Adult Education
ADULT PROGRAMS
As Unitarian Universalists we are committed to the free and responsible search for truth and meaning. In support of this process we offer a wide variety of programs for adults.
Course offerings reflect the differing needs and concerns of people at different stages on their life journey, as well as the diverse interests of members of our congregation.
If you have an idea for a course or workshop, or would like to teach a course, please share it with the Adult Education Committee or with a staff member. The suggestions, needs, ideas, and concerns of our Church Family create our Adult Education Program.
SUNDAY MORNING FORUM SCHEDULE FOR FALL 2009
Adult R.E. Forums are held in the Arch Room and start at 9:00 each Sunday morning.
December 6th: "Those Holidays: Past and Soon to Come"
Edna Brown will lead us in remembering memorable past holidays and also considering and centering for the coming December holidays (Christmas, Hannukah, Winter Solstice, Kwanzaa).December 13th "The Kumon Math & Reading Program"
Rita Fisher, the head instructor of Kumon of Ithaca, now in its 51st year of existence as the worlds oldest and largest supplemental education program, will share her experience with and knowledge of it. It is an individualized, self-paced program designed to unlock children's potential so that they can achieve more on their own. Kumon students build strong study habits, confidence, and mastery of computation and comprehension skills. Rita first discovered Kumon while attending college in Florida and has been working with it ever since. Upon discovering that the program was not available in Ithaca, the home of her parents, she returned to New York to open a Kumon center here in August of 2008.December 20th "The Baha'i Faith"
Members of the local Baha'i community will present an introduction to this world religion. The main presenter will be Shi Jinfeng (Shoghi), an MBA student at Cheung Kong GSB in China, who is now doing his exchange study at Cornell. The Bahá'í Faith is a world religion whose purpose is to unite all the races and peoples in one universal Cause and one common Faith. Bahá'ís are the followers of Bahá'u'lláh, who they believe is the Promised One of all Ages. As you know, the traditions of almost every people include the promise of a future when peace and harmony will be established on earth and humankind will live in prosperity.
December 27th "More of Friedman's Fables"
The recent Forum on the readings and responses around Friedman's Fables went very well and there are many others to choose from. So join us as we again enjoy the richness of more of these fables so intriguingly created by family therapist, organizational trainer, ordained rabbi, and author Edwin H. Friedman which focus on the idea that communication is an emotional process and the key is to get around the emotional barriers that prevent people from hearing each other. As usual, attendees are invited to interact and share their reactions.
EVENING ADULT RE SCHEDULE FOR 2009-2010
Parents as Spiritual Guides
Wednesday evenings from 6:00-8:00 pm
We are happy to bring parents a course of Adult RE entitled "Parents as Spiritual Guides" presented by Jennifer Wapinski-Mooradian and Aileen Fitzke. The course will be presented on six Wednesday evenings, 6-8 pm, from November 4 through December 16 in Room 200, and will be "family friendly." There will be childcare available (if requested in advance at childcare@unitarian.ithaca.ny.us), the classes will end early, and they will be preceded by informal potluck dinners. You may sign up for this wonderful opportunity at the RE table on Sunday mornings between now and then.
UU 101
Come one, come all. Join David Grimm for a lively two-session introduction to our wonderful religious movement Tuesday evenings, January 19 and 26, from 7:00-8:30 pm. We'll look at the separate histories of Universalism and Unitarianism and the blending of the spirit of each in Unitarian Universalism today. Readings will be available before each session. To sign up for UU 101 please contact Mark Pedersen at the church office. To request childcare, contact Diane Hunt, Child Care Coordinator, at childcare@unitarian.ithaca.ny.us.