Fall 2025 Faith Development Offerings
Transgender Inclusion in Congregations
Sundays, 11:30 am – 1 pm; 8/31, 9/14, 9/21, 9/28, 10/12, 10/19
This 6-session course is geared toward people from generally LGBTQIA+-welcoming congregations who want to deepen their understanding of gender and transgender identities and are invested in creating truly trans-affirming faith communities. Each session includes an online lecture by instructors from the organization Transforming Hearts, followed by discussion. At the end of this course, we will have a number of practices, frameworks, and tools to help create an action plan for being radically welcoming to trans/non-binary people in our congregation.
Facilitators: Members of the LGBTQIA+ Action Team
Living Well
3rd Wednesdays, 10 am – Noon, begins Sept 17
Living Well is the new name for the Blue Zones discussion group, which meets monthly in Atherton Hall. We will continue to explore the concept of a blue zone through discussion of broader questions concerning our physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual lives. What does it mean to live well? How do we live well? Explore these and other questions of health and wellbeing. Living Well will meet on Sept. 17 to begin discussing the book The Art and Science of Connection by Kasley Killam. The author explores the role of human connection in health.
Facilitators: Karolina Kozakiewicz and Leslie Peet
Spiritual Sampler: Find What Feeds You
Registration deadline for this class is 9/10.
EITHER Tuesdays, 6:30-8:30 pm OR Saturdays, 10 am – Noon
Discover what nourishes your soul. Building a spiritual habit doesn’t have to be perfect—just practiced. Learn about different spiritual practices and try out ways to center, reflect, move, or be still. No pressure. Just practice. Find your own rhythm with spiritual practice—no special equipment or enlightenment required. This class is a light-hearted, welcoming exploration of spiritual practices from a variety of traditions—some still, some active, some creative. Come taste and see. You might just find your own soul-satisfying ritual. The 4 sessions will be held every other week (with one exception), over the course of 6 weeks. Depending on participant availability, we will meet either Tuesday evenings, 6:30-8:30 or Saturday mornings, 10 am-Noon. Tuesday evenings: 9/23, 10/7, 10/21, 11/4 or Saturday mornings: 10/4, 10/18, 11/1, 11/15
Facilitators: Lisa Gilley and Carol Sweigert
Telling Our Stories
1st Wednesdays, 10 am – Noon, Oct 1 through May 6
Come and join this group of mature adults as we utilize a variety of materials as food for discussion about our lives today, aging, encounters with loss, grief, and end of life issues in a supportive and caring environment. We will share our stories and explore legacy writing. We will begin our group using Atul Gawande’s Being Mortal, which can be found at your local library, Amazon, or various other booksellers. We will also utilize the book Who Will Take Care of Me When I Am Old? as well as several speakers who will talk about aging, grief, and dying.
Facilitator: Becky Serpe
Biblical Literacy for UUs
Sundays, 11:30 am – 1 pm; 10/26, 11/9, 11/23, 12/7
The Bible has been used to inspire movements for liberation and to legitimize horrific injustices. How do we, as liberal seekers, skeptics, and UUs, understand it? This course will explore the Bible in historical context and reflect on some of its stories from a UU perspective. Participants who took the course in 2023 said: “Eye opening!” “Intellectual rigor.” “It made the Bible less scary.” “The best thing was the group discussions about interpreting Bible passages.” More classes to follow in the spring.
Facilitators: Pat Wydell and Jeannie Scown
Tai Chi
Fall term: Mondays, 6-7 pm; Oct 27 through Dec 15
Tai Chi is an ancient practice which enhances health, concentration, and wellbeing. It can be practiced by people of all ages, sizes, shapes, and abilities. This class will focus on short movement sequences which will increase flexibility, strength, and balance. This class is open to beginners and to those with prior experience. This class will be based on the modified Yang style of tai chi as taught by Master Moy Lin Shin.
Instructor: Melanie Terbovic
Finding Joy in Everyday Moments
Sunday, Dec 14, 11:30 am – 1 pm
As we move into the quiet stillness of December, join us for a soul-nourishing 90-minute workshop focused on mindfulness, gratitude, and the simple joys of everyday life. Using a reflective workbook created by Mari Van Meter, we’ll explore simple practices to help us reconnect with what truly matters. Come as you are—leave feeling lighter, more present, and uplifted.
Facilitator: Mari Van Meter
Building the World We Dream About: A 90-minute Journey toward Racial Justice
Sunday, Feb 28, 2026, 11:30 am – 1 pm
Early 2026 brings a brand-new anti-racism workshop especially for our UU community. Blending UU spirituality with hands-on exercises the workshop peels back the layers of systemic racism, implicit bias, and privilege that shape our daily lives. Expect energizing activities, brave conversation, and take-home tools that deepen our shared covenant and help to widen the circle of belonging. This workshop is open to everyone 14+ (youth should attend with a parent/guardian).
Facilitator: Mari Van Meter
Ongoing Groups
Registration is not required for these ongoing groups; if interested, please attend. Specific information about the groups listed below can be found in our monthly newsletter, weekly e-updates, and Sunday Times insert to the order of worship.
Atheism, Humanism, Agnosticism (AHA) Discussion Group
2nd Tuesdays, 7 pm
We discuss issues related to Atheism, Agnosticism, and Humanism, with related videos and reading materials. Examples of past meeting topics include: the Reason Rally and annual Atheist gathering in Washington D.C., and videos featuring the ideas of Hitchens, Dawkins, Sam Harris and Daniel Dennett.
Facilitator/Coordinator: Andrew Cranberg
Buddhist Study Group
2nd Sundays, 11:30 am
We read selected Buddhist texts, discuss them, and try to apply the principles and techniques to our everyday lives. Topics include mindfulness, meditation, and deepening our spiritual understanding. We practice mindful breathing, walking meditation, stress management, and cultivate the capacities to be kind and compassionate and to bring joy into our lives.
Facilitator/Coordinator: Melanie Terbovic
Journaling Circle: Writing Together for Self-Discovery
1st Thursdays, 10 am, online
Each gathering opens with a short meditation. We then free write and write from prompts related to our monthly themes. Through sharing our writings, we also share life’s journey and deepen relationships within our community. Have a notebook/journal and a pen ready, as well as your desire for personal exploration and growth.
Facilitator/Coordinator: Juli Cicarelli
Open Forum Discussion
Sundays, 9 am, online & in classroom 6
Weekly, moderated discussions focus on topics of interest to our participants, including current events and social issues. We agree to discuss such issues in a spirit of authentic self-expression, while honoring the CCUU covenant and welcoming the diversity of views that may be expressed.
Facilitator/Coordinator: Vid Axel
Book Circle
Sunday evenings every 6-8 weeks
We discuss books that explore nature and the environment, science, psychology, philosophy, sociology, culture, religion and politics within a spiritual and ethical context. Discussions are informal and open, and centered on issues that impact our lives and society. Books are chosen through consensus and new suggestions are always welcome.
Facilitator/Coordinator: Gail Wisniewski
Last Mondays Book Group
Last Mondays, 7:00 pm
This group discusses primarily fiction. Books are chosen by the group from suggestions made by participants, and participants take turns facilitating the monthly discussions.
Facilitator/Coordinator: Barb Braje
1st Wednesdays at 1 pm
All are welcome to join us in the Stokes Room to discuss fiction books of the group’s choosing.
Facilitator/Coordinator: Cathy Lieblang
Haiku Garden Workshop
2nd Thursdays, 10 am
Want to write haiku for the garden? All are welcome to join us the 2nd Thursday of the month to learn & work on modern Haiku for the church’s seasonal Haiku garden.
We meet on zoom; go to www.zoom.us and use meeting id 947 7524 4603 and passcode 262695.