The mission for adult transformations is to create a beloved community embedded in the life and teachings of Jesus that lives from an alternative vision of reality, challenges the status quo (of appearance, achievement and affluence) and equips the Body to transform the world.

This is a tall order, but we are excited to announce the offerings to begin the fall and invite all adults to come and join in the transformations!

Early Morning Sundays

8 am ~ The Men’s Room: facilitated for men of all ages by men of all ages, this will be an ongoing gathering where men can share their stories of faith and life.

Bill McCleary Bill Powell Dick Gann Saylor Smith

8:30 am ~ Exploring Women, Spirit and Nature: convened by Molly Myers and led by the group, this is an on-going gathering for women of all ages.

8:30 am ~ Yoga: A practice of meditation, prayer, stretching and toning: All levels of experience, ages and genders are welcome! Meets in the Youth Center, led by Sarah Finney and Dody Hansen.

11:15 am Sundays ~ February 12, 19 & 26, 2012

February classes feature teachers from beyond FUMC. A donation of $15 is requested (not required) from participants to pay these respected experts.

Gary Baran Nonviolent Communication (NVC)
This workshop will introduce NVC as a concrete set of communication skills that help us create life-serving families and communities and a spiritual practice that helps us see our common humanity. It creates a path for healing and reconciliation in its many applications, ranging from intimate relationships to social change. Gary Baran is a Certified Trainer with the Center for Nonviolent Communication serving as its executive director from 1998 until 2006; a Professor Emeritus of Philosophy; a California licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (inactive); and a member of the board of directors of the Oregon Network for Compassionate Communication.

Maurice Harris Introducing Midrash
In the centuries just prior to and during the life of Jesus, ancient Israel saw the birth and flourishing of a method of interpreting Scripture called Midrash. This creative, playful, and multi-faceted method of exploring the possible meanings of Scripture was familiar to the early rabbis and the early Christians. Rabbi Harris will explain some of the key ways Midrash worked and provide examples of the possible influence of Midrash on certain New Testament writings. Rabbi Maurice Harris served as Associate Rabbi at Temple Beth Israel for 8 years. Now, he writes and teaches in the Eugene area. His first book, Moses: A Stranger Among Us, is due out this winter from Cascade Books.

Ardis Letey Expressive Art as a Means of Grace
Each Sunday we will have a different focus on how Art can be a means of Grace – "Art for Meditation"; "From Surviving to Thriving"; and "Art for Play". Come whether you see yourself as an artist or not, it does not matter! We will use a variety of media for our explorations and discoveries of God through art making. Ardis Letey is an ordained deacon serving at Trinity United Methodist Church in Toledo, OR as Minister of Art and Communication. She has used the visual arts in ministry for over 20 years. Besides work in the church, Ardis also brings art making to Hospice Grief Group participants, plus dialysis and chemotherapy patients, during treatment at the Newport hospital.

Parents of Youth and Children:
Who? Parents of youth, elementary age and younger children or those interested in the parenting subjects!
When? Sunday Jan. 15, 22, 29, Feb 12, 19 and 26 from 11:15-12:15.
Where? FUMC in Rooms 13, 14 and 15 (MEET IN ROOM 13 FIRST).
What will we be discussing? Religion, our children and parenting.
What will be the class format? We will discuss and talk about some of the religious subjects our children are learning about in Sunday School then we will split up into parents of youth, elementary and preschool and younger groups to write down our parenting and religious questions which we will then answer as a group or small groups. Facilitated by Dody Hansen. Come and meet other parents at FUMC and fellowship together!

Your opportunities to BELIEVE OUT LOUD click here
Based on Marcus Borg’s series “Embracing An Adult Faith,” we are creating this course which we hope, in time, everyone in our congregation will take. It is designed to help us discern who we are called to be and what we are called to do to transform the world for God.

Thursday Morning Bible Study 9:30 ~ 10:30: Confessing the Beatitudes, facilitated by Debbie Pitney. This study begins on January 26.

CARING VISITORS

Caring Visitors is a program where lay people care for the elders in the church in a one on one setting and help keep them connected to God’s love. Our covenant as a Caring Visitor is with God’s help and the support of my church family I will try to:

Adults - Visit with a person at least once a month along with other contact (card, phone, e-mail).
- Make sure the one you visit knows you are an official visitor of the church (leave a card).
- Fill out “Caring Visitor Monthly Connection” card and place it in the box at the back of the sanctuary.
- Inform clergy immediately of situations that call for quick or broader response.
- Participate in 1-2 annual training sessions, held during Sunday school hour.
- Enjoy the depth of a relationship made possible by being attentive to another child of God.
- Call Coordinator or Visitation Pastor quickly if you have questions about your visit.
- Consider the possibility of serving Communion monthly to the one you visit.

CGROUPS

Join a CGroup Today! Find out what you didn’t know you were missing! We’ll do our best to find an existing group or a new group to meet your needs.

Adults Class: like John Wesley’s class meetings, CGroups are 8-12 people sharing faith, accountability & companionship on life’s journey.
Curiosity: we ask each other “How is it with your soul?” and really want to know.
Compassion: we choose our own group direction of study, discussion & growth, our shared passion.
Community: we are “inner-directed” and “other-directed”, balancing our personal lives with servanthood action in the community.
Covenant: whether we meet weekly, monthly or every other week, we promise to be there and create a safe space where everyone can be heard.

If you have any questions about Caring Visitors or CGroups, contact John Pitney, 541-345-8764 or e-mail to: compost@cmc.net