2025-26 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 November 7, 2025
The Paradox of the Parables
Are you curious about the Bible but not interested in dogma? Wondering if there is a place for both an intellectual and spiritual exploration of the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament? The UU Christian Fellowship group at UUCville is hosting a monthly gathering to explore the parables of Jesus. All you need to bring is an open mind and heart as we explore these ancient scriptures and their relevance for the challenges we face today. Questions? Email uucf@uucharlottesville.org and we’ll get back to you. All are welcome!
Dates & Times: March 8, April 12, May 10, June 14; 12:30 PM – 1:15 PM
Location: UUCville Parlor
NO REGISTRATION NEEDED
Hope in Hard Times: A Support Circle
Has the state of the world left you feeling uncertain or anxious, perhaps about a job, school, family, or the future? Join us for one hour of community, conversation, and mutual support.
Facilitators: Revs. Tim Temerson & Leia Durland-Jones
Dates & Times: Future dates to come. Watch this page and the Wednesday & Friday newsletters for announcements!
NO REGISTRATION NEEDED
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.
This class is being offered in-person this fall. Rev. Leia hopes to offer this class online in the spring.
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: Postponed until 2026.
Location: Church Parlor
Facing Death With Life
This program facilitates personal reflection, learning, and spiritual growth focused on death and dying. Together, we’ll bring death, dying, and grief into the light of our daily lives and out of the dark, macabre recesses to which it is often relegated.
This class is not a grief support group, nor an intellectual study of death. It includes sociological information and reflection, theological reflection, personal and shared narrative, creative expression, journaling, and practical learning and preparation. The intention is to help participants move from viewing death as an abstract concept to the personal recognition of death’s meaning in their life, with the goal that all who participate will find a closer and more comfortable relationship with their own inevitable death.
Session 1 (March 22): Guests from Hospice of the Piedmont will talk about hospice care and end-of-life planning.
Session 2 (May 3): Revitalize Your Space, Revitalize Your Life with Kyra Houghton. Kyra will share about decluttering and downsizing strategies and techniques.
Session 3 (Date TBA): End of Life Planning and Logistics (paperwork, choices, planning your own memorial and more).
Facilitators: Rev. Leia Durland-Jones and Patty Wallens. Rev. Leia serves as UUCville’s Minister of Faith Development.
Dates & Times: Sundays, March 22 & May 3 from 1PM-3PM. Third session’s date is TBD.
Location: Lower Hall 2
Love in Action: Meditation on Twin Hearts
The Meditation on Twin Hearts opens up the heart chakra and the crown chakra (spiritual heart) to bring down large amounts of Divine Energy. In this guided meditation, we bless the Earth, our loved ones, our work, our homes, and all of Humanity. The effectiveness of the blessings is greatly magnified in a group setting, so bring a friend or family member, and experience tremendous peace and joy from participating in this simple yet powerful meditation. The Meditation on Twin Heart was developed by Master Choa Kok Sui, founder of Modern Pranic Healing and Arhatic Yoga. It is a combination of meditation and prayer (based on the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi) to bring blessings to all of Humanity. The Meditation on Twin Hearts allows each of us to experience inner personal healing on the mental, emotional, and physical levels.
We will engage in some light exercises to prepare your physical and energy body before and after the meditation.
Facilitator: Jean MacInnis. Jean is a retired chemistry teacher and now full-time Certified Pranic Healer, Certified Pranic Healing Instructor, and Arhatic Yoga Practitioner. She has been hosting this meditation on Zoom on a weekly basis for the last 2 years.
Times: Online, Mondays at 7:30 PM
NO REGISTRATION NEEDED
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 at warnason@gmail.com.
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.
November 2nd and 16th will be “Open House” meetings – anybody who is interested in coming would be welcome! After November, we appreciate advance communication for those who are interested in joining.
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: Second and fourth Sundays of every month, 12:30 – 1:30 PM. Second Sundays are our “book club” day, fourth Sundays are general discussion.
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: March 20, May 1, 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.
Previously Offered
The Enneagram as a Tool for Spiritual Growth
In this AFD class, we’ll explore the multilayered growth paths of the Enneagram.
The first class will be an introduction to the concept of Enneagram, and each subsequent class will discuss a particular point on the Enneagram and its perspective. Each type has its own gifts, attributes, and patterns. When we learn the fixations and passions of our type, we can unlock ways to grow and change. Learning about the perspectives of the types can help us build compassion for others.
Facilited by Debby Norton. Debby holds an MEd and is an accredited CPEnneagram professional. She holds a certification in AMI Montessori ages 3-12 and is also an accredited 5Rhythms teacher.
Congregational Teach-In: “Speak Up!”
A 90-minute skill-building, interactive workshop intended to enable participants to feel empowered to respond when they experience, witness or hear about disrespectful behavior, particularly in the context of bias or prejudice. Centering real-life experiences of disrespectful behavior, participants will develop a defined strategy in an improv scenario to respond in a way that would allow the individuals involved to maintain a relationship while establishing that the behavior is not acceptable.
Facilitated by Greg Townsend, MD, an Associate Professor at UVA School of Medicine (SOM), Former Associate Dean for Diversity and Medical Education at the UVA SOM, co-creator of the UVA Health System Stepping In 4 Respect program, and long-time UUCville member.
Anti-Racist Lessons From the Ancestors
What can we learn about today’s UU engagement with anti-racism from the earliest Unitarian encounters with a formerly enslaved community in South Carolina? Rev. Dr. Wayne Arnason has been engaged with this question for several years while preparing a lecture series about the Unitarian presence at Port Royal, S.C., during the Civil War. Over three sessions, we will explore five different emblematic Unitarian ancestors’ roles and actions at Port Royal and what they teach us about today, through presentations with slides, and with discussion.
A Tour of Panorama Natural Burial Cemetery
A guided tour of Panorama Natural Burial, a family owned green cemetery. With Ellie Syverud and Stephanie Bonney.