Unitarian Universalist Church at Washington Crossing

As adults, we need to make a deliberate choice to continue to learn and grow. There are, of course, many avenues whereby this choice may be exercised at UUCWC-worship, congregational leadership, small group ministry, social action. The Adult Enrichment Committee (ARE) offers classes, workshops, and other programs more intentionally designed to foster this aim.

Spirituality and religious identity compliment each other. Spirituality is made up of values, beliefs, and religious feelings that relate to an individual’s own personal experience. It is based on our thoughts about life, death, and our own definition of reality. Religious identity represents those values, beliefs, and rituals that a community holds in common. How do we combine those two sides of the same coin? How do we preserve values while offering encouragement to people in putting these values into practice-to walk the talk each day, every hour as a Unitarian Universalist?

We are continuing our journey of developing an Adult RE program that will deepen UUCWC connections. We have created a four-fold model designed to integrate adult enrichment with the goal of providing lifespan religious education and faith development. In this model, faith development integrates religious identity with spiritual growth. There are four tracks (or interconnected areas) currently called:

• History and Heritage: UU history and heritage connecting people to each other
• Spiritual Development: Spiritual practice and cultivation of the soul and UU practices
• Empowerment Ministry: Assess one’s gifts/talents, making a service commitment to UUCWC
• Faith in Action: Social justice and outreach to the world

It is our hope to provide programs that can be identified under one of these four topical areas, or tracks. Another goal is to help new members become integrated with our faith and providing existing members the ability to grow in new ways.

We hope adults will embrace this opportunity to develop both the roots and wings of their UU faith with the help of the programs described here. We welcome your participation and encourage you to register for these workshops that will enable you to be a deeper, more spiritual person while connecting with the community within UUCWC and the larger world.

Winter/Spring 2012 Course Offerings

Please be sure to check out the Winter/Spring 2012:

• Facilitator Training Workshop
• Biblical Literacy for UU’s
• The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success
• Sitting Meditation
• Someday Melissa . . . a film & discussion
• A Chosen Faith . . . a book discussion
• The Bible and Homosexuality
• A Taste of Ayurveda I
• Immigration –Impacts YOU(u) – Our Moral Imperative
• Yoga and You
• Living the Welcoming Congregation: Series B

See below for class descriptions and schedules, grab your calendars and register now!

If you would like to submit a request to facilitate a class or workshop, please complete a Workshop Form (pdf) or Workshop Form (Word document).

And for the latest news and announcements, see our blog page.

Adult RE encourages those with children to consider attending classes.  Childcare may be possible if the ARE Chair is notified no later than two weeks prior to the start of class.

WinterSpring 2012 Adult RE Offerings

Facilitator Training Workshop
Are you facilitating a course for ARE this year?  Have you facilitated an ARE course in the past but never taken the “Training”?  Are you interested in facilitating sometime in the future?  To be approved as an Adult RE facilitator this semester, you will need to take the Facilitator Training Workshop on February 25th (unless of course you took it in the fall of 2010 or 2011).

Susan Colket and Kathy Frey will be facilitating.
ARE’s Facilitator Training will be held Saturday, February 25th  from 9:15 to 2 pm.
There is no fee for this workshop.

Biblical Literacy for UU’s
As UU’s, we are typically skeptical of the Bible, and yet Jewish and Christian teachings are specifically listed as one of the sources for our living tradition.  Might the Bible be a genuine resource for a liberal faith?  Also, is ignorance of the Bible a wise plan in the face of increasing religious language in the public square?  This course is a general introduction to both the Hebrew Bible (the Christian Old Testament) and the Christian New Testament that will give participants an opportunity to wrestle with these questions.  We will survey the major literary genres:  narrative, law, prophecy, wisdom, gospels, and epistles.  Participants will have an opportunity to reflect on their own relationship with the Bible (both present and past), and practice approaching these texts from both historical critical and liberal theological perspectives as we read and discuss them together.

David Jorgensen, a longtime UU, holds master degrees from Harvard Divinity School and Princeton University, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Religion at Princeton on the history of early Christianity.

This class will meet Wednesday evenings from 7:30 to 9 pm on February 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th & March 7th, and 14th.
Bring any translation of a Bible to class.
Suggested donation: $10 members/$15 non-members.

 The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success
A daytime offering, this class is a book reading & discussion of one of Deepak Chopra’s earliest (and shortest) books and one of Rev. Stephens’ recommended readings.  “Based on natural laws which govern all of creation, this book shatters the myth that success is the result of hard work, exacting plans, or driving ambition.”

Kathy Frey will facilitate.

The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success will meet Wednesday mornings from 10 am to 12 noon on:  February 15th, 29th & March 7th and 21st.
Book (or ebook) purchase is necessary prior to first class.
Suggested donation:  $10 members/ $15 non-members.

Sitting Meditation
Join us for six sessions of Sitting Meditation.  Each session with begin with a guided meditation and open into an extended period of silence.  Whether you have a regular meditation practice, meditate now and then, or have never tried meditation, you are welcome.

Diane Knights and Kathy Frey will co-lead the sessions.

Sitting Meditation sessions will be held from 6 pm to 6:45 on the following Wednesday evenings: February 15th, 22nd, 29th& March 7th, 14th and 21st.
Suggested donation: $10 members/$15 non-members.

Someday Melissa . . . a film & discussion
In December, the congregation explored the idea of hunger in a Sunday service.  People experience many hungers:  spiritual, emotional, interpersonal.  As a congregation, UUCWC feeds its members in all aspects.  But what happens when people are not fed?  One possible outcome is an eating disorder.  Join other UUCWC members and older teens for a screening and discussion of a film about NJ teen Melissa Arvin.  Melissa chronicled her experiences with an eating disorder in her journal, and although she ultimately lost her battle with this disease, Melissa’s mom has produced a film that provides hope, and uses Melissa’s words as a way to prevent others from developing eating disorders.

Heidi Dalzell will lead the screening and discussion.

Someday Melissa will be shown on Friday, February 24th from 7 to 9:30 pm.
Suggested donation: $10 members, $15 non-members.

A Chosen Faith . . . a book discussion
A Chosen Faith is an introduction to Unitarian Universalism by John Buehrens and Forrest Church, two of our modern day leaders.  If you are a UU, “this book can help speak your faith.”  If you are not (or not yet) a UU, “you will learn more about who we are and why we are” from reading and discussing this exploration of the many sources of our living tradition.  A wonderful follow-up to UU201, this course should be considered by every member and friend.

MJ Hansen will facilitate.

A Chosen Faith will meet on 6 Tuesday evenings from 7:30 to 9pm:  March 14th, 27th; April 10th, 24th & May 8th, and 22nd.
Book purchase (read Part One) prior to first class.
Suggested donation:  $10 members, $15 non-members.

The Bible and Homosexuality
This course will focus on all the biblical passages that have been used as “proof texts” in the argument that “the Bible says homosexuality is wrong.”  This claim will be examined through an introduction to biblical interpretation and by performing historical critical readings of these texts.  In addition, historical critical and liberal theological readings of other Biblical texts will be performed to see why liberal Christians have found them to be scriptural resources for a biblically-based theology that affirms and promotes the inherent worth and dignity of every person.  Readings will include selected articles by liberal theologians and biblical scholars.  Biblical Literacy for UUs would be a possibly useful but not required prerequisite for this course.

David Jorgensen will be facilitating (see Biblical Literacy for UUs).

The Bible and Homosexuality will meet 5 Wednesday evenings from 7:30 to 9 pm:  March 28th & April 4th, 11th, 18th and 25th.
Suggested donation:  $10 members, $15 non-members.

A Taste of Ayurveda I
Mind, body, spirit approaches to well-being are not new: Ayurveda is a centuries old approach to overall health that incorporates food as healing, meditation, breathing and other ways to help people attain balance.  Participants will be introduced to Ayurveda and will learn about Ayurveda as a philosophy, discover their unique dosha (temperament) and learn tips for maintaining holistic balance.  They will also sample tasteful, Ayurvedically prepared foods.  Part II will be offered in the fall.

Heidi Dalzell will lead.

 A Taste of Ayurveda I is a one-evening workshop to be held on Thursday, April 26th from 7:00 to 9:30 pm.
Suggested donation: $10 members, $15 non-members.

Immigration –Impacts YOU(u) – Our Moral Imperative
Many think immigration is not a local issue. It’s a moral imperative that UUs are speaking out about.  This four-session course will be a mixture of film, book reading and discussion on immigration’s impact locally and on society as a whole.

Facilitators will vary.  All are versed in immigration issues and have attended General Assembly sessions on immigration.

Immigration will meet on 4 Wednesday evenings from 7 to 9 pm:  May 2nd, 9th, 16th and 23rd.
Purchase of book (to be read by the last session) required:   The Death of Josseline.
Suggested donation:  $10 members, $15 non-members.

Yoga and You
Taught by Annemieke Hermans, yoga classes at UUCWC are appropriate for yoga practitioners at all levels and newcomers to yoga as well.  Check the ARE bulletin board for current session dates and fees.

Yoga classes will be held from 7 – 8:15 on Tuesday evenings (new time).

Living the Welcoming Congregation: Series B
Our LWC work winds up with LWC: Series B.  Members and friends who have completed Series A will be contacted about continuing with the Series B sessions.  All LWC sessions this semester are being held by ARE in partnership with Standing on the Side of Love at UUCWC.

For any questions about the Living the Welcoming Congregation program, please contact Loren McAlister, Heather Edwards or Kathy Frey or email ssl@uucwc.org.

To register for the Facilitator’s Training, please contact Kathy Frey or email  ARE@uucwc.org.