Religious Educators Week
July 10 - July 16, 2021
Hybrid Family Conference
July 10 - July 16, 2021
Hybrid Family Conference
Description
Workshops
Conference Leadership
Pricing
Description
Join us for Religious Education Week 2021! We explore faith development, spiritual growth, and leadership in a week for colleagues, friends and families.
Each summer we create a dynamic community of individual congregations and families to form this vibrant multigenerational gathering where all kinds of families work and play alongside religious educators. We come to learn as well as to put into practice what it means to be Unitarian Universalist leaders and be part of a beloved community. This year our intentional community includes child dedications for our community at the beginning of the week in addition to our annual bridging ceremony at the week’s end.
There are so many ways we're already shining stars at loving one another: from keeping watch over little ones to sharing our heartfelt stories of life. We take long walks and talks on the beach, laugh together at the fabulous Talent/No Talent Show and watch our children grow up! We'll have so many ways to explore what it means to LOVE in a community and take that love to other communities.
Whether you are an overwhelmed introvert, a sunburnt human, or someone who just needs a nap, we all need a little break every day. Although it is so hard to say no to any of the delicious offerings, we want to provide a strong holding space for quiet time as well.
Afternoons feature more professional and personal growth opportunities such as themed porch chats, which focus on issues relating to religious education and parenting. There will also be a variety of multigenerational spiritual and “just fun” workshops, as well as time to just relax on the beach, take a walk, or play.
Multigenerational evening programs often include a dance, drumming circle, campfire, and the Talent/No Talent show. Programming for the day ends with a Spirit Circle, a time to slow down, reflect, and connect.
Each summer we create a dynamic community of individual congregations and families to form this vibrant multigenerational gathering where all kinds of families work and play alongside religious educators. We come to learn as well as to put into practice what it means to be Unitarian Universalist leaders and be part of a beloved community. This year our intentional community includes child dedications for our community at the beginning of the week in addition to our annual bridging ceremony at the week’s end.
There are so many ways we're already shining stars at loving one another: from keeping watch over little ones to sharing our heartfelt stories of life. We take long walks and talks on the beach, laugh together at the fabulous Talent/No Talent Show and watch our children grow up! We'll have so many ways to explore what it means to LOVE in a community and take that love to other communities.
Whether you are an overwhelmed introvert, a sunburnt human, or someone who just needs a nap, we all need a little break every day. Although it is so hard to say no to any of the delicious offerings, we want to provide a strong holding space for quiet time as well.
Afternoons feature more professional and personal growth opportunities such as themed porch chats, which focus on issues relating to religious education and parenting. There will also be a variety of multigenerational spiritual and “just fun” workshops, as well as time to just relax on the beach, take a walk, or play.
Multigenerational evening programs often include a dance, drumming circle, campfire, and the Talent/No Talent show. Programming for the day ends with a Spirit Circle, a time to slow down, reflect, and connect.
Workshops
2021 Workshops
Art and Yoga
Thea Shapiro and Danelle Seem
Workshop Fee: $25
How do we cultivate and sustain joy within, for those we love and the world? How do we express joy once we have found it? What are the different effects and affects of the many forms joy can take? Join us in exploring and sharing joy through art and yoga practices like movement, meditation, breath work, painting, collage, writing and sculpting.
Thea Shapiro and Danelle Seem
Workshop Fee: $25
How do we cultivate and sustain joy within, for those we love and the world? How do we express joy once we have found it? What are the different effects and affects of the many forms joy can take? Join us in exploring and sharing joy through art and yoga practices like movement, meditation, breath work, painting, collage, writing and sculpting.
Ecological Spirituality
Dan Harper
Workshop Fee: $50
A religious connection with Nature has long been at the center of Unitarian Universalism. In this experiential, hands-on workshop, we’ll explore ecological spirituality and make a direct connection with the natural world. Drawing on the insights of Thoreau and others, participants will have the opportunity to try out spiritual practices such as outdoors “mindfulness” practices, keeping a naturalist’s journal, close observation of Nature, and more. We’ll explore the deep connection between ecological spirituality and justice — environmental justice, racial justice, economic justice — and experience connections between healing the natural world, healing the human world, and healing ourselves. Although this workshop will focus on spirituality, religious educators looking for professional development will gain ideas and possibilities for children, teen, and adult programs.
Dan Harper is Associate Minister for Religious Education at the UU Church of Palo Alto, Calif. He organizes and teaches a variety of ecojustice programs in his congregation. He is a state certified California Naturalist, and is also familiar with the ecosystems of coastal Maine.
Dan Harper
Workshop Fee: $50
A religious connection with Nature has long been at the center of Unitarian Universalism. In this experiential, hands-on workshop, we’ll explore ecological spirituality and make a direct connection with the natural world. Drawing on the insights of Thoreau and others, participants will have the opportunity to try out spiritual practices such as outdoors “mindfulness” practices, keeping a naturalist’s journal, close observation of Nature, and more. We’ll explore the deep connection between ecological spirituality and justice — environmental justice, racial justice, economic justice — and experience connections between healing the natural world, healing the human world, and healing ourselves. Although this workshop will focus on spirituality, religious educators looking for professional development will gain ideas and possibilities for children, teen, and adult programs.
Dan Harper is Associate Minister for Religious Education at the UU Church of Palo Alto, Calif. He organizes and teaches a variety of ecojustice programs in his congregation. He is a state certified California Naturalist, and is also familiar with the ecosystems of coastal Maine.
Sacred Seeing
Lynn Medley and Kate Sullivan
Workshop Fee: $20
Join us in exploring the process of taking a photograph as a way to slow down, to notice things we often miss, and to see deeply with the “eyes of the heart.” Open yourself to wonder and awe, to the discovery of the holy all around you, and to photography as an act of silent worship. This year, we will explore the dance of light and shadow, what is hidden and what and is revealed in our images, ambiguity and mystery, discovering your holy places, and seeing the sacred all around us. Our photographs will be windows revealing what is both within and beyond what is often just simply seen.
Experience the divine in the world as we bring our camera to the eye and open ourselves to transformative power of sacred sight! NO SPECIAL EQUIPMENT or experience is necessary to fully participate. Bring your point & shoot, your big camera, your old Polaroid or your cell phone (which is what most people use!) This is a deep and FUN Multigenerational offering for people in High School on up. It is our 5th year of offering this course and we are so excited to welcome new and returning participants.
Lynn Medley is a Speech-Language Pathologist who spent a few years as a Director of Religious Education in a small UU fellowship in Pennsylvania. She has attended Ferry Beach’s RE Week for more than 13 years, and is the co-creator of this workshop, Sacred Seeing, with Kate Sullivan.
Kate Sullivan, long-time Ferry Beacher, is a Developmental Psychologist who has been working as an RE Director/consultant in UU churches for 15 years. She is also a photographer and has been working on bringing together her love of photography, building community and spiritual practice. Kate is the co-creator of this workshop, Sacred Seeing, with Lynn Medley, and is super excited to be offering it again this year during RE Week!
Lynn Medley and Kate Sullivan
Workshop Fee: $20
Join us in exploring the process of taking a photograph as a way to slow down, to notice things we often miss, and to see deeply with the “eyes of the heart.” Open yourself to wonder and awe, to the discovery of the holy all around you, and to photography as an act of silent worship. This year, we will explore the dance of light and shadow, what is hidden and what and is revealed in our images, ambiguity and mystery, discovering your holy places, and seeing the sacred all around us. Our photographs will be windows revealing what is both within and beyond what is often just simply seen.
Experience the divine in the world as we bring our camera to the eye and open ourselves to transformative power of sacred sight! NO SPECIAL EQUIPMENT or experience is necessary to fully participate. Bring your point & shoot, your big camera, your old Polaroid or your cell phone (which is what most people use!) This is a deep and FUN Multigenerational offering for people in High School on up. It is our 5th year of offering this course and we are so excited to welcome new and returning participants.
Lynn Medley is a Speech-Language Pathologist who spent a few years as a Director of Religious Education in a small UU fellowship in Pennsylvania. She has attended Ferry Beach’s RE Week for more than 13 years, and is the co-creator of this workshop, Sacred Seeing, with Kate Sullivan.
Kate Sullivan, long-time Ferry Beacher, is a Developmental Psychologist who has been working as an RE Director/consultant in UU churches for 15 years. She is also a photographer and has been working on bringing together her love of photography, building community and spiritual practice. Kate is the co-creator of this workshop, Sacred Seeing, with Lynn Medley, and is super excited to be offering it again this year during RE Week!
Conference Leadership
Pricing
Pricing per Person |
Adult: $384.00 (Includes Conference Fees + Meals) Youth: $282.00 (Includes Conference Fees + Meals) Online Attendance Only: $25.00 (if applicable to your conference) Off-Site Daily Fee: $64.00 Adult / $47.00 Youth (Includes all Meals) On-Site Daily Fee: $19.00 (Staying On Campus and Not Registered for Programming. Does not include Meals. Note: A minimum of one adult per party must be enrolled in programming.) |
Lodging |
Lodging Prices Vary. See our Lodging Page for pricing information. |
Membership |
Membership must be paid to attend any Ferry Beach program and is due annually. Individual Membership: $30.00 Family Membership: $50.00 See our Membership Page to learn more and to purchase or renew a membership. |
Or Call 207-282-4489 x1 to Register by Phone
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Due to our financial situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Ferry Beach will not be able to provide the traditional amount of support for our conference volunteers. If you are able to, please consider donating to help support a volunteer this summer and ensure your conference runs as smooth as you expect!
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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.
