During this time of pandemic, it’s more important than ever to maintain our connections with each other. The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbia will be nurturing faith development for adults in two ways:
- Through small group ministry that we call Reflection Groups at UUCC
- And through Adult Religious Education classes
In 2021, our faith development efforts will primarily be virtual, through Zoom, or asynchronously via online bulletin board applications that allow us to interact with each other.
Reflection Groups
The Unitarian theologian, James Luther Adams, has said that what draws people to our churches is a need for “intimacy and ultimacy.” Our Reflection Groups are designed to provide a sense of belonging (intimacy) and to nurture spiritual growth (ultimacy) through monthly small group meetings. Reflection Groups further explore our monthly worship themes at UUCC in an intentional way: to listen to each other deeply and with discipline. We will experience the themes, not just analyze them, and offer suggestions for a spiritual practice to try before each monthly meeting. In 2021, groups will meet through Zoom or as hybrid groups, partly in person, partly virtually.
Book Discussion Groups
Dates: Sundays November 14, December 12 and January 9 at 7:00 pm Eastern
“Living Intentionally” class
How much is enough? Studies show that many buying behaviors detract from happiness. Meaning and contentment flow from relationships, spirituality, experiences, and helping others – not from things. How might we be more mindful in navigating our consumerist society – to make decisions which enhance our lives? Join us to reflect and re-envision!
We will use a book club format (without a book!) – where everyone takes turns contributing, reflecting on the readings and videos clips “homework” for the month.
“Classes” will be 75 minute in length on Zoom. Sundays November 14, December 12 and January 9 at 7:00PM Eastern Homework will be 60-90 minutes of short readings and videos per month. Sundays November 14, December 12 and January 9 at 7:00PM Eastern.
To register, or for questions, contact kencrandell1@gmail.com.
Praise from Living Intentionally pilot class this summer:
“Few classes have been as helpful to me as Living Intentionally in terms of connecting the dots between an environmental issue and my quality of life. It encompassed a lot more than a “buy less stuff” message. You will learn why possessions yield the antithesis of happiness, and you will take away simple, actionable advice on how to live more with fewer things.” – Frank
“The Living Intentionally class has changed my thoughts and behaviors dramatically; more so than any other learnings have in the last several decades. Surprisingly, I am several tens of thousands of dollars richer than I was six months ago. This was made possible by selling items that were contributing little to my life and that were overall actually lowering the quality of my life. I have also enjoyed giving away many dozens of tangibles that were hurting more than helping; and I believe these tangibles will be helpful to others. My life is simpler with a number of small irritations gone and with some new behaviors that are both exhilarating and health promoting. I think very differently about giving, purchasing, consuming, and living with material objects. I think very differently about my relationships. I still have much more intentional living to implement. I am thinking that I am really going to enjoy it.” – Ed
Parents & Caregivers as Sexuality Educators
Dates: Sundays, 12:00-1:30 pm, March 27 through May 29.
Are you ready to answer the difficult questions your children will ask? Have you thought about how to communicate your values around sexuality? Do you have unhealthy sexual scripts lingering from the messages you received from your family and friends?
The information and attitudes that adults share with their children—intentionally or by default—carry extraordinary power. It is a power that many adults struggle to wield effectively and confidently. Often, their own experiences, perspectives, and worries get in the way. Join us for Parents and Caregivers as Sexuality Educators, a new program is to help parents and caregivers to get comfortable with sexuality topic discussions with their children. These sessions invite you to find support and courage with one another.
Parents and Caregivers as Sexuality Educators consists of a series of up to 12 sessions (90 minutes each). The aim of the program is to help parents and caregivers to get comfortable with sexuality topic discussions with their children. Join Kirstin Nelson and Robin Slaw, Director of Religious Education, as we explore how to raise healthy children and youth! This group will meet in person at the Owen Brown Interfaith Center through May 22nd, then the possibility of converting to virtually on zoom.
Register for Spring 2022 Parents as Sexuality Educators
All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis
Dates:
1st & 3rd Sunday (2:00-3:30 pm) Dates: 1/2, 1/16, 2/6, 2/20, 3/6, 3/20, 4/3, 4/17, 5/1, 5/15
OR
2nd & 4th Wednesday (7:00-8:30 pm) Dates: 1/12, 1/26, 2/9, 2/23, 3/9, 3/23, 4/13, 4/27, 5/11, 5/25
Women’s perspectives are too often under-represented in discussions about the climate crisis.
All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis is a groundbreaking collection of essays and poems by women in the forefront of the climate movement. Their honest and courageous work offers wisdom and inspiration to help re-shape our vision of climate futures.
Caring about the climate crisis can be incredibly isolating and yet, this work is vital to grow and strengthen a movement for social change. If you are hungry for optimism despite sometimes being overwhelmed, and looking to build community around collaborative solutions, please join us!
Using the All We Can Save anthology as both a grounding and jumping off point, the Circle will create a supportive and motivating environment with deeper connections through reading and generous dialogue. It will be like a book club, but deeper and cooler!
Join facilitators and UUCC Members Lindsay Thompson or Margaret LaFon for 10 sessions (choose the Sunday series OR the Wednesday series) to discuss the book All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis.
Schedule
- Sunday series: 1st & 3rd Sundays, 2-3:30pm (Eastern), January 2, 2022through May 15, 2022
- Wednesday series: 2nd & 4th Wednesday, 7-8:30 pm (Eastern), January 12, 2022 through May 25, 2022.
Required Reading
Text required. Order the book from your local bookstore, on amazon.com, or here: https://www.porchlightbooks.com/product/all-we-can-save-truth-courage-and-solutions-for-the-climate-crisis–ayana-elizabeth-johnson?variationCode=9780593237083
Register for SUNDAY All We Can Save circle
Register for WEDNESDAY All We Can Save circle
Unitarian Universalism: Its History and Meaning over Time
Dates: Jan 26, Feb 23, Mar 23, Apr 27, May 25, 7:00-8:30 pm
This winter, join Kathy Parker for a series exploring the premise that knowing our history enriches our understanding of who we are as UUs. Unitarian Universalism did not just appear out of nowhere! So, when and where did this “living tradition” begin? And why did such a break from traditional Trinitarian doctrine mean so much to so many people?
We will use the book: Universalists and Unitarians in America: A People’s History, by John Buehrens, as a framework for reading and discussing the stories told in the chapters, meeting on the fourth Wednesday of each month, beginning January 26th. The course will be held virtually on Zoom. Books are being acquired by, and can be purchased from, the UUCC bookstore when registering.
26 Jan: American Independence and the Emergence of Liberal Religion, 1770-1815
23 Feb: The Age of Jacksonian Democracy, 1815-1848
The Second American Revolution, 1848-1870
23 Mar: The Last “Gilded Age” of Inequality, 1870-1905
The Progressive Era, 1905-1935
27 Apr: Liberal Religion and Humanism, 1935-1960
25 May: The Unitarian Universalist Association, 1961-2011
Reimagining Article 2 Classes
Article II of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) Bylaws, Principles and Purposes, is the foundation for all of the work of our UUA and its member congregations and covenanted communities. It is the covenant to which all of our congregations and covenanted communities pledge themselves when they become members of our UUA. Currently, the UUA’s Article II Study Commission has been charged to review Article II of the UUA Bylaws. You can learn about the Article II Study Commission: http://uua.org/a2sc.
All in our UUCC community are invited to participate in these upcoming classes related to reimagining Article 2!
Reimagining Article 2—Small Group Ministry with Rev. Paige Getty
Wednesdays, Feb 16 – March 30, 6:30-8:00 pm (Eastern)
Facilitated by Rev. Paige Getty, this six-session virtual small group ministry program will engage with the Article 2 Study Commission’s set of four topics: Shared UU Values, Inspirations, Purpose, and Covenant. The group will create materials that may be sent on to the Commission at the end of the six weeks.
Reimagining Article 2—Wellspring with Robin Slaw
Thursdays, Feb 10 – March 31, 2:00-4:00 pm (Eastern)
Join Director of Religious Education (DRE) Robin Slaw for eight Thursday afternoon sessions to look at our own understandings and beliefs about what Unitarian Universalism is, and where we might choose to go. Developed by Wellspring, this series will have a deeply spiritual emphasis.
Topics for our eight sessions:
- Creating Our Covenant
- Covenant and History
- Who Is “We”?
- Inspiration:: Past, Present, Future
- Shared Vision
- Inspiration: What Do We Do?
- Uncomfortable Questions
- Being Together