African Ritual Healing/Interplay Class

October 25, Sunday, 1:30-4:30

Cost $25-45 sliding scale - In that range, participants can pay what is possible/best for them.

Guest Teacher: Masankho Banda

A native of Malawi, Masanhko Banda is an international teacher of African music, dance, and stories. He is also deeply involved in teaching peace and conflict resolution. In recognition of his work in this area, he received the Unsung Hero of Compassion Award from his Holiness the Dalai Lama in May 2001. Masankho will lead our service this day and has agreed to stay afterwards for a workshop for our members and friends.

Join Masankho for an afternoon of Healing and/or Celebrating. When translated to English Masankho’s full name means "choosing new roots for groups of people seeking freedom". Masankho invites you to come for an afternoon of celebrating the highs and healing the lows of life's journey. This is an invitation to find new roots that will bring ease, joy, grace and abundance to your life. With drums, dance, chanting, Interplay, silence and using all the elements (earth, fire, water & air) you will be taken on a magical journey. With care, following the teachings of his elders from Malawi and using some InterPlay forms you will at the end of the afternoon emerge with new insights and inspiring transformations.

Who is this afternoon for? Anyone who is making a new beginning by tackling issues that need Healing or Resolving and/or Celebrating triumphs and transitions in these and other arenas of life: Family, Work, Career, Finances, Health, Relationships, Grief, Birth, Forgiveness, etc .....Benefits: getting in touch with the issues in your life / having a time of guided reflection / having a time for joyous celebration / getting answers from your body for some of life’s deeper questions / letting go of the past and embracing the future / figuring out next steps in your life’s journey and so many more.

Find out more about Masankho at www.ucandanc.org.

To register, contact the office at 271-4883 or adultreregistration@greenvilleuu.org

Articulating Your UU Faith

Starts October 4th

5 Sessions
9:45 AM, Sundays, Sanctuary

Assisted by Pat Jobe

Talking about a non-creedal liberal religion like ours can be difficult. Many UUs are hungry for ways to articulate their faith. Those who grew up in our movement often have barely acquired, if at all, the inner tools to talk about this religion that has meant so much to them. Others coming into the faith (from a different or no religion) are often willing to share their emerging beliefs but might struggle to find appropriate language. Both kinds of UUs can field demanding inquires from their friend and family about non-creedal liberal religion.*

This class guides participants through a series of easy and engaging exercises--personal reflection, role-play, discussion and even the creation of a worship event--that equip them to communicate their liberal religious ideals.

RSVPs requested for material supplies. Facilitated by Kris Beliakoff. Contact adultreregistration@greenvilleuu.org

*liberally paraphrased from the authors

Saving Jesus is back by popular demand!

Starts September 27th

9:30 AM Sundays, lounge downstairs

Ever feel like Jesus has been kidnapped by the Christian Right or the Secular Left? Saving Jesus is a revolutionary DVD-based small group exploration of Jesus Christ for the third millennium. Featuring leading religious voices of our day, the 12-week program includes historical, theological, spiritual and social justice themes for a conversation around the relevance of Jesus Christ for today. Join Marcus Borg, John Dominic Crossan, Matthew Fox, Amy-Jill Levine, James Forbes and a host of others for a conversation around the relevance of Jesus Christ for today. Facilitators Gordon Branson and Karen Conrad,

More info? Contact Kris, Karen, or check out http://www.livingthequestions.com

The UU Women's Book Group

Sunday, September 13th at 9:45am

Meet in the Women's Room located beside the former Fellowship hall. Our book will be The Painted Veil by Somerset Maugham. A love story set in Hong Kong during the 1920's and a story affirming the human capacity to grow, to change, and to forgive. The leader of the discussion will be Susan Cooper. Questions? Call Susan at: 288-4912.

Becoming Women of Wisdom

Marking the Passage into the Crone Years

We have willing participants and one facilitator, but the Adult RE Committee is seeking a co-facilitators

Start date and time to be decided by leaders

This 13-circle curriculum is designed to prepare women to take on the role of Wise Women in their communities. The gatherings open participants to the power, wisdom, and insight of the mature self and to challenge women to use their wisdom for the good of the world through action and compassion.

Contact the office, Kris Beliakoff or Karen Conrad if you are interested in the course or in leading the course.

Book Nook on hiatus

The Book Nook has taken a break as we share a condensed space for our coffee hour. We are brainstorming creative ideas to keep it going and will keep you informed. We see to provide a wide selection of new Skinner House and Beacon Press books available for purchase in the Fellowship Hall during coffee hour. We will let you know when we feel we can provide this service again. Thank you to Susan Cooper, Bob Pepoon, and Suzanne Case who have kept this initiative going for so long!

Spiritual Cinema
2012: Science or Superstition

September 16, Wednesdays, 7 PM

Founders Room

From the jacket: “The ending of the Mayan calendar on December 12, 2012 has sparked a worldwide discussion— bestselling books, New York Times and USA Today articles, Hollywood films and more. This documentary goes to the heart of the 2012 questions: Will life as we know it end — metaphorically, literally or at all? Could 2012 actually represent an evolutionary leap in our consciousness? Discover the multiple, and at times conflicting perspectives on this enigmatic topic combined with related global change theories. This entertaining, informative film gets you up to date on the 2012 phenomenon, allowing you to decide for yourself.” Written and produced by the president of The Disinformation Company, this film is hopeful instead of apocalyptic, explaining the rational basis for the significance of the date including the earth, the sun, and the center of the Milky Way Galaxy aligning for the first time in 26,000 years. 78 minutes. Facilitated by Kris Beliakoff

Childcare available with one week’s notice. Please call the office at 271-4883 or contact dre@greenvilleuu.org

Rise Up and Call Her Name, A Woman
-honoring Journey Into Global Earth-based Spiritualities

African or Asian Goddesses

We have willing participants, but the Adult RE Committee is seeking facilitators

Start date and time to be decided by leaders

Designed for female and male participants from mature teen to adult, this curriculum explores ethical principles central to a variety of Earth and woman-honoring traditions around the globe and throughout history. We will offer this course in several blocks, with this block focusing on Native American studies. A wide range of activities including music, art, dance, poetry, dialogue and ritual provide diverse opportunities to develop fresh perspectives on fearlessness, compassion, nurturing and numerous other aspects of personal spirituality. Contact the office, Kris Beliakoff or Karen Conrad if you are interested in the course or in leading the course.

Becoming Women of Wisdom
Marking the Passage into the Crone Years

We have willing participants, but the Adult RE Committee is seeking facilitators

Start date and time to be decided by leaders

This 13-circle curriculum is designed to prepare women to take on the role of Wise Women in their communities. The gatherings open participants to the power, wisdom, and insight of the mature self and to challenge women to use their wisdom for the good of the world through action and compassion.

Contact the office, Kris Beliakoff or Karen Conrad if you are interested in the course or in leading the course.

Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans

Interested GUUF members sought

The Adult RE Committee has been repeatedly approached about the possibility of reforming this pagan-spirituality group. The committee has folks who have offered to co-lead this group if a large enough interest is shown. If you are interested, please contact Karen Conrad and she will put you in touch with others.

From www.cuups.org
“CUUPs is an organization the like of which has never existed before. Its status as an Interest Group of the UUA makes a statement that the leadership and members of the Unitarian Universalist Association recognize Pagan paths as a valid expression of spirituality and a legitimate path to religious truth for individuals. It gives Pagan-identified UUs the unique and delightful experience of being able to pursue their individual journeys of, to name just a sampling, Wicca, Shamanism, earth-centered spirituality, Witchcraft, Druidism, Asatru, Native American spirituality, Rasta, Stregheria, Toteg Tribe spirituality, and myriad other singular paths of Pagan belief and thought, without having to deny themselves the benefits and resources of church affiliation.

CUUPS affords worship and educational resources to its members, as well as serving as an interfaith educational resource to host congregations to inform other UUs and other community members about Pagan beliefs and practices. In its nearly 20-year history, it has provided irreplaceable resources to the UUA, including Cakes For the Queen of Heaven, the world's first Goddess Studies course, which celebrates its 20-year anniversary in 2006, and its successor, Rise Up and Call Her Name, a workshop/Adult RE Class on Goddesses of the world. Members of CUUPS can read and utilize many other resources of our organization here.

In many areas of North America, individual members of CUUPS have joined together to form CUUPS chapters, in association with existing UU congregations. Chapter activities may include discussion groups, ritual groups, teaching circles, and worship services for UU congregations. Chapters are autonomous in deciding their own levels and types of activity.”