Spirit Study
Living a life of meaning and spiritual depth takes more than reading books about religion and spirituality. It requires intention, reflection, and a commitment to praxis. Praxis is the process of practicing what one is learning.
Spirit Study is a 10-month invitation to learning, practice, and reflection. Our 2023-24 study topic is Imagining Liberation: White Supremacy Culture Characteristics and Antidotes, based on the work of Tema Okun (learn more here: https://www.whitesupremacyculture.info). Our study year runs from September 2023 through June 2024.
This year’s Spirit Study builds on the work Chalice has begun (including overwhelmingly passing the Eighth Principle) and asks us to go further. It is based on the work by Tema Okun as seen on the website https://www.whitesupremacyculture.info/. It is an invitation for a small group (4-6 members) of congregants to work together to…
- …name and challenge the characteristics of White Supremacy Culture.
- …explore in more depth one facet of the Characteristics of White Supremacy culture
- …learn from each other in a covenanted, accountable learning space.
- …continue to strengthen a base on which to build individual, community, and institutional practices in support of the UU Eighth Principle and our Chalice mission.
- …prepare a 20-minute presentation for the “sermon” portion of the service based on the group’s chosen White Supremacy characteristic with a strong focus on the antidote.
- …move together towards the liberatory future we seek.
We need all voices, perspectives, experiences, ideas, creativity, and ways of knowing.
Questions? Contact liberation@chaliceuucongregation.org.
Previous Spirit Study topics:
- 2022-23. UU Values and Covenant, reflecting on the proposed changes to the Unitarian Universalist Association’s (UUA’s) Article 2 (pdf)
- 2021-22. Listening to Black Preachers sermon series. Read more here.
- 2020-21. Healing Trauma, informed by the book My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies by Resmaa Menakem.
- 2019-20. Resiliency, informed by the book The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron
- 2018-19. UU Theologies, informed by the book A House for Hope: The Promise of Progressive Religion for the Twenty-First Century by John Buehrens and Rebecca Parker
- 2017-18. Active Hope, informed by the book Active Hope: How to Face the Mess We’re In Without Going Crazy by Chris Johnstone and Joanna Macy
- 2016-17. Compassionate Living, informed by the book Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life by Karen Armstrong
- 2015-16. Gifts of Imperfection, informed by The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are by Brené Brown