2025-26 Adult Faith Development Offerings
For questions or assistance with registration, please contact Sunny Manato, RE Assistant at reassistant@uucharlottesville.org
AFD Offerings updated as of May 19, 2026.
Check this page for updates on AFD offerings for Fall 2026!
Social Change Now!: The Unitarian Universalist Association’s Common Read 2025-26
Social Change Now by Deepa Iyer is a practical guide for those at every stage of their individual and organizational journeys towards justice, equity and solidarity. Iyer introduces an ecosystems framework that includes ten roles many of us play in service of our social change values. The book contains detailed descriptions and real-world examples, reflection prompts (with room to write responses), and accessible tips that can immediately be put into action.
This three-session course using Iyer’s book accompanies us not only in times of crisis, but throughout our lifelong social change journeys to build connected communities and equitable systems in our world.
Using breakout groups, activities, and whole group processing, we will explore the ecosystem of UUCville and work to understand the roles members play, or could play, in it. Participants are invited to ground their work for change deeply in their UU faith. Exploration together opens paths for all members to support the congregational ecosystem and the transformation it seeks to effect in the world.
People and organizations around the world have used the social change ecosystem framework to respond to the pandemic, express solidarity during the uprisings against anti-Black racism, and support multiracial coalitions struggling for reproductive rights, immigrant and refugee protections, and climate justice. It is a great resource for us at UUCville in these times we are in.
Participants need to purchase a copy of the book. If purchasing a book is a hardship, please speak with Rev. Leia as there are loaner copies available.
Recommend sites for purchasing:
https://uuabookstore.org/products/social-change-now
Facilitator: Rev. Leia Durland-Jones. Rev. Leia serves as our Minister of Faith Development.
Dates & Times: Wednesdays, May 27 and June 3, from 6:30 to 8:30 PM.
Location: Church Parlor
Tea Ceremony: Tending to the Heart
Tea ceremony offers a quiet space to slow down, tend to your heart, and reconnect with yourself and nature. We will sit in meditative silence with light music playing and drink 3-6 bowls of tea together, followed by an opportunity to share what’s on your heart.
This ritual is an ancient practice known as Cha Dao, or “The Way of Tea” and is rooted in the universal principles of Circle and Nature. It is a simple ritual, accessible to all. If you are unable to sit on the floor, a chair will be provided, or space will be made for a wheelchair.
The tea being served is just Tea (black, red, oolong, shou puerh) – it is gentle and soothing and is not psychoactive or psychedelic.
Facilitator: Jess Turner. Jess has been working with Tea since 2021 and began practicing this ritual following the sudden passing of her dad. She turned to this ritual for ballast and support as she navigated the dark and stormy waters of grief. She now offers this ritual to the UU community, in hopes that it may offer a supportive space during these difficult times.
Dates & Times: Sunday, June 14, at 9:30AM
Location: Lower Hall kitchen
Number of participants: 1 minimum, 14 maximum
Clear Spring Zen Buddhist Sanga
This Soto Zen Buddhist group was founded by church members thirty years ago and has met regularly each week on Wednesday nights since then. Usually there are four or five people gathering for two twenty-five minute sitting periods with five minutes of walking meditation in between. Informal conversation follows sitting meditation. On Sunday mornings, we sit together at 8:30 AM for twenty-five minutes connected by Zoom, and then have a dharma talk from our teacher Marian Morgan, or one of our members. For more information, or to arrange for some instruction about our sitting practice before you join us, or to receive the Zoom link for Sunday morning, contact Wayne Arnason.
Location: The Blue Room on the second floor of the church on Wednesdays, Sundays on Zoom
Facilitator: Steve Hughes or Wayne Arnason
Dates and Times: Wednesdays at 7 PM, Sundays at 8:30 AM.
DEMENTIA – A Journey Shared: Finding our deeper WE, through Spirit and Community
This group offers support for those dealing with dementia as a caregiver and/or deeply affected friend or family member. Rather than trying to ‘problem-solve,’ the focus is on compassionate sharing & listening, while actively inviting ‘Spirit’ to be present with us.
Facilitators: Joan Kast and Beth Jaeger-Landis
Dates and Times: This group meets 1st and 3rd Sundays. Please reach out to Joan or Beth if you are interested in attending.
Tai Chi for Health – Qigong/eight ways
Tai Chi Movements that facilitate body awareness to improve balance and flexibility and improve mood.
Facilitators: Vicki & John Shackford
Vicki Shackford has studied and taught Tai Chi since 1980. She also teaches Hawaiian Swimming — using many of the same principles.
John Shackford has studied and taught Tai Chi since 1975. He also studies Process Philosophy and Whitehead.
Dates and Times: Every Wednesday, 10:30 – 11:30 AM
Location: In person in the social hall or outdoors on the church grounds (weather permitting).
Fee: Donation accepted
NO registration necessary, just show up to participate. All ages and skill levels invited.
Advanced Tai Chi
Advanced Tai Chi is for students who practice the Tai Chi form according to Cheng Man-ch’ing: A “Time in the Art” with form and principles reviewed & practiced for self-improvement.
Facilitators: Vicki & John Shackford
Dates and Times: Every Wednesday, 9:15 – 10:15 AM
Location: In person in the social hall or outdoors on the church grounds (weather permitting). Also offered online via ZOOM.
Fee: Donation accepted
NO registration necessary, just show up to participate.
Beginner’s Tai Chi Form
Beginner’s Tai Chi form is a new Tai Chi class starting offered by Vicki & John Shackford. This is a 45-minute class starting with Qigong warmups followed by an introduction to the Tai Chi short form.
Dates and Times: Every Tuesday, 10AM – 10:45 AM
Location: Social Hall
Fee: Donations accepted
NO registration necessary, just show up to participate
UUCVille Spirituality Book Group
(meets online only)
The Spirituality Book Group meets once a month on ZOOM to discuss books chosen by consensus at a prior meeting. The WSBG does not meet in the summer, so there are 9 sessions for the church year. Would you like to deepen your spiritual practice and nurture meaningful friendships? New members are always welcome in this group. Together we select, read and discuss a book each month of the church year.
Facilitators: Jeanine Braithwaite & Tammy Wilt
Jeanine has been a UU since her early twenties, and a member of UUCville since moving to Charlottesville in 2014. In her pre-retirement life, she worked for the World Bank and taught at UVa’s Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy. At UUCville, Jeanine has been a Worship Weaver, a member of the Board of Trustees, and Treasurer. At other congregations, she has co-facilitated covenant groups, run fundraising activities, and taught RE.
Tammy has been a member of UUCville since April 2022. She works as a senior mortgage banker and has been in this industry for over 20 years. Tammy has taken several of the classes offered by Revs. Leia and Tim, participates in numerous UUCville events, and enjoys co-facilitating the Book Group.
Dates & Times: 1st Thursday of each month, 7:00-8:00 p.m.
Location: Online via Zoom
Fee: Free, but participants obtain their own books or online sources.
UPPS, or “oops!”: UU Parenting Support
UUPS is a group of parents who gather after the service on the second and fourth Sundays of each month to support each other, swap advice, and discuss parenting topics like eating, technology, discipline, and more. The group will refer to the Mindful Parenting curriculum along with other readings and may be joined by facilitators on occasion.
Take advantage of the Second Hour Child Care and meet us in Lower Hall 3 from 12:30-1:30 PM! Childcare is provided on the playground in good weather and in the nursery when the weather is bad. Please sign children into childcare on the form provided.
Location: Lower Hall 3, across from the nursery.
Facilitator: John Griffith, Liz Shoch, and Michael Mott.
Dates and Times: UUps will meet Sunday, May 24 from 12:30-1:30 PM then break for the summer. Check back for future dates and times!
Participants: Unlimited – anyone who identifies as a parent is welcome to show up and join.
Fee: free of charge
Tuesday Evening Buddhist Meditation
Whether you are curious about meditation or have been a meditation practitioner for decades, you are welcome at Insight Meditation Community’s regular Tuesday evening meetings. We begin with a 30-40 minute guided meditation followed by a “dharma” talk (Buddhist teaching) that addresses different facets of meditation practice, including how to bring the heart of meditation into our daily lives. Our evenings end promptly at 8:30pm.
Location: We are meeting both in person and on Zoom. In-person meetings are held at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Charlottesville.
Facilitator: Insight Meditation Community
Dates and Times: Tuesdays, 5:30 – 8:30 PM
Participants: Approximately 50-60 attendees
Fee: free
WomenSpirit: Women’s Spirituality and Ritual Group
The WomenSpirit group gathers 8 times a year to celebrate the 8 Sabbats: the seasonal festivals comprising the Wheel of the Year.
Organizers: Bonnie Hansen & Lauren Doran
2026 Dates & Times: June 19, July 31, September 22, October 30, December 21. All event times are 6:30-8:30 pm.
Location: Lower Hall 2 & the outdoor labyrinth
Fee: No fees.
No registration necessary, just show up to participate.