2024 Adult Faith Development Offerings
For questions or assistance with Registration, please contact Caroline Heins, RE Assistant at reassistant@uucharlottesville.org
AFD Offerings updated as of December 19, 2024
Dreaming Equanimity
Women’s Dream Quest 2025
REGISTER HERE
Friday February 21 at 5:30 p.m. through Saturday Feb. 22 11:00 a.m.
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Charlottesville * 717 Rugby Road
Join us as we gather in the circle in these uncertain times that challenge our ability to return to a state of equanimity– a state that prepares us for thoughtful and clear thought and action.
In these unprecedented times, it is important to plumb the depths of our hearts and minds to find places of refuge and inspiration for individual and collective healing. As always, we will call on the Circle to hold us, the beauty of the labyrinth to fill us, and our sisterhood to witness us as we dream of a world of more balance and kindness.
The 16th annual Charlottesville Women’s Dream Quest offers a group of up to 40 women the rare opportunity to gather overnight for large and small group ritual, song, meditation, art, and healing. Led by Judith Tripp, MA, MFT, a transpersonal psychotherapist, teacher, and musician located in northern California. To read more about Judith and her work, visit her website: www.circleway.com
Art supplies, snacks, and breakfast included. Everyone is required to take a COVID test upon arrival. Anyone with a positive test result will be asked to go home and care for themselves and their registration fee will be returned.
If this is your first Dream Quest, you will find a circle of women welcoming you, and everything will be explained as we go through our time together. If you would like to find out more about the Dream Quest or have questions, please feel free to contact Patty at DreamQuest@uucharlottesville.org
During the Quest, we gather in both large and small groups and learn several beautiful chants. There is time for movement and guided meditation that sets the tone and creates a safe and expansive environment for each woman to have her “dream” as well as a warm and nurturing environment for us all to experience a community of heart. We encourage women to consider all their experiences in the event as part of their dream. There is time for praying, journaling, singing, creating art, or even going to sleep. We want women to feel free to follow their hearts and experiences. This period lasts until the lights dim, but some women choose to walk the Labyrinth during the night or continue their vigil or meditation.
In the morning, participants are awakened with a song, and spend the first morning hour in meditation, body prayer (movement, yoga stretches, etc.), or journaling. We meet in small and large groups again with a closing ceremony on the Labyrinth, and the process of taking what we’ve learned back into the world begins.
Please plan to join us.
REGISTER HERE
SLIDING SCALE PRICING: $40 – $60 – $100 No one will be turned away for financial reasons.
To receive a financial waiver, please contact Rev. Leia Durland-Jones (leia@uucharlottesville.org)
UUCville Israel-Palestine Learning Circle
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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
Lobbying 101
REGISTER HERE
Want to learn how to use your political power and influence legislators? This class will teach you the basics of lobbying and give you an opportunity to actually practice using your power. There will be two 90-minute sessions and a mock lobby meeting with a local legislator.
Facilitator: Ellie Syverud
Ellie’s background includes 25 years as a social worker in adult day care, adult protective services, family services, and foster care and 10 years as a Probation Officer. For the past 10 years, I have served as a volunteer with Citizens Climate Lobby. It is through CCL that I gained my lobbying experience which includes experiences at the local, state, and national level.
Dates and Times:
In person: Thursday Mornings, Nov 14 & 21, 10:30 am-12 noon in the Social Hall and a field visit TBD
Online: Thursdays Evenings, Nov 14 & 21, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm and a field visit TBD
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 session 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
Yogic Medicine: An introduction to Ayurveda, the sister science of Yoga
REGISTER HERE
In this two hour class participants will learn about a holistic wellness system designed to sustain deep yogic and spiritual practice, longevity and flourishing health. Ayurveda medicine, known as the universal “science of life and longevity” in Sanskrit, offers much healing, support and self-care practices highly relevant for modern spiritual people.
In this two-hour class you will learn:
– Holistic ways to create an optimum environment within your body, mind, and spirit for healing to take place.
– Why and how Ayurveda gives you a strong foundation for deepening your yogic or spiritual practice.
– Learn the basics of Ayurvedic philosophy and nutrition to feel better, more confident and empowered in a yogic lifestyle.
– Learn how to break free of old patterns and thinking around food that are keeping you stuck, so that you connect to a deeper, healthier and more sustainable relationship with yourself.
– The importance of herbal medicine in Ayurveda to support a yogic lifestyle, such as increasing soma, grounding, ojas, energy levels and other significant benefits.
– What it feels like to experience a timeless heart-centered healthcare system dating back over 5,000 years in historical documents that is still intensely relevant and helpful for our modern era.
– Insight into the uniqueness of your doshas and constitutional tendencies.
– How to apply Ayurvedic medicine and energetics to take care of your individual healthcare needs, as well as strengthen connection in relationships.
Facilitator: Whitney Erwin
Whitney Erwin is an international Holistic Health Practitioner, Ayurvedic Consultant & Clinical Herbalist, avid yogi, world traveler, free spirit and nature lover. Her full-time professional healing practice, Four Seasons Harmony Holistic Health, Healing, & Ayurveda, is trauma-informed and compassion-ate, which has been supported by over twenty years of yoga studies and advanced certifications as well as five years of professional collaboration with the EMU Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience (STAR) Program.
Date and Time: The same class will be offered twice. Choose between Wednesday, January 8 at 5:30 PM in the Parlor or Saturday, January 11 at 3:30 PM in the parlor.
Minimum # of participants: 5, Maximum 20
REGISTER HERE
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
2024 Dates & Times: Feb. 2, Mar. 20, May 1, Jun. 20, Aug. 1, Sept. 22, Oct. 30, Dec. 19 from 6:30-8:30PM
Location: Lower Hall or outdoor labyrinth
Fee: free of charge
Number of participants: unlimited
No registration necessary, just show up to participate
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 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