Adult Ed Classes 2023-2024

Journaling for Spiritual Growth

Facilitators: Cindy Curry or Beth Wood-Roig
Dates: First & Third Monday of each month, Oct 2023 - Apr 2024
Time: 7 pm - 8:30 pm
Online meetings via Zoom (link provided to registered participants)
Exchange: $5/session or $60 if paid in full by start of program (payment through Venmo or by check)

This Fall, the Journaling for Spiritual Growth will focus on taming our gremlins. Gremlins are the niggling, negative voices in our heads that tell us what we're doing wrong, that we are not quite good enough, and any number of other disparaging messages to keep us from fulfilling our potential and having confidence in ourselves. Our journaling work will focus on identifying and naming our gremlins and some clever techniques to tame them. We'll use Rick Carson's classic workbook, Taming Your Gremlin: A Surprisingly Simple Method for Getting Out of Your Own Way, as a primary resource. Participants will need to purchase the book before the first meeting, October 2, 2023.

An excerpt from Taming Your Gremlin:

Gremlin-Taming is practical, and it is powerful. It is a method for meeting the inner challenge that is inherent in every activity from climbing Mount Everest to getting a good night’s sleep. Gremlin-Taming, in a phrase or three, is a graceful process for choosing light over darkness, good over evil (and boy, those terms are loaded for people), or better yet, the true love that sustains you over the fear that can destroy you. It’s a meaty subject, to say the least, but one that is germane to having a fulfilling inner life and a peaceful interdependence with others. We are, after all, in this thing together.

Register Here

Musical Activities for All Ages

Facilitator: Brenna Kupferman

UUFHC presents many opportunities for people of all ages to make music together. If you sing or play an instrument, you are welcome to join in the music-making fun! We are always looking for new musicians and singers who can take part in services (solo or group), perform in concerts, and share music during social events. And all of these can be done either in-person or online, live or recorded!

OWLS Circle (Older Wiser Loving Souls)

Facilitator: J. Sue Henry
Dates for both groups: 2nd & 4th Mondays of the month
Time: UUFHC Sanctuary: 10:00 am to Noon
Time: UUFHC Zoom: 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm
Exchange: $15 for the year

The topics focus on unique issues of those over the age of 55 years and their spiritual journey as an elder. This includes:

• the challenges and opportunities of aging;
• experiencing practices and processes that enhance intention and passion for life;
• sharing ways of serving the greater good in family, church and community.

This group has subdivided to better meet the needs of the members. The group is open to members and friends of UUFHC as well as the community. An individual may join at any time. Both groups will follow the same process and usually the same topic.

Qigong

Instructor: James (Marty) Martin
Dates: Wednesdays and Saturdays
Time: 9:00 am
Place: UUFHC Sanctuary
Exchange: $10 per month

Qigong is an ancient form of self-healing through gentle movement. It is a movement practice focused on health, longevity, stress management and mental clarity. Marty will be teaching the Hauxia Zhineng Qigong (Chi Lel) system, which was the world's largest medicine-less Qigong. The Chi Lel Qigong center in China had 180 different diseases and had a 95% success rate. James Martin (Marty) has been practicing Qigong for 30 years. He has taught Qigong in many different locales and will be teaching this beneficial healing practice at UUFHC.

Tai Chi is another ancient form of self-healing. Marty's Tai Chi emphasizes physical development, self-defense, aspects of meditation and breathing exercises. He will take you slowly through each movement which can be adjusted for each individual's ability. He'll draw on 60 years' experience in the martial arts.

Gaia's Daughter Reiki Circle

Facilitator: Bess Hutt, Reiki Master Teacher (RMT)
Dates: 3rd Fridays of the month, starting Feb 16
Time: 6:30 - 7:45 pm
Location: UUFHC Sanctuary
Exchange: Goodwill donation to instructor if able
Registration required / limit 10

Reiki is an ancient Japanese healing technique that promotes relaxation and stress reduction. In short, Reiki works by channeling energy through the practitioner's hands, promoting balance and harmony within the body, mind, and spirit. A Reiki Circle provides participants with a supportive space to experience this gentle and transformative energy.

Possible benefits for participants include: stress reduction and relaxation, increased energy and vitality, emotional and mental well-being, and enhanced overall sense of balance.

Overview of what participants can expect:

• Introduction: Short introduction of Reiki and a time to introduce ourselves.
• Guided Meditation: Brief meditation to create a relaxed & receptive atmosphere.
• Energy Healing: A few minutes will be spent channeling Reiki to each participant.
• Sharing: As time allows, we will share our experiences before closing.

Participants are encouraged to wear comfortable clothing and bring a light snack if needed. Herbal tea will be provided.

Spring Retreat 2024

Making Connections with Ourselves, Others, and this Beautiful World

Facilitators: Cindy Curry and Beth Wood-Roig
Dates: May 3rd to 4th, 2024
(May 5th, optional, informal, second overnight)
Time: 9:30 am - 10:15 am
Place: Cranaleith Spiritual Center, 13475 Proctor Road, Philadelphia, PA 19116

Come join us to reflect on what matters deeply to you, renew your spirit for life, and restore your soul.

For our first overnight retreat since 2019, we are choosing a very positive theme and vibe. In these difficult times, we believe that this hurting, angry world could certainly use more positivity. We invite you to step away from the pressures of daily life for a little while and give yourself the gift of time and space to reconnect with your deeper Self, other human beings, and the whole natural world.

We are trying out a new venue this year. Cranaleith Spiritual Center (https://cranaleith.org/) is located northeast of Philadelphia about an hour and a half from UUFHC. It is nestled in a sanctuary of trees and green space—truly a salve for the soul.

Our time together will include a range of contemplative-focused group activities and intentional conversation, mingled with time to yourself to soak up and process the richness of our experiences and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. You are encouraged to sit and relax by the pond, explore the lovely grounds, which include a peace pole, honey hives, and a labyrinth, during some of the open time built into the schedule.

We begin on Friday evening with a gathering time and dinner, with light programming to follow. Saturday includes sunrise meditation (optional), followed by breakfast, morning conversations and activities, then time to yourself before lunch. We will gather again after lunch for more fellowship and activities and will end our time together at 3:00 pm.

* There is an option to stay a 2nd night for us all to just enjoy each other's company, if you so choose. Dinner on the second night is not included (we usually find a local restaurant for a group dinner). Breakfast on Sunday morning is included in the second night fee.

We hope you will consider giving yourself this gift of time to rest, recenter, refocus, and remember how to just BE in this busy, busy world.

* For just the single night, formal retreat program: $156.00, with an $80.00 Deposit due at time of registration
** For both nights (formal retreat program, as well as informal second overnight with breakfast included): $241.00, with $120.00 deposit due at time of registration.
Registration AND balance of payment due: APRIL 9, 2024.

Make checks payable to UUFHC and give them to either Cindy Curry or Beth Wood-Roig along with your registration form.

*** Limited space available ***
*** Register SOON if you want to guarantee your spot! ***
*** Download Registration Form ***

Movement and Meditation Group

Facilitator: Beth Wood-Roig
Dates: Saturdays, Feb 17, Mar 16, Apr 20, May 18
Time: 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM
Place: UUFHC
Exchange: $5/session for UUFHC members, $10/session for non-members

This group will focus on tuning into our innate body wisdom through movement and meditation. Activities will include sitting and walking meditations, learning and practicing meditative movement techniques from various traditions, and new body prayers to practice each month. No previous experience is needed.

Register Here

Soul Matters Sharing Circle

Facilitator: Sara Brinkerhoff and Laura Paligo
Dates: 1st & 3rd Tuesdays of the month
Time: 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm in the Board Room & via Zoom
Exchange: None

Soul Matters is a small group circle that follows the same theme of the month as the services. The first meeting of the month we focus on provided questions that particularly call to each of us. We share what we learn about ourselves. And we listen deeply, then share what gifts we gain from listening. We choose spiritual exercises to practice until our second meeting when we share what we gained from the exercises, again with deep listening and sharing appreciations of what we’ve heard.

We gather at 6:30 pm for chat and start the program at 6:45. For January and February, due to potential inclement weather, we are meeting on the church Zoom channel. Beginning in March again, we will meet in the Board room at the church.

New Members are always welcome!

UU Christian Fellowship

Facilitator: Steve Thompson
Dates: 2nd & 4th Wednesdays beginning February 14 Time: 7:15 pm via Glenn Brown's Zoom

We welcome newcomers!

The UU Christian Fellowship is a group of moderate and liberal Christians who support UUFHC and find it to be a good environment to further their Christian faith. The group is led by Steve Thompson, who identifies himself as a Unitarian Christian.

Wait! Aren't Christians supposed to be Trinitarian?! Aren't they supposed to believe that Jesus is God, that God wrote a perfect Bible, that Jesus died to save people from their sins, and that only Christians go to heaven?! While many people do believe these things, and, sadly, they are the more vocal, there are many of us who reject these beliefs. Instead, we believe in a Christianity that is far more positive, loving, and inclusive. So how can we deviate from these beliefs that others consider to be fundamental and claim are based on the Bible? Answer: we don't wave the Bible around—we actually study it! Come to UUCF and see an enlightened understanding of God and Jesus.

Our next series, starting Feb 14, will cover the Documentary Hypothesis, which is an explanation of how the first five books of the Bible came to be written. Join us to see how, contradictory to the long-standing belief that God instructed Moses to write these five books, they are actually written by multiple authors who were motivated to correct what the prior authors had written. Instead of a perfect Bible, we have one with numerous contradictions, and those contradictions are explained by the competing visions of the original authors.

• Lesson 1: Noah and the Flood Story
• Lesson 2: Two Rebellion Stories
• Lesson 3: Two Creation Stories
• Lesson 4: God Sends Moses to Pharaoh
• Lesson 5: God Sends Moses to Pharaoh Again

Free Health and Wellness Programs at UUFHC

Diabetes Prevent T2
(National Diabetes Prevention Program)

Facilitators: Kathy Kraft or J. Sue Henry
Dates: Begins April 29 and initially meets weekly until September when it becomes twice a month and then monthly until the one-year mark in April 2025. No classes on holidays.
Time: 5:30 to 6:30 pm
Location: UUFHC Sanctuary

This 12-month lifestyle change program uses education & group support to help you adopt a healthier routine which can prevent or delay the development of Type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes Self-Management: This 6-week program provides education, skills, & support to help you better manage your diabetes and improve overall health.

For registration and further information contact UM Upper Chesapeake Health 1-800-515-0044

Mobility

Facilitators: Kathy Kraft or J. Sue Henry
Dates: Every Monday from May 6 - July 1, except May 27 Memorial Day
Time: 10:00 am to Noon
Location: UUFHC Sanctuary

Matter of Balance This 8-week program offers safety, movement, & confidence-building activities to reduce the risk of falling and increase activity levels. This program emphasizes practical strategies to manage falls.

You will learn to:

• View falls as controllable
• Set goals for increasing activity
• Make changes to reduce fall risks at home
• Exercise to increase strength and balance

For registration and further information contact UM Upper Chesapeake Health 1-800-515-0044