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 with the title of the group in the subject line. Your email will be forwarded.
Continued Offering:
Preparing Your Own Advance Directive for Healthcare Saturday, October 5
Your Advance Directive is a legal document that can speak for you when you cannot speak for yourself. It empowers an agent that you select to make medical decisions for you and act as your advocate in difficult times. In this workshop we’ll explore materials that can help you make the choices to mark on your directive. Bring your questions, maybe a previous directive or “living will” document, and join us for homemade muffins Saturday morning, from 9:30 am to noon in the Warren Mathews Conference Room. This is the second of two workshops. All are welcome, including all who couldn’t make it to the first offering. Contact: Joyce Holmen. One time materials cost: $5.00.
Community Building Through Personal Development:
Gentle Yoga Mondays
We will explore traditional yoga poses in a safe, compassionate, non-competitive environment that is welcoming to all who are able to get up and down from a yoga mat. We will be working on traditional yoga poses with a focus on creating a safe, effective, compassionate, non-competitive environment that is welcoming to all. We will work on strength, flexibility, restorative poses, and deep relaxation. Some equipment is required, including a yoga mat, two blankets, and a strap, and several other suggestions. The instructor Mary Lee Olsen has a 500 hour certificate as a yoga teacher. The group meets from 6-7 pm in Forbes Hall.
Collage Group with Stan Bemis Saturday, October 12
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 am-12 noon in the NE Cottage. Contacts: Stan Bemis or Sarah Robson.
International Folk Dancing with Instructors Saturday, October 19
We are back! They say that dancing is combining fun with exercise and friends. Learn international folk dancing with instructors Sandy Helperin and Teri Hoffman. Folk dancing is for anyone who loves to move to traditional music. New dancers are welcome – there are no partners required. Donations accepted. We are meeting from 7-8:30 pm in Forbes. Enter through the Arizona entrance. Contact: Ellen Levy.
Exploration of Ideas:
Science Non-Fiction Book Discussion Tuesday, October 15
We will discuss “How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming,” by Mike Brown. In 2005, astronomer Mike Brown discovered a 10th planet, Eris. More discoveries followed. How many planets could we have? All are welcome. We meet at 7:30-9 pm in Forbes Hall. Contact: Rebecca Crawford.
AAHS Freethinker Forum Sunday, October 27
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 a half hour after the service in the Warren Mathews Conference Room. Contact: James Witker.
Interest Groups:
Discussion and Support for Persons with Disabilities Sunday, October 27
The Disability Support Group will be promoting a dialogue on a selected topic at each of its meetings throughout this church year. This month’s topic is “Personal Boundaries.” All church members interested in the topic are invited to attend. We meet on the fourth Sunday of each month a half hour after the service in the NE Cottage. Contact: Michael Young.
UU Men’s Group Thursdays, October 3, 17
This 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 Oct. 3 continues from our last meeting when only two guys could describe: What has been your biggest life blunder, if you had one, or something close, and how did it turn out? The topic for Oct. 17 is a huge problem in LA and Santa Monica: What do you believe is necessary to turn around the homeless problem in LA County? We meet the first and third Thursdays of the month from 7:30-9 pm in the NE room of the Cottage. For more information contact Richard Mathias.
Meditations:
An Enjoyable Dive into Who and What We Are Cancelled through October
Open Meditation Mondays, October 14, 28
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 7:30-9:15 pm in Forbes. Contacts: Bev Shoenberger or Carol Ring.
Highlights of additional interest groups meeting in October
- Knitters and Friends NOTE: on hiatus until further notice. If interested, contact: Linda Van Ligten.
- Body-Mind Tune Up for Seniors This group is for seniors, superseniors, and people with physical difficulties. Now on a new day of the week! Each Saturday from 11:45 am-12:45 pm in Forbes Hall. Contact: Bruno Lacombe. Note: Free for church members, $10 suggested donation for nonmembers.
