Welcome to Adult Education at The Congregational Church of Needham.  From special events to multi-week seminars to support groups, you’ll be sure to find something of interest.

There are three easy ways to sign up for a class:

1. Look for the Deacon Table at Coffee Hour on 1/31, 2/7, 2/14. 
2. Or visit the church’s website at www.needhamucc.org to print out a mail-in registration. 
3. Or call the Church office at 781-444-2510.

Enrollment will be on a first-come basis—effective when registrationand payment have been received.

• Spring Adult Ed Course Listings and Registration Form (pdf)
• Resources from Past Programs

FULL COURSE LISTING SPRING 2010 

Back by popular demand! Our own chef, Sue Findlay, will lead this cooking seminar. Learn to prepare delicious and healthy meals your whole family will love. You will learn techniques and tips, and at the end of the afternoon, you will have your Sunday evening dinner to take home. Menus will be available at the Registration Table.

Registration Fee: $15/class for community members, $10 /class for pledging members of this church. Material Fee (paid to instructor): Not finalized. Last year, four meals were prepared during 2 classes with food cost of $17/portion. (The food cost for four dinners for two people was $34.) Class limit: 10

God's Extravagant Welcome
Education Series presented by the Open & Affirming Ministry Team

For the Bible Tells Me So- Film & Discussion
Friday, March 12
6 - 9 p.m., Fellowship Hall
Can the love between two people ever be an abomination? Is the chasm separating gays and lesbians and Christianity too wide to cross? Is the Bible an excuse to hate?
Through the experiences and words of such people as former House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt, Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson, Bishop Desmond Tutu, the Rev. Dr. Peter Gomes, Orthodox Rabbi Steve Greenberg, and the Rev. Irene Monroe, we discover how insightful people of faith handle the realization of having a gay family member. We also learn if the Bible is an excuse to hate.
Light dinner available. Reservations appreciated at kacarp@comcast.net.

We Are Family: Panel Discussion
Sunday, March 21
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., Library
Hear from Pam Garramone, PFLAG Executive Director, and from families in our church who have a lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender member.

Transgender Explained for Those Who Are Not
Sunday April 11
6:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Book reading and signing by Joanne Herman, author, transgender woman and member of Old South UCC, Boston. Joanne's book (same title as this class) will be available for purchase for $15 cash only at the class. For other methods of payment, you may purchase the book ahead of time online at Amazon, Borders or Barnes and Noble and bring it for her to sign.
Light dinner available. Reservations appreciated at kacarp@comcast.net.

The Catholic Connection
Thursdays, April 15, 29 & May 13
7:30- 9pm, Library

Did you grow up Roman Catholic? Would you like to better understand the differences between Catholics and Congregationalists? Would you like to hear more about surprising similarities? Rev. Susan Cartmell will present information and there will be plenty of time for questions and discussion. Topics will include forgiveness and the role of Mary.

No Fees. Class limit: 20

DVD Available SOON
Racism: The Power of an Illusion
If you missed this three part discussion series in January with Dr. Ravi Perry you will soon be able to borrow the PBS series DVD used in the class from the church library.

The Ultimate Adult Ed Class:
Greece & Turkey 2012?

Church members on the March 2010 trip to the Holy Land will pack their bags soon. Would you consider following in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul in Greece and Turkey in 2012? The Society for Biblical Studies can arrange this trip for our church as well. Please contact Rev. Susan Cartmell or Judi Stewart if you might be interested.

Faith Circles

This new small group discussion program has just begun. Faith Circles provide a wonderful opportunity to get to know other members of our church while discussing topics selected by the two lay group leaders. No matter where you are on your faith journey you are welcome in a Faith Circle.

Please contact former deacon Christine Weitzel at faithcircles@needhamucc.org or call the church office to find out when the next group will be forming.

CAREER TRANSITION LUNCH GROUP
Fridays 12 - 1:30 pm in the Church Library
On-Going

Deacon Frank Arren will facilitate this ongoing lunch group. Join Frank and others in this supportive networking group for those going through a career transition (whether re-entering the workforce, seeking employment after a layoff or just looking for a different job). Share job search strategies, network with others, work on your resume, enjoy spiritual support, and share some laughs. Bring your lunch and drop in every week or whenever you can make it. Please call the church office at (781) 444-2510 by Thursday each week to confirm your attendance.

There is no fee for this program.

The Wired Word

Join our "All Church" e-mail list and receive The Wired Word, a weekly electronic devotional resource. Each week, the editors at The Wired Word choose a current news item and provide spiritual commentary and discussion points about this particular item. We hope that The Wired Word will give you an opportunity to think each week about the ways that our faith informs the many events in our lives and the life of the world around us. If you are a member of the church but are not receiving The Wired Word, please make sure that the church office has your current e-mail address.

If you have ideas for additional programming please contact:

• Michael Boyd
• Jenni Haynes
• Rev. Susan Cartmell
• Judith Stewart