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 uusmdre@gmail.com 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.

Exploring the Sermon on the Mount Monday, February 25, 7:00pm

The Sermon on the Mount is a core “source of wisdom and knowledge,” forming the basis of many of the values in Western literature and culture, from Hamlet to Harry Potter. Come explore this important part of our heritage with Abby Arnold and Laura Matthews in three weekly 2-hour sessions Monday, February 25, March 4, March 11 7:00pm in the Cottage. We’ll discuss how the ideas speak to us (if at all), what the ideas might mean in practical application, and how they are or are not useful today. Register with Abby (abby@abbyarnold.com) or Laura (lbmatthews@gmail.com) to receive the Sermon to print out and read ahead of time. Our hope is that the discussion will be uplifting, positive, and practical, with all of us learning from the perspective of others to bring a fresh awareness to these ancient words.

Awakening the Sage Within

“The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you really are.” - Carl Jung

A FREE workshop with Connie Zweig, Ph.D.

Sat. April 27, 2:00-5:00 pm and Sun. April 28 2:00-5:00 pm

Unitarian Universalist Church: 1260 18^th St.

The Program: Today, for the first time in history, most people approaching their elder years can expect to live for another two or three decades. But how do you want to live those years? Research now shows that people with positive self-perceptions as they age will live longer, healthier lives.

We will gather for two 3-hour workshops to explore Sage-ing or conscious aging, a model for late life that can help us to live with more awareness, joy, and purpose. This inner work of aging opens the opportunity for seniors to become Elders--Awakening the Sage Within.

We will introduce aging as a spiritual journey, our images/fears of aging, harvesting wisdom from our life review, forgiveness to release the past, and facing our mortality.

The Presenter: Connie has been in private practice as a therapist in Los Angeles for 25 years. I am co-author of the bestsellers Meeting the Shadow and Romancing the Shadow, author of Meeting the Shadow of Spirituality, and the forthcoming book The Reinvention of Age. I am a Certified Sage-ing Leader with Sage-ing International.

Pre-registration is required at uusmdre@gmail.com. No walk ins.

Recommended reading: From Age-ing to Sage-ing by Rabbi Zalman Schacter-Shalomi

“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 relaxnow9@verizon.net

“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, or contact Beverly at 424-235-9002, openmeadowcoaching@gmail.com  or Carol at 310-310-2539, carol.ring.la@gmail.com

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, contact her at elevy2@mac.com

Next session is February 23, 7pm-845 pm We meet on the fourth Saturdays of each month. 

Conversations and Connections

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.

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.

Contact: aahs@uusm.org

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