Hello South Church RE families, teachers and friends,

Once again, we near the end of summer, in what has seemed like the blink of an eye. There is a LOT of information here about the launch of a new church year, so please find a little time to read below and take on what you can.

   

In This Post:

• Register your children/youth for RE!

• August 30th- RE IS OFF SITE!! at the Urban Forestry Center!

• September 6th-(last 10 am service) Water In-Gathering

• Teaching Volunteers still needed, please reach out!

• Teacher Training- 3 options!

• Fall class plan

• Seacoast Food Pantry Partnership

  • Sunday 8/23- Last day of Summer Meals 4 Kids- Bring Apples!!

  • September 13th- Bring Your Weight in Food Drive!

• Join our South Church Group on facebook!

Registration for the fall is online! If you can (and haven’t already 😉 please take a moment to click this link and register.  One of the biggest pieces of my summer work is planning our classrooms for the fall, and I need to know who’s coming in order to do that!  CLICK HERE to register (it will only take a few minutes). Thank YOU!!  https://southchurchuu.wufoo.com/forms/k60588f1mfaort/   If you prefer to fill it out on paper, I’m happy to email you the form, or you can grab one from the R.E. bulletin in the Parish Hall.

Don’t drive to Church August 30th*- Urban Forestry Center!! (*weather permitting)  On August 30th, our last day of Summer RE, we will be meeting at the Urban forestry for games, watermellon, and a nature walk!  Cat Lyons, our new RE program assistant will be running the show, along with some wonderful volunteer teachers. We could use a few extra parents if you’re willing to stay. For the rest of you, drop off your kids around 9:30 and then head to church! After worship, head back to retrieve your sweet kids, who will likely be smiling, sweaty, and wearing a watermelon juice beard. Please apply bug spray and sunscreen before drop off, and send them with a filled water bottle!!

September 6th-(last 10 am service!) Water In-Gathering: Each year, members and friends of all ages collect water from special places for our ingathering ritual in the fall. On September 6th, we’ll gather as a community to start the new program year, and all are invited to share a bit of water in the ritual. This is the last day of 10:00 am worship, Starting on September 13th, Worship will be offered at 9am and 11 am.

Teacher Training– 3 options! If you are signed up to join a teaching team this fall (or plan to sign up 🙂 I think you are wonderful, you are heading into a great experience that is sure to deepen your own understanding of Unitarian Universalism, create new friendships with fellow volunteers and lots of wonderful young people, and you need to find a time to attend a teacher training so we can gear up! If you haven’t considered volunteering, or think you don’t have time, please consider!  It is this a totally manageable commitment even for the busiest among us, and there are many ways to be involved.  I am happy to meet by phone, or in person, to give you more information- Jump in!!

Training dates: Please pick one and RSVP by email.

• Sunday, August 23 following worship. Traiining will begin at 11:15 and run till 1:15 (lunch included)
• Wednesday, August 26th from 5:30-7:30 pm (Dinner included)
• Sunday, September 6th (following Water In-Gathering) 11:30-1:30 (lunch included)

Fall RE program: Classes begin September 20th

9 am Program: The nursery is open at 8:45 for babies – 3 year olds. Classes will be offered for children age 4 (pre K) through 4th grade. (upper elementary and jr. youth programs are only offered at 11)

11 am Program: The nursery is open at 10:30 for babies – 3 year olds. Classes will be offered for children age 4 (pre K) through 6th grade as well as Junior Youth (7th-8th grade).

Senior Youth (grades 9-12) group meets most Sunday evenings from 4:00-5:30 in the parish hall.  There is no Sr. Youth group on the first Sunday of each month.  Sr. Youth will begin with an orientation (parents too) and overnight on September 12th.  The first day of youth group will be September 20th.

What will your child’s class be doing this year?

Children age 3 and Under: Children from birth through 3 years of age will attend or be cared for in the South Church nursery. Elizabeth Barrett and Zsuzsanna Fekete are both returning as Nursery staff, and there are always a bunch of wonderful RE volunteers rotating through this room as well!

Pre K-­Kindergarten: Spirit Play​is a Montessori based curriculum which helps children to live their own answers to life’s more existential questions through storytelling and self­directed play. Lessons, stories and activities allow them to explore concepts of purpose and self­worth in a fun, safe classroom space. (An overview of this curriculum is available to view online through the spirit­play.com website.)

First­-Second Grade Class:  ‘Love Will Guide Us​­’- In this program, students learn to seek guidance in life through the lens of our Unitarian Universalist Sources, with an emphasis on love. Together we will ask questions such as, “Where did we come from?” and “What is our relationship to the Earth?”. Application of wisdom from our sources will help us to form our own answers and to learn that asking questions is valued in our community of faith. (This curriculum is available to view online through the UUA.org website.)

Third-­fourth graders:   The ​’Signs of Our Faith’ ​curriculum asks us to think about religion as the practice of being faithful to what you love. This program guides children to do their best to live faithful lives every day by identifying and focusing on what they love. Students will examine values such as the quest for knowledge and supporting and respecting life and faith journeys. By exploring aspects of living faith through different traits and values, students will discover together how to live faithfully in a complex world. (This curriculum is available to view online through the UUA.org website.)

Fifth-­Sixth graders:   Theme­-Based Workshop Rotation​­ This program utilizes the rotating themes of worship services to go deeper into life’s essential questions. Focusing on a central story for each theme helps us to slow down and focus on the things that matter. In addition, selecting stories that correspond with the congregation’s current themes provides a chance for these students to grow and benefit from the learning as a spiritual community. This curriculum provides a transformative learning journey. (Information about theme-­based workshop rotation is available through the UUA.org website.)

Junior Youth (7th-8th grade):   ‘Building Bridges’ is a world religions program to deepen youth’s understanding of the dynamic, fascinating, and varied world in which they live. It seeks to broaden their knowledge of humanity and embolden their spiritual search. This program is an updated version of Neighboring Faiths, and will include several trips to nearby houses of worship, giving our inquisitive UU kids a chance to learn about other faith communities first hand.  (This curriculum is available to view online through the UUA.org website.)

Seacoast Family Food Pantry:

• Summer Religious Education: Summer Meals 4 Kids (SM4K)!This summer South Church has partnered with the Seacoast Family Food Pantry to support their Meals 4 Kids program, which provides bags of food including fresh fruits and vegetables to children in low income families who are experiencing food scarcity. Our last targeted weekly drive will be Sunday, August 23rd- We are collecting Apples, so grab a bag and bring them with you on Sunday!

• Bring Your Weight in Food Drive: The opportunity to help support the food pantry continues in September!  We will be hosting our 4th annual food drive for SFFP on September 13th. Donations will be collected curbside from 8:30-11:30 that morning!  In an effort to reach beyond our South Church Family, Click on this facebook event and pass it on by clicking share to post it to your own page!  https://www.facebook.com/events/799109250186737/

While you’re at your computer.. Join our South Church Group on facebook! This is a great tool for all of us to build connection with each other, and a really convenient place to share ‘non-essential’ goings on that can really deepen our community. I often hear about social justice events that I share there, articles about raising our kids, inspirations etc… So join us! https://www.facebook.com/groups/southchurch/

Ok, that’s all the news for now. Hope to see you all on soon, Don’t forget to register for RE!!  Thanks!!