Friday Workshops
Fourth Convocation English-Language Workshops
Friday, September 6, 13:45 to 15:00
WOMEN WITH FIRE IN OUR BELLIES:
Making Our Entrepreneurial Way for Gender Equity as U/UU Historians
This workshop will empower women historians to strive and survive in uncovering our inclusive stories. Why? We need to learn from our Unitarian histories – but which history? The traditional stories are written mostly by men. Stories from our history which include the hidden power of women are vital to understanding our faith. Today, many modern women historians have a “fire in our bellies.” We seek the powerful women left out of the “old” stories and entrepreneurial opportunities to sustain our work. We will explore how women are now showing that there is not “one Unitarian history,” but many histories to inspire Unitarians’ future.
Presenters: All are Unitarians/Unitarian Universalists. Rev. Claudia Elferdink (US), Carol Maciel (Brazil), and Dr. Ágnes Flóra (Transylvania).
Maximum 30 participants
STONE SOUP: MORE THAN A STORY
In this workshop, we will collaborate on making a delicious Canadian treat while learning and sharing about mutual aid. Ashlyn will talk about their weekly pay-what-you-can dinner service, and we will discuss the driving concepts behind her work, including "everyone needs to eat" and "we should each work towards peace and stronger communities with whatever our particular skills are". And in the end, "if you don't know what to do, offering hungry people food is pretty much always good." Bring your thoughts on how your particular skills could be used to foster mutual aid in your own community.
Presenter: Ashlyn Noble from Winnipeg Canada, a member of the ICUUW Young Adult Network, loves feeding people and has been involved in community organizing and anti-racism work for many years, and is thrilled to learn from others doing the work.
Max 12
GUIDED YOGA WALK WITH MEDITATION
Deepen your connection to the powerful practices of pranayama and meditation! Join us on a walk to Central Park to connect with yourself and the healing power of nature. The guided breathing exercises and meditation practices will quiet any distressing thoughts and help pull you away from negative emotions, leading to a profound sense of inner peace and relaxation.
Presenter: Orsolya Mátó-Székely is a graduate of the Department of Applied Modern Languages, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, and a private English tutor. Yoga became a huge part of her life 9 years ago. It did not only help her deal with back pain, but it also taught her not to compare herself to others, to be patient with herself and her surroundings, and appreciate what life offers from day to day. In February, she completed a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training in Goa, India.
Max 12
THE WULFWOMAN
Since the beginning of time, people all over the world have told of fairies – the same fairies. We all need stories about love, sadness, and heroes. We all want peace, have dreams, and express emotions. So Sonja invites all women to come and listen to the old fairies.
Once upon a time… there was the first woman in the world… I will tell you about the time that God was creating Woman, about a very clever and brave girl named Kate, and a very touching story about Peace and Trust.
Sonja invites you to listen and embrace the feeling, that you can relax - dream - feel. Be touched in your heart and soul, and just BE in this moment, like a child. At the end of our time together, you will feel that you are the hero of that fairytale, and that you can go on in your life with a deep trust.
Presenter: Sonja Fischer, for 25 years “Miss Fairytale” has been telling stories for all ages in very different places. For her it isn't only a job, it is a passion and a mission. Touching hearts and souls is her favorite work!
Max 25
SPIRITUAL PRACTICES FOR UNITARIAN/UUs
The Dr. Rev. Kendyl Gibbons stated in 2007 that her choice of 5 spiritual characteristics of spiritual maturity for U/UUs are these:
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Living in Covenant
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Living in Beauty
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Living with Ambiguity
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Living in Gratitude
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Living fluently with Metaphor
We will explore these, being a unique set for U/UUs. Being spiritually mature and growing our souls allows us to be able to do the work of love, peace and justice.
Presenter: The Rev. Rosemarie Newberry is a retired Unitarian Universalist Minister from the US. She has served congregations in Ohio, New Jersey and New York. She has also worked 10 years as a chaplain for adults with developmental disabilities. She became a pacifist at an early age after she heard the stories of her family trying to survive in a war-ravaged city.
Max 25
NEW Sunday Workshops
Fourth Convocation English-Language Workshops
Sunday, September 8, 9:00 to 10:15
THE JOURNEY: ICUUW in partnership with SKUUNEI (2014-2024)
Nestled in the North Eastern corner of India lies the Khasi Hills, a region belonging to the state of Meghalaya. What makes this state unique is the practice of the matrilineal system in which women are given a special status . . However, over the years women have been facing inequality in several areas such as reproductive health, economic , political and safety rights. ICUUW started its journey in the Khasi Hills in 2014 when it partnered with the women's league of the Unitarian church, the Seng Kynthei Unitarian Union North East India (SKUUNEI) . This is the story of the Journey.
Presenters: Dr Rica Lamar, a physician and ICUUW vice president, is the cofounder of the Manbha Foundation, a NGO working on substance abuse, HIV/AIDS and women's issues. Dr. Creamlimon Nongbri is the secretary of SKUUNEI.
Max 25
OUR ROOTS AND WINGS: Reframing Our Stories
Very simply said we are driven towards the future by our dreams, desires and hopes. Meanwhile all of us experience some traumas, losses and wounds at some point in our lives.
What makes us strong enough not just to bear these pains, but somehow to turn them in favor of ourselves? Is it possible to love our losses and pains in a way to be able to use them as sources of hope for a brighter future?
In this workshop we hope to get closer to our own answers to these questions. And by sharing some personal stories, we will understand that we might have a much more common strategy for everyday life than we realize. This workshop will be person centered, interactive, based on the participants own words, experiences and perspectives.
Presenter: Rev Erika Orban is a Unitarian minister and mental health counselor. She lived for several years in Washington DC and focused her PhD research on the Hungarian diaspora in the US. She currently lives in Budapest.
Max 25
THE PATH OF WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP IN LIBERAL RELIGION
In 1970 fewer than 1% of ministers were women in the United States. By 1990 that number had risen to 50%. Lay women were also being empowered. For the past four years Denise has been gathering the stories of women (and 2 men) who have worked to change the UUA from a white male faith into a faith open to feminism and to women’s participation at every level. She co-edited the book entitled WomanSpirit: The Rise and Empowerment of Feminism in Liberal Religion. This workshop will discuss the story of women's leadership in liberal religion. Is this the same or different in other countries? What can we learn from one another?
Presenter: Rev Denise Tracy just celebrated the 50th anniversary of her UU ordination. In 1974 when she was ordained she was the 8th woman to be employed in a UU ministry. She is now retired, a word she feels does not describe her life.
Max 25
BUILDING SKILLS AND BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS WITH AFRICAN WOMEN
This workshop will discuss a project supported by ICUUW in Kenya in partnership with Tunawiri Pamoja ("Let's Grow Together"). It helped young women learn financial and entrepreneurship skills including micro-finance. The project also worked to break down barriers by talking openly about sexual and reproductive health and the challenges facing women: child marriage, child pregnancies, menstrual health.
Presenter: Noel Lutomia is the founder of the women-led community-based organization Tunawiri Pamoja. She was the coordinator of the project in western Kenya. She is also a former member of the ICUUW Board of Directors (2021-2023).
Max 25