Way back in the winter of 2003, I conducted a wedding late one Sunday afternoon and returned to the parish house to found it still buzzing with various conversations, hours after the morning worship service had concluded. In fact, there were still sixty people in the building! Right then and there, Spiritual Passions was born: an opportunity for members and friends of the Arlington Street community to offer and enjoy experiential workshops on their spiritual passions. Please plan to join us on Sundays from 1:00-3:00 p.m. (unless noted) for this winter's fantastic line-up! - Rev. Kim

Winter 2009 Spiritual Passions Offerings

Spiritual Passions: Introduction to Meditation
Sunday, January 4th, 1:00 PM in the Hunnewell Chapel

Don't just do something; sit there! And when you sit, just sit. Very simple directives... simple, but not easy! Join Arlington Street Church's senior minister, Rev. Kim K. Crawford Harvie, and members of Arlington Street Zen Center for Meditation 101, including answers to burning questions such as, "Where do I put my legs?" and "How do I stop thinking (without going to sleep)?" This ancient spiritual practice will bring profound benefits not just to you, but to all whose life yours touches. Wear comfortable clothing (and yes, you can meditate in a chair!).

Spiritual Passions: Connecting
Dan Kane, Interim Assistant Minister
Sunday, January 11th, 1:00 PM in the Hunnewell Chapel

Connections, the small group ministry program at Arlington Street Church, begins the week of January 11th, 2009. Connections groups consist of eight to ten people who meet regularly to engage in spiritual seeking, caring, intellectual exploration, community building, and living our values. Groups are led by trained facilitators, meet bi-monthly and occur in facilitators homes or here at the church. The sessions follow a prescribed format and, by all accounts, are spiritually and intellectually rewarding. Connections groups are also a great way to make new friends at the church.

All are invited to participate in a Connections group session on Sunday, January 11th, during a Spiritual Passion offered by Dan Kane. If you are interested in participating in a Connections group and cannot participate on January 11th, please contact Dan at DKane@ASCBoston.org.

Spiritual Passion: Corporation Meeting
Congregational Conversation about Music
Sunday, January 25th, 1:00 PM, in the Hunnewell Chapel

Spiritual Passion: Meditation
Arlington Street Zen Center Retreat
Sunday, February 1st, 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM, in the Hunnewell Chapel
Dinner follows

Spiritual Passion of Singing and Choir Open House
Sunday, February 8th, 1:00 PM, in the Hunnewell Chapel

Arlington Street Church's Director of Music, Mark David Buckles, and the Arlington Street Choir welcome you an afternoon of communal music-making: the spiritual passion of singing! We believe that the act of singing together is a central and beautiful part of our spiritual practice as Unitarian Universalists.

Will you join us? We will learn, briefly rehearse, and sing together an evocative selection of beautiful and interesting pieces, and offer answers to questions like "can I sing in choir if I can't read music, or if I've never sung in a choir before?" (yes), and "what do you do during rehearsal anyway?" Come prepared to share the music within you!

Spiritual Passion: The Art of Prayer
Dan Kane, Sunday, February 22nd, 1:00 PM, in the Hunnewell Chapel

This experiential workshop led by Dan Kane, interim assistant minister, is an opportunity to learn and practice the art of prayer: casting intentions from our hearts and minds into words and images, then putting them out into the universe via action, conversation, or even supplication, if we must, in order to bring them to fruition.

Spiritual Passion: Reclaiming the Message in the Messenger's Word
Erick DuPree, Sunday, March 1st, 1:00 pm, in the Frothingham Library

The Bible is a source of great inspiration as well as controversy. Quotations from the Bible are often used to spawn hatred. As Unitarian Universalists, putting dogma aside, what remains is a search for deeper understanding and truth. How can we find the truth in Jesus' message and reclaim our spiritual past? Join Erick DuPree, religious educator, as we reclaim the message in the messenger's word. If you have a Bible, please bring it with you.

Spiritual Passion: Creating Sacred Space
Erick DuPree, Sunday, April 5th, 1:00 PM, in the Hunnewell Chapel

Join Erick DuPree, religious educator as we empower ourselves and learn how to create Sacred Space. Whether it’s our own chair in the corner or an entire room, one common thread among all sacred space is that it enhances our ability to commune with a higher power. From this flows an abiding source of strength and a deep feeling of connectedness. Learn how creating sacred space envelops you in mystery, heightens the senses and sparks feelings of peace, comfort, energy, and love. This is a Goddess themed activity drawn from Starhawk and our Unitarian Universalist sources.

Spiritual Retreat in the Wilderness - An Arctic Sojourn
Lois Hartsough, Sunday, March 15th, 1:00 PM, in the Hunnewell Chapel

Since childhood, nature has taught Lois spiritual lessons. In August 2008, she went on a women's wilderness camping trip to Gates of the Arctic National Park, which is in Alaska, north of the arctic circle. She will share her experiences of living in an area where the only human impact has been from nomadic hunter and gatherer cultures. On the last day of her trip, a grizzly bear came to the campsite, and one woman was mauled, yet survived due to heroic efforts of the trip guides and all of the members. Discussion will consider lessons of 1) living with limited control of our environment 2) appreciating the scale of wilderness in comparison to human experience 3) discovering our true self by looking at the awesome beauty in wilderness and our vulnerability as humans.

Spiritual Passion: Only a Child Author Visit
Sunday, March 29th, 1:00 PM, in the Hunnewell Chapel
Author Francisco Goldman will be at Arlington Street Church to join us in a discussion of his best-selling book, The Art of Political Murder: Who Killed the Bishop?. The New York Times named the book one of one hundred Notable Books of 2007. The book gives an accurate feel for the violence-laden community in which Only A Child operates, and reinforces the urgency to help homeless youth move off the streets and into stable environments. George Leger, the founder of Only A Child urges all to read this compelling book and join in this opportunity to speak with Mr. Goldman about human rights in Central America.