Spiritual Development
Small Groups: Spiritual Development Through Social Action
Sunday Morning Social Justice Forums
Facilitator varies
Most Sundays,10:45am -11:45am (occasionally at 12:30pm)
Our Sunday Social Justice Forums strive to not only inform but also inspire and empower. The goal is to help all of us to better put our faith into action. While the focus and topic varies widely, all the forums are united in their effort to make abstract issues and debates more accessible and easier to engage. Often built around current events, speakers tease out the morals and UU values behind the confusing and simplistic headlines. In addition to outside presenters, we periodically invite church members to share what they've learned from their own efforts, to put their faith into action. Topics are advertised ahead of time (in the newsletter, in the Weekly Reminder and in the Happening Today section of the Sunday Order of Service). Keep your eyes open for what's going on and join us!
Spanish for a Purpose
Contact: MJ Curry
Nine-week sessions repeated September-May
Three groups at three levels:
Our congregation has many programs (i.e., Honduras project, the Mexico youth delegation effort, and School 22 tutoring) that are enriched when participants have a better command of Spanish. This is the inspiration for these Spanish classes-to not just provide personal enrichment for us, but to enrich us in a way that helps us enrich and build deeper relationships with others. Cost of $50, per 9 week session.
Latin America Book Discussion Group
Contact: MJ Curry
1st Tuesdays, 6-7pm
Like our Spanish for a Purpose classes, our new Latin American Book Discussion Group seeks to more deeply engage members in our wider congregational efforts focused on or related to Latin American. Books are announced ahead of time in the newsletter and can usually be purchased at our First Unitarian bookstore. New members are welcome.
UU Families in Action
Contact: Liz Forbes
Meeting schedule changes to accommodate the activity
Join in community with others who want to put UU values into practice as families, to build stronger bonds within the church and to give our "children of affluence" a hands-on understanding of what it means to be less fortunate. We are seeking to develop kid-friendly volunteer opportunities - both recurring service such as providing dinner at St. Joseph's House of Hospitality and larger, one-time community projects. All ideas are welcome.
Borders & Boundaries
Convener: Tim Wilson
Borders & Boundaries is a youth-led group originated by nine people who visited the U.S.-Mexico border in February, 2007. We plan to build a connection with a Mexican border community (colonia) in partnership with All Souls UU Church of Brownsville, Texas. We want to open our resources to the colonia to enable a community-centered building project with an emphasis on empowerment within the colonia. Our dream is to create opportunities for personal connections like the ones that changed our own lives so much when we (the delegation members) had our chance to visit the Mexican border. It is these connections that we feel, if spread and acted upon, will truly make the greatest difference in the long run. New members from within and outside the church are welcome.
February 23 2008