2024-25 Adult Faith Development Offerings
For questions or assistance with registration, please contact Bryn Malone, RE Assistant at reassistant@uucharlottesville.org
AFD Offerings updated as of April 15, 2025
Everything You Want to Know About Natural Burials
Panorama Natural Burial is a family owned green cemetery, located in Earlysville, Virginia, and is one of only 200 green cemeteries in the US. Learn all about green burials, the origin story of Panorama, and why you may want to consider it as a final resting place for yourself and your loved ones. You will also learn that it is not just a place of rest, but also a place for living. In addition to the natural burial ground, Panorama offers walking tours that allow the living to connect with the earth and their loved ones who have returned to it. Hosted by UUCville’s Ministry for the Earth team.
Facilitator: Stephanie Bonney, General Manager Panorama Natural Burial
Date and time: Thursday April 24, 7 pm
Location: Zoom
REGISTER HERE
Reclaiming Your Power in Frightening Times: Spiritual Practices to Help You Find Your Strength and Defend What You Care About Most
In this 90-minute Zoom-based workshop, you’ll be invited to reconnect with your inner strength and power through three spiritual practices: A guided meditation to gain insight into your own strength, power, and vitality in these times. A body wisdom exercise to discern what you most want to defend right now. Reflection questions to help you integrate what you’ve discovered, so you can create your personal action plan to defend what matters most to you. You’ll also get the chance to connect with others who care about what’s happening and want to make a positive difference.
Facilitator: Rev. Laura Horton-Ludwig. After nearly 20 years serving as minister for Unitarian Universalist congregations from Illinois to California to Virginia, today Laura has a private practice at laurahortonludwig.com offering spiritual direction, coaching, and shamanic work for sensitive souls ready to reclaim their power, sparkle, and joy. She lives in Williamsburg, VA with her husband and their dog and cat, as well as the many trees and wild creatures who share the land with them. This year, she is also serving the UU Fellowship of Santa Cruz County, CA in an experimental mostly-remote ministry.
Date and time: Monday April 28, 7 pm
Location: Zoom
REGISTER HERE
UUCville Israel-Palestine Learning Circle
REGISTER HERE
UPDATE: Join us on May 13th for guest speaker Rabbi Marc Gopin, Professor/Director of World Religions at George Mason University’s Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution. Rabbi Gopin has done a lot of work in the Middle East and has much to share with us. 7:00pm via Zoom.
This newly forming learning circle is designed to help participants understand more about the culture, history, and lived experiences of people in the middle east, particularly in Israel and Palestine. We will learn together about the current conflict between Israel and Palestine as well as possible pathways to peace and justice. We will use printed, electronic, and video resources and possibly guest speakers. A goal is to develop a basic understanding of the roots of the current conflict as well as understand more about key issues that continue to perpetuate conflict and prevent peace. While we all are distressed about what is happening in the middle east, some individuals and families in our congregation feel more directly impacted by events than others. We hope to create a learning space that allows all to learn, share, and listen with compassion and empathy as we strive for greater understanding.
Please note, while many of our Adult Faith Development classes are open to all, this circle is open only to UUCville members and friends.
Facilitator: Rev. Tim Temerson
Dates and Times: ONLINE Sessions held on the 3rd Tuesday 7:00 – 8:30 PM or IN-PERSON sessions on the 3rd Wednesday 12:00 – 1:30 PM. Participants may choose each month which session is more convenient to attend and do not need to commit to online or in-person exclusively.
REGISTER HERE
DEMENTIA – A Journey Shared: Finding our deeper WE, through Spirit and Community
REGISTER HERE
This class 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 will be on compassionate sharing & listening, while actively inviting ‘Spirit’ to be
present with us. We will meet for three sessions initially with the possibility of forming an ongoing Support Group. Guest speakers will be invited occasionally offer their experience and/or
expertise to the group.
Facilitator: Joan Kast + a co-facilitator (TBD)
Joan is excited to have recently become involved with this vibrant UUCville congregation, and looks forward to deepening that engagement. She has worked over a decade as a hospice social worker, during which she offered practical support as well as emotional & psychological support to many patients and their family/friends/caregivers. Since mid-2023, she has been a primary (albeit long-distance) support for a family member with early-onset Alzheimer’s.
Dates and Times: This group will start meeting mid-November at a time suitable for the largest number of registrants. We want to accommodate as many participants are possible.
Minimum # of participants: 3, maximum 12
REGISTER HERE
Afro Flow Yoga
Facilitator: Katherine Jenkins- Djom
Date and Time: April 9 & 23, May 14 & 28, June 11 & 25. Gathering: 6:00 – 6:30PM, Flow 6:30 – 8:00 PM
Location: Lower Hall 2
Maximum: 20 ppl
REGISTER HERE
Kundalini Yoga with Amy
We will build body, mind, and spirit in a weekly kundalini yoga class, which includes a physical practice as well as a meditation in every ~1hour session. Kundalini yoga is the yoga of awareness, and we practice with our eyes closed. This way, you can truly center yourself for the week ahead. We will be centering and breathing deeply. Are you ready to build confidence, strength, and heart in your personal world? Yes?!?! Then join us and take a deep breath in!
Participants can use their own yoga mat, borrow one of the church’s yoga mat or use a chair for “chair yoga.”
Facilitator: Amy Epp
Amy received her Kundalini Yoga teacher training certification in New York City at Kundalini Yoga East approximately 7 years ago. Following graduation, she taught classes at 4 studios, then maintained an at-home personal practice once the pandemic began. Amy looks forward to teaching in-person at UUCville as part of the Adult Faith Development program.
Dates and Time: Fridays 8:00-9:00 AM
Location: Parlor
Fee: Donations Welcome
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
Min/max number of participants: min – 4; max- 12
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 Chang man – Ching : A ‘Time in the Art’ with form and principles reviewed & practiced for self improvement
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 9:15 – 10:15 AM
Location: Online and in person in the social hall or outdoors on the church grounds (weather permitting). Also offered online via ZOOM. Contact Caroline for ZOOM link
Fee: Donation accepted
Min/max number of participants: min – 4; max- 12
NO registration necessary, just show up to participate
UUCVille Spirituality Book Group
(meets online only)
The UUCville 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 church year 2023-2024. 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, initiated and recruited coffee hour facilitators, 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 Rev Leia and Rev Tim and participated In numerous UUCville events and Is looking to co-facilitating the Book Group
Dates & Times: 1st Thursday of each month 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Location: Online via Zoom
Fee: Free but participants obtain their own books or online sources.
UPPS, or “oops!”
MONTHLY UU PARENTING SUPPORT
UUPS is a group of parents who gather after on the second and fourth Sunday 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 we may be joined by facilitators on occasion.
Take advantage of the Second Hour Child Care and meet us in Lower Hall 2 from 12:30-1:30 PM.
Location: Lower Hall 2, Across from the nursery.
Childcare 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.
Facilitator: John Griffith or Liz Shoch
Dates and Times: Second and fourth Sunday of every month 12:30 – 1:30 PM
Participants: unlimited – anyone who identifies as a parent is welcome to just show up and join. Childcare available.
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 our regular Tuesday evening meeting of the Insight Meditation Community. 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. Tuesday meetings are attended by approximately 50-60 people.
Location: We are now meeting both in person and on Zoom. We welcome you to join us in person at the Unitarian Universalist Church at 717 Rugby Road in Charlottesville.
Facilitator: Insight Meditation Community
Dates and Times: Tuesdays 5:30 – 8:30 PM
Participants: 50-60 people
Fee: free
WomenSpirit: Women’s Spirituality and Ritual Group
The WomenSpirit group will gather 8 times a year, to celebrate the 8 Sabbats: the seasonal festivals comprising the Wheel of the Year.
Organizers: Bonnie Hansen, Lauren Doran
2025 Dates & Times: May 5, June 20, August 20, September 22, October 29, December 21, 6:30-8:30 pm.
Location: Lower Hall or outdoor labyrinth
Fee: free of charge
Number of participants: unlimited
No registration necessary, just show up to participate