroom 4, and Wednesday, January 30 from 7-9 pm in Forbes. Contact: James Witker.
Sunday January 27: AAHS Freethinker Forum (Agnostics, Atheists, Humanists and Secularists)
AAHS is an open group that meets for lively and engaging discussion on topics of politics, science, religion and philosophy. We also host occasional guest speakers, films, and outings. We are a home base for non-believers and questioners, but everyone is welcome. For many, atheism/agnosticism is a first step; Humanism is the thousand steps that come after. We meet 1-2 pm in the Warren Matthews Conference Room. Contact: James Witker.
Sunday January 27: The Disability Support Group
The Disability Support Group will be promoting a dialogue on a selected topic at each of its meetings throughout this church year. There is a different theme for each month. All church members interested in the topic are invited to attend. For Jaunuary, we will be discussing “Sports Activities and Opportunities.” We meet the fourth Sunday of each month beginning at 12:30 pm in the NE Cottage. Contact: Michael Young.
Highlights of additional interest groups coming in December:
- Knitters and Friends Please join us for fellowship in between services on Sundays. You are welcome to bring any project. All Sundays 10-11 am in West Forbes Hall. Contact Linda Van Ligten.
- Body-Mind Tune Up for Seniors This group is for seniors, superseniors, and people with physical difficulties for UUSM members. All Fridays 10-11 am in Forbes Hall. Contact Bruno Lacombe. Note: Free for church members, $10 suggested donation for non-members.
- Fiction Reading Book Club Monday January 21, 7-8:30 pm Classroom 1. Contact Lucy Hahn or Melinda Ewen.
- Pachinko, by Min Jin Lee.
- Science Non-Fiction Book Group Tuesday January 15, 7:30 pm, Forbes Hall. Contact: Rebecca Crawford.
- The Confidence Game: Why We Fall for It…Every Time, by Maria Konnikova. Sometimes our instincts lead us horribly astray. Why?
