Youth-Led Worship, 2/4/24

Our high school youth group led a remarkable service on the first Sunday in February. They were articulate, playful, wise, and creative. They leaned into their discomfort in so many ways, each toward personal growth: Sharing deeply personal stories; speaking into microphones in front of a large congregation; making music; showing us the world through their eyes, as it is and how they want it to be. All of this speaks to the qualities of the community they have been growing up in at South Church. To feel supported in being their true selves means they trust us enough to say out loud what is real for them. This happens in the Religious Education programs throughout their first 18 years, but it also happens in the interactions they have with every one of us. Look at this picture at how the younger kids are receiving what the teens are offering. Imagine the ways this is mentoring them.

I can’t tell you how many times I have heard South Church teens say that this is the only place where they don’t feel like they have to try to be anything other than who they are. What a gift we all are to each other in this way, and I hope adults feel this freedom and encouragement toward authenticity, too.

This month the church theme is “Transformation.” Downstairs in RE, we will explore ideas like when we learn and grow as individuals, communities, and in our UU faith, our beliefs and understanding transform also; how learning to see the world through many lenses transforms us; and how using tools to center ourselves and to listen to what’s inside us can transform how we live our lives every day.

There will be a special project opportunity for kids in grades 5 through 7 during RE time this month! They should go downstairs with kids during the TFAA, and we will let them know what to do if they would like to participate outside of the RE classroom. It is connected to a surprise that will come at the end of the month 😉

Our multigenerational worship day this month will be on Easter, 3/31. It will be a special time created with all ages in mind, followed by our traditional Easter Egg hunt! Bring a basket if you have one, and we will have some to borrow if you don’t.

Muffin Mingle is an opportunity for parents of young children to get to know each other. Come to church at 9am on Sunday March 3rd, for a time to connect with each other before worship! We will provide childcare, plus food for parents and kids. Intended for families with elementary-aged and younger children and babies, but those guidelines are flexible. If you love the idea of an event for parents to be in community but can’t make it to this, then please reach out so we can chat about what might work for your family: jendeldeo@southchurch-uu.org or (603)956-5146

Our youth in grades 6 through 12 have been invited to a UU youth day conference with peers in Nashua, NH at the UU church there! It will be a super fun day with opportunities for games, art, music, meeting new friends, conversations, and more. It’s coming up fast, on Saturday March 9th. You can find all details and register HERE. If there are interested youth who need help getting there, physically or financially, then please reach out to JenDB or Kirsten right away so we can try to help.

See you soon! Much Love,

💜JenDB

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March Church Theme is “Transformation”

• Birds of Gaza art project: This can help families hold or process together the knowledge that children are dying in Gaza. A beautiful tribute to their lives, you can make birds in honor of specific children. Submit to the online gallery, then hang them up at home, or bring them to church and we will display them for our community.
• World Water Day is March 22nd. A few ways to observe:
  • Read together and talk about “A Long Walk To Water” (ages 11 & up) or the companion picture book “Nya’s Long Walk” (for younger kids) by Linda Sue Park.
  • Explore The Lazy Person’s Guide To Saving Water to learn about actions on many levels
  • Check out some fun educational water videos:
    • Water Cycle in a Bag
    • Erosion and Soil
• One element to raising social justice-oriented kids is exposing them to many different cultures. There are a LOT of different religious holidays in March. Explore and learn about some of them together, through resources gathered by Soul Matters:
  • Lent (Christian) – Feb. 14 – March 28, 2024
  • Purim begins (Jewish)  – March 23-24, 2024 (more here & here)
  • Holi (Hindu) – March 25, 2024 (more here and here)
  • Ostara/ Spring or the Vernal Equinox (Wicca/Pagan) – March 20 (more here)
  • Ramadan (Islam) – Mar 10 – Apr 9, 2024   (more here and here)  
  • The Annunciation (Christian) – March 25
  • Palm Sunday (Christian) – March 24, 2024
  • Maundy Thursday/Holy Thursday (Christian)  – March 28, 2024
  • Good Friday – (Christian) March 29, 2024
  • Easter (Christian) – March 31, 2024
• Our Shared Plate program gives half of the Sunday offertory to a different organization each month, which the congregation votes on in February. The Shared Plate recipient for March is the Joan G Lovering Health Center. This is a great opportunity to talk with kids who are in OWL or who have taken OWL in the past, about this organization whose “passion [is] to honor, respect, and advocate for the right of everyone to maintain freedom and choices regarding their own sexual and reproductive health.” It’s valuable to point our examples of where our UU values can also be found outside of church, like in some organizations such as Lovering Health Center.

Chalice Lighting For Meal Times:

Why We’re Here, By Erik Walker Wikstrom

May we listen so that we can hear;
May we hear so that we can feel;
May we feel so that we can know; and
May we know so that we can change ourselves and this world.
May this chalice we light,
Light our Way.

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Click Linked Items for additional Details

Click here for 2023-2024 RE Program Information

• Friday, March 1st:
  • Sparks and Flames bowling, 7pm! More info and rsvp: jendeldeo@southchurch-uu.org
• Sunday, March 3rd:
  • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by Rev Ellen
  • Nursery is staffed and open 9:30-11:30a
  • RE classes for Pre-K through 7th grade meet downstairs following TFAA 
  • 8th Grade Coming of Age meets 9:45-11:00 at 73 Court St, with Mentors
  • 7th Grade OWL meets 4:00-5:30 in Milk Classroom
  • Senior Youth meets 4:00-5:30 at 73 Court St
• Sunday, March 10th:
  • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by guest Jim Scott
  • Nursery is staffed and open 9:30-11:30a
  • RE classes for Pre-K through 7th grade meet downstairs following TFAA 
  • 8th Grade Coming of Age meets 9:45-11:00 at 73 Court St, with Mentors
  • 7th Grade OWL meets 4:00-5:30 in Milk Classroom
  • Senior Youth meet for Learning Journey Session 3, 4:00 in Social Hall
• Sunday, March 17th:
  • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by Kirsten
  • Nursery is staffed and open 9:30-11:30a
  • RE classes for Pre-K through 7th grade meet downstairs following TFAA 
  • 8th Grade Coming of Age meets 9:45-11:00 at 73 Court St
  • 7th Grade OWL meets 4:00-5:30 in Milk Classroom
  • Senior Youth meets 4:00-5:30 at 73 Court St
• Sunday, March 24th:
  • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by Rev Ellen
  • Nursery is staffed and open 9:30-11:30a
  • RE classes for Pre-K through 7th grade meet downstairs following TFAA
  • 8th Grade Coming of Age meets 9:45-11:00 with mentors, at 73 Court St
  • 7th Grade OWL meets 4:00-5:30 in Milk Classroom
  • Senior Youth meets 4:00-5:30 at 73 Court St
• Sunday, March 31st:
  • Multigenerational Easter Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube.
  • Easter Egg Hunt following worship! Bring a basket to collect eggs in.
  • Nursery is not staffed today, but families may use the room with parent supervision
  • Kids attend full worship today, no RE classes
  • 7th Grade OWL, 8th Grade CoA, and High School Youth Group do not meet today.
• Friday, April 5th:
  • Sparks & Flames Social Group for Grades 5-8, 7:00-9:00p RSVP to JenDB
• Sunday, April 7th:
  • Pancake Breakfast! 8:30am-10am (before worship). Fundraiser for Senior Youth Learning Journey
  • Worship at 10:00a, in person and live on YouTube. Sermon offered by Rev Ellen
  • Nursery is staffed and open 9:30-11:30a
  • RE classes for Pre-K through 7th grade meet downstairs following TFAA 
  • 8th Grade Coming of Age meets 9:45-11:00 at church–Interview Your Mentor over pancakes!
  • 7th Grade OWL meets 4:00-5:30 in Milk Classroom
  • OWL Parent Discussion 4:00-5:30 in Sanctuary
  • Senior Youth does not meet this evening–come to Pancake Breakfast