The Writing Workshop, facilitated by Mary Beth Smith and Pat Gillis, meets the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month in the church library from 5 until 7 p.m., and will meet as scheduled on December 19th. No workshop is scheduled for Monday, January 2, but will meet January 16th instead. Bring your writings for discussion, receive helpful hints, or just come to observe and listen. Advance sign up is not necessary, but if you need child care, please make arrangements with Julie Artis in the RE Wing.
New UU Classes led by Reverend Shelley Page
Classes begin on Sunday, January 8th and continue on January 15, February 5, February 19, March 4, and March 11th. Classes will be held at noon with a light luncheon provided for a $3 donation. Children's lunches and child care provided at no charge. These classes are mainly for those who are new to our faith, or for those who want to learn more about Unitarian Universalist history, theology, social justice, denominational matters, and simply what it means to be a UU. Please Note: If you have signed up for these classes and have not let me (Jill Crane) know if you intend to attend, please let me know as soon as possible so that I can plan for the light luncheon and the child care.
Sunday Morning Meditations led by Zachariah Bobby will not meet December 25 and January 1, but will begin again on Sunday, January 8 at 9:30 a.m. in the Religious Education wing. Child care is provided starting at 9:25 a.m. Zach asks that you bring comfortable clothes, an open mind, and a cushion.
Women’s Book Discussion Group
Moloka’i: The group will meet again on Thursday, January 19, at 5:30 p.m. at the church, with the discussion led by Kelly Boll of the book Moloka’i, by Alan Brennert (400 pages). This richly imagined novel, set in Hawaii more than a century ago, is an extraordinary epic of a little-known time and place – and a deeply moving testament to the resiliency of the human spirit. Rachel Kalama, a spirited seven-year-old Hawaiian girl, dreams of visiting far-off lands like her father, a merchant seaman. Then one day a rose-colored mark appears on her skin, and those dreams are stolen from her. Taken from her home and family, Rachel is sent to Kalupapa, the quarantined leprosy settlement on the island of Moloka’i. Here her life is supposed to end – but instead she discovers it is only the beginning. Refreshment Assistant: Karin Garrett
For the New Year
Reverend Shelley and I have been hard at work designing new programs that we hope will pique your interest in the coming year. Included are forums dealing with immigration, the environment, the Grosse Pointe Library millage vote coming up in February, mental health, plus another Unitarian Universalist Common Read forum. If you have knowledge or interest in any of the above and would like to help out with them in some way, please let me know. (Jill Crane)
Men’s Book Discussion Group
If you are interested in re-forming a Men’s Book Discussion Group to meet (possibly) on Monday evenings, please indicate on the sign-up sheet in the lobby or contact John Artis.
It’s Easy Being Green
Unitarian Universalists across the country are learning about living into our Seventh Principle (Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part) through the Unitarian Universalist Association’s Green Sanctuary program. Are you interested in greening our church and learning more about taking care of the earth? We’ll be exploring the possibility of becoming a “Green Sanctuary” in the months to come. We would like to raise our awareness with a forum series regarding our environment. If anyone has suggestions for speakers, or ideas to help us get this off the ground, please see Jill Crane or Andrew Hartz. We’re also planning an environmental documentary film series with discussions. Stay tuned, and let Jill know if you are interested in being green!
Child Care is available for all Adult Religious Enrichment Programs. Please sign up on the appropriate sheets in the foyer and see Julie Artis in the RE Wing to make those arrangements.
Attending Adult Religious Enrichment events enlightens us and broadens our sense of fellowship.
-- Jill Crane, Director of Adult Religious Enrichment
