Adult Programs
Exploration is an important continuing part of our adult lives as Unitarian Universalists. By learning, discovering new perspectives, and working towards deeper understanding of ourselves, one another, and our world we become part of a greater whole working for peace and justice.
Each class represents one or more of our seven core exploration areas:
- Unitarian Universalism
- Jewish and Christian Heritage
- World Religions
- Personal and Spiritual Growth
- Spiritual Practice
- Peace and Justice
- The Interdependent Web
If you are interested in facilitating your own class or discussion group related to one or more of these core areas, please email dre@uusm.org to get an application. Once filled out, the Adult Programs Subcommittee will review it and, if approved, work with you to schedule and promote your program
Wherever your interest leads you, we welcome you to a new year of personal and spiritual exploration at UU Santa Monica.
We hope you’ll join us.
Please sign up at the RE Table in Forbes Hall after services.
An Enjoyable Dive into Who and What We Are”
This on-going, twice a month class is presented to help participants master specific meditation skills. We endeavor to answer the questions Who am I? (attitudes and beliefs) and What am I? (Essence or True Nature). This class will include meditations which explore participants’ spiritual goals. The bi-monthly group meetings will also focus on insights gained throughout the month. It is expected that participants have a regular meditation practice.
Location: Classroom 4
1st and third Mondays
Time: 7:30pm – 9:00pm
Contact Facilitator: Bill Blake
Open Meditation Group
We gather twice a month to sit together quietly for 20 minutes, to walk with gentle awareness for seven minutes, and to explore the integration of meditation with ordinary life through reading and sharing. Anyone who senses they would benefit from 20 minutes of silent, non-guided sitting is welcome to join us. We have found that this time of quiet meditation and shared exploration can be deeply nourishing – a time of simply “being” amidst all the “doing” of our lives. 2nd, 4th & 5th Mondays
If you have questions, speak with either Beverly Shoenberger or Carol Ring at coffee hour.
ONGOING OFFERINGS
Heart to Heart Circles - Heart to Heart Circles offer an opportunity to connect with others in the church who wish to explore their values and their ideas of spirituality in an intimate setting and who wish to make a difference through service to the church and to the larger community. Sign-ups for Heart to Heart (Small Group Ministry) are going on now. Groups begin in October. Further questions? Please contact h2h@uusm.org
Come Dance with Us!”
They say that dancing is combining fun with exercise and friends! Learn international folk dancing with instructors Sandy Helperin and Teri Hoffman. Folk dancing is for anyone who loves to move to traditional music. New dancers are welcome – there are no partners required. Donations accepted.
Facilitator: Ellen Levy,
Next session is February 23, 7pm-845 pm We meet on the fourth Saturdays of each month.
Conversations and Connections
Please join us for “Conversations and Connections” this fall: Saturday, September 15, Saturday, October 20, and Saturday, November 17.
This program will provide our church community the opportunity to develop meaningful connections, two people at a time. Within the context of small group gatherings, we will break into two, encouraging conversation between us that deepen our connections. Each meeting will offer an opportunity for these one-to-one conversations with at least 3 people. We will meet once a month in 3 month cycles. The third meeting of each cycle will be a potluck for those who have attended one or more of the Conversations and Connections meetings.
Our guiding intention is to provide structure and opportunities for meaningful connections between individuals in our congregation. We believe as the number of one-to-one connections grows over time there will be an expanding web of connections in our community based on trust and acceptance.
We hope you’ll join us.
Please sign up at the RE Table in Forbes Hall after services.
If you have any questions you can contact us: Bettye Barclay or Sue Stoyanoff
We meet on the third Saturdays of the month in Forbes from 10 AM - 12 PM. Our next gathering is February 16th .
AAHS (Atheists, Agnostics, Humanists & Secularists/Skeptics)
AAHS is a group that meets monthly (4th Sundays from 1-2 PM in the Cottage) for discussion and fellowship at the Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Santa Monica (www.uusm.org). All arewelcomed!
The term Humanism (sometimes known as secular humanism, modern humanism or scientific humanism) was first used as a moniker for a non-theistic, compassionate philosophy or worldview by Rev. John Dietrich of the First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis in 1916, over 100 years ago! The early Unitarian Humanists wrote the original "Humanism and its Aspirations" manifesto and co-founded the American Humanist Association, helping to begin an international movement.
"The time has come for widespread recognition of the radical changes in religious beliefs throughout the modern world. The time is past for mere revision of traditional attitudes. Science and economic change have disrupted the old beliefs. Religions the world over are under the necessity of coming to terms with new conditions created by a vastly increased knowledge and experience. In every field of human activity, the vital movement is now in the direction of a candid and explicit humanism."
-Humanist Manifesto 1, 1933
Contact: aahs@uusm.org
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