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.
To contact the facilitator in regards to any offering, you may email AdultRE@UUSM.org. Your email will be forwarded.
Community Building Through Personal Development:
Collage Group with Stan Bemis Saturday, July 13
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. to possibly create cards for events or celebrations. We encourage you to bring your old magazines to work with as well. We will meet from 10:00-12:00 pm in the NE Cottage. Contacts: Stan Bemis or Sarah Robson.
Conversations and Connections NO MEETINGS IN JULY OR AUGUST. The next meeting is scheduled for September 21. Information about the September meeting will be available prior to that date.
Our guiding intention is to provide structure and opportunities for meaningful connections between individuals in our congregation. We will break into groups of 2, offering an opportunity for one-to-one conversations with 3 different people during our time together. It isn’t necessary to have attended previous Conversations and Connections gatherings. All are invited. Contacts: Sue Stoyanoff or Bettye Barclay.
Exploration of Ideas:
AAHS Freethinker Forum Sunday, July 28
AAHS (Atheists, Agnostics, Humanists, and Secularists) 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’ll meet 12:00-1:00 pm in the Warren Matthews Conference Room Contact: James Witker.
Humanist Voices Sunday, July 14 and Monday, July 15
This month, we will read and discuss the essays, “The Marketing of Liberal Religion” and “The Unfulfilled Dream” by renowned UU minister and seminary professor David Bumbaugh which provocatively argues that the Universalist quest for a defining theology in modern times was lost in the 1961 merger with the Unitarians. “By refusing to define itself, Liberal Religion surrenders its ability to stand in judgment on the idolatries of our time,” he writes. “If we are to serve our people, and the world in which we find ourselves, it is critical that we now take up the unfinished project. It is time for Liberal Religion to declare clearly the faith we hold.” We will meet on Sunday, July 14th 3-5 pm and Monday, July 15th 7-9 pm in Forbes. Contact: James Witker.
Science Non-Fiction Book Discussion Tuesday, July 16
We will discuss “The Fifth Risk,” by Michael Lewis. The fifth risk is the one we least imagine. For Lewis it is “project management.” In the Trump administration, it is what can happen in various Cabinet Departments, when they are headed by people unfamiliar with and/or uninterested in their inner workings. The reader gets a flavor for hidden ways by which government funding helps some of the people who are most skeptical of big government. All are welcome. We will meet from 7:30–9:00 pm in Forbes. Contact: Rebecca Crawford.
Interest Groups:
Discussion and Support for Persons with Disabilities Sunday, July 28
The Disability Support Group will be promoting a dialogue on a selected topic at each of its meetings throughout this church year. All church members interested in the topic are invited to attend. For July, the topic of discussion is “Summer Recreational Activities.” We meet on the fourth Sunday of each month from 12:30–2:00 pm in the NE Cottage. Contact: Michael Young.
UU Men’s Group Thursdays, July 11 and July 25
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. We normally meet the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month but due to the 4th of July this month we will meet on the 2nd and 4th Thursday at 7:30 PM in the NE room of the Cottage. The topic for July 11 is: What beliefs and perspectives that you held in youth have you changed and at what period or circumstance did these changes happen. The topic for July 25 is: What interests or avocations have you done that you no longer do and do you regret not still doing them? Contact Richard Mathias.
Meditations:
An Enjoyable Dive into Who and What We Are Mondays, July 1, July 15
This ongoing 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 7:30-9:00 pm in Forbes Classroom 3. Contact: Bill Blake.
Open Meditation Mondays, July 8, July 22, and July 29
We gather twice a month to sit together quietly for 20 minutes, to walk with gentle awareness for seven minutes, and to explore the integration of meditation with ordinary life through reading and sharing. Anyone who senses they would benefit from 20 minutes of silent, non-guided sitting is welcome to join us. We have found that this time of quiet meditation and shared exploration can be deeply nourishing – a time of simply “being” amidst all the “doing” of our lives. We meet on the second, fourth, and fifth Mondays from 7:30-9:00 pm in Forbes Classroom 3. Contacts: Bev Shoenberger or Carol Ring.
Highlights of additional interest groups meeting in July:
- Knitters and Friends On hiatus until September 22, 2019, when we return to two services. Contact: Linda Van Ligten.
- Body-Mind Tune Up for Seniors This group is for seniors, superseniors, and people with physical difficulties. All Fridays 10:30–11:30 am in Forbes Hall. Contact: Bruno Lacombe. Note: Free for church members, $10 suggested donation for nonmembers.
