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Programs for Adults
We provide community-building activities and religious education (R.E.) to adults as well as children and youth. Indeed, our largest R.E. program is our Sunday service.
You are welcome to participate in our programs even if you are not a member of our church.
Scroll down the page or click on the quick links to go directly to the section you want to read about:
Drop-in Discussions
UU and U - May 2008 class cancelled
Potluck dinners
Movies to Inspire and Uplift - May 11 and May 23
Small Group Ministry
LifeNow! Radio
Drop-in discussions are held each Sunday preceding church services, except during summer, in the adult lounge on the second floor of our church. Sometimes our discussions are based on certain books or articles, but you don't have to read anything or do any advance preparation to participate. Just drop in between 9:15 and 10:15 a.m. People of all viewpoints are welcome to join in the discussions and make presentations. If you have a topic you'd like discussed or, better still, would like to lead a discussion, speak to Phil Ebersole.
Here is the current schedule of discussion topics:
- May 4, 2008 - Praying as UUs. The Revs. Wayne Arnason and Kathleen Rolenz write about the importance of prayers for Unitarian Universalists in the Spring UU World. To read the article, click on http://www.uuworld.org/spirit/articles/90593.shtml. We'll talk about how, why and whether we pray.
- May 11, 2008 - Nuclear Peril. Phil Ebersole will review Jonathan Schell's The Seventh Decade: The New Shape of Nuclear Danger. For more on Jonathan Schell's ideas, click on http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/174862.
- May 18, 2008 - Supercapitalism. Phil Ebersole will review Robert Reich's Supercapitalism: The Transformation of Business, Democracy and Everyday Life. For more on Robert Reich's ideas, click on http://www.robertreich.org/reich/columns.asp.
- May 25, 2008 - Somebodies and Nobodies. Phil Ebersole will review Robert Fuller's Somebodies and Nobodies: Overcoming the Abuse of Rank. For more on Robert Fuller's ideas, click on http://breakingranks.net and http://dignitarians.org.
- June 1, 2008. To be announced.
- June 8. Audacity of Hope. Talva Chapin will review Barack Obama's The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream. Book excerpts are available.
We have an archive list of past Drop-in Discussions.
If you are a newcomer and still curious about what Unitarian Universalism is all about, or if you’ve been around for a while and are still wondering the same thing, then UU and U is for you. We usually run this class every three months or so. If you have questions or would like information on when the next UU and U class will be scheduled, please call Kris in our church at (585) 546-2826.
Come socialize with us!
Our last potluck was Sunday April 13, 2008 to meet and greet our candidate for settled minister, Reverend Sally Hamlin. This dinner was open to all members, friends and newcomers.
Watch this space for details about future potlucks.
Questions? Contact Karl Abbott (pictured at right) at potlucks@rochesteruniversalist.org.
All are welcome.
In general, our Movie Nights are held on the 2nd Sunday and the 4th Friday of each month at First Universalist Church, 150 South Clinton Ave., Rochester, NY.
We have two movie nights scheduled for May 2008.
The first Movie Night in May will be Sunday, May 11. Arrive at 6:00 p.m. for light dinner (pizza/beverage..$5) if you like, followed by the movie "The Priest" (98 Minutes) at 6:30 p.m. One reviewer said of "The Priest", "This powerful 1995 film explores the deeply held religious convictions of an idealistic young priest which are challenged when he must face extraordinary events within his own congregation. Soon, he is forced to make the impossible choice between keeping the faith and exposing the truth! This Film of the year rings as true today as it does when it first aired."
Discussion and dessert will follow the movie. RSVP to Elizabeth Osta for "The Priest" by email or call 586-9947. Indicate 'dinner and film' or 'film only'.
The second Movie Night in May will be Friday, May 23. We will be viewing this movie in the sanctuary at 6:30 p.m. and will move to the Clara Barton Lounge for dessert and discussion directly following the movie. There is no charge for movie viewing and discussion time. Drinks will be available for $1.00. Dessert/Snacks will be provided, and anyone wishing to bring a snack will be gratefully appreciated.
A January 2006 NY Times article had this to say about "The Indigo Evolution", a documentary by James Twyman and Doreen Virtue:
".... Indigo children were first described in the 1970's by a San Diego parapsychologist, Nancy Ann Tappe, who noticed the emergence of children with an indigo aura, a vibrational color she had never seen before. This color, she reasoned, coincided with a new consciousness.
In "The Indigo Children," Mr. Carroll and Ms. Tober define the phenomenon. Indigos, they write, share traits like high I.Q., acute intuition, self-confidence, resistance to authority and disruptive tendencies, which are often diagnosed as attention-deficit disorder, known as A.D.D., or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or A.D.H.D.
Offered as a guide for "the parents of unusually bright and active children," the book includes common criticisms of today's child rearing: that children are overmedicated; that schools are not creative environments, especially for bright students; and that children need more time and attention from their parents. But the book seeks answers to mainstream parental concerns in the paranormal.
"To me these children are the answers to the prayers we all have for peace," said Doreen Virtue, a former psychotherapist for adolescents who now writes books and lectures on indigo children. She calls the indigos a leap in human evolution.
"They're vigilant about cleaning the earth of social ills and corruption, and increasing integrity," Ms. Virtue said. "Other generations tried, but then they became apathetic. This generation won't, unless we drug them into submission with Ritalin." ...."
RSVP to Linda Lorenzo for "Indigo Evolution."
The Small Group Ministry program at First Universalist is designed to foster connections, to provide an avenue for personal growth and spiritual development in a small setting and, ultimately, to strengthen the fabric of our community.
Groups of 4 to 8 participants and a trained facilitator meet on a regular basis, usually in the home of the facilitator, for about two hours per session. A session contains many of the elements of a Sunday service. There are opening words, a time for silence, chalice lighting, check-in (Joys and Concerns with a little more time to share), and closing words. Instead of a sermon, the facilitator introduces a discussion on a particular topic for the session.
Friendship, The Challenge of Change, Trust, How I Would Like to be Remembered, Receiving Gifts, Pets – these are some of the topics that have been discussed in our “traditional” small groups. Themed small groups focus on a particular aspect or area of interest such as Personal Growth through Writing, The Seven Principles of Unitarian Universalism or Big Questions.
The Small Group Ministry program is open to anyone who wishes to participate – long-time members, new members, those who are considering membership, and friends of First Universalist. All that is required is that participants sign up in advance and commit to attending the full series of sessions. More information and sign-up sheets can be found on the bulletin board in the Clara Barton Lounge and on our SGM FAQ page.
 The First Unitarian and the First Universalist Churches of Rochester have joined forces to create Life Now!, a radio show inspired by the Unitarian Universalist conviction that religion is about living well in this life, rather than preparing for the next.
In December 2007, the LifeNow! format changed from airing on a local public radio station to podcasting.
Peruse the more-than 30 audio files at the LifeNow! website. The latest audio is "Should I Shop'Til I Drop?" by Rev. Kaaren Anderson
It is possible to listen to the shows or to download the mp3 files without subscribing to the podcasts, but if you want to get the latest audio automatically, you'll need to subscribe. Instructions on how to subscribe are on the LifeNow! home page.
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