Sept ’23 nUUs from Religious Education

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This is church too! There are so many ways to fortify our hearts. This is a place where we can grow strong relationships that carry us through a challenging world.

It’s time for a brand new church year, full of possibility! There are opportunities for connection, growth, worship, service, and so many more heart-centered community elements are coming up.

Water Ingathering is our traditional return from summer and the start of a shiny new church year. This will happen on September 10th in an all-ages worship, meaning kids stay in the sanctuary for the whole service. We have a long tradition where everyone is invited to bring some water to add to the bowl of our previous years’ water.

Some people bring water from places they’ve traveled to through the year; some collect from favorite local swimming holes; some from their kitchen sink. And some of us (including me) often forget to bring water, so there are ways for folks in that situation to participate also. The community water we collect is then used in special rituals and ceremonies throughout the year.

Being a multigenerational day, worship for 9/10 Ingathering will be designed to engage kids as well as adults. We also have materials on shelves behind the back row of pews that kids and adults are welcome to use, to keep busy hands and minds occupied while in church. Kids should be acknowledged as an essential part of a healthy, vibrant community! Some gentle sounds and movement are to be expected, and the goal is to help congregants, including kids, to feel loved and welcome. We also don’t want to cause major disruption for those offering or sitting in worship, so we have tools and strategies ready. If that balance is feeling tricky, please check in with us so we can help navigate that process–we have lots of ideas! Kids should grow up with some exposure to community worship, so we will be having periodic all-ages days through the year. Let’s keep the conversation active so that all-ages days are a great experience for everyone.

A new church year also means….NEW RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAMS!!! Woohoo!! On the Sunday following Water Ingathering, we will begin our regular RE year (Sun 9/17.) The Nursery will continue to be open 9:30-11:30 for children 3 and under; Pre-K through 7th grade will start in the sanctuary and are then invited to go downstairs for class following the children’s story; 8th graders will begin their Coming of Age program in early Oct but can join the other kids downstairs until then; high school youth will meet on Sunday afternoons and can either attend worship or head downstairs if they come to church in the morning.

All Families: It’s time to register babies, children and youth for this church year! Please complete a general registration form for your kids. We need a new registration completed by each family every program year, so that we always have current information that keeps everyone safe and well-served. It only takes a few minutes. Please register, even if you only attend occasionally–registration does not come with any obligations.

 https://southchurchuu.wufoo.com/forms/k60588f1mfaort/ or contact us if you need a paper form.

You can access information for age-based religious education classes from the “Program Info” menu above. Parents, if you have a kid who does not want to be in a peer group during worship, then that is not unusual and not a problem! There are many ways to be at church, and we are happy to explore options with you any time.

Please, please reach out if you ever have things you want to know or talk about!

Here are a few upcoming RE things to take note of:

  • OWL sexuality education classes for 5th and 7th graders will begin soon–contact JenDB now to reserve a spot for your child before we open remaining spots to the larger community! jendeldeo@southchurch-uu.org
  • 9/3/23: Class for kids 3-18 meets during worship, following the children’s story
  • 9/10/23: Water Ingathering! Worship is for all ages today, no RE
  • 9/17/23: Regular RE classes begin for Pre-K through 8th grade following children’s story. High school youth will meet 4-5:30 at 73 Court St.
  • 9/21/23: Coming of Age Orientation and Opening Ceremony for 8th graders and their families, 6:30-8pm
  • 9/27/23: Parent orientation for 7th grade OWL (no kids, but let us know if you need childcare) 6:30-8pm in social hall

See you soon! ♥️

Calendar for this month… 

Click Linked Items for additional Details:

Click here for 2022-2023 RE Program Information

  • Sunday, Sep 3rd:
    • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by
    guest speaker Paul O’Connor
    • RE fun for kids 3-18 will meet downstairs following the Time For All Ages
  • Sunday, Sep 10th:
    • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Water Ingathering–This will be an all-ages worship!
    • No Religious Education classes today, kids remain in worship 🙂 
  • Sunday, Sep 17th:
    • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by Reverend Ellen
    • Age-based RE classes for Pre-K through 8th grade meet downstairs following the Time For All Ages
    • Senior Youth meets 4:00-5:30pm at 73 Court St
  • Thursday, September 21st:
    • Coming of Age Orientation and Opening Ceremony, for 8th graders and their families, 6:30-8pm at church
  • Saturday, September 23rd:
    • Senior Youth Orientation/Welcome/Welcome Back/Overnight!
  • Sunday, September 24th:
    • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by Reverend Ellen
    • Age-based RE classes for Pre-K through 8th grade meet downstairs following the Time For All Ages
    • No Senior Youth meeting today because of overnight
  • Sunday, October 1st:
    • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by Kirsten
    • Age-based RE classes for Pre-K through 8th grade meet downstairs following the Time For All Ages
    • Senior Youth meets 4:00-5:30pm at 73 Court St

September’s Church Theme is “Welcome”

Our UU faith in practice and action:

  • Welcome back to church tradition: Water Ingathering
    • South Church has a longtime tradition of inviting congregants to bring water from their various kinds of summer activities or special places, to create a ceremonial element that is later used in sacred ceremonies and rituals, reminding us of our collective love and support for one another.
    • Water Ingathering day also represents the start of the church year. New worship themes, fresh offerings, and the beginning of Religious Education programs
    • Collect water in a small container, from anywhere you choose. Bring it to worship on September 10th, where we will all welcome each other into a new church year.
  • World Gratitude Day is September 21st!
    • We often see gratitude practices around Thanksgiving, but September is a perfect time to practice, especially if your family has a big transition like back to school happening.
    • Here’s an article reminding us why gratitude practice matters so much.
    • Try

Chalice Lighting for mealtimes:

Invitation, by Shel Silverstein

If you are a dreamer, come in
If you are a dreamer, a wisher, a liar,
A hope-er, a pray-er, a magic bean buyer…
If you’re a pretender, come sit by the fire
For we have some flax-golden tales to spin.
Come in!
Come in!

May ’23 nUUs from Religious Education

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Kids Giving the Charge From Children and Youth at Rev Ellen and Kirsten’s Installation

What a joyous occasion the Installation for Reverend Ellen and Kirsten was on April 30th!

South Church is doing fantastic work by implementing this new shared leadership model. We are stronger, more stable, and have so much more creative potential in this framework!

A lot of South Church children and youth gave input for one of the charges that was delivered at the Installation. They were prompted with questions like: What do you want church to be now and in the future? If our church were doing its best job at supporting you, what would that look like for you and other kids? and What is church for?

They had a lot to say! There was far more than what could fit in the few minutes available for sharing in church, but there were some strong themes that came up several times: They want more time where everyone is together; they want church to be interactive, not just a place to sit and listen; they want different kinds of music; and above all, they want fairness, equity, and a welcoming place for everyone to be their true selves.

This is a tall order, though it is certainly a reasonable set of goals.

In other news, we are moving toward the end of this RE program year. Please try to make it to church for Bridging on June 4th. This is a UU tradition where we mark transitions. We celebrate the start of summer, kids moving up to a new grade, and we especially honor our graduating Seniors, as they prepare to start a whole new chapter of their lives. Come help honor these sweet people, and be celebrated for all of your own transitions this year too. This will be an All-Ages, kid-friendly worship service. We will jump into a fun and light summer RE session the following week.

June 11th will be the 8th grade Coming of Age worship. This is when the youth, after having explored their values and beliefs since October, present their personal credos to the congregation. It is always a powerful and memorable time, and people often remark that it is one of their favorite church moments of the year.

Here are a few upcoming RE things to take note of:

  • Mother’s Day Flower Sale and Bazaar, Sunday May 14th after worship
  • Coming of Age Wilderness Retreat 5/26-5/28
  • Bridging Sunday June 4th!! Mark your calendars for this sweet All-Ages tradition.

See you soon! ♥️

Calendar for this month… 

Click Linked Items for additional Details:

Click here for 2022-2023 RE Program Information

  • Friday, May 5th-Sun May 7th:
    • Senior Youth camping trip at Pawtuckaway State Park
  • Sunday, May 7th:
    • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. This will be an all-ages worship! Sermon offered by Kirsten
    • 8th grade Coming of Age meets 9:45-11:00 at 73 Court St with parents!
    • Other RE classes will not meet today, as this will be a multigenerational worship day
    • 7th Grade OWL meets for final session, 3:00-5:30 at church. Parents, please come to the sanctuary a little before 5:00
    • No Senior Youth meeting today.
  • Sunday, May 14th:
    • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by Ellen
    • 8th grade Coming of Age does not meet today
    • Age-based RE classes for Pre-K through 7th grade meet in rooms downstairs following the Time For All Ages
    • Senior Youth does not meet this afternoon–come to the Flower Sale & Bazaar 
  • Sunday, May 21st:
    • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by Reverend Ellen
    • 8th grade Coming of Age meets 9:45-11:00 in Piscataqua Room, with Mentors
    • Age-based RE classes for Pre-K through 7th grade meet in rooms downstairs following the Time For All Ages
    • Senior Youth meets 4:00-5:30 at 73 Court St. 
  • Friday, May 26th
    • Coming of Age Wilderness Retreat at Pawtuckaway State Park! (Until Sunday 5/28)
  • Sunday, May 28th:
    • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by Arthur Eves
    • Age-based RE classes for Pre-K through 7th grade meet in rooms downstairs following the Time For All Ages
    • Senior Youth does not meet today, holiday weekend
  • Sunday, June 4th:
    • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. BRIDGING! This will be an all-ages, kid-friendly worship!
    • 8th grade Coming of Age meets 9:45-11:00 at 73 Court St (no Mentors)
    • Age-based RE classes for Pre-K through 7th grade meet in rooms downstairs following the Time For All Ages
    • 7th Grade OWL does not meet today
    • Senior Youth does not meet–Come to Bridging!!
  • Sunday, June 11th
    • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Worship offered by 8th Grade Coming of Age Youth!
    • Age-based RE classes for Pre-K through 4th grade meet in rooms downstairs following the Time For All Ages
    • Kids in grades 5 through 7 should stay in worship today to witness the CoA youth 🙂
    • No Senior Youth meeting today–come support CoA youth in worship!

May’s Church Theme is “Creativity”

Our UU faith in practice and action:

  • You’ve got to watch this video! It’s an incredible example of creativity; remarkable music made by a marble machine: https://youtu.be/IvUU8joBb1Q
  • Take a stand for gun control:
    • Saturday, May 13th–Mother’s Day of Action. Join Moms Demand Action in a national visibility campaign to tell Congress to reinstate the assault weapons ban. Join other Moms Demand Action supporters. Wear your red shirt and bring your homemade sign to rally support for an assault weapons ban. Sat 5/13, Prescott Park, Portsmouth, 10am
  • Learn about and support Mamas Day: “A movement to celebrate Mamahood in all its forms. Honoring the four tenets of reproductive justice, a black feminist framework.” Info, plus beautiful printable art: https://mamasday.org/
  • Learning about our UU History:

Chalice Lighting for mealtimes:

Blessed are the Makers

Rev. Marcus Liefert

Oh you who are makers;
Makers of beauty,
Of paintings and pottery and sculpture,
Blessed is the making.
You who make with hands and hearts and minds,
Who make out of breath and bones and blood human lives, Blessed are the makers.

Blessed are those who make us laugh, Who make jokes and faces and toys.

Blessed are those who make messes,
Who make trouble and friends, and when needed, make up.

Blessed are those who make do,
Who make it last, make it work, make beds and make time for others.

Blessed are those who make love,
Who make out and make more and make mistakes.

Blessed are those who make coffee and tea,
Who make conversation, who make meaning in the face of tragedy; who make merriment and awaken joy.

Blessed are those who make peace For they shall inherit the earth.

April ’23 nUUs from Religious Education

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UU History skits in Coming of Age Class

Happy Spring!

This is the season where things start to move quickly and lots of fun events happen! We will have our traditional Easter Egg Hunt right after worship on Easter, April 9th. Please bring a basket if you have one (we have some if you don’t) and remember that worship that day is for all ages, so there will not be RE classes that day. There are always activities and supplies on the shelves behind the back pews to keep kids (and adults) busy during worship, so please help yourselves to those.

Our high school youth are busy fundraising for their Racial Justice Learning Journey to Alabama. They will hold a Pancake Breakfast before worship on 4/16, yard cleanups on 2 Saturdays this month, and a Mother’s Day flower sale in May. There are 20 youth signed up to go on the trip, so there’s a lot of fundraising to make that happen. Thank you for your continued support, and when you can, ask they youth about what they’ve been learning in preparing for that journey.

The 5th-7th grade class is also learning about Racial Justice and will be spending some time with a South Church member who works with the Black Heritage Trail of NH. They will do some deep connecting to history in our community and learn about the good work of BHTNH, who the RE kids selected as their choice for Shared Plate. The 5th-7th graders later this month will have small ways for you to help them support BHTNH, so watch for those opportunities.

Finally, as we get ready to celebrate the Installation of Reverend Ellen and Kirsten in their leadership roles, all South Children have been invited to help with a sweet celebratory project. Ask JenDD if you would like information on how to work on that at home as a family.

Here are a few upcoming RE things to take note of:

  • Sparks and Flames Bingo Night! Friday April 7th (RSVP!)
  • South Church Traditional Easter Egg Hunt! Sunday, April 9th, after worship. (Note: Easter Sunday will be an all-ages worship, meaning all children will remain in the sanctuary, no RE classes that morning.
  • Families Tuugether Saturday, April 15th (RSVP)
  • Pancake Breakfast Sunday April 16th, 8:30am-10am (before worship). Fundraiser for Senior Youth Learning Journey to Alabama. If you’d like to donate supplies for this event, sign up HERE.
  • Child Dedication Sunday, April 23rd (during worship)
  • Installation ceremony and celebration for Reverend Ellen and Kirsten Sunday, April 30th, 3pm

See you soon! ♥️

Calendar for this month… 

Click Linked Items for additional Details:

Click here for 2022-2023 RE Program Information

  • Sunday, April 2nd:
    • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by Reverend Ellen
    • 8th grade Coming of Age meets 9:45-11:00 at 73 Court St (no Mentors)
    • 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
  • Friday, April 7th:
    • Sparks and Flames Bingo Night! For grades 5-8. RSVP by noon Thursday: jendeldeo@southchurch-uu.org
  • Sunday, April 9th: Easter Sunday
    • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by Reverend Ellen
    • This will be an all-ages worship, no RE classes, children remain in the sanctuary
    • Traditional Egg Hunt after worship! For kids of all ages
    • No Coming of Age, OWL, or Senior Youth today
  • Saturday, April 15th:
    • Families Tuugether! 5:00-7:30 Please RSVP. More info HERE.
    • Senior Youth prep for Pancake Breakfast, 5:00-7:00pm
  • Sunday, April 16h:
    • Pancake Breakfast! 8:30am-10am (before worship). Fundraiser for Senior Youth Learning Journey to Alabama. If you’d like to donate supplies for this event, sign up HERE.
    • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by Reverend Ellen
    • 8th grade Coming of Age meets 9:45-11:00 in Piscataqua Room, with Mentors
    • 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 does not meet this afternoon–come to Pancake Breakfast!.
  • Sunday, April 23rd:
    • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by Reverend Ellen
    • Baby/Child Dedication during worship
    • 8th grade Coming of Age does not meet today
    • Age-based RE classes for Pre-K through 7th grade meet in rooms downstairs following the Time For All Ages
    • 7th Grade OWL meets 4:00-5:30pm at church
    • Senior Youth meets 4:00-5:30pm at 73 Court St
  • Sunday, April 30th:
    • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube.
    • 8th grade Coming of Age meets 9:45-11:00 at 73 Court St (no Mentors)
    • Age-based RE classes for Pre-K through 7th grade meet in rooms downstairs following the Time For All Ages
    • 7th Grade OWL does not meet today
    • Senior Youth meets 4:00-6:00pm at 73 Court St for Racial Justice Learning Journey Session 4
  • Friday, May 5th-Sunday May 7th
    • Senior Youth camping trip at Pawtuckaway State Park
  • Sunday, May 7th
    • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by Kirsten
    • 8th grade Coming of Age meets 9:45-11:00 at 73 Court St with parents for special session! (No mentors today)
    • 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
    • No Senior Youth meeting today because of camping trip

April’s Church Theme is “Resistance”

Our UU faith in practice and action:

Chalice Lighting for mealtimes:

Committed to Respond

By Lynn Harrison

Committed to respond to the call of a wounded world…
We join together this day with loving hearts, hands and minds.
Embracing the interconnected web of water, air and earth…
We light a fire of sustaining hope, ever bright with love and justice.
May we bring forth this day new wisdom, strength and courage
To create a new world not of wealth, but well-being.
A world of new peace and abundance for all.
As we give thanks for this earth, our shared and singular home,
May we dedicate ourselves to its ongoing care.
Rising to the calls deep within us, and all around us…
May we respond today and always with courage and with love.

March ’23 nUUs from Religious Education

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“Lean on Me,” offered by Senior Youth at their Feb 5th Worship

Our high school youth group created a fun, thoughtful, inspiring worship service on February 5th. If you haven’t seen it yet, please do watch it on the YouTube channel. This month’s church theme is Vulnerability, and though the theme of February and their worship was “Love,” those kids gave us a lot to think about for this month’s theme, in the honest and very real ways they showed up.

And now we turn to March. The month that holds pretty promises of spring, but is really mostly windy, cold, icy, muddy, and a whole lot of gray and brown. The tension of waiting impatiently for the natural world to finally sprout and soften can cause a similar inner climate where all the things we’ve been holding are trying to bubble under a frozen surface: Plans, dreams, frustrations, all of it. Thank goodness for community, where we can dig right in to our vulnerability, rather than bury it deeper in a permanently frozen tundra! Our RE groups have built some great relationships over the last many months, which allow many of the kids to be vulnerable with each other in their weekly check-ins, as well as in some awkward conversations about some of the topics they explore. They’ve created safe, soft, fertile ground together, where they can unfold and grow into their own perfectly individual selves. I can’t wait for us all to see another example of this on display when our Coming of Age youth lead their worship service in June.

In other news, we are so excited to announce that we are finally able to open the Nursery! We have hired staff and are sourcing some volunteers to assist, and we will be ready to welcome babies and toddlers into that space beginning March 12th. Families with children 3 and under, please make sure your tiny ones are registered so we have the info we need to care for them well. Please reach out if you have any questions at all about how the Nursery will operate.

Also, we will have child dedication ceremonies on April 23rd and June 4th. If you have a child or children that have not been dedicated yet and that you would like us to include in either of these events (or if you have questions about what that even means!) please reach out.

Here are a few upcoming RE things to take note of:

  • Sparks and Flames Snackfest and Games Friday March 3rd (RSVP!)
  • Prepared Meals Sale (plus fair trade coffee and chocolate!) Sunday March 19th
  • 7th Grade OWL extended session Sunday March 26th (pizza provided!)

See you soon! ♥️

Calendar for this month… 

Click Linked Items for additional Details:

Click here for 2022-2023 RE Program Information

  • Friday, March 3rd:
    • Sparks & Flames social group for grades 5 thru 8: Snackfest and Games! RSVP by 4pm Thurs to jendeldeo@southchurch-uu.org
  • Sunday, March 5th:
    • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by guest speaker Tess Baumberger
    • 8th grade Coming of Age does not meet today
    • 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, March 12th:
    • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by Reverend Ellen
    • 8th grade Coming of Age meets with mentors 9:45-11:00 at 73 Court St
    • 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, March 19th:
    • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by Kirsten and adults returning from AL Service Learning trip.
    • Ready-To-Go Dinner Sale! Senior Youth will be selling dinners to take home, plus fair trade coffee and chocolate after worship
    • 8th grade Coming of Age meets 9:45-11:00 at 73 Court St (no Mentors)
    • 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, March 26th:
    • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by Reverend Ellen
    • 8th grade Coming of Age meets with mentors 9:45-11:00 at 73 Court St
    • Age-based RE classes for Pre-K through 7th grade meet in rooms downstairs following the Time For All Ages
    • 7th Grade OWL meets for extended session 1:30-5:30pm at church
    • Senior Youth meets 4:00-6:00pm at 73 Court St for Alabama Learning Journey Session 3
  • Sunday, April 2nd:
    • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by Reverend Ellen
    • 8th grade Coming of Age meets 9:45-11:00 at 73 Court St (no Mentors)
    • 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

March’s Church Theme is “Vulnerability”

Our UU faith in practice and action:

Chalice Lighting for mealtimes:

Now, I Love You. Now, I Witness.

By Theresa I. Soto

I know sometimes you get cranky,
And sometimes your tea gets cold
Before you can drink it. Sometimes
The news is too much. The resistance
Seems too little. That’s real. But we are
Here. Imperfect and together and reaching.
You can hold my hand if you want. I washed
It with soap. It’s OK. In this kind of time,
Now is better than later. Now, I love you.
Now, I am sorry it hurts. Now, I witness
Your struggle, and mine. Sometimes
One answer is to be a yes in the face of
Every no. I am a yes for you. Now and again
Later, if you need me.

February ’23 nUUs from Religious Education

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Young Church kids offering a very fun Time For All Ages

Each month our church follows the Soul Matters theme, to weave a common thread through worship, RE, small groups, and other church elements. The theme for February is Love. It may seem cliché, if we assume this choice is because of Valentine’s Day. (Not that Valentine’s Day is bad in my opinion; I get excited about extra opportunities to remind people I love them.) But February is also Black History month. Tu BiShvat, a Jewish environmental celebration, will begin on Feb 5th. Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent on Feb 22nd. February is part of the Season of Nonviolence. Side With Love Campaign’s “Thirty Days of Love” continues until Feb 14th. Feb 12th is Freedom to Marry Day. There are many more celebrations that happen this month, including Groundhog Day, Super Bowl Sunday, Random Acts of Kindness Day, and even Don’t Cry Over Spilled Milk Day. That last one may be a stretch, but each of these events can connect to Love.

This month in Religious Education, we’ll certainly be exploring this big, beautiful topic. And here are just a few bonus things we can look forward to:

  • Worship offered by our high school youth group (Feb 5th)
  • 5th grade OWL kids finish their session
  • Service Learning Group will begin a unit exploring Racial Justice
  • Sparks and Flames will go ice skating Feb 10th (RSVP!)

See you soon! ♥️

Calendar for this month… 

Click Linked Items for additional Details:

Click here for 2022-2023 RE Program Information

  • Sunday, February 5th:
    • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by Senior Youth!
    • 5th/6th grade OWL meets 10:00-11:45a in Piscataqua Room. Parents please join at 11:15 for a program closing!
    • 8th grade Coming of Age and 5th/6th/7th Service Learning will not meet–come to Senior Youth worship instead!
    • Age-based RE classes for Pre-K through 4th grade will meet in their rooms downstairs following the Time For All Ages
    • 7th Grade OWL meets 4:00-5:30 at church
    • OWL 7 Parent Discussion meets in sanctuary concurrent with class
  • Friday, February 10th:
    • Sparks and Flames skating, grades 5-8. Must RSVP by 4pm Wednesday to join this!
  • Sunday, February 12th:
    • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by Reverend Ellen
    • 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 and Adults going to AL meet for Learning Session 2, 4:00-6:00pm at 73 Court St
  • Friday, February 17th
    • Game Night, hosted by the Fellowship Associates, 6:30-8:30pm in the Social Hall
  • Sunday, February 19th
    • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by Kirsten
    • 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 does NOT meet today
    • Senior Youth meets 4:00-5:30pm at 73 Court St
  • Sunday, February 26th
    • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by Reverend Ellen
    • All-ages RE class for Pre-K through 7th grade will meet in Milk Classroom downstairs, following the Time For All Ages
    • OWL, Coming of Age, and Senior Youth do NOT meet today
  • Sunday, March 5th
    • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Neutral pulpit for Beverly UU church. 
    • Age-based RE classes for Pre-K through 7th grade meet in rooms downstairs following the Time For All Ages
    • OWL and Coming of Age do NOT meet today
    • Senior Youth meets 4:00-5:30pm at 73 Court St

February’s Church Theme is “Love”

Our UU faith in practice and action:

  • Side With Love’s “30 Days of Love”: An annual program that runs from MLK, Jr day through Valentines Day, 30 Days of Love is a month of spiritual nourishment, political grounding, and shared practices of faith and justice. There are wonderful resources for spiritual practices, stories, body practices and more on their website. Here are a few family-friendly ones, but check out the rest at
  • Participate in Random Acts of Kindness Week Feb 14th-20th! Here are 50 ideas: https://www.randomactsofkindness.org/kindness-stories/113-50-ideas-for-random-acts
  • Practice Self Love, together: Make affirmations together and tape them to the bathroom mirror; go around the table at dinner time and name things each of you loves about yourself; make a list of ways to practice self love and then try to do at least one every day. Modeling self love, doing these things together with kids, can help develop healthy practices as they grow up.
  • Read “The Case For Loving: The Fight For Interracial Marriage,” by Selina Aliko together (or watch a video of the book being read HERE. Discuss how interracial marriage was illegal in many states until 1967, which is fairly recently, and how that must have felt for interracial couples.

Chalice Lightings for mealtimes:

The Names of Love, By Rev. Scott Tayler

We light this chalice in the names of love. 

The love of family that brings us into being, allows us to bloom, and then sends us on our way with courage, knowing we can return no matter what. 

The love of partnered hearts that teach us to trust and help us know that who we are does not end at the barrier of our own skin. 

The love of friends who help us feel seen and sing our song back to us when we cannot hear it with our ears alone. 

The love of community that baths us in belonging and calls us to see the needs of others as our own. 

And the greatest love: the love that will not let us go, even in our fear, even in our failure, even when we are lonely or lost. 

Love invites us home. If we listen, it is doing so, even today. 

Eclipse, by Clairel Estevez

When in the turmoil of your darkest hours sorrow congregates around your soul.

To hold on to the lifeline of a friendship – a trail of light that will guide you home.

Someone who accepts your weakness, mends your scars and rid you of hurt.

When you must battle your inner demons and there’s someone dear, in your thoughts.

That’s the same as to carry the moon in your hands – within your darkness;

Soon the eclipse, will be gone.

January ’23 nUUs from Religious Education

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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! ♥️

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

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

Hold fast to dreams

For if dreams die

Life is a broken-winged bird

That cannot fly.

Hold fast to dreams

For when dreams go

Life is a barren field

Frozen with snow.

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.

December ’22 nUUs from Religious Education

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Gratitude Chain

Greetings, Dear Ones,

Who else loved making paper chains as a kid at Christmas time? This past Sunday was an all-ages Religious Education time because of the holiday weekend. We talked about how there are SO many holidays at this time of year and how sometimes they can get kind of blurred together when we see Christmas stuff in stores before Halloween, or when we are asked to think about Thanksgiving, Advent, Hanukkah, Solstice, Christmas, Kwanzaa and more in a very short amount of time.

Two things that can help us stay grounded and appreciate the meanings of these many holidays are Gratitude practices and Connection. So we took some time to name things we are grateful for in our lives, wrote them on the back side of colorful strips (which were actually those self-adhesive wrist bands that you might get to show you paid to get into an event 😉) and made them into a chain as a visual reminder and representation of how we can connect over something meaningful like all that we are grateful for.

Please come feel connection at the South Church Holiday Party on Friday, December 2nd. We will have a potluck dinner (bring any dish you’d like to share, whether a homemade family tradition, a purchase from the store on the way, or whatever feels right. There will be good company and cheer. We will have activities for busy hands. And we will have our gratitude chain out, with supplies for you to add your own gratitude links. Come at 5pm if you’d like to help with decorations, or come 6pm-8pm for the potluck and party.

Remember also to come to church on December 18th for our famously fantastic, wildly fun holiday pageant! Anyone who wants to can be in the pageant, and there are no rehearsals. Just show up for this beloved tradition.

Our high school youth will be holding a UU book fair and fair trade coffee/chocolate sale this month. This is a great source of gifts for people of any age, where you’ll find items that align with our UU principles. Sales will happen during the holiday party on Fri 12/2, and after worship on 12/4, 12/11, and 12/18.

Finally, know that the South Church community has the capacity to hold each of us in hardship, grief, joy, and all the other big moments that life brings. Please, please reach out to any of our staff any time when you are struggling or celebrating. Even if there is nothing you would like to ask for help with, know that it is often a good thing to even just let someone know what you are holding. It’s a significant part of what it means to be a member of a church community. That goes for adults, children, youth, everyone.

See you soon! ♥️

Calendar for this month… 

Click Linked Items for additional Details:

Click here for 2022-2023 RE Program Information

  • Friday, December 2nd:
    • Hanging of the Greens 5pm at church
    • Holiday Party and Potluck 6-8pm in the Social Hall
  • Sunday, December 4th:
    • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Special Wholly Family service, offered by Reverend Ellen and guests
    • 5th/6th grade OWL meets 9:30-11:00a in Piscataqua Room
    • 8th grade Coming of Age meets with mentors at a different time and place for Service Project: 1:00-3:00 in the church kitchen!
    • 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 4:00-5:30 in the church kitchen this week!
  • Sunday, December 11th:
    • 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
    • 7th grade OWL Parent Discussion group- optional- concurrent with class
    • Senior Youth meets 4:00-5:30 at 73 Court St
  • Sunday, December 18th
    • Pageant Day at 10am! In person and live on YouTube. Multigenerational worship, no morning RE classes
    • 8th grade CoA, Senior Youth Group and 5th grade OWL do not meet today–come to pageant!
    • 7th Grade OWL meets 4:00-5:30 at church
  • Saturday, December 24th
    • Christmas Eve worship at 5pm, 7pm, and 9pm in person. 7pm worship will be live on YouTube.
  • Sunday, December 25th
    • Worship at 10:00a, in person only
  • Saturday, December 31st
    • First Night Chili Sale! Fundraiser for Senior Youth 5:30-7:30pm. Come get chili before watching the fireworks!
  • Sunday, January 1st
    • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Offered by Hilary Clark and Myra Aaronson
    • Multigenerational worship, RE classes do not meet today

December’s Church Theme is “Wonder”

Our UU faith in practice and action:

  • Unitarian Universalist Advent Calendar–free download! Created by Ralph Yeager Roberts, this is a way to count down the days till Christmas while learning UU history with words and colorful graphics. If you do not have access to print, just email JenDD and we will print one for you! https://www.uua.org/files/pdf/u/uu_advent_calendar_page-a-day_revised.pdf
  • Recognizing and appreciating ritual (adapted from “Signs of Our Faith” UU curriculum by Jessica York.) Help children and youth learn to recognize signs, symbols, and rituals inside and outside our congregation that show we live our Unitarian Universalist faith. Help them understand the value of rituals and how they shape our various identities. Talk about… 
    • Your favorite family rituals. What do we like about them? Where did they come from?
    • What rituals does your family have? Are any religious? Are any specifically Unitarian Universalist? Do you collect water from your summertime travels to share at our Water Communion? That is a UU ritual. Did any member of your family grow up in a non-UU religious tradition? Ask them about religious rituals they recall. Are any of them similar to UU rituals? Do they symbolize similar ideas?
    • What rituals are connected to our church that you could do at home? Do you light a chalice? Do you share Joys & Concerns or Rose/Bud/Thorn together at dinner time? Could you have a quiet moment of prayer or meditation?
    • As a family, talk about the activities you most like to do together. Could one of these activities become a ritual? For example, if you all enjoy bowling, could you all go bowling on your birthday every year? Another idea, make Friday or Saturday night Family Fun Night and each member takes a turn each week to choose a game or activity for all to share.

Chalice Lightings for mealtimes:

Wonder * 

Rev. Dr. David Breeden 

We light this flame, 

reminding ourselves 

to treasure the magic 

in the mundane, 

the wonders of 

carbon dioxide, 

oxygen, nitrogen, 

rapid oxidation 

into light, heat, and 

the dance of a flame. 

We light this chalice, 

kindling, remembering 

our innate sense 

of wonder at 

the very real magic 

of our world. 

Nourished

Rev. Jay Wolin 

Full piece at https://www.uua.org/worship/words/poetry/nourished 

When I look up into the night sky, 

I am in awe of all that is… 

When I walk in the ocean… 

I feel a certain peace with the world… 

All of these wonders… 

let us protect them… 

Oct-Nov ’22 nUUs from Religious Education

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Carved PUMPKINS at the Halloween Social

Wow has it been a wonderfully busy time at South Church!

This past Sunday, the South Church Service Learning Group (grades 5-7) went on a mini field trip to visit the Seacoast Fridge, located at Kittery Community Center. They are learning about food insecurity and met with Whitney from Seacoast Fridge to hear about how the program got started, what they do, and how people can help. They will be collecting food and supplies for that organization over the next couple of weeks.

Our 7th grade OWL program has been running for a few weeks now, and our 5th graders started this past Sunday, too!

We have welcomed many new folks over the past two months, including quite a few families. If you are new and have any questions or curiosities, please don’t hesitate to reach out! The Program Info area of this website is updated with information on the age-specific classes that will be running for this program year, and we have so much fun, connection, and learning planned for the coming months!

Please Register for RE (and thank you to the many who have done so already!): We need all children and youth to be registered each year so we have all the info we need to serve you safely and well. Now is the time! Click here to register!

Please reach out with any questions or concerns! Everyone deserves to engage at church in ways that feel right for them. We are always happy to help find the ways work best for each person.

See you soon! 🤟♥️

Calendar for this month… 

Click Linked Items for additional Details:

Click here for 2022-2023 RE Program Information

  • Sunday, October 30th:
    • 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
    • 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 and Senior Youth do not meet today
  • Monday, October 31st:
    • Halloween Social and Bake Sale! Our high school youth will be selling baked treats and hot drinks on the portico, as a fundraiser for their next Service Learning trip. Come hang out, have refreshments, and watch the parade with lots of South Church friends, beginning at 6:00pm.
  • Friday, November 4th:
    • Sparks and Flames! Social group for grades 5-8 will play hide and seek in the dark at Urban Forestry Center. RSVP by 4pm Thurs 11/3: jendeldeo@resouthchurchuu.org
    • Coming of Age Fall Retreat Fri 6pm-Sat 10pm (Parents come back at 9:30p Sat!)
  • Sunday, November 6th:
    • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by Kirsten Hunter
    • 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
    • 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 4:00-5:30 at 73 Court St
  • Saturday, November 12th:
    • Families Tuugether! RSVP by noon Fri 11/11. More info HERE.
  • Sunday, November 13th:
      • 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 does NOT meet 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 4:00-5:30 at 73 Court St
  • Sunday, November 20th:
    • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube.
    • Senior Youth Wreath Sale fundraiser after worship!
    • 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
    • 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 does not meet this afternoon
  • Sunday, November 27th:
    • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube.
    • All-ages RE time downstairs following TFAA 
    • Senior Youth, Coming of Age, and all OWL classes will NOT meet today.
  • Sunday, December 4th:
      • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube.
      • 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
      • 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 4:00-5:30 at 73 Court St

October’s Theme is “Courage“ and November’s is “Change”

Our UU faith in practice and action:

  • Children’s book recommendations. Available to borrow at libraries, for purchase at link, or to borrow from church if it has **asterisks. (Contact JenDD to borrow) Descriptions are from the inSpirit UUA bookstore website:
    • “The 1619 Project: Born on the Water”** by Renée Watson, illustrated by Nikkolas SmithLyrical picture book in verse chronicles the consequences of slavery and the history of Black resistance in the United States
    • “Emile and the Field” ** by Kevin Young, illustrated by Chioma Ebinama. Picture book from an award-winning poet, a young boy cherishes a neighborhood field throughout the changing seasons. With stunning illustrations and a charming text, this beautiful story celebrates a child’s relationship with nature. 
    • “Just Ask! Be Different, Be Brave, Be You” by Justice Sonia Sotomayor and award-winning artist Rafael Lopez
    • “We Are Water Protectors” by Carole Lindstrom, illustrated by Michaela Goade. You can also check out the Water Protectors activity kit and take the Earth Steward and Water Protector Pledge.
  • “Courage” Dinner Discussion Prompt: What do you think stops people from taking a stand against something they know is wrong?
  • Engage with the Seacoast Fridge! Our 5th-7th Grade Service Learning group is exploring food justice and visited the Seacoast Fridge at Kittery Community Center, a volunteer run community food station where you take what you need and leave what you can. It is open to all, and their priorities include reducing food waste from local businesses and changing the stigma around needing help. Our 5th-7th graders are now collecting food and supplies for the fridge. You and your family can support the fridge any time, in several ways. Check out the Seacoast Fridge Team Hub Facebook page for information!

Chalice Lightings for mealtimes:

Courage

You can’t buy courage at a store

It comes to you when you are weak

You will always have it, you just don’t always find it

Your heart knows where it is

It lives inside your soul

Courage never is lost

You know it like you know your own parents

Courage is everywhere

in the woods,

in the sea

everythere

By Ellen Reiling, 5th Grade Student

In Honor of First Steps

We light this chalice in honor of first steps. 

For beginning even when the path ahead is unclear. 

For the courage it takes to trust 

that the way will reveal itself 

that light will come to clarify our vision 

that friends will be by our side. 

May the words, song, stillness and common breath of this hour, 

remind us that every step of the way 

is never one we take alone. 

By Rev. Scott Tayler 

September ’22 nUUs from Religious Education

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Flags designed by Young Church kids 

We hope the prospect of the return to school feels joyful or is at least not causing stress in your homes. We’re holding you all in the joy, the angst, the anticipation, and all the many emotions that pop up in these moments of transition.

And we hope to be seeing you at church as we flow into the new season. 

Our annual Water Ingathering tradition marks the start of the church year, and that will happen on Sunday, September 11th. If you can, bring a little bit of water to add to our ceremonial collection, which includes water from many years of this tradition. We use this sacred water throughout each year in child dedications, bridging, and other special rituals in our community. People bring water from special places they’ve travelled to, or places that have special meaning to them, or from kitchen sinks of their own homes. Wherever your water is from, bring it to join with all the waters that buoy us.

Water Ingathering will be a multigenerational worship, so kids will stay in the sanctuary instead of going to religious education class. Kids can either sit with their families or find JenDD to sit in an area with other kids! Service will be interactive and we have fresh activity packs available.

Religious Education Classes: We have been working hard to plan, redefine, and rebuild, in a big post-pandemic way! We’re ready for rich, robust Religious Education programs to be filled with young people, connecting with each other in deep and meaningful ways. We will continue the summer format of having all ages together for RE during worship through the next few weeks, then we will move back to our age-based curricular programs. 

The Program Info area of this website is updated with information on the age-specific classes that will run this program year!

Here are some key things to know in this particular moment:

  • Register for RE: It’s time again! We need all children and youth to be registered each year so we have all the info we need to serve you safely and well. Now is the time! Click here to register!
  • OWL Sexuality Education classes: We will have OWL for 5th grade and 7th grade this year. Detailed info is on the OWL page. Registration is required, and we will open space to the larger community, so please sign up asap by sending an email: jendeldeo@southchurch-uu.org. 
  • 8th Grade Coming of Age (CoA): Orientation and Opening Ceremony for CoA youth and their families will be on Thurs Oct 6th, 6:30-8pm. 

Please reach out with any questions or concerns! Everyone deserves to engage at church in ways that feel right for them. We are always happy to help find the ways work best for each person.

See you soon! 🤟♥️

Calendar for this month… 

Click Linked Items for additional Details:

Click here for 2022-2023 RE Program Information

  • Sunday, August 28th:
    • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by Reverend Ellen
    • All-ages RE following the Time For All Ages
  • Sunday, September 4th:
    • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by Susan Treleaven
    • All-ages RE following the TFAA
  • Sunday, September 11th:
    • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by Reverend Ellen. This will be a multigenerational worship; kids remain in sanctuary.
  • Saturday, September 18th:
    • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by Reverend Ellen.
    • All-ages RE following the TFAA
    • Senior Youth Group will share about their Service Learning trip to West Virginia after worship!
  • Sunday, September 25th:
    • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by Reverend Ellen
    • Religious Education classes downstairs following TFAA 
    • Senior Youth group meets at Court St 4:00-4:30
  • Wednesday, September 28th:
    • Parent Orientation for 7th Grade Sexuality Education (OWL), 6:30-8pm
  • Saturday, October 1st:
    • Senior Youth orientation and overnight! Parents join for start of the evening, then youth stay over and go to worship together.
  • Sunday, October 2nd:
    • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by Reverend Ellen
    • Religious Education classes downstairs following TFAA 

September’s Theme is “Belonging“

Our UU faith in practice and action:

  • Connecting to Water Ingathering/Water Communion
    • Bring a small amount of water from your summer travels, a special place you love, or a faucet in your own home, to our Water Ingathering worship on 9/11. Reflect together on where your water comes from, and put your intentions for the church year into your water at home before bringing it!
    • This is a UU tradition that many UU congregations, including ours, “hold at the end of the summer, in which participants of all ages bring ‘living waters’ from wherever their travels led them and mingle them for later use by the congregation in ceremonies, such as a child dedication.” (From UUA.org) As we think about the ways that water connects all humans and other living organisms, watch this video poem about a girl who walks 4 miles to collect water. 
  • Become Water Protectors: Check out the Water Protectors activity kit and take the Earth Steward and Water Protector Pledge.
  • “Belonging” Dinner Discussion Prompt:
    • Can you think of times when you sacrificed or hid a part of who you are to conform? (pretended you didn’t like something, made fun of someone to fit in, bought something all your friends have)
    • Belonging means being accepted for ALL of who you are. It means the courage to stand alone and say, “This is who I am.” 
    • Can you think of a time when you felt accepted for ALL of who you are? At a Grandparents house, at church, by friends?

Chalice Lighting for mealtimes this month:

Belonging for Our Whole Selves, by Rev. Scott Tayler 

May the flame we now kindle light the path back to our center, 

back to that place of belonging 

to what is true, what is deepest within, what knows us even before we know ourselves. 

And may our chalice remind us that we are held 

and welcomed whole, without the need to hide 

a single piece or part 

of who we are. 

Midsummer ’22 Updates From Religious Education

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SC kids presenting Rev Susan with a superhero cape they decorated

Hello, South Church Families!

There is a full update below about what’s developing in Religious Education for fall, but in case you don’t have time to read this whole thing, please click here to register your kids for the coming church year! (Yep, it’s that time again! 🙂)

We’ve been hearing some great stories about some of you on summer adventures, which is amazing! And we’ve been seeing many of you at church, whether regularly or occasionally. In RE, the summer plan has been light, fun energy, which will continue through next month.

Looking ahead, we are working hard to plan, redefine, and rebuild, in a big post-pandemic way. We recognize that there are still some hazards and precautions to take, but there’s also plenty of opportunity for new ways of embracing the South Church Religious Education mission, to “provide programming for children, youth and families that promote spiritual growth, intergenerational connections, faith development, a Unitarian Universalist identity and social action within a safe and welcoming environment.”

Your input would be greatly appreciated as we build programming for the coming church year. Come to worship in the next several weeks to touch base and let us know your needs and wants. Or, set up a time to come to the office to chat, call, email, or communicate any way you can what your hopes are as we rebloom in a robust way.

We are hoping to have the Nursery staffed and ready for our youngest community members for the fall (if you know anyone who would be a great fit for this paid position, send them our way!) And if you’d like to check out the framework of what is in store for children and youth by age, visit these pages:

Also, as you know, our programs run with the help of many volunteers. There are lots of kinds of roles, with various time commitments. None of these should be overwhelming, and we would LOVE to help you find the right fit, where you will actually gain incredible spiritual growth and connection through participating. 

Finally, one VERY helpful thing you can do is simply register your kids! Registration is open now for the ‘22/’23 church year. We need updated registrations every year, for every child and youth. So even if you registered any time over the past year, it’s time to do it again. This helps us plan programs, and it helps us know important info about our dear young people, so we are able to serve you all better.

Also, don’t forget to collect small amounts of water from your summer explorations, to bring to our annual Water Ingathering ceremony on September 11th!

What you need to know this month… 

Click Linked Items for additional Details:

Click here for 2022-2023 RE Program Information

  • Sunday, July 31st:
    • Worship at 10:00a. This is Reverend Susan’s final day at South Church. Worship will be multigenerational (no RE today,) and we will have a special social hour outside after. In person and live on YouTube. 
  • Sunday, August 7th:
    • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by Kirsten Hunter. This will be Rev Ellen’s first Sunday as our settled minister!
    • All-ages RE meets outside or downstairs (weather dependent) following TFAA
  • Sunday, August 14th:
    • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by Reverend Ellen.
    • All-ages RE meets outside or downstairs (weather dependent) following TFAA
  • Sunday, August 21st:
    • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by Reverend Ellen.
    • All-ages RE meets outside or downstairs (weather dependent) following TFAA
  • Sunday, August 28th:
    • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by Reverend Ellen.
    • All-ages RE meets outside or downstairs (weather dependent) following TFAA
  • Sunday, September 4th:
    • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by Susan Treleaven.
    • All-ages RE meets outside or downstairs (weather dependent) following TFAA