for adultsLife Learning at Old Ship – 2023-2024
In harmony with Unitarian Universalist principles and sources of inspiration, learning opportunities at Old Ship serve our community by encouraging spiritual growth, and the free and responsible search for truth and meaning. Gatherings, which are open to members and friends of the Old Ship community, will be in person, in the parlor at 14 Main Street, or on Zoom. Some will be hybrid — in-person with a Zoom option. Watch the newsletter and website for additions, changes and updates. Contact information for course leaders appears below. AutumnUnitarian Universalism 101 Rev. Edmund Robinson
Three Wednesdays, Oct. 11 – Oct. 25, 6:00 p.m., Zoom This course will explore the development of three liberal religions, now combined into one: Unitarianism, Universalism, and Unitarian Universalism. All three grew out of liberal Christianity, though today UU churches welcome people of all religious beliefs. We will also explore what this religion can mean in our lives today. For information and Zoom link, contact Rev. Robinson. Widening the Circle Davalene Cooper, Ellie Handleman
Three Wednesdays, Nov. 1 – Nov. 15, 7:00 p.m., Zoom The UUA’s Commission on Institutional Change published Widening the Circle of Concern, its audit of white privilege and power within Unitarian Universalism, in 2020. This class will examine the report and consider how we can make its recommendations visible in the Old Ship community. For information, contact Davalene or Ellie. Rediscover the Meeting House Nina Wellford
One Sunday, Nov. 5, noon, Meeting House Let’s go deeper behind the well-known facts about the Old Ship Meeting House. In this session, we’ll examine who worshipped here, how and why they changed the building, and how they influenced the development of our country. Led by members of the Friends of the Meeting House, this is the tour that the experts get! Winter/SpringAgnosticism and Belief Dennis Hogan
Six Wednesdays, Jan. 3 – 31, Feb. 7, 6:00 p.m., Hybrid An exploration of agnosticism and its meaning and relevance for living. Topics will include agnostic views on religion, atheism, morality, happiness, society, etc. The format will be group discussion in reaction to topics and reading selections from well-known agnostics, atheists, and others (e.g., T.H. Huxley, Bertrand Russell, Thomas Paine, Richard Dawkins, etc.). Dennis will supply readings and serve as discussion moderator. For information, contact Dennis. Religious Naturalism Rev. Edmund Robinson Three Wednesdays, Feb. 14 – 28, 6:00 p.m., Hybrid Several varieties of non-theistic religion exist today — atheism, agnosticism, humanism. There are also some branches of older religions which consider the existence or power of divine beings irrelevant. Following the examination of agnosticism, this class will explore what is called religious naturalism. It does not take a position on whether divine beings exist, or what their powers might be, but is insistent that supernatural accounts of any phenomena are not permitted. Religious naturalism takes the picture of the world that modern science gives us and tries to understand the world through that. For information, contact Rev. Robinson. Grow Old Along With Me Elizabeth Torrey One Wednesday, March 27, 3:00 p.m., 34 Ship Street, Hingham Elizabeth will share a video of Julie Harris, Hume Cronyn and James Earl Jones, among others, reciting poetry about aging and talking about what getting old is like for them. Other artists, including Buddhist nun Pema Chodron, see aging as a creative process that in later years can give birth to one’s full humanity. The presentation will take place in Elizabeth’s home. For information, contact Elizabeth. Living With Dying Rich Elliott, Claire Petrie Six Tuesdays, April 2 – May 7, 7:00 p.m., Zoom Despite the constant presence of death, dying and grief in our lives, we mostly avoid talking about it. This course offers personal reflection, learning, and spiritual growth about these topics. This is not a grief support group, nor an intellectual study of death. We invite participants to experience death and dying as a healthy part of life, including the preparation, the moment of death, the grieving, and the aftermath. We seek a closer, more comfortable relationship with the inevitable. For information, contact Rich or Claire. Ongoing Groups and GatheringsCrossing Time Poetry Circles Elizabeth Torrey
At turnings of fall, winter and spring; Sep. 23, Dec. 21, March 19, 7 p.m., in-person, Zoom We begin our 27th year! Come join the ongoing poetry renaissance in America. Bring and read or speak a favorite poem – an opportunity to share and perhaps deepen our appreciation of poetry, and reinforce our connection with the natural cycles of life. All welcome! Only be willing to search for poetry, / and there will be poetry. / My soul, a tiny speck, is my tutor. – Yuan Hei. For information and Zoom link, contact Elizabeth. The Way of the Bodhisattva Lisa Sawyer, Catherine Mayes Every Sunday morning, 8:30 a.m. Twenty minutes of sitting meditation, followed by a discussion of a Buddhist or related text, facilitated by Catherine Mayes. For questions and the Zoom link, contact Lisa Sawyer. Men’s Breakfast Ralph Brown, Rich Elliott Fourth Sunday mornings, 8:30 a.m., Zoom An ongoing opportunity for men to get together in a safe, nurturing environment to speak freely and listen deeply to each other as a form of spiritual practice. We also seek to have fun together and rekindle our playful souls. For information and the Zoom link, contact Ralph or Rich. Anti-Racism Book Group Davalene Cooper Sundays, monthly, starting Sep. 17, 7:00 p.m., Zoom Each month, volunteers will lead discussions about racism and/or white supremacy. People can come when they wish or when they are most interested in the book being discussed. The first two books are Waste: One Woman’s Fight Aginst America’s Dirty Secret, by Catherine Coleman Flowers,and Solio, Solita, about immigration from Central America. For information and a Zoom link, contact Davalene. Ceilidh (“kay-lee”) First Tuesday evenings, 7:00 p.m. Eric Cornetta Sharing of songs, stories, poems, and an old-fashioned good time. Bring an instrument or just bring yourself to listen and maybe sing along. Everyone is welcome. Come anytime between 7 and 9:30. Gatherings will be in the 14 Main Street Parlor, in person and via Zoom. For information and a Zoom link, contact Eric. The Gathering Diane Elliott, Carol Valentine Wednesday afternoons, 1:00 p.m. We gather to sew, craft, knit and enjoy each others’ company. Our goal is to make items to sell at Merrie Market and May Breakfast, and we have lots of fun and good conversation as we work together. New members and new project ideas are always welcome. For information, contact Diane or Carol. Sacred Texts Meditation Group Rich Elliott Second and fourth Thursday afternoons, 4:00 - 5:30 p.m., Zoom Each session will have a reading, a 15-minute meditation, and exploration of one chapter from the Tao Te Ching, including its meaning to each of us, as well as related writings, poetry or art. Newcomers are welcome. Gatherings will be Zoom only. For information and the Zoom link, contact Rich. How to contact leaders and committee members
Ralph Brown 781-248-0860 ralph.e.brown@gmail.com Eric Cornetta 781-740-0628 EECornetta@aol.com Davalene Cooper 781-749-0790 davalenecooper@verizon.net Diane Elliott 781-749-2248 dianeabbeyelliott@gmail.com Rich Elliott 781-812-8897 richelliott56@gmail.com Ellie Handleman 781-749-3498 ellie@thehandlemans.org Dennis Hogan 781-783-8008 dennish10@verizon.net Catherine Mayes catherinesmayes@aol.com Janice McPhillips 781-740-8782 jbbmcphillips@gmail.com Claire Petrie 617-642-2438 cdpetrie@aol.com Rev. Edmund Robinson 617-710-0508 edmuund@gmail.com Lisa Sawyer lsawyer49@gmail.com Elizabeth Torrey 781-749-0543 elizabethtorrey@hotmail.com Carol Valentine 781-744-6591 cvbostonma@aol.com Download brochure |
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