Religious Education

After participating in the first part of the service, the children gather for a time of religious education (RE). Divided into age-related groups, or working all together, the children learn about our UU religious heritage as well as the wisdom of various world's religions. They also problem-solve moral dilemmas, learn more about themselves as people, learn how to act to make the world a better place, and have fun. Adults also gather periodically for groups and activities, like coffee table chats on Sunday mornings, book discussion groups, and Small Group Ministry.

We are currently offering two different adult workshops on various Sunday Mornings:

Compassionate Communication

is a process developed by Marshall Rosenberg and others which people use to communicate with greater compassion and clarity. It focuses on two things: honest self-expression - exposing what matters to oneself in a way that's likely to inspire compassion in others, and empathy - listening with deep compassion. Formal NVC self-expression includes four elements: observations (distinguished from interpretations/evaluations), feelings (emotions separate from thoughts), needs (deep motives) and requests (clear, present, doable and without demand).

Spirit of Life

program belongs to the Tapestry of Faith curriculum series for adults. As a whole and in each of its individual programs, the Tapestry of Faith series weaves Unitarian Universalist values, principles, and sources together with four strands of religious growth: faith development, spiritual development, ethical development, and Unitarian Universalist identity. Each of the strands is described below.
* Faith Development. When we develop in faith, we develop as meaning-makers. Faith is not about accepting impossible ideas. Rather, faith is about embracing life's possibilities and growing in our sense of being "at home in the universe." Faith is practiced in relationship with others. It has personal dimensions, but it is best supported by a community with shared symbols, stories, values, and meaning.
* Spiritual Development. In the book Everyday Spiritual Practice, Scott Alexander defines spirituality as our relationship with the Spirit of Life, whatever we understand the Spirit of Life to be. Our spirituality is our deep, reflective, and expressed response to the awe, wonder, joy, pain, and grief of being alive.
* Ethical Development. When we develop our ethics, we develop our moral values - our sense of right and wrong. We also enhance our ability to act on those values, overcoming oppressions and despair.
* Unitarian Universalist Identity. A person's participation in a Unitarian Universalist congregation does not automatically create his/her Unitarian Universalist identity. Personal identification with Unitarian Universalism begins when people start to call themselves Unitarian Universalist, and feel part of a Unitarian Universalist congregation or community. Identity is strengthened as individuals discover and find resonance with the stories, symbols, and practices of Unitarian Universalism. As individuals find and give acceptance in a Unitarian Universalist community; as they cherish the community's people, values, messages, and activities; and as they find sustenance for their holy hungers, they grow into Unitarian Universalists. The workshops in Spirit of Life address all of these strands, yet the program focuses primarily on Unitarian Universalists' spiritual development. May these workshops be for your congregations like roots, holding us close, and like wings, setting us free. Spirit of Life, come to us, come to us.