The Spiritual Growth and Community Center is an outreach program of the Unitarian Church of Marlborough and Hudson. We provide high-quality, inspirational programs, classes, and events to awaken peace, joy, love, compassion, personal growth, and creativity.  All programs are open to the community—people of all faiths, including atheists, can participate.

The Spiritual Growth and Community Center is made possible through the generous support of the members and friends of the Unitarian Church of Marlborough and Hudson.

Spring 2023 Events

Open Creativity Studio

Facilitated by: Elisa Abatsis

Date/Time: Monthly on 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, beginning 2/9

Cost: $5/class suggested donation

Location: UCMH Union Hall

Is there something you’d like to create in 2023? Give yourself the gift of dedicated time to work on your project in the company of fellow creatives. Bring your novel-in-progress, your half-knitted sweater, your blank canvas, your barely-started dissertation, your architectural blueprint, your nascent symphony, your coding project, or your business plan. Or just bring a desire to explore the possibilities. We provide coffee, a short nugget of creative inspiration, some rudimentary art supplies, and time-keeping so you can lose yourself in creative flow; you bring the mojo and a willingness to clean up after yourself at the end of the night.

This group is suitable for adults and mature teens.

Pub Theology

Facilitated by: Caitlin Eaton-Robb

Date/Time: Thursday, February 2, 7 p.m.; monthly on second Thursdays starting March 9

Cost: No participation fee; purchase your own refreshments

Location: Lost Shoe Brewing and Roasting Company, Marlborough, MA

Come join UCMH at Lost Shoe Brewing and Roasting Company in Marlborough! We welcome atheists, agnostics, humanists, people of all faith traditions, and people who identify as “spiritual but not religious” to gather together to talk while enjoying drinks and other palate pleasing treats. Join us for deep, respectful, and reflective conversation with our community. February’s theme is “Love”. Feel free to join in the discussion or just come to listen. There will be both alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages available. Everyone is welcome to participate! Contact Caitlin Eaton-Robb with any questions.

New Age Spiritualist Collaborative

Facilitated by: Members of the Collaborative

Date/Time: Monthly on fourth Thursdays beginning February 23

Cost: $5 donation requested for use of the space

Location: TBD (in-person at UCMH)

The New Age Spiritualist Collaborative is a new group forming as part of Spiritual Growth and Community Center at the Unitarian Church of Marlborough and Hudson.

We’ll be exploring modalities such as mediumship, divination, energy healing, and astrology with the aim of evolving consciousness by understanding our soul’s place in the Universe.

Each meeting will be led by a member of the collaborative, who will provide information on a topic followed by discussion and a practice session.

Meetings will generally be held in-person on fourth Thursday of every month at the Unitarian Church of Marlborough and Hudson, 80 Main Street, Hudson, MA, from 7:00-8:30 p.m. Email: newagespiritualists@gmail.com.

Meetings are FREE, but we do request a $5 donation to UCMH for use of the building.

Please note that we are not a professional practice group (though professional practitioners are certainly welcome!).

Free Your Inner Artist!

Facilitated by: Jennifer Rambridge

Date/Time: Monthly on second Wednesdays starting in January (1/11, 2/8, 3/8, 4/12, 5/17*, 6/14); 7:00-9:00pm

Cost: $5/class suggested donation

Location: UCMH Union Hall

Let your imagination take hold, and your spirit run free as we use acrylic paint and found objects while sharing time together seeing what we end up making. No prior art experience or talent is needed as we will explore abstract art where there is no wrong or bad art – it is just what you end up creating. And if you have any found objects — any odd, colorful or interesting items, from rocks and twigs to buttons and string to game pieces and old jewelry – please feel free to bring them to add to our stash!

This class is suitable forages 8-108.

*Note date change for May

cUUpCakes ~ Cakes for the Queen of Heaven

Facilitated by: Dot Russell and Carien vanGelder

Date/Time: Sunday, April 23, 12-2 pm

Cost: $5 suggested donation to UCMH

Location: UCMH Knight Room

Please join Carien vanGelder and Dot Russell to explore a small bit of the “UU Cakes for the Queen of Heaven” curriculum.  We will be will be exploring the triple goddess; Maiden, Mother and Crone;  by sharing our stories, chants and meditation exercises. No fee to attend; donations to UCMH for use of the space are welcome.

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“Cakes for the Queen of Heaven” is a woman honoring adult RE curriculum by Rev. Dr. Shirley Ranck. It examines pre-Judeo Christian cultures that may have worshiped the female as divine. The concepts of equality and reverence for the female in a religious setting are eye-opening to many participants.

More than Goddess 101, this workshop series examines important elements of today’s women’s lives; personal, interpersonal and societal. It examines how our culture has been influenced by Judeo Christian values. The primary question raised is: How would your life have been different if, when growing up, the divine had been imaged as female? Participants are encouraged to share their own experiences and beliefs, creating trust and strong bonds of friendship.

FreeDrum

Facilitated by: Dave Curry
Dates: 1st Saturdays, December-April, 7-10 PM
Cost: $5 per adult, kids under 13 free
Location: UCMH Union Hall
FreeDrum is a night of high energy freestyle drumming and dancing that welcomes all ages and skill levels. The drumming kicks off at 7pm and we go full throttle until about 9:45 with a short break in the middle for snacks, announcements, socializing, and maybe a group photo. Near the end, we dial back the energy and cool down with softer, slower rhythms, perhaps some didge, flute, or toning to help get us grounded. Bring your drums and percussion instruments if you have them. some extra drums are available for borrowing. If you like, you’re welcome to bring snacks.

NOTE: FreeDrum is based on the “conscious gathering” concept that believes in being high on life without the need for mind-altering substances. During your time at FreeDrum we ask that your head is clear of drugs or alcohol. Your cooperation is appreciated.

Facilitator Bio: Dave Curry is the creator of Drums For One & All, which includes facilitating public events, giving workshops, teaching private lessons, giving live performances, and doing drum repairs. Dave has offered his popular freeDrum event since 2001. He has taught drum classes at the Assabet school since 2009. Over the past 20 years, Dave has led 1000+ drumming events at schools, churches, colleges, retreat centers, and other institutions across New England.

Ongoing Events

Buddhist Book Club

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MoonCircle Esbats (Full Moon) and Sabbats (Wheel of the Year) Gatherings and Rituals 

Facilitated by: Alan R. Anacheka-Nasemann

Dates/Times: Listed below, subject to change

COST: $1 – $10 (sliding scale) to offset any costs or be donated to the church.

For updated information including locations and Zoom links if available, email Alan Anacheka-Nasemann and request to join the MoonCircle email group.

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CUUPS (Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans) is a UU subgroup that follows a pagan path. They exist in part to promote the practice and understanding of Pagan and Earth-centered Spirituality within the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). MoonCircle is in the UU Church of Marlborough and Hudson and is just one of several chapters of CUUPS located across the country. ESBATS are Full Moon Rituals that recognize the power of the Moon, high tides, influences that the moon has on our cycles of life and things that we might work toward in any given month. Full Moon Rituals include calling the four quarters of the earth, the Goddess and the God, cakes and wine, and Magick which you so desire. SABBATS recognize the turning of the wheel of the year, in four main quarters (Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane and Lammas) and for minor ones (Ostara, Litha, Mabon and Yule). The author confesses that this is untried yet in our church, but hopes that we will have a reduced length ritual and some feasting on seasonal foods. So, JOIN US for spiritual growth!

LITHA: Wednesday, June 21 at 7:30, location TBD

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Facilitator Bio: Alan R. Anacheka-Nasemann is a lifelong UU and the son of a UU minister. He grew up in Syracuse, NY, and spent much of his time enjoying the Adirondack Park of New York State. Ultimately, he went to school at Paul Smith’s College (in the Adirondacks) and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, where he earned his Master’s. For five years he was active in the Finger Lakes of New York State followed by 30 years as a Senior Wetland Scientist (10 in Buffalo NY and 20 in Concord, MA), and is now retired. He has remained a UU, but has studied Wicca and paganism, off and on, for 30 years. Alan has been happily married to Rev. Alice Anacheka-Nasemann for over 25 years.

We are hard at work preparing virtual and in person offerings for the upcoming season! Please check back for more information, or contact the office to receive notification via email:  administrator@ucmh.org