Lifespan Religious Education Conference
July 11-18, 2009
Below: Speaker | Minister | Morning Workshops | Afternoon Activities
Seeds for Growing a Spirited Life
 What Does a Spirited Life Look Like?
How do we know if we are growing one for ourselves and those who are in relationship with us? As those seeds grow, what does the flowering look like? What fruit do they produce? Not all spirited lives are the same. What is the one you would like to grow?
— Meg Barnhouse, theme speaker for 2009
Come and join us for an inspiring week of spiritual development, UU community and Star Island magic!
Find out about 2009 Registration Information.
Theme Speaker
Meg Barnhouse, minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Spartanburg travels nationwide as a speaker, singer/songwriter and humorist. Meg is a commentator for NC Public Radio on a segment called "Radio Free Bubba." Her books, "Rock of Ages at the Taj Mahal," "The Best of Radio Free Bubba," "Waking Up the Karma Fairy," "Return of Radio Free Bubba" and "Did I Say That Out Loud?" are compilations of stories from the radio. Her newest CD, "Mango Thoughts in a Meatloaf Town," contains many original songs, including "All Will Be Well."
For more information on Meg, visit her website: megbarnhouse.com.
Minister of the Week
Coming soon.
Morning Workshops: For Professional Development
 Weaving the Fabric of Our Faith
Tapestry of Faith is a new series of programs and resources for all ages that nurture Unitarian Universalist identity, spiritual growth, a transforming faith, and vital communities of justice and love. These resources are being developed out of a broad series of conversations that articulate a future direction for Unitarian Universalist religious growth and learning. Tapestry of Faith marks the first time in our denomination’s history that a core curriculum has been created to be available free and online.
In this workshop participants will learn:
- The philosophy of Tapestry of Faith
- The curricula for every age, specifically what is now available online and what is in development
- The opportunities for multi-age and multi-generational learning
- How the program has been written using an AR/AO lense
- The nuts and bolts of how to use this online curriculum in your congregation
Participants will have the opportunity to engage with LFD Staff in a question and answer segment about TOF.
JUDITH A. FREDIANI is the UUA's Director of Lifespan Faith Development and also serves as Curriculum Development Director with responsibility for overseeing the development of curricula, training, and other resources for lifespan RE programming in UU congregations. She has developed curriculum for all ages, including Our Whole Lives. She is the project director of the Association's new curriculum project, Tapestry of Faith, and serves on the Leadership Council of the UUA. Judith is an adjunct faculty member of Harvard Divinity School, teaching Religious Education.
AISHA HAUSER is the Children and Families Program Director for the UUA. She is a Credentialed-Associate Level religious educator who served Fourth Universalist Church in Manhattan, as well as, the First UU Church of Essex County, NJ for a number of years. She has held leadership positions on the Board of LREDA and its Integrity Team. Aisha is also an author of a children's curriculum in the Tapestry of Faith series.
The Writing and Delivery of Sermons and other Public Orations: A How-To Workshop Especially Designed for UU Religious Educators
In this workshop we will create a safe space in which to write, read out loud our written work, and tell stories simply from the heart. Focus will be on writing for oral presentation and the presentation itself. We will overcome writer's block, fear of public speaking, and any other monsters which skulk between our deepest held beliefs, our most precious stories, and the public which wants to hear them. We will play theater games, dress-up, and do some writing exercises. Open to everyone who has ever wanted to say something out loud. Both a working and self-care workshop. All levels of experience (introverts as well) are welcome. Every suggested assignment will be voluntary. Laughter and song throughout.
THE REV. DR. NANCY JAY CRUMBINE is a Unitarian Univeralist minister, a professor at Dartmouth College, a writer, actor, and public speaker. She has been a keynote speaker at many UU conferences both in the US and the UK, including Star Island, UK Hucklow, Silver Bay UU Weekend in New York, and the GA of British Unitarians in Chester, England. She will be the keynote speaker at LREDA Professional Day at GA in Salt Lake City this coming June. She is the author of Humility, Anger, and Grace, Meditations Towards a Life that Matters, and The Unitarian Paradox. She loves the spoken word -- pulpit, lectern, or stage -- and believes that finding ones voice is among the highest of our spiritual tasks. She is particularly excited about this workshop as she believes that we need to hear as often as possible from religious educators, the heart beat of our movement.
The Poetry of Emily Dickinson
TThis workshop provides attendees with an opportunity to take in the thoughts and feelings of one of America’s greatest poets – some say the greatest – along with learning a simple method for facilitating similar adult religious education classes. Emily Dickinson visits interior places like no one else. Her poems, never intended for the public, were written as a kind of daily diary in which the poet checks her spiritual pulse. I can’t think of any poet whose work more closely fits this year’s conference theme of self-care. The book we will use is the one-volume edition of Dickinson’s complete poems titled, The Poems of Emily Dickinson, Reading Edition, edited by Ralph W. Franklin (paperback published by the Belknap Press of Harvard University Press – $12.95). (NOTE: Class participants should have a copy of this book.)
BRUCE BODE is in his fifth year as the minister of the Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Port Townsend, Washington. Prior to that Rev. Bode served as the Interim Minister of the Hope Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma (1 year) and the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston, Texas (2 years), and before that as an Associate Minister for 22 years at the Fountain Street Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Each year for the last 18 years he has facilitated poetry study groups in the congregations he has
served, and last year facilitated a Mary Oliver poetry group on Star.
Conscious Aging
As we approach, pass through or review the doorways of midlife, societal stereotypes and family myths often color the experience of our health, attractiveness, spirituality, time, partnership, sexuality, creativity and financial resourcefulness. Through sharing in a small group, exercises, guided imageries and ritual we will uncover beliefs about midlife which support or sabotage our well-being, reach into our shadows and across the gender gap to claim valuable tools, and de-mystify and de-stigmatize midlife as we map out how to age successfully in our own best future. We will also send you back to the mainland with an adult education curriculum for presenting a variation of this workshop in your congregations.
MARTHA NIEBANCK serves as minister of the First Parish in Brookline, MA., and has been an occupational therapist and family therapist. She and Rich have presented variations of this workshop three times before at Star.
RICH ELLIOTT is a clinical social worker at Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates in Greater Boston. He has facilitated or participated in many men’s groups over the past 20 years and is a member of the Old Ship Church in Hingham, MA.
Morning Workshops: For Personal Spiritual Development
Soul College
SoulCollage® is a process through which you contact your intuition and create an incredible deck of cards which have deep personal meaning and which will help you with life's questions. Cards containing the images you select — or the images that select you — come straight through your Soul, bypassing the mind. We will share our cards and work with them in many sacred and fun ways including using music/meditation. Please bring 5 magazines to donate for cutting (such as: National Geographic, Yoga, etc), images that hold personal meaning for you including copies of photos of special people/places in your life, a sharp pair of scissors and a glue stick. Unlined white 5 by 8 inch index cards will be provided. You can also purchase the book or CD'S on the website to preview before the workshop on STAR!
SUSAN ANTELIS NYKOLAK believes in the power of art as a spiritual vehicle. A UUDRE & Professor of Art Therapy, Susan trained with the originator of the technique, Seena Frost, earning the title of "SoulCollage® facilitator". Get more info & visit some of Susan's SoulCollage cards on the website: soulcollage.com.
Celebrating the Body Electric
Your body is a temple. Enter and discover the divine presence within. Celebrating the Body Electric is a uniquely integrated approach for regenerating your body and for exploring the incredible powers that exist inside each and every one of us. The method combines various techniques including centering, visualization, movement, hands-on touch and autosuggestion as a way to awaken your healing potential and to transform everyday interactions into sacred practices. The workshop is intended for all who wish to enhance their lives and find betterment in personal health, relationships and career.
LILLIAN RAPPAPORT, Certified Hypnotherapist and Reiki Master, combines her vast experience in energy healing, mindful awareness and body work with her genuine love of people and enthusiasm for life. She offers a practical and enlightening approach for self improvement and has been teaching in New York since 1995.
Invitation from the Meditation Conference
RE and Meditation Week are sharing the island again this year! RE people are invited to join any of our sittings. We will be meditating formally together from 6:30 until breakfast, and 9:30 until lunch. These formal periods will alternate 30 minute sitting sessions in Brookfield with walking-meditation on the lawn. The style of the meditation is mostly Buddhist, but conducted in a universal manner, compatible with many contemplative practices. You could make this your week-long workshop or just drop in occasionally. We simply ask that you come and go gracefully – arrive before we start, and sit still until we break. UU Rev. David Scheuneman will be available for instruction and feedback. Contact Dave@Scheuneman.com or see StarMeditation.org for more info.
DAVID SCHEUNEMAN is a UU community minister, specializing in meditation, spiritual direction and retreat leadership. He's a regular "old shoaler" from RE (as a youth in the 70's), Arts and Young Adults conferences — and as minister of YRUU most years since 1998. Home page: RootedInSpirit.org.
Afternoon Activities
An afternoon on Star offers so many possibilities! This year we are offering several multigenerational workshops to allow families to have fun together in the afternoon. And, of course, a nap, a stroll on the rocks, or a good read on one of our porch rockers overlooking the ocean and neighboring islands always remain good options too.
Art Barn
Liz Irwin will return as our goddess of the Art Barn, where she plans to offer a different theme for each afternoon.
Knitting Circle
For all you knitters, a Knitting Circle will be convened daily by Ellen Foster—all are welcome, young or old, experienced or not!
Drumming and Spirituality
We are proud to introduce our Artist-in-Residence, Matt Meyer, who will lead a Drumming and Spirituality workshop for all ages. You may have seen Matt leading thousands in worshipful percussion at our General Assembly recently. Visit rhythmrevelations.com to learn more about Matt and his work.
Men's Gathering
We will also bring back our Men’s Gathering, lead by Todd Johnson.
Wellness and Direction—An Integrated Life Journey for Young Adults
Have you heard the song Woyaya? It’s in our new hymnal and it really makes you think about who you are, what you want and where you are headed. As a young adult, you might find the asking of these questions and the search for the answers either scary or a relief! Join Nancy DiGiovanni and your fellow Star young adults in a workshop that will provide you with a compass for your life and wellness for your heart, mind and body!
Nancy DiGiovanni is Acting Co-Director of Young Adult Ministries at the UUA and soon-to-be certified Holistic Health Counselor. She is queer, blessed and savors her existence! |
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