Adult Religious Exploration We believe that religious growth continues throughout life. We plan and sponsor educational experiences for your body, mind, heart, and soul. Our Fall brochure can be downloaded HERE. You can also click on an event below to see details.

Book Discussions - Sundays, 7:30 - 9:00 PM The group meets from 7:30-9:00 PM on Sunday evenings during the fall and winter at the church. A 30 minute presentation on a book of interest is given, followed by an hour of friendly discussion over coffee and tea. Participants do not need to read the evening's book in advance, but many will want to do so afterward! The new book discussion semester will begin in October 2010, and we are looking for your offer to read and introduce a book and to lead a discussion about the book. Please contact Bruce Godwin with your name and book: 403-374-1925 or bgodwin@telus.net. An interest sheet will also appear on the Wickenden bulletin board. Buddhist Meditation - Mondays, 7:30 PM Facilitator: Tracey Pickup - student of Thich Naht Hanh. As part of our Adult Religious Exploration program, we sponsore a Buddhist meditation group. The group meets in Panabaker Hall on Monday evenings, 7:30 – 9:00 PM. In the tradition of Vietnamese Zen monk Thich Nhat Hanh, there is time for meditation, some chanting, and some discussion of Buddhist philosophy. There is no cost and no experience is required. Everyone is welcome. Please bring a pillow or bench. Chairs are also available. Information: Tracey Pickup. Church Choir - Thursdays, 7:30 - 9:30 PM If you catch yourself singing in the grocery store, when you're stressed, or at a campfire, or screaming high pitched soprano tones during a kitchen-fire, perhaps our choir is for you. We develop vocal skills, work on a variety of music styles; plus we have fun and develop a great sense of community. We rehearse every Thursday from 7:30 - 9:30 PM, fall though spring. We sing every 3rd Sunday at church, but also have special occasions such as the Western District conference, Yuletide Concert, Vocal Latitudes Concert, and April Cabaret. If you're interested, please contact Brian Dorscht, Music Director (403-475-8448). Choir sessions will being again on September 9. Click HERE for the choir's website. Collective Kitchen - third and fourth Thursdays, 6:45 - 7:30 PM Do you like to cook? Do you like to eat? You are welcome to join the Unitarian Collective Kitchen. It's as easy as sending Kichiji Kabayama an e-mail. The group meets twice a month, usually on the third and fourth Thursdays. The first meeting each month is the planning meeting. It runs from 6:45 PM to 7:30 PM. We decide what we will cook, and we divide up the shopping list so that each person brings two or three ingredients. A week later, at the cooking meeting, we bring our ingredients and receipts, and of course we cook up a storm. This meeting runs from 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM. We always cook more than we will eat, and we take home about half of the food in plastic containers. We divide up and redistribute the cost of ingredients. It usually costs about $2 to $8 per portion. Per portion means per complete meal lovingly prepared and served by human hands. If you are interested in joining, please e-mail Kichiji Kabayama. Forums - monthly, after the service Forum Speakers: Unitarian Church Forums present invited speakers or members of the church on topics of public interest, followed by questions and discussions. The prevalent topics of the Forums are social justice issues. Other topics include cultural events, scientific discoveries, city life, philosophic explorations, etc. The Forums are usually held on the third Sunday of each month after the Service, at noon. Information: Maya Fishkis. Please see the Special Events page for details of the next scheduled session. Introduction to Unitarianism and Universalism This short course is for newcomers, long-timers, those who are simply curious, and those who are considering becoming members of this church. Come join us to learn more about Unitarian Universalism and this church. We'll explore our spiritual journeys, Unitarian and Universalist history and theology, and what our congregation offers. If you would like to become a member of our congregation, we ask that you attend an "Introduction to UU" session, then meet with the minister. The next course will be scheduled in the fall. Please contact Mary Jane Hussy (403-286-1794) if you wish to attend or need child care. Music Listening Why not relax with an evening of music listening? This group gathers at people's homes and the host or hostess shares his/her musical tastes. Everyone is welcome. Watch the Quest (church newsletter, available at the church), emails, and Sunday's "Orders of Service" for times and locations. Space is limited, so RSVP to the host is required. Needlecraft Circle for quilters, sewers, knitters, and others - 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, 10:00 AM or 7:00 PM Drop in at Wickenden Hall twice a month - bring a handiwork project (quilting, sewing, knitting etc.) that you would like to complete in the company of others. Bring whatever supplies and equipment you need, task lighting, extension cords, and any kind of handwork that's relatively easy to transport. The summer schedule is: July 13 - 7 PM July 27 - 7 PM Aug. 10 - 7 PM Aug. 24 - 10 AM and 7 PM This is on a drop-in basis, so those who wish to attend a particular session should ensure that someone with a key will be in attendance. For more information, contact Loretta Biasutti (403-249-5945). Parent Connections Group Our Parent Connections Meetings are off and running! We have started a "do it yourself" small group ministry program called "Evensong for Families" every month. We look forward to some great discussions about being Liberal Religious Educators for our children. The group meets monthly from 12:00 - 1:30 PM during the fall and winter. We eat together promptly at 12:00 (please bring a lunch for yourself and your children) and start the meeting at 12:15. Childcare is available. If you are interested in this group, please contact Sandy Cooper (403-230-4146). Small Group Fellowship - various groups, twice monthly Small Group Fellowship is a program in which small groups of people regularly meet to share their lives and insights with one another, while developing warm caring relationships. For more details about this program, please click HERE. Turn of the Wheel Spiritual Retreats - Quarterly Have you been looking for a way to check-in with yourself about how your life is going? Join Marie Collins and Ev Arnott for the quarterly Turn of the Wheel Spiritual Retreats, held near each solstice and equinox. We will take time to reflect individually on the four areas of our lives: physical, emotional, mental, spiritual. We will spend time on each area, look back over the past season and consider how we are doing in that area, and then make concrete plans on what we plan to do in the next season in that area. Although this is facilitated, most of the time will be spent in individual reflection. The next retreat will be Saturday, September 25 from 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM. If you plan to come, please contact Marie or sign up on the sheet on the church activities bulletin board in Wickenden Hall. Vocal Latitudes Choir - Tuesdays, 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM Vocal Latitudes is a world music community choir that is sponsored by our church. Frank Rackow, a talented jazz and klezmer musician leads the choir, which sings traditional and popular music from various parts of the world. The choir rehearses Tuesday evenings at 7:30 PM in Panabaker Hall, fall through spring. The repertoire includes classical, pop, jazz, gospel, and world music. Most of the material is sung A capella (unaccompanied voices). There is no audition process. Interest and desire to sing with a chamber-sized choir are the only requirements. You don't have to sight-sing or have choral experience, just be able to match pitch and sing along with your section. For more information, visit the Vocal Latitudes Website or contact Frank.