Many of you have asked where to find recordings of the songs used in Cakes.
Part I features songs by Ann Forfreedom and Carole Etzler Eagleheart. You may order Carole Etzler Eagleheart's CD "She Calls to Us," which contains many of the songs in the curriculum. Sound samples are available on the MUSIC page in the UUW&R Store.
Nancy Vedder-Shults recorded her song from page 13, "Baking Cakes for the Queen of Heaven."
We couldn’t find any recording of “In Ancient Times” by Ann Forfreedom. In 2008, the Cakes facilitator training participants in Oak Park, Illinois recorded ourselves singing it so others could hear and learn the tune. Listen! In Ancient Times
Songs for Part II:
Carolyn McDade’s “Coming Home” is on the 1990 release “This Ancient Love,” which is no longer in print. We'd sure love to get ahold of a copy. Anyone have one you'd be willing to share? http://www.carolynmcdademusic.com/resource.html
PERMISSION TO PERFORM CAROLYN'S SONGS: Permission letter CarolynMcDade
Carole Etzler Eagleheart’s “Sarah’s Circle” is set to the tune of Jacob’s Ladder. These lyrics are sometimes mis-attributed to Pete Seeger. A recording was made for the CUUPS “Singing the Promise” CD.
and “Standing Before Us” — We have finally gotten a recording of "Standing Before Us" from Carole's album "Thirteen Ships." You can also get Standing Before Us - Sheet Music.
Facilitators, here’s a checklist to get your planning started!
Logistics / Organizing:
____ Leader / Co-leaders – Discuss how you want to share responsibilities
____ Church approval (possible financial support for childcare or curriculum)
____ Confer with minister (curriculum may trigger memories of abuse, necessitating professional counseling)
____ Establish meeting dates & times
____ Consider childcare (suggest onsite if requested in advance)
____ Consider fees
____ Reserve space / Get onto official church calendar
____ Arrange access to building, know thermostat, fuse box, alarm system, etc.
____ Publicity – Fliers, Newsletter, Poster, Info Table, Press Release
____ Registration – Advance signup strongly recommended
____ Buy / organize supplies – folders, copies, art supplies
____ Refreshments (suggest hot water / tea & participants bring snacks)
Publicity: (begin approx. 3 months ahead of time with repeated exposure)
____ Newsletter articles (x3) (Use Cakes Q&A for content)
____ Get listed on Church calendar of activities
____ Fliers - Bulletin board at church & bookstores / libraries / YWCA / etc.
____ Announcements in Order of Service
____ Information table / Registration sign-up after church
____ eMail lists – CUUPs, Women’s Groups, etc.
____ Word of mouth among friends and friends of friends
____ Press release to local paper
Workshop Setup:
____ Nametags for participants
____ Chairs in a semi-circle with altar in the center (or at side in front of screen)
____ Computer / Projector / Screen (or DVD / DVD player / TV)
____ Newsprint / Markers / Tape / Easel
____ Side table for literature / books / other
____ Supplies for the specific workshop
____ Side table or other designated area for refreshments
____ Chlidcare if requested / space for childcare with appropriate toys
____ Participant contact information as handout
Potential Problems - Be prepared to deal with the following:
Enforcing ground rules, Keep the discussion on track, Keep track of time and cut appropriately, Bad weather cancellations, Dealing with disruptive people, Dealing with personal crisis issues, Possible backlash in congregation
Follow ups – Final report to church board, Celebration at end of series, Lay led service around experiences? Ongoing gathering for women’s spirituality? Cakes Part II Workshop Series!!
Extra Resources Available - Facilitators Tips
Cakes Q&A, Generic Flier, Blog to share your experience / learn from other’s experience
Other:
Dear W & R women --
I finally recorded "Baking Cakes for the Queen of Heaven." You may remember that I wrote it to honor the 20th anniversary of the curriculum and Shirley Ranck (and sang it at GA). You can see that I've been blogging about "Cakes" as well. Please take a listen. Love and light, Nancy Vedder-Shults (author of The World Is Your Oracle)
"What would it have been like to grow up in a world where the divine was imaged as female?" -- Rev. Dr. Shirley A. Ranck (1930-2023)
“Cakes for the Queen of Heaven” was credited on its introduction in 1986 with providing women an opportunity of discovery and empowerment within the UUA goddess movement. Now, this revised, multi-session curriculum by Unitarian Universalist Minister Shirley Ranck will bring the break-out feminist theology curriculum in its updated version to those who wish to teach it in their local congregations to the many young and new UUs who have never experienced it. Or to others who want an injection of inspiration. “Cakes: In Ancient Times” is rising again in UU congregations all over the continent.
Would you like to present this curriculum in your congregation? This is an opportunity to receive facilitator training and purchase the curriculum.
CAKES Train-the-Trainer (T3) workshops include:
- Curriculum presentation by experienced district leaders.
- Experiential and interactive sessions.
- Herstory, music, poetry and thoughtful sharing in one day-long workshop.
- Continental breakfast, lunch and babysitting services.
- Curriculum resource materials and inspiration.
- Curriculum can be purchased online at www.uuwr.org.
Trainer workshops offered at a reasonable cost. $30 per person includes continental breakfast and lunch. Curriculum (vol. I) will be available for purchase at $40.
2008
June 14 • St. Joseph, Michigan: Berrien UU Fellowship
June 21 • Chicago area: Unity Temple UU Congregation in Oak Park
July 26 • St. Louis area: Eliot Chapel
November 15 • Peoria, Illinois: Universalist Unitarian Church of Peoria
November 22 • Milwaukee, WI: The First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee, A Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Cakes for the Queen of Heaven Train-the-Trainers workshops are a joint project of
the CMwD Women and Religion Committee and UU Women's Connection (formerly CMwD-UU Women's Federation.)
Online registration
Contact
Facilitators are invited and encouraged to share their questions, experiences and tips in our Cakes Facilitators Facebook Group.
One Religious Education director I know decided to put together goody bags full of the craft supplies each participant would need. The church charged a $10 fee per person to cover the cost of these materials and copies of the handouts.
Katie Frooman said, "In session two of On The Threshold it says that the facilitator should read the story of Abraham, Sarah, and Issac, but this is not in the resources in the book or on the cd rom disk." Here is a link to the story in a Wikipedia entry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac
Here are some sample slides you might like to view, or use to demonstrate what's in the class.
Sample newsletter blurbs:
Cakes for the Queen of Heaven
How would your life have been different if, when growing up, the divine had been imaged as female?
“Cakes for the Queen of Heaven” is a woman honoring adult religious education curriculum of feminist thealogy that examines pre-Judeo Christian cultures that worshiped the female as divine. The concepts of equality and reverence for the female in a religious setting are eye-opening to many participants. More than Goddess 101, this workshop series examines important elements of today’s women’s lives; personal, interpersonal and societal.
Offering a 5 session course for women beginning on Wednesday, __ and running for 5 consecutive weeks from 2:00 to 4:00 at ___. Facilitated by _____.
Pre-registration is required ($__ fee for materials, payable at the first class). Call ____ for more information: at ______. To register send an e-mail to _______.
The title for the curriculum comes from the book of Jeremiah in the Hebrew Bible wherein God speaks to Jeremiah, saying: “Do you not see what they do in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? The children gather wood and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead the dough to make cakes to the Queen of Heaven and to pour out libations to the Goddess, in order to anger me!” (Jeremiah, 7:17-18)
Cakes: In Ancient Times
will be presented by _______, at ________ on May 5 through 10. Session 1 will run on Monday the 5th from 7 to 9 pm. We'll skip Tuesday, then run Wednesday through Friday nights at the same time, and one long session Saturday. Questions please contact Director of Religious Education _____
Cakes Sunday Service (or orientation session)
Cakes for the Queen of Heaven is an adult RE curriculum developed by the UUA in the 1980’s. The womxn of ____ have been exploring the concepts of equality and reverence for the female in a religious setting for many years. Come hear an overview of this curriculum with story, song and images for all ages and orientations.
Cakes for the Queen of Heaven
In 1977 the UUA General Assembly unanimously passed the Women & Religion Resolution, calling on all individual UUs and UU organizations to examine and put aside sexist assumptions, attitudes, and language; to explore and eliminate religious roots of sexism in myths, traditions and beliefs. The impact of this resolution has been profound; ranging from the establishment of women’s spiritual retreats, to the rapid increase in the number of female UU ministers. It has prompted incorporation of more ritual, such as chalice lighting and “Joys and Sorrows” into our services, as well as the review and revision of our Principles and Purposes. Curricula celebrating the female as divine have been developed, including Cakes for the Queen of Heaven.
“Cakes for the Queen of Heaven” is a woman honoring adult RE curriculum by Rev. 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.
Cakes Part I and II
"Cakes for the Queen of Heaven" is an eleven-part curriculum from UUW in feminist thealogy for adults and older youth. It is called this in memory of the ancient Goddess revered by the people of the Bible and in affirmation of the wisdom of rediscovering the divine in female form as a way to bring peace and justice to the Earth. While this is specifically a course for women, men may be admitted by popular vote from participants and if more than one man is interested. The themes for part one include: The Sacred Female, In the Name of the Mother and the Daughter, Womanpower, The First Turning-From Goddess to God, and Reclaiming Women's Heritage of Peace.
Part One will take place Wednesday evenings from 730-930pm beginning October 5.
In part two, which will begin after the winter holidays, we will continue our journey into the past to reclaim the stories of powerful women to be found in ancient Judaism and in early Christianity. We will also look at the global silencing and brutalization of women that accompanied the rise of patriarchal religion and society. Finally we will celebrate the exciting new world-view and thealogy that has emerged in our time, and explore the personal and social changes that may be suggested by that new world-view and thealogy. We will continue the complex process of telling a new story.
Please contact ____ at _______ with any questions and to RSVP.
Cakes Part II
What would it have been like to grow up in a world where the divine was imagined to be female... ?
Long ago, human beings of many cultures practiced earth-centered, woman-centered religions, which often revolved around a powerful Goddess who was expected to insure the health and prosperity of the people of the Earth. We have lost touch with this as many major world religions focused on a male deity and male world view. Attitudes shaped by religious beliefs have had a profound effect on interpersonal relationships among women and men, on family patterns and on the power structures of social institutions.
"Cakes for the Queen of Heaven" journeys into the relationship between women’s' ancient past and their personal experiences as individual women. This 5 session course will focus on topics including ancient goddess religions, the sacred female and reclaiming a women's heritage of peace. It will be taught both intellectually through discussion and presentation and experientially through ritual, song, poetry and art.
Cakes for the Queen of Heaven is a five session workshop for UU women and their female friends which will run Tuesdays, Oct 6, 13, 20, 27 and Nov 10 from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at the ___. Workshop fee for entire series is $10. For more information contact _____________.
Class announcement templates - Microsoft Word format
default Cakes class announcement template 1(1 MB)
default Cakes class announcement template 2(1 MB)
default Cakes class announcement template 3(949 KB)
default Cakes class announcement template 4(1.41 MB)
default Cakes class announcement template 5(1 MB)
Graphics - PC users, right-click and "save image as" then specify the folder where you want to keep these.
We have had many requests for downloadable files, since folks are using more tablets and laptops without a way to play files from a CD. The Resources (slideshows and handouts) from both volumes are now downloadable on the UUWR website! You will need to log in - that information is included when you buy the curriculum. If you have already purchased the set and would like access to the files, please email
Cakes classes often offer as a follow-up, three videos by Canadian filmmaker Donna Read.
Goddess Remembered
The Burning Times
Full Circle
The first two are now available as downloads at a nominal cost. Full Circle is harder to find.
Or order online: Goddess Video Trilogy.
Goddess Remembered - Part 1 - This poetic documentary is a salute to 35 000 years of "pre-history,"; to the values of ancestors only recently remembered, and to the goddess-worshipping religions of the ancient past. Goddess Remembered features Merlin Stone, Carol Christ, Luisah Teish, Starhawk, Charlene Spretnak, and Jean Bolen, who link the loss of goddess-centred societies with today's environmental crisis. They propose a return to the belief in an interconnected life system, with respect for the earth and the female, as fundamental to our survival.
Burning Times - Part 2 - This beautifully crafted film is an in-depth look at the witch-hunts that swept through Europe just a few hundred years ago. False accusations and trials led to massive torture and burnings at the stake, and ultimately to the destruction of an organic way of life. The film advances the theory that widespread violence against women and the neglect of our environment today can be traced back to those times.
Full Circle - Part 3 - In this stirring documentary, authors, teachers, social activists and feminists explore manifestations of contemporary women’s spirituality in the Western world. Drawing on the customs, rites and knowledge of the past, Full Circle envisions a sustainable future where domination is replaced with respect. At the centre of these discussions is a reverence for the Earth, a sacred circle which we must protect.
You might also appreciate:
- Signs Out Of Time, about archeologist Marija Gimbutas.
- Things We Don't Talk About: Stories from The Red Tent
- Goddess Icons: Spirit Banners of the Divine Feminine by Lydia Ruyle
General Assembly 2006 Event 4066
Speakers: Margot Adler, the Rev. Dr. Shirley Ranck, the Rev. Leslie Westbrook
In a room packed with veterans of the famous Unitarian Universalist (UU) Cakes for the Queen of Heaven curriculum and with women simply curious about it, positive energy put a buzz in the room. All were there to celebrate two women who brought the Cakes for the Queen of Heaven feminist theology curriculum into being 20 years ago. Interviewed by Margot Adler, NPR reporter and UU Pagan, the Reverend Shirley Ranck and the Reverend Leslie Westbrook answered question after question about Cakes.
Watch the She Changes video.
