Wellspring
Adult Faith Development
Wellspring is our adult faith development program, helping fulfill the part of our mission statement that says we as a faith community help people grow in mind and spirit.
“Having a place that connects me to such amazing people, with whom I can think about my life and priorities more clearly and deeply, is truly a blessing for me.”
Fellowship Member, 8 years
Our Wellspring program nurtures the lifelong development of the whole person—body, mind, heart, and spirit—through broad and flexible opportunities for study, exploration, reflection, and spiritual practice.
Nourishing Spiritual Practices Series
Classes offered this program year include topics such as:
- keeping Sabbath
- meditation
- mindful walking and eating
- retreat
- poetry and photography
- life as a spiritual practice
Nourishing Spiritual Practices Series
October 12, 6:30 pm CT, in person
Creating and Deepening UU Spirituality by Heather Westley
UUism is a living faith that does not exist solely on Sunday Mornings. We will be exploring the Tree of Contemplative Practices to reflect on our current level of spiritual engagement. Then, through group discussion and personal reflection, you will choose options for deep dedication to a fulfilling UU life through daily practices, weekly worship, regular service to others, and yearly retreats. Whether you have been UU for 20 years or 2 weeks, or practice a “UU and __” path, come discover how small practices can add up to a gratifying spiritual life.
Heather Westley has been a “devout” Unitarian Universalist ever since attending Introductory sessions at the Fellowship in the Spring of 2004. She seeks to deepen her UU/Pagan Spirituality, connect with other UUs, and grow the collective Great Spirit. She is the facilitator for the pagan small group, Gathering Circle. Heather has facilitated UU retreats, conducted seasonal rituals, and shared her spiritual journey through lay worship leading. She has a passion for UU life that she hopes to share with more of you!
Nourishing Spiritual Practices Series
January 11; 6:30 pm
Discovering Growth by Intertwining Poetry and Photography by Mary Ellyn Vicksta
Join Fellowship member, Mary Ellyn Vicksta for an experience in which the evocative nature of poetry is synergistically interconnected with the visual imagery of photography. Poems throughout the ages have been filled with images of growth and change, from the growing of gardens to the growth and changes that occur in a lifetime. Photography gives a chance to play with the “mind’s eye.” Together, poetry and photography provide an opportunity to reflect, explore, and imagine the idea of growth applied in various ways: personal growth, the growth of an idea, the growth of a relationship, or the celebration of new or past growth. During this session, we will explore a handful of poems and some photos suggested by the poems. We will discuss the poetic images and how they connect with the photographic images. Near the end of the session, each person will create a short Haiku to summarize their own “take” on growth.
Mary Ellyn Vicksta’s been involved in the Fellowship since 2004 and was on the Adult Enrichment/Wellspring committee for many of those years. She also leads a small group at the Fellowship, Photography as a Spiritual Practice. She’s had a love of photography and poetry for many years; getting her first film camera when she was 10 and has a bookshelf filled with poetry collections. A year ago she presented a version of this workshop at a conference to rave reviews and she wants the Fellowship to experience the richness of “imaging” that naturally flows out of poetry and photography.
