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Work Shop Descriptions

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April 8, 2006 - All from 10:00am - 2:00pm

Spiritual Styles

Are you wondering how to find time for God in a life that is already over-full? Frustrated by advice to meditate for an hour a day, and falling asleep when you try to do it? Looking for a way to connect with God that fits your life and your style? In this workshop you’ll have an opportunity to do a simple “test” and a life-review exercise that will help you find your spiritual style. Then you’ll be able to try some “road-tested” ways that have helped people with your kind of spiritual style meet God. Additional resources and suggestions will be provided for your personal use.

Prayer & Meditation

Prayer is fundamental to authentic Christian living. So this workshop will address the fundamentals of prayer. What is prayer? What are types of prayer? What should I bring to prayer? How should I pray? What keeps me from prayer? What do I believe about prayer? What are my expectations about prayer? Who needs to pray? Whether you would like to deepen or expand your prayer life or begin one, you will benefit from attending this workshop. Format will include some talking, some listening, some practice, some sharing.

Creative Journaling

Do you remember writing in your diary when you were young? (Or are you someone who just hates to write?) Do you wish you had time to "collect your thoughts" and figure out how things fit together in your life? But somehow the time is just never there! This workshop is a time to slow down and write about our lives and our relationship to God. Designed both for writers and "non-writers," this workshop will explore ways we can use a journal to deepen our lives. And for those who love pictures and work visually, scrapbook journaling is a way to take images and make our own pages of inspiration, comfort, celebration, and joy. Journal Writing – morning session and Scrapbook Journaling – after lunch

Prayer Bead Session [Special - Only on 4/8]

Discover the meaning and purpose of using beads to enhance your prayer life. In this session, you will cover the history of prayer beads, both Christian and pre-Christian, their structure and design, and how to use them with prayer. Each participant will make their own strand to keep and have the opportunity to practice praying with them in the chapel or sanctuary. Ant questions call 726-2280.

April 29, 2006 - All from 10:00am - 2:00pm

Labyrinth as a Walking Meditation, led by Jean Burch

A labyrinth is a spiral-designed footpath that offers people who walk it an opportunity for prayer, meditation and simply being with God. This session will explore the use of labyrinths from a Christian perspective and will include some history but mostly the focus is on how to use a labyrinth. You don’t need to bring anything – a labyrinth will be set up in the Social Hall and participants will walk it using the instruction materials provided. If you have questions, please contact Jean Burch 712-1225.

Symbol and Ritual, led by Gerry Fong and Larry Thomas

This session will explore Christian use of symbols and ritual and how they affect our individual experience. There will be some presentation, discussion and private time in the sanctuary or chapel to practice technique. Developed by Gerry Fong and Larry Thomas, the goal of this session is to provide participants with some new ways to use symbol and ritual in their lives. All materials will be provided – if you have questions, please contact Gerry Fong at 726-2280.

Women of the Bible, led by Kathee Tyson

Questions? Call Kathee Tyson at 728-3850 or e-mail katheetyson@yahoo.com

Workshop Session Leader Biographies:

Loralyn Alaimo is an intern in the Spiritual Direction Institute at Mercy Center and is on track to receive her certification in Spiritual Direction in May 2007. She is the Networker for Peninsula United Methodist Association’s Spiritual Formation Center. She has also been an active member of CUMC for the last eight years, serving as chair of the Ministry Group, a member of ReVision team, a leader for “Unwrapping the Present”, a member of the Congregational Development Team and current member of the Faith Development Team. She co-led Disciple 2 in 2004/5 and is currently co-leading the Disciple Group – Jesus in the Gospels.

Gayle Dee is currently a ministry intern at CUMC as part of her preparation for ordained ministry in the United Methodist Church. She is in her second year of seminary at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, CA. She is a certified Hudson Institute life coach and has a Masters Degree in Human Development. In her career, she has developed and led numerous professional and personal development training programs and workshops ranging from leadership to spiritual development. Gayle has been an active member of CUMC for 9 years, serving as leader of the ReVision Team, project leader for Congregational Development Team, project coordinator for Transition Team and current member of the Faith Development Team.

Anne Dilenschneider has been a Spiritual Director since 1988. In this role, she helps both lay people and clergy find their own unique connection with God. In addition, she’s been a United Methodist pastor since 1987, and earned a doctoral degree in spirituality and leadership in 2000. Anne provides spirituality and leadership trainings within our California-Nevada Conference, and every January she leads a day for the lay pastors who serve our rural churches. She has been affiliated with CUMC since 2000, and moved coastside in 2003. In 2004, she led worship at CUMC for three months while Pastor Larry was on sabbatical. Anne is a member of the Faith Development Team.

Mary Helen Thomas is a licensed Marriage, Family and Child counselor(MFCC). She has been in private practice for over 20 years. She has done intensive spiritual growth work a number of times with the Guild for Psychological Studies in San Francisco. Mary Helen has been an active member of CUMC for 15+ years, most recently serving on the Congregational Development Team and is a current member of the Faith Development Team.

Jean Burch has been a member of CUMC since 1984. She has held many volunteer positions at CUMC: Sunday School Superintendent and teacher, SPRC, Finance Committee and Docent. She is currently on the Malama Team, Nominating Committee and a 2nd year Disciple Bible Study participant. Jean has been a member of a coastside group that would like to see a labyrinth built at the new park on Hwy 92.

Gerry Fong has been an active member of CUMC for 15 years. She has periodically taken a leadership role with High School and Middle School Methodist Youth Fellowship (MYF) and has been a Confirmation leader for over 10 years. She co-created the Half Moon Bay “Stations of the Cross,” walking meditation that we use at CUMC. In 2004-05, she co-led Disciple II. She is an avid reader, with a special interest in comparative religions, spiritual growth, spiritual formation and spiritual practices. Gerry is currently participating in a “Living the Questions” small group, is a member of the Faith Development Team, and is planning the next confirmation class.

Larry Thomas received his Doctorate of Ministry from the School of Theology at Claremont, CA. and served in United Methodist Churches in Sunnyvale and San Jose before coming here to CUMC in 1988. He participated in CUMC’s “Unwrapping the Present” and led the Congregational Development Team. He is currently a member of the Faith Development Team.

Kathee Tyson is currently a member of the Faith Development Team. Over the last 25 years, she has held many positions at CUMC including Sunday School teacher, Bible teacher, Vacation Bible School director, and currently a Disciple leader and member of the Faith Development Team. The women of the Bible have long fascinated her and she has studied them extensively.