What do Unitarian Universalists believe? A creedless church offers no ready-made answers to this question.  This popular class, led by Rev. Jacqueline Ziegler, provides tools for building a personal theology based upon the material of one’s own life experience.  Its purpose is to help us understand, develop, and articulate our own spiritual values and meanings and to place them within a larger context of religious, spiritual and philosophical thought.  This class is highly recommended for those new to Unitarian Universalism or to those thinking about joining us, but it is also helpful to thoughtful people at various stages in their life journeys.  In fact, some have enjoyed taking it more than once over the years!

The six sessions will deal with the following tentative topics:

• Preliminary Considerations – Spirituality and Religion
• A Unitarian Universalist Theological Model
• A Spiritual Autobiography – Your Own
• Religious Viewpoints:  Staking Out a Position on God
• Jesus, Hitler and Human Nature
• Credo (“I believe…”) and Closure

The class consists of presentations by Rev. Jackie, sharing of personal views in groups, large group discussions, reading assignments, and the writing and sharing of one’s “Credo” (“I believe” statement).  There are refreshments and a social time following each class for those who wish to linger.

Please note that there are readings and other homework assignments each week, so a serious commitment of time is required.  Please consider this before signing up. This popular class often fills up quickly, so sign up now!

Facilitator:     The Reverend Jacqueline Ziegler

NEW Dates:             Tuesdays:      January 24 and 31, February 3, 21  and 28 and March 6

Time:             6:30 p.m. Gathering/6:45 p.m. Start

Location:       Rev. Jacqueline Ziegler’s home, 25934 W. Laneville Dr., Ingleside, 60041

(for at least the first session and possibly meeting at other participants’ homes for the other sessions)

Cost:               $30.00  members; $45.00 non-members

(confidential scholarships are available from Rev. Ziegler)

Deadline:       Wednesday, January 18  (if there is still space available)

Registration:  Class is limited to 10 people.  A minimum of five registrants will be needed to hold the course.  Your registration must be secured by payment of class fee – otherwise you may end up on the waiting list.  Drop it off at the Religious Education Table during Coffee Hour or you can give your check to Rev. Ziegler or Mike Honegger.  You can also mail your check to: Rev. Ziegler, 25934 W. Laneville Lane, Ingleside, IL. 60041

As part of the Winter 2012 Adult Enrichment Religious Education program offering, Rev. Ziegler is offering another evening gathering of members and friends to discuss the philosophical and theological implications of a designated secular movie, all while sharing a potluck dinner.

Rev. Ziegler will facilitate the discussion through open-ended questions and comments. In order to participate in this evening of exciting, thoughtful discussion and delicious food, you should meet the following two requirements:

• you must have seen the chosen movie no more than 4 weeks before the evening gathering so its themes are fresh in your mind.
• reserve one of the ten (10) places at the table through Rev. Ziegler.

The second gathering will be Friday, February 10th, 2012, with the potluck dinner discussion beginning at 6:30 p.m. We will discuss the 2011 movie “The Tree of Life.”  It was designated as a Critics’ Pick by the film reviewers of The New York Times.  This movie is available now through Netflix and various on-line sources and maybe from your local library

To reserve a place at the dinner table, email Rev. Ziegler at revziegler@comcast.net or call her at 847-629-5868.  As space is limited, reservations will be limited to the first 10 people who contact her.

The deadline for reserving a spot at the table is Monday, January 9th. Rev. Ziegler will call you to confirm your place and discuss your potluck contribution.

The Adult Enrichment Committee is pleased to announce a showing of Michael Moore’s documentary film “Capitalism: A Love Story”. 

Overture Films describes the film this way: “Capitalism: A Love Story examines the impact of corporate dominance on the everyday lives of Americans (and by default, the rest of the world). The film moves from Middle America, to the halls of power in Washington, to the global financial epicenter in Manhattan. With both humor and outrage, the film explores the question: What is the price that America pays for its love of capitalism? Families pay the price with their jobs, their homes and their savings. Moore goes into the homes of ordinary people whose lives have been turned upside down; and he goes looking for explanations in Washington, DC and elsewhere. What he finds are the all-too-familiar symptoms of a love affair gone astray: lies, abuse, betrayal…and 14,000 jobs being lost every day. Capitalism: A Love Story also presents what a more hopeful future could look like. Who are we and why do we behave the way that we do?”

The film will be presented after the Sunday service at 10:45 on November 13th in a Prairie Crossing Charter School classroom, next to the Byron Colby Barn. A discussion period will follow including attempts to tie the material presented in the film to current events.  

If you are interested in attending the film, or if you would like to suggest a film to be considered for screening at a future Movie Club event, please contact Reverend Ziegler, Duane Shaneyfelt or Mike Honegger. Or, you can email your suggestion to: Adult-RE@PrairieCircleUUC.org.

The Adult Enrichment Team is pleased to announce the new book club book: Thomas Friedman’s “The World is Flat”. Thomas Friedman’s website describes the book as “In this brilliant new book, the award-winning New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman demystifies the brave new world for readers, allowing them to make sense of the often bewildering global scene unfolding before their eyes. With his inimitable ability to translate complex foreign policy and economic issues, Friedman explains how the flattening of the world happened at the dawn of the twenty-first century; what it means to countries, companies, communities, and individuals; and how governments and societies can, and must, adapt. The World Is Flat is the timely and essential update on globalization, its successes and discontents, powerfully illuminated by one of our most respected journalists.”

A meeting to discuss the book will be held in early February, with exact date, time, and location to be announced. If you’d like to attend or have any questions contact Mike Honegger, Mike Merritt, or Rev. Ziegler. You can also email the Adult Enrichment Team at Adult-RE@PrairieCircleUUC.org.

The Adult Enrichment/Religious Education Committee is pleased to present the popular three-session course Introduction to Unitarian Universalism (UU-101). If you’re new to UU-ism, or want a refresher in the basic fundamentals of our faith, you won’t want to miss this essential 3-part series for adults.

The course dates are:

• March 4th               Part I: Who We Are – Unitarian Universalist History and Principles
• March 11th             Part II: UU Spirituality, Beliefs, and Core Values
• March 18th             Part III: Community, The Wider World, and Our Participation in Evolutionary Change

Class sessions will run from 10:45 a.m.-12 noon, after the Sunday service and children’s/youths’ religious education classes.

Classes will be held in a Prairie Crossing Charter School classroom, next to the Byron Colby Barn.  There is no fee for the course or course materials.  Infant and child care will be provided as needed.  John and Inge Crowley will serve as the principal course facilitators.  Early registration is by sign-up using the sign-up sheet in the back of the Barn.  Please sign-up early, as space is limited!  For more information contact Adult RE Committee chairman Mike Honegger at Adult-RE@PrairieCircleUUC.org.

Summer is on the horizon, and if you would like to be part of a new book discussion group to meet periodically in the weeks and months to come, now is your opportunity!  Our first book will be The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living by the Dalai Lama, available from Amazon.com at $14.19 (hardcover).  It is anticipated that the new group will decide among themselves what books they will want to read thereafter.  Choice areas of interest for future exploration appear to be theology, environmental- and sustainability-related themes, and family-related issues.  Please indicate your interest using the form in the back.  Meeting dates/time/place to be determined by group consensus.

Watch the PCUUC website, the Sunday Orders of Service, and future newsletters for details on these and other PCUUC adult enrichment offerings.  Additional program ideas and suggestions are welcome!  Contact Mike Honegger (chairman), John Crowley, Inge Crowley, Fred O’Donnell or Duane Shaneyfelt.  Or, you may e-mail the committee at  AdultRE@PrairieCircleUUC.org.

The PCUUC Adult Enrichment Committee is pleased to offer another of the popular Northwest Earth Institute discussion courses, Voluntary Simplicity. At this time of deep economic distress with rising food and energy prices coupled with persistent job market uncertainty, we will explore together the concept of ‘simplicity’ as a religious practice or philosophy of life.  When do material possessions add meaning to our lives and when do they detract?  Are there alternatives to the fast pace of mainstream culture?  How much ‘consumption’ do we really need?  Guided by a series of carefully-selected readings, participants will address questions such as these and have the opportunity to develop a personal Action Plan to integrate simplicity into their lives.

This course will be given in five sessions on Sunday mornings after the service in May-June, dates to be determined.  Inge Crowley will serve as course facilitator.  Each participant/ household will be provided with their own 96-page course book at a cost of $21 each.  The course itself is free.  Indicate your interest by April 17th using the sign-up form in the back of the Barn after Sunday service.