B.U.U.F. Adult Education

BUUF Adult Education Program, Fall 2013

Life-long Learning ⇔ Spiritual Growth ⇔ Building Community

Contact the instructor for further details. The course descriptions with schedules, and the registration form are also available as a printer-friendly PDF.

Registration forms (and payment by check) can be deposited in the "drop box" at the Adult RE table in the north vestibule or mailed to BUUF, attention Adult RE. You may register for more than one class, and pay fees with a single check (except for IFJ events; please submit a separate check made out to Idaho Friends of Jung). Your registration will be confirmed with a reminder of the start date for the classes or workshops you have selected. If the class is full or cancelled, we will contact you and refund the fee (classes filled by earliest paid dates).

[+] Common Read/Common Good

The Justice Outreach Branch has developed a new initiative that hopes to spark interest in various areas of social justice. Our first focus is on sustainable and local food systems, and to that end we will be reading and meeting to discuss two books: Slow Money, by Woody Tasch and Tomato Land, by Barry Estabrook. Mr. Estabrook will be in Boise on October 1, as part of the Treasure Valley Food Coalition's 20/20 initiative—for the valley to produce 20% of its own food supply by 2020. We will meet to discuss Tomato Land, on Monday, September 30, and Slow Money on Monday, October 21. Please contact Debra to reserve copies of the books.

Leader: Debra Smith, .

Schedule and location: Mondays, September 30 and October 21; 7-9 pm; Jr. High (Channing) room

Registration fee: $10 (includes both books)

Maximum enrollment: 15

[+] All Things Shining

All Things Shining approaches how to live a meaningful life in a secular, even nihilistic, age. It examines the various paradigms people have largely unconsciously accepted throughout Western history, beginning with Homer, and why they eventually failed. The authors believe that there is an historical logic leading to our present ambiguous times, where many people have great difficulty living meaningful lives and use examples from literature to reveal how people saw their lives in the past.

Class discussion will culminate with each participant producing a short personal statement of meaning in his or her life. This might be a short essay but also may be a picture, collage, quilt, musical composition, poem, etc. The instructors anticipate a Sunday worship service arising from this class and consisting of a selection of these statements.

Readings: Students are encouraged to read the first three chapters for the first class.
Oct. 1: Chapter 3: Homer's Polytheism
Oct. 8: Chapter 4: From Aeschylus to Augustine: Monotheism on the Rise
Oct. 15: Chapter 5: From Dante to Kant: The Attractions and Dangers of Autonomy
Oct. 22: Fanaticism, Polytheism, and Melville's "Evil Art"
Oct 29: Conclusion: Lives Worth Living in a Secular Age & Student Statements

Leaders: Elton Hall and Debra Smith

Schedule and location: five Tuesdays, October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29; Jr. High (Channing) room

Registration fee: $10

Materials: All Things Shining: Reading the Western Classics to Find Meaning in a Secular Age by Hubert Dreyfus and Sean Dorrance Kelly (Free Press, 2011). Will be available for sale in BUUF office for $5.

Maximum enrollment: 25

[+] Energy and the Environment - Global Warming

Every aspect of our modern day world differs from our caveman ancestry in only one critical aspect—we have energy sources that give us two basic things: energy reduces manual labor and it is used to provide products such as food and metals. Hence the study of energy as to types, sources, reserves, and consumption is absolutely vital for understanding possible solutions to the environmental problems (e.g. forest fires, ocean acidification, extreme weather events, etc.) we face. We will investigate current fossil fuels' usage and alternative energy sources in detail in a quantitative as well as qualitative manner.

Leader: Dan Bacon

Schedule and location: three Thursdays, Oct 3, 10, 17; 7-9 pm; Brown Room (N wing)

Registration fee: $10

Maximum enrollment: 15

[+] Beginning Knitting

This class will cover casting on, knitting, purling and casting off: basically enough knowledge to make a scarf or a potholder. Students should bring their own knitting needles, although a couple of extra pairs could be borrowed from instructor. Yarn will be provided. Follow-up classes may be scheduled if there is interest.

Leader: Morgaine Silverthorn,

Schedule and location: Saturday, November 16; 2—5 pm; Balazs (Sr. High) room

Registration fee: $5

Maximum enrollment: 10 (ages 7 and above welcome)

[+] Imagination First: Unlocking the Power of Possibility

When imagination becomes habit, it can transform your work and your life. Our class is based on a book by Eric Liu and Scott Noppe-Brandon who offer a set of universal practices that anyone can use to transform their life at work, home, and play through imagination. There will be a brief overview of the book and its philosophy and then we will practice some of the ideas found in the book. It will be fun to release your imagination and let your hands create!

Miriam Woito has been a professional artist and art teacher for both children and adults for over 20 years. She will create a safe environment for creative learning and you will have the opportunity to play and experiment. Purchase of the book is optional ($13).

Leader: Miriam Woito,

Schedule and location: two Thursdays, Nov 7 and 14; 7- 9 pm; Brown Room (N wing)

Registration fee: $10

Maximum enrollment:15

[+] Eating For Energy

What foods are best to eat to increase your energy? There are many factors that contribute to our sense of energy and vitality. Foods we eat can increase our energy or decrease it. Learn which foods increase our energy and what are the super foods. You have the option of signing up for one of 2 sessions.

Leader: Sparkle Paterson,

Schedule and location: CANCELLED (We hope to offer it in the future. If you have signed up and paid for this class, your money will be refunded.)

Registration fee: $5

Maximum enrollment: 20

[+] Path to Membership Classes

There are no fees for these classes, but registration using the attached form is encouraged. Snacks are provided. Child care can be arranged if we know at least one week in advance. For more information, contact FCT co-Chairs Jay Wechselberger or Mary Hester or email .

UU For Newcomers

This class answers all of the basic questions—UU history, our seven principles, the concept of the free pulpit and free pew, etc. This class is part of the board-approved Path to Membership for people new to the UU faith. Schedule and Location: Sunday, October 27 or Dec 1; 12:30-2 p.m.; Jr. High (Channing) room

Community Connections

The Community Connections class takes off where the UU For Newcomers leaves off—information about all of the groups and committees that makes BUUF run, social opportunities, adult and children's RE classes, and affinity groups. This class will help people find their niche and get involved with the fellowship.

Schedule and location: Sunday, October 6 or Jan 5; 12:30-2 p.m.; Jr. High (Channing) room

Becoming a Member

For those contemplating membership, this is where we will talk about what it takes to keep BUUF vital and our social justice outreach meaningful, including a discussion about finances and pledging. For people who have been friends for a while or are coming from another UU church, only this course is required prior to joining BUUF.

Schedule and location: Sunday, Nov 3; 12:30-2 p.m.; Jr. High (Channing) room

Idaho Friends of Jung Salons and Workshops

co-sponsored by the BUUF Adult Education Program

The Friday evening salon includes refreshments served prior to the presentation. No pre-registration is required. A donation of $10-20 is suggested and accepted at the door, but no one will be turned away. Some events are followed the next morning by workshops (separate fee charged) on the same topic. Pre-registration is recommended. For more details regarding these and future programs, visit idahofriendsofjung.org.

[+] Special Film Presentation: Finding Joe

IFJ is offering a special film, Finding Joe, on October 15, 7:00 p.m. at the Flicks Theatre, downtown Boise, followed by a brief discussion facilitated by the IFJ Board. The film is an inspirational documentary based on the work of the world-renown mythologist Joseph Campbell. Tickets cost $10 at the Flicks

[+] Love and Hate: An Archetypal Exploration of War

The workshop will explore A Terrible Love of War by James Hillman, and participants on Saturday are encouraged to read the book. Jean is a Boise counselor and a member of the IFJ Board.

Presenter: Jean Kuty

Salon: Friday, November 15; 7 -9 pm; North wing classrooms

Workshop: Saturday, November 16; 10am—1 pm; North wing classrooms; $10 - 20 donation suggested

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