July 10 - July 16, 2005
Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio

Morning Workshops

These morning workshops are for the adults of the SI community. Morning workshops are held every day during the week. When you complete the SI registration form, be sure to select one workshop for the week and one alternate choice. Workshops fill up quickly and are on a first-come basis, so register early. There are also morning programs scheduled for Young Adult, Youth and Children. 

1. Reading the Rocks and the Stories They Tell of Earth and Gambier
James Martin-Hayden

A world of information is stored in rocks that can be deciphered by anyone with a short introduction to the language of the earth. A series of short field trips around Gambier will allow us to see the stories of the local geology, landscapes, rock types, fossils, soils and rivers in person. No previous knowledge of geology necessary. Max size:. 25

Jamie started teaching geology as a teenaged tour guide in the White Mountains of New Hampshire and is now teaching hydrogeology and general geology at the University of Toledo, Department of Earth, Ecological and Environmental Sciences.

2. Walking the Wooded Ways: An Introduction to Earth Religion
Annabelle Clippinger

Through reading, dialogue, song, creative movement, writing and being in nature, we will explore the meaning of Earth Religion to UU's, and the spiritual, creative, environmental and political ramifications of this beautiful religious path.

Annabelle is a member of the UU Church of the South Hills in Pittsburgh. She is the founding member of Spiritways CUUPS, the UUCSH's chapter of UU Pagans. She has studied, practiced and taught Earth Religion for over 20 years. Annabelle also teaches Poetry Writing at the University of Pittsburgh.

3. Paper and Nature
Fran Mulkins

Experience creative crafts for the novice, natural artist or expert within. Each day we will create projects ranging from paper making, flower pressing, rope weaving to jewelry and block printing. One does not need the mysterious 'talent' to enjoy and explore the wonderful world of art and personal expression. Bring: scissors, white glue, glue stick, pencil and a ruler.

Fran is an artist, teacher, Fulbright Scholar and Martha Holden Jennings Scholar. She has taught over 10,000 students in a 35 year teaching career.

4. Continuing our Conversation on the Theme
Reverend Nancy O. Arnold

Following the theme talk each morning, we will discuss the content and anything else that arises from Rabbi Horowitz's insights.

Rev. Nancy is in her eleventh year of service as minister with the UU Church of Akron. Prior to that she served the Meriden and New Haven congregations in Connecticut for four years. Nancy was ordained at age forty after graduating from Harvard Divinity School.

5. Journey Inward: Bring Your Umbrella
Reverend Elaine Strawn & Jane Harkey

Is your soul tired of being micromanaged by your inner critic? Time to downsize! This workshop invites us all to re-acquaint with our inner-selves. By embracing our shadows, we may quiet the inner-critic and invite the spirit to speak up. Max size: 25

Rev. Elaine is the minister at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Wayne County. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry in Spiritual Guidance. Jane is a clinical social worker at Laurelwood Hospital. She is coordinator of Partial Hospitalization and Intensive Outpatient Programs. 5

6. Leadership for Growth: Size Matters!
Rod Thompson

Each and every size of congregation can be wonderful and valuable to its participants, guests, and its surrounding community; but the character, breadth of programming and how it functions does vary significantly according to its size. Come learn the size characteristics of your congregation and what that might mean for you, your family, and your community.

Rod has been the Ohio-Meadville District Consultant for the past seven years. He grew up here in Ohio and once served our Kent UU church. One of Rod's passions is church leadership dynamics, of which size is a part.

7. That’s All Folks!
Bill Brauning

Many of us grew up with Bugs, Daffy, Tweety, Rocky & Bullwinkle and others. This is a multimedia presentation of the development of cartoon animation, and the creators who made it happen. From early Walt Disney & Warner Bros. animation to Rocky & Bullwinkle, we will explore characters and, of course, THE CARTOONS! Lively discussion with a large dose of laughter will be the main event

Bill has had an interest in animation for most of his life. An avid viewer of cartoons, he submitted character voice-overs to Mel Blanc. He has previously presented on the history of rock and roll.

8. Understanding the New Testament: A Workshop for Skeptics, Seekers, and Religious Liberals
Reverend David Herndon

Who wrote the New Testament, and when was it written' What worthwhile meanings can it have for Unitarian Universalists? How can liberal religious people provide a credible interpretation of the New Testament that offers an attractive alternative to the interpretation offered by the Religious Right? Our primary text for this workshop will be Understanding the Bible: A Guide for Skeptics, Seekers, and Religious Liberals by John Buehrens, former President of the Unitarian Universalist Association. Additional recommended reading: When Jesus Became God: The Struggle to Define Christianity in the Final Days of the Roman Empire by Richard Bubinstein and The Heart of Christianity by Marcus Borg.

Rev. David has served as minister with the First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh, PA, since 1990. A lifelong Unitarian Universalist, he holds degrees from Meadville/Lombard Theological School, the College of William and Mary, the University of Chicago, and Carnegie Mellon University. He and his wife Cindy are the proud parents of Rachel and Meredith.

9. Morning - Dancing Your Prayers
Pat Trudeau

We will examine and experience worship through movement, looking at the history of sacred movement and ways to integrate movement into our own spiritual practices. Music will include samples from various world cultures and from different historical periods. We will create some of our own rituals to enhance our prayer life and meditation.

Pat is a member of the First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh. She is a trained facilitator of Sacred Circle Dance which she has presented previously at SI.

10. Songwriting
Mindy Simmons

Have you ever heard a song and thought to yourself, ' I could write a better song than that!' or 'Gosh, I wish I could write songs like that!' or 'Ya know, I wrote a song like that once.' This year at SI we invite you to come and learn and share and grow with Mindy Simmons as she walks you through the songwriting process. We will be listening to and evaluating a few popular songs. You will learn the language of song writing and take with you the basic tools and guidelines to follow when writing your own songs.

Mindy is a full-time performer/songwriter who hails from Saraosota, Florida. She is an award winning songwriter with 7 full-length CD recordings to her name. Mindy's songs incorporate a variety of styles from country and folk to jazz and blues with lyrical content that includes spiritual, socially conscious, and humorous perspectives of life for adults and children alike! You can check her out on the web at: www.mindysimmons.com Please bring notebooks or journals and pencils to write with. Bring any songs you are currently working on and/or your ideas for songs. Tape recorders are welcome.

11. From Conversation to Collage: Our Spiritual Toolbox
Barb Beller

If you don't think you are an artist, you're wrong! Through sharing our beliefs, hearing the morning worship messages, using some guided imagery & music, and making collages, we will discover what's in our spiritual toolbox. So, we'll be combining both our 'heads' and our 'hearts' while we create art. If you wish, we will display our collages in the dining hall on Friday afternoon.

Barb has been a Commissioned Lay Leader in Akron for 5 years. Her passions are community ministry, teaching, justice issues, pastoral care, creating worship services, and exploring the spiritual life. Barb, a seasoned SI facilitator, has used collages to clarify her UU values, her multiple roles in life, and discover visual answers to tough questions. Bring: Some good cutting scissors, old magazines, and any other materials you might want to use in your collages (old photos, UU images, etc.) Class Fee - Bring $5.00 per person to the first class for special materials. Barb will bring heaps of magazines and other materials.

12. Tai Chi
David Clippinger

The class will provide a spiritual (Taoist and Buddhist) foundation for T'ai Chi practices and will teach a number of complete T'ai Chi and Chi Kung forms for extended practice. The class will marry the spiritual and martial elements of T'ai Chi. A great introduction to T'ai Chi. What to Bring: Participants should bring lots of Chi.

David is the director of Still Mountain, a Mind, Body and Spirit Center in Pittsburgh. He is also a member of Sunnyhill (UU Church of the South Hills, Pittsburgh) as well as the leader of Ksanti Sangha, a Buddhist group that meets at Sunnyhill.

13. Newsletter Workshop
Honnie Staples, Sue Szabo, Bruce Kent, Ginny Nagorski

This year the newsletter will be a morning workshop geared to teach writing/publishing UU church newsletters. We will concentrate on manipulating text and graphics for purpose, for visual attractiveness and for space requirements. We will emphasize how to use software shortcuts to accomplish specific goals producing our daily newsletter. We will complete final editing while creating an atmosphere that encourages mutual respect, playful spirit and quality. In the real world this will be a teaching workshop where participants learn about handling deadlines without panic, and about using back-up and saving strategies that will avoid disasters that are devastating and time-consuming. We look forward to seeing you there. (Max. 12)

Honnie has attended SI for a very long time... so long that she can barely remember how long. She has worked on the newsletter at Bethany, West Liberty and Kenyon with a number of different editors. She loves working on the newsletter because it gives her a chance to learn so much from the many folks that contribute, and the newsletter's unique atmosphere is wonderfully enriching and stimulating to be around.

Sue retired from the business world in 1996, found a UU Church in Berea, Ohio and within a year became the volunteer Administrator. She was the newsletter editor for two years, and still produces and distributes. She has worked on SI's newsletter for three years and has learned more than she ever imagined possible. She is truly looking forward to passing on some of this knowledge.

This is Bruce's third year at SI, and his third year with the SI newsletter. He has edited his church newsletter for four years. Before that, he edited a society newsletter with a circulation of over 2000 for four years. He also spent five years working for two different professional newsletter publishing companies. Through all this, he has remained humble.

Ginny has worked on the SI newsletter four years in a row. Part of her regular job as an employee of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, has been to train the public on how to use a PC. This training includes keyboarding skills and computer basics, how to navigate on the Internet and how to use Microsoft Word and Excel. As you can imagine, the proficiency levels of those with whom she's worked runs the gamut from highly skilled to 'never touched a mouse.

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Last update April 17, 2005