Clocks Change on Sunday, November 4th!! Also, don’t forget to bring something for the Dia de los Muertos/Day of remembrance worship. There will be an alter set up and you are invited to bring a photo or memento of an someone important in your life who has died.

Hello! What a full and wonderful October we have shared together! Big thanks to everyone who joined us for the Halloween social and help to support our High School youth group, they raised about $300 for their end of year service learning trip!

Church Sundays and Other Important dates this month:

• November 2-3rd: 7th grade OWL overnight
• November 4th: Spirit Play, Children’s Chapel (don’t forget your UU7 mission forms and a few coins for the collection!), and Coming of Age meet your mentors today! Senior youth group time change- 6-8pm so they can attend the vigil in market square!
• November 10th 4:30-8pm: Families Tuugether for parents with young children (rsvp required).
• November 11th: Normal* RE program day. (see below)
• November 16-17th: Youth overnight service trip to Orland, Maine
• November 18th: Normal* RE program day. Wreath sale today! (see below)
• November 25th: Wholly family service with Special RE guest program! (no Coming of Age, Owl, or Senior youth)
• November 30th at South Church 7-9pm: Sparks and Flames <-click for more info

[*Normal RE program day: Both services include Spirit Play and Theme workshops for grades 1-5. 11am worship also included: 6-7th grade religious exploration and Coming of Age for 8th grade.  OWL for 5th grade is currently meeting at 9:30 most Sundays. OWL for 7th grade and Senior Youth meet on Sunday evenings at 4-5:30 pm.]

Annual Wreath Sale: Sunday, November 18th after each service. The senior youth group take an annual trip north to Orland, Me each November to volunteer for a community shelter and resource center called H.O.M.E inc. A part of the time is spent helping to assemble holiday wreaths, which are a significant fund raiser for the organization. We bring some back to sell to you! Bring $25 and bring one home! Support H.O.M.E, and support our H.S. youth!

Family resources for November’s theme: A people of Memory

Hey all! 

Our Annual Halloween Social is in the works once again! We’ll be gathering on the front lawn of South Church on Halloween night to watch the parade march past. The parade starts at 7pm, and our Youth group will be selling baked goods, warm drinks, and facilitating the Jack O’Lantern contest!

Maybe you or your family want to bake something for the bake sale?

Maybe you want to enter a pumpkin in the contest?

Maybe you just want to come join us for the sweet gathering?

EVERYONE who attends gets to vote for their favorite pumpkin creation and winners will be announced at the end of the parade!

WHAT FUN!!  See you there!  (Oh! And spread the word! Invite friends!)

Hey folks,

This has been a difficult week for me, and many people in our country– It’s been hard for people on both political sides. It’s been hard for people of all gender identities, sexual orientations, and it’s been really hard for those folks who have experienced sexual assault.

There has been an insane amount of commentary surrounding the Kavanaugh hearings last week. There has been massive amounts of anger, venting, and side-taking. For me, personally, this week has been deeply triggering. I’ve felt raw and spacey and it’s been really hard to get things done. I haven’t been great at stepping away from it all and finding ways to restore my heart, but I am aware of that need. I’m working on it.

As a parent, I have also been mindful of the need to find appropriate ways to find teaching moments to share with my child, and also equally mindful of the need to put this stuff away and be present and joyful for my child- to the best of my ability.

I’m going to guess that many of you are experiencing similar things, and so I’m going to share some resources that you may find helpful in navigating this moment and trying to figure out where to go from here.

If you have come across a resource you think it worth sharing here, please send it along and I will add it to this post.

•  Unburdened Podcast In this hour long program, in this episode a group of black fathers grapple with challenging toxic masculinity- the divides that fathers have when fathering their daughters vs. fathering their sons. This whole podcast series is awesome.
• Here is a great article for folks trying to cope as a sexual abuse survivor. 
• For folks who are trying to better understand why this week has been so difficult for many people, I found this interview was a really concise explanation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lskN-de5Z2U&app=desktop
• Related, here’s a group of men talking about the challenges of dismantling sexism/misogyny from a straight-male perspective (there is a whole series of these talks, too!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufQSF3mpQ6k
• NPR: How to Talk to Young People About the Kavanaugh Story Some great reminders for parents, It’s your job, it’s not too soon, give them the information, be the askable parent…  A lot of this article reminds me of OWL parent discussions-
• Comprehensive Sexuality education is an important part of our path forward, so if you are able to volunteer time with an OWL program- do it. If not, Be an askable parent. Have a hundred hard conversations- don’t worry about saying the perfect thing- do your best, keep doing your best, lean on fellow parents. This is why good Sex Education is so important
• Do you (and your children) know about the freeze response? I have heard many people say, over past two years as sexual assault has moved in and out of the focus of conversation, that they are just realizing how common it is for people to freeze when they are confronted with sexual assault. We say ‘no means no’, and perhaps talk to our children about the importance of consent, but we don’t always lift up how common it is for a person to freeze when they feel fear in a situation. It is relevant, particularly, in teaching children and teens to be advocates for themselves and to be respectful of those with whom they might be intimately involved. There are two sides to this:  1.  We need to learn that silence isn’t consent- if a person finds themselves in a sexual situation and their partner becomes very quiet and unresponsive, STOP.  2. We need to know that if, when confronted with a sexually threatening situation we ourselves froze– that was not a failure. To freeze is a completely normal biological response. It does not mean you gave consent, and it should not prevent you from reporting what happened.
• Finally, here are some children’s book recommendations-  The article is specifically speaking to parents of sons, and offers some kids books to prevent sexual assault. I think this framing is a little tricky– sexual assault can experienced by any person and perpetrators are not always men. That said, the underlying message is valuable, toxic masculinity in our culture is real, and the book suggestions are worth sharing. We need to think about what messages we send our children in the media they consume, and recognize that we can plant seeds for a healthier culture if we are intentional about what our little ones are learning about gender and sexuality. ♥

Ok. I’m going to stop there.

Sending love to all of you, and resilience, and hope. We are not alone. Let’s move forward together.

Hello dear families and RE volunteers, Thank you to everyone who helped to make the food drive last week a great success! It was an amazing day, with some of our youth leading worship, other’s collecting food, and so many returning faces. Our community is creating change in many ways, and though it sometimes feels like a lot of work, it’s really important to remember that it’s all worth it- so thank you everyone who is stepping up in all kinds of ways to make our church happen ♥♥

In this post:

• If you haven’t already, it’s time to REGISTER your kids for the 2018-19 church year!
• This month:
  • September 30th: *Regular RE programming.
  • October 7th:  Holiday weekend- All ages Children’s Chapel
  • October 10th: 7th grade parent OWL orientation– 6pm
  • October 13th: Families Tuugether– a night out for parents of younger children!
  • October 14th: *Regular RE programming
  • October 19th: 5th grade parent OWL orientation– 6pm
  • October 21: *Regular RE programming- 7th grade OWL begins tonight!
  • October 23: Online Theme talk for November- A community of Memory
  • October 26-27:  Coming of age fall retreat
  • October 28th: *Regular RE programming (except- COA)
  • October 31st: Come One, Come all!! The Halloween Social and pumpkin carving contest are SO much fun! 
    • Sparks and Flames social groups at 5p- Pumpkin carving
    • Pumpkin carving contest! Entries due between 6-7pm ($5 to enter, 3 cash winners!)
    • All Church Halloween Social on the front lawn/portico 7-8pm

*Regular RE Programming= Spirit Play at 9am, Theme workshops at 9 and 11, 6th-7th service learning class meets, Coming of Age meets at 11am at Court St. Senior Youth meets at 4-5:30 at Court st. 

Family resources for October’s theme: A people of ‘Sanctuary’

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 Sanctuary” or “What does it mean to be a family of Sanctuary?” 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.

Video

TED talk: What we are missing in the debate about immigration  “Between 2008 and 2016, the United States deported more than three million people. What happens to those left behind? Journalist Duarte Geraldino picks up the story of deportation where the state leaves off. Learn more about the wider impact of forced removal as Geraldino explains how the sudden absence of a mother, a local business owner or a high school student ripples outward and wreaks havoc on the relationships that hold our communities together.” – TED A background for why UU Churches consider offering sanctuary. We need to look at the bigger picture.

Books

Inspired Traveler’s Guide Spiritual Places by Sarah Baxter (Author), Zanna Goldhawk (Illustrator), Harry Goldhawk (Illustrator)  “Travel journalist Sarah Baxter has carefully curated a selection of the 25 most spiritual destinations from around the world – places that hold the promise of rare and profound experiences, whether areas of natural beauty imbued with spiritual significance or sites constructed for worship.” – Amazon

Spiritual Places: The World’s Most Sacred Sites by Antony Mason (Author). “Spiritual Places combines awe-inspiring photography and memorable narrative to tell the stories of the holiest temples and ancient ruins, the most hallowed churches, and the places of ancient power. Each location has been handpicked for its breathtaking scenery and its uniquely humbling qualities. Spanning every continent on the planet—from the Mayan pyramids of Chichen Itza in Mexico, through the Carnac stones in France, and on to the idyllic ancient temples of Angkor Wat in Cambodia—acclaimed travel writer Antony Mason has carefully selected the most uplifting places the world has to offer.

Encompassing belief systems past and present—via the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, and Uluru in Australia—this collection of stunning images, enlightening text, and essential travel tips will inspire and inform armchair aficionados and seasoned travelers alike.” – Amazon

Articles

10 Commandments for talking to your kids about religion – PBS.  One of the lenses for the theme of sanctuary is as a place of worship. What are secular and humanist parents to do when sanctuary has overtones of Christianity?

What Makes a Place Sacred?  “Sacred places are where we meet something beyond ourselves. They are not always conventionally religious places…” – from the article

UU Prayers and Meditations From Tapestry of Faith, Signs of Our Faith, Seeking Knowledge

Movies for families about Sanctuary

• The Hunchback of Notre Dame – Disney, G (recommended for 8+). “Disney’s recreation of Victor Hugo’s novel is rich in visual and musical sensation. But deeper beneath the rich production lie questions about normalcy, how sanctuary confines us as well as protects us, and what punishment is.” – Common Sense Media Review

Here’s another review: https://www.bustle.com/articles/167960-19-things-i-noticed-rewatching-the-hunchback-of-notre-dame-as-an-adult

Be aware that this movie is not appropriate for young children.

• The Urban Elephant: Shirley’s Story (13 min). From ArgoFilm’s “The Urban Elephant” comes the touching story of Shirley and her keeper, Solomon James. Trapped in a man-made world, Shirley’s life at the Louisiana Purchase Zoo was a lonely one, bereft of the company of other elephants. Follow Shirley and Solomon through a life of captivity to release in the Tennessee Elephant Sanctuary. This two-time Emmy Award winning film was produced for PBS’s Nature Series.
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh “THE MANY ADVENTURES OF WINNIE THE POOH brings to life several chapters of A.A. Milne’s The House at Pooh Corner that were turned into Disney shorts in the 1960s and ’70s. The film opens with a scene from Christopher Robin’s non-animated bedroom [a sanctuary!] where we see the stuffed animals that come alive in the animated tales. As the narrator introduces a book, viewers slip into the story as the characters come alive on the page. The first chapter details Pooh’s attempt to steal honey from a tree and his subsequent escape from a swarm of bees. Later he eats all Rabbit’s honey and gets stuck in the doorway where he must stay until he slims down and can be pushed out of the narrow hole [when a safe place becomes a stuck place]. In later chapters, Rabbit tries to teach Tigger a lesson to get him to stop pouncing on everyone but ends up getting lost in the Hundred Acre Wood. Tigger and Roo end up atop a tree and unable to get down until their friends help rescue them.”  – Common Sense Media
• PBS – Cathedral– David Macauley (1 hr.)“Author David Macaulay hosts CATHEDRAL, based on his award-winning book. Using a combination of spectacular location sequences and cinema-quality animation, the program surveys France’s most famous churches. Travel back to 1214 to explore the design of Notre Dame de Beaulieu, a representative Gothic cathedral. The program tells period tales revealing fascinating stories of life and death, faith and despair, prosperity, and intrigue.” – YouTube
• BBC – How to Build a Cathedral (1 hr.)

Hey folks, wait till you see the new program space, wow!
Here’s some info forthe next two open house weeks at church. If you can all step in to help at least once this month, that would be really huge, as facilitator teams are still being filled/ teacher training is still in the works– Even if you can’t commit to a volunteer team this year, try to think of September as a chance to see what’s in the works by signing up for a shift! There are specific details about each offering below as well. See you soon!

We Return to 2 services September 16th!!! 9am or 11am. If you come at 10, we can hang out till church starts at 11!

September RE Open House: (click on any of the links below to sign up to help)

Nursery: will be open for babies from 6months-age 4. The Nursery is staffed each week, but if you are interested in volunteering once or twice a month, please reach out!

Spirit Play: A Montessori-based program for preK and Kinder students. A Parent/ or caretaker shouldbe planning to come to class with your child during worship on one of the next 2 Sundays (Sept. 16 or Sept 23) for the parent/child orientation. Simply head downstairs with your child after the story for all ages. It is a sweet way to start the year and to share with you how the classroom format works. No need to sign up as an attendant, but if you’d like to help facilitate the program, here’s the volunteer link:

• September Spirit play volunteer at 9
• September Spirit play volunteer at 11

1st-5th grade theme workshops: Students will explore the Open House work stations during service  on the next 2 Sundays (Sept. 16 or Sept 23) and Parents should plan to join us during social hour so your child can guide you through the family open house info which will reinforce what they’ve explored in the workshop offerings!  We still need help during worship for the workshop program, so please sign up!

• Pick a day to volunteer at 9am
• Pick a day to volunteer at 11am

6th-7th grade Service Learning Year: the program will begin on September 30th, but the theme workshops are designed to include this age group- they are welcome downstairs on the 16th and the 23rd!

8th grade Coming of Age–  Family orientation (youth and parent) is scheduled on September 21st. Please contact me if you have not gotten information on this!

Senior Youth Orientation and overnight: Saturday, September 22nd. Please reach out if you have not received information on this!

2018-19 Year Long Calendar– It’s online, click to see the plan for the WHOLE program, for the WHOLE year…. (it’s impressive!)

Greetings Everyone!!

This is such a full moment for all of us- back to school rituals, new sleep schedules, college kids heading off. Some of us are finding odd moments of quiet for the first time in a while, and most of us are feeling like there is too much to do and not enough time to do it! So much of this stuff is wonderful, so don’t forget to see the magic in it all. We are growing and learning and moving forward in our lives together. I can’t wait to see you all and hear about the new adventures.

As for church, we’ve been pretty busy, too. The entire downstairs of our sanctuary has been under renovation this summer and ITS ALMOST READY TO MOVE BACK IN!!!! We should be able to use real bathrooms at the water in-gathering on September 9th!! Cat Lyons and I are really excited for how this year is looking, and we can’t wait to get you all involved and see your kids! I really need you all to sign up on a volunteer team, which you can do through the online registration process. I will provide training and support, and you get to deepen your own faith while building connections with some of the children or youth in our community.. it’s a win win!

In this post:

• It’s time to REGISTER for the 2018-19 church year!
• Sundays this month:
  • September 2: Last day of our summer balcony program- one service at 10am (scroll down for more info)
  • September 9:  Water In-Gathering worship- last single service- 10am
  • September 16: Return to two services and RE Welcome days in our NEW SPACE! (Two services at 9 and 11 until memorial day…)
  • September 21st Coming of Age Orientation
  • September 22nd- Senior Youth Orientation and overnight
  • September 23: R.E Welcome workshops, Bring your weight in Food Drive, and Immigration worship led by Senior youth and advisors
• Descriptions of each of our RE programs
• Family resources for September’s theme: A people of Welcome

More Details on the list above:

Water In-Gathering- worship for all ages (at 10am on September 9th) This annual service includes an opportunity for each of us to bring and share a small amount of water from somewhere meaningful, whether it’s your kitchen sink, or the lake you spend your summers. Join us for this beautiful start to a new year!

R.E on September 16 and 23rd:  Will be ‘open house’ days, serving to help children, parents, and classroom volunteers get a feel for our elementary and Middle school classrooms and the upcoming year in a fun and relaxed way! Check back here in a week or so (and keep an eye on your inbox) as I will be posting more details as we flush them out.

Sept 21st: 8th Grade Coming of Age Orientation- This is for ALL 8th grade students and their parents- even if you are not sure you can participate in the program this year. The gathering is a workshop, overview, and (if you chose to commit) an opening ceremony. Reach out if you have not received a more detailed invitation!

September 22nd: Senior Youth orientation and overnight (parents too, at 6pm!) We will begin the evening with an orientation for families which will include an overview of the year, a bit of paperwork, and an opportunity for Q & A. The orientation should take about an hour and the youth will remain for an overnight. Please email for more information if you have any questions! a few details:

• We will have a Saturday evening of getting to know our new group and then those who wish will sleep at the church and we will lead the Bring Your Weight in Food Drive on Sunday morning at church.  It is our first big gathering and social justice event and a good time for everyone.

• Sept 30th 4-5:30pm is the first regular youth group meeting of the year.  We will meet at 73 Court st. and start getting into our regular rhythm and planning out the year ahead!

September 23rd: Is a busy day! RE Welcome Workshops will continue, and worship will be a reflection on the Border journey our high school youth took last June AND its the annual food drive day, too!…

Bring-Your-Weight-in-Food Drive benefiting Gather; the Seacoast Food Pantry. Our community’s generosity at this strategic time of year makes a big difference in the community. Early donations may be dropped off at the 73 Court street office, during office hours the week prior to Food Drive Sunday. (Tues-Friday, 9-2)

Wondering where you might like to volunteer this year? or looking for more info about the program year for your child?  Here is the 2018-19 Religious Education Program overview (click the program name to read more!)

• Nursery
• Spirit Play for pre K and Kinder students
• Theme based workshops (1st-5th grade)
• 6th-7th grade Service Learning Year
• 8th Grade Coming of Age
• Senior Youth group (grades 9-12)
• Our Whole Lives Sexuality Education- 5th grade
• Our Whole Lives Sexuality Education- 7th grade

Below, you will find links to each of the RE programs that will be offered in the coming church year. Please click through and read about each of the programs, particularly those in which you have a child participating, or with which you are considering volunteering, and then take a minute to read the welcome message that follows. Finally, parents, please follow the link to register your family for the 2018-19 church year.  

2018-19 Religious Education Program overview (click the program name to read more!)

• Nursery
• Spirit Play for pre K and Kinder students
• Theme based workshops (1st-5th grade)
• 6th-7th grade Service Learning Year
• 8th Grade Coming of Age
• Senior Youth group (grades 9-12)
• Our Whole Lives Sexuality Education- 5th grade
• Our Whole Lives Sexuality Education- 7th grade

Hey Folks!  It is August, and the RE program for our NEWLY RENOVATED SPACE is taking shape. All we need now, is volunteers and a bunch of kids to fill up our clean new classrooms with love and curiosity! I am excited to be able to engage with all of you over the coming weeks to collaborate on how we want to live into this new chapter of our congregation. I really need your help, your vision, and yes, your time– but the rewards for that investment are huge. We have the ability to make real change in the world from right here on the seacoast through the time and energy we are giving to the children and youth in our congregation, and with the ways that the vision of our whole faith community radiates out into the larger community and the world. What an empowering truth!

During worship this past Sunday, Reverend Chris shared an invitation to each of us to reflect on two questions:

• Where are you from?
• What are you for?

The reflection can become a really beautiful autobiographical poem, and I think it’s a perfect place to start as we prepare to bring our whole-self in to a new year at South Church. Please consider sharing what you create by bringing it to church in September!

♥ Kirsten

Parents: CLICK HERE TO REGISTER for the 2018-19 Church Year

Happy Summer Everyone!!!

Well, as we launch into these warmer sunny months, the construction crews are breaking ground in the basement at church. In just a few short months, we are going to be moving back into a newly renovated program space! I want to thank all of you for your flexibility as we have shifted to the balcony program. The transition has been challenging in some ways, but the children have made the shift with such grace and enthusiasm- – It has been inspiring! If you have not yet signed up to volunteer, I encourage you to do so, as it is illuminating. Either way, please read through the summer program outline below so you understand the basics of how it works.

In this post… 

• South Church Retreat on Star Island
• RE Summer Program Outline for Parents and RE Volunteers

South Church Retreat on Star Island- Deadline June 30th! Make time for deepening and connecting on beautiful Star Island during the annual South Church Star Island Retreat. 4 days of rest, restoration and reflection starting on Saturday, July 28. Revs Chris and Lauren will facilitate and Cat Lyons, our RE Program Assistant, will be overseeing children’s activities every morning- parents will tag team volunteer duties to help make it happen so everyone can enjoy time relaxing kid free, and also keep our young ones safe and engaged! More information is available at http://starisland.org/program/southchurch/ or by contacting Janis Wolak at janis.wolak@gmail.com Family program questions can be directed to Cat Lyons at Cat@southchurch-uu.org

RE Summer Program Outline- The plan for Religious education for the next few months is all about exploring the gifts of worshiping together as a whole church, while also working together to problem solve some of the challenges that will surely arise.

Logistics: We have created a resource area in the open landing outside the balcony in the sanctuary, where families can come and chose materials that will help their child engage with the topic of the worship.

On Sunday Mornings: families have two options for how they use the balcony space:

1. Families are welcome to arrive a few minutes before the start of church and go together to the balcony area to choose materials they would like to bring with them down to the sanctuary while they sit together with parents. (the balcony is not supervised during this time, so parents should remain with their children.)
2. Alternately, children may begin worship with parents in pews as they typically have, listening to the story for all ages, and then join the other children and RE volunteers as they are sung out to the balcony program. During the balcony  where they will then select materials and choose to:
   • Sit in the balcony pews to listen to worship (with or without quiet activities/materials they have chosen). A balcony volunteer will be there to help children follow along with hymns, to remind them to be extra quiet during prayer and meditation, and to make sure they are not leaning on/using the front ledge.
3. • Or, for children who do not want to be in worship space, the balcony landing will also offer space to sit and explore, create art, make poems, do some yoga stretches, or set up a pillow in our library area and read a book. Volunteers helping in this area will be able to guide children in finding an activity that interests them, help to remind children to put away materials they are done using, and keeping everyone safe and somewhat quiet.

Resources in the balcony space will change over the course of the experiment, reflecting the worship themes, and keeping fresh options for returning children so that engagement remains high. Throughout the summer, children will have worship journals, specifically theirs, into which they can glue activity pages, respond to provided prompts, reflect on worship experiences, draw, etc.

If you have ideas for a worship activity, we’d love to hear about it! Children are absolutely encouraged to bring something from home if they think it will help them feel engaged as they take in the experience of Sunday worship.

Upcoming Themes (2018-2019 Church Year):

What Does It Mean to be a People of…
September:  Vision
October:  Sanctuary
November:  Memory
December:  Mystery
January:  Possibility
February:  Trust
March:  Journey
April:  Wholeness
May:  Curiosity
June:  Beauty

A community of Creativity

Hi again!

If you are wondering about upcoming construction at South Church, and how our programming for children and youth will be impacted, click HERE.

In this post… 

• Family resources for this month’s theme of Creativity: scroll to the last part of this newsletter, enjoy, share what your family discovers together!
• Facility update for Parents and RE Volunteers-  Sunday, May 6 from 10-11. (congregational meeting with even more info, 12:30-2pm)
• Sparks and Flames final gathering..(5th-6th and 7th-8th grade social groups)  Friday, May 4th, at 7-9pm
• Final Families Tuugether – May 12th- A fun night for kids and some inspired free time for parents!
• Mother’s Day Flower Sale! Sunday, May 13th. Hanging baskets (beautiful gifts!) from Wentworth gardens to benefit the Senior Youth Immigration Justice trip.
• Save the dates: 
  • June 3rd: is our annual Bridging service. All of our children and youth participate in this special worship, and we also take some time to celebrate our graduating high school seniors. You don’t want to miss it!
  • June 10th: Coming of Age worship. Our 8th grade Coming of Age students will be sharing their faith statements, created from this year long exploratory program. It is at once an inspiring and deeply meaningful worship, illuminating the complexity of faith formation in our UU community.
• Religious Education this month- 
  • Children’s Chapel will be offered for children age 4 years through 5th grade this Sunday, May 6th.
  • 6th-7th grade Religious Exploration class is visiting the Greek Orthodox church this week. RSVP if your child plans to attend the field trip!
  • Beginning May 13th, all children and youth are invited to engage with our new Summer format- Read all about it here.
  • Sign up here  -to help with the outer balcony, or to help supervise worship in the balcony at 9 or 11am beginning May 13th.

Read More… 

Facility update- a meeting for Parents and RE Volunteers-  Sunday, May 6 from 10-11. This informational meeting is taking the place of our scheduled theme talk. I will be sharing details about the upcoming changes to our facility, and laying out our program plan. A great place to ask questions, share concerns, and offer ideas! There is a congregational meeting from 12:30-2pm which will be led by our Board of Trustees, as well, with lots more details about the overall facility improvement plan, but not as much on the topic of Religious Education specifically.

Sparks and Flames final gathering ( 5th-6th and 7th-8th grade social groups)  Friday, May 4th, at 7-9pm. End of year celebration with a few rounds of everyone’s favorite game! Bring a water bottle, a favorite snack, and wear sneakers. Please RSVP so I know you’re child is coming! Still need one more parent volunteer as well!

Families Tuugether – May 12th- 4:30-8pm  Open to children 8 months through Sixth grade, Families Tuugether is a popular program for families of young kids; an opportunity for parents to reconnect and to recharge. Offered monthly during the church year, children are dropped off at South Church at 4:30pm with a potluck dish to share (Ready to serve, please.), and parents head up to the sanctuary for a short group gathering before heading out to enjoy some quite time. Children will strengthen friendships, enjoy a movie, and play fun games. Parents return to get their child no later than 8pm. Please note: Families MUST RSVP (kirsten@southchurch-uu.org)  if they plan to come to this event, so that we are able to meet the staffing needs. Program is be closed after 25 children register, to ensure we have a safe and fun event.

Upcoming Themes (2018-2019 Church Year):

What Does It Mean to be a People of…
September:  Vision
October:  Sanctuary
November:  Memory
December:  Mystery
January:  Possibility
February:  Trust
March:  Journey
April:  Wholeness
May:  Curiosity
June:  Beauty