Saturday, April 14, 2012
4:45  to 5:45 PM

All workshops will take place in the Doubletree Hotel. Room Numbers are below. Location of each workshop also will be provided in the registration packet.

Since there are four workshop sessions this year,  remember participants are always free to skip a workshop session and  use this time to look at the exhibits, network, relax, or explore.

D1: Peacemaking Within and Without: A Guided Writing Session on Peace (Part 2)

Room: Atrium 6

Rev. Karen Hering — member of White Bear UU Church, Mahtomedi Minnesota

(Workshop is continuation of Session C1)

“If there is to be peace in the world. . . “ says Lao Tsu, “there must be peace in the heart.” This guided writing session explores the inner and outer dimensions of peace and how one affects the other, while inviting participants to experience writing as a spiritual practice.

Appropriate for: Adults and high school students only

D2: UU History Tour of the Twin Cities

Room: Atrium 3

Carol Jackson — First Universalist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Victor Urbanowicz — White Bear UU Church, Mahtomedi, Minnesota

Narration with PowerPoint presentation on the history of Unitarianism and Universalism in the Twin Cities followed by a panel discussion by UU elders, possibly John Cummins, et al. Materials include a self-guided driving tour of Twin Cities UU sites, available to all Conference participants.

Appropriate for: Adults and high school students only

D3: Global Justice: A Ministry of Presence

Room: Vista 2205

Leslie Mills — UU Church of Minnetonka, Wayzata, Minnesota

In order to create peace, we must examine the cries for justice from around the world.  In the face of war, hope springs from courage of the faith communities.  This presentation will include pictures and reflections from this seminarian's travels to Chiapas, Mexico; Phoenix, Arizona; the Philippines; and Guatemala.

Appropriate for: Adults and high school students only

D4: Further Conversations on Conflict

Room: Vista 2204

Rev. Thea Nietfeld — UU Fellowship, Salina, Kansas

(Workshop is continuation of Session A5)

If you attended the morning workshop, Welcoming Difference in Decision-Making:  Reframing Conflict, and would like to talk further about skills and strategies you want to develop, please join in the open discussion.

Appropriate for: Adults and high school students only

D5: A Worship Service on War and Peace

Room: Vista 2206

Nancy Combs-Morgan — MidAmerica Coordinator of Emerging Models of Youth and Young Adult Ministries

Come and experience a worship service on War and Peace created and put on youth and adults.  We will laugh, sing, and cry together as we are moved by stories of war and peace, and what they mean in our lives.

Appropriate for: All ages

D6: The Strategic Battle for Marriage Equality

Room: Atrium 7

D'Ann Prior — Michael Servetus Unitarian Society, Fridley, Minnesota
Jane Bacon — White Bear UU Church, Mahtomedi, Minnesota
Ralph Wyman — First Universalist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota

People of faith are at the heart of the movement for marriage equality. Minnesotans face an anti-LGBT constitutional amendment in November 2012, and UUs are leading the charge for its defeat. Workshop participants will learn about effective messages for advancing equality and discover how they can begin engaging the campaign.

Appropriate for: Adults and high school students only

D7: Holy Healing: The Work of the Center for Victims of Torture

Room: Vista 2207

Jim Foti — First Universalist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Rachel Hughes — Center for Victims of Torture

Based in Minneapolis, the Center for Victims of Torture serves people in Minnesota and around the world. Hear stories about CVT’s groundbreaking work in healing and human rights, and learn how UU individuals, congregations, and the UUSC are helping out and striving to end torture.

Appropriate for: Adults and high school students only

D8: Never a Day Without a Line

Room: Atrium 1

Rev. David Breeden — Minnesota Valley UU Fellowship, Bloomington, Minnesota

“Never a day without a line,” said the Roman poet Horace. Now that is discipline!  But it is also the key to using creative writing as a spiritual practice—never a day without some reflection in writing. This session will focus on techniques for using creative writing as a spiritual practice and keeping the discipline of writing every day.

Appropriate for: Adults and high school students only