AN ARE SPECIAL PRESENTATION:

Presenter: Amy Martin

Executive director, Earth Rhythms; creator, Winter SolstiCelebration; moderator, Moonlady News listserve. Bio below

Animism: The Roots of Religion, the Future of Spirituality

 Thurs, Aug 12 - 7 pm        $10 suggested donation

 Animism – the concept that all existence can be framed in terms of energetic vibration – is the oldest way humans viewed the divine. Amy Martin feels it is also the underlying concept of the spiritual-not-religious movement. Rooted in indigenous and pre-literate philosophical thought, animism also correlates to the modern laws of physics. Ancient animistic paths to be examined include Taoism and Shintoism from Asia; European paganism; and moundbuilder cultures from North America.

 Small breakout groups will examine the least known ancient animists – the 3500 BCE to 1400 CE earthwork monument-building cultures of the United States – and develop ways that their traditions of group construction, mass shamanic gatherings, pilgrimage, and adherence to a natural seasonal and celestial calendar could be transformed for use in modern society.

Taoism: Revealing the Mystery of Nature

 Thurs, Aug 19 - 7 pm        $10 suggested donation

 In a world of questions, nature provides answers or at least insight for many. Taoism, an ancient animistic religion from China, centers on the metaphors of nature. Amy Martin will tell her personal story of conversion to Taoism as a teenager in the ‘60s. She will aid listeners in exploring the infinite mystery of the Tao and the peace of being in flow with Teh or way of nature as conveyed in the Tao Teh Ching.

Attendees will view, contemplate and discuss iconic images of nature such as trees, mountains and rivers, allowing the spiritual metaphors to emerge. Through breathing exercises, the Earth forces of gravity and magnetism, available to even the most urban, will be explored. From this an intimate understanding of the central Taoism concepts of Wu Wei, and the balance of yin and yang, will naturally arise.

None of the Above: To be Spiritual not Religious

 Thurs, Aug 26 - 7 pm        Free

They’ve been called “none of the above,” “spiritual not religious,” or simply unchurched or spiritually unaffiliated. Whatever they are, this contingent is a very fast-growing religious demographic. They comprise half of all Winter SolstiCelebration attendees and its creator, Amy Martin, considers herself in those ranks.

In an informal setting of short presentations and discussions, Amy Martin will lead attendees in exploring three core concepts of “spiritual not religious” thought: mysticism, animism and agnosticism. The group will also examine other aspects of this movement including an affinity for science, comfort with ambiguity and emphasis on the experiential.

Biography

 Amy Martin is the creator of the acclaimed Winter SolstiCelebration, the second largest Winter Solstice observance in the U.S. and the primary spiritual-not-religious gathering for the North Texas region, which includes Dallas. It is presented by Earth Rhythms, (www.EarthRhythms.org) for which serves as executive director. Regarded as the “Moonlady,” (www.moonlady.com) her 3150+ member listserve Moonlady News facilitates communications for the alternative spirituality community in the area. She writes weekly from the spiritual-not-religious and Taoist perspective for Texas Faith blog at the Dallas Morning News daily newspaper, and sets on several interfaith panels. A journalist and writer of over 25 years experience, she operates Moonlady Media that produces books, both printed and electronic, on a variety of topics.

 ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

The Mission of the Adult Religious Education Program is to nurture and stimulate the religious and personal growth of the adult church community. We offer a varied and cohesive program within the context of the living Unitarian Universalist tradition and principles.

We offer a range of classes of interest to adults on weekday evenings throughout the year. Each evening, classes begin at 7 p.m. and end no later than 9 p.m. Our programs include our continuing Parenting and Meditation groups and a variety of topical classes. On Wednesdays beginning at 6 p.m., many people bring their own dinners to Founders Hall and enjoy the fellowship before participating in the evening's classes.

All classes begin at 7 p.m.

CHILDCARE is available for all classes

Here is the current lineup.

WEDNESDAY

EYES ON THE PRIZE, PART 1 - Hosted by Robert Jackson

Eyes on the Prize tells the definitive story of the civil rights era from the point of view of the ordinary men and women whose extraordinary actions launched a movement that changed the fabric of American life, and embodied a struggle whose reverberations continue to be felt today. Winner of numerous Emmy Awards, a George Foster Peabody Award, an International Documentary Award, and a Television Critics Association Award, Eyes on the Prize is the most critically acclaimed documentary on civil rights in America.

Video/Discussion - 6 WEDNESDAYS: June 30, July 7, 21 and 28, August 4 and 11

Yoga is taking a break for the summer. It will resume September 1.

YOGA Tracy Rosipal Course Fee - $5 per class

Tracy says, "In general, my yoga style is Hatha, which incorporates physical postures that work the body and, in turn, work the mind. A typical hour class flows as follows: breathing and warm up, sun salutations, twisting poses, a series of standing flowing poses, balancing postures, seated postures, stretches, and final relaxation. Each class offers various components of physical fitness, such as building muscular strength, increasing muscular endurance, improving cardiovascular endurance, increasing flexibility, and improving body composition. I present a range of levels in each class, offering options, such that members with varying amounts of yoga experience can feel successful. I also present modifications to accommodate participants that may have physical limitations. The benefits of yoga are numerous; these are a few: posture improves, mood and well-being increase, joint range of motion increases, energy level increases, strength improves, balance improves, blood pressure decreases, cardiovascular efficiency increases, respiratory efficiency increases, sleep quality improves, and memory and concentration improve. Yoga classes are non-competitive and accommodate all levels of physical fitness."

Attendance is strong and reviews are enthusiastic

THURSDAY

REV. DON FIELDING (RET.) PRESENTS ADVENTURES IN RELIGION

On July 1^st (the first day of the beginning of the second half of 2010) Community UU Church will initiate a new kind of Adult Religious Education (ARE) class. It will be called Adventures in Religion, and it will be made-up of multiple Teaching Co. courses (e.g., this first set of classes will be made-up of Skeptics and Believers, Comparative Religion, and Philosophy of Religion). One of the innovative portions of these ARE classes will be the fact that they will be divided into short sections, four to five weeks long, with breaks in between, which will allow participants to join and/or exit the classes depending on their interest. Of course, some may wish to participate in all of the classes.

The classes will be a combination of videos (“Talking Heads”) and discussions, with emphasis on the discussion portion of each class. The discussions will be led by Rev. Don Fielding, a retired UU minister, a friend of Community UU Church, who also has experience teaching at the college level. Each class will have one video to stimulate discussion, and will explore the thoughts and feelings the videos stimulate with the hopes for better understanding the adventure that is religion in general and each participant's understanding of religion in particular.

The classes will continue through the remainder of 2010, and could (if popular) continue through 2011 and 2012.  The classes will be held on Thursday evenings; so make Thursday ARE a part of your regular week’s schedule.  Not only will this be a lasting adventure in education, but a wonderful opportunity for socially connecting and engaging with the church’s members and friends as well.  So mark your calendars and join us on July 1^st.

Video/Discussion - THURSDAYS

VIPASSANA MEDITATION Clifton Rule

Clifton says, "Vipassana means insight into the nature of reality. It is a way of self-transformation through self-observation and introspection. Vipassana meditation is often referred to simply as "insight meditation." This is the backbone of our studies in Meditation on Monday nights. We invite you, as a beginner or as a practiced meditator, to join us on our exploration. We view Buddhism not as a religion but rather as learning the process of meditation to reduce the suffering in our lives and in the world around us. We explore through readings, dharma talks, questions and answers, group discussions and meditation. Join us and explore this process as we all grow together."

Juggling is on hold until further notice. Watch this space for information.