Adult classes

Every spring and fall we offer a fresh slate of adult classes. Anyone age 16+ is welcome, unless otherwise noted. No fees are required unless otherwise noted. For more information contact Adult Programs Committee Chair Linda Rothbart.

Class offerings

Winter-Spring 2019 classes are listed below under the following categories:

Newcomers/Membership
UU identity and spiritual development
Social Justice education
Leadership development and life skills
Adult small groups and retreats

Newcomers/membership

We offer newcomer and membership classes to help you learn more about the congregation, support your continuing spiritual journey and connect with other newcomers, with longtime congregants and with our ministers. Click on the class title for a full description.

Newcomers/visitors reception

Sun., Apr. 7, 10:15 a.m. & 12:15 p.m., Sanctuary Commons. If you're new to UUCF, join us for coffee and conversation.

Newcomers orientation

Sat., Apr. 13, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Social Hall. Contact Mary Foster to register or with questions. RSVP for child care by emailing Tasha Jackson by Apr. 10 at 5 p.m. Orientation is the first step in becoming a UUCF member. Session intended for people who are new to our community and wish to explore whether this is the right place for them and for those interested in learning more about the work of our congregation and how to get involved.

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UU identity and spiritual developement

These classes help develop deeper understanding of Unitarian Universalist history, values, other world religions and different spiritual practices. Ongoing courses include:

UU Wellspring – Spiritual Deepening for Unitarian Universalists
World Religions and Spirituality online course – exploring world religions through texts and visits to local places of worship.

Click the class title below for a complete description.

Destroyer of the Gods: Christianity's Triumph in the Roman World

Wed., Mar. 20 & 27, 7-8:30 p.m., Prog. Bldg. (Class started Mar. 6.) Led by Jack Dalby. Register online, email ap@uucf.org or stop by the Adult Programs table in the Commons after services. Christianity's astounding success in the ancient Roman world was not preordained; far from it. In this academic-based class, we will examine the reasons Christianity grew from a tiny group of apocalyptic Jews in the year 30 C.E., to being proclaimed the official religion of the Roman Empire in 380 C.E. Topics will include the historical Jesus, the ministry of St. Paul, why Christianity separated from Judaism, the Roman view of Christianity, early Christian worship, Roman persecution of Christians, the importance of martyrdom, the variety of Christianities, Constantine's conversion, the Council of Nicaea and more.

"Dancing With Gaia" film and discussion

Sat., Mar. 23, 7-9 p.m., Chapel. Led by Susan Bennett. Register online, email ap@uucf.org or stop by the Adult Programs table in the Commons after services. "Dancing With Gaia" is an 82-minute documentary film that explores connecting to earth energy, sacred sexuality and the return of the Goddess as Gaia. Filmmaker Jo Carson traveled throughout Europe, the Mediterranean and the U.S. filming the sacred sites of ancient earth-centered religions. She interviewed 15 visionaries who explain how to release the constrictions that keep us from experiencing the earth as part of our own body and give us tools to begin personally feeling the life of the planet.

Living Consciously

Mon., Mar. 25, Apr. 15, May 27 and Jun. 10, 7:30-9 p.m., Prog. Bldg. No registration required; just show up. Led by Zim Putney. Eckhart Tolle says we are only truly alive in this moment. In this class we strive to be more present and self-aware now, following the voice of our deepest inner resources: our intelligence, emotions, feelings and values. We apply the wisdom of Jack Kornfield's book “The Wise Heart,” as well as teachings of Tara Brach and others. We practice mindfulness in each meeting through reading (mind), movement (body) and meditation (spirit) and the shared wisdom of others in the class.

Gentle Yoga

Tue., Mar. 26, Apr. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, May 7, 14, 21, 28, 6:30-7:30 a.m., Chapel. Led by Ravi Kaur (Christine Mason), cmason@edimprovement.org. Drop-ins welcome. This course is designed for UUCF and includes stretching, Kundalini yoga sets, relaxation and meditation. Ravi has taught yoga at UUCF since 2001. Dress comfortably and bring a yoga mat and water bottle.

UU 101: History and Theology

Wed., Apr. 24, 7-9 p.m., Prog. Bldg. Led by Rev. David A. Miller. Register online, email ap@uucf.org or stop by the Adult Programs table in the Commons after services. 2000 years of UU history in 2 hours.

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Social justice education

Click on the course title for a full description.

Embodying Liberation

Registrations are no longer available for this class. Mon., Mar. 4, Mar. 11, 18, 25, Apr. 1, 8, 6:30-8 p.m., Prog. Bldg. Led by Pippin Whitaker. Would you like to develop creative ways to counter oppression and live out our liberating values? This program supports individuals seeking to embody their values in the way they live and work. Through collaborative activities and shared experience, this curriculum invites participants into deep critical reflection and spiritual work to develop skills to interact with structures of supremacy that are embedded in their daily lives and organizational or community settings. By awakening to supremacy structures and collaboratively practicing actions that transform those structures, participants will express their deepest values through doing and being.

Whiteness in America: A Discussion

Mon., Apr. 8 & Apr. 22, 7-9 p.m., Prog. Bldg. (Class started Mar. 18.) Led by Mary Butler. Register online, email ap@uucf.org or stop by the Adult Programs table in the Commons after services. It is difficult to take apart structures of racial oppression without considering the nature of “whiteness.” We seldom think of “white” as a racial category, even when we check the box on census forms. Yet until people of all races can understand the meaning of “whiteness,” white people are limited in the role they can take in resisting racial injustice. Whiteness is painful to contemplate, especially for white “liberals.” We have been part of the fight for civil rights for African Americans. We have hired Asians and lobbied for immigration reform. We have married Latinos. We have worked for social justice in many ways. What do you mean, we’re racist?! This three-session encounter will delve into the experience of being white and the blindness that comes from never experiencing “race” from the inside. What is our experience with being white and how does it create a barrier to understanding the lives of people of color?

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Leadership development and life skills

Click on the course title for a full description.

Righteous Minds Trying to Understand Other Political Tribes

Wed., Mar. 20, 27, Apr. 3 & 10, 7-9 p.m., Prog. Bldg. Led by Bill Roos. Learn more about this class. Register online, email ap@uucf.org or stop by the Adult Programs table in the Commons after services. Inspired by Jonathan Haidt's book "The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion" and other authors, this class will look at people from diverse political and cultural backgrounds and try to better understand one another’s values and beliefs – and possibly even find areas of agreement across the usual political and cultural boundaries.

Needlework Group

Thu., Mar. 21, 2:30-4 p.m., Prog. Bldg. Meets the first Tuesday from 7:30-9 p.m. and the third Thursday from 2:30-4 p.m. Contact Mary Paxton. No registration required; just show up. This group welcomes all parties interested in schmoozing over needlework or other portable projects. There is no formal instructor, but participants assist each other (including beginners) in mastering new techniques and planning future projects, while they get to know each other better. To accommodate all who may be interested, those available meet twice a month, once during the day and once in the evening.

Card Making, Scrapbooking and Paper Arts

Sun., Mar. 24, Apr. 28 & May 19, 1-2:30 p.m., Prog. Bldg. (First session was Feb. 24.) Led by Kim Condas. Register online, email ap@uucf.org or stop by the Adult Programs table in the Commons after services. Join Kim to indulge your love of paper arts. Kim will have a card project for each class - you’ll make a card for yourself and one for the UUCF Caring Committee to use for our members. Or you can bring your own card or scrapbook project and craft in community with others.

Overcoming Polarization With Controversy Modeling

Mon., Mar. 25, Apr. 8 & 22, 7-9 p.m., Prog. Bldg. (Class started Mar. 11.) Led by Terry Steichen. Register online, email ap@uucf.org or stop by the Adult Programs table in the Commons after services. Controversy modeling (CM) is a technique to address "wicked problems" (meaning resistant to resolution rather than evil). These are special problems for which it's hard to define what a solution might be. Wicked problems usually involve multiple dimensions and multiple, competing stakeholders. CM helps users better understand complicated issues that swirl around us - abortion, climate change, gun violence, globalization, LGBTQ rights, health care, etc. The CM process eliminates any built-in bias and helps people develop their own informed views. The class will focus on reducing polarization and explore the conceptual basis and applications of CM, as well as demonstrating a free online tool that can assist in personal exploration and in conducting structured group discussions.

Small Things in Life Group

Tue., Apr. 2, 1-3 p.m., Prog. Bldg. Meets the first and third Tuesdays, February-June. (Note: No meeting Mar. 19.) Questions? Contact Mary Frances Kordick. Back by popular demand! Small Things in Life is a group that shares interest in health, food, gardening, downsizing (practical and emotional aspects), natural cleaning supplies, environmental friendliness, living simply - to name a few! Come once, twice or to all our meetings. We exchange information and experience, investigate questions and have lots of fun!

A Roll Call of Saints

Tue., Apr. 9, 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Prog. Bldg. Led by Roz Hoagland. Register online, email ap@uucf.org or stop by the Adult Programs table in the Commons after services. Western religious art is filled with images of a vast number of saints. Visiting the Renaissance section of the National Gallery and trying to identify the people in the paintings can be a challenge. Over the centuries, artists developed formulas to portray individual saints. They are often shown holding objects associated with their lives or deaths. In this class, we'll examine an alphabetic roll call of almost 40 of the most important and frequently pictured saints, hear their stories and find out how to identify them.

Spiritual Hiking

Sun., Apr. 14, 12:45-2:45 p.m., meet in front of the Program Building. 2nd Sunday through September. Contact Edna Trimm. The hike begins with an inspirational reading that is intended to " ... engage us, awe us and make us reflect." (Richard Taylor, physicist)

Next Chapter: How to Retire Wild, Happy and Free the UUCF Way

Tue., Apr. 16, 30, May 14, 28, Jun. 11 & 25, 7:30-9:30 p.m., Prog. Bldg. Led by Craig Clark. Register online, email ap@uucf.org or stop by the Adult Programs table in the Commons after services. Retirement is a familiar term, but perhaps the “next chapter” of your successful, gratifying and meaningful life is a better way to describe retirement. The class will focus on how we can make our next chapter the one we want it to be. In addition to learning from each other, we will learn from people who have written on this topic. Regardless of your age, the next chapter is here, or it’s coming, so why not plan for it and make it the chapter you and your loved ones want.

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