Spiritual Development

Small Groups: Social and Community Building

20/30 Connections
Contact: Celeste Kidd
Dates of activities vary each month
We are organized around various outings and adventures - movies, cooking together, eating out, community service, concerts, coffee houses, and more - for the purpose of creating connections with other 20 and 30 year old Unitarian-Universalists. The group is open to couples and singles alike. Activities vary from month to month and are chosen by the vote of the group. Never overly serious. Always fun. A great way to meet some other Unitarians who are "on the younger side."

LAHF (Lesbians Actively Having Fun)
Contacts: Paula Randall
3rd Tuesdays at 6pm; social outings scheduled at other times
This group meets once a month to discuss issues pertinent to the group and plan social outings during the rest of the month. Outings include such things as the gay pride picnic, a GLBT movie and a visit to a gay owned coffee house for sweets and conversation. There are various ages and degrees of "out-ness" in the group. Privacy is respected, friendship is offered and fun guaranteed. New members are always welcome to join the group.

UU Moms' Night Out
Contact: Lisa Hotaling
Detailed description here.

Lunch Bunch
Facilitator: Annette M. Oyer
2nd & 4th Sundays, after the 11:15am service at the Bagel Bin
(2600 Elmwood Ave, near 12 Corners)
We are an informal and open group that gathers after church twice a month for lunch and lively conversation. At our Sunday gatherings, we often plan future outings and adventures to go on together, such as the movies, museums or to hear music. Look for the group gathered around a table with a big yellow poppy flower on it at the Bagel Bin.

Ski Club
Contact: Nancy Hall
The Ski Club is devoted to fun, skiing and socializing. Membership consists of all ability levels of cross-country and downhill skiers and snowboarders. Week long trips to two ski areas in 2009 will be discussed at several potluck gatherings held in 2008. Ski days at local areas will be planned as well. Potlucks are at members' homes where tall tales and trip pictures of ski adventures are shared. All church members and friends are welcome.

Niagara-on-the-Lake Outing
Contact: Don and Alison Wilder
Thursday, May 15th
A relaxing, spring day-trip to Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario, on Thursday, May 15th. Our restroom-equipped bus leaves the church at 9am and arrives in time for you to explore the town and have lunch on your own before seeing a play, then takes you to a four-course, sit-down dinner, returning to church about 9pm. The play is Wonderful Town with dazzling music by Leonard Bernstein. It portrays the adventure of two sisters who arrive in New York to find fame, fortune, and love. With the help of some colorful characters from Greenwich Village, they find even more than they bargained for. All this for $125.

Community Building Through Volunteerism
Contact: Mary Jones, Director of Member Services
It's common for people to say that volunteer "jobs" end up giving us more than we give to them. A large part of that is due to the relationships we build and sense of community we discover while doing the "work." There are dozens of volunteer opportunities at First Unitarian, including Sunday morning decor, ushering, teaching our kids, working in the church gardens, joining the gang of retired guys that do fix up jobs around the church on Fridays, choirs, helping with the newsletter, office volunteers and shut-in visitation.just to name a handful! For a more complete listing and information about how to join, see our "Volunteer Opportunities at First Unitarian" brochure on the literature rack or check out the newcomers' page on our website.

Friday Fun!!
Contact: Mary Jones, Director of Member Services
With community-building as a major goal this year, our membership committee is organizing weekly social events. Put on your dancing shoes. Whet your appetite. Get your game face on. Bring your creativity. Get yourself in a social mood. Here is some of what is planned for 2008: Game Night, Song Circles, Bingo, Take a Leap International Food Tasting and lots more! All events will be advertised well in advance in the newsletter. Keep your eyes peeled! See you there!

UU Intentional Community
Facilitator: William Lutz
Meetings scheduled based on availability of participants
The group will take an in-depth look at the feasibility of creating an intentional community here. Most people seem to choose a co-housing model with shared common as well as private space; resources are not pooled. These communities are generally self-directed utilizing a consensus model for decision-making. It is common for members to come together based on shared interest, life style and beliefs. Perhaps this will become an opportunity to put our UU principals into action and to satisfy our desire for a more satisfying and sensible way of daily living. Going forward we will consider planning and implementation. This is admittedly a complicated undertaking but one with potentially great personal and social reward.

February 24 2008