Religious Exploration for Adults
All Adult classes and events are taking place online, so you can take part from the comfort and safety of your own home! Join us!
Winter/Spring Semester: Is This America? STARTS JANUARY 24th 4pm
The adult RE class will continue its exploration of racism in policing by taking a wider focus in order to help us all process the historic events we are living through. Every class will include current events, video interviews and lectures and some discussion of the book: Invisible No More: Police Violence against Black Women and Women of Color by Andrea Ritchie. You do NOT need to read the book to be part of class. Jill Sherman and Joan Garrett are the class leaders. If you would like to read the book, they are available to be picked up at the volunteer desk of the church Monday-Thursday 10am-2pm, but please call ahead to make sure someone is there. If you’d like to make a donation to cover the cost of the book, it is $16. A donation is not mandatory.
Beginning Sunday January 24th 4p-5pm
The class meets on alternate Sundays.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81598229998
NEW ADULT RE CLASS COMING APRIL 11TH
Addressing and Ending RaceSexism: A Call to White Men
Sundays April 11th- May 2nd 4-5pm
The MeToo movement men were called to pay attention to sexism and sexual harassment and assault in new ways; and the Black Lives Matter movement has called white people to take ownership to combat racism and white supremacy. This conversation will invite us, as white men, to examine our specific opportunities and responsibilities to address both Racism and Sexism (aka “RaceSexism”), at the intersections of our manhood and whiteness. We experience/internalize racism and white supremacy through our understanding and experience of ourselves as men; and experience/internalize sexism through our understanding and experience of ourselves as white. As such, working to effectively and meaningfully address and counter racism, sexism and racesexism requires us to reflect on how our intersecting identities impact on our experience, and on our activism.
This conversation will be a brave space for men to explore how we internalize both sexism and racism, how this impacts how we understand and experience both male and white privilege, and what we as white men can do about it. Our hope is that this class will generate some interest and momentum from the participants to take concrete steps from within First U.
Facilitated by Rus Ervin Funk, MSW, CSE who is a consultant, trainer and activist specializing in working with organizations, campuses and communities. His efforts focus on helping create systems level transformation that enhances the ability to meaningfully support men and boys, in ways that promote and advance gender, sexual and racial equity and justice.
Rus is a long-time activist and community organizer focusing on anti-racism, and gender justice. He has more than 30 years experience in mobilizing men to end gender based violence, providing therapeutic and other support services to men and boys, and working with communities, campuses and organizations. Rus focuses on integrating intersectional practices in his efforts.
If you are interested in joining this class, please email Loren Crawford [email protected]
New to First U
This class meets occasionally upon request and will be on hold until it is safe to meet.
This workshop is designed to introduce newcomers to Unitarian Universalism (and to First Unitarian) or to reacquaint those who may be returning after an absence. Led by several different First U members and professional staff, this class will provide information about Sunday services, theology, history, social justice, religious exploration and governance, and will equip participants to make an informed decision about membership.