Family resources for the month of April: ‘We are a community of emergence’ 

[Pssss…. The secret word to enter the book giveaway this month is: tulips!- 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. [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.

Fun Cell phone Apps!

• Botanicula- a point-and-click adventure game that puts players in control of a quintet of tiny beings that are a cross between insect and plant. Its wordless story — everything is presented through images — begins with one of these creatures encountering a spider-like monster intent on gobbling up the big, beautiful tree. Themes of emergence and environmentalism.
• Toca Nature- What emerges from a walk in virtual nature? Parents need to know that like all Toca Boca apps, Toca Nature is totally open-ended, allowing for pure creative exploration. Kids can build natural elements — trees, lakes, and mountains — and observe what happens as animals move in and food sources abound. Interaction is slow and calm, just like a peaceful walk in a tranquil forest; kids will need to some patience to quietly observe everything that happens. Unlike a real forest, this one is entirely non-violent: usually omnivorous bears and foxes are content with mushrooms and berries and ignore the cute little bunny rabbits that are hopping around.

Youtube Videos that celebrate the emergence of new life:

• Swan Nest and Hatching of Cygnets– Share this 24-minute video together of a pair of Swans who take care of a nest and hatch their babies.
• 10 Amazing Animal Parents– A variety of animal parents and how they take care of their young.

Join an Online Conversation as part of the emerging conversation in UU about racism

• EmbraceRace Community Conversation- An EmbraceRace community conversation online, every 4th Tuesday, starting at 5:30 pm PT, 8:30 pm ET. A free, monthly online series providing information, insights, and resources to caregivers on a range of topics related to race and children. We invite guests with relevant experiences and expertise to join each conversation with the EmbraceRace community.

 Resources for the emerging conversation in UU about racism

• http://www.lreda.org/racial-justice- A great compilation by religious educators for UU’s. Why wait for a Teach In? Be a lifelong learner and educate yourself.

Articles for parents:

•  Kindergarten’s Radical Advocate– Elizabeth Palmer Peabody saw her educational work as part of a larger effort to reform human society.  She influenced Unitarian minister William Ellery Channing whose birthday was April 7.
• The Peabody Sisters– More about Elizabeth Palmer Peabody and her sisters, who founded Kindergarten in the U.S.
• Why I’ll Teach My Kids About All Kinds of Families

Movies for families about emergence:

• The Prince of Egypt (animated, rated PG) for Passover. The story of the emergence of the Jews out of slavery as told in the Book of Exodus. *please note- this movie is based on The Book of Exodus …. There are scenes of slaves being whipped, hit, and verbally and physically abused. There are depictions of babies dropped and thrown into crocodile-infested waters. Moses kills a slave driver. While competing against Rameses in a chariot race, Rameses is on a road above the one Moses is on, and Moses looks up and says “it’s not much of a view” as Rameses’ short uniform exposes his rear. It’s worth mentioning that, unlike almost every Bible story presented on film, the characters in this movie are people of color.” https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/the-prince-of-egypt
• The Fox and the Child for Earth Day– The emerging friendship between a girl and a wild fox. Scenes with a bear and wolves might make this film too scary for children under 8. It feels a bit like “The Little Prince.”
• Lemurs; Island of Madagascar (documentary) for Earth Day- The emergence and evolution of Lemurs in this film appropriate for children and families, 40 min.
• A Beautiful Planet– Views of Earth from Space, as well as evidence of destruction caused by humans.
• Boy and the World for Earth Day- Animated award winning Brazilian film about a boy’s emerging journey to find his father from countryside to big city, making it a good film for environmentalism, too.

Reflection on Intention, Perseverance, Balance, Emergence (the past 4 themes):

How has your family responded to each theme during these past few months? The arc of the themes is intentional. In January, you were invited to think about setting an intention. In February, the theme of perseverance gave you a lens with which to keep going on the intention you set. In March, perhaps it was time to balance the intention with real life, as well as balance the challenges of keeping your intention. This month, you are invited to reflect on what has emerged from your intention? Perhaps it is something totally unexpected. One part of emergence is that we can’t control what emerges.  (this observation was offered by Bob Meiss, a UU congregant in Livermore, CA)

Our monthly church-wide themes this year have been:

A community of…

September: Welcome
October: Courage
November: Abundance
December: Hope
January: Intention
February: Perseverence
March: Balance
April: Emergence
May: Creativity