Sunday Morning Forum meets weekly in the UUFP Office Building, 11:00 a.m. to noon.
"When body, mind and spirit are in harmony, happiness is the natural result." Deepak Chopra
The Adult Religious Education (ARE) program kicks off the New Year with its continuing enlightening opportunities. The following excerpts from its Sunday Morning Forum classes are just a few stars in the odyssey of nurturing mind, body and spirit! Peruse the past recaps; join us for the upcoming guest speaker on March 10 (ref. below).
Let fellowship with, in and through the Sunday Morning Forum become, for us, a "natural result"!
"How U, YES U, Can Identify and End Wage Inequities"
Presented by John Whitley
March 10, 2019
John Whitley in looking at wage justice through the lens of the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy (VICPP). Go behind the daily practices of workplace environments to discover the intentional practices denying fair, just, and equitable treatment and pay. See how VICPP stands up to help bring legislative and local congregational impact.
John is a member of the VICPP Board, James River Chapter/VICPP, and the Williamsburg Unitarian Universalists congregation.
"Homeschooling: Historic Institution or Current Trend?”
Presented by Rachel Bevins
March 3, 2019
"Homeschooling" has been around for a long time, from native tribes to prairie families. What does it mean today, and why are the numbers growing?
Rachel Bevins has a Master of Teaching degree and taught several years in public school. Today she homeschools one child and puts the other on a public school bus each weekday. She is an active leader in her local homeschooling community and would like to answer your questions and concerns about the who's, how's and why's of choosing to homeschool and how it affects our society.
"A UU Military Journey"
Presented by Corey Anderson
February 24, 2019
A Mormon dentist's journey into the military, ironically, leads to UUFP. Is military life compatible with Unitarian Universalism? Participants joined in the conversation concerning those who serve, spiritual battles, just war and the current state of the U.S. "military industrial complex."
"Yoga - a Way of Life"
Presented by Nancy Sessoms
February 10 & 17, 2019
Is yoga a spiritual path, or is it physical fitness? In this two-part Sunday Morning Forum an overview of raja yoga’s eight-limbed path was presented. Upon completion, each participant could decide whether yoga is a religion, a means to stay in shape, a framework for healthy living, or something else.
Feb 10th – Nancy provided a brief overview of the history, paths of yoga and basic terms; then launched into describing the first limb of yoga, “Yamas,” or social disciplines.
Feb 17th – Our facilitator continued discussing the other seven elements of this discipline, completing with the final limb of yoga, “Samadhi,” or selfless and timeless awareness.
"The Importance of Rituals to Humans"
Presented by EarthRising Members
February 3, 2019
Members of EarthRising led a discussion on the importance of ritual to us as humans. What benefits do we still receive from ritual, even as rational UUs? What role does ritual play in our lives? How can we use ritual to help us find truth and meaning?
"Number, Logic, Faith"
Presented by Scott Kasmire
January 13, 20 & 27, 2019
A "theory of everything" continues to elude scientists, philosophers, and even theologians. The best we can seem to do is arbitrarily focus on certain connections that seem significant. This is what the Sunday Morning Forum set out to do in this three week series that asked us to consider deeply what the world could really be, and by extension, what human experience actually entails.
In Part A, the group used the concept of "number" as a starting point to explore the nature of human experience and the ultimate reality.
In Part B, the group evaluated the idea of humans as "rational beings" and considered the utility of "logic" in human experience.
In Part C, the group will looked more closely at the connection between metaphor and faith and determined what sorts of metaphors are most useful in determining our place in the world.
"Cancer"
Presented by Bob Mosolf
January 6, 2019
Cancer is among the leading causes of death worldwide. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, in 2012, there were 14.1 million new cases and 8.2 million cancer-related deaths worldwide. In the United States alone, an estimated 1,735,350 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in 2018, and 609,640 people will die from the disease. -National Cancer Institute
UUFP Member Bob Mosolf spoke about the history of cancer, cellular level changes, treatment options and personal interactions with someone with cancer.