At church lately, we’ve had many small, beautiful reminders of why community matters.

On Easter Sunday, after a lovely all-ages worship, our sanctuary filled with joy during the traditional egg hunt. What made it especially meaningful was noticing that many of the youth hiding eggs were once the children searching for them. The same was abundantly apparent at our recent Families TUUgether (our monthly evening of free childcare,) where teens who were once cared for are now offering that same care with skill, fun, understanding, and love.

This is the quiet, powerful gift of community: love that doesn’t just happen once, but is planted, grows, and is passed on.

In a time that can feel uncertain and overwhelming, when there is so much pressure to keep up, stay busy, and give our children every possible opportunity, it’s easy to lose sight of what actually sustains them and us. The communities we choose, and how we show up within them, shape how we respond to challenge, change, and to one another. It doesn’t happen immediately by jumping in up to our necks; it takes making manageable steps over and over.

Nature-based mentoring practices remind us that spring is a time of awakening and orienting. Instead of jumping straight into the hard work of bearing fruit, it’s a time to set the compass, clarify intentions, and make sure we have what we need before beginning. Before the big energy of summer growth, this season invites us to pay attention to what seeds we’re planting. When we take even a little time to ground ourselves this way, we often move through what’s ahead using energy efficiently and toward what we truly want.

This is how a spiral of connection, resilience, and meaning grows.

Intentional community spaces offer something essential. Here, people are known across time. Children are given chances not only to receive care, but to become people who offer it. They experience belonging not as something to earn, but as something to grow into—and to help others grow into.

As the pace of life zooms around us, this is an invitation to pay attention. To pause on the morning doorstep, to greet the day (perhaps with a life-giving cup of coffee), to notice, and to choose connection to what is essential. To trust that what we build slowly, together, will carry our children and ourselves far beyond any single season. And yes, this can seem ridiculously out of reach at times, so please do let us know what you would need, what would help.

Reach out any time and often, and remember that we are here loving you. 

Spread the word: Registration is open for Roots Summer Program! This is a weeklong adventure for kids ages 5 and up, which centers community and connection through play, exploration, and service. There is a Counselor-In-Training option for kids 12-17. Registration is open to the wider community and scholarships are available! For more info and to register: https://southchurch-uu-re.org/roots-summer-program/

• Practice “Rose, Bud & Thorn” at dinner: This is one of our rituals in RE programs. Each person shares one thing they’re happy about (rose), one thing they are looking forward to (bud), and one hard thing from their day (thorn).
• Practice speaking up: role-play what to say if someone is excluded or treated unfairly. This is good for people of all ages!
• Spring Church Theme Connections
  • Paying Attention: Take a 1-minute pause outside–notice 3 things you see, 3 things you hear, and take one slow breath.
  • Embracing Possibility: Challenge each other to take one small risk each: trying out for something, introducing yourself, raising a hand, trying a new hobby.
  • Awakening Curiosity: Keep a family “wonder list” on the fridge—questions you don’t know the answers to. Look up one question together each week, in books, asking people who might know, watching a show on the topic, etc.

Chalice Lighting For Meal Times:

Building the Possible, written by Rev Scott Tayler, inspired by and with use of the words of John Schaar

May this flame cast its light toward the coming days, reminding us that “the future is not simply a place we are going, but a place we are creating.” A new world is waiting, friends, not to be found, but to be built. May our time together light the way.

Click here for 2025-2026 RE Program Information

• Friday, April 3rd:
  • Sparks & Flames for grades 5-8, 7-9pm
• Saturday, April 4th:
  • Music Sunday props workshop 2-5p in Social Hall, all are welcome
  • Families Tuugether 5-8p, RSVP to JenDB
• Sunday, April 5th:
  • Easter, All-ages Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. 
  • Egg hunt after worship!
  • Nursery is closed today–babies and toddlers stay in worship
  • No RE classes today, no OWL, no Youth Group
• Sunday, April 12th:
  • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. 
  • Nursery is staffed and open 9:30-11:30a
  • RE classes for Pre-K through 7th grade meet downstairs following TFAA 
  • Coming of Age (8th Grade) meets for longer session–9:45-12:15 at 292 State St
  • 4th/5th Grade OWL meets 10-11:30 in Meditation Room
  • 10th-12th Grade OWL does NOT meet today
  • 7th Grade OWL meets 4:00-5:30 in Milk Classroom
  • High School Youth Group meets for Learning Session 4:00-6:00 at 292 State St
• Sunday, April 19th:
  • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. 
  • Prepared Meals (To Go) Sale, youth group fundraiser during social hour
  • Nursery is staffed and open 9:30-11:30a
  • RE classes for Pre-K through 7th grade meet downstairs following TFAA
  • Coming of Age (8th Grade) meets 9:45-11:15 at 73 Court St
  • 4th/5th Grade OWL meets 10-11:30 in Meditation Room
  • 10th-12th Grade OWL meets 2-3:30 at 73 Court St
  • 7th Grade OWL meets 4-5:30 in Milk Classroom
  • High School Youth Group meets 4-5:30 at 73 Court St
• Sunday April 26th:
  • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. 
  • Nursery is staffed and open 9:30-11:30a
  • RE classes for Pre-K through 7th grade meet downstairs following TFAA
  • 4th/5th Grade OWL meets 10-11:30 in Meditation Room
  • High School Youth Group meets 4-5:30 at 73 Court St
  • Coming of Age, High School OWL, and 7th Grade OWL do NOT meet today.
• Friday, May 1st:
  • Sparks & Flames for grades 5-8, 7-9pm
• Sunday, May 3rd:
  • All-ages Music Sunday Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. 
  • Nursery is closed today–babies and toddlers stay in worship
  • RE classes for Pre-K through 7th grade do not meet today–kids stay in worship 
  • 4th/5th Grade OWL does NOT meet today–come to worship!
  • 10th-12th Grade OWL meets 2:00-3:30 at 73 Court St
  • 7th Grade OWL meets 4:00-5:30 in Milk Classroom
  • High School Youth Group meets 4:00-5:30 at 73 Court St
• Friday, May 8th-Sunday, May 10th:
  • Coming of Age Wilderness Retreat
• Sunday, May 10th:
  • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. 
  • Mother’s Day Plant Sale and Bazaar fundraiser during social hour
  • Nursery is staffed and open 9:30-11:30a
  • RE classes for Pre-K through 7th grade meet downstairs following TFAA
  • 4th/5th Grade OWL does NOT meet today
  • 10th-12th Grade OWL meets for final session, 2-3:30 at 73 Court St
  • 7th Grade OWL does NOT meet today
  • High School Youth Group meets 4-5:30 at 73 Court St
• Friday, May 15th-Sunday, May 17th:
  • High School Youth Group camping trip at Pawtuckaway
  • Coming of Age (8th Grade) worship rehearsal 8:30-11:00 in sanctuary
• Sunday, May 17th:
  • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. 
  • Nursery is staffed and open 9:30-11:30a
  • RE classes for Pre-K through 7th grade meet downstairs following TFAA 
  • Coming of Age (8th Grade) meets 9:45-11:15 at 73 Court St
  • 7th Grade OWL meets for final 4:00-5:30 in Milk Classroom. Parents please join us at 5:00
  • High School Youth Group will not meet in the afternoon.
• Sunday, May 24th:
  • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. 
  • Nursery is staffed and open 9:30-11:30a
  • RE classes for Pre-K through 7th grade meet downstairs following TFAA 
  • Coming of Age (8th Grade) does NOT meet today
  • 4th/5th Grade OWL does NOT meet today
  • High School Youth Group does NOT meet today
• Saturday, May 30th:
  • Coming of Age (8th Grade) worship rehearsal 8:30-11:00 in sanctuary
  • Families Tuugether 5-8p, RSVP to JenDB
• Sunday, May 31st:
  • Coming of Age Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. 
  • Nursery is staffed and open 9:30-11:30a
  • RE classes for Pre-K through 7th grade meet downstairs following TFAA
  • 4th/5th Grade OWL  meets for final session 10:00-11:30. Parents please join at 11:15!
  • High School Youth Group meets 4-5:30 at 73 Court St
• Sunday, June 6th:
  • All-ages Bridging Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. 
  • Nursery is closed today–babies and toddlers remain in worship!
  • RE classes do not meet today