Community Church Night: Tuesdays, 5:00-9:00 pm
These Community Nights are open to all as a way to spend time getting to know one another in a casual, fun way. Starting at 5:00 p.m., you’re invited to gather for a potluck dinner. We start to eat at 5:30, so come any time! At 7:00, meetings and the social event will begin.
- March 3 & April 7 : Meditation with Science of Spirituality – A free program for both new and experienced meditators who wish to deepen their practice of meditation on the “Inner Light”
- March 3: Evaluating Retirement Living Options.
- March 10 & April 14: Sing-Along – Join Eric Lane Barnes for a themed sing-along!
- March 17 & April 21: Game Night – Join Nicole Duff for an all-ages game night! Bring a game you love, or learn a new one. All skill levels welcome!
- March 24 & April 28: Meaningful Movies Bellevue – Watch a powerful documentary about a relevant social justice issue and a discussion.
- March 24: Radical Hospitality: Ideas for Growth—Join Nicole Duff and Aisha Hauser for a crash course in inclusivity.
- March 31: Book Bingo! Bring a book you are ready to pass on, winner gets first pick. ALL ages welcome!
Community Circles
First Sunday: March 1, 12:30-2:30 pm
Why is inclusion important? What does inclusion mean to you? What does it take? Join us for our First Sunday Community Circle to explore the experience of inclusion.
Third Saturday: March 21, 10:00 am-12:00 pm
Who are we and what do we have to offer? Join us for our Third Saturday Community Circle to explore these questions.
Older Adult (50+) OWL: Tuesdays, beginning March 3, 10:00 am-12:00 pm
Our Whole Lives: Sexuality Education for Older Adults is a curriculum that takes values-based, social justice approach to the sexuality of adults in mid-life and beyond. OWL for Older Adults (50+) helps older adults enjoy the life-affirming benefits of sexual expression (solo or partnered). This program empowers and inspires participants to move beyond intellect to address the attitudes, values, and feelings they have about their own and others’ sexuality. Led by Milly Mularky, Jerry Bushnell, and Barbara Stevenson. Register online or in the front office.
Evaluating Retirement Living Options: Tuesday, March 3, 7:00-9:00 pm
Join us as we discuss the differences in various senior housing financial and service models. This presentation will highlight the top 10 most overlooked considerations when choosing your next home. We’ll take a close look at the pros and cons of retirement living, assisted living, continuing care retirement communities, and more. Learn how to choose the best fit for you, as well as how to understand when it may be the right time to move.
Joan Rettmann serves as the Area Community Relations Director for Era Living. In this role she works directly with families who are exploring retirement living options. She also trains and mentors Community Relations team members of Era Living so they may help their clients ascertain which residential option may be the best fit for them. Prior to joining Era Living, Joan worked in a variety of settings where she helped families explore options in retirement living ranging from independent living to the highest levels of care. Through her 12 years of experience in the retirement living sector, Joan has gained an in-depth knowledge of the constituents of the various senior housing models in the Seattle area. Knowing that choosing a retirement living residence is one of the most significant decisions to make in one’s life, Joan is very passionate about helping families understand the differences in these models so that they are able to find the right fit for their situation.
Big Questions in Philosophy: Tuesdays, 7:00-9:00 pm
We have all pondered seemingly unanswerably but significant questions about our existence—the biggest of all being, “Why are we here?” Philosophy has developed over millennia to help us grapple with these essential intangibles. There is no better way to study the big questions in philosophy than to compare how the world’s greatest minds have analyzed these questions, defined the terms, and then reasoned out potential solutions. Once you’ve compared the arguments, the final step is always deciding for yourself whether you find an explanation convincing. Led by Alan Carter.
East Shore Reads: Real American: A Memoir: Wednesday, March 4 & Sunday, March 29, 6:30 pm
Please join us for discussions of Julie Lythcott-Haims’ recent book, Real American: A Memoir (2017) on Wednesday, March 4 and Sunday, March 29, from 6:30 – 8:00 pm. Lythcott-Haims explores her experiences as a biracial woman in America, asking important questions about how America perceives her and the impact of those perceptions on her identity. Micro-aggressions are explained and highlighted throughout the book and we are asked to consider why they matter. Lythcott-Haims takes us on a very personal and painful journey of belonging, telling truths few people are willing to share. Along the way she asks deep questions about what it means to be a “real American.” Hosted by Emily Dietrich and Carrie Bowman. Books are available in the main office at East Shore for $15.
Humanist Discussion Group: Thursday, March 5, 7:30-9:00 pm
The Humanist Discussion Group’s next topic will be “Do We Have Souls and Afterlives?” Here are two readings to prepare for the meeting:
- classroom.synonym.com/how-does-the-secular-humanist-view-the-idea-of-soul-or-mind-12087195.html
- atheistnexus.org/profiles/blogs/a-secular-humanist-definition-of-the-soul
We typically have about eight people at each meeting, and we welcome newcomers.
Board Listening Circles: Saturdays, March 7, 10:00 am-12:00 pm
Your Board of Trustees takes time each month to open a listening circle to hear your concerns. These circles are scheduled for the first Saturday of every month, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. All are welcome.
Mindfulness and Presence in Communications: First Mondays of Each Month, 7:00-8:30 pm
Being more mindful immediately improves the quality of your life, as well as the lives of those around you. Often people think you must meditate for hours a week, or have an intense practice, but not so! In this class you’ll learn some creative and immediately useful techniques to bring mindfulness into your life every day, with minimal effort. This monthly class, led by Brett Hill, has information and practices gleaned from working with founders of mindful-based practices such as Hakomi, Loving Presence, and Matrix Leadership Workshops.
Women’s Perspective Retreat: March 13-15
Every year the Women’s Perspective group organizes a retreat for all those who identify as women. This is a time to relax, enjoy each other, and learn more about how to embrace our femininity and use it. This year the theme is “Celebrating Our Bodies, Our Selves: Stages of Women’s Lives.” As women grow and mature, we change both physically and emotionally, affecting us socially and sexually. This Retreat provides an opportunity to discover how biological, emotional, and sometimes medical factors interplay, and how we can better enhance our well-being throughout our lives with curiosity and joy. The event takes place at Rainbow Lodge in North Bend, day passes available. Register Online.
Fourth Wednesday Book Club: Wednesday, March 25, 7:30-9:00 pm
Please join us to discuss Nora Webster by Colm Tóibín on Wednesday, March 25, at 7:30 pm in the Library. Widowed at forty, with four children and not enough money, Nora Webster has lost the love of her life, Maurice, the man who rescued her from the stifling world to which she was born. And now she fears she may be sucked back into it. Wounded, selfish, strong-willed, clinging to secrecy in a tiny community where everyone knows your business, Nora is drowning in her own sorrow and blind to the suffering of her young sons, who have lost their father. Yet she has moments of stunning insight and empathy, and when she begins to sing again, after decades, she finds solace, engagement, a haven—herself.
Radical Hospitality: Ideas for Growth: Tuesday, March 24, 7:00-8:30 pm
In June, ESUC Members voted on a budget for growth… but it doesn’t just take money. It takes everyone to learn about and practice Radical Hospitality! We will use a video series to launch a discussion on how to be fully inclusive. Help us help East Shore! Led by Membership Development Manager Nicole Duff, and Director of Lifelong Learning Aisha Hauser. Please register by emailing Nicole at [email protected] or through Realm. If you missed a class, you are still WELCOME! Just email Nicole for information that you missed.
Meaningful Movies Bellevue: Suppressed: The Fight to Vote: Tuesday, March 24, 7:00-9:00 pm
Suppressed: The Fight to Vote weaves together personal stories from voters across the state of Georgia to paint an undeniable picture of voter suppression in the 2018 midterm election where Stacey Abrams fought to become the first Black female governor in the U.S. The issues Georgians faced included polling place closures, voter purges, missing absentee ballots, extreme wait times and a host of voter ID issues – all of which disproportionately prevented many students and people of color from casting their ballots. Come and meet local activists from Puget Sound Sister District and get involved. A suggested $5 at the door.
What is Affordable Housing?: Wednesday, March 25, 6:30-8:30 pm
Join us on Wednesday, March 25, for our final session. Note the change in date from the fourth Monday to the fourth Wednesday in March. We will conclude our conversation about how we as individuals and as a community can shift the narrative about housing and examine ways that we can contribute to local solutions. Hosted by Carrie Bowman.
Seabeck 2020: May 22-25 – Registration Now Open
Each year, East Shore and University Unitarian meet at the Seabeck Conference Center on Hood Canal over Memorial Day for a weekend of fun, fellowship, learning, music and relaxation. Registration is now open at esuc.org/news/seabeck.
The weekend begins Friday evening with dinner and ends Monday morning after worship. We are pleased to announce that the keynote speaker for Memorial Day 2020 is the music Director of East Shore Unitarian Church, Eric Lane Barnes.
Eric is a composer, writer, lyricist, pianist, director, conductor, performer and advocate for LGBTQ rights. He lives to explore all the ways music can connect people with themselves, with one another, and with the world around them.
Questions? email [email protected].
Chalice Camp: June 29-July 2, 9:30 am-12:30 pm
Registration is live for this summer’s Chalice Camp, a UU alternative to Vacation Bible school. Chalice Camp is an awesome way to connect with the community of kids and families at East Shore. Special thanks to Leta Hamilton for hosting this offering for the fourth year in a row. It will run June 29-July 2, 9:30am-12:30pm. It’s a great way to pack in 12 hours of fun and faith building! Find out more online at esuc.org/learning/reprograms/chalicecamp.