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ADULT PROGRAMS AT MDUUC
All are welcome to walk the labyrinth located between the Sanctuary and parking lot.
Classes, Workshops and Events Mt. Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church provides a rich landscape
of opportunities for members and friends to grow in mind, body and
spirit. We invite you to engage in your own spiritual development by
participating in one or more of the classes/groups offered herein.
How to register: Registering in advance is encouraged. Please note: While
drop-ins are often welcome, if advance registration is low
we may cancel a class or event.
You can register for an Adult Program in one of two ways:
Sign up online by visiting www. mduuc.org, click on
“Learn” on the top bar and then click “Adult
Programs” on the drop-down menu.
Sign up on paper in Bortin Hall during Sunday social
hours and at Wednesday Community Dinners.
Mt. Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church 2016 Summer Quarter (Q4) edition
“You can learn new
things at any time in
your life if you're
willing to be a
beginner. If you
actually learn to like
being a beginner,
the whole world
opens up to you.”
— Barbara Sher
Table of Contents
Spiritual Practice 2
Unitarian Universalism 3
Justice 4
World Religions 5
Life Skills 6
Ways to Make Connections 7
Index of Classes 8
Developmental Director of Lifespan
Religious Education
Mr. Barb Greve [email protected] 925.934.3435 x 154
2
Spiritual Practice
Dances of
Universal Peace
Join us every 2nd Saturday
for an Interfaith,
Multi-cultural
Spiritual Practice.
Potluck
6:30 p.m. in Bortin Hall
Singing and Moving
Prayers for Peace
7:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary
Honor all faith & wisdom
traditions. Celebrate
our Unity in Diversity!
These are meditative,
joyous circle dances
with uplifting song and
live music. Each dance/
chant/song is taught –
no partner or experience
needed.
Led by
SierraLynne & Bill Wentz
Suggested donation:
$10.00
All are welcome!
Community Circle Groups Do you want to feel more deeply connected?
Perhaps you are looking for a group of friends that lets you
share your vulnerable inner self in exploration of the mysteries
of life. This is what Community Circle Groups do. The format is
designed to create a welcoming and sacred space for talking
about life’s big questions.
These groups meet on a variety of dates and times. Most groups
meet twice a month at each other’s homes or on the MDUUC
campus. For scheduling and locations, email: communitycir-
[email protected] or visit: https://sites.google.com/a/mduuc.org/
communitycircles/
Improv
This will be an intro to Improv - testing the UU waters for
Improv interest. We'll do games designed to break the Improv
ice and teach basic concepts - such as saying "yes" to offers and
building a story from nothing. The ultimate goal is to lose the
noise we've developed since childhood that tells us to edit
ourselves and others (not permanently...just while we im-
prov...).
Facilitators: Bill Younger and Ben Yates
Date: Thursdays, June 30 th, July 28th, and August 25th
Time: 7:30 p.m. — 9:00 p.m.
Location: Children’s Chapel
Suggested donation: $10
The Challenges of Change
Transition and change. The only constant is change… and yet
sometimes in our lives, change seems to be a larger part of our
frame and it can be difficult to find your inner gyroscope. Join
Rev. Leslie Takahashi for an afternoon’s conversation about the
challenges of change and the spiritual resources which can help
us reap the opportunities in change.
Facilitator: Rev. Leslie Takahashi Date: Saturday, August 20 th Time: 1:00 p.m . – 3:00 p.m. Location: Fireside room Suggested Donation: $15
3
Discerning Your Core Beliefs—A “Virtual” Class
Who am I? Who or what is in charge? What am I to do? What will be the
significance of my death? As Unitarian Universalists we are not given easy
answers to the large questions of life. Instead, we are asked to discern for
ourselves what we believe and to distill our own truths from the experiences of
our lives. This class offers a chance to do this in concert with others engaged
in their own search and to be enriched by our common quest. Interested in a
conversation about articulating your core beliefs in a Unitarian Universalist
frame? Have trouble getting to the MDUUC campus? Bring a bag lunch and
get on your computer or tablet over lunch hour and join Rev. Leslie Takahashi
in a virtual classroom experience.
Facilitator: Rev. Leslie Takahashi Date: Thursdays, June 2nd, 9th, and 16th Time: 12:30 p.m . – 1:30 p.m. Location: Zoom (you must be registered to receive the login
information) Suggested Donation: $15 Minimum Registrations: 5
Spiritual Practice
Unitarian Universalism
The Membership Journey Okay, now you are a member! What happens next? This gathering is de-
signed for those who have recently become members or who are looking to
“refresh” their membership and look for new points of connection. A great
chance to meet other new and reengaging members and to have a conversa-
tion about the meaning of membership and how to find a places to give and
receive in the congregation.
Facilitators: Rev. Leslie Takahashi, and the Mem bership Committee
Date: Saturday, June 11th OR June 18th
Time: 10:00 a.m. — 12:00 p.m.
Location: Bortin Hall
Suggested Donation: $10
During adult
classes and
programs,
MDUUC is
proud to
offer free
childcare.
Donations to
the childcare
fund are always
appreciated.
Please contact
Marena
McGregor
to reserve a
space for your
child/ren
at least 1 week
before the class
begins.
4
The Bechdel Film Class What is now known as the Bechdel test, which was introduced in Alison Bechdel's comic strip Dykes to Watch
Out For, has become the standard by which feminist critics judge television, movies, books, and other me-
dia. The test resonates and is useful because it articulates something often missing in popular culture: not the
number of women we see on screen, but the depth of their stories, and the range of their concerns. As the
comic strip dictates, in this class we will watch movies that satisfy the following requirements:
1. It has to have at least two women in it,
2. who talk to each other, 3. about something besides a man.
Facilitators: Meranda Broder
Date: Wednesdays, August 3rd, 10th, 17th, and 24th
Time: 6:00 p.m. — 9:00 p.m.
Location: OW L Room
Childcare: Please email childcare@m duuc.org to reserve childcare at least 1 w eek in advance.
Justice
Solitary Confinement in
California Prisons: Why it
Needs to be Abolished California Prison Focus is a grass-roots all volun-
teer organization that is fighting to end the
prison system as we know it, with a focus on
ending solitary confinement.
The United States puts more people in solitary
confinement, and for longer periods of time than
any other country in the world. The practice has
been condemned as cruel and unusual punish-
ment by groups such as the United Nations,
Amnesty International, and Human Rights
Watch
Naomi Berlyne and Watani Stiner are volunteers
with California Prison Focus, and will be giving a
talk about solitary confinement and what consists
of, why it needs to be abolished and how people
can take part in this fight.
Facilitators: Naomi Berlyne and Watani Stiner
Date: Tuesday, June 21st
Time: 6:30 p.m. — 8:30 p.m.
Location: OW L Room
Suggested Donation: $10
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and
Redemption The Social Justice Community invites you
to be a part of this year's "Common Read
Conversation." Every year, the Unitarian
Universalist Association selects one book
which UUs around the country are invited
to read and discuss with one another. This
year's selection, Just Mercy: A Story of
Justice and Redemption by Bryan Steven-
son, takes a compelling look at real-life
examples from our criminal justice system, and considers
how we are called to reform it. We will be discussing this
book as a community - all are welcome to read it and join
the conversation. Copies of the text are available for pur-
chase online at the UUA's bookstore at http://
www.uuabookstore.org/Just-Mercy-P17700.aspx.
Facilitator: Ranwa Ham m am y
Date: Sunday, July 31st
Time: 12:30 p.m. — 2:30 p.m.
Location: OW L room
Suggested Donation: $10
5
World Religions
World Religions and History Have you traveled to distant lands or read a good
novel and wondered how these places or stories fit
into the bigger sweep of history? How about other
religions? Do you wonder how they fit into this time-
line? I will provide you with a model of world history,
cultures, and religions that can help you place these
lands and periods into the right historical context. In
this course I will utilize a model developed by Peter
Stearns at the George Mason University to make
history more comprehensible.
Facilitator: Jim Hughell
Date: Wednesdays, June 22nd, 29th, July 6th, 13th,
20th, 27th, August 3rd, 10th, and 17th
Time: 7:30 p.m. — 9:00 p.m.
Location: Sanctuary
Suggested donation: $10
Minimum Number Required: 5
Girl in the Tangerine Scarf: Book Discussion
Written by Syrian author and
professor Dr. Mohja Kahf, this
fictional book tells the story of
a young Syrian woman
growing up in a Muslim
family in Indiana in the 1970s.
With a story that touches on
the themes of Islamophobia,
racism, women's rights,
multicultural identity, love,
and family struggles, this
story offers a touching start-
ing place for diverse conversation and rich reflection.
Thos wishing to participate are strongly encouraged
to read the book in advance of our meeting.
Facilitator: Ranw a Ham m am y
Date: Thursday, July 14th
Time: 7:30 p.m. — 9:00 p.m.
Location: Bortin Hall
Suggested donation: $10
Laugh Away Islamophobia Stand up comedy is a popular form of entertainment,
bringing joy and hilarity to audiences and performers
alike. But it has also become an effective way to com-
municate new stories and change harmful narratives
in positive and surprising ways. In the face of Islam-
ophobic and xenophobic rhetoric, many Muslims and
people of Middle-Eastern descent are using comedy to
cultivate a new understanding of the Islamic tradi-
tions and Middle Eastern people. Come watch videos
of their critically-renowned performances and be a
part of a short reflection afterwards. Laugh, learn, and
open our hearts together in community.
July 17th: The Muslims are Coming July 24th: The Axis of Evil Comedy Tour Facilitator: Ranw a Ham m am y
Dates: Sundays, July 17th and 24th
Time: 12:30 p.m. — 2:30 p.m.
Location: OWL room
Suggested donation: $10
Transforming Faith: Feminist
Perspectives from Within the
Islamic Traditions
This class will introduce attendees to some of the
ways in which feminist muslim and "muslima" voices
seek to lift up the liberationist roots of the Islamic
traditions. Beginning and ending with an exploration
of the feminist voices within our Unitarian
Universalist heritage, this class will use comparative
techniques to see how our own gender justice efforts
can be deepened by an immersion in the Islamic
traditions.
Facilitator: Ranw a Ham m am y Date: Thursdays, July 21st, 28th, August 4th, and 11th Time: 7:00 p.m. — 9:00 p.m. Location: Bortin Hall Suggested donation: $10
6
Books & Connections Calling all book-lovers, including young adults, too!
Open to members and friends, this monthly reading
group values diversity of opinion and respectful lis-
tening as we enlighten our minds with books and en-
rich our hearts with the connections they inspire.
Drop-ins always welcome. ([email protected])
Facilitator: Helen Reznick
Date: First Monday of each month, Jan. 4th, Feb. 1st,
Mar. 7th, Apr. 4th, May 2nd, Jun. 6th, Jul. 11th
Time: 7:30 p.m. — 9:00 p.m.
Location: Fireside room
Book Discussion Enjoy and discuss a new book each month. Meets in
member homes in Rossmoor.
Facilitators: Bill and Joy Hicks
925.939.3316, [email protected]
Dates: First Tuesday of each month, Dec. 1st,
Jan. 5th, Feb. 2nd, Mar. 1st, Apr. 5th, May 3rd
Time: 7:30 p.m. — 9:00 p.m.
Location: various member homes in Rossmoor
Parents of Teens & Tweens A place for parents of teens and tweens to connect,
share struggles and joys of parenting, support one an-
other, and learn from Leslie.
Facilitator: Rev. Leslie Takahashi
Dates: W ednesdays, June 1st
Time: 7:00 p.m. — 9:30 p.m.
Location: Fireside
Fee per couple: $10
Life Skills
Aging with Dignity This multi-session educational program offered by
Wells Fargo is designed for anyone getting older or
that cares about someone getting older. This free
offering is a part of Wells Fargo’s commitment to
serve the communities in which they operate.
Topics covered include:
Caring For Aging Parents
Finding the Right Care Facility
Being a Caregiver
Facilitator: Frank Gavidia and David Nissim
Date: June 23rd, July 28th, and August 25th
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Bortin Hall To Register: RSVP to Sue Sciurba at
7
One of the easiest ways to get acquainted and make friends at MDUUC is through joining a small
group. Here are some welcoming groups. Also check out the various committees that might suit
your interests and talents.
Book Discussions: (1) First Mondays of each m onth at 7:30 p.m. (2) First Tuesday of each
month at 7:30 p.m. See page 9 for more details.
Caregiver’s Circle: Support for those who are caregivers to a loved one.
Community Circles: Small groups gather twice a month to intentionally share in search for com-
munity, for significant connection with each other, for a personal search of deeper meaning in our lives and for
spirituality. https://sites.google.com/a/mduuc.org/communitycircles/
Community Dinners$: An opportunity to gather together for a light meal and fellowship. Wednesdays at
5:30 p.m.
Dances of Universal Peace$: A joyous way of touching the spiritual essence of ourselves and others. No
partner or experience necessary. Potluck at 6:30 p.m. and dancing from 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Elder Journey: A circle for good com pany and lively conversations m eeting 2 nd and 4th
Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. — 12:00 noon in the Children’s Chapel.
Facilities Saturday Work Party: Members and friends gather the first Saturday of each month
at 9:00 a.m. to maintain and improve the church buildings and grounds. Contact [email protected]
MDUUC Prayer Shawl Knitting Ministry: Knitting and conversation; all levels w elcom e. Sun-
days on-going. Contact Sherryl Brinkley for more information.
Men’s Breakfast Group:
New Adult Connections: Young Adults between the ages of 18 - 24 focus on the unique challenges
and experiences of new adults. Meets periodically for discussion and life skills classes.
Social Justice Table: Check out the Social Justice table in Bortin Hall during coffee hour for
information on groups working on social justice issues.
Sunday Morning Meditation: This group meets in the Fireside room from 9:00 a.m . — 10:15
a.m. weekly for quiet reflection. Beginners welcome. Contact Sharon Lawrence for more information.
Young Adult Network: Adults between the ages of 25 - 35 gather for monthly potluck and schedule
hikes and other activities. Contact Yelena Myakisheva for more information.
Women’s Group: Meets First Thursday each m onth from 10:30 a.m . — 1:00 p.m. at MDUUC for
potluck lunch and discussion. Topics and guest speakers vary. Contact Joan Redding for more information.
Vespers: Join us W ednesday evenings from 6:30 p.m . — 7:15 p.m. for quiet gathering, music and
reflection. Topic varies each week.
$ there is a nominal fee to participate.
Ways to Make Connections
8
Index of Classes
Class Title Day of Week Start
Date
Time Location Category Page
Laughing Away Islamaphobia
Sundays July 17th 12:30 p.m. OWL room World
Religions
5
Just Mercy: A Story of
Justice & Redemption
Sunday April 31st 12:30 p.m. OWL room Justice 4
Books & Connections Mondays Monthly 7:30 p.m. Fireside Life Skills 6
Book Discussion Tuesdays Monthly 7:30 p.m. Rossmoor Life Skills 6
Solitary Confinement in
California Prisons
Tuesday June 21st 6:30 p.m. OWL room Justice 4
Parents of Teens &
Tweens
Wednesdays June 1st 7:30 p.m. Fireside
room
Life Skills 7
World Religions and
History
Wednesdays June 22nd 7:30 p.m. Sanctuary World
Religions
5
The Bechdel Film Class Wednesdays August 10th 6:00 p.m. OWL room Justice 4
Discerning Your Core
Beliefs
Thursdays June 2nd 12:30 p.m. Zoom Spiritual
Practice
3
Aging with Dignity Thursday June 22nd 7:00 p.m. Bortin Hall Life Skills 6
Improv Thursdays June 30th 7:30 p.m. Children’s
Chapel
Spiritual
Practice
2
Girl in the Tangerine
Scarf—book discussion
Thursday July 14th 7:30 p.m. Bortin Hall World
Religions
5
Transforming Faith:
Feminist Perspectives
Thursdays July 21st 7:00 p.m. Bortin Hall World
Religions
5
The Challenges of
Change
Saturday Aug 20th 1:00 p.m. Fireside
room
Spiritual
Practice
2
The Membership
Journey
Saturday June 11th 10:00 a.m. Bortin Hall UU 3
