Jan ’24 nUUs from Religious Education

~ resouthchurchuu

Happy New Year!

Hope you all have had moments of joy, rest, and connection over the holiday weeks.

Here’s a little recap of the first few months of the ’23/’24 church year in Religious Education:

  • Periodic multigenerational worship days, where kids stay in the sanctuary for the duration, are intended to create all-ages community time and to have kids grow up knowing how to be comfortable in and benefit from worship.
  • Nursery is open on most Sundays, except for multigenerational worship days. Susan and Maisy have made a safe and welcoming little space for our youngest people. It is also a place to practice for littles who are to yet comfortable leaving their parents; we will support that transition, following the parents’ lead.
  • Kids who are in Pre-K through 7th grade are learning about the Article II Commissions proposed changes to our UU principles/values. They are learning what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist, through explorative discussion, stories, play, and other hands-on activities. So far, with the help of JET PIG, they have explored a bit about our UU heritage and Generosity, with Love coming up for the month of January.
  • 8th grade Coming of Age had a weekend retreat, the youth are matched with adult mentors, and they meet weekly to explore topics about their own values and beliefs within a UU context.
  • Senior Youth Group (high school) is exploring Indigenous history, justice, and wisdom. They are also fundraising for their June 2024 trip to New Mexico, as a learning journey connected to these topics.
  • 5th and 7th Grade OWL sexuality education classes are well underway, the groups have built trust and some confidence in talking about sexuality topics.

We are bringing back Sparks and Flames social gatherings for all kids in grades 5 through 8, with an ice skating event at Strawbery Banke on Friday evening, January 5th! Please RSVP by Weds 1/3 to let me know and to get information on tickets: jendeldeo@southchurch-uu.org. I will need one parent from the group to volunteer as co-chaperone, so let me know if you can help!

January’s Church Theme is “Liberating Love”

  • Love is at the center of the Article II proposed values. Try some of these activities to connect to this theme and our UU identity:
    • Make a poster/painting/art work of the Article II values to hang in your home, so that your family can have a visual reminder of who we are trying to be as UUs. Here is the full report, and you can find an image of the 7 values as inspiration for your art on page 20.
    • Visit the African Burying Ground, located between Court St and State St, between our main church building and the meetinghouse. On the winding trail that has the engraved quotes, choose words that feel connected to what it means to be a UU. Make a rubbing of one or more of those words and bring them to church, where we will display them all together as art on our RE bulletin board.
    • Participate in Side With Love’s annual “30 Days of Love” from Jan 15th-Feb 14th. There are all kinds of activities and resources for all ages!

Chalice Lighting For Meal Times:

The Flames of Love, by Rev. Kimi Floyd Reisch

We light the flame of commitment,
To stand with and work to create change,
Until all know they are beloved.

We light the flame of survival,
Grateful for our lives, 
Remembering in love those lost along the road.

We light the flame of change,
Committing to recenter toward love,
In hearts, in minds, in our world.

Click Linked Items for additional Details

Click here for 2023-2024 RE Program Information

  • Sunday, December 31st:
    • Worship at 10:00a. Offered by WAs Willow and Bret
    • Nursery is not staffed today, but families may use the room with parent supervision
    • No RE classes today
    • Chili Sale! Fundraising event by Senior Youth, open to all, 5-7 pm. If you would like to donate a crockpot of chili, drop off begins at 4pm.
  • Friday, January 5th:
    • Sparks and Flames ice skating! More info and rsvp: jendeldeo@southchurch-uu.org
  • Sunday, January 7th:
    • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by Kirsten
    • Nursery is staffed and open 9:30-11:30a
    • RE classes for Pre-K through 7th grade meet downstairs following TFAA 
    • 5th Grade OWL meets 10-11:30, Meditation Room
    • 8th Grade Coming of Age meets 9:45-11:00 at 73 Court St
    • 7th Grade OWL meets 4:00-5:30 in Milk Classroom
    • Senior Youth meets 4:00-6:00pm at 73 Court St for Learning Journey session 2
  • Sunday, January 14th:
    • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by Rev Ellen
    • Nursery is staffed and open 9:30-11:30a
    • RE classes for Pre-K through 7th grade meet downstairs following TFAA 
    • 5th Grade OWL meets 10-11:30, Meditation Room
    • 8th Grade Coming of Age and 7th grade OWL do NOT meet today
    • Senior Youth meets 4:00-5:30p at 73 Court St for worship planning
  • Sunday, January 21st:
    • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by Rev Ellen
    • Nursery is staffed and open 9:30-11:30a
    • RE classes for Pre-K through 7th grade meet downstairs following TFAA 
    • 5th Grade OWL meets 10-11:30, Meditation Room
    • 8th Grade Coming of Age meets 9:45-11:00 at 73 Court St
    • 7th Grade OWL meets 4:00-5:30 in Milk Classroom
    • Senior Youth meets 4:00-5:30 at 73 Court St for worship planning
  • Sunday, January 28th:
    • Multigen Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by Rev Ellen
    • Nursery is not staffed but families may use the room with parent supervision
    • Kids stay in worship today, except for 5th grade OWL and CoA participants
    • 5th Grade OWL meets 9:30-11:15 for final class, Meditation Room; parents join at 10:45
    • 8th Grade Coming of Age meets 9:45-11:00 with mentors, at 73 Court St
    • 7th Grade OWL meets 4:00-5:30 in Milk Classroom
      • OWL parent discussion group 4-5:30 in sanctuary
    • Senior Youth meets 4:00-5:30 at 73 Court St for worship planning
    • South Church Annual Meeting, after worship, childcare provided.
  • Saturday, February 3rd:
    • High School Youth Group overnight, for worship prep
  • Sunday, February 4th:
    • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by High School Youth Group!
    • Nursery is staffed and open 9:30-11:30a
    • RE classes for Pre-K through 7th grade meet downstairs following TFAA 
    • 8th Grade Coming of Age meets 9:45-11:00 at 73 Court St
    • 7th Grade OWL meets 4:00-5:30 in Milk Classroom
    • No Senior Youth meeting this evening
  • Sunday, February 11th:
    • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by Rev Ellen
    • Nursery is staffed and open 9:30-11:30a
    • RE classes for Pre-K through 7th grade meet downstairs following TFAA 
    • 8th Grade Coming of Age meets 9:45-11:00 at 73 Court St
    • 7th Grade OWL meets 4:00-5:30 in Milk Classroom
    • Senior Youth meets 4:00-5:30 at 73 Court St

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