Adult Programs

New UUs Course (Old UUs welcome, too!)

NB This description is for a course this winter/spring. New sessions will be announced as they are planned -- inquire at the address below if you are interested. This class is recommended for newcomers who want to learn about First Parish and the UU faith and all those considering joining the church. SPACE IS LIMITED SO YOU MUST PRE-REGISTER. Topics covered will be the sharing of religious paths, UU faith, and participation in the community. The course extends for three sessions on consecutive Thursdays: February 25, March 4 and March 11 from 6:30 to 9pm in the Parlor. To register, please send an e-mail to officeassistant@firstparish.info. or call Andrea Caplan, office assistant, at 781-648-3799.

Ongoing Adult Programs

Compassionate Communication Group
        Improving communication requires a surprising amount of skill and practice. The aim of the Compassionate Communication group is to train ourselves to communicate more empathetically and to strengthen relationships in our personal, family, church, and professional lives.
        The principles of the group are based on the work of Marshall Rosenberg, in his textbook, "Non-Violent Communication", and on disciple Bonnie Fraser's book, "Connection: A Self-Care Approach to Conflict Management". The methodology owes much to the principles of non-violence, conflict-resolution, negotiation, and meditation. Each meeting, we discuss reading assignments, engage in communication exercises, and share examples from our everyday experience.
        The Compassionate Communication group meets on Mondays, from 7:00-9:00 P.M., in the Pierce Room. The Compassionate Communication group is divided into two groups, to facilitate more intimate communication:
        * The original group, The Old Ten, meets on the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month.
        * The second group, the Giraffes (playfully nicknamed after the land animal with the biggest heart), meets on the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month, and is open to new members.
        For more information or to join, contact coordinator Carolyn Stevens via email to communicationsgroup@firstparish.info.

Covenant Groups/Small Group Ministry
Covenant Groups are small groups that provide adults in our faith community the opportunity to share their spiritual journeys on a deep level. Groups meet in members' homes and have a regular format for personal sharing. If you are interested in joining a group or knowing more about the program, look for the Covenant Group brochure on the information table in the main front entryway to the church, fill out the card inside the brochure, and leave the card in the designated box, or email smallgroupmin@firstparish.info.

Earth Based Celebrations Group.  
A number of celebrations are being planned each year. Learn more by email to Office Assistant, Andrea Caplan, at officeassistant@firstparish.info. or checking our online calendar for the specific dates.

• Mabon (Fall Equinox)
• Samheim (Halloween)
• Yule
• Imbolc (Groundhog's Day)
• Spring Equinox
• May 1, May Day—meet at sunrise at Weeks Bridge, Cambridge (Charles River, Harvard Square)
• Summer Solstice— Picnic at Robbins Farm, 6:30pm

First Parish Meditation Group.  By focusing on mind/body sensations in meditation, it is possible to become more mindful in daily life. We hold drop-in groups Mondays, gather at 6:00pm and start at 6:15 (in the Damon room) and Sundays, gather at 9:00am and start at 9:10 (next door at the Senior Center at Maple and Academy St)  We sit for 35 minutes in the style of Vipassana (Insight) Buddhist meditation, and beginners are welcome.   ALSO  - 2 ongoing discussion groups meet one Sunday night each month. A waiting list is now forming to join a group.  For more information, contact Lynn Rosenbaum via email to meditation@firstparish.info

Women's Book Group meets on the third Sunday of the month, 7:15pm, in the Damon Room. Participants decide jointly on readings.

• September 20 — Homer's Oddessy
• Oct 18 - Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
• Nov 15 - Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson
• Dec 20 - Olive Kitteridge: Fiction by Elizabeth Strout
• Jan  17 - The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara
• Feb 21 - People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks
• March 21 - Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann
• April 18 - Brooklyn: A Novel by Colm Toibin 
  (comes out March 2 in paperback just in time)
• May 16 - Othello by William Shakespeare
• June 20 - Little Bee by Chris Cleave

See the list of readings since fall of 2001.   Contact Jean Nagle with questions or email womensbookgroup@firstparish.info .

Arlington Workers in Transition
Arlington Workers in Transition is starting up again – a group for anyone interested in help with networking and coaching through your job search activities.  We meet Tuesdays, 10-12am, in the 4th floor conference room at Robbins Library next door to the church.  Questions?  Contact Stewart Jester or Ginny LaCrow.

Spire Writers' Group
The Spire Writers' Group is a gathering at First Parish of people interested in developing their writing. We usually meet at 12:30 p.m. on the second Sunday of each month, in the Damon Room in the Religious Education wing. Come join us if you like to write or would even like to explore the possibility. All are welcome, no matter what your writing style or experience - from beginners to published authors, whether you write poetry
or prose, whether or not you are a member of First Parish. Bring writings to share (if you like), or just come and join in. We do short writing exercises, engage in lively discussions about the craft of writing, offer a listening ear, provide constructive feedback for those who want it, and pass along information about writing resources we hear about. We have a mailing list to facilitate communications between meetings.
For more information, email spirewriters@firstparish.info.

STAR Programs — Winter / Spring 2010

This description of programs from our winter/spring sessions is here to give you a flavor of the adult programs offered this year. Keep an eye out for the slate of offerings in the fall -- they'll be announced in weekly notices and then archived here for reference.

A Meditation Workshop

Saturday, March 6, 10:00-12:00. in the Damon Room with Tom Hogan. Wondering about joining the First Parish Meditation Group but still learning to meditate? Join Tom Hogan for this 2-hour guided meditation workshop.

“Spiritual Evolution”

Tuesday Evenings: March 16 & 30, April 13 & 27, May 11 & 25, 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Plus: Sunday, March 7, 12:00-1:00 pm: Inquiry session to learn more and pre register.
All meetings for this program take place in the Parlor.
Dick King, Sandy King and John Hodges invite you to join in a program of reading George Vaillant’s 2008 book, Spiritual Evolution: A Scientific Defense of Faith, and sharing relevant stories from our life journeys. We will discuss Vaillant’s claim that positive emotions -- including trust, love, hope, forgiveness, and compassion -- are essential to human survival and that they form the neurobiological foundation for our cultural and individual development of human spirituality.

“What’s Next? Life When Work No Longer Dominates”

Thursday evenings, 7-9 pm: April 1, 8, & 15 in the Damon Room with Kit Hayes.
Please join us in exploring possibilities for creating rich and meaningful post career lives. In these uncertain times, many fear they will never be able to retire. And given the connotations of the word itself, who wants to! The good news is we’re living longer and healthier lives. The question for us will be: How will we use this gift of time?

“Is Theology Necessary?”

Sunday May 2, 2010, 12-2:00 PM with UU Minister David Parke.
This program will be held at the Jefferson Cutter House across the street from First Parish. A light lunch will be served.
Join Rev. David Parke in a provocative round table discussion.
Is theology necessary in a Unitarian Universalist context? Why? What do we get from theology that is different from other ways of thinking?   Theology, the study or science of God, is called the queen of the sciences, but many UUs are uncomfortable with talking in theological terms. Is it time to reconsider and reaffirm the theological basis of religious liberalism?

Legacy Making Workshop

Two Sunday afternoons: March 21 & April 11
Through guided exercises, interactive sharing, writing, artwork and the integration of family photos and personal memorabilia, Sue Cross and Kathy Kemp offer ways for you to create life reviews, ethical wills, heritage scrapbooks, final wishes, and audio/video recordings of your life stories. You will leave with an audio recording (CD) of a legacy conversation, and with the inspiration and tools to continue your own creative legacy practice.
There will be a materials fee of $25 to cover the cost of the digital recorders.  If you can bring your own digital voice recorder there is no fee. 

Spring Retreat with Marta Flanagan

All Day Saturday April 24th at Henderson House Weston, MA
SAVE THE DATE for a daylong quiet retreat with our minister Rev. Marta Flanagan. Breakfast and lunch will be served. Bring yoga mats, journals, walking shoes, and comfortable clothing.

Updated, February 28, 2010.

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