By Robin Pugh, Director of Congregational Life
We are pleased to announce the Adult Faith Engagement Fall Schedule of classes. Please email rpugh@uucwc.org to register for any of these classes. For the most up to date information about upcoming classes, see UUCWC’s Wednesday’s Announcements email.
Pathways
3 Tuesdays: 9/27, 10/11, 10/25, 11/8 (hold) from 7:30-9:00 pm on zoom
Facilitator: Rev. Kim Wildszewski
Rediscover/discover why you are a Unitarian Universalist. Not a lecture, but a shared conversation full of our deepest truths. Together the class considers what Unitarian Universalism is and what it means to be in right relationship with ourselves, with our community, and with the universe or the sacred. This includes exploring covenantal and congregational faith and what liberation is to a Unitarian Universalist. Each person has an opportunity to share their personal spiritual journey. Some at home study and reflection is required. Pathways is required if you are considering joining UUCWC or being in a chalice circle.
Learning to Pray:
Monday, November 7th, 7:30-9:00 PM on zoom
Facilitator: Rev. Kim Wildszewski
Rev. Kim offers a space to explore the meaning and boundaries of prayer, while teaching some beginning ways to practice this spiritual invitation. All theological perspectives are welcomed. Open minds and readied hearts are requested.
Chalice Circles
All groups have open rolling enrollment, People join or leave a chalice circle throughout the year. Most chalice circles meet in the evening once per month on zoom.
Chalice Circles is a small group curriculum that uses questions and spiritual exercises based on the monthly theme to encourage participants to reflect more deeply on the theme, their deeper selves and the world. The format is simple. Participants learn by listening, without interruption, to what their fellow group members choose to say and then share what they have learned about their selves through that listening. UUCWC has 12 chalice circles including one for couples and one specifically for people who identify as LGBTQ.
Creativity Matters Studio
3rd Mondays, 7:30-9:30pm on zoom
Facilitator: Susan Colket
Limited to 9 participants
Everyone’s creative…agree…disagree? What’s your relationship with creativity? Are you close…distant…not in touch? Wherever you are, you’re invited to join a small group in the virtual Creativity Matters Studio. Explore where UUCWC’s theme of the month and creativity intersect in your life. This is for anyone who is curious, is willing to show up, and take small risks in a safe place. You needn’t be an artist.
At the start of each month, you’ll receive a Creativity Matters packet with ideas, projects, and resources. This packet will be our jumping-off place to explore the month’s theme and our relationship to creativity in whatever form it takes in your life. Our virtual studio time will include centering and checking in, a creative warm-up, a journal and project share inspired from the packet. Reading the packet and spending time with a question, a prompt and a project before the studio is the way to explore how creativity matters for you.
Wellspring: Spiritual Practices
1st and 3rd Tuesday mornings, 10:00 am-12:00 pm in person
Prerequisite: Wellspring 1: Sources
Facilitators: Kathy Frey and Jackie Thomas
Spiritual Practices allows participants to talk deeply and at length about spiritual practices, their own and others’, and about their experiences with them. The group will learn about the origins of different kinds of practices, and how they relate to our UU faith.
Wellspring: Spiritual Ancestors
2nd and 4th Tuesday mornings, 10:00 am-12:00 pm in person
Facilitated by Kathy Frey and Michelle Hunt
Prerequisite: Wellspring 1: Sources
Wellspring Spiritual Ancestors offers spiritual deepening through researching participants’ own and often UU spiritual ancestors in multiple fields of interest. Spiritual Ancestors is a link to honoring the traditions and the people who bring each participant into UUism. This collective wisdom opens all participants to new ways of being together in the group, in the congregation and the world.
Coming Into Connection
In November, from 11:30-12:30pm plus six one-on-one sessions to be determined by you and your partner.
Facilitated by Rev. Kim Wildszewski and Robin Pugh, Director of Lifespan Religious Education
Explore deep questions as you connect with an assigned partner, build relationships and deepen your UU identity. Partnerships are created between new and longtime members or between members of different ages who will get to know each other by exploring deep questions, including: theology, death, UU history, spiritual practice, and more. Readings, resources, and reflection questions are provided supporting each topic and help in conversation.
Comments from past participants:
“I may be new to UU, but I have thought about a lot of these issues. This program brought home what UU is all about. My long-term member partner helped me to learn.”
“I am a long-term member and after this class, I am more grounded in my UU faith and have new goals about how I can be a better member of UUCWC, enrich my life, and make a better world.”
“We didn’t have all of the answers but we didn’t have them together. I just scratched the surface discussing these questions, I want to learn more.”