Hinduism: One Day Retreat – Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, 10a – 4p @ First Church

*Note – Registration deadline is noon on Wed., Jan. 29 (link is below description)

Dr. Riegel will conduct this one-day retreat, which includes a morning travelogue of his numerous pilgrimages to Shantivanam (an interspiritual ashram in Tamil Nadu – southern India), a catered Indian lunch (by Amma’s Kitchen), a study of one of the Upanishads (one of Hinduism’s sacred texts), and a mantra/meditation lesson.

**Note – If the entire day is not convenient, you may attend a part of this event, either 10a – 1p or noon – 4p. In either case, you will have the opportunity to join us for lunch! **Note – There is a $20 fee for this event (to pay for the catered lunch). (If $20 is not possible, contact Dr. Riegel privately (alex.riegel@firstuu.com) to discuss helping out a bit to defray your cost.)

Dr. Riegel is the Developmental Minister at First Church and grounds his own spiritual study and practice, as well as his ministry, in the contemplative traditions of Sufism, Hinduism, and Eastern Orthodox Christianity.

REGISTRATION REQUIRED:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508084BABAD29ABF94-54267549-hinduism

Writing as Spiritual Practice – First Fridays, Feb – June, 6:30p @ First Church

I would like to start a writing group at First Church as one path of inner work towards our True Selves through a practice of private writing supported by other writers. Personal discovery through writing is the primary outcome; sharing is secondary and always a choice.

This course is led by Barbara Bonney, member and lay leader at First Church.

REGISTRATION REQUIRED:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508084BABAD29ABF94-54284788-writing

Book Discussion: Search – Saturday, Feb 15, 1:30 – 3:30p @ First Church

Search is a 2022 novel by Michelle Huneven about a Unitarian Universalist church in Southern California that is searching for a new minister. The book is told from the perspective of Dana Potowski, a restaurant critic and memoirist who joins the church’s search committee. Dana secretly writes a memoir about the experience, which becomes a media sensation.

This course is led by Patty Kelly, member and lay leader at First Church.

REGISTRATION REQUIRED:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508084BABAD29ABF94-54285683-book

Book Discussion: On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century – Sunday, March 9, 11:30a – 1:00p @ First Church and Fridays, March 14 and 21, 7:00p via Zoom

On Tyranny is a brief guide that explains 20 strategies people can use to defend democracy in their country against the shift toward an authoritarian government. Timothy Snyder, a history professor at Yale, reminds readers that democratic regimes have fallen to tyranny since the very concepts of democracy and tyranny were invented in ancient Greece. Snyder suggests that American democracy faces the same threat of collapse that has occurred to other countries and explains 20 ways to help preserve it. Though Snyder teaches at Yale, and completed his PhD at the University of Oxford, he was born in Dayton, Ohio, and attended Centerville High School.

*Note – For the first session (at First Church) you are encouraged to bring a lunch for yourself.

This course is led by Dwayne Smith, member of First Church.

REGISTRATION REQUIRED:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508084BABAD29ABF94-54286123-book

Action Science Webinar – Mondays, April 7, 21, May 5, 19, (and possibly) June 2, 7p via Zoom

Action Science is a theory of organizational communication rooted in observation, psychology, and reason, profoundly effective in both for-profit and non-profit organizations. As a follow up to the cursory introduction to Action Science from last year’s “Prescriptions for Building Beloved Community” workshops at First Church, this course (4-5 sessions) will dive into the most salient principles of Action Science.

This webinar is led by Dr. Riegel, currently the Developmental Minister at First Church.

REGISTRATION REQUIRED:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508084BABAD29ABF94-54287280-action

Mantra and Meditation, Anyone? – Day/Time/Place (likely First Church) TBD (depending on interest)

Dr. Riegel is considering a beginner’s Mantra and Meditation course beginning Mid to late Feb., running though the end of May or early June. This would be a biweekly, in person group. If you are interested (and willing to commit actually to attend a biweekly group during this period), please indicate so via the SignUp Genius link immediately below. (If there is enough interest, Dr. Riegel will soon be in touch to determine Day/Time/Place.)

INDICATE INTEREST HERE:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508084BABAD29ABF94-54287760-mantra