Adult Religous Education
We are a liberal religious community of adults and children that encourages self-development, making possible the expression of every person’s potential by teaching that each is held in love, has the power to change the world, and is called to use that power in the service of love. About Adult RE Unitarian Universalists are committed to a free and responsible search for truth and meaning, and we offer adult religious education experiences that we hope will help you in your religious journey. We affirm that revelation is not sealed — new experiences and new information lead us to a dynamic understanding of life and its meaning. Ours is a faith for seekers. UUCV’s adult education offerings this year cover a wide range of interest areas. If you are relatively new to our congregation, we recommend the Roots and Branches class as a place to begin your exploration. All of our classes are open to members and friends of the congregation, and all of them are offered without charge. Some of them expect that you will do some homework or reading between sessions, and we hope that you will make a commitment to attend all of the sessions of a class. If enrollment is requested, we ask you to enroll before the announced deadline so that we can determine interest in the classes and prepare materials. We welcome your suggestions. Please contact Judy Welles (judy@uucv.net or 241-0410) if you have questions. You may register for any class by sending an e-mail message to uucv@pa.net, by calling the office at 249-8944 OR by signing up on the sheets in the Social Hall. Adult Religious Education on Sunday Morning We meet from 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. in the dining room downstairs. If you need child care, please notify the office (249-8944) on the Thursday before the class. More detail about each class offering can be found in the monthly newsletters on our web site. March 15 and 22: “Resilience For The Certainty Of Change.” They say that change is the only thing we can count on, and that there is lots of change coming. In this workshop you can identify and develop the physical, psychological and spiritual skills that we call resiliency. Margery Andrews is a mostly retired psychologist who has done a lot of thinking about this subject.
March 29 – April 12: Dan Bechtel, a retired religion professor at Dickinson College, will look at we how we can interpret the Biblical and other ancient stories about the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. What meanings do they have for us today? April 19: “Rune Readings Revisited.” Dot Everhart will provide a brief explanation of the runes as a method of divination and spiritual practice. Participants will be encouraged to explore a rune reading for a current life situation and be guided in discerning the message and meaning of the reading. April 26: Marilynn Kanenson, a member of UUCV and Temple Ohev Sholom in Harrisburg, will offer a class on the Jewish concept of tzedakah, which the Talmud describes as charity. The Hebrew prophets taught that social injustice causes poverty and that everyone has a responsibility to perform tzedakah. May 3 and 10: “The Practice of Theological Reflection.” Our ministers will guide participants through a process that could help us understand some of our life’s events from a theological perspective. We will discuss various theological orientations (process theology, feminist theology, etc.) and explore what makes “faith sense” for ourselves. Class Offerings at Other Times Roots and Branches Thursdays April 9 and 23, 7:00 p.m. Meetinghouse Library (Duane Fickeisen and Judy Welles) This is our basic class for relative newcomers who want a deeper engagement with our faith. It includes an introduction to Unitarian Universalist history. The emphasis is on discerning what you are seeking, and identifying resources to help you find it; and on discovering your gifts and calling them
to use in service.
This class is required for membership in UUCV. Serious Stuff Book Club Fourth Sunday of each month, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Meetinghouse Library. No enrollment necessary. (Co-coordinators, Marilyn Durr, and Darlene Smith) Our book topics range from novels and poetry to religious studies, science, and eclectic spiritual accounts. Sometimes we attempt to relate them to Unitarian Universalist themes. Mostly we have wide-ranging, civilized, personal discussions about our books, life and love. Our spring and summer selections are as follows: March 22: The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch April 26: Lanterns: A Memoir of Mentors, by Marian Wright Edelman May 24: Darwin on Trial, by Phillip E. Johnson June 28: Black Boy, by Richard Wright July 26: Arab Voices Speak to American Hearts, by Samar Dahmash-Jarrah August 23: Untouchable, by Mulk Raj Anand Women’s Spirituality Day of Film Saturday, May 2 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. “You Can’t Really Love Until You’ve Made Peace with Betrayal” Viewing the film Then She Found Me directed by & starring Helen Hunt, (with Colin Firth, Bette Midler and Matthew Broderick), participants will discuss the nature of betrayal as a companion to love – two sides of one coin – and the impact of both on our lives. The film features Hunt as a teacher adopted as an infant into a religious Jewish family who yearns for her “own” baby whom she can love as she believes only a birth mother can. Life complicates her journey while reserving room for laughter along with her tears. Registrants will receive for advance reading James Hillman’s essay “Betrayal,” which Hunt used to structure the film. Lunch will be a “Shabbat” meal led by Carla Claycomb. Anita Brewster and Kathy Bell facilitating. Fee: $10 for lunch & supplies. Registration deadline: April 26. Minimum enrollment, seven; no maximum. A Conversation with Parents Sunday, May 3, 12:30 – 2:30 Our Religious Education Coordinator, Margaret Light, and Rev. Judy Welles will engage parents in a conversation about how they can help develop their children’s spirituality. We hope this will lead to further exploration next year with classes for parents and other adults.
Registration deadline: April 5. Minimum enrollment, four; no maximum.
