Fall 2007-2008 Adult Religious Education Classes

Fall 2007-2008

For information on any Adult RE class, seminar or workshop, contact the church office, or send an email to are-info@uucpa.org. To sign-up, send an email to eventsignup@uucpa.org.

Parent Journey Group
Science Tid-Bits
What's New in Heart Disease Prevention?
Great World Religions: Judaism
Global Warming in California and Beyond...
Massage for Families: Listening, Respectful Touch
Jesus Seminar on the Road: The Parables of Jesus
Family-Friendly Nature Outing: Kite Flying - Shoreline Park
THE HISTORY OF THE BIBLE: The Making of the New Testament Canon
Weaving the Fabric of Diversity: An Anti-bias Program for Adults

Parent Journey Group

Parent Journey meets on the second Sunday of the month from 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. in the Fireside Room.

The mission of the UUCPA Parent Journey Group is to allow parents in the congregation a safe, engaging and contemplative place in which to explore issues related to parenting in general, parenting and theology, parenting as a UU and any other parenting-related, religion-related topics that may come up. This is a loose, coffee clutch type gathering for busy parents looking to commune around topics both profound and humorous. Please join us. Childcare will be provided (no pre-arrangement necessary).

For more information, contact Lucy Rector Filppu.

Recent Developments in Science. - Science Tid-Bits –

Monthly on second Tuesdays, 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm, in Room 6.

Discussion is mainly at informed lay level. The purpose is to become better informed about intriguing current developments that may have wide impacts. Original publication references are reviewed when possible. About half a dozen current topics are summarized using visuals and handouts. Discussion follows a short summary of each topic presented by the facilitators and attendees. Occasional topics get more in depth treatment. Closing minutes cover future topics and facilitator and presenter rotations.

Contact Ed Zebroski for questions.

What's New in Heart Disease Prevention?

Monday, January 7, 7:30-9:00 p.m., Fireside Room
Dr. Randall Stafford of Stanford's Prevention Research Center and Preventive Cardiology Clinic will discuss new information about how to reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke. As the leading cause of death in the U.S., heart disease has been linked to a number of important risk factors. Many of these risk factors can be modified through diet and exercise, as well as several medications. Dr. Stafford will discuss the concept of risk-based treatment, where more aggressive strategies are used for those people at greatest risk of a future heart attack. He will also discuss new research findings about elevated blood pressure, high cholesterol, metabolic syndrome, dietary supplements, and preventive medications, like aspirin.

Preregistration would be much appreciated: eventsignup@uucpa.org , 650-494-0541, or binder on the patio on Sunday mornings. Childcare is generally available with two weeks notice ( uucpa@uucpa.org , 650-494-0541) .

Great World Religions: Judaism

Six Thursday evenings: January 17, 24, 31; February 7, 21, 28 (skipping the 14th), 7:30-9:30 p.m., Fireside Room.

What do Jews believe? What are the meanings of Jewish holidays and rituals? Is Judaism a religion, an ethnicity, a national identity? We'll be introduced to this world religion by The Teaching Company's DVDs of Isaiah M. Gafni, a professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem renowned for his storytelling.

Rev. Amy will lead a discussion of each segment, whose topics range from Judaism's Biblical origins to the rabbinic tradition to the calendar that unites Jews across a wide range of cultures and beliefs.

Facilitator: Rev. Amy Zucker Morgenstern

Global Warming in California and Beyond...
A Talk by Dr. Andrew Gunther, Union of Concerned Scientists

Wed., Jan. 30, 7:00—9:00 p.m., Main Hall

Most of you have no doubt seen Al Gore’s film An Inconvenient Truth. Now one year later Andrew Gunther will inform you with much new and updated information. The presentation reviews the scientific basis of global warming, the wide range of expected impacts, the evidence that these are occurring, and finishes by reviewing the nature of the solution to the problem. He will give specific examples from California, and will also cover evidence from other places as well. After a question and answer period, members of the audience are invited to come up and ask questions privately. Dr. Gunther will provide you with some materials about the Union of Concerned Scientists and their pamphlets on the effects of climate change on California.

Andrew Guntheris on the Board of Directors of the Union of Concerned Scientists, the leading science-based nonprofit working for a healthy environment and a safer world. Dr. Gunther has published research in the field of ecotoxicology and has extensive experience in applying science to the development of air, water, and endangered species policy. He also served as the Assistant Chief Scientist for the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Restoration Program from 1994 to 2002.Presently he serves as Executive Director of the Center for Ecosystem Management and Restoration in Oakland, CA.

Local contact: Ben Hammett
Ben_h@uucpa.org

Massage for Families: Listening, Respectful Touch

Sunday, February 3, 1:00 –3:00 p.m., with a potluck lunch

Leader: Jef Melcher, a licensed massage therapist turned UU minister

Everyone is welcome to attend this workshop and learn a few massage skills for sharing amongst family members. Parents love this workshop and kids are eager to master a new skill. Wear loose comfortable clothing and bring a yoga mat, pallet or blanket; towel and pillow for the floor work.
Ages 10 – 100. Slightly younger children who are truly interested in massage are welcome to attend.
Suggested donation: $10 per pair or $15 per family.
Limited to 25 people. Pre-registration in important to guarantee a space in this relaxing family fun workshop. ( eventsignup@uucpa.org , 650-494-0541)

When registering, please include
    Briefly, what massage experience each participant has had?
    Do you have any neck or back injuries?
    Is there anything else we ought to know?

Jesus Seminar on the Road: The Parables of Jesus

Friday, Feb. 29, 7:30, Saturday, March 1, 9:30 – noon; 1:30 – 4:00, Main Hall

LECTURE

Brandon Scott
What is a Parable?
Friday, 7:30-9 P.M.
Lost for ages in the backwaters of allegory and simplistic preaching, the parables of Jesus have emerged in modern scholarship as the creation of a great artist. Brandon Scott will explore what parables are and how they differ from allegories. The parable of the Leaven will serve as the primary focus of the presentation.

WORKSHOPS

The History of Parable Interpretation
Saturday, 9:30 A.M.-Noon
An important way to understand Jesus' parables is to understand the various methods that have been used to interpret them and ask how subsequent cultural contexts influenced their applications. Lane McGaughy will illustrate that history with interpretations of the parables of the Feast, the Entrusted Money, the Good Samaritan, and the Sower.
Parables and the Kingdom
Saturday, 1:30-4 P.M.
Jesus told parables as a way of explaining and helping his audience experience the kingdom of God. So parables are a door to the kingdom. But what explains what? Does the kingdom explain the parables or do the parables explain the kingdom? The parable of the Prodigal Son (or the parable of a dysfunctional family) will provide a primary focus for this presentation.
Bernard Brandon Scott (Ph.D., Vanderbilt University) is the Darbeth Distinguished Professor of New Testament at the Phillips Theological Seminary, Tulsa, OK. He is the author of several books, including Hear Then the Parable (1989) and Re-Imagine the World (2002).
Dr. Scott will be joined by another Jesus Seminar scholar (tba) for the Saturday workshops.
Sandwiches (made to order from Piazza’s) will be available for lunch on Saturday at a reasonable cost.

Registration: Pre-registration is strongly encouraged. Before Feb. 8, print out and complete the appropriate form from the Westar Institute website ( http://www.westarinstitute.org/Events/events.html ) and mail with payment of $50 for all sessions to Westar Institute, P.O. Box 6144, Santa Rosa, CA 95406, indicating that payment is for the Feb. 29 JSOR in Palo Alto. After Feb. 8, register at the door. For details on costs ($15 to $60; discount for registration by Feb. 8), check the same website or contact Rev. Eva Českava ( REMinister@uucpa.org , 650-494-0541, ext. 28).

Childcare is generally available with two weeks notice (uucpa@uucpa.org, 650-494-0541).

Family-Friendly Nature Outing: Kite Flying - Shoreline Park

Saturday, March 8, 2 p.m.

Kites will be flying high this spring on our Saturday outing to Shoreline Park's kite flying area. Bring your collection of kites, string and smiles to the area just inside the main gate at Shoreline Park. Children and adults of all ages can practice with kites or enjoy watching the many other experienced flyers working with the brisk afternoon breeze. Extra kites will be on hand. Little kids can run around in this fenced area, and babies are welcome on blankets.

Bring clothing for windy weather and snacks for hungry kiters. Option to grab burritos afterwards. Stormy weather cancels event.

Preregistration would be much appreciated: eventsignup@uucpa.org, 650-494-0541, or binder on the patio on Sunday mornings.

Led by Eric Bier and Lynn Grant.

THE HISTORY OF THE BIBLE: The Making of the New Testament Canon

Thursday evenings March 13 – April 17, 7:00 – 9:00

There is no question that the New Testament is the most important book—or collection of books—in the history of Western civilization. But most people today do not know much about it: when the books were written and by whom, when and for what purpose, how the books were transmitted down through the ages, and when and why they came to be collected.

In six two-hour sessions, we will consider these basics in broad and specific terms.
March 13        An Overview of the New Testament
                        Paul – The Earliest Christian Author
March 20        The Pauline Epistles
The Problem of Pseudonymity (letters claiming to written by
       Paul but weren’t)
March 27        Beginning of the Gospel Traditions
                        The Earliest Gospels
April 3             The Other Gospels
                        Apocalypticism and the Apocalypse of John
April 10           The Copyists Who Gave us Scripture
                        Authority in the Early Church
April 17           The Importance of Interpretation
                        When Did the Canon Get Finalized?

Each session includes the viewing of two 30-minute segments of the DVD course/lecture by Professor Bart D. Ehrman. Dr. Ehrman is the James A. Gray Professor and Chair of the Department of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; the winner of several teaching awards, and the author/editor of 16 books.

Preregistration would be much appreciated: eventsignup@uucpa.org, 650-494-0541, or binder on the patio on Sunday mornings. Childcare is generally available with two weeks notice (uucpa@uucpa.org, 650-494-0541) .

Discussion leader: Rev. Eva

Weaving the Fabric of Diversity: An Anti-bias Program for Adults

Seven meetings at 7:00 p.m. on first and third Wednesdays of the month, beginning Nov. 7, room TBD.

This program helps people overcome bias and celebrate diversity through telling their stories and listening to others. It engages participants in a variety of activities to examine and challenge ableism, racism, heterosexism, ageism, and classism in the safe, caring, and respectful environment of religious community. The program ends with a supportive invitation to action.

Goals:

To create a safe environment for dialogue and exploration.
To understand and appreciate diversity and its implications.
To understand oppression and privilege and their role in them.
To develop anti-oppression skills.
To affirm and celebrate diversity.
To feel compelled to act for justice and to develop action plans for diversity in the congregation.

For further information, please contact the Rev. Kurt A. Kuhwald, Consulting Minister

Preregistration would be appreciated eventsignup@uucpa.org

Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto