Happy Autumn!

Well, we’re back, and so far so good.

The theme for October is “Cultivating Relationship.” Ooh, this is good. What a gift this month, to be intentional about this topic. As we navigate return to in person gatherings, we can pay attention to how we want to come together, what we want to grow (or cultivate), and explore what it means to build healthy connections.

At this point, we’ve had a few Sundays of in person worship. One Sunday, kids worked on props for the following week’s TFAA (see pic above,) and one Sunday we checked in and had some fun play time. We will continue to offer a gentle time of gathering for all kids during worship, following the Time For All Ages. Outdoors when weather allows, indoors when it doesn’t. Please have your children dress for outdoor time!

We are hoping to begin our traditional age-based Religious Education classes similar to how we’ve traditionally met, October 17th. We will have classes for Pre-K through 8th grade on Sunday mornings. Most will meet during both worship times, but some will meet during only one worship. You can find the details for your children on pages under the “Program Info” tab. OWL for 5th and 7th grades, plus Coming of Age will all begin on October 24th.

We need lots of RE volunteers! We have a rich program, and it takes a lot of people to make it wonderful. Whether it’s helping with the all-ages sessions through mid-October, or any of the various age-based classes that will begin in late October. I would LOVE to help you find a role that will fill your spiritual cup to overflowing. You can check out the volunteer page for descriptions, expectations and spiritual rooting HERE, you can sign up for a slot HERE, or you can email me and we can set a time to talk about what would feel good for you: jendeldeo@southchurch-uu.org. Please reach out to see how you can help–we can fit a role to match your availability and interests.

Finally, PLEASE REGISTER YOUR CHILDREN, whether you plan to attend regularly or not. It is tremendously helpful for us to keep track of who our young people are and what we need to know about them.CLICK HERE for RE registration!

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What you need to know this month… 

Click Linked Items for additional Details:

Click here for 2021-2022 RE Program Information

• Saturday, October 2nd:
  • Families tUUgether! 5:00-7:30p. More details HERE. Email JenDD to RSVP: jendeldeo@southchurch-uu.org
• Sunday, October 3rd:
  • Worship at 9:00a and 11:00a, Sermon offered by Kimberly Cloutier Green
  • 9:00a service will stream live on YouTube
  • Senior Youth meets 4:00-5:30p upstairs at Court St building
• Thursday, October 7th:
  • Coming of Age Orientation and Opening Ceremony for 8th graders and their families 6:30-8:00p at church
• Friday, October 8th:
  • Sparks and Flames social group for grades 5 through 8: Games at church! 7:00-8:30p RSVP: jendeldeo@southchurch-uu.org
• Sunday, October 10th:
  • Worship at 9:00a and 11:00a, Sermon offered by Denise and Paul Pouloit
  • 9:00a service will stream live on YouTube
  • Senior Youth will NOT meet this day
• Wednesday, October 13th:
  • OWL Sexuality Education for 7th grade–Orientation for parents, 6:30-8:00p at church
• Thursday, October 14th:
  • OWL Sexuality Education for 5th grade–Orientation for parents, 7:00-8:00p at church
• Sunday, October 17th:
  • Worship in person at South Church at 9:00a & 11:00a, Sermon offered by Rev Susan
  • 9:00a service will stream live on Youtube
  • Senior Youth meets 4:00-5:30p upstairs at Court St building
• Sunday, October 24th:
  • Worship in person at South Church at 9:00a & 11:00a, Sermon offered by Kirsten Hunter
  • 9:00a service will stream live on Youtube
  • 5th Grade OWL meets 9:30-11:00a upstairs at Court St building
  • 7th Grade OWL meets 4:00-5:30p in social hall
  • Coming of Age meets 10:45a-12:00p in the Piscataqua Room
  • Senior Youth meets 4:00-5:30p upstairs at Court St building
• Sunday, October 31st: Halloween
  • Worship in person at South Church at 9:00a & 11:00a, Sermon offered by Rev Susan
  • 9:00a service will stream live on Youtube
  • 5th & 7th grade OWL, Coming of Age will NOT meet today, kids can join regular RE during worship
  • Sparks and Flames 5th-8th grade pumpkin carving social 5:30-7:00p at church
  • Church-wide pumpkin carving contest! Bring your carved pumpkins, prizes awarded!
  • Senior Youth Halloween social!

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Families at Home: October’s Theme is “Cultivating Relationship“

Our UU faith in practice and action:

• Listening practice: Deep listening and communicating our needs are so important to cultivating relationship. Sometimes we might interrupt someone, or assume we know what they are saying without really hearing all of what they’re saying. And sometimes it can be hard to communicate in words what we need from others. Here are a couple of fun ways to practice listening and communicating clearly:
  • Homemade LEGO listening game. If you have LEGOs at home, you can play this simple yet fun and challenging game together: http://storiesandchildren.com/homemade-lego-listening-game/
  • Listening practices at mealtime: When you sit down for a meal together, try a new way to be intentional about listening and speaking. For example, go around the table, giving each person uninterrupted time to share the most challenging part of their day. Often, especially as parents, we try to “fix” each other’s challenges by quickly offering solutions. Sometimes it’s most helpful to just feel heard. Listeners in this exercise might try giving a quiet pause for several seconds after the speaker finishes, and/or acknowledging the speaker’s struggle when they have finished speaking with something like, “That sounds really difficult,” before asking, “Is there anything that would feel helpful?” Go around again, giving each person another uninterrupted chance to share something they accomplished, something that was fun, something they’re hoping to do tomorrow, or other prompt.
• Listening practice: Deep listening and communicating our needs are so important to cultivating relationship. Sometimes we might interrupt someone, or assume we know what they are saying without really hearing all of what they’re saying. And sometimes it can be hard to communicate in words what we need from others. Here are a couple of fun ways to practice listening and communicating clearly:Homemade LEGO listening game. If you have LEGOs at home, you can play this simple yet fun and challenging game together: http://storiesandchildren.com/homemade-lego-listening-game/
• Listening practices at mealtime: When you sit down for a meal together, try a new way to be intentional about listening and speaking. For example, go around the table, giving each person uninterrupted time to share the most challenging part of their day. Often, especially as parents, we try to “fix” each other’s challenges by quickly offering solutions. Sometimes it’s most helpful to just feel heard. Listeners in this exercise might try giving a quiet pause for several seconds after the speaker finishes, and/or acknowledging the speaker’s struggle when they have finished speaking with something like, “That sounds really difficult,” before asking, “Is there anything that would feel helpful?” Go around again, giving each person another uninterrupted chance to share something they accomplished, something that was fun, something they’re hoping to do tomorrow, or other prompt. 
• Cultivating relationship through caretaking: We all need help sometimes, and sometimes it’s wonderful even if we don’t need it. All kinds of caretaking, when it is welcome, can help deepen our relationships. 
  • Watch this video of Lea Morris telling a version of “The Parable of the Spoons,” with a special song she created at the end: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hE5m3iYRBBo
  • Caretaking also applies to our relationship with our selves. When we love and care for ourselves, we are better able to love and care for others. Try asking yourself in any moment, “What do I need right now,” which is different than “What do I feel like I want right now.” Sometimes when we’re struggling we go to behaviors that don’t really help in the long run. What would feel helpful for you right now? A walk outside, a nice snack, a chat with a friend, a nap? What can you do to make space for that self care?

Chalice Lighting for mealtimes this month:

From a Passover Haggadah, Reading 453 in Singing the Living Tradition