Autumn greetings to all!
I heard the first crunch of leaves under my feet on the sidewalk today, and my tomato plants have nearly wilted away, with a few desperate green fruits hoping that the frost gives them time to turn red… we shall see.
We have already started up many of the RE program engines, with volunteer teams, orientations, and launches throughout September and early October. Parents, if you are not yet clear on your role in our cooperative program, please make it a priority to step on to a crew this month. Chasing down volunteers each week is not the best way to serve our kids, or to have meaningful experiences as adult program volunteers! I’ve got the perfect spot for you, if you need some help finding your spot, look at the list of needs below and jump on board!
In this post:
- In case you missed it- click here to REGISTER for the 2017-18 church year!
- Sundays this month:
- October 8: Holiday weekend RE- multi-age program at 9 and 11 (scroll down for more info) Age-level programs resume next week
- October 15th: Normal* RE program day.
- October 22nd: *RE program day.
- October 29: Dia de los Muertos Worship and *RE program day
[*Normal RE program day: Spirit Play, Theme workshops, 6-7th grade religious exploration, Coming of Age for 8th grade, OWL 5, OWL 7, and Senior Youth all meet! WOW!]
- Other upcoming dates: more info on each at the end of this post!
- October 6 5th-6th grade Sparks, and 7th-8th grade Purple Flames (second gathering will be November 3rd)
- October 14th- Reconsecration event! All church celebration & blessing of the Sanctuary. Saturday evening. Nursery and children’s programming will be offered.
- October 27-28th Coming of age fall retreat (8th grade)
- November 5th Theme Talk: Abundance. Between services (10:15-10:50)
- Family resources for October’s theme: A people of Courage
More Details on the list above:
Sparks and Purple flames (social groups for 5-6th and 7-8th grades) Friday, October 7th will be our first Getting to Know each other gathering from 7-9pm in the Social hall at South Church. This month (OCT 6) we meet together at the parish hall for getting-to-know-you games. Bring a favorite snack to share. Please RSVP so I know you’re coming!
Reconsecration event: After four months of worshipping in the basement, four months of extensive clean up from smoke damage, we are ready to return to our sanctuary and her fresh new look. Come and celebrate and reconsecrate this sanctuary which has stood for love and justice on the seacoast for three hundred years. Come and celebrate with us as we set course for our next hundred years. Saturday, October 14 at 7 pm at South Church. Nursery will be open and child care with activities will be offered!
Click here for info on Programs happening this year in RE (For parents and volunteers):
Family resources for October: ‘We are a community of courage’
One of the wonderful things about theme based church is that there are multiple opportunities for parents and children to explore a specific idea throughout each month. This means there are also lots of opportunities for ideas and inspirations we come across on Sundays at South Church to find their way into our lives throughout the week.
This could be very meaningful for your family and for our community.
As we explore themes throughout the year think about ways you might take those conversations home to your dinner tables, night time rituals, car drives, and morning routines. Here’s a small framework to whet your palate, let me know if you have any great family moments!
[From Soul Matters RE Packet:] Playing off our monthly theme question of “What does it mean to be a people of Coururage?”, we invite parents to ask “What does it mean to be a parent of Courage” or “What does it mean to be a family of Courage?”
As you use these resources to engage these questions, keep in mind some additional ways to use them with other parents or your church community:
- Read it and reflect with those in your family.
- Share and discuss them with other parents or another family.
- Use them in a Parent Circle that meets on Sunday afternoon or mid-week.
- Use them at a Wonderful Wednesday night that includes dinner, spiritual practice and activities on the theme, including times together as families, and separate as kids and adults. Be sure to gather at the end for a goodnight hug and lullaby!
Building Courage in Kids – How to Teach Kids to Be Brave
http://www.heysigmund.com/building-courage-in-kids/
Fears and Children – strategies
http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTopicDetails.aspx?p=114&np=141&id=1612
And How are the Children?
http://www.uua.org/worship/words/reading/and-how-are-the-children
Four Powerful Ways To Raise Courageous Children in 2017 https://www.courageworks.com/2017/01/four-powerful-ways-raise-courageous-children
UU Views of Prayer
http://www.uua.org/beliefs/what-we-do/spirituality/prayer
David and Goliath
A Multigenerational Workshop from Tapestry of Faith
Wisdom from the Hebrew Scriptures, David and Goliath
http://www.uua.org/re/tapestry/multigenerational/hebrewscriptures/workshop1
Celebrating Animals in our Lives
St. Francis’ Day blog by Michelle Richards
http://www.uuworld.org/articles/celebrating-animals-our-lives
http://www.uuworld.org/articles/costume-choices
Courage and Keepin’ On Video
The Good Dinosaur A dinosaur with a good heart who learns the meaning of courage on his way home.
http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/films/reviews/view/28068/the-good-dinosaur
Courage to be yourself – Transgender documentary
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yNIhlkmycU
Our monthly church-wide themes this year:
A community of…
September: Welcome
October: Courage
November: Abundance
December: Hope
January: Intention
February: Perseverence
March: Balance
April: Emergence
May: Creativity
southchurch-uu-re.org 