Adult Forum Schedule

The Adult Forum (formerly known as Adult Religious Education) takes place each Sunday morning from 10 - 11 am.
Facilitators: Suzanne Durland & Joyce Peak - please contact them at for suggestions for future Adult Forums

February 5th,       "Let's Grow Group" - lead by Marin Hill
     Let's Grow Group reports back on efforts to come up with a growth plan and ideas about how to improve/refine ideas we've collected.

February 12th,       "Let's Talk About Love" - lead by Suzanne Durland
      I will ask members to think about Love during the week. To write a paragraph or two, bring in a reading , an old love letter, memories of a first love? How is love part of your personal identity?

February 19th,       "Today’s action is about the spaces we occupy with our speech, and the ways in which we listen:" - lead by Suzanne Durland
     From Standing On The Side of Love: At Occupy locations across the country, the idea of the “human mic” or “peoples mic” has taken hold. Simply put, this is a way of creating a welcoming, pluralistic space where everyone can be easily heard and their words are repeated back to them to express an understanding of what has been said and to amplify the speaker’s voice, without the need for amplification equipment. For those who have attended Occupy gathering, this way of communicating in large groups is incredibly powerful and provides a unique approach to listening.
     Today’s action is about the spaces we occupy with our speech, and the ways in which we listen:
     In order to cultivate love, compassion and understanding, it is important to practice active listening in our relationships. Making room for our own thoughts, and space for others’ thoughts, is crucial to standing on the side of love. Today, from morning to night, speak in a gentle voice, sparingly, allowing for silence as much as possible. Note how this feels. Does speaking gently change the nature of your conversations, or how people interact with you?

February 26th,       "Today’s action involves the examination of our struggles, and casting off the shame we feel by naming them:" - lead by Suzanne Durland
     From Standing On The Side of Love: For a number of reasons, lately, I spend a lot of time worrying about money. While I have everything I need right now, I struggle with my fears about the utter lack of a financial safety net in my life. I fear how I will ever pay down the debt, get ahead, own a home, financially support children, and see more of the world that calls to me. Throughout my adult life, depending on my bank balance, money has always made me feel either trapped or free.
     I know I am not alone. Many of us hold these fears, but we are also afraid to share these fears with others. We are ashamed. We don’t want to burden others, even when our struggles may be quite serious. We certainly don’t want to seem ungrateful for the ample luxuries in our lives, which might be as simple as being well fed, day in and day out.
     Today’s action involves the examination of our struggles, and casting off the shame we feel by naming them:
     We are living in turbulent times; each of us is struggling in our own ways; many of us are worried about our own livelihood, our black holes of debt, our ability to care for our families, or the prospects for our children’s future. What are your heartfelt concerns … what keeps you awake at night What societal systems in place have helped or hindered you in your journey?