Adult Religious Education Fall 2016
Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington, Indiana
Saturday, October 15, 2016
Adult Religious Education
Opportunities
Fall 2016
 
Welcome. We hope you will join a group or class this term!
 
To register, contact the church office at office@uubloomington.org  or 812-332-3695, ext. 204. Childcare is available if at least two families request it for a specific event at least two weeks in advance of the class meeting by contacting Adrienne Summerlot directly at dre@uubloomington.org.
 
Classes are free unless there are materials expenses or as otherwise noted. For details, please contact instructor or facilitator.   For general questions about Adult Religious Education programming, contact Sharon or Dan Wiseman at connect1947@att.net or Reverend Emily Manvel Leite at mre@uubloomington.org.

Yogic Wisdom for Modern Problems

Chris Haynes, chaynes56@gmail.com or 812-360-0296
4 weekly sessions beginning 
Monday, October 24th (10/24, 10/31, 11/7, 11/14), 
7:00-8:30 p.m., Library
Feeling disturbed by modern problems such as social polarization, global warming, and stress? Ancient yogic knowledge includes philosophical insight and practical approaches for addressing such problems, which extend far beyond the common conception of yoga. Through sharing, discussion, and practice, we'll explore approaches for finding meaning and peace in a troubled world. A minimum of 5 and a maximum of 14 needed for the class. 
Chris is a Datta Kriya Yoga instructor.  

A Conversation on Stress

Earon S. Davis, EaronDavis@gmail.com
4 weekly sessions beginning 
Wednesday, Oct. 26th (10/26, 11/2, 11/9, 11/16)
2:00-3:30 p.m., Room 112
How do you prevent or manage stress in your life?  Clearly there are many approaches.  We are not all the same plus our needs are always changing. Come and share your experiences on this journey with a seasoned teacher. No minimum and maximum of 12. Earon teaches stress reduction classes online and at IU.

Tolkien's Belief in Story-Telling: 
How to Create a Mythology without Losing Faith

Rich Janda,  jandarichardd@gmail.com, 812-606-1284 
5 weekly sessions beginning Wednesday, Oct 26th 
(10/25, 11/2, 11/9, 11/16, 11/17) 7:00-9:00 p.m., Room 208
J.R.R Tolkien, reacting to England's lack of locally rooted myths, set out to invent for it a full mythology, from creation to the recent past. The accidental results were The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.  Discussing Tolkien's ideas about myth raises questions concerning good vs. evil, race relations, reincarnation, and the author's tightrope act as a devout Catholic who invented an entire universe without Christianity. Join a brief exploration - including some on-the-spot myth-making - of one fascinating scholar's commitment to "sub-creating" another world bearing directly on ours. No familiarity with Tolkien or his works is needed. A minimum of three participants is required for this class. Rich has a long background in teaching about Tolkien.

First Steps: Introduction to Unitarian Universalism

Storytelling Basket Crafting and Stories for All

Reverend Scott McNeill, Adrienne Summerlot, 
Reverend Emily Manvel Leite
Rev. Leite, mre@uubloomington.org
Thursday, November 10, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Fellowship Hall
Come for a pizza dinner, and then Adrienne Summerlot, Director of Religious Education, and Reverend Scott McNeill will share stories with children as adults share conversation and work together to make storytelling baskets for our spring Spirit Play classes.  Reverend Emily Manvel Leite will provide crafting opportunities suitable for confident crafters and absolute beginners.  Childcare is available for kids too young to enjoy the stories. 

Making Biscotti

Ann Robins, arobins001@comcast.net
Monday, Nov 14, 9-11:30 a.m.
Thursday, Nov 17, 6-8:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov 19, 9-11:30 a.m.
At Ann's house or Your house
This is a good item to make for the Holiday Bazaar Gourmet Galaxy table. Ann will provide participants with a good recipe and demonstrate how to make biscotti. If class is at Ann's, she will provide ingredients. If class is held at one of the participants' homes, that person (or the participants) will be responsible for providing ingredients and clean up. Location will be worked out between Ann and the participants. Participants: 2 minimum, 8 maximum. No childcare available as this class will be held off-site.

Leadership in Our Congregation

Harv Hegarty and Dan Wiseman
Saturday, November 19th, 10:00am-12:30 pm
Fellowship Hall
This class is open to members and friends who are interested in how leadership happens in UU congregations.  We will help you define what leadership is, how it differs or is similar from the business world, and how a UU congregation (and ours) makes decisions and gets things done.  We will explore decision-making tools, a leadership profile to identify your strengths, what gifts you might be able to bring to the congregation. This is ideal for task force members and leaders, committee chairs or new leaders who want get involved with their passion. A minimum of 5 people are needed for the class with a maximum of 15. Dan and Harv bring almost 90 years of practical and academic experience on leadership in organizations. Dan is also an adjunct consultant for the UUA MidAmerica Region.   

Ongoing Classes and Groups

Shambhala Meditation Every Monday at Noon 
Join us at 12 noon every Monday in the Meeting Room for an hour of Shambhala Meditation, walking meditation, and Shamatha yoga with Sarah Flint. Beginners welcome in this 2500-year-old tradition. 
 
Taiji Practice on Tuesdays and Saturdays 
Brian Flaherty leads Taiji in Fellowship Hall on Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 8:00 a.m. This form practices the "Wu (Hao)" style of taijiquan, including practice of standing exercises, forms, and "pushing hands." Anyone is welcome, even those with no experience. Please wear loose-fitting clothing.  

Wednesday Walkers
Several members of the congregation meet at the church parking lot (west side) to walk at 10:00 a.m. each Wednesday. Details, please contact Denise Ogren, dogren@comcast.net

Weekly and Monthly Life Stories Writing Groups
     On Fridays, the weekly Life Stories writing group meets 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon in Room 210. Contact Ann Watzel, awatzel@gmail.com
     On the first Wednesday of the month the monthly Life Stories writing group meets 3:00-5:00 p.m. in the Library. Contact Linda Mjolsnes,  lmjolsnes @yahoo.com

UU Men's Group
The UU Men's Group meets on Tuesdays 7:00-9:00 p.m. every 3 weeks in one of the members' homes. The men's group has some similarities with a Chalice Circle. The discussion is freeflowing and the host acts as a quasi-facilitator. We value silence between speakers and anyone can pass if he chooses not to speak. When anyone is sharing we do not interrupt. Each person's voice is respected. Contact Harv Hegarty, hegarty@indiana.edu

Women's Alliance
The Women's Alliance meets on the first Thursday of each month at 11:30 a.m. for a brown bag lunch and fellowship, followed by a program at 12:00 noon and a business meeting. In Fellowship Hall. Contact Ann Kamman, aok719@yahoo.com 
Non-Church Classes and Groups
meeting at our church where UU members and friends are welcome (no childcare provided)

ManKind Project -- Thursdays

Every Thursday, 6:30-9:00 p.m. in Room 110. Freewill donation. Contact Corbin Baird for details, thecorbinbaird@gmail.com. See also  http://mankindproject.org/taxonomy/term/13

Open Mind Zen Bloomington -- Wednesdays
Join Frank Seisho Diaz for meditation, talks, and discussions, Wednesdays 6:00-7:30 p.m., in Room 110 here at the church.  All are welcome regardless of faith or experience; freewill donation. More info: openmindzenbloomington@gmail.com or   openmindzenbloomington.org
 
Seeking the Spirit, Building Community, Changing the World
 
Contact Info