Below are several of my more popular classes and workshops, most of which I have written myself. In the Christian tradition, I have led workshops for Advent and Lent using curricula from Sparkhouse, as well as books and study guides by theologians John Dominic Crossan and Marcus Borg. In the Pagan tradition, I’ve done workshops on brooms and magic, and tarot for children.
If you’d like me to lead a program on a particular topic, I can work with you to design a workshop or series of classes that fits your organization’s needs.
Doctor Who & Theology: Five classes (weekly) on a day that works for your group. We’ll explore theological themes such as redemption, forgiveness, and love while watching an episode of Doctor Who. Issues can be chosen by the group or by the facilitator. This class can be offered in-person and via Zoom.
For eight years, I co-led a monthly intergenerational group at a UCC congregation exploring the theological perspectives of Doctor Who. In 2017, this group was chosen to participate in a fair highlighting unique and innovative church ministries, hosted by the Wisconsin Conference of the United Church of Christ.
Time: 2 hours/class
Wisdom of the Golden Girls: Five classes (weekly) on a day that works for your group. We’ll explore modern day issues through a comedic lens as we watch episodes of the Golden Girls with themes such as immigration, race, LGBTQ+ community, transgender identity, menopause, and ageism. Issues can be chosen by the group or by the facilitator. This class can be offered in-person and via Zoom.
For three years I co-led a monthly discussion group for women at First Unitarian Society.
Time: 1.5 hours/class
Food & Wine in Jesus’s Time: This workshop explores the tradition of breaking bread during the years Jesus was alive. It’s sometimes said that Jesus was either on his way to dinner, eating dinner, or coming back from dinner. This is to say, he did a lot of his ministry while breaking bread with people. Participants will walk into this experience being greeted in a traditional way with their right hand washed and given a drink. Hear the Lord’s Prayer recited in Aramaic as you try foods such a lentil stew, goat cheese, apricots, honey and barely bread while drinking traditional spiced wine and goat’s milk. The Lenten season is a particularly good time for this workshop but is applicable at any time.
Time: 2 hours
Praying in Color: This intergenerational workshop is for the whole family. Learn how to set prayer intentions while coloring. You’ll learn the health benefits of both prayer and coloring. Create beautiful prayer images that you can give to those you prayed for. This class can be offered in-person and via Zoom.
Time: 2 hours
Cakes for the Queen of Heaven: This Goddess spirituality curriculum involved 11 classes that I co-led at a UCC congregation. Participants were Christian, Unitarian Universalist, and Pagan so your group doesn’t have to be Pagan-focused. Each class is independent from the rest. Number of classes can be decided by your group.
Time: 2 hours/class
How to Honor the Sacred Forest in a Concrete Jungle
Are you overwhelmed by city life—traffic, noise, and stress—and longing for the peace of nature? I grew up surrounded by forests and farmland, so I understand this yearning. Now living in the city, I’ve found ways to bring the sacredness of the forest into urban spaces. In this workshop, which I presented for the Pagan Leadership Institute, I’ll share practical tips to help you create a peaceful, nature-inspired sanctuary at home. This class can be offered in-person and via Zoom.
Time: 1.5 – 2 hours
Religious Education for Children and Families
As parents and guardians, we want to give those under our care the freedom to explore their own religious and spiritual beliefs. How do we talk about our faith while still honoring our children’s inner wisdom and curiosity? This workshop invites you to explore what it means to support your child’s spiritual development without imposing our own beliefs or reenacting our own spiritual wounds. How do we explain our beliefs with clarity and compassion rather than from a place of hurt? Through guided discussion, personal reflection, and practical tools, participants will learn ways to speak authentically about their own paths while creating room for children to discover theirs.
A Pagan version of this workshop was presented for the Pagan Leadership Institute; however, this class can be adapted for your particular congregation or faith tradition. This class can be offered in-person and via Zoom.
Time:1.5-2 hours
Interfaith Education
Understanding our religious neighbors is essential in our increasing multicultural world. Yet learning about another faith can feel intimidating especially when we worry about being an outsider, asking the wrong question, or unintentionally offending.
I offer guided, experiential learning opportunities for congregations and community groups who want to deepen their understanding of a particular religious tradition. Each series begins with a foundational introduction to the faith you’ve chosen to explore. We then welcome a guest speaker from that tradition who can share how they workshop and why. Together, we visit a church, mosque, temple or gurdwara to experience the tradition firsthand. In our final session, we reflect on what we’ve observed, how we felt and how the tradition compares and contrasts with your own beliefs and practices.
If your group is interested in exploring more than one faith tradition, I can design a multi-tradition series with a two-class structure for each tradition you’d like to learn more about.
For nearly 20 years, I’ve guided children, youth and adults to places of worship in and outside of the Madison area. Faith traditions explored include Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Paganism, Sikhism, Islam, Unitarian Universalism and several branches of Christianity, including Quaker, Baptist, Roman Catholicism, Greek Orthodox, and Antiochian Orthodox communities.
Time:
One religion: Four classes, 1.5 hours each
Multiple religions: Two classes per tradition, 1.5-2 hours each
Among the Willows 