ADULT RELIGIOUS EXPLORATION

Programs planned for September 2007-May 2008

1. ON-GOING SMALL GROUP OFFERINGS

Adult Forum

Coordinators: Jan Garrett, Jerry Gibbs

Adult Forum meets Sunday mornings, 10:00-10:45 before the Sunday service. The group focuses its discussions on a text or video series with religious and/or ethical content. Presently, David Korten's book, The Great Turning: From Empire to Earth Community, is the focus. In September, the Forum will start to view and discuss a DVD lecture series on the New Testament. All are welcome. You may join the group at any time; purchase of a book is sometimes necessary. For more information, see http://www.uubgky.org/uuaflist.htm

Autumn Leaves

Contact persons: LeeAnn Martin, Mania Ritter,

Weekly meeting (currently Wednesdays, may be moved in September) at noon, for those of us in the autumn of our lives. Discussions are wide-ranging. Bring your lunch and join us!

Circle Suppers

Coordinator: Linda Pickle

Six small potluck dinners held in participants’ home, once monthly September-November and February-April. An excellent way to get to know other members and friends in a relaxed setting. Open discussions on many topics. Join anytime as a regular participant or as a back-up.

Wednesday Night Meditation Group

Coordinator: Frank Snyder

Meditation can help most people feel less anxious and more in control. The awareness that meditation brings can also be a source of personal insight and self-understanding. The effects of meditation are usually noticed in hindsight. Often your first indication of change is when people who know you well, comment on how much calmer you seem or are less reactive in stressful situation. The Meditation Group meets Wednesday evenings from 6 to 7 at the church. Beginners to experienced practitioners are welcome.

Zen Group

Coordinators: John Downing, Jim Haynes

The Zen Group meets monthly, usually the third Sunday evening of each month, for about two hours, normally in the home of one of our members. We have a period of meditation, then usually a discussion of some topic from Buddhist writings.

2. ONE-TIME OFFERINGS

Walking Lightly on the Earth – Intergenerational Religious Exploration Series

Four programs are planned for this year. They will take place at the church on a Wednesday evening. Attendees will sign up in advance for a catered meal, after which various programs will take place. Childcare will be available. (Spring dates and programs TBA.)

September 19, 2007 – Caring for the Earth around the World

Co-organizers – Brent Oglesbee, C/YRE representative

Together we will explore the commonality of earth stewardship in major religious traditions, and make this concrete through art (form-making or performance by adults and children).

December 5, 2007 – Voluntary Simplicity

Co-organizers: Susan Ammons, C/YRE representative

Voluntary Simplicity is a practice, a purposeful way of living in a complex, consumptive society. This program explores the view that, through simplicity, we can improve our quality of life, soften our environmental impact, and reduce our expenses, even during the holiday season! Come join us as we actualize these important ideas through activities for children and adults.

Food for Thought – Adult Religious Exploration Series

Four programs are planned for this year. They will take place on a Wednesday evening at the church. Attendees will sign up in advance for a catered meal, after which various programs will take place. Childcare will be available. (Spring dates and programs TBA.)

October 17, 2007 – Topic TBA

Co-organizers: Zee Evelsizer, another stalwart volunteer yet to be identified

November 14, 2007 – What is Religion? by Karen Armstrong (CD)

Co-organizers: Jan Garrett, Linda Pickle

Viewing and discussion of a 45-minute lecture from the recent series by acclaimed religion writer Karen Armstrong, What Is Religion? Karen Armstrong observes that it sometimes seems that we are developing exactly the kind of religion that founders of the major world religions wanted to get rid of. How, she asks, did the preoccupation with orthodoxy become so important in the Western Christian tradition?

3. SMALL GROUP OFFERINGS, LIMITED TIME SPAN

The Four Agreements - co-leaders Monica Edwards and Roxanne Spencer

Four sessions once monthly, to begin in fall 2007

The Four Agreements are:

~Be impeccable with your word.

~Don't take anything personally.

~Don't make assumptions.

~Always do your best.

As we look at each agreement and relate them to our thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and actions, we may get a glimpse of how and why we often self-sabotage so that we may begin to alter our perceptions and behaviors for more positive experiences and outcomes in our relationships and endeavors. Cost of book: ca. $5. Interested parties will be contacted to determine meeting times.

Spirit of Life – co-leaders: Joan Martin and Charlie Pickle

Will meet monthly in participants’ homes or at church, beginning September, 2007.

There will be an organizational/logistical meeting, followed by nine “workshop” gatherings, each of which will be prompted by a line from the song, “Spirit of Life,” and will draw on one of our UU principles and one or more of the sources of our faith. Interested parties will be contacted to determine meeting times.

Building Your Own Theology – co-leaders: LeeAnn Martin and Linda Pickle

Time span: ca. January 8-March 13, 2008

A classic UU curriculum intended to provide you with a guided structure for exploring and identifying your spiritual beliefs and theological convictions. Since members of our denomination are on an evolving spiritual path, many UUs engage in this curriculum more than once. You must commit to attending all ten weekly meetings in order to gain full benefit from this program. Those interested will be polled to determine day of the week and time of day for the ten meetings at the church.

Please contact coordinators with questions!

(If you don’t yet have a members and friends directory, pick one up at the church.)

Nothing here interests you? Perhaps you’d like to form a group or organize an activity

of your own. If so, contact Linda Pickle, who will give you some preliminary feedback

and share your ideas with the (very loosely organized!) Adult RE collaborators.