Freethinkers’ Forum
Tuesday, October 22, 7:00 pm, Room L
Every Tuesday!
Inclusion or Indictment? Can Religions Fit Into a Science-Based Model For Well-Being?
Presented by: Dr. Martha Louise Lang, PhD
Dr. Lang (PhD in Philosophy, FSU 2017) will present her argument for what is best considered the most reasonable theory of well-being, which is based on the dual forces of the science and philosophy of well-being. With the Network Theory of Well-Being as her starting point, she provides poignant critiques and then revamps the theory by adding an essential feature. The overhauled theory (The Network Theory of Well-Being, Revamped) will be presented and explained. From there and through the lens of the model of well-being at-hand, Lang explores the question of whether or not particular religious beliefs, traditions and/or practices are conducive or detrimental to well-being, as applicable to the individuals and groups in which those beliefs and practices are habituated, as well as to the greater populations beyond those more insulated or isolated groups. Religious practices could be reasonably included in an individual’s personal and local network(s) of well-being if they fit the essential criteria outlined in Lang’s theory, but there is an indictment against them when they violate or otherwise do not fit into the reason-based model of well-being.
All are welcome!
Yoga at UUCT!
Thursday, October 24, 6:30 pm
Every Thursday!
Instructor: Delilah Thomas
Grab your mat and join us! All skill levels welcome!
No registration needed! Just show up! Donations are welcome!
Contact Suzanne Ripka for more information.
Delilah began her journey with yoga in 2013 and received her Certified Yoga Teacher Training 200-hour with Horizon Blue Yoga in 2015. She is also registered with Yoga Alliance -RYT200, which encourages continuing education within the yoga community. Delilah shared that “Yoga has provided me with many profound benefits, those of which include increased flexibility and strength due to the physical practice, as well as emotional, mental, and spiritual benefits. Yoga is a very holistic practice. What I do on the mat often transfers off the mat into other areas of my life. One of the best benefits that yoga has provided for me is learning the practice of self-care. I am genuinely excited and committed to sharing the tools of yoga with others and to help them find their own benefits from the practice.”
Ethical Eating Evenings at UUCT!
Friday, October 25, 6:00 pm, Room L
Every 4th Friday!
Facilitated by Linda Oaksford
Fourteen people attended our first Ethical Eating Evening, a.k.a., Movie Nights, on September 27th when we viewed the movie, Food, Inc. As we all had much to share about where we are on our “food journeys”, we didn’t get to finish the movie. It was obvious from this meeting that we all had much to share and for some of us the “ethics of food” is a difficult topic to discuss.
So, for our next Ethical Eating Evening, which will be on Friday, October 25th, we will each bring some food, and share our views as to why the food that we bring is considered “ethical.” After our meal, Ed Oaksford will make a presentation about the four main reasons why we should be thinking about eating ethically.
If you would like to join us, please contact Linda Oaksford at lloaksford@gmail.com. I look forward to seeing you all.
In 2008, the UUA General Assembly chose Ethical Eating: Food and Environmental Justice for study and action, and then in 2011, a Statement of Conscience on Ethical Eating was adopted and an Ethical Eating Study Guide* was written.
People of Color Meet Up
Sunday, October 27, 9:30 am, Room C
Every 4th Sunday!
Facilitated by Rosa Morgan and Meagan Arrastia-Chisholm
Members, friends, and visitors of color at UUCT are welcome to our monthly meetup! We will be deepening our relationships with each other, Unitarian Universalism, and our congregation through sharing spiritual practices and stories of showing up with our whole selves.
Emergent Strategy Group
Thursday, November 7, 7:00 pm, Room 3
Every 1st Thursday!
As our congregation moves through transitions, builds relationships for the work of social justice in the community, and commits to an intentionally anti-racist, anti-oppressive, multicultural beloved community, we face many challenges for “how to do the work” and stay in right relation with each other.
We invite you to read the book Emergent Strategy by writer and pleasure activist Adrienne Maree Brown (or review online summaries) as time permits, but definitely don’t let that hold you back from joining the discussion.
We’ll unpack the rich wisdom of incorporating an emergent, adaptive, and growth mindset into our personal lives, how we relate to each other as a congregation, and how we can leverage these values in our work for justice in the wider world. You can purchase the book through the inSpirit UUA Books & Gift store. Contact Anna Bethea for more information.
Revitalizing Elderhood: A UU Tapestry of Faith Program
Facilitated by:
Rev. William Levwood, Minister
Mary Wolfgang, VP for Church Community
Beginning November 7th, we will meet the first Thursday of most months from 11:30 am -1:30 pm. We recommended that you bring a brown-bag lunch.
Are you an elder looking to embrace the next steps on your journey in life, or are wondering about the path? If so, please join us for the Revitalizing Elderhood: A Tapestry of Faith Program. This is 6-session series is packed with useful information, so it is best to commit to as many sessions as you can.
The goals of this program are to:
- Identify and explore the positives about being an elder.
- Use journaling as well as color and line as expressions of spirituality and creativity.
- Lead participants to claim inner wisdom.
- Help participants come to understand being an elder as a time of spiritual richness.
- Invite participants to remain adventurous in thinking about the future.
- Challenge participants to find ways to mentor others.
Registration forms will be on the Veranda after the service on October 6th and 27th and November 3rd. You can also register by emailing Mary Wolfgang at mswolfgang@aol.com, with your name, phone, email, and a note that you plan to attend most sessions. If you have questions, you can call Mary Wolfgang at 545-2926.
Church Workday!
Saturday, November 9, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
Every 2nd Saturday!
Coordinator: Bonnie Abellera, Community Connections Chair
Refreshments & tools provided!
Come for an hour or join us all day. There are no rules for how long you should stay! No time is too short, and no job is too small! We welcome your help! We appreciate it all!
UUCT Potluck!
Sunday, November 10, 12:15 pm, Sanctuary/Veranda
Every 2nd Sunday!
Coordinator: Will Atkins, metamuse@comcast.net
Everyone is invited to bring a dish to enjoy in fellowship with other members, friends, and guests! Please either contact Will Atkins, or just jump in, if you can help with set up and/or clean up!
We need you! Would You Like to volunteer to Set up or to Clean Up (really need help here) at our monthly (2nd Sunday of Month) UUCT Potluck Sundays? If so, we invite you to help with this popular ongoing community activity! There are a few ways to sign up:
- Contact the Potluck Coordinator Will Adkins at metamuse@comcast.net
- Sign up on the poster located in the back of the Sanctuary
- Sign up online at https://signup.com/go/VRMcbfs
There are aprons available in the kitchen so that you don’t get dirty!
Women’s Lunch Bunch!
Wednesday, November 13, 11:30 am, Uptown Cafe
Every 2nd Wednesday!
Contact: Linda Oaksford
1325 Miccosukee Rd, Website: http://www.uptowncafeandcatering.com/
Brunch Sign up: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1P11j8UjaE5heHVMuhGq54FY7eV1PNLj0P-XpM9FJNYM/viewform
Come share a meal and spend some time with other members of the UUCT community.
Getting to Know UUCT 
Sunday, November 17, 12:15 pm, Room K
Every 3rd Sunday!
What is UUCT all about? In less than an hour the Membership Team will introduce newcomers to UUCT, answer questions, and invite you to share what brings you here. To learn more about this session, contact Trudy Deyle, Sally Andersen, or Terri Martin.
Dandelion Pagan Collective
Sunday, November 17, 4:30 pm, Sanctuary
Every 3rd Sunday!
Facilitated by: Rei Myers & Sarah Tso
SHARED ALTAR
Bring a item to place on our community altar during the meeting. It can be anything you like, the same thing or something different each time. During introductions, tell us what you brought and why.
TEA AND SNACKS AFTER
We have tea for during and after the meeting! If you like, bring something extra to share during social time after the meeting.
Dandelion Pagan Collective is an intersectional, open and accepting group about Paganism, Wicca, Witchcraft, Shamanism and other related paths for people in and around Tallahassee, Florida. Our meeting include discussion, workshops, presentations, rituals, and community building. We are open and accepting of all people regardless of their race, gender, age, culture or ability.
UU Explorations
Tuesday, November 19, 7:00 pm, Room 3
Every 3rd Tuesday!
Facilitated by: Trudy Deyle and Sally Andersen
Covenant: At UUCT and In the Unitarian Universalist Movement. For this second round of UU Explorations, we have moved the session on covenant to be before the sessions on Freedom & Belonging and Our UUCT Story. Our thinking is that reflecting on covenant is a great way to start the new church year and also a good thing to do before the other two topics.
You are invited to join a special Small Group Ministry, UU Explorations, for those interested in gaining a deeper understanding of what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist. This is a sharing and listening circle about topics that relate to the theme: What does it mean to be a Unitarian Universalist? It is an opportunity to get to know others on a deeper level and reflect together on important topics and concepts in Unitarian Universalism. At each gathering, we: check in with each other on how our lives are going, share our thoughts on one of twelve topics, simply listen to one another, and then share any further reflections we have. The circle is specifically not a class or discussion group.
The group began with newcomers from the past two years who were interested, and each month, any new member or supporting friend has been invited to join us. Each person remains in the group for a year, at which point the topics will begin to repeat for them. The sessions have been so interesting and informative that they’ve been opened up for the congregation’s participation.
Each month’s topic will be announced in the Meridian with a few questions to reflect on and a packet of readings. However, we start each meeting by introducing the topic, so if you don’t have time for reflecting or reading ahead of time, it is still be perfectly fine to come. The topics we’re covering are listed below.
TOPICS BY MONTH
- April – 1. The Seven Principles of Unitarian Universalism
- May – 2. The Six Sources of Unitarian Universalism
- June – 3. The Theological Diversity in Unitarian Universalism
- July – 4. Science, Religion, and Reverence
- August – 5. The History of Unitarian Universalism
- September – 6. Covenant: At UUCT and In the Unitarian Universalist Movement
- October – 7. Freedom and Belonging in Unitarian Universalism: For Individuals and For Congregations, including Congregational Polity
- November – 8. The Story of Our UUCT (A History of Congregational Polity and the Democratic Process)
- December – 9. Spiritual Practice
- January – 10. Gratitude, Forgiveness and Reconciliation as Spiritual Disciplines and Practices
- February – 11. Shared Ministry and Stewardship of Our Faith and Liberal Presence in Tallahassee: Sharing Our Gifts of Time, Talent and Treasure
- March – 12. Compassion and Social Justice as Spiritual Practice
Note: While the first gathering on Topic #1 was held in February 2018, the October 2018 gathering had to be canceled in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael. In addition the June 2019 gathering was canceled due to all facilitators out of town. So all topics shifted forward two months.
All are welcome to attend!