Hello, Beloveds,
Fall Adult Faith Formation is beginning! These are UU faith-based workshops, classes, and practice groups that focus on deepening inner and outer spiritual connections and exploring how we live our lives as Unitarian Universalists. We have a wonderful schedule of programs already in the works.
Among our congregation, we have an abundance of people with gifts, knowledge, and a desire to inspire. Those of you with something that you wish to share are welcome to submit new proposals for the Fall session or talk with me about planning ahead to share an offering during the Winter or Spring sessions.
Fall 2019 (September-December 2019)
Winter (January-March 2020)
Spring (April- June 2020)
Programs may be offered one time, as multiple sessions, or ongoing. They can be run for a closed group of registered participants or open to everyone.
Contact Rev. Shelly, Assistant Minister for Faith Formation
Rev. Shelly Thompson
(203) 227-7205 ext. 17
Neighboring Faiths program for Adults
Contact: Ravi Sankar
A year-long exploration of Religions of the World
Spend 3-4 weeks per religion to learn, understand and
experience diverse religious practices in our neighborhood.
Each faith module will be led and facilitated by one of our fellow church members.
Leaders who have volunteered:
Hinduism – Ravi Sankar
Judaism – Rainy Broomfield
Islam – Shahan Islam and Shanonda Nelson
Christianity – Tom Hearne
Religious Naturalism – Rev. Jim Francek
Buddhism – Nina Nagy and David Bauer
UU – Rev. John Morehouse
Each faith module consists of three distinct sessions:
- Learn about the religion or practice in a presentation by module leader. May include pre-reading for self-study
- Experience – “Field trips” to related houses of worship; discussion with practitioners; experience a service, prayer, meditation or retreat session.
- Reflect – Come back together as a group to discuss what we learnt, what we experienced and what moved us.
By studying these faith traditions, our eyes are opened to religious differences that can help us appreciate the unique beauty of each religion and also what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist.
Hinduism – October 2019
- Session 1 Learn – Date: Friday, October 4th – 6:00–9:00 PM – Place: Meeting House
- Session 2 Experience – Date: Saturday, October 12th – 9:00 AM-12:00 PM –
Place: Ganesh Temple, Flushing NY
Depart UU Westport at 8:00 AM. Arrive early if you wish to carpool.
9:00 AM – 12:00 Discussion with Temple Priest and experience Pooja.
Optional: lunch at temple cafeteria - Session 3 Reflection – Date: Friday, October 18th – 7:00–9:00 PM – Place: Meeting House
Judaism – October-November 2019
- Session 1 Learn – Date: Thursday, October 24th – 7:00 PM – Place: East Wing
- Session 2 Experience – Date: Friday, November 1st – 6:30 PM – Place: Temple Israel
Attend Service at 6:30pm. Discussion with Rabbi. Optional: Community dinner $20. - Session 3 Reflection – Date: Sunday, November 10th – 12:30 PM post service –
Place – Meeting House [Youth Room]
Islam – January 2020
- Session 1 Learn – Date: Friday, January 10 – 7:00 PM – Place: East Wing
- Session 2 Experience – Date: Friday, January 17 – 1:00 PM – Place: Bridgeport Islamic Community Center (703 State Street, Bridgeport, CT) The parking lot fills QUICKLY on Friday afternoons, so try to arrive no later than 12:45 to provide ample time for parking. In addition, women are asked to wear a headscarf and that the headscarf is in place BEFORE entering the building.
- Session 2 Experience – Date: Friday/Saturday March 27/28 – 9:00 PM – Place: Retreat – Holy Cross Monastery (1615 Rte 9W, West Park, NY)
- Session 3 Reflection – Date: Friday, January 24 – 7:00 PM – Place: East Wing
Christianity – March-April 2020
- Session 1 Learn – Date: Friday, March 20 – 7:00 PM – Place: West Wing
- Session 2 Experience -Date: Sunday, March 22 – 9:00 PM – Place: Church Christ Church, Rye, NY (2 Rectory St, Rye NY) FREE
- Session 2 Experience -Date: Friday/Saturday March 27/28 – 9:00 PM – Place: Retreat – Holy Cross Monastery (1615 Rte 9W, West Park, NY) Fee: $150
- Session 3 Reflection – Date: Friday, April 3 – 7:00 PM – Place: East Wing
CLICK HERE for flyer.
Buddhism – April-May 2020
- Session 1 Learn – Date: Friday, April 17 – 7:00 PM – Place: West Wing
- Session 2 Experience -Date: Saturday, April 18 – Tour Monastery (Location/ time TBD)
- Session 2 Experience -Date: Saturday, April 25 11:00 AM-6:00 PM – Practice Led by Nina Nagy – East Wing (includes Pot Luck Lunch)
- Session 3 Reflection – Date: Friday, May 1 – 7:00 PM – Place: West Wing
If you wish to lead or assist with any of the module contact Sudah Sankar
Space is limited! Please register by emailing Sudah Sankar
Adult Faith Formation: Science and Religion
Speculations, Hypotheses and Assertions Concerning Interrelationships
December 13, 2019 – 6:30 PM in the West Wing
Bart Stuck
Religion and science are each at different respective crossroads today. Religion in the United States played a major role in everyday life and culture up to the Civil War and has been dropping in importance with the largest growing group in the United States today being those that profess no organized religion, while all major faiths have seen dropping numbers of congregants: materialism is ascendant. The global population today follows Catholicism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism and hundreds upon hundreds of smaller sects including Unitarian Universalism: Science faces a fundamental crisis: after five hundred years of progress, it has become clear that only 5% of the universe consisting of matter/energy has been studied, while 27% of the universe consists of dark matter and 68% consists of dark energy, and there is a furious intellectual race to come up with ideas to reconcile observations with theory. Is there some possible linkage that would rejuvenate and link both science and religion?
CLICK HERE for more information.
Creating Theology Together
Saturdays from 9:00 AM-1:00 PM
February 1, March 1 and April 4, 2020
Rev. John and Rev. Shelly
Creating Theology Together is a Fahs Collaborative publication
based on Rev. John’s Doctoral Thesis.
Please sign up by email to Rev. Shelly.
Grief Support Group
For anyone who has lost a loved one,
April 6 – May 11, 2020
from 700-8:30 PM in Rev. John’s office.
To register, or for inquiries, please contact Pat Francek or Chuck Harrington.
TUCWomen Spirit Circles
Wednesdays at 7:00 PM (East Wing)
September 25th-November 6th
Contact: Sudah Sankar
TUCWomen: Visionary Women
presented by: Janet Luongo
October 19th 6:00 pm
Addiction Recovery Ministry Presents
The Power of Now: study and support group
based on Eckhart Tolle’s book
every Wednesday 7 pm (Meeting House)
started September 4th
Contact: Jim Francek
Small Group Ministry
Fall open enrollment begins September 8th
Contact: Marie-Claire Bue
Sunday Meditation (in the Chapel)
9:00 AM through September 8th
10:00 AM starting September 15th
with Janet Luongo
Buddhist Practice Group
Every Monday 6:30-8:30 PM (Meeting House)
Contact: Nina Nagy