Finding Our Center

Love; Generosity; Justice; Evolution; Pluralism; Equity; Interdependence. These are the values proposed in the Article II Commission’s draft of what is likely to become the new Values and Covenant for all UU congregations in our country. If adopted, this document will replace the current Principles and Sources that have been our faith’s guiding star since 1987.

Many of our RE classes this month will be talking explicitly about what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist, and others will be acting on the values outlined in both the new draft and the original Principles. Watch for ways to extend these topics at home, see resources below, and reach out for more ways to bring UU values into everyday life.

Our high school youth are studying subjects like Algebra and Chemistry. Each week it is common for them to spend about 5 hours in class on each subject, plus about 3 more on homework for one subject. That’s about 8 hours devoted to Algebra, which is a good subject to study.

In the long arc of a life, how significant will Algebra have been for most people? If those UU values listed above feel like they could significantly impact a life for many decades, then we should probably give them more attention than an hour a week at church. The great news is, we are. All of us–you, me, and the rest of our church community. We act on the values, we learn about them, we share them with our children. But how often to we think about it and do it with intention? Are those values getting as much air time as Algebra and Chemistry? Maybe, but it’s a good time to check.

See you soon! ♥️

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Calendar for this month… 

Click Linked Items for additional Details:

Click here for 2022-2023 RE Program Information

• Friday, January 6th:
  • Sparks & Flames bowling! Must RSVP by noon Fri
• Sunday, January 8th:
  • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by Reverend Ellen
  • 5th/6th grade OWL meets 9:30-11:00a in Piscataqua Room
  • 8th grade Coming of Age meets with mentors 9:45-11:00 at 73 Court St
  • All other age-based RE classes for Pre-K through 7th grade meet in rooms downstairs following the Time For All Ages
  • 7th Grade OWL meets at a slightly different time, 3:30-5:30 at church
  • Senior Youth meets 4:00-6:00pm for Learning Journey Session 1 for Alabama trip
• Sunday, January 15th:
  • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by Reverend Ellen
  • 5th/6th grade OWL does NOT meet today
  • 7th Grade OWL does NOT meet today
  • 8th grade Coming of Age does NOT meet today
  • Senior Youth meets 4:00-5:30 at 73 Court St
  • Regular RE classes for Pre-K through 7th grade will meet downstairs following the Time For All Ages
• Sunday, January 22nd
  • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by Kirsten
  • 5th/6th grade OWL meets 9:30-11:00a in Piscataqua Room
  • 8th grade Coming of Age meets with mentors 9:45-11:00 at 73 Court St
  • All other age-based RE classes for Pre-K through 7th grade meet in rooms downstairs following the Time For All Ages
  • 7th Grade OWL meets 4:00-5:30 at church
  • Senior Youth meets 4:00-5:30pm at 73 Court St
• Sunday, January 29th
  • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by Reverend Ellen
  • 5th/6th grade OWL meets 9:30-11:00a in Piscataqua Room
  • 8th grade Coming of Age meets 9:45-11:00 at 73 Court St (no mentors today)
  • All other age-based RE classes for Pre-K through 7th grade meet in rooms downstairs following the Time For All Ages
  • 7th Grade OWL meets 4:00-5:30 at church
  • Senior Youth meets 4:00-5:30pm at 73 Court St
• Saturday, February 4th
  • Senior Youth overnight/worship prep
• Sunday, February 5th
  • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Special worship offered by Senior Youth Group!
  • 5th/6th grade OWL meets at different time for last class: 10:00-11:45 in Piscataqua Room, parents join at 11:15
  • 8th grade Coming of Age meets 9:45-11:00 at 73 Court St (no mentors today)
  • All other age-based RE classes for Pre-K through 7th grade meet in rooms downstairs following the Time For All Ages
  • 7th Grade OWL meets 4:00-5:30 at church
  • 2nd OWL 7 Parent Discussion Group meets 4:00-5:30 in sanctuary

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January’s Church Theme is “Finding Our Center”

Our UU faith in practice and action:

• Values Cards Activity: Values make up your internal compass that gives your life direction. There are many ways to use the values cards below to think about your own values.
  • Print and cut out this set of free cards.
  • One way we use them with our 8th grade Coming of Age class is to have each person look for cards they connect to on a personal level and independently choose the five cards that best represent them as an individual, representing their core values. We then have discussions and ask them to identify which 1 of their 5 core values requires the most work or practice and to identify which is their strongest value, the one they best live up to.
  • You can adapt the activity in many ways, especially if using the cards with young children:
    • Try choosing one card per day at dinner time and discuss together what that value means to each of you, how it shows up in your life, and how important it is (or isn’t) to you.
    • Randomly choose 3 cards and have each person put them in order of personal importance, discussing why you each chose the order how you did.
    • Work together to identify your core family values and post them in a place where you all can see them regularly
• Sankofa Read Aloud: In a step to center antiracism/anti oppression, check out some of the videos of African American children’s books read on this YouTube channel. Or, read books together that decenter whiteness. Your librarian should have good recommendations, or try a book list like this one.

Chalice Lightings for mealtimes:

Dreams

BY LANGSTON HUGHES

There is Light

By Eric Williams

Within each part of Creation
There is light
Slowed down and held close
By every cell and molecule
By each atom and element.

Within you
There is light
The same light as the Source
The same radiance that is in all creatures.

May this small flame
Be a constant reminder to you
Of your true nature
And your kinship with all beings.