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OUUC Adult Education Programs - Winter - Spring 2009Program Guide Printable Version (PDF)| Class List & Registration Form (PDF) | Class Descriptions (Web Version) ABOUT THE ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM: The Adult Education Program of the OUUC seeks to foster life-long learning and spiritual growth through a variety of classes, workshops, and events. Some specific purposes are to expand and deepen understanding of Unitarian Universalism, to facilitate the search for truth and meaning in all spheres of human knowledge, to explore the many sources of spirituality, and to promote sharing ideas and experiences among the participants. Registration for classes, workshops, and events is open to anyone interested, including members and friends of OUUC, and members of the larger community. Child care is available if requested on the registration form. A single registration fee of $10 covers as many classes as you may wish to enroll in. Exceptions to this fee are noted in the class descriptions. The fee may be waived if it creates a hardship for you. The Adult Education Program is assembled and coordinated by the OUUC Adult Education Committee, whose current members are: Carol Allen, Alenka Andruss, Samara Joldersma, Tom Joldersma (Chair), Sara Lewis, Luci Phillips, Billie Williams, and Jo Ann Young. The OUUC Adult Education Committee invites proposals and suggestions for future classes. Please direct proposals or inquiries to the Adult Education Committee, c/o the OUUC Office, or contact a committee member directly. Date: Tuesdays (5 sessions), February 24, March 3, 10, 17, & 24. The political, social and cultural climate in the United States has made us more aware of the impact of religious belief and practice on the lives of all people in this country. This class will look at the past and present role of religion in America, and on the influence religion has had – and continues to have – on American culture. It will also look at religious movements that are uniquely American: the Great Awakening, and the emergence of 19 th century denominations such as the Church of Latter Day Saints, Christian Science, Seventh Day Adventism, and Jehovah’s Witnesses. We will explore our past, and our future, by asking how did the American experience influence religion, and how did religion influence our culture? Can a deeper understanding of our historical experience shape how we interact with other religious traditions today? The Reverend Carol McKinley is affiliated with OUUC as a UU community minister. She is coordinator of the Washington State Unitarian Universalist Voices for Justice, a statewide legislative advocacy network. BOOK GROUP Dates: (3 rd Thursday of month) – January 15, February 19, March 19, April 16, May 21, June 18. Enjoy lively discussions of stimulating books, and get to know other members and friends of the OUUC. We’ll enhance our understanding and enjoyment of the books by sharing diverse perspectives and insights about them. The Book Group, begun in September 2004, has featured a mixture of fiction and nonfiction, mostly contemporary, usually chosen from participants’ recommendations. Participants are encouraged (not required) to lead the discussions of books they have recommended. The book for the January 15th meeting will be Doris Kearns Goodwin’s Team of Rivals: the Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln. Mary Anne Trause is a psychologist with a private practice in Olympia. Pete Taylor is retired faculty member of The Evergreen State College. Both are members of the OUUC. BUILD YOUR OWN THEOLOGY Dates: Thursday (10 sessions) March 5, 12, 19,26. April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30. May 7. Explore your personal beliefs and discuss religious subjects in a dynamic hands-on, experiential group approach. UU’s seem to be predominantly a movement of “come-outers,” people who have left some other faith and are now “come-inners,” people who have chosen to cast their lot with Unitarian Universalism. This program is designed to provide a systematic, disciplined, and communal approach to the process of building a new theology on the residue of the old. This course is for anyone searching to explore their own belief system and learn about those of others as well. Participants may come any number of sessions. It is not necessary to attend every time. Several All Souls lay leaders will participate as teachers. Patti Logan is a long time Unitarian Universalist, teacher, and lay leader at All Souls UU Community in Lacey. THE CHICKEN CHEF Dates: Monday (1 session), May 11 Once you’ve got the hang of it, you can cut up a whole chicken in very little time and with hardly any effort at all. The most important reason to learn is that you’ll save money and you will also have better control over how it is cut. Bob Goodman, known to many as a master chef, will show us how it is done. After the demonstration Bob will prepare a delicious chicken dish he calls Sticky Chicken …a take on the Philippine dish pansit chicken, a sweet and sour chicken with noodles. There will be a fun surprise event during the evening. Bob Goodman is a member of OUUC and a creative cook, ask anyone who has been fortunate to dine at his home. CLEARING THE CLUTTER Dates: Tuesday (1 session), March 31 Get ready for spring housecleaning! In this class participants will learn to effectively minimize clutter and gain simple solutions to big problems of home and office organization and management. Becky Graybill operates a business called “Clear the Clutter”. She works with professionals who feel overwhelmed with the responsibilities of work, parenting, civic and church responsibilities, and have little time to organize personal lives. CLOWNING Dates: Friday the 13th of February & Monday the 16th of February (midwinter break for the Olympia School district) Participants may attend one or both sessions. The first session "Speaking Truth to Power through Clowning (Theory)” will be an interactive multi-media orientation to the ancient art of clowning. Justin B. Wright studied dance, multi-media, and the shamanic origins of clowning at the Evergreen State College. In 1996, during “Circus Olympus” he discovered that had already been a clown his whole life. After he joined the Red Nose Brigade in 2004 he developed his character “Jusby” and began performing consistently at schools, parties and parades. THE CREATIVE FAMILY Dates: Mondays (2 sessions), March 23, 30 This class is subtitled “Why and How to Nurture Creativity for All Ages” To be creative comes naturally to children, but we sometimes lose that way of being as we journey toward adulthood. This workshop, based on the book The Creative Family by Amanda Blake Soule, will explore simple ways to keep creativity in our lives and bring our families closer together through creativity. Each session will have some discussion time and then a hands on creative project. All ages welcome – come alone or bring the whole family. The book is not required, but it is excellent and would be recommended as a further resource. Sara Lewis is Director of Religious Education at OUUC. She grew up in a creative family centered on community theater, and finds creativity an important part of her life. Her hobbies include sewing and embroidery, and she is trying to overcome a fear of drawing in public. DREAM WORKSHOP Dates: Tuesdays (4 sessions), April 14, 21, 28, May 5 This workshop is based on the book Where People Fly and Water Runs Uphill by Jeremy Taylor. His method does not rely on what dreams are supposed to mean, but on what your dreams mean to you. We will briefly discuss how dreams have been understood historically and share our own knowledge of dreams and dreamwork. Then we will learn to use Jeremy’s method and begin to unravel the mystery of our own dreams. Purchase of the book is unnecessary because all information will be covered in discussion and practice and there will be handouts. This workshop is intended to be the precursor to an ongoing dream group. Those who are already familiar with the Jeremy Taylor method and are interested in being in an ongoing group may find this a good refresher. Catherine Amos, MA, LMHC is a long time OUUC member and friend. She is a licensed mental health counselor practicing in Olympia since 1993. She studied psychology and counseling at Antioch University in Seattle after a long career in teaching. FIVE BASIC QUESTIONS OF RELIGION Dates: Thursday (5 sessions) January 22, 29. February 5, 12, 19 Religion in our lives speaks to our deepest longings and questions. At best, our faith offers inspiration and hope to human destiny. Where does this message come from? It is formed by our personal answers to the five basic questions of religion and philosophy. We will be explorers together to discover the uncharted territory of our personal answers to each of the five basic questions of life. Participants may come any number of sessions. It is not necessary to attend every time. Several All Souls lay leaders will participate as teachers. Patti Logan is a long time Unitarian Universalist, teacher, and lay leader at All Souls UU Community in Lacey. HOMELESSNESS IS NOT FOR SISSIES Dates: Mondays (2 sessions), April 27, May 4 These presentations are offered to provide individuals an opportunity to glean deeper understanding about the myths and realities of homelessness, particularly within Thurston County. Specifically, we will invite participants to discern together concepts such as charity, self-sufficiency, empowerment, dignity, inclusiveness and how these concepts translate into the programs that we the members of OUUC support – Out of the Woods Family Shelter, Camp Quixote and the Cold Weather Overflow Shelter. It is the goal of these sessions to determine how well we Unitarian Universalists are serving those in our community within the context of our principles. More importantly, how can we as members of our congregation grow into more meaningful relationships with those in our community who are experiencing homelessness. JOURNEYING WITH SERIOUS ILLNESS Dates: Tuesday s (2 sessions), January 20, February 3 This class will offer a sharing of experiences, initially from four people - one with a recently diagnosed brain tumor, one with Parkinson’s Disease, and their spouses. In the first session these four will address what their experiences are by looking at several questions. What we thought/felt upon receiving the diagnosis, how we feel now, how this has affected our lives (especially our spiritual/religious lives), in what ways we now view life differently, what the challenges are, what helps us, and why we are sharing this. Time for discussion will follow. In the second session the group as a whole will exchange experiences and explore what has been helpful to us in times of trouble: books, poems, music, talking, spiritual practices, therapy, nature, etc. Susan & Sam Merrill are long time Quakers and members of the Olympia Friends Meeting; Tom & Samara Joldersma are members of OUUC. The Reverend Arthur Vaeni is Minister of the OUUC. KNITTING FOR CRAFT, KNITTING FOR MEDITATION Dates: Tuesdays (2 sessions) January 27, February 3 This class is for anyone who wants to learn to knit, and has no previous skills or recalls a few skills from their childhood. You will learn the basics and be able to make a scarf or shawl on your own. You will also have an opportunity to share the joy of knitting with others, being part of a community plus learn how knitting can be a method of meditation that creates peacefulness and calm. You will need some yarn, needles, a sense of humor, and the courage to be creative. Anita McIntosh is often seen knitting in the OUUC choir. She says she loves to knit, crochet, sew, read, and sing. She has six children and ten grandchildren, been married to the same man for 45 years, and worked in the criminal justice system for 25 years. MEDITATION - ENDING YOUR WEEK IN STILLNESS Dates: Fridays, January-June Meditation sessions will be held at the church every Friday evening. You are invited to participate whenever you are able to do so. During the first 15 minutes a reading will be shared and will be followed by conversation. This will be followed by 20 minutes of sitting meditation, 15 minutes of walking meditation, then another 25 minutes of sitting meditation. The Reverend Arthur Vaeni is Minister of the OUUC. Selena Kilmoyer and Samara Joldersma are members of the OUUC. MEMBERSHIP CLASS Date: Mondays (3 sessions), April 6, 13, 20 The Membership Class is recommended for those who wish to become a member of the Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation even if they have been a member in another UU group. The seminar is also open to those who simply want to deepen their understanding of UU membership, our congregational covenant, and particular form and style of governance. April 6: We will become acquainted as we consider what brought us here and will discuss our congregation's covenant. Please inform us of any childcare or other needs ahead of time. In lieu of this Membership Class, an alternative path to OUUC membership could be an individual session with our minister, the Reverend Arthur Vaeni, arranged through our church administrator, Darlene Sarkela. Diana Finch is a member of the OUUC Membership Team. MENU FOR THE FUTURE Dates: Mondays (7 sessions), February 2, 9, 16, 23; March 2, 9, 16. This is a Northwest Earth Institute (NWEI) discussion class. We will explore the connection between food and sustainability. Check out www.nwei.org for course details. NWEI provides a facilitator for the introductory session. Participants will take turns facilitating the rest of the classes. We will celebrate course completion with our own 'menu for the future.' Leslie Romer is a social scientist by training who has been educating herself as an environmentalist since the first Earth Day she experienced - on the University of Minnesota campus in 1968. She has been an active member of OUUC since 1985. PHOTOGRAPHY FOR THE NOT-QUITE BEGINNER Dates: Mondays (2 sessions), May 18, June 1 7:00-9:00 pm This is a short course in photography using both film and digital media. In two evening gatherings and one weekend field trip, the class will cover the nature of light, how cameras work, what you can see (but usually don’t), decisions your camera makes without consulting you, why your pictures don’t look as good to anyone else as they do to you, the Zen of holding a camera still, and much more. A member of OUUC, Tim has been a freelance professional photographer, concentrating on wildlife and other forms from nature, portraits, and natural abstracts. He has taught basic photography courses to adults and children in a number of venues, including OUUC Adult Education. RESTORATIVE JUSTICE Date: Tuesday (1 session) February 10 This introductory class could be subtitled: A New Paradigm for Addressing Harm. What does justice require in response to crime? Our current system asks: "What law was broken? Who did it? What punishment do they deserve?" This does nothing to repair the harm and may even cause more harm. There is a new way to think about justice—about constructive ways to respond called "Restorative Justice". Come learn about this new paradigm which provides a pathway to healing for all affected and to a healthier civil society. Paul McCold is a PhD Quaker Criminologist and an internationally recognized researcher, author and presenter who is encouraging support for restorative justice in Washington State and the city of Olympia THOREAU AS SPIRITUAL GUIDE Dates: Tuesdays (6 sessions), April 21, 28, May 5, 19, 26, June 2. Please, note the Tuesdays are not all consecutive. Unitarian Universalists draw from various religious sources to deepen our religious lives. Our own tradition, also, has its own fertile sources that speak to the enrichment of our spiritual lives. Henry David Thoreau felt he was writing modern-day scripture to promote what the Transcendentalists termed ‘self-culture,’ the cultivation of the soul. First and foremost, Walden is a book about spiritual renewal and reformation. Using various chapters from Walden as the texts, we will talk about: how we spend our lives; how we grow; society and solitude; the spiritual life; how, then, to live our lives. Following are the session dates and their corresponding chapters: April 21, “Economy;” April 28, “Where I Lived and What I Lived For;” May 5, “ Reading” and “Sounds;” May 19, “Solitude” and “Visitors;” May 26, “Higher Laws;” June 2, “Conclusion.” The Reverend Arthur Vaeni is Minister of the OUUC. TRANSITION DISCUSSION GROUP Dates: Wednesdays (7 sessions), January 28, February 11 & 25, March 11 & 25, April 8 & 22 Transitions happen all the time in people’s lives – anticipated and unexpected, ranging from arriving in a new city, to having a new baby, to death, divorce, job loss, new job, retirement, aging, and more. Some of us experience multiple transitions at once. The idea of the Transitions Discussion Group is to create an ongoing meeting group that provides people in transition with practical and emotional support and resources for the change(s) they are going through. People in transition and those NOT in transition can help one another create the multiple circles of connection required for a balanced life. The ground rules are confidentiality, no obligation to speak, and no obligation to come regularly. Julie Rodwell is an example of one in transition. Recently widowed, she moved to the area in January 2008, started a new job in February, and discovered OUUC. She is Regional Coordination Branch Manager for the WA Department of Transportation and a trained facilitator. VOICE CLASS Dates: Saturdays, beginning January 10 During our hour and fifteen minutes together we will work on posture, breathing and ear training, but that's not all. We will sing a variety of songs, ranging from high to low, ballad to scat. We sing together and brave to sing duets and solos! It's a chance to sing your heart out! Come and join the fun. All levels of talent are welcome. Troy Arnold Fisher is OUUC Music Director. He also is also musical director of Capital Playhouse and Kids in Koncert. THE WISDOM OF POETRY Dates: Thursdays (2 sessions), April 23, 30 This class will explore the wisdom we receive from reading poetry, writing poetry, memorizing poetry, and contemplating poems. We will consider the significance that poetry has for our lives. Jeanne is a member of the Olympia Friends Meeting and has published 8 books of poetry and prose. |
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