Saturday, April 16, 2016
9:00 am-5:00 pm
Register here by Saturday, April 2.
Program Schedule
8:15 Registration and Refreshments
9:00 Keynote by The Rev. Gary Kowalski
In “Celebrating Our Kinship with All Creation,” our keynote speaker suggests that life is a community, not a commodity, as he shares the personal journey that led him to the belief (common among indigenous peoples and confirmed by modern biology) that other species are not so different from ourselves but participate in the psychic and emotional depths that make us most fully human.
10:15 Break
10:30-11:45 First Workshop Sessions
Conversation with the Rev. Gary Kowalski (Sanctuary) Life is a community, not a commodity! Gary shared the journey that led him to the belief (common among indigenous peoples and confirmed by modern biology) that other species are not so different from ourselves but participate in the psychic and emotional depths that make us most fully human. Join Gary in conversation about these ideas, truths, realities.
Restorative Practices II: Big Faith~No Borders (Memorial Hall) How can Unitarian Universalism help us heal the results of lovelessness and injustice in our own lives, so we can wholeheartedly serve others? What skills and practices are necessary to develop and sustain systems of restoration and renewal? Join us to explore these questions through the embodied experience of Beloved Community.
Facilitators: Rev. Deborah Holder, PWR Congregational Life Staff and Gregory Rouillard, M.Div., Seven Principles Project
Instant Covenant Groups (Wesson) Christine and Alicia are the co-authors of three books published by our UU press which make small group ministry (sharing on spiritual topics) easy to organize and run, no matter what the size of the congregation. They will talk about the benefits of having such a program, do a mini- group with participants, and answer questions. They will also have books for sale. Presenters: The Rev. Christine Robinson and Alicia Hawkins
11:45 Lunch Buffet (Social Hall)
12:20 Wildlife Habitat Tour
Join us for a 20-minute tour of this on-campus habitat, certified by the National Wildlife Federation. Tour guide Virginia Burris will share stories that illustrate the power of spending time in this space. Email Virginia Burris at vburris1@q.com to sign up. Space is limited to 20 participants.
12:45 MDD Annual Meeting (Sanctuary)
Victor Ashear, President, and MDD Board
1:45 Break
2:00-3:15 Second Workshop Sessions
Restorative Practices II: Bringing it to Life (Sanctuary) Building on the morning session, please join us as we continue to cultivate a sense of connection and grow our capacity to practice restorative skills within our families, congregations, workplaces and communities. How does Beloved Community arise from us individually and collectively?
Facilitators: Rev. Deborah Holder, PWR Congregational Life Staff and Gregory Rouillard, M.Div., Seven Principles Project
Spiritual Practices in Youth Ministry (Memorial Hall) This interactive and experiential workshop will explore group spiritual practices that speak to youth and adults working with youth. It important to have varied practices that speak to different learning styles. If done with the right intention, almost anything can be a spiritual practice. Facilitators: James Galasinski, Ministerial Resident and MDD Youth Chaplain, First Unitarian Youth Group members
Two Heads Are Better Than One — Telling Stories Together (Wesson)
Adult worship as well as multi-generational services benefit from the inclusion of stories. Drawing on theme-based worship, our Sources, Principles and prophetic UU voices we will offer resources, demonstrations and conversation about how we use personal, written and spoken stories to deepen the Sunday morning experience. Presenters: Rev. Gail Lindsay Marriner and Alice Springer, Director of Faith Development
4:55 Closing Circle (Social Hall)
5:00 End
Volunteers prepare everything for Sunday morning
