First Unitarian Universalist Society of Middleboro

The Unitarian Universalist Society offers a wide range of exciting courses under the mantle of Chalice Thursdays as well as other interesting and challenging additional adult education courses throughout the year. Adult Education courses are a wonderful way to meet people, to learn something new and to combat those end-of-the-week blahs. Most courses have a $10 registration fee for the program, some have a small materials fee as well. Scholarships are available for any course with a fee. See Tricia. The following are courses that have been offered in recent years. Keep your eyes on the Newsletter for current offerings. If there is a certain course you see listed here that you are interested in taking, email your interest to Adult Education co-chairs Barbara Stevens at stevens@tmlp.com or Sue St Germain at rssaint@attbi.com. Also, let them know if you have a possible course you'd like to teach!

Help Break the Silence! A Class on Congregational Safety Janet Walkden, Tricia Tummino, Convenors

(Every adult - parents and non-parents, who participate in church life is encouraged to take this course at least once.)
Sexual abuse thrives in an atmosphere of silence and avoidance of the issue. Sexual abuse can happen anywhere, even here. Protection from abuse comes from learning the facts about sexual abuse. Safety comes when we all learn what to watch for when adults are with children. It also comes when we teach our children, in a sensitive way, to be aware and alert.
You can help make this church a safer place. Please come, learn some simple facts and walk away with some valuable materials that can make us all feel better, knowing that we are committing together to a new level of responsibility for our beloved community. This short but effective class is sponsored and taught by the Safety Committee.

The First UU Society of Middleboro: A Look at Our History Convenors: Regina Gaudette, Tricia Tummino

Imagine what it would be like to spend an hour during the week when the only thing required of you is that you breathe. No phones ringing, no deadlines to meet, no bosses to contend with, no chores to do. Just candlelight and quiet in a warm, welcoming circle. This group tends to be ongoing, year round. See calendar for specific dates and times. No minimum, no maximum, no fee.

Why do we need ritual? What are the basic steps in creating ritual? How do we learn about the elements? We will explore the religion of Witchcraft together in a Wicca study group. Class size is limited to 10.

"Spiritual Growth for "Religious Liberals" The Bible is listed as a source from which Unitarian Universalists draw. Yet many religious liberals have little familiarity with it. Do you have curiosity about the Bible? Join with others over a four-week session as we read various passages together. The goal of these sessions is not to become an "expert" on the Bible. Rather, it is to join together in spiritual community with others and share our lives, using the Bible as a starting-point for discussion, illumination and growth. Bring your Bible, if you have one.

Building Bridges Bob Waterman, Convenor

We've come a long way, Baby! Or have we? Where are we today, here in the twenty-first century? After decades of various movements and efforts to evolve us toward gender equality and advancement, have we made much progress? Have we reached a place of deeper understanding and mutual respect? Have we managed to engage in meaningful dialogue? This course will include open discussion of exploration of the contexts in which women and men work together, romantic and platonic relationships, religious communities, and the workplace. We will use readings, writing exercises, and activities.

Decorating With Shells Pam Levine & Sue St. Germain, Co-Convenors

This course offers a delightful chance to be creative with shells by assembling wreaths, magnets, wall hangings, planters, and ornaments while working with sea fans, cork bark, preserved flowers, twig wreaths, and ribbons. There will also be a small charge each week for materials, although there will always be an item to create that will cost only one dollar. This course will run from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. for four weeks. Class size limited to 15.

The New UU Tricia Tummino, Convenor

This course with the minister and longtime members is an introduction to Unitarian Universalist beliefs and values to its history and to the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Middleboro. Although this course is especially for newcomers who are considering membership, all are welcome as this is an excellent "refresher" course. This course will run from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. for four weeks. No minimum, no maximum. No fee. Date to be announced.

Parents as Resident Theologians Tricia Tummino, Alice Williams Co-Convenors

This class is for parents of all ages, and for anyone who is interested in religious questions – join with others in a practical and conversational exploration into the parents' task of encouraging and guiding their children's spiritual, religious quest. This program deals with central religious and theological issues, and offers help in communication skills through discussion and practice. This course will run from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. for four weeks. Minimum: 5 Maximum: 10

Owning Your Religious Past Tricia Tummino, Convenor

The majority of Unitarian Universalists come into our denomination from other religions. Some of us bring unresolved feelings, and others have warm memories of their earlier experiences. This retreat offers participants time and opportunity to re-examine and retrieve positive aspects of past religious connections and is designed to provide both group sharing and private exploration. We will use our time to address affective elements of these connections rather than dogma. The announced fee will also cover catered meals. The course will begin on a Friday evening, and will run a full day Saturday. Dates/Time/Location: To be announced. Minimum: 5 people; maximum: 10.

This course is designed for people who have no experience with computers. As you probably know, email is now being used as an inexpensive way to communicate with friends and family. In this course you will be taught the basics of the free email system which you can later use at any of the public libraries, on a friend's computer or on email machines. Classes will be no longer than 90 minutes. Four to six classes will suffice. Minimum: 1 Maximum: 2

Based on a workbook by Maureen Murdock. There are exercises that will look at the impact of mother-daughter and father-daughter relationships. We will journal about our allies and adversaries in life and take note of how we have mastered loss. We will have questions for reflection and use guided imagery and art to bring clarity and understanding. Our final work will be evaluating how we have integrated the masculine and the feminine within ourselves. There will be chances to share in small groups or in pairs for those who wish. Minimum: 5 Maximum: 10

Different Paths: A Look at Spirituality Bob Waterman, Convenor

There are many ways we UU's define spirituality and even more ways we choose to pursue spiritual growth. In this course, we will explore our own personal views of spirituality and examine spiritual practices from various disciplines. There will be opportunities for personal sharing and learning about and trying out an eclectic mix of spiritual practices. Minimum: 5 Maximum: 10

Divination is the methods or practice of attempting to foretell the future or discovering the unknown through omens, oracles, or supernatural powers. This course will address learning to use various oracles including pendulums, Tarot cards, and astrology. Minimum: 5 Maximum: 10

Activities to engage adults in light-hearted foolishness. Some suggestions for activities include bowling, board games, card games and movies. The cost of each activity will vary. Most activities should be between $5 to $10, no more.

Listening As Religious Practice Tricia Tummino, Andrew Putney, Susan Becker, Convenors

Come, join us, relax, and deepen the quality of your life by learning to listen. The principal form that the work of love takes is that of attention, and the most important way we pay attention is by listening. In spite of that, most of us listen very poorly. This all-day retreat is dedicated to helping participants improve their listening skills through a variety of verbal and nonverbal exercises. Please wear loose clothing. The cost is $15. Minimum: 6 people; maximum: 12. Date to be announced.

Morning Botany Walks At Pratt Farm Mike Schroeder, Convenor

All the appeal of drama, science, and art is to be found in the world of plants, if you but slow your pace and look for it. Walks will take place from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m., Saturdays, once a month (beginning in October and skipping January and July), usually the first Saturday of the month. (We'll plan any necessary schedule variations a month ahead, at least.) Enrollees should be seriously committed to try to attend all the sessions. Dress for weather, insects, and rough, but not difficult, terrain. Make-up sessions will be scheduled when weather is severe. Minimum: 3 people; maximum: 10 people.

Carl Jung understood the oppositional dynamics in the soul. He saw that we humans are essentially paradoxical. We experience opposing poles within ourselves. Many of the Christian mystics wrote about a dark night of the soul as well as illumination. The class will be invited to look at the parallels between Jung and Christianity. No minimum, no maximum.

This will be a series of four seminars on "Welcoming the Unconscious." We will cover personality types, dreams, spirituality, and interpretation of fairy tales. Class size limited to 12.

This course will consist of a four-week introduction to basket weaving. The class members will construct a market basket and, if time permits, a round reed basket. There will be a small charge for materials. Class is limited to 4.

Italian Cooking 101 Taught by Susan Muir and teaching partner

Welcome to the world of Italian cooking. We are sure that everyone is very familiar with Italian cuisine, but we hope that we can introduce a few new ideas around the ingredients and preparation of some of our favorite family recipes. Our first class, following our dinner, will review the ingredients and the methods that went into the preparation of the dinner; and then we will prepare a few Italian specialty desserts or dolci. Biscotti, a new twist on Tira Mi Su and some simple ice cream treats will be prepared and enjoyed. Our second class will be a real “hands-on” experience as we prepare homemade pastas and the sauces to accompany them. Don’t forget an apron! Our third class will explore the vast world of antipasti or appetizers. We will unravel the mystery of how to prepare and eat an artichoke! We'll leave the fourth and final class open; and as we get to know each other and discuss our preferences, we can decide the menu for that class.

Welcome to Web 2.0! While there's no real consensus about what Web 2.0 means, two key elements are: 1. The transition of websites from isolated information silos to sources of content and functionality; and 2. A social phenomenon characterized by open communication, decentralization of authority, freedom to share and re-use, and "the market as a conversation.” Web 2.0 is about moving closer to Tim Berners-Lee's original concept of the web as a democratic, personal, and do-it-yourself medium of communication. Week 1: Social bookmarking; Week 2: Wikis; Week 3: Blogs; Week 4: RSS and alternate browsers

Addictions and eating disorders affect millions of Americans lives and result in countless deaths. Yet, these critical health issues continue to be misunderstood, misdiagnosed, and mistreated in our society. At the end of this offering, the participants should have a greater understanding of the biology of these diseases, the skills needed to manage them, and where to find help and support. The course will be offered in four parts. The first week will be an overview of the biology of addiction. The second week the participants will expand their knowledge by using the information of addiction to help them understand eating disorders. During the third week we will look at self-help groups and the twelve step program. And the fourth week will be a question and answer session with a time to reflect on all the information presented. The course will be led by a certified substance abuse counselor who works at Gosnold Treatment Center in Falmouth, Massachusetts.

In this age of consumption, more doing and more buying, sometimes it seems almost impossible to slow down and live a simpler, richer existence. While this class won’t be the answer to slowing down, simplifying, and living a more sustainable life, it is a great start that will offer many resources and food for thought. We’ll assess what it means to simplify and live more sustainably, different approaches and practices, benefits and trade offs, and strategies that work for different personalities and commitment levels. Participants will also learn about the Green Sanctuary initiative and how all of this relates to the Unitarian Universalist Seventh Principle.