Spiritual Exploration for Adults (SEA)
About SEA -- Spiritual Exploration for Adults
(SEA) provides opportunities for adults in the church to deepen and explore their faith. SEA provides high quality programs on primarily Thursday evenings (but also at other times) which focus on spiritual development in three areas: theology, spiritual practice and ethics. Programs are compelling, high quality, of general interest and engage participants in personal spiritual development. Programs also serve to integrate participants into deeper relationship in the church community. The Spiritual Exploration for Adults Committee is responsible for the SEA program with staff support from the Director of Lifespan Religious Education.
Our work is not just a committee but truly a ministry at our church.
Through our programming we hope to help our parishioners
- Develop sustainable, fulfilling spiritual practices
- Deepen our spirituality
- Strengthen and build relationships with each other
- Build knowledge about different practices
- Transform how people see the world
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- 1. Theology/Spiritual Practice
- 2. World Religions (to include UU, Christianity and Humanism/Atheism
- 3. The Spirituality of Eco and Social Justice
- 4. Personal Growth and Development
- 5. Ethics and Philosophy
Register for SEA Courses
Email Marion Hirsch at hirsch.marion @ gmail.com. Or you can sign up on-line at links below.
Spring 2021 Courses
Mystical Experience Sharing Group
Led by Lisa Epner, Ivy Brezina, and Joan Shier
Mondays, March 8, 15, 22 at 7 PM on Zoom
Are you interested in sharing your mystical experience? Come and share it with a small group in this new SEA course. Four members each time will have 15 minutes to speak not only about the experience but also how it changed you or what you learned from it. Limit 9. Register here.
“A Class on Covenants”
Led by Rev. Thom
Thursday, March 18 and 25, 7:00pm on Zoom
In partnership with the Living Our Covenant with Intention ministry, Rev. Thom will lead this class on the role of covenants in our religious tradition and in our particular congregation. We will begin by exploring how the idea of covenant came out of the Jewish tradition and how covenants were used by our congregational ancestors. Then, we will explore our church’s covenant and what it means in the life of our church today. Register here.
Preaching Practicum 2021
Led by Rev. Thom
Thursday, April 8, 15, 22, 29 and May 6, 7:00pm on Zoom
For the seventh year in a row at Community Church, Rev. Thom will lead this class on homiletics for laypeople. Those in the class will receive an introduction to preaching, write their sermons in a workshop format with other class participants, and deliver their sermon in a worship service during the summer. Only four slots are available for this year’s Preaching Practicum. To inquire or apply for the class, please contact Rev. Thom at revthomb@gmail.com.
Study of the Dao De Jing (Tao Te Ching)
Led by Kari Andrade
Tuesdays, March 23, 30 and April 6, 7-8:30 PM
We will begin by learning about the author Lao Zi (Lao Tsu) and the historical context of the Dao De Jing, a Chinese sacred text written 2500 years ago; it is the primary text of Daoism (Taoism) and the second most translated book in the world after the Bible. Then we will study 6 of the 81 chapters focusing on the 3 treasures of Daoism: compassion, moderation and humility. We will read several different translations of each chapter and discuss their meaning and how these ancient ideas still apply to our lives and world. Each chapter is similar in length and complexity to a poem. Register here.
Build Your Own Theology (BYOT)
Led by Steve Warshaw and Kristen Dunivant
Thursdays, April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 7-9 PM on Zoom
BYOT addresses five questions that characterize any personal spiritual quest: Who am I? How do I know what I know? Who or what is in charge? What is my purpose in life? What does my death mean? It is a discussion-based course, assigned readings and exercises will be provided. By the end of the course each participant will have written her/his personal creed. Register here.
The Active Soul: Poetry as Survival
Leader: Cheryl Wilder
Wednesdays, May 5, 12, 19, 26, 7:00-8:30 pm Zoom
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “There is no greater value than that of the active souls.” As Unitarian Universalists, we are a group of active souls—doers who make the world a better place for all. In his book, Poetry as Survival, Gregory Orr explores the active soul of the lyric poet. Traversing between her inner mysteries and her exterior self, the lyric poet actively takes hold of her emotional life rather than passively endures it. Grief, love, awe, despair—writing a personal lyric is an exploration of our deepest emotions as well as outer circumstances, such as violence, loss of a loved one, or poverty. Explore your active soul through poem-making. We will read and discuss lyric poems. We will write our own poems, participate in a writing workshop, and have a class poetry reading. Register Here.
Racial Equity Movie Discussions
Join our racial equity movies group. We'll watch a movie/series each month dealing with issues related to racial equity on our own, meeting together on the third Thursday of each month to discuss the movie. March's move is Just Mercy. We'll explore the issues that these movies raise in our lives and how they point us in ways to respond. Please fill out a separate form for each discussion. Discussions led by Kathy Hodges and Baptiste Lefebvre. Information about how to stream the movies can be found here.
Register for Discussions Here.
WINTER 2021 Courses
The Let's Keep Talking Racial Equity Challenge
Led by multiple facilitators
Thursdays 7-8 PM on Zoom, 1/14, 1/28, 2/11, 2/25, 3/11
Spiritual Exploration for Adults Ministry and the Living Our Covenant with Intention Ministry are proud to sponsor an important opportunity for our church community. Based on the 21-day Challenge curated by Eddie Moore (https://www.eddiemoorejr.com/21daychallenge), we are challenging our community to a daily act (read an article, watch a video, reflect, notice, or act) aimed to help us deepen our understanding of racism and better work for racial equity in the world. This is a continuation of the 29 Day Challenge in Fall 2020. Join others in the church to reflect on your learning in facilitated small groups. Then, join us for a special wrap-up session on 10/8 in which we celebrate the completion of the challenge and reflect on next steps. This program is aimed to help us deepen our understanding of racism and better work for racial equity in the world. If you missed the Challenge in the Fall or if you participated in the Challenge in the fall and want to continue the work, we have a new Challenge: Let's Keep Talking. It is similar to Fall Challenge and includes readings, videos, activities and small group discussions to reflect on our learning. We will meet every other week for an hour on Zoom in facilitated small groups (limited to 6 participants each) Thursdays 7-8 PM. This is powerful work and more powerful when we work together so come join the Challenge. Curriculum can be found here.
Panels on Faith
As UUs, we are encouraged to spiritual growth and a full and responsible search for truth and meaning. But, what does that look like in practice? Hear members of our congregation share their personal perspectives and practices of faith, spirituality, and belief. Register here.
- Sunday January 24th 7:00 pm - 8:15 pm
- Thom Belote - Moderator
- Kari Andrade - Panelist
- Ivy Brezina - Panelist
- Krista Westervelt - Panelist
- Saturday January 30th 2:00 -3:15 pm
- Krista Westervelt - Moderator
- Ed Steffes - Panelist
- Joe Swain - Panelist
- Dana Lundquist - Panelist
Daily Reading and Reflection Group on Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson
SEA (Spiritual Exploration for Adults) is sponsoring a reading and reflection Facebook group on for the book Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson. Read 10 pages a day (a chapter). Post a short reflection daily in a private Facebook group. Each of us will take the lead to start the post for each day. The book is terrific and very well written but heavy and deep and helpful to read slowly and in community. Starts Monday February 1. Ends March 11. Led by Marion Hirsch. Register here.
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Fall 2020 Courses
The 29 Day Racial Equity Challenge
Led by Rev. Thom Belote, Paige Smith, Dave Klibanow and multiple facilitators
Thursdays 7-8 PM on Zoom, 9/10, 9/17, 9/24, 10/1, 10/8
Reverend Thom, the Spiritual Exploration for Adults Ministry and the Living Our Covenant with Intention Ministry are proud to sponsor an important opportunity for our church community. Based on the 21-day Challenge curated by Eddie Moore, we are challenging our community to a daily act (read an article, watch a video, reflect, notice, or act) aimed to help us deepen our understanding of racism and better work for racial equity in the world. here will be a kick-off event on Thursday, September 10, to introduce the challenge. Come back the next three Thursday nights (9/17, 9/24, and 10/1) to join others in the church to reflect on your learning in facilitated small groups. Then, join us for a special wrap-up session on 10/8 in which we celebrate the completion of the challenge and reflect on next steps. While we will be assigning specific readings, videos, and actions for each day, you can view Eddie Moore’s curated collection of materials here. (https://www.eddiemoorejr.com/21daychallenge)
Register HERE.
The Gift of Written Memories
Led by Carolyn Holt and Jody Savage
Tuesdays, 7-8:30 PM, September 15 to November 17
This series will enable each participant to reflect in writing on themes such as the branching points in our lives, our major life work, our families, and our spiritual development. Written memories are gifts to ourselves because recalling stories leads to reflection on their meaning. Written memories are gifts to family and friends who live on after us because they describe the experiences that shaped us and the core values that have given our lives meaning. Each meeting will begin with a lecture by one of the workshop leaders and continue with small group sharing of short essays on assigned themes.
Register HERE.
The Active Soul: Poetry as Survival (Learn to write the personal lyric)
Led by Cheryl Wilder
Saturdays 10-11:30 AM, 9/26, 10/3, 10/10.10/17
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “There is no greater value than that of the active souls.” As Unitarian Universalists, we are a group of active souls—doers who make the world a better place for all. In his book, Poetry as Survival, Gregory Orr explores the active soul of the lyric poet. Traversing between her inner mysteries and her exterior self, the lyric poet actively takes hold of her emotional life rather than passively endures it. Grief, love, awe, despair—writing a personal lyric is an exploration of our deepest emotions, individual existential crises, as well as outer circumstances, such as violence, loss of a loved one, or poverty. Explore your active soul through poem-making. We will read and discuss lyric poems. We will write our own poems, participate in a writing workshop, and have a class poetry reading. No experience necessary.
Register HERE.
Gender Queer and Gender Nonconforming Folks and our Welcoming Congregation
Led by Tommi Hayes
Thursday, 7-8 PM, October 15
Tommi Hayes, a local non-binary activist will join us to give an overview of gender non-binary identities and issues facing members of the gender nonconforming community in our area, Come an learn about what you can do to help make our congregation welcoming to all community members.
Register HERE.
Building Your Own Theology (BYOT )
Led by Steve Warshaw
Thursdays 7-9 PM, 10/22-11/19
BYOT addresses five questions that characterize any personal religious quest: Who am I? How do I know what I know? Who or what is in charge? What is my purpose in life? What does my death mean? It is a discussion-based course. There are readings and/or exercises to do in preparation for each class meeting. By the end of the course each participant will have written her/his personal creed.
Register HERE.
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Past SEA Courses:
Fall 2019 Courses
Spiritual Retreat: Enough is Great Riches
A Deeper Dive into the Summer's Preaching Practicum Sermons
Where Do Our Judgements Come From?
Cake and Death
In a Universe of Exploding Stars
Tai-Chi
Depolarizing Within: Becoming a Better Angel in Your Own World
Wellspring 1: A Unitarian Universalist Program for Deepening One's Spiritual Journey
Wellspring 2: Sacred Arts
Ethics and Money: A Fresh Perspective
Naming and Claiming the Divine
Step into Circle Singing
Connecting with God
Gardening with Words: The spiritual practice of gathering and arranging language
The Present Moment
Winter/Spring 2019
Interbeing: Celebrating our sacred connection to the environment
A Unlikely Friendship: Can Deep-seated Prejudices and Adversarial Relationships Be Transformed?
Winter Spiritual Retreat-- Interbeing: The Poetic Spirituality of Creation
Transform Fear into Gratitude: Dragon Dao Yin Qigong
Spirituality’s What, Why, and How: Growing in Awareness, Receptivity, and Responsiveness to Life
Finding Meaning and Spirit in Aging
Transform Anger into Happiness: Dragon Dao Yin Qigong
Art and Theology
Preaching Practicum
Tai Chi
Fall 2018
Spiritual Retreat-- Joy and Peace: Gifts of Awareness
Tai-Chi
Dragon Dao Yin: An ancient Qigong Form -- Transform Grief and Sadness into Contentment and Oneness
Rebuilding Resilience: An Experiential Crash Course in Well-Being
Wellspring 1: A Unitarian Universalist Program for Deepening One's Spiritual Journey
Building Your Own Theology (BYOT)
Pub Theology
Let's Talk Trans
UU Identity
Articulating Your UU Faith
Long Strange Trip
UU101
UU Values in Action
After Sermon Conversations
Righteous Mind
Hospice Services
Immigration as a Moral Issue
(The) New Jim Crow (1 week)
(The) New Jim Crow (3 weeks)
Non-Violent Communication
Purposeful Use of Life’s Energy
Values and Choices: Purposeful Use of Your Life’s Energy
Ethics in America: When It’s a Right vs. Right Decision
Your Legacy: How To Leave a Gift and Not a Mess
Religious Traditions
Contemporary Buddhist Thought
Religious Humanism
(The) Nature of God
Cakes for the Queen of Heaven
Science and the Search for Good
Concepts of Consciousness
Nature Connection
Discovering a Sense of Place
Hungry for Change
Menu for the Future
Reconnecting with Earth
Spiritual Growth and Practice
Adult OWL
Building Your Own Spiritual Practice
Building Your Own Theology
Creativity and Spirituality
Finding Purpose in Your Life
Finding Your Power
Holiday Blues
(The) Happiness Project
Medical Ethics
Re-BYOT
Story as Entry to Relationship
Using the Psalms To Write
Voluntary Simplicity
Wellspring
Writing: Chapter and Verse
For more general information contact:
Marion Hirsch, Director of Lifespan Religious Education
hirsch.communitychurch @ gmail.com