We are pleased to present a wide variety of offerings this fall.
The complete course descriptions with contact information, schedules, and a
registration form are included in the
printer-friendly (PDF) version
of the program catalog, or, browse the offerings by the titles below.
Registration forms (and payment by check) can be deposit in the "drop
box" at the Adult RE table in the north vestibule or mailed to BUUF, attention
Adult RE). You may register for more than one class. Your registration will be
confirmed with a call to remind you of the start date for the classes or
workshops you have selected. If the class is full, we will contact you
and refund the fee.
Contact the office for more
information about events.
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Restless Souls: Unitarians, Universalists, and American Spirituality
Unitarian Universalists are accustomed to thinking of itself as
different from most religious traditions, even radical when compared to
them. Both Unitarians and Universalists made fundamental breaks with
the Christianity of early America—Unitarians by denying the doctrine of
the Trinity and understanding Jesus as a prophet, Universalists by
denying the possibility of eternal damnation and declaring the ultimate
love and forgiveness of God. Yet Emerson left the Unitarian ministry
because it was lifeless and too conventional.
Unitarians and Universalists did not join forces until 1961, yet many of
their churches traded ministers for two hundred years. What was going on
in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries that made UU merely one very
different option—and hardly the most radical? What is exceptional about
American religious experience? This class will explore these questions
and much else in American spirituality through discussion around the
beautifully written book Restless Souls: The Making of American
Spirituality from Emerson to Oprah by Leigh Eric Schmidt.
Oct. 7: Spirituality in the Making and the Mystic Club
Oct. 14: Solitude
Oct. 21: The Piety of the World
Oct. 28: Meditation for Americans
Nov. 4: Freedom and Self-Surrender
Nov. 11: Seekers
Nov. 18: Be Gentle with Yourself and Conclusion
Leaders: The Rev. Elizabeth Greene and Prof. Elton Hall
Schedule and location: 7 sessions, Wednesdays, 7-9 p.m., October
7, 14, 21. 28; November 4, 11, 18; Junior High room
Registration fee: $10
Maximum registration: 20
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Thank God for Evolution: An Evening with Michael Dowd CANCELLED
This event has been cancelled due to illness of the presenter. We hope to
reschedule in spring 2010.
Leaders: Reverend Michael Dowd (with partner and acclaimed
science writer Connie Barlow)
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Thank God for Evolution: A Book Study Group
Although the Reverend Michael Dowd's public lecture was cancelled for
this fall, the Boise UU Fellowship will still host the discussion forum
for those interested in studying the material presented in his acclaimed
book, Thank God for Evolution.
The group will be collectively led, with members sharing responsibility
for an opening and facilitation at each gathering. The group will use a
five-session study guide provided by
Michael Dowd's website.
Leaders: Loren Bergeson and Webb Van Winkle as group
coordinators; group members will share responsibility for openings and
facilitation.
Schedule and location: 5 sessions, Monday evenings (biweekly),
7-8:30 p.m., September 21; October 5, 19; November 2, 16; Junior High
room
Registration fee: $10 (group members can purchase Thank God for
Evolution at BUUF's "Book Nook," at local book stores, or through
Amazon.com).
Maximum registration: 16
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The Welcoming Congregation: Interfaith Conversations on Becoming More Inclusive Faith Communities and Undoing Oppression
This nine week workshop will explore thoughts, feelings and current
knowledge about sexual orientation and gender identity; probe the
origins of our beliefs about these topics; create understanding about
the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people;
identify the effects of heterosexism and homophobia on people of all
sexual orientations in our faith communities; and devise individual and
institutional strategies to become more welcoming to LGBT people and
their families.
Organized by the Welcoming Congregation Committee in partnership with
The Interfaith Alliance, this workshop will be open to members and
friends of BUUF and participants from other area faith communities. Our
intention is to create a climate of growth and learning, a safe space
where participants can talk openly in a setting that strives to be
respectful, forgiving, honest, and understanding. Because of the
transformative nature of this workshop, couples are encouraged to enroll
together, if possible.
Facilitator: Pam Baldwin, Interfaith Alliance
Schedule and location: Sundays, 1:30- 3:30 p.m., September 20,
27; October 4, 11, 18, 25; November 1, 8, 15; North Wing classrooms
Registration fee: $10
Maximum enrollment: 25
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Healthy Children/Healthy Planet RESCHEDULED FOR SPRING 2010
"We could never have loved the earth so well if we had had no childhood
in it." (George Elliot)
In collaboration with Children's Religious Education, Green Sanctuary,
and the Idaho Earth Institute, we are offering a seven-session
discussion course addressing how the pervasive effects of advertising,
media, and our consumer culture can influence a child's view of the
world.
Discussion Course Goals:
- To understand how the pervasive effects of advertising, media, and
our consumer culture can influence a child's view of the world
- To discover ways to create meaningful family times and healthful
environments for children
- To explore ways to develop a child's connection to nature, and to
foster creativity
Participants will use a discussion guidebook provided by the Idaho Earth
Institute. All sessions will be collectively led, with participants
sharing responsibility for openings and facilitation. An Idaho Earth
Institute mentor will facilitate the first session, modeling the group
process for all subsequent sessions.
Leaders: An Idaho Earth Institute mentor will facilitate the
first session.
Schedule and location: TBD, Spring 2010
Registration fee: $25 (includes the $18 cost of the Healthy
Children/Healthy Planet discussion guidebook)
Maximum enrollment: 16
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Money, Values and Investing
Money can be a source of guilt, a valuable resource, a cause of divorce,
a measure of success or hard work, a source of security, a motivator of
greed, a provider of freedom, a source of stress and worry, a tool for
positive social change, a reason for staying in a miserable job, and
many other things. While many of us don't like to think about money or
deal with money issues, they are unavoidable. The goal of this workshop
is to help participants understand their relationship with money issues
and learn how they can manage their financial lives in harmony with
their personal goals and values.
Through small group discussions and exercises, each participant will
begin to create a "money autobiography" to trace where our feelings
about money come from and how our life experiences have shaped them. We
will explore how we can change our relationship to money so that it
helps us live the kind of life we want for ourselves, and helps us
contribute to the kind of society in which we want to live. We will
learn about sustainable investing (also known as socially responsible
investing) and its three strategies of investment screening, shareholder
advocacy, and community investing. And, we will explore how our
investments can provide financial security while contributing to a more
just and sustainable society.
Leader: Kathy Stearns spent twenty years working for nonprofits
in community development finance with ACCION International
(microfinance) and Opportunity Finance Network. She is currently a
fee-only financial planner and an Investment Advisory Representative of
First Affirmative Financial
Network, specializing in sustainable investing.
Schedule and location: Two sessions, Thursdays, 7-9 pm, November
5, 12; Junior High room
Registration fee: $15
Maximum enrollment: 25
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Make Your Own Salsa Party!
Extend the Locavore Season by Canning
Learn how to boiling-water-bath process salsa in jars to preserve your
summer's bounty. This method of canning is suitable for high-acids
foods such as jams, fruit, tomatoes. This is a hands-on class and
hopefully some of the veggies (tomatoes, peppers, onions) we use will
come from your own gardens. Everyone will take home a jar of
communally-produced salsa at the end of class.
Leader: Gena Delucchi, UI certified Food Safety Advisor
Schedule and location: Friday, September 18, 6:30-9:00 p.m., in
the Sanctuary & Kitchen
Registration fee: $10
Maximum enrollment: 10