840 Sandwich Road
East Falmouth, MA 02536
508-457-0449

Adult Religious Education

"If it's Wednesday, it must be Adult RE."

This web page will be updated whenever there is a schedule change or additional information, so be sure to check it before each event!

Introduction

The Wednesday evening program will feature five kinds of events. Everyone is welcome.

1. Rev. Murphy will present Unitarian Universalism 101 for all who are interested.
2. The Green Sanctuary Committee will sponsor a series of forums and discussions on sustainability and environmental issues.
3. Members of the Adult RE Committee will offer discussions of early Christianities and their background in Jewish, Greek, Mid-Eastern and Roman cultural and religious life.
4. The Adult RE Committee will sponsor a series of films related to world religions and modern religious sensibilities.
5. The Planned Giving Committee will offer an informational session on family financial planning and planned giving.

If you cannot drive to one of the Wednesday evening events, contact Win Munro at (508)548-4695 or winthrop.munro[at]comcast.net as far in advance as possible. We will arrange a ride to and from the Meetinghouse. If you would like a babysitter for one or more events, contact the Adult RE Committee at least two weeks before the earliest Wednesday a babysitter would be needed. We will try to help.

We are also sponsoring the Life Tapestry program. This program, developed by the UUA, offers individuals "an opportunity to reflect on the wholeness of their life journey; to see pattern and passages and to understand their present reality in a larger context; to clarify values and aspirations for the future; and to understand through group sharing that many life issues are experienced in a similar way by others and to gain strength from the support of the group."

The program runs for 7 or 8 consecutive weeks and is appropriate for both men and women. An ideal group would be 12 people. The group would be self-contained and each participant would commit themselves to attend all weekly sessions. Life Tapestry has been offered here at the UUFF more than once. To learn more about the program borrow a copy of the book Life Tapestry from JoAnn Allard, (508)540-0507. If you would like to be a part of this program, and especially if you are prepared to be co-leader, there is a sign-up sheet in the meetinghouse lobby, or you may call JoAnn Allard at (508)540-0507.

Programs in April-May

Wednesday, April 30 at 7:00 pm.

Ethical Eating

On April 30th, Rev. Bob Murphy will lead a discussion about the proposed Unitarian Universalist resolution called "Ethical Eating." What are some of the environmental and social justice issues that we need to consider in discussions about food issues? Copies of the proposed UU resolution, "Ethical Eating," are available in the lobby.

Wednesday, May 7 at 7:00 pm

Trip to Israel and Palestine

Rev. Murphy and Lyn Dalzell have returned from their recent trip to Israel and Palestine with many stories to tell. At our first Wednesday Adult RE meeting in May they will talk about their trip and the lessons one can learn from it.

Wednesday, May 14 at 6:30-8:30 pm

Community Wind

The Green Sanctuary and Adult RE Committees will host an open discussion on the development of community-owned wind turbines in Falmouth.

At 6:30 pm, Megan Amsler of Self Reliance will offer a short introduction to wind power, Wind 101, for novices. At 7:00 the discussion will begin. This meeting is not about encouraging a large utility project like Cape Wind to locate in Falmouth. We aim to bring together Falmouth groups and individuals who would like to participate in planning and financing a project to erect one or more large wind turbines on land within Falmouth, similar to the turbines already being planned by the Town of Falmouth and the Woods Hole Research Center.

The time is ripe. Community wind, developed in Europe in the past two decades, is finally coming to the United States, encouraged by changes in federal and state laws and a growing body of experience in the development of local wind projects. Wherever there are good wind resources, as on the Cape, local governments, schools, farms, businesses, individual citizens, and groups of citizens organized in small corporations, cooperatives and partnerships are planning and implementing construction of wind turbines to produce electricity both for private use and for sale to public utilities.

Local development of our clean, renewable wind resources will give Falmouth citizens many tangible benefits such as more control over our own energy supply and the prices we pay for electricity, local jobs, and an opportunity to provide electricity at reasonable prices to affordable housing projects and low-income citizens in Falmouth. We can also do our part to make America more energy self-sufficient and slow global warming. Please join us in this important discussion.

Wednesday, May 21 at 6:00 PM!

Middle East Potluck Dinner, Film and discussion

The third of our dinner and film presentations will be "Wedding in Galilee," filmed in Israel in the West Bank by director Michael Khleifi, a Palestinian, in 1987, with French and Belgian backing. ""Wedding in Galilee" provides a complex portrait of Palestinian society and commentary on life under military occupation. When a Palestinian village elder requests permission to hold a traditional wedding for his son, the military commander in charge of the occupying force requires that the Israeli military governor and his staff be guests of honor at the ceremony. The ensuing preparations detail traditional Palestinian life and customs, including a moving sequence in which attendants prepare the bride for the ceremony. Despite the impending celebration, tensions bubble under the surface, and Khleifi deftly examines the conflict and its impact on individual lives." A discussion will follow the film.

The Adult RE Committee will provide Middle Eastern salad, bread, and appropriate drinks. If each participating family brings a Middle Eastern type main dish for four people, or a dessert, we will surely have a feast.

Thursday, May 22 at 7:30 pm

The Dream Sharing Circle

The Dream Sharing Circle will meet again on Thursday May 22 at 7:30. All who dream are welcome, young and old. Join us, share a dream, or just listen and help others gain insight into theirs. Different approaches, disciplines and theories on dreamwork encouraged. Trust and respect for the dreamer and the dreamed are expected. Help us as we explore this fun and mysterious subject together. Call Al Moniz 508-540-4305 for further info.

Wednesday, May 28 at 7:00 pm

Early Christianities VI

This is the seventh and final session of our discussion series on Early Christianity. In previous sessions we focused on the historical Jesus, the ethical teachings of Jesus, conceptions of Jesus among early Christians, the varieties of early Christianity, and the role of women in early Christianity. For the most part we discussed ideas and beliefs more than institutions. For the final session, while not ignoring the role of ideas and beliefs, we will shift our attention to institutions, to the growth and development of Christian practice and organization during the first three centuries. These did not arise in a vacuum. They had roots in Judaism, in Hellenistic culture, and in Roman political and social organizations. But Christianity developed forms and organizations that were distinctly its own, and that were important for its future and therefore for us today.

September 2007

  5         Early Christianities: Organizational meeting
12         Film: The Message, 1976, a life of Mohammad
19         Film: Prince of Egypt, Moses and the Exodus from Egypt
26         Rev. Murphy: Unitarian Universalism 101, first session

October 2007

  3         Rev. Murphy: Unitarian Universalism 101, second session
10         Green Sanctuary I: Film and discussion: "Toxic Bust"
17         Film: "The Great Story", Michael Dowd & Connie Barlow
24         Early Christianities I: [Topic TBA]
31         Omit [or Halloween Program]

November 2007

  7         Introduction to Planned Giving
14         Green Sanctuary II: Ron Smolowitz speaks on local foods
21         Omit [in favor of Interfaith Service]
28         Early Christianities II: [Topic TBA]

December 2007

  5         Film and discussion: Hanukkah theme
12         Green Sanctuary & Social Action Committee III: Season of Warmth and Light (home fuel assistance)
19         Omit, [or Christmas Program]
26         Omit

January 2008

  2           Film or discussion series: topic TBA
  9           Green Sanctuary IV: Scott Lindell on Sustainable Agriculture
16           Film or discussion series: topic TBA
23           Early Christianities III: [Topic TBA]
30           TBA

February 2008

  6           Film or discussion series: topic TBA
13           Green Sanctuary V: Book discussion, Omnivore's Dilemma
20           Film or discussion series: topic TBA
27           Early Christianities IV: [Topic TBA]

March 2008

  5           Film or discussion series: topic TBA
12           Green Sanctuary VI: Topic TBA
19           Film or discussion series: topic TBA
26           Early Christianities V: [Topic TBA]

April 2008

  2           Film or discussion series: topic TBA
  9           Green Sanctuary VII: Topic TBA
16           Film or discussion series: topic TBA
23           Early Christianities VI: [Topic TBA]
30           TBA

May 2008

  7           Rev. Murphy: Unitarian Universalism 101, first session
14           Green Sanctuary VIII: Topic TBA
21           Rev. Murphy: Unitarian Universalism 101, second session
28           Early Christianities VII: [Topic TBA]