Workshops
- Session 1 - Spiritual Practices
- Session 2 - Morning Workshops
- Session 3 - Afternoon Workshops
- Session 4 - Late Afternoon and One Day Workshops
Session 1—Spiritual Practices
1A - Qigong
Rev. Tamara LeBak - All Souls Unitarian Church, Tulsa, OKQigong is an ancient chinese practice that encompasses exercise, holistic healing and spiritual discipline. Tai Chi is one of the disciplines that falls within Qigong. Qigong is very adaptable to the age and physical ability of the practioner.
1B - Lectio Divinia
Rev. Barbara Morgan (retired) - Denton, TXLectio Divina is a meditation process based on the written word. It has four steps. 1. Hear the word (that is addressed to you). 2. Ask, “How is my life touched?” 3. Discern, “Is there an invitation here?” 4. Pray (for your empowerment to respond to the invitation). We will be using writings from the works of Conrad Aiken, Louisa M. Alcott, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Sarah Margaret Fuller Ossoli, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Herman Melville, May Sarton, Catharine Maria Sedgwick, and/or Dan Wakefield--all part of our Unitarian Universalist literary heritage.
1C - Praying in Color
Scottie McIntire Johnson (UU Seminarian) - Sherman, TXBased on the work of Sybil MacBeth, “Praying in Color: Drawing a New Pathway to God” is both hands on and spiritually engaging. This is a good spiritual discipline for those who are drawn toward visual and spatial learning styles. Discover the deep meaning of learning to pray or meditate with colored pencils, markers and other drawing supplies in hand. Artistic talent is not a prerequisite for this workshop!
Other Morning Offerings
Our new format allows more time for some of our favorite SWUUSI activities. Look for information on Bird Watching, Water Aerobics (There is no Water Aerobics activity leader at this time. Volunteers are welcome!) and other spiritual practices. These activities may begin earlier than than “Spiritual Practice” Workshops in Session One.
Session 2—Morning Workshops
2A - Continuing Discussion with Theme Speakers
Michael Dowd and Connie Barlow.This is a chance to go deeper or gain clarification on the ideas and concepts raised by our theme speakers. Discuss and learn more about “The Great Story,” developing a sacred telling of modern cosmology and details from Michael’s book, “Thank God for Evolution.”
2B - Myths to Live By
Rev. Dr. Davidson Loehr - First Unitarian Church of Austin, TXGain a better understanding of “myths” as stories within which we can live by focusing mostly on the thirteen ancient Greek Olympic deities. These are still “alive” and very much parts of our psyches, relationships, institutions and world. Today as before, they still bicker. Our job is mediating their eternal conflicting demands for our allegiance, for not all can be served even though all are eternally a part of the human condition -- at least in our Western cultures. Understanding the reality behind these old symbols for enduring dynamics of the human condition (in other words, the gods) can help us navigate the psychological complexity within and around us. They also carry some potent critiques of the biases of both conservatives and liberals. They don’t have to respect social and political ideologies: after all, they’re gods.
2C - The Search for God – in the Bible
Rev. Dave Hunter - Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of FayettevilleWhat sort of God did the various biblical writers experience or hope for? How did the concept of God evolve? How (if at all) is the experience of people two to three thousand years ago relevant to us today? Please bring your Bible (but if you’ve never opened a Bible in your life, you’re welcome, too). The Rev. Dave Hunter is co-minister of the UU Fellowship of Fayetteville, Arkansas. He graduated magna cum laude from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC, in 2003, and was selected to be the co-recipient of the Interpretation Award for Excellence in Biblical Studies.
2D - Strings and Things
Nancy Cain - First Unitarian Church of Oklahoma CityAn opportunity to share acoustic music, instrumental and sung, with others who love it, too. All unplugged instruments welcome and appreciated (occasional exceptions are okay). People who just want to listen are welcome. There will be a concert Wednesday evening.
2E - Death, Dying and World Religions
Rev. Betty Grace McCollum - Southern Arkansas University, Emerson, ARWhat is death? How many deaths do we experience in our own lifetime? These are the kinds of questions that are asked by individuals, communities and religious communities. In this workshop we will explore how various worlds’ religions (Hinduism, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism etc.) including our own personal religious perspectives approach death and dying..
Session 3—Afternoon Workshops
3A - Learning the Night Sky
Paul Derrick - Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of WacoCan you name the bright stars? Major constellations? Using slides, sky maps and Paul’s system of stories, you can learn your way around the night sky. Weather permitting, we’ll include an evening viewing session.
3B - Making the Most of Sunday (and Beyond)
Rev. Jonalu Johnstone - First Unitarian Church of Oklahoma CitySo you go hang out with UU’s on Sunday; is that all there is? Do you feel unfulfilled from all the committee work and responsibilities of Sunday? Is there an art to getting the most out of your experience in a religious community? Learn how you can become a better steward of tour religious gifts and path. Discover that showing up on Sunday is just the beginning of what you can be getting from your faith.
3C - Documentaries You May Have Missed, But Shouldn’t Have!
Jim McCollumCheck out insightful documentaries that impact on current events and lessons they teach. This workshop will is designed to flow into the late afternoon sessions to provide time for viewing the documentaries and the conversation they inspire. Participants may bring a dvd copy of a favorite documentary to share with others.
3D - Non-Violent Communication
Rev. Phillip Schulman - Community Unitarian Universalist Church of San AntonioLearn to connect with what is alive in ourselves and in others moment-to-moment, with what we or others could do to make life more wonderful, and with an awareness of what gets in the way of natural giving and receiving. This approach strengthens our ability to inspire compassion from others and respond compassionately to others and ourselves. NVC guides us to re-frame how we express ourselves, how we hear others and resolve conflicts by focusing our consciousness on what we are observing, feeling, needing, and requesting.
3E - The Global Literacy Project
Laura Nagel - Southwest UU WomenLearn more about the Global Literacy Project that is being prepared for the first-ever International Convocation of UU Women scheduled for Houston Feb. 26-Mar. 1, 2009. The GLP is an exciting new training for UU congregations and individuals that will explore and document the status and condition of women world-wide and what Unitarian Universalists are doing to improve women’s lives.
Session 4—Late Afternoon and One Day Workshops
4A - Choir Practice
Mary Reynolds and Louise GoldbergArtists in Residence
Come and raise a joyful noise in our SWUUSI Choir. This choir is for the accomplished and for those who aren’t sure what SATB means! Our Artists-in-Residence will prepare the choir to sing in our closing ceremony.
4B - Documentaries You May Have Missed, But Shouldn’t Have!
Jim McCollumThis is a continuation of the workshop listed as 3-C above.
4C - Reverend X: How Gen X Ministers Are Reshaping our Movement
Rev. Tamara LeBak—All Souls Unitarian Church, Tulsa, OKMonday, Tuesday and Wednesday Only
A discussion and conversation about the latest offering from the Jenkin Lloyd Jones Press operated by Tulsa All Souls Unitarian Church. Topics will focus on the realities of Generation X ministers, worship practices and how this generation relates to our UU principles and values.
4D - Ministerial Search
Rev. Kathleen Ellis and Rev. Mark ChristianSWUUC Ministerial Settlement Representatives Monday Only The way Unitarian Universalist congregations and ministers go about calling a new minister is a complex, intensive and rapidly changing process. Join our MSR’s as they outline the current realities for congregations and ministers who are in search of each other. This discussion is intended to be broad enough to to be of interest to congregational leaders and ministers who are not presently in transition (as well as for those who see a transition on the horizon).
4E - “The Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream Symposium.”
Glenn MacIntosh - Austin, TXTuesday Only
It has become clear that our political and commercial institutions are unable to effectively address global crises, primarily because they don’t realize that they are looking at an interconnected world through a fragmented lens. The villain here is not Big Business, the corporate media, the military-industrial complex, or even those who for personal profit seek to clear-cut our forests, over-fish our oceans, pollute our atmosphere or drain our aquifers. The villain is an outmoded world view - a way of seeing the world in which such unthinkable acts appear reasonable, sensible, and even intelligent. This seminar will explore the work of the Pachamama Alliance toward creating a new world view.
4F - SWUUC, SWUUSI and the Future
Conference and Institute LeadersThursday Only
A discussion of directions within our conference and how they could effect the future of our Summer Institute and other ways we have of gathering together.
Other Offerings
It is highly likely that other one day or limited run workshops will be offered in this time slot. Look for announcements at SWUUSI in the newsletter!
