United First Parish Church Quincy, Massachusetts

Adult Education

(Potluck suppers are optional attendance!  For info, contact walsh_michelle@msn.com or 617-767-7933.)

Sunday, Jan. 6^th – First Sunday Writing Group, 12-1PM in the Parlor.  Come explore writing as a spiritual practice.  Bring a notebook and pen.  See Molly Bennett for more information or call her at work at 617-523-6655.

Monday, Jan. 7^th – Small Group Ministry Night: Topic “What We Love.”  Once a month we are engaging a small group ministry curriculum as a pilot project.  SGM is a movement within Unitarian Universalism to provide a forum for deepening our relationships and witnessing to our spiritual growth.  ALL ARE WELCOME!  Potluck supper at 6:30PM, discussion 7-8:30PM on the stage.

Tuesday, Jan. 8^th – The Book Group at UFPC: Discussion of The Giver by Lois Lowry.  This is an award winning young adult science fiction book that asks the questions: Is it better to live in a perfectly controlled society or is it better to have the right to make choices, albeit an imperfect society?  ALL ARE WELCOME to share our love of books and to enjoy potluck refreshments.  Bring your own coffee.  7PM in the Parish Hall.  Questions?  Need a ride?  Please contact Claire Fitzmaurice at 617-729-0220.

Friday, Jan. 11^th – Public Showing by the Global Warming Study Action Group of Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth.”  Al Gore is a recent winner of the Nobel Peace Prize for his international efforts to educate the public about the increasing dangers of global warming.  This is a must see film for all!  6:30PM potluck, 7PM film then discussion.

Tuesday, Jan. 15^th – “Race: The Power of an Illusion,” DVD presentation of Episode One, “The Difference Between Us.”  “Everyone can tell a Norwegian from a Nubian, so why doesn’t it make sense to sort people into biological races?  Examine the contemporary science – including genetics – that challenges our assumptions about human groups.”  As we look toward celebrating Martin Luther King Day on Jan. 21^st and Black History Month in February, let’s begin a discussion on race and inequality in America.  6:30pm potluck, 7PM film and discussion.

Wednesday, Jan. 16^th – Understanding the Bible From A Liberal Perspective: Rev. Bennett will lead a monthly class on the second Wednesday evenings of the month using the book Understanding the Bible: An Introduction for Skeptics, Seekers, and Religious Liberals by Rev. John A. Buehrens, former President of the UUA, as a resource (available at the UUA bookstore or through Amazon.com).  The Hebrew and Christian scriptures are important sources for understanding American and Western religion, culture, literature, and our own Unitarian Universalist tradition, principles, and values.  Bring your questions, doubts, criticisms, and objections – and be ready for lively, challenging, and even enlightening discussion!  6:30pm light potluck, class 7-8:30PM.

Sunday, Jan. 20^th – UU Urban Ministry Forum: Come meet some inner-city youth representatives of the UU Urban Ministry following the MLK sermon.  Ask them questions about their needs and concerns and learn about the range of programs your UU Urban Ministry has to offer and ways to be involved.  Forum 12:15-1:30PM on the stage.  UFPC youth group encouraged to attend as well!

Tuesday, Jan. 22^nd – Spirituality Book Discussion of The Road by Cormac McCarthy.  Religious themes abound in this apocalyptic vision of a desolated earth and a father and son’s attempts at survival.  This is the latest of McCarthy’s controversial books, which are often tied to periods of American wars, and it marks a new era in his writings post-9/11 according to some reviewers.  6:30PM potluck, 7-8:30PM discussion.

Monday, Jan. 28^th – American Sign Language and the Deaf Community class, led by Lynne Rose.  Come and learn a few signs and a little about deaf culture and history.  6:30PM potluck, 7-8:30PM class.

Tuesday, Jan. 29^th – “Celebrating Evolution” DVD presentation of a segment of this additional DVD in the series on the Universe Story with the UU evangelical couple Connie Barlow and Michael Dowd.  This was a particularly popular series last year!  6:30PM potluck, 7PM film and discussion.

Sunday, Feb. 3^rd – First Sunday Writing Group, 12-1PM in the Parlor.  Come explore writing as a spiritual practice.  Bring a notebook and pen.  See Molly Bennett for more information or call her at work at 617-523-6655.

Monday, Feb. 4^th – Small Group Ministry Night: Topic “The Sense of Gratitude.”  Once a month we are engaging a small group ministry curriculum as a pilot project.  SGM is a movement within Unitarian Universalism to provide a forum for deepening our relationships and witnessing to our spiritual growth.  ALL ARE WELCOME!  Potluck supper at 6:30PM, discussion 7-8:30PM on the stage.

Tuesday, Feb. 5^th – The Book Group at UFPC: Discussion of 1491: New Revelations of the Americas before Columbus by Charles Mann.  In this groundbreaking work of science, history, and archaeology, Mann radically alters our understanding of the Americas before the arrival of Columbus in 1492.  Challenging and surprising, this is a transformative new look at a rich and fascinating world we only thought we knew.  ALL ARE WELCOME to share our love of books and to enjoy potluck refreshments.  Bring your own coffee.  7PM in the Parish Hall.  Questions?  Need a ride?  Please contact Claire Fitzmaurice at 617-729-0220.

Sunday, Feb. 10^th – Sunday Morning Forum: Let’s meet and discuss a topic from the one of the latest UU World magazines, America's Founding Faiths by Forrest Church.  The separation of church and state in America grew out of competing visions of divine order and sacred liberty that divided the nation's founders and its religious communities.  9-10AM in the parlor on the stage.  Bring some breakfast snacks to share!

Sunday, Feb. 10^th – The New UU Class for prospective members and newcomers!  Come learn about Unitarian Universalist history, values, and practices.  All are welcome!  Three classes, Feb. 10^th, Feb. 24^th, and March 2^nd.  Co-led by Rev. Bennett and Rev. Walsh, 12:15-2:15PM in the parlor on the stage.  Bring a bag lunch!  Childcare as needed!

Wednesday, Feb. 13^th – Understanding the Bible From A Liberal Perspective: See January description with Rev. Bennett!  6:30pm light potluck, class 7-8:30PM.

Friday, Feb. 15^th – Public Showing by the Welcoming Congregation Committee of “For The Bible Tells Me So.”  This engrossing and thought-provoking documentary explores the intricacies of what is written in the Bible regarding homosexuality. By following the lives of five families with a gay or lesbian child, the film reveals the struggles these families face as they confront their Christian fundamentalist views about gays and lesbians. The film also examines the historical and sociopolitical context in which the Bible was written as well as problems related to multiple language translations. Learn more at http://www.forthebibletellsmeso.org/indexb.htm.  6:30PM potluck for UFPC, 7:30PM film.  If UFPC’ers want to help defray the cost of renting this important film, a $5 suggested donation will be helpful.

Sunday, Feb. 17^th - GLBT 101 Workshop: What is the difference between transgender and transsexual?  What is "genderqueer?"  Do bisexuals like men and women equally or do they really favor one gender?  What is heterosexism, and how is it manifested in society? And, what can you do to help fight anti-glbt oppression and strengthen your skills as an ally interested in social justice? Learn the answers to these questions and much more at an adult RE class led by Lisa Forest from 12:15pm-2:15PM.  Pizza lunch may be provided by the Welcoming Congregation Committee.  UFPC youth group encouraged to attend!  Childcare as expressed as needed!

Tuesday, Feb. 19^th - “Race: The Power of an Illusion,” DVD presentation of Episode Two, “The Story We Tell.”  “Hasn’t race always been with us?  Explore the roots of the race concept, including the 19^th-century

science that justified it and how it gained such a hold over our minds.”  6:30PM potluck, 7PM film and discussion.

Tuesday, Feb. 26^th – “Celebrating Evolution” continued DVD presentation of segments from this additional DVD in the series on the Universe Story with the UU evangelical couple Connie Barlow and Michael Dowd.  This was a particularly popular series last year!  6:30PM potluck, 7PM film and discussion.

If you have suggestions for adult education programming, or if you would like to run an adult education program, please contact Rev. Michelle Walsh using the above info!