WINTER PROGRAM 101

with REVS. GARY SMITH & CHRIS JABLONSKI

Program Description:

With supportive peers, we’ll find our voice for the UU pulpit. Where do sermons come from and how can we point our congregations toward hope.

Following Sundays, 3pm - 4:30pm

January 15th, February 19th, and March 19th

Rev. Gary Smith is Minister Emeritus of the First Parish in Concord, Mass, retiring in 2011. He taught Preaching in the Free Church Tradition at Harvard Divinity School for fifteen years.

"Authentic preaching reveals spiritual vulnerabilities. We’re excited for this chance to lean into each other and to hone the skills needed to pay attention, to write with focus, and to speak about our lives."

- Rev. Gary Smith

Rev. Chris Jablonski is the senior minister of the First Church in Belmont Unitarian Universalist as well as the co-creator of the Community Collaborative. He is the father of three wonderful kids and husband to a wonderful UU Minister named Lauren Smith.

"Queer and Questioning folks of all genders, identities, and sexualities are invited to attend this time for self-exploration, theological conversation, and community building."

- Rev. Laura Solomon

WINTER PROGRAM 102

with REV. DR. LAURA SOLOMON

Program Description:

What is queer theology? How do we queer theology? As queer folks of faith, how do we claim (or reclaim) and shape (or reshape) our understandings of ourselves, the world, and all that is such that we also know the queerness inherent in the world, in God, and in our faith?

*We encourage people to attend all sessions; however, drop-ins are welcome.

Rev. Dr. Laura Solomon joined UUCR as minister for the 2022-2023 church year. Prior to serving UUCR, Rev. Laura served the Unitarian Universalist Church of Silver Spring, MD as their Assistant Minister of Spiritual Growth. Rev. Laura graduated from Meadville Lombard Theological School in 2021, and was ordained by the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbia, MD.

Following Thursdays, 7:30pm - 9pm

January 19th, February 2nd, February 16th,

March 2nd, and March 16th.

Rev. Laurel Gray of UUSCW (Unitarian Universalist Congregational Society of Westborough) will be joining Rev. Dr. Laura Solomon in leading group discussions.

WINTER PROGRAM 103

with PEG O'CONNOR

Program Description:

Drawing inspiration from American philosopher and psychologist William James (1842-1919), Peg O’Connor argues for a far more spacious conception of higher power than is traditionally encountered in twelve steps programs. Join Rev. Chris Jablonski and Intern Minister John O’Connor of First Church in Belmont, and Rev. Kim Crawford Harvie of Arlington Street Church for an engaging panel discussion

Wednesday, February 8th, 7:30pm - 9pm

Peg O'Connor is a Professor of Philosophy at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN, recovering alcoholic of 35 years, and author of Higher and Friendly Powers: Transforming Addiction and Suffering (Wildhouse Publications, 2022) and Life on the Rocks: Finding Meaning in Addiction and Recovery (Central Recovery Press, 2016). She writes the column “Philosophy Stirred, Not Shaken” for psychologytoday.com.

For more information on the author and her writings, and to order a copy of the book, please visit https://pegoconnorauthor.com/

Rev. Kim Crawford Harvie will be part of the programs panel. She attended Harvard Divinity school and has served as senior minister at Arlington Street Church in Boston Massachusetts since 1989.

"In constructing our narratives, we identify which particular events or experiences were formative or transformative. In telling our stories, we also claim some authority over our own experiences and their meanings."

— Peg O'Connor

with INTERN MINISTER JOHN O'CONNOR

Program Description:

As Unitarian Universalists, how are we to engage with the Apocalypse, one of the most troubling texts from our Christian tradition? John argues that because this text continues to inform popular US culture and politics, we cannot ignore it. Rather than “predicting the end of the world,” John argues the text offers humankind the chance to reconsider its ways, and to make better decisions.

Join us for a two-part discussion of this thesis which offers John’s translation, the original Greek text, an introduction, study questions, and original artwork. For a free PDF copy, CLICK HERE

Tuesdays, February 14th and 28th, 7:30pm - 9pm

WINTER/SPRING PROGRAM 104

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“When I first read that the decision to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem was motivated, at least in part, by some members’ of the Trump administration interpretation of the Apocalypse, I knew that I had to come to a better understanding of this text!"

- John O'Connor

John O'Connor graduated from Harvard Divinity School in May, 2022 and currently serves as the Intern Minister at First Church in Belmont.

WINTER PROGRAM 105

with REVS. JENNA CRAWFORD and

CHRIS JABLONSKI

Program Description

Leadership in times of transition and uncertainty is hard. So much has changed and is still changing, and as our congregations navigate this next chapter of the pandemic and our gradual return to community in this new way, it matters that as leaders we take the time to reflect on what leadership means in times like these. This class will explore the work of Karen Hering in her book "Trusting Change" as well as Susan Beaumont in her book "How To Lead When You Don't Know Where You Are Going" as well as Buddhist psychology and teachings around change.

Mondays, Feb. 13 and March 6, 7pm - 8:30pm

Rev. Jenna Crawford attended Boston University School of Theology and currently serves as the minister at the UU Church of Marblehead.

"Unitarian Universalism, and organized religion itself, is evolving rapidly. I'm excited to be a part of the future of ministry in our denomination, which I believe will be more collaborative and creative. For that reason, I think the CommUUnity Collaborative is on the cutting edge of UU shared ministry, and I'm so delighted to be a part of it, to meet you all, and to tackle some big, exciting challenges together. "

- Rev. Jenna Crawford

with REVS. DANIEL GREGOIRE and

CHRIS JABLONSKI

Program Description:

Come and explore Unitarian Universalism! This is a class especially for people who are newer to Unitarian Universalism or for people who have been in church a long time without digging into our rich history. We will explore the roots of both Unitarianism and Universalism through some fascinating moments and characters in our history. We will also explore this modern incarnation of Unitarian Universalism and what we are called to create in this moment in which we live.

Sundays, March 5 and 12, 3pm - 4:30pm

Rev. Daniel Gregoire is the minister of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Grafton and Upton (UUSGU). He is a graduate of Union Theological Seminary in New York City and has served congregations in New York, Maryland and Pennsylvania. He lives in North Grafton, Massachusetts with his wife Kate.

WINTER PROGRAM 106

"One of my favorite things about Unitarian Universalism is that it is a path of lifelong growth and learning, which is, in part, what I love best about the Community Collaborative. It gives us all so many ways to deepen and grow."

- Rev. Chris Jablonski

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WINTER PROGRAM 107

with REV. DAVID EGAN

Following Mondays, 7:30pm - 9pm

February 13th, February 27th, March 13th,

March 27th, and April 10th

Rev. David Egan attended Andover Newton Theological School and currently serves as the minister at First Parish Unitarian Universalist in Medfield

Program Description:

Have you ever wanted to learn how to make a movie? Then come join us for this five-session movie making course. Together we will decide on the genre, create characters, and construct a plot. Once we have our story, each character will film their scenes using their own smartphone. Finally, we will learn how to edit all of the scenes together in iMovie. Hope you can join us for this fun and interactive course! All ages welcome.

with REV. DR. ROB HARDIES

Program Description:

Would you like to better understand what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist? Are you interested in UU approaches to thinking about life’s important questions? Then join Rev. Rob Hardies for this six-week exploration of Unitarian Universalist theology. Using Rebecca Parker and John Buehren’s book, A House for Hope as our guide, we will explore the rich insights of our Unitarian Universalist theological tradition and explore our own beliefs.

Participants will be expected to purchase and read Parker and Buehren’s A House for Hope: The Promise of Progressive Religion for the Twenty-first Century, available from Amazon or the UUA bookstore. We’ll read two chapters per session.

Following Tuesdays, 7pm - 8:30pm

February 28th, March 7th, March 14th,

March 28th, April 4th, and April 11th

Rev. Dr. Rob Hardies began his tenure as Contract Senior Minister of First Parish in Cambridge, Massachusetts in August 2022. Rev. Hardies is an experienced preacher, teacher, counselor and activist. From 2001 to 2020, he was Senior Minister of All Souls Church, Unitarian in Washington, DC, a large, dynamic multiracial congregation.

In addition to his ministry at First Parish, Rob leads walking pilgrimages along the Camino de Santiago and to other destinations. Rob divides his time between Cambridge, MA and Washington, DC, where he lives with his husband and ten-year-old son.

WINTER PROGRAM 108