March nUUs from Religious Education

~ resouthchurchuu

A community of Balance

Writing Valentines for local social justice groups
The late season snow is falling, 
wet and heavy-- A perfect metaphor for this moment I think, 
as it offers both beauty and frustration-- 
longing for warmth and clinging to the quiet chill of winter
another transition of seasons 
time passing
I'm glad to be home so I can pull my children close
remind them that this feeling of transition is a part of life
that we must always remember
through snowfall and sunshine, 
through wind and through stillness 
to love each other
to love each other

In this post:

  • Senior Youth Worship this Sunday, March 11th- Don’t miss it, they’re brilliant!
  • Rescheduled: Sparks and Flames meet together at Hilltop Fun Center! Friday, March 16th, at 7pm- RSVP required!
  • Families Tuugether – March 17th (bumped one week so we could host Seacoast Family Promise) read more below.
  • Demonstration for Gun Reform- March 24th  https://www.facebook.com/events/1010039902480611/
  • Pancake Breakfast! – March 25th- read more below
  • Volunteering this month:
    • Sign up for Sunday Volunteer Spots
      • March 11: Fibonacci numbers- Balance and the mystery of math in nature!
      • March 18: Balance of our Bodies: Movement and food!
      • March 25: Balance in how we see the world- representation in books and media
    • April RE theme planning ONLINE – Come one, come all! Wed, February 14th, 8pm in your living room! Parents and interested volunteers Click Here to Sign up. This is a great opportunity to engage from the comfort of your home- video or call in- includes RE overview, theme reflection & brainstorm, and a basic volunteer training, too!
  • Sundays this month:
    • March 11th: Sign up to be a workshop volunteer: Fibonacci numbers- Balance and the mystery of math in nature! This week we offer Spirit Play at 9am, Theme workshops at 9 and 11, Coming of Age (meets at DPC), 6th-7th grade at 11 in Karnan. OWL 7 will Meet at 4pm in the parish hall.
    • March 18th: Sign up to be a workshop volunteer: Balance of our Bodies: Movement and food! This week we offer Spirit Play at 9am, Theme workshops at 9 and 11, Coming of Age (meets at DPC), 6th-7th grade meet at 11 in the Spirit Play classroom. OWL 7 and Senior Youth will Meet at 4pm in the parish hall.
    • March 25th: Sign up to be a workshop volunteer: Balance in how we see the world- representation in books and media! This week we offer Spirit Play at 9am, Theme workshops at 9 and 11, Coming of Age meets in the Parish Hall at 11am this week. 6th-7th grade will meet at 11 in the Spirit Play classroom. OWL 7 and Senior Youth will Meet at 4pm.
    • April 1st: Easter Sunday Multigenerational Worship and egg hunt after each service.

[“Normal RE program day”: Both services include Spirit Play and Theme workshops for grades 1-5. 11am worship also included: 6-7th grade religious exploration and Coming of Age for 8th grade. OWL for 7th grade and Senior Youth meet on Sunday evenings at 4-5:30 pm.]

(If you haven’t already, please REGISTER for the 2017-18 church year!)

Family resources for the month of March: ‘We are a community of balance’ 

[The secret word to enter the book giveaway this month is: snowstorm!- mention it to Kirsten to have your family entered to win!]  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:] These resources support parents as they try to live out and engage our themes with their children. We can ask “What does it mean to be a parent of Balance” or “What does it mean to be a family of Balance?” 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:  

  • 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.
A phone app that explores the theme of Balance!

Finger Balance is one of those games that demonstrates the kind of insanely entertaining activities that can only happen on a touchscreen device like the iPad or iPhone. It’s not just balancing a ball on a stick — it’s balancing a ball on a stick with two fingers, which means you have to keep both of your hands in time with one another constantly. And you need to maneuver that stick through a maze that may or may not include moving walls and obstacles. It’s so simple, but it’s crazy fun.

Video:

Teaching the ABCs of Attention, Balance and Compassion: Susan Kaiser Greenland at TEDxStudioCityED- Founder of the Inner Kids program, Susan Kaiser Greenland adapted adult meditation practices for kids, seeing a marked improvement in their capacity to focus, calm themselves, and manage stress. She is also the author of The Mindful Child.

Articles:

3 Biggest Ways to Reduce Your Environmental Impact– Living in balance with the earth from the Omega Center for Sustainable Living

Early-Childhood Education Takes to the Outdoors– Kids in Waldkindergarten, also known as forest kindergarten, are building fires and braving the snow. And they’re all the better for it.

Meditation For Kids: Parents Turn To Mindfulness Practices To Help Children Stay Calm– Overview of why to teach mindfulness to kids.

3 Kid-Friendly Meditations Your Children Will Love

Movies for families about Balance:

Fern Gully, rated G- The magical inhabitants of a rainforest fight to save their home, which is threatened by logging and a polluting force of destruction called Hexxus.

Rio 2, G- It’s a jungle out there for Blu, Jewel and their three kids after they’re hurtled from Rio de Janeiro to the wilds of the Amazon. As Blu tries to fit in, he goes beak-to-beak with the vengeful Nigel, and meets his father-in-law.

Inside Out, PG- After young Riley is uprooted from her Midwest life and moved to San Francisco, her emotions – Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness – conflict on how best to navigate a new city, house, and school.

The Great Math Mystery, NOVA (53 min.) for National Pi Day, 3/14- Fibonacci Numbers, Fractals, Pi and Spirals in nature.

Balance and Justice
Balance and Math, Science
Balance and Seasons
Balance of Life and Death
Interfaith Calendar dates to note:
National & Cultural calendar dates to note:

Here are some more details on the items mentioned above:

Families Tuugether, Saturday, March 17th, 4:30-8pm  Open to children 8 months through Sixth grade, Families Tuugether is a popular program for families of young kids; an opportunity for parents to reconnect and to recharge. Offered monthly during the church year, children are dropped off at South Church at 4:30pm with a potluck dish to share (Ready to serve, please.), and parents head up to the sanctuary for a short group gathering before heading out to enjoy some quite time. Children will strengthen friendships, enjoy a movie, and play fun games. Parents return to get their child no later than 8pm. Please note: Families MUST RSVP (kirsten@southchurch-uu.org)  if they plan to come to this event, so that we are able to meet the staffing needs. Program is be closed after 25 children register, to ensure we have a safe and fun event.

Sparks and Purple flames (social groups for 5-6th and 7-8th grades) On March 16th we will be meeting together at Hilltop Fun Center from 7-9pm for Laser tag and some arcade time. Bring a water bottle, wear sneakers. If you are not registered for this program, email me for details on that! If you are registered, please RSVP so I know you’re coming!

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

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