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.
Community Building:
Collage Group with Stan Bemis Saturday, May 11
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 meet from 10:00-12:00 pm in the NE Cottage. Contacts: Stan Bemis or Sarah Robson.
Come Dance with Us – on indefinite hold.
Please contact Ellen Levy for information, support, and updates.
Exploration of Ideas:
AAHS Freethinker Forum Sunday, May 26
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 12:00-2:00 pm in the Warren Matthews Conference Room. Contact: aahs@uusm.org.
How to be Less Stupid about Race Monday, May 13, 20
From the UUA website: “How to Be Less Stupid About Race” is your essential guide to breaking through the half-truths and ridiculous misconceptions that have thoroughly corrupted the way race is represented in the classroom, pop culture, media, and politics. Combining no-holds-barred social critique, humorous personal anecdotes, and analysis of the latest interdisciplinary scholarship on systemic racism, sociologist Crystal M. Fleming provides a fresh, accessible, and irreverent take on everything that’s wrong with our national conversation about race.” We’ll discuss how the ideas speak to us (if at all), what the ideas might mean in practical application, and how they are or are not useful in our fight against racism. Everyone is welcome to audit the discussion; if you’d like to participate, please be sure to have read the Introduction and the first two chapters for the first session. Copies of the book will be available at cost for those who are interested; please reserve a copy by May 1 with Audrey or Laura. Our hope is that the discussion will be informative, positive, and practical, with all of us learning from the book and from the perspective of others. Come explore this important new book with Audrey Lyness and Laura Matthews in three weekly 2-hour sessions at 7:00pm, in Forbes Classroom 4, The Mural Room.
Interest Groups:
Discussion and Support for Persons with Disabilities Sunday, May 26
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 May, we will be discussing Self-Empowerment. We meet the fourth Sunday of each month from 12:30–2:00 pm in the NE Cottage. Contact: Michael Young.
UU Men’s Group Thursday, May 2, 16
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 May 2 is: Many of us benefit from having a skill or hobby that is very different from their work. What is yours, if you have one, or if not, what have you wished that you had the time or skill to pursue? The topic for May 16 is: What 1 or 2 person or persons whom you have lost touch with (due to time, geography, death or other) do you most wish you could be in touch with now? We meet the first and third Thursdays of the month. We meet from 7:30-9:00 pm in the NE Cottage. Contact: Richard Mathias.
Meditations:
An Enjoyable Dive into Who and What We Are Monday, May 6, 20
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 Classroom 3. Contact: Bill Blake.
Open Meditation Monday, May 13, 27
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 7:30-9:00 pm in Classroom 3. Contacts: Bev Shoenberger or Carol Ring.
Personal Development:
Conversations and Connections – on hiatus for May
Contact Sue Stoyanoff or Bettye Barclay for information and updates.
Highlights of additional interest groups meeting in May:
- Knitters and Friends On hiatus after May 12 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 10:00–11:00 am in Forbes Hall. Contact: Bruno Lacombe. Note: Free for church members, $10 suggested donation for nonmembers.
- Fiction Reading Book Club We shall read Exit West, a story embedded in the refugee crisis, by Mohsin Hamidmeet. Monday, May 20, 7:00–8:30 pm in Classroom 1. Contact: Lucy Hahn or Melinda Ewen.
- Science Non-Fiction Book Group We will discuss “What It’s Like to Be a Dog: And Other Adventures in Animal Neuroscience,” by Gregory Berns. You can learn a lot about a dog if you can train him/her to sit quietly in an MRI. If you have a pet, you know they have emotions. With modern methods we can learn about what they are thinking. All are welcome. We meet Tuesday May 21, from 7:30–9:00 pm in Forbes. Contact: Rebecca Crawford.
