Spiritual Development
Small Groups: Groups Engaging Music & the Arts
UU Writers Groups
1st Wednesdays, 7 - 9pm (Currently Full)
Facilitated by Rev. Jen Crow
1st Wednesdays, 7 - 9pm (Currently Full)
Facilitated by Rev. Scott Tayler
2nd Mondays, 7 - 9pm (Taking New Members)
Facilitated by Martin Fass
UU Writers uses the discipline of writing to explore and deepen one's spiritual life. Each month participants are given a different spiritual topic on which to write, usually connected to our monthly worship theme. Don't be intimidated; this is not a group for "experts." You just need to enjoy writing and listening to the writing of others. All styles are encouraged: poetry, diary entries, meditations, short prose.
Song of Soul Matters
Facilitator: Jenna Bernardi
Detailed description here.
Renaissance: A Creative Soul Matters Group
Renaissance I: First Saturdays, 9:30am – noon (Currently Full)
Facilitators: Deborah White and Kindle Perry
Renaissance II: Saturdays to be determined (New Group Forming)
Facilitators: Jenny Stanberry-Beall and Sandy Montemaggi
Detailed description here.
Second Friday Flicks
Contact: Bob Grinnell
Detailed description here.
Song Circles
Contact: Mary Lyubomirsky
1st Fridays, September-June, 7pm
Bring your vocal chords, a guitar, a kazoo, whatever! It's very informal - picture the campfire circle without the campfire! Kids are welcome! Any of your song suggestions are welcome! We'll be singing things most people know, but if you'd like a book with lyrics and chords to 1,000's of songs we will most likely sing, just order a copy of Rise up and Sing at the First Unitarian Bookstore for less than $20.
To stay notified of other events where UUSingRachacha (the Song Circle's Yahoo Group) get together, please contact Mary Lyubomirsky.
Spiritual Drumming
Contact: Debbie McCullough
Two Saturdays a Month from 2 - 3pm
This class will focus on community building through drumming. Participants will communicate and interact using drums and other percussion instruments. Drumming is a powerful way to learn about yourself and experience the exhilarating sense of multiple rhythms coming together to create a whole. No musical background is necessary. Bring your drum if you have one.
Storytelling Workshop
ontact: Peggy and Dave Hagen
Four Wednesdays in April/May, Location TBD
Join a workshop with Dave and Peggy Hagen to learn how to create a story to tell, and gain the confidence to perform it in front of an audience. Each session will contain three basic elements: teaching of basic concepts, modeling of good storytelling, and participation by workshop members.
Session 1 - Story Basics: Instructors discuss what a story is and is not and key elements of basic story structure. Instructors provide memory jogs to aid participants to begin their own stories. Assignment for next week - bring basic story idea.
Session 2: Participants discuss bare bones of their developing stories, and identify key elements. Instructors discuss and demonstrate storyboarding. Assignment for next week - bring storyboard of your story.
Session 3: Participants tell their stories using their storyboards. Instructors assist in molding stories in terms of structure, and introduce performance elements of gesture, voice, etc. Assignment for next week - practice story for presentation.
Session 4: Participants tell stories in practice performance. Instructors provide coaching to fine-tune presentation. Group discusses concerns, fears, how to use a microphone, etc.
Credentials: Peggy has been a performing storyteller for fifteen years, participating in The Fredonia Storytelling Festival, The Riverway Storytelling Festival in Albany, NY, and The Three Apples Storytelling Festival in Bedford, Mass. She also tells locally in schools, public libraries, and senior citizen assisted living facilities. Together Dave and Peggy have taken workshops and master classes with many nationally and internationally recognized storytellers. They have taught and coached storytelling in numerous settings, including The Fredonia Storytelling Festival, the Ogden Farmers Library (a seven-week course), The Pioneer Library System, multiple workshops for seniors at St. John's Meadows in Brighton, and conducted a storytelling club for children in grades 3-5 at the Fairport Public Library for five years.
Workshop Fee: $50 per participant, minimum of 6 required.
Musical Performance Groups
Music and Dance performance groups thrive at First Unitarian. They include Sunday morning choirs, drumming groups, bell choirs, children's, choirs, mother-daughter choirs, and dance teams. For a complete listing and information about how to join, see our "Music & Arts at First Unitarian" brochure on the literature rack or check out the Music & Arts Ministry page on our website.
February 24 2008