Morning seminars are classes designed for adults to learn a new skill, get creative, move and meditate or contemplate a deep topic in the company of others who share a similar interest. Morning seminars run Monday – Friday after the theme talk and you attend the same seminar the entire week as each day builds upon the day prior.
Morning seminars fall into three categories, with lots of crossover: the thinking/religion/spiritual (dealing with Unitarian Universalist issues, historical matters, things around you, or social justice), movement (yoga, tai chi, dancing, or exercising), and the artistic/creative (collages, music, journaling, etc.). Each year’s seminars will differ depending on available teachers and interest.
Seminars available for 2025 are listed below. When you register you will enter your 1st & 2nd choices on the registration form. Seminars may be cancelled due to poor enrollment or a teacher cancellation so please have a backup selected.
Buddhist Study Group
A peer led discussion group that secularly explores and experiments with: The 4 noble truths and the 8-fold path, beginner meditation practice (15 min),Reducing suffering in ourselves and the world, and Community building. Resources used: Dharmaseed.org dharma talks by Insight meditation Society dharma teachers, Each other’s unique perspectives and experiences with the teachings, and our own perspectives and experiences with the teachings.
Jacqueline Sturbaum is a massage therapist and mental health counselor who enjoys learning and nature. She trained to be a teacher in Mindfulness Based Stress reduction and has attended several week long Vipassana silent meditation retreats. She and her husband have led this peer to peer Buddhist Study Group for 6 years and have recently began offering it at Westshore UU in Rocky River.
Mission Based Governance: The Practices of Congregational Board Leadership
It can be difficult, amidst all of the many challenges a congregational board might experience, it can be difficult for a congregational board to understand its own role. Mission Based Governance is a system of the 7 Core Practices of a Congregational Board, although the system can be used for other kinds of Boards as well. The workshop will explore each of the 7 Practices, and also explore some of the tools that Board can use to live each of these practices well. Attendees will leave with an understanding of what is the role of a congregational board, and a set of practices on how to live that role well in support of the congregation’s mission and values.
The Rev. David Pyle is the Regional Lead and a Congregational Life Consultant with the MidAmerica Regional Staff. Rev. Pyle holds a Masters of Divinity from the Meadville Lombard Theological School and a Bachelors of Arts in History and Political Science from East Tennessee State University. He completed his Clinical Pastoral Education Residency at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois. He has served as a minister for congregations in California, Michigan, and Illinois, and as an Administrator for a congregation in Texas. He also serves as the Brigade Chaplain for the 244th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade, US Army Reserve, Fort Knox KY. He lives in Oak Grove, Kentucky.
Sci-Fi Theology
Science fiction invites us to imagine new worlds, extraordinary beings, and unknown systems. As readers, we ask: What does it mean to be human? Who do we want to become? And what really matters? The questions in science fiction are the same ones we explore in congregations.In this interactive workshop, we will discuss theological questions in five sci fi stories and consider how they help us to understand ourselves, our values, and our world. You do not need to read any/all of the texts in advance. I will provide a summary and a key passage for discussion. You might notice that I’ve prioritized Black/queer/women authors. That’s intentional, and we can absolutely allow our conversation to range widely to other works.We will focus on the following books/short stories:- “Amnesty” by Octavia Butler (In the 2005 expanded version of Bloodchild)- A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers- Emergency Skin by N.K. Jemisin (this is free if you have Amazon Prime)- The Word for World is Forest by Ursula K. LeGuin- All Systems Red by Martha Wells.
Morgan Patten is the Director of Religious Exploration at North UU Congregation. She is also a seminarian and an aspirant for UU ministry. She lives with her partner, Cara, and their five children. Morgan loves running in the woods, reading speculative fiction, and wondering at the universe.
Quilts of the Underground Railroad
How did enslaved people in the South know when to leave, where to go or what to bring with them for the dangerous trip to freedom in the North? Learn about how different quilt patterns served as signals and maps for the “Underground Railroad.” Participants will have a choice of two of the quilt blocks to stitch by hand or by machine. Use the block to make a pillow or a wall hanging, or as a start to a larger quilt. A kit will be provided along with full instructions. A supply list will be sent closer to the event.
Sheryl Schrot has been sewing for nearly 60 years and quilting for over 30 years. She loves history and has always been fascinated with the Civil War, its causes and its aftermath. She is a 5th generation Unitarian Universalist living in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. She is excited that we are back at Oberlin College since the town of Oberlin and the state of Ohio played a pivotal role in the Underground Railroad and the fight to abolish slavery.
Life Lessons: Honoring Our Teachers
We are learners: sometimes willingly, sometimes reluctantly. Elders, children, Mother Nature, our nemeses all help to make us who we are. We will spend the week combining drawings of trees (what type are you?), roots (who has nurtured and fed you), and leaves (whom have you nurtured, shaded, fed). Creating a safe circle of learning and sharing together, we will create a beautiful grove. Materials will be provided. No special “artistic” skills needed.
Rev. Elaine Strawn has been a social worker, minister (Methodist and UU), student, mediator and lecturer. Currently she learns from her garden, her spouse and adult children, her spiritual directees and those she mentors. It’s an ongoing apprenticeship!
Turbo Charge Your Small Group Ministry
Has small group ministry become a bit of a yawn? Do you yearn for a deeper connection and a walk on the wild side? This workshop is experimental and experiential. We’ll try some things and leave with some new tools in our toolboxes.
Rev. Michelle Buhite is a longtime CERSI attendee (since 2003) and UU minister. She has a passion for confronting and healing religious trauma (which sometimes looks like boredom and disconnection). She is certified in religious trauma, spiritual direction, and Jungian informed dream work.
Beginning Zentangle©
Zentangle is a meditative, easy to learn art form. We draw patterns, not things. It is all taught so if you are intrigued, you WILL be successful. Participating in a 5 day class will enable students to become independent Zentangle artists.
Judy Montgomery became a Certified Zentangle Teacher in 2012 after a 35 year career as an elementary & Middle school librarian. She has been teaching 1 to 3 Zentangle classes a week since 2012:-)
Aging with GRACE as a Spiritual Journey
This workshop will introduce participants to the topic of spirituality and aging with GRACE (G-Gratitude, R-Realistic, A- Active, C-Cognitive, E-Engagement). Daily topics will include: Re-Defining Old, Living with Gratitude, Life Transitions, Staying Active for Body and Mind, and Engaging with Family, Friends, and Community. Join us as we re-imagine aging as it applies to your lived experience, explore how to welcome aging as a new awakening, and apply aging with GRACE practices into your daily life.
Marjorie Loring has over 25 years experience as a UU lay leader in congregations both in Florida and Ohio. Her passion for lifelong learning started some 30 years ago in her professional career where she developed and facilitated training sessions on effective communication, conflict resolution, DEI, and leadership development. Marjorie embedded her UU principles and values into her responsibilities with both life trajectories – as a professional facilitator and a UU lay leader.
Environmental Justice: Finding Joy by Living our UU Values in a Changing World
Workshop participants and leaders will begin by sharing our environmental fears and hopes. Together we will learn how a changing world will impact our individual communities. We will then explore the range of actions we can take to achieve a more livable world — both as individuals and as active members of churches, communities, and justice organizations. Putting this all together, the goal is to find joy using our “superpower” skills to achieve the positive future we envision.
Bob Mitchell retired in 2014 after a career in engineering research and management. He has since taught courses about climate change and worked as a volunteer for stronger environmental policies. He belongs to the First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh and has been attending SI with his family since 1998.Cindy Frantz is a long-time member of the Oberlin UU Fellowship and a long-time climate activist. She’s an environmental psychologist who teaches at Oberlin College. This is Bob and Cindy’s 4th co-led workshop.
Art your Heart
Given encouragement, a little instructions and the right supplies everyone is artistic. Over the years of teaching art I have worked with people who say they “aren’t artistic” and they end up loving their creations. We will learn various easy mixed media techniques. You can alter cards, make a wall hanging, create a journal or do your own mixture. You will have inspirational words and quotes to include so that it serves as inspiration and meaning when you return home. Requested donation of $10 a person for supplies. (Can be waived if needed)
Cindy Williams: I love doing mixed media art and continue to take classes and learn new techniques. I have taught this workshop twice at SI and for many years at UUMAC. I live in Ellicott City, Md. with my husband Steve (the tuba guy) and our dog Jimmy. We have two grown daughters that live nearby.
The Divine Feminine Voice in Early Christianity
Discover the surprising presence of feminine God-voices and female disciples found in the first few centuries of Jesus followers. We will be using the New Testament and a number of early Christian extra-canonical texts, some discovered relatively recently.
Katie Grigg-Miller has an open mind about what Christianity means, and has been studying early Christianity for several years.
Shall we dance?
Spend your mornings learning the basics of a social dance or two. Social dances are partner dances with a ‘lead’ and a ‘follow’, like ballroom, Latin, or swing. We plan to teach one “smooth” ballroom dance (probably waltz) and one in a different style, either Latin (maybe cha-cha) or swing (our favorite is West Coast Swing). We know several dances, and we’ll seek feedback from the participants on which dances we teach. We intended this to be non-judgmental and joyful. No experience required. No partner required. We do ask that you choose and stick to either a ‘lead’ or a ‘follow’ role per dance so that you can develop skill and confidence in that role during the time we have together.
Clark and Megan Ritz- ” We met in a social dance class in college more than 20 years ago and have been dancing ever since. We’re not professionals, but we love to dance and have experience teaching beginners.”
Morning Gentle Yoga Practice
Let’s come together to practice self-care, appreciation, and reflection with traditional yoga poses. Please bring your yoga mat and a lightweight blanket or towel, and a water bottle.
Currently, Beth Jewell co-leads a balance and weight-training class for senior citizens in Silver Spring, Maryland. Beth is a yoga devotee of many years and a UU congregant since 1993.
Grief Is Good
Explore grief as an essential and transformative part of life. Through mindfulness meditation, reflective writing and storytelling, attendees will delve into unexpected forms of grief, grief dreams, and ways to honor their experiences and loved ones. By exploring the idea of contemplating mortality and reflecting on takeaways, participants will leave with tools to embrace their grief, create a meaningful path forward and help others do the same.
Katie Cosgrove is a trauma-informed grief coach, certified end-of-life doula and bestselling author of the children’s book, I’ll See You in Your Dreams Tonight. Cosgrove focuses on healthy grieving methods and positive life transformation tools.