Connecting with Spiritual Practice
|
|
20+ practices to try.
Connect with others. Connect with yourself. Connect with nature. Connect with the Divine.
In February, March and April explore the spiritual practices that intrigue you. Each practice will be offered in a 90 minute introductory session where you will have a chance to try the practice and ask questions. Each practice will be offered twice so you have two options to sign up for each practice. Descriptions of each practice are below and link to register for each one.
Connect with others. Connect with yourself. Connect with nature. Connect with the Divine.
In February, March and April explore the spiritual practices that intrigue you. Each practice will be offered in a 90 minute introductory session where you will have a chance to try the practice and ask questions. Each practice will be offered twice so you have two options to sign up for each practice. Descriptions of each practice are below and link to register for each one.
|
(NEW OFFERING) Sabbath
Facilitator: Rev. Lisa Garcia-Sampson Sun, March 10th 1:00 PM or Tues, March 12th in person, 6:00 PM On Zoom, 60 minutes "I kindled the lights for the Sabbath, and all of a sudden I felt transformed, emotionally and even physically." - Susannah Heschel. Sabbath is an invitation to claim our sacred right to rest, and come into deeper attunement to the divine within us and among us. This 1-hour session offers ancient and contemporary reflections on Sabbath and rest. We will also explore rituals and weekly rhythms that can help us to cultivate deep rest for our minds, bodies and spirits. Guiding texts will include The Sabbath by Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel and Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey, founder of The Nap Ministry. Register Here. The Meaning of Lovingkindness Facilitator: Etta Breit Sat, April 13, 2:00 PM or Sun, April 14, 2:00 PM–90 min Lovingkindness is a spiritual skill. This act of compassion will be offered as a scripted meditation and as a relational way of being in the world – forming connections to self and to others. Come learn together this uplifting skill that affirms the sanctity of all. Etta has had Intensive Training in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction and lives Lovingkindness as a meditative skill . Her careers span Women's Studies faculty, Marriage and Family Therapist, and Hospice Chaplain. beings. Register Here. Our Yoga Nature Facilitator: Lois Howlett Sat, March 9, 10:00 AM or Thu, March 14, 7:00 PM –90 min The word yoga means “union” and this practice connects body, mind and spirit. This multi-level yoga class will be a chair-based practice, but you are welcome to bring your yoga mat if you prefer to stand more and then end with relaxation on the floor. We will have a brief intro followed by an hour practice that ends with a soothing relaxation. Time for Q&A. Lois has taught yoga for more than 20 years. Her original certification was from Kripalu for Health and Well-being in Massachusetts. She is a registered yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance and have additional certifications through Duke Integrated Health, the Arthritis Foundation, and for chair yoga. Register Here. Creating Ritual Facilitator: Jenn Kapranov Wednesday April 24 7 PM (Waiting List ONLY) and Saturday April 27, 2 PM Rituals help us make meaning and process through transitions in our lives. We can practice rituals in a group or by ourselves. In this workshop we will explore the many places rituals help us in our lives, how rituals are created and enacted, and take some time creating our own rituals. We will have the opportunity to build our rituals with objects, words, physical movements, music or meditations. Register Here. Seasonal Spirituality Facilitator: Rev. Alison Eskildsen Mar. 14 (Thu. at 7 pm by Zoom) or Mar. 23 (Sat. at 10 am at church). As the year progresses through the months and seasons, our bodies and spirits respond differently to the natural world around us. In March we’ll explore Earth’s seasonal activity by reflecting and sharing our responses to the weather, length of daylight, plant and animal patterns, and Earth-centered holidays. To inform our discussion, before the session you’ll be sent brief readings and you'll need to spend some directed time outdoors (your spiritual practice). Register Here Daily Devotional Practice - Movement, Breathwork, Mudras, and Chanting Facilitators: Cathy Brooksie Edwards and Leigh HallSaturday, February 24th from 10:00 - 11:30 and Thursday evening March 7th 6:30 - 8:00pm. Cathy Brooksie Edwards, Unitarian Universalist, will share her daily devotional practice inspired through her many years of somatic work. She is a Kundalini yoga teacher, NC Licensed Clinical Counselor and NC licensed massage and bodywork therapist. Kundalini is a term for "a spiritual energy or life force" located in the body and is often called the yoga of awareness. The practice of movements, breathwork, mudras and chanting meditations are designed to raise complete body awareness to prepare the body, the nervous system and the mind to handle the everyday challenges that life brings. Leigh Hall, Unitarian Universalist, Zen Buddist practitioner, Educator and NC licensed massage and bodywork therapist will assist Cathy by leading you through easy and gentle practices. Cathy will be playing a live sound scape. Please bring a yoga mat, a blanket, and wear comfortable clothes. These practices can also be done sitting in a chair. . Register Here. Finger Labyrinth Walking Facilitator: Paige Hall SmithDates: Thursday April 18 at 7 PM; Sunday April 21 at 2 PM The labyrinth is a walking meditation, a path of prayer, and a blueprint where psyche meets spirit. It is an ancient spiritual tool —labyrinth patterns have been discovered, as early 2000 BCE, in all regions of the world, and used by many different faith traditions. Today the labyrinth is used by both spiritual and secular organizations to promote spiritual growth and psychological well-being by providing a sacred space that helps us listen to the longings of our spirit and psyche. The use of handheld labyrinths grew during COVID, and they offer a lovely way to bring the labyrinth home for daily or regular use. This session will explore the labyrinth and offer a chance for us to “walk with our fingers.” If you don’t have your own handheld labyrinth, paper copies will be provided. You can also download the Labyrinth Journey app for use on your tablet. Handheld labyrinths can be bought in different places including from Veriditas (https://www.veriditas.org/Shop#!/Handheld-Labyrinths-Finger-Labyrinths/c/52309114). Participants will be invited to participate in 2 (20 min) zoom-based finger labyrinth walks over 2 weeks following these sessions (Tuesday April 23 and 29 at 7:30pm.) Register Here. |
Digging Deeper with Lectio Divina
Facilitators: Renee Wilson and Maureen O’Rourke Sun, March 24, 2 PM or Thu, March 28, 7 PM – 90 min Lectio Divina is a Latin term meaning divine reading, and is a meditative way of approaching a sacred text (bible or other world religion) and other literature (poetry, nonfiction). In this session a short reading will be read aloud on three occasions, After the first, participants will identify a word or phrase that caught their attention. After the second, participants will share how the reading relates to something in their lives today, and after the third, what the reading might nudge them towards. In this way, Lectio Divina encourages us to listen deeply to that still small voice within us. Register Here. Creativity and Spirituality Facilitator: Steevie Parks March 16 10:00. 90 min This workshop will be about working with unconscious imagery to better understand and cope with our own thoughts and feelings about ourselves, others, and the world we live in. Every morning, after I do my daily yoga, I meditate in a certain way, in order to access images from my unconscious mind. If I have time, I attempt to recreate these images in either words or pictures. We will focus on either drawing crayon pictures or creating sculptures of whatever images we are able to access during a period of meditation. Writing materials will also be made available for those who wish to use them. Following the exercise, we will have the option to share our reactions to the experience. Register Here. Mindfulness Meditation for Those Who Think They Can’t Meditate Facilitator: Lisa Lackmann Thurs Feb 29 at 7 PM or Sun March 3 at 2 PM – 90 min We’ve heard all about the health and attention benefits of mindfulness meditation promoted in doctor’s offices and media everywhere. But meditation can feel out of reach or “not for me”. In this session, we’ll debunk myths, practice techniques, and scratch the surface of some Buddhist ideas underlying mindfulness meditation. You’ll leave with some practices to try, some book recommendations to explore, and hopefully a sense that mindfulness meditation is an option for you. Buddhist teacher, Sylvia Boorstein, writes “For those of us who don’t arrive at wisdom naturally, meditation is one way to get there through practice.” Register Here. Reading Poetry As Spiritual Practice Facilitator: Rev. Thom Belote Thursday, March 21 (6:30-8:00) and Saturday, March 23 (10:30-12:00.) Years ago, Unitarian Universalist minister Rev. Laurel Hallman developed a set of spiritual practices for Unitarian Universalists which she called Living By Heart. At the center of this practice was the memorization of a selection of poems that we could summon to speak to our lives. Join Rev. Thom as we learn about this spiritual practice of finding heart poems. You'll be invited to bring one of your heart poems; Thom will share a few of his. No memorization required! Register Here. Dialogue across differences a spiritual practice Facilitators: Laura Gilliom (lead), Joan Garnett, George Thompson, Rick Szymanski Saturday March 16 at 2 and Thursday April 11 at 7 In this session we will explore how engaging in meaningful dialogue with people who hold very different perspectives opens us up to new insights, expands our understanding, and cultivates empathy and compassion. We will learn from the example of great teachers and leaders that it can even become a practice of recognizing the divine or sacred in others, transcending divisive boundaries and promoting peace and unity. You will have a chance to practice dialogue skills in the session. Register Here. Reading the Bible as Spiritual Practice Facilitator: Karen Jessee Saturday, April 6, at 10:00 or Monday, April 8, at 6:45 Enter into a conversation with scripture as we encounter passages from the Hebrew Bible—history and wisdom of the Jewish people—or from the New Testament of the Christian faith. Through the practices of contemplative reading, silence, and meditative writing,we will break open the Word. Together we will ask to hear what these sacred texts have to say to us, here, in our lives today. Register Here. The Spiritual Practice of Giving Thanks Facilitators: Amy Maddox and Kat Good Thurs. April 11 at 7pm on zoom or Sun, April 14, 1:30 in the Kirby Room Writing a thank you note is thought of as a small, simple gesture of good etiquette, but the act of giving thanks, if practiced regularly, can invite deeper spirituality into your life. Amy and Kat regularly send notes of thanks and appreciation and this seemingly simple practice has become quite spiritual. If you are interested in thanking people in your life, but you don't know how to get started or how to maintain giving thanks as a spiritual practice, join us! We will discuss the how and why and even make some Thank You notes to get you started. Thanks in advance! Register Here. Our Spiritual Connection with Nature (Closed. Waiting List Only) Facilitators: Mary & Jim George Thurs, Mar 28, 6 PM or Sat, Mar 30, 10 AM –90 min This session is not complicated or hard to do. We will commune with nature by sitting outdoors in the spring, listening to the birds, feeling the breeze, noticing the plants coming back from their long winter nap, feeling the sap rising in the trees, feeling grounded in the earth beneath our feet. As we attune ourselves to nature, we can feel part of a greater whole. We will spend time in quiet meditation with some guidance and then share our experiences. Register Here. Journaling as a Spiritual Practice. (Both Sessions Waiting List Only) Facilitator: Kyle Terrell Thu, March 7, 7:00, Sun, March 10, 2 PM Journaling is a powerful tool for personal development and spiritual growth. This session provides an overview of journaling, including purposes, benefits, methods and techniques. There will be time for 1-2 exercises, plus an option to share what you have written. Open to all levels of writing experience. Register here. Slow Drawing as a Spiritual Practice Facilitators: Susan Neulist and Marion Hirsch Mon Feb 19. 6:00 PM or Sat Feb 24 2:00 PM (This session is full. Waiting list only) Have you thought that drawing is only for talented artists? Join us to explore slow drawing as a spiritual practice repeating simple patterns from nature as a way to mindfully connect to your inner self. This session will have you draw silently with demonstration and hands on time to create little pieces of art. All supplies will be available at the class. This class is completed. Tai Chi Facilitator: Joe Swain Feb 13 7:00 pm and Feb 25 at 1 PM (This session is full, waiting list only) Tai Chi has roots in Chinese martial arts, but has evolved to focus more on physical and mental health and harmony. Often described as “mediatation in motion”, Tai Chi involves gentle physical movements that flow from one pose to another in sequence. Low impact stretching moves are particularly good for physical balance, and focus and mindfulness may relieve stress. As a spiritual exercise Tai Chi draws upon Chinese concepts of the energy that flows within us all—Chi. Learning Tai Chi can be a lifelong journey, so this will be just an introduction to the ideas and exercises available. All levels of prior experience are welcome, from those who have never tried it to CC CH UU members who have studied before. This class is completed. Dreamwork as Spiritual Practice Facilitators: Ivy Brezina and Jean McKinney Our night-time dreams speak in a symbolic language that is sometimes difficult to understand. When we work to understand them, we find clear reflections of our inner lives, guidance, and creative solutions. Ivy Brezina and Jean McKinney believe that all dreams, even unsettling ones, come in the service of health and wholeness. Each participant will be invited to bring a dream to share, and we will guide the group in sharing reflections on the dreams presented. This course is completed. Slow Drawing as a Spiritual Practice Facilitators: Susan Neulist and Marion Hirsch Mon Feb 19. 6:00 PM or Sat Feb 24 2:00 PM (This session is full. Waiting list only) Have you thought that drawing is only for talented artists? Join us to explore slow drawing as a spiritual practice repeating simple patterns from nature as a way to mindfully connect to your inner self. This session will have you draw silently with demonstration and hands on time to create little pieces of art. All supplies will be available at the class. This class is completed. Gratitude Journaling Facilitator: Nancy Mayer Thurs Feb 1, 7 PM (ZOOM) or Sat Feb 3, 10 AM – 90 min Being grateful puts a positive spin on your life. Taking the time to write down things you are grateful for improves your outlook on life. I started writing down things I’m grateful for over ten years ago. Even though I may put down some things over and over again, they still make me smile and feel better each time I write them down. Come learn my journey and see how being grateful can help you too. I will provide some background information along with practice opportunities. Come learn to be more intentionally grateful with me. This course is completed. Dao De Jing as Spiritual Practice Facilitator: Kari Andrade Sun Feb 11, 1 PM or Thur Feb 15, 7 PM – 90 min Are you interested in ancient Chinese wisdom? The Dao De Jing was written over 2500 years ago and yet is still relevant and has wisdom for us today. I have translated and studied the Dao for many years and see it as a spiritual practice. Come to begin a study of the Dao De Jing. This class is completed. Parenting as a Spiritual Practice Facilitator: Kat Good Thurs, Feb 22 7 PM on zoom or Sun. Feb 25 1:30 at church with childcare Parenting is an unrelenting daily practice, but could it also be spiritual? Possibly, with some intentional reframing. Join us after bedtime on zoom for a chat about the spiritual process of parenting. We will get into the gratitude and struggles and I promise not to tell you to enjoy every minute. But we will explore the moments of spirituality with other UU parents. This class is completed. |