By Beth Williams Minister for Religious
Education

On Friday, April 9, eighteen members of our congregation who are interested in the future of adult religious education and adult programming at First Unitarian Church met over a delicious potluck dinner with Revs. Dennis Daniel and Beth Williams. We brainstormed a list of topics of adult religious education courses and programs that might comprise revitalized adult religious education programming at First Unitarian Church. We then organized these topics into thematic program groups, and identified volunteers who are committed to help turn these topics from a list of brainstormed ideas into Adult Religious Education program offerings. Our next step is to invite you to join us in this effort. If you support adult religious education for this congregation please come to an Adult Religious Education Breakfast on Sunday, May 9, at 8:30 a.m. in the Chris Moore Parlor to learn how you can help make this program a reality.

Group 1: Moral and Ethical Issues of Today

Program Volunteers: Richard Jenifer, Bobbie Lammers Campbell, Gloria Gnatz, Veronica Jenifer

• Current Events - Moral and Ethical Issues
• Teach-In on Yugoslavia
• Discussions on Race and Class
• Effects of Technology on Society
• North/South Divide in Chicago
• Social History of Chicago
• Political Issues
• How we are affected by the "undesirables" - living in fear

Group 2: Fellowship

Program Volunteers: Jim Procter, Aneesah Ali, Michael Donner, JoAnn Kent

• Play Reading
• Yoga
• Cooking
• Intergenerational Activities (including outdoor activities)
• Exploring Chicago
• Video Club
• Health and Fitness
• Dance (lessons)
• Movies and discussion
• Computer (for beginners) workshop
• Bridge
• Photography class/club

Group 3: Religion and Spirituality

Program Volunteers: Paul Ulbrich, Allan Lindrup, Finley Campbell, Ioanna Crawford

• Tao Te Ching
• Buddhism
• Philosophy 101
• The Monotheistic Tradition
• Creating Your Personal Mission Statement
• Science & Religion
• Prayer Group (including meditation & other spiritual explorations)
• Meditation
• Spirituality (Discussion)
• Bible Study
• Unitarian Universalist History
• Spirituality and Money
• Unitarian Universalist Theologies
• Why does First Church......??

Group 4: Self-development

Program Volunteers: Kennie James

• Creating Your Personal Mission Statement
• Life Passages and the Anxieties Pertaining to Them
• O.W.L. (Our Whole Lives:Human Sexuality) for adults
• Poetry Workshop
• Writer’s Lab
• Men’s Group
• Pre-divorce Counseling

Group 5: Strengthening Human Relationships

Program Volunteers: Margaret Huyck

• Parenting Teenagers
• The Art of Caring
• Discussions on Race and Class
• Conversations re: Gender and Relationships
• Effects of Technology on Society
• Right Relationship (Interpersonal Communication)
• How we are affected by the "undesirables" - living in fear
• Mentoring: New folks/Intergenerational
• O.W.L. (Our Whole Lives:Human Sexuality) for adults

Group 6: Arts

Program Volunteers: vacant

• Play Reading
• Reading Women Writers group
• Poetry Workshop
• Writing Lab

Children’s R.E. Program News

One of the "rites" of the Unitarian Universalism is to dedicate its children to life and to the life of its church communities. It is a time of ceremony where parents and families give thanks for the gift of their children, and, with their Unitarian Universalist congregation, pledge to support these children in their religious journeys. Our congregation will be conducting a Ceremony of Child Dedication during our intergenerational worship service on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 9. If you have not yet dedicated your child in a Unitarian Universalist faith community, and would like to do so at our Mother’s Day Child Dedication Ceremony, or if you have any questions regarding the dedication of children, please contact Rev. Beth Williams at (773) 324-4100 before May 2, 1999.

May R.E. Calendar Events

Tuesdays, May 4, 11, 18, 25: S.T.E.P. class for parents of children age 10 and older, admission free and child care provided, facilitated by Margie Crowley, 7:00 p.m., Garden Room.

Sunday, May 9: Adult Religious Education Program Breakfast, 8:30 a.m., Chris Moore Parlor.

Intergenerational Mother’s Day Worship Service with Ceremony of Child Dedication, 10:00 a.m., Sanctuary.

Thursday, May 13: R.E. Council Meeting, 7:00 p.m., R.E. Classroom.