Circles of Life
August 5 - August 11, 2023
August 5 - August 11, 2023
Description
Workshops
Conference Leadership
Pricing
Description
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Welcome to Circles of Life!
We welcome people and families of all kinds. We welcome singles, children, teens, elders, young adults and you - however you identify and define yourself! We have something for everyone, with morning workshops and activities for adults and children, along with plenty of multigenerational activities in the afternoons and evenings. Come off the beach in the late afternoon, join friends for social hour, then dine in the DeWolfe Dining Hall or out on the Gitchell Porch. After dinner, join the friendship circle or grab an ice cream at the Ferry Beach Store. Join in the inclusive dancing each night, (including international folk dance and more) led by skilled instructors.
Mornings Each morning begins with a short chapel for all led by our Minister of the Week, Rev. Mark Robel. Music is an integral part of our worship, led by Reggie Harris, our Musician of the Week. On Sunday morning, we have a full-length multigenerational service. Adult Workshops Following chapel each morning, adults gather for the Theme Talk, led this year by Carl McCargo and Verne McArthur. After a short break, there are a variety of workshops for adults. Find details in the "Workshops" and “Conference Leadership” tabs above. Children/ Youth programming During the week while their adults are in their morning workshops, children spend time with their peers. Groups are organized by age (age cutoffs shift based on enrollment.) Each is led by 2 (or more) adults attending Circles of Life, who have completed a background check. Kids will play games, create art and music, and explore local ecology. Intergenerational Activities Each evening and most afternoons, there are scheduled activities for all ages. Some favorites include:
Our week is a special time-shared with others on the beautiful Southern Maine coastline. There’s time for laughter and reflection, long beach walks and quick swims, new friendships and family togetherness, sandcastles and sunrises. As a Circles of Life conferee, you are welcome to participate as you choose. We hope that you come as you are, that you find what you need, and that you return home feeling a little richer for the magic and joy you’ve shared in our Circle at the Beach. |
UUFAF—Unitarian Universalist Fellowship and Fun – has now joined the ranks of our other historical names (CVD and CBD). We have chosen our new name to more accurately reflect the nature of our welcoming and inclusive conference. We will continue to focus on our Unitarian Universalist heritage. Our goal of having FUN remains at the heart of our conference!
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Workshops
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ALL LEVELS YOGA with Anne Falkowski
Each afternoon, Anne will teach a creative, eclectic blend of many yogic traditions and styles. Modifications of postures are made to accommodate everyone, allowing both beginning and advanced students the opportunity to enjoy a satisfying, accessible, and energetic experience. Anne has been teaching yoga full time for over 20 years. In 2001, she created Samadhi Yoga Studio of Manchester and was the director of Samadhi Yoga Teacher Training up until Covid. She is passionate about writing and has many essays on yoga and body image which can be found online. Her teaching style is to be as present as possible, to see everyone in the room, and to speak the language of yoga from a place of grace and humility. Her yoga style is a hybrid blend of Kripalu, Forrest, and her own observations from many years of practice and teaching. |
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CONVERSATIONS ON AGING with Jackie Shanti
What a gift to sit with friends, new and old, to listen and learn from one another about our experiences of aging! Each workshop session will ask questions about a particular aspect of our journey:
Jackie Shanti will facilitate our conversations. She is a long-time Ferry Beacher, a retired RN and recently completed training as an End-of-Life Doula. |
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SMASH ART MOSAIC with Elizabeth Thomas
Learn the history and basics of mosaic art making. Participants may choose to work on a stepping stone, heart mirror or clay flower pot. Just bring an old towel and a willingness to get messy. Everything else provided. No experience necessary, just a creative attitude and desire to learn something new! Elizabeth has been smashing things and creating mosaic art for about 20 years. She hosts mosaic children’s parties, adult ‘smashed’ parties and potluck home parties with lots of broken things…and wine! |
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THEME SPEAKERS: Carl McCargo and Verne McArthur
Carl McCargo will present a two-day Theme Talk: “Our Need to Know: Media the Great Teacher?” In Carl's presentation, he will attempt to address the issue of how best we can defend ourselves against the manipulation, the deception and miseducation of our “entertainment” media. He may be talking about media, but his perspective is how media maintains and reinforces white supremacy that is integral to the soul of our nation. Carl is an American and deeply respectful of our democracy. He hopes it to deepens and grows. Through presentation, power-point and short video, the power of the media will become clear. Carl McCargo has been a UU for 37 years. He earned his M.S. in Clinical Psychology in 1981, entitled, “The Differential Portrayal of Black and White Television Families.” Carl has an enduring concern for the insidious and overt ‘teachings’ of racism in our U.S. media. Verne McArthur will present a two-day Theme Talk: "Environmental Healing as Spiritual Practice" The increasingly severe and obvious consequences of climate change are calling out for urgent responses. But what if the Western propensity toward technological solutions - controlling, grasping, problem-solving responses - misses the root cause of climate change, and possibly interferes with effective responses? In this talk, we will look at the fundamental need to heal our human relationship with the web of life, with planet earth. In what ways does our problem-solving culture undermine this relationship? How might we ground in restoring this relationship as a foundation for more effective responses to climate change? This is a profoundly spiritual challenge, which can open new and deeply meaningful ways for us to participate in shaping our future. Verne McArthur is an activist, workshop leader, singer, and song-leader. He taught adult students for over 30 years, specializing in critical thinking & sustainable community development. He has facilitated environmental workshops for several years. He is also a Unitarian lay worship leader and offers Sunday services in spirituality and sustainability. Verne is very involved in environmental activism through the Springfield Climate Justice Coalition, a strong voice for building a sustainable and resilient community in Springfield, MA. |
Conference Leadership
Conference Coordinator: Julie Haupt, jhaupt57@comcast.net
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Minister of the Week: Rev. Mark Robel
Rev. Mark began his tenure at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Wellesley Hills in January 2022. He received his MDiv. in 2018 from Union Theological Seminary in New York City, and completed a two-year internship at First Church Sterling, MA. He is currently also an affiliated Community Minister at All Souls New London, CT. Rev. Mark grew up Roman Catholic and credits these roots with his diverse and inclusive theological outlook. He sees the world as an amazing melting pot of thoughts and beliefs and sees Unitarian Universalism as the shining star in building Beloved Community. Rev. Mark also holds an RN diploma in Nursing from Somerville Hospital School of Nursing, Somerville, MA, and an MSN (Master of Science in Nursing) from Simmons College in Boston. He has been a Pediatric Nurse/ Nurse Practitioner for twenty-five years. His years as a pediatric nurse have had a profoundly effect on his understanding of compassion and empathy. Rev. Mark lives in New London, CT with his husband Tom and their rescue dog “Harley.” Both love living close to the beach and are avid gardeners. Their son Mark lives in Boston and all three of them have spent many happy weeks enjoying Ferry Beach. |
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Musician of the Week: Reggie Harris
Reggie Harris is a singer-songwriter, storyteller and world-renowned song-leader who is a powerful interpreter of the global music narrative. A passionate, engaging inspirational entertainer and concert artist Reggie is recognized for focusing new energy on the important role of music in the discourse for inclusion and the struggle for human rights using the lessons of history as a base. As an expert on the music of the Underground Railroad and the Modern Civil Rights Movement he is at home on stage as performer, lecturer or leading discussion in seminars or in the classroom. Uniquely committed to “music as a community building vehicle,” Reggie’s music shares insightful perspectives on issues of life, history, education and human rights. In the spirit of his mentors, Pete Seeger and Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon, (founder of Sweet Honey in the Rock), Reggie is a master songleader who loves to help people discover that they can make a difference at any age, wherever they may live. |
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Pricing
Pricing per Person |
Adult: $480.00 (Includes Conference Fees + Meals) Youth: $360.00 (Includes Conference Fees + Meals) Off-Site Daily Fee (Commuter): $60.00 Adult / $40.00 Youth (Includes Lunch Only) On-Site Daily Fee: $19.00 (On Campus and Not Registered for Programming. Does not Include Meals) |
Lodging |
Lodging Prices Vary Base on Selection. See our Lodging Page for pricing information. |
Membership |
Membership must be paid to attend any Ferry Beach program and is due annually. Individual Membership: $35.00 Family Membership: $60.00 See our Membership Page to learn more and to purchase or renew a membership or add on to your reservation. |
Register |
Click here to register. For help with your registration, or to register by phone, call the office at 207-282-4489 or email registration@ferrybeach.org |
Our mission at Ferry Beach is to awaken hearts to explore, grow and renew the spirit of universal love.
We work by creating programing and events in the areas of Arts & Culture, Education, Spirituality, Sustainability, Personal Growth and Justice & Action.
We work by creating programing and events in the areas of Arts & Culture, Education, Spirituality, Sustainability, Personal Growth and Justice & Action.
