Life Enrichment Classes and Activities
Life Enrichment has merged with Religious Education to form the Spriitual and Ethical Enrichment Committee. We value education as a life-long process, and offer courses, single-session events and interest groups for variety of topics of interest to Unitarian Universalists of all ages, including:
- Book Table: Swap and Buy
- Book Discussion Group
- Information Forum for Visitors
- Men's Discussion Group
- SUUNDAE (Sunday UUs Need and Deserve Adult Enrichment)
- Various Classes and Workshops
We learned flower arranging the Saturday before
Mother's Day.
For courses requiring registration, place your name and phone number on the sign-up sheet in the church lobby or call the church office at 945-8109. All events will take place at the church unless otherwise noted. Some workshops are appropriate for and welcome youth; check with the leaders of a particular workshop with regard to age-limits.
An invitation: The fall isn't just the beginning of the kids' Religious Ed. year, it's the beginning for the rest of us, too! We've got a little bit for everyone, so look over the RE flyer for grown-ups for a peek at the schedule of offerings in store for the fall, including Artist's Way with Felicia DuBose, New UU with Sam and Chauma Guss, "This I Believe" with Ted Kluz, the MidSouth District's Healthy Congregation workshop and "Courage In the Face of Melting Glaciers" at The Mountain in October, Compassionate Congregation workshops and more. The kids have "Our Whole Lives Sexuality education," and we're happy to announce that Terry Hall and Chauma Smith Guss will be offering OWL for grown-ups, too. There are Drum Circles as the seasons change, and our ongoing meditation class with Sharron Swain and SUUNDAE Forum hosted by the usual suspects will continue to meet each Sunday. Keep an eye out for the sign up sheets, and let us know if you'll need childcare, everyone is welcome. Come and join us for rich conversation, laughter, thoughtful contemplation and fellowship!
Information Forum for Visitors
All visitors and their families are invited to learn0 more about our congregation and Unitarian Universalism. Information Forums are facilitated by our minister and/or our Director of Religious Education, and a representative from our Adult Enrichment Committee. We'll respond to your questions about our free faith tradition, and suggest ways in which you may become involved and connected. Please come join us! No RSVP's
Sunday Morning Mindfulness Meditation
The Morning Mindfulness Meditation group now meets according to the following schedule: 8:30-9:00 am, Sitting meditation period #1 outside near the Memorial Garden if the weather's nice, or in Room 114 downstairs, 9:00-9:10 AM, Walking meditation in the Memorial Garden (weather permitting), 9:10-9:30 AM, Dharma discussion Room 114, 9:30-10:00 amAM Sitting meditation period #2 Room 114. All are welcome. The best times to join the group are either 8:30 AM, 9 AM in the Memorial Garden, or 9:30 AM. Questions? Please contact Sharron Swain at dre 
.
Pia Sen taught us Indian Classical Dance
Sunday Mornings: SUUNDAE
SUUNDAE (Sunday UUs Need and Deserve Adult Enrichment) forums are held most Sundays from 9:00 to 9:45 A.M in room 114 (Middle School Room). All are welcome to join the early risers for coffee and conversation. We'll have presentations and discussions on various topics, led by members and friends of our church. Everyone is invited to attend and no sign-up is required.
SUUNDAE Morning Discussion Group: 9:00 am in Middle School Room
Unless otherwise planned, the SUUNDAE is open forum.
Classes
Conversational Spanish Class
Fourth Wednesdays from 6:30—8:00 p.m. Join us as we practice and improve our Spanish conversation skills. For more information, contact Helen Rivas, spanish.
Future classes and workshops:
UU 101 and 201 Classes
For those wishing to know more about UUism, how the denomination functions and more about our own church here in Birmingham. Call Angela Pruitt to register.
Time: TBA
Facilitators: TBA
ADULT OWL (Our Whole Lives Sexuality Education)
Starting in January we're planning to offer ADULT OWL, Our Whole Lives Sexuality Education for Adults. Currently under discussion is one Sunday per month for fourteen Sundays, time and place to be determined. This highly engaging class will be facilitated by Terry Hall and Chauma Smith Guss. Please sign up at the RE Welcome Table or contact Sharron Swain at dre@uucbham.org if you are interested. We plan to have an informational/introductory workshop in November so inquirers can get a feel for what will be covered, and the facilitators can get a feel for whether we need to offer Adult OWL (all adults over 18), Young Adult OWL (ages 18-35) or both!
Bible Study for Religious Liberals
In April, Rev. Broussard will be leading the first "Bible Study for Religious Liberals" class entitled "Conversations with the Bible." It will take place in the Reading Room (114) downstairs, beginning April 4th from 7-8:30 pm on a series of 5 Monday evenings. The class is full at this time, but if you would like to be included in such a class in the fture, e-mail Sharron Swain at dre@uucbham.org so we can plan ahead.
Groups
Artist's Way Creative Cluster
Starting January 27, every Wed. night at 6:30 PM(except holidays) Artist's Way meets at the church at 6:30 PM. Based on the book, The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron, our goal is to break down our creative blocks while building bonds with others seeking to live more creative lives. Sign up in the sanctuary for this 12 week workshop. Bring your own book and supplies - a notepad and a pen.
Book Discussion Group:
The Book Discussion group will no longer meet every month at a set time. Instead, we will take suggestions from members and friends of the church for particular books we may want to discuss. Given sufficient interest, we will then schedule a time that book will be discussed and publicize it. Those who have a suggestion for a particular book to be discussed, along with a commitment to attend that discussion, should contact Marion Fintel.
Books Discussed have included:
Close Range by Annie Proulx (includes the short story
"Brokeback Mountain")
24 Years of Housework and the Place is Still a Mess: My Life
in Politics by Pat Schroeder
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
1776 by David McCullough
The Alchemist by Paul Coehlo
Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns
Book Recycling Table: Swap and Buy
Do you have a book that you no longer want, but would love to share with someone who would really appreciate it? The Adult Programming subcommittee of the SEEC will sponsor a book swap each month to coincide with first Sunday lunch, beginning July 1. A Book Swap Table will be set up in the rear of the sanctuary and people wishing to donate books and magazines may simply set them on the table. Those who see a book or magazine they would like to read can then take and keep it (the table will be self-serve). After lunch, whatever is left on the table will be packed up and brought out again the following month. After a period of time, books that haven't been selected will be donated to the Friends of the Homewood Library bookstore and magazines will be recycled. So have a look through your bookshelves and see what you would like to share, and bring them each first Sunday!
The UUA Book Table will still be available periodically, where you may purchase UUA publications. For more information, you may contact Marion Fintel or Lisa Albea.Books from the UUA Bookstore will be available for sale before and after services on dates announced in advance by email and on the website. The Book Table now carries 74 different titles, and includes books on simple living, spiritual practice, social justice, and parenting, as well as books for children. The Book Table gives members and friends the opportunity to examine first and then purchase books from the UUA Book Store, without leaving Birmingham or having to pay for shipping charges.
Ladies' Lunch Bunch:
Ladies Lunch Bunch has been moved
to the second Thursday of the month at 11:30 AM beginning in February, 2010. Bring your lunch and join us downstairs
in the Volker Room at Church for fellowship and conversation.
Men's Discussion Group:
This group has just disbanded after almost 11 years. We are hoping for a revival led by a new
crop of UU Men at our church.
Unitarian Universalist Church of Birmingham
A Welcoming congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Association
Location: 4300 Hampton Heights Drive · Birmingham, Alabama · 35209 · U.S.A
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 19786 · Birmingham, AL 35219
Phone: (205) 945-8109 · Fax: (205) 945-8111
E-mail: office 'at' uucbham.org
Copyright © 2006-2010 Unitarian Universalist Church of Birmingham
All Rights Reserved.