RE-flections

Coming Up on February 5

2012-02-02T10:17:00.002-05:00

It's hard to believe that we're already into February. I don't know about you, but for me, this is the start of the two longest months of the year. The instinct to hunker down is strong. But doesn't it feel great to connect with other people during these long days of winter? Hope to see you in church!

Here's what's happening this Sunday in each of our Young Church classes:

Our preschoolers will be making valentines for the special people in their lives.

The K-1 class, continuing to learn about the UU Principles through the stories of Dr. Seuss, will hear the story, "Green Eggs and Ham" and will try some new things. (This relates to our fourth UU Principle--that we affirm a free and responsible search for truth and meaning.)

Second graders will learn about Tim Berners-Lee, a Unitarian Universalist who invented the worldwide web, and will take apart a computer and other appliances to see what lurks beneath.

Third graders will have an introduction to Islam, will look at artifacts such as a prayer rug and head scarf, and will try their hands at calligraphy.

The fourth grade class will hear the story of Jacob from the Hebrew Bible and will make Jacob's Ladders out of string.

The fifth grade class will learn about the Golden Rule and will do an exercise that illustrates how dramatically harsh words can affect a person.

Sixth graders will begin to learn about some outstanding Unitarian Universalists and the important work they did to improve the world, and will reflect on what changes they themselves would like to enact.

The Our Whole Lives (7th-8th grade)group meets as usual from 10:15-11:45 in the lower meeitng house, and the senior youth group meets at the Kelly School.

See you in church!

Coming Up on January 29

2012-01-26T11:05:00.002-05:00

Why do you bring your children to Young Church? Is it to engage them in a multi-generational community that shares your values? To support you in your efforts to instill in them a strong moral compass? To expose them to ideas of the world's major religions? To engage them in service work? To acquaint them with the culturally-relevant stories of the Judeo and Christian traditions? Is it because you've heard that studies show that kids who are actively involved in church engage in fewer risky behaviors than their unchurched peers? Whether it's one or all of these, or a different reason all together, I encourage you to revisit this question often. Remind yourself WHY you come out on Sunday mornings when it's so much easier to stay in with coffee and the paper. Then, when Sunday morning rolls around and your kids ask why they have to come, you'll have a ready answer. Or, you can just tell them, "because it's what we do".

Coming up this Sunday in Young Church:
The preschool class explores the wonder of imagination through a story and a painting project.

The K-1 class further learns about the UU Principles through the stories of Dr. Seuss with the story "McGelligot's Pool" (which relates to our 7th UU principle). They will also make a river mural.

The second grade class continues to learn about notable Unitarian Universalists, focusing this week on Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross. After hearing her life story, they will do an experiment to see how germs spread and will learn some basic first aid.

The third grade class, as part of its curriculum on world religions and prayer, will learn about Catholic prayer, will make their first prayer bead, and, time permitting, will make St. Brigid's crosses.

Fourth graders, continuing to learn about the Hebrew scriptures, will learn about Abraham and Isaac, and will engage in a fun trust activity.

The fifth grade class will learn about Jesus' Sermon on the Mount and will make up skits about the Beatitudes.

Sixth graders will learn about the six sources of belief for UUs, do a beliefs relay race, and make posters illustrating the sources of their own beliefs.

The Our Whole Lives class meets as usual from 10:15-11:45. Please note that there is NO senior youth group this week.

See you in church!

Coming Up on January 15

2012-01-12T10:36:00.003-05:00

This morning, we begin with circle in Big Church, so all children in preschool through 6th grade should go to church with their families. After the moment for all ages, children will be dismissed for Young Church and will meet their teachers in the vestibule.

Preschoolers will consider the wonders of the moon. They'll listen to the story "Moongame" by F. Asch and will make moon paintings and play hide-and-seek with the moon.

The kindergarten-1st grade class continues its "Learning the UU Principles Through the Stories of Dr. Seuss" by hearing the story of "The Sneetches" and then re-enacting it with their own star-belly machine.

Second graders will hear a story about the Unitarian Albert Schweitzer and will learn how to splint an injury.

The third grade class will begin to learn about Christianity and specifically Catholicism, will examine artifacts and make St. Brigid's crosses.

Fourth graders will hear the story of Creation and the Garden of Eden from the Hebrew scriptures and will create their own clay creatures. They will discuss things such as "Where could God exist before creating the land, sea, or sky?" and, "Do you believe that humans have 'dominion' over all other living things?"

The fifth grade class will learn about Jesus' baptism and will do a skit about his temptation in the wilderness. They will talk about temptation in their own lives and how they deal with it.

Sixth graders will consider the idea of a "quest" and will have an introduction to the various types of quests they will undertake this term. They will also make clay aliens to have as questing partners.

Looking forward to seeing you in church!

Winter Term Begins January 8

2012-01-05T11:24:00.003-05:00

With January, comes the start of our winter term in Young Church and our grade-specific programs. When you come to church this Sunday, you'll find classroom locations posted near the doors. All children in grades p/k through 5th must now be signed in by a parent or guardian (so if your child is in Young Church choir, please pick them up) in their classroom. For children in grades 4-5, parents will have the option of indicating that their child can be automatically dismissed at the end of church. Otherwise, teachers will keep them until the parent comes to sign them out. All children in grades p/k-3rd MUST be picked up by a parent and will not be dismissed without being signed out.

After attendance is taken, all children in grades K-6 will go with their classes to the lower meeting house for a brief worship circle. They will then head back to class for the morning's session.

Please read on to see what's happening this week in each class.

The Preschool class (meets on the stage in the upper parish hall) kicks off a session on wonder by considering the wonder of stars. After hearing an Eric Carle story, they will make "starry night" pictures and do star rubbings.

The Kindergarten-First Grade class (meets in upper parish hall, back) will start their "Learning about the UU Principles Through the Stories of Dr. Seuss" curriculum by hearing the Butter Battle Book, talking about peace, and making butter.

The Second Grade class (meets in the lower meeting house conference room) begins its curriculum on notable Unitarian Universalists by reviewing the UU principles and making a poster about them.

The Third Grade class (meets in the lower meeting house main hall) begins its curriculum on prayer and world religions by considering what it means to pray through answering a series of questions drawn from a question box.

The Fourth Grade class (meets in the upper parish hall, front right) starts its program on the Hebrew Scriptures by doing an exercise in oral tradition.

The Fifth Grade class (meets in upper parish hall, front left) starts its program on the life and teachings of Jesus by talking about what they already know and what they think they know about Jesus.

The Sixth Grade class (meets in upper parish hall, youth room) starts its "Questing Year" curriculum by figuring out what a "quest" is, reviewing the UU principles and making clay aliens.

The Seventh-Eighth Grade class, which will be engaged in the Our Whole Lives (OWL) program this winter and spring, does not meet this week. The OWL kick-off session is Friday, January 13, from 5:00-9:00 p.m.

The senior high youth group will meet at the Kelly School Youth Center.

Looking forward to seeing you all in church!

October 23 in Young Church

2011-10-20T15:21:00.002-04:00

Our preschoolers will consider how "I Can Share" through a cooperative art project following the story "It's Mine".

The kindergarten class focuses on conscious consumerism this week. They will hear the story "The Berenstain Bears and the Mad, Mad, Toy Craze" and will learn to make a simple toy out of recycled materials.

The 1st through 8th grade small ministry groups will continue their water theme. Some activities include an experiential meditation, in which they are confronted with the possibility of having to drink polluted water. Some of the groups will watch short videos about the world water crisis and some will be invited to sign a water stewardship pledge. All groups will also vote on a water project to support through the end-of-term water walkathon.

What's Happening on October 16

2011-10-14T11:46:00.002-04:00

This morning, our preschoolers will think about ways that "I Can Help". After hearing a couple of stories about helping, they will talk about how they help out and will make helping hands necklaces.

The kindergarten class will talk about "Saving Our Resources". They will hear and reflect on the story "The Berenstain Bears' Don't Pollute" and will make recycling boxes to place around our buildings.

Children in grades 1-8 will learn about the importance of toilets. This sounds like a strange topic for Young Church, perhaps, but it's part of our continuing theme of water in the world. They will learn that one-third of the world's people don't have access to a toilet, and why this is a problem--particularly in urban areas.

The senior youth group has a hike today, so there is no regular meeting.

See you in church!

Coming Up On October 9

2011-10-06T12:12:00.002-04:00

This Sunday, the preschool class will focus on the art of listening. They will hear a story, "Listen to Me" and will play a game involving music and movement and will make sound tubes.

The theme for kindergarten is that "We Are All One Human Family". Their story for the week is "The Berenstain Bears' New Neighbors". They will make a banner of children from many cultures.

Children in grades 1 through 8 will consider the question, "Who Owns Water?" After young church worship circle, in which they will hear a traditional Haitian tale about a lizard who tries to control water distribution, they will gather in their small groups for a variety of activities, such as a landowners vs. waterowners game (in which they attempt to divide up their resources). Some groups will view a video from the organization charity: water, which introduces the world water crisis (but promises that there IS a solution). That video can be seen here: http://www.charitywater.org/media/videos/?video=video11

See you in church!

Coming on Sunday, September 25

2011-09-22T12:25:00.002-04:00

What a wonderful opening day we had in Young Church last week! Children in grades p/k through 8th came with samples of water they had collected over the summer and we poured them together in a big bowl. After the water is sanitized, it will be used in child dedication ceremonies, and also in our joys and sorrows ritual this fall. Since our fall focus is on water, I thought it would be appropriate for us to drop stones in water rather than light candles for each joy and sorrow.

If you're still confused about where your child should go on Sunday mornings, please contact me. We have group listings and locations posted in various places around the meeting house and parish hall, but if you need help, please ask!

Here's what's happening this Sunday:

Preschool will explore the idea that "I Can Ask Questions" through a story and a couple of games. Unitarian Universalism is all about asking questions.

The kindergarten class will begin its Berenstain Bears curriculum with a lesson about how "The Earth Is Our Home". They will hear a Berenstain Bears story, then make an interdependent web collage and play web charades.

Grades 1-8, in their small ministry groups, will begin their water curriculum this week. After attending Young Church worship circle, they will consider the wonder and many uses of water.

The senior high youth group is now meeting at the Kelley School Youth Center, which is a short walk from the church. Please contact me if you need more information.

See you in church!

Welcome (Back)!

2011-09-08T09:49:00.003-04:00

Another church year is here! I can't wait to welcome back old friends, and greet new ones. Please read on for information about the coming weeks.

Church begins on September 11, with an all-congregation flower communion service in Big Church (please bring a flower if you can). Young Church registration is also that day... please stop by the table we'll have set up out in front of the church to fill out/return a registration form, ask questions, say hi, sign up to teach, etc. Please plan to stay after church for a cookout on the side patio. You can bring a side dish, salad, or dessert to share.

Young Church begins on the following Sunday, September 18. On that day, we'll have our Young Church water communion service. All children in grades p/s through 8th are invited to bring a small sample of water collected over the summer (from a pond, lake, ocean, pool, puddle... or the kitchen tap). The fall term runs from that day through November 13. For children in grades 1-8, through the format of our small ministry groups, we will engage in a program called "Gather the Spirit: Water in Our World." Topics will include the necessity and wonder of water, the scarcity of clean water in the world, the question of who--if anyone--"owns" water, solutions to the world water crisis, and water conservation. The term will culminate in a water walkathon, which will be not only a fundraiser for a water accessibility project, but also an experiential activity through which participants will gain a better understanding of what it feels like to carry water for a distance, which so many people in the world have to do every day. The preschool class will be engaged in its own program, which introduces them to ritual and basic ideas of Unitarian Universalism through stories, games, and crafts, and the kindergarten class has a Berenstain Bears curriculum.

Our senior high youth group will be meeting every week during church and it looks like we've got larger space off-site to accomodate our growing numbers.

If you are new to our community, I invite you to contact me before coming so that I can be prepared to meet you and show you around. Or, you can simply show up a bit early on any Sunday morning and go to our Visiting Families table in the Parish Hall (the building right next to the church).

I look forward to seeing you in church!

This Week in Young Church: May 8

2011-05-05T12:38:00.002-04:00

This is the last Sunday of our regular Young Church classes. Where has the year gone? Be sure to bring the family to church on May 15 for our Young Church Sunday worship service.

Preschool--Closing Sunday. The children will play some of their favorite games from the year and will make "everyone" collages to remember each other by.

Kindergarten--"Passing Through a Gate". The children will reflect on stubbornness and resilience after hearing a story and will play a number of games around these themes.

First Grade--In this last session of "Learning the UU Principles Through the Stories of Dr. Seuss", they will hear the story "Yertle the Turtle" (which relates to the 5th UU Principle on the democratic principle) and will make turtles and have them vote on different things.

Second Grade--This week, they will learn about Unitarian Beatrix Potter and will try their hand at drawing things from the natural world.

Third Grade--Wraps up their program on World Religions and Prayer by writing their own prayers.

Fourth Grade--Will hear the story of the Israelite's return to Jerusalem and will perform a reader's theatre.

Fifth Grade--This week is a wrap-up of what they've learned about the life and teachings of Jesus.

Sixth-Seventh Grades--Will visit the Friends Meeting House in Amesbury for a Quaker Meeting.

Eighth-Ninth Grades--Will ask the question "Can we ever solve life's mystery?" and will reflect on all the big questions they have explored this year.

This week is also the last week of our Pennies for Cherryl Penny Challenge. Bring in that loose change!

See you in Young Church!

This Week in Young Church: May 1

2011-04-28T10:38:00.002-04:00

How is it possible that it is already May? We're down to the home stretch in Young Church, with only two weeks of regular classes left.

Preschool: "We Must Care for Our Earth". After hearing a story, the children will play a spider web game, then pick up some trash from around our grounds.

Kindergarten: "Who Owns the Earth?" The children will consider this question after hearing a story, then will make butterflies.

First Grade (Learning the UU Principles Through the Stories of Dr. Seuss) will hear the story "The Lorax" and will make miniature terrariums.

Second Grade (Notable Unitarians and Universalists) will learn about PT Barnum and will try their hand at circus tricks.

Third Grade (World Religions and Prayer) will learn about Hindu prayer and engage in meditation.

Fourth Grade (Stories from the Hebrew Scriptures) will learn about the prophets Elijah and Jonah and will make thaumatropes (come to Young Church to find out what these are!)

Fifth Grade (the Life and Teachings of Jesus) will hear about Jesus' crucifixion and will make a Jesus sculpture out of recyclables.

Sixth-Seventh Grades (Neighboring Faiths) will welcome guests from the Quaker Friends Meeting House to prepare for next week's field trip.

Eight-Ninth Grades (Exploring Big Questions) will consider the question "Do I have a soul?" by learning about what different religions say about the soul, and they will also make soul masks.

Interesting things are happening. See you in Young Church!

This Week in Young Church: April 10

2011-04-07T10:41:00.002-04:00

Preschool--"Spring Makes Our World Beautiful with Color". The children will listen to the story "What Makes a Rainbow?", then make butterflies, do a guided meditation, and a flower dramatization.

Kindergarten through 3rd Grade--Worship and Spirit. Once a month, these grades join me and our Young Church music director, Kristen Miller, in an extended worship that includes all the usual elements (chalice lighting, hymn, affirmation of faith, meditation, sharing of joys and sorrows) plus extra music and a story. The theme for Sunday is Earth Day.

4th Grade (theme for the term: stories from the Hebrew Bible)--Kings David and Solomon and the Temple of Jerusalem. The children will act out a humorous skit about King Solomon, then will consider the idea of sacred space by trying to create their own.

5th Grade (theme for the term: the life and teachings of Jesus)--The Passion: Jesus Prays, Is Betrayed, and Condemned. The class will watch clips from "Jesus Christ, Superstar" and play a Jeopardy game.

6th-7th Grade (theme for the term: Neighboring Faiths) Field trip to the mosque in Wayland.

8th-9th Grade (theme for the term: Big Questions). Today, they will consider the question, "What Should I Do With My Life?"

See you in church!

What's Happening in Young Church on April 3

2011-03-31T10:52:00.002-04:00

Here's what's planned for this Sunday, April 3 (Ah! April!)

The theme for preschool is "My World Has Flowers". After reading a story, they will make flower collages and plant seeds to take home.

Kindergarten's theme is "Love Your Neighbor". They will listen to a story and reflect on what it means to be a good neighbor. They will also plant seeds.

1st graders (theme for the term: Learning UU Principles through the Stories of Dr. Seuss) will hear the Dr. Seuss story "Horton Hears a Who" and will consider how it relates to our first UU principle calling us to "affirm the worth and dignity of every person" and then they will play some cooperative games.

2nd graders (theme for the term: notable Unitarians and Universalists) will learn about Unitarian Daniel Chester French, the sculptor who created the Abraham Lincoln statue in the Lincoln Memorial. They will try their own hands at sculpting with an unusual medium--sand sculpture clay.

3rd graders (theme for the term: world religions and prayer) will have an introduction to Hinduism and will make pictures of their own original gods. They will also make the final prayer bead of their set.

4th graders (theme for the term: stories from the Hebrew Scriptures) will hear the story of David and Goliath and play a game using five smooth stones which illustrates one of the story's themes.

5th graders (theme for the term: the life and teachings of Jesus) will hear about Jesus' return to Jerusalem and the Last Supper and will create their own Last Supper mural.

6th-7th graders (theme for the term: Neighboring Faiths) will welcome a guest who will give them an introduction to Islam, in preparation for their visit to the mosque in Wayland next Sunday.

8th-9th graders (theme for the term: big questions) will consider the question "How am I connected with everything else?"

See you in church!

What's Happening in Young Church on March 20

2011-03-17T14:34:00.000-04:00

Here's what's planned for this coming Sunday in Young Church:

Preschool--The theme for the morning is "We All Belong to the Earth Family". The children will hear the story "Somos Un Arco Iris" ("We Are a Rainbow"), and will learn the song "We're All a Family Under One Sky". They will talk about how people from all over the world have many things in common and they will learn some games from other countries.

Kindergarten through 3rd grades--Worship and Spirit. Worship and Spirit is a monthly activity for these grades. Rather than being in their classrooms, the children have an extended worship time with the Director of Religious Education and Young Church Music Director. After worship, which includes a story, they do an activity related to the morning's theme. This week, the focus is on cooperation. The story is the folktale "The Bundle of Sticks". After worship, the children will engage in a cooperative activity. In small groups, their hands will be tied together and they will attempt to stack plastic cups into a pyramid. Certainly an exercise in listening and working together.

4th grade--The story of Moses continues. They will hear the story of the parting of the Red Sea and play a parachute game. They will also learn about the 10 Commandments and watch a segment of the Cecil B. DeMille movie.

5th grade--As they continue to learn about Jesus' teachings, the class will consider some of the miracle stories and will reflect on what they think are some miracles in their world. Bread baking is part of this lesson... always a popular one.

6th-7th grade--They will host guests from the Greek Orthodox church to hear about their faith and prepare for next week's field trip to the Greek Orthodox church.

8th-9th--Today's big question is "How can I know right from wrong?" They will do a series of excercises on ethics.

Hope to see you in church!

Coming This Sunday...

2011-03-10T11:08:00.001-05:00

Though large banks of hard, dirty snow remain, it's spring in Young Church! This Sunday marks the beginning of our spring term. Though the theme for our classes carries forward from winter, we've got a brand-new team of teachers coming in. This is a great time to come back to church if you've hunkered down over the winter, or have been spending your weekends skiing.

So what's happening this week? Here's a quick class-by-class synopsis:

Preschool (overall theme: getting to know each other, our church, our values, our rituals) The theme this week is that all kinds of families are special. They'll read "The Family Book" by Todd Parr and will make a coat of arms.

Kindergarten (overall theme: Love Your Neighbor) This week, the children will hear a story about lost and found money and will talk about what it's like to not be believed, and how disagreements get solved. They will make masks of the animal characters in the story.

1st grade (overall theme: learning the UU principles through the stories of Dr. Seuss) This week's story is "What Was I Scared Of?"--one of my personal favorites about the scary green pants with nobody inside them. The children will write down some of their own fears and attach them to a pair of scary pants. (This relates to our fourth UU principle--a free and responsible search for truth and meaning--because often the more we know about something, the less scary it is.)

2nd grade (overall theme: notable Unitarians and Universalists) This week's Unitarian of note is Alexander Graham Bell. After learning about his life, the children will make an electromagnet and will experiment with different types of string-and-can-type "telephones". The electromagnet activity is always a hit!

3rd grade (overall theme: world religions and prayer). This week is an introduction to Buddhism, including the story of Siddhartha Guatama, and seeing on the map where many Buddhists live today. Two recurring activities in this class are making prayer beads and "Salute the Sun" yoga sequence and they will do both this week, too.

4th grade (overall theme: Hebrew Scriptures). This week continues the story of Moses, and the children will learn about the plagues of Egypt and the first Passover. They will make unleavened bread.

5th grade (overall theme: Life and teachings of Jesus). The Good Samaritan story is explored through the creation of skits telling the story in modern times.

6th-7th grade (overall theme: Neighboring Faiths) This week, the group will visit the Insight Meditation Center of Newburyport and will engage in some meditation.

8th-9th grade (overall theme: exploring big questions) This week's question is "Is Life Fair?" and includes an exercise in which the youth attempt to create the fairest universe possible.

Good things will be happening all around Young Church this Sunday. Hope to see your family here!

Friends in the Phillipines

2011-03-04T12:53:00.000-05:00

Last Sunday, February 27, all children in grades p/k through 9th attended a Young Church worship circle, then stayed together to work on a project. We do this rather than classes several times throughout the year--mostly on weeks when we traditionally have lower attendance, such as school vacation weeks. Not only is it a chance for them to engage in a social service project, but it is also a great opportunity for mentoring. During these projects, one will typically see older kids helping out the younger ones. And this was indeed the case this past week, when our projects were friendship bracelets and flipbooks.

Young Church sponsors a Unitarian student in the Philippines, through an outreach program of the Unitarian Universalist Partner Church Council. We have committed to sending $340 a year to the UUPCC, which allows our student, Cherryl, to purchase books, supplies, and a uniform for school. Without these things, she would not be allowed to attend. We will sponsor Cherryl for six years, until she is through primary school. We have written letters to her over the past couple of years, and sent small hand-made gifts for her to share with her classmates. She has written us in return and has very diligently answered all our questions.

This past Sunday, after our traditional Young Church worship circle (including a friendship round led by Young Church music director Kristen Miller), I invited the children to make either friendship bracelets or flipbooks, which we will send to Cherryl and her classmates. I had researched patterns ahead of time so that I knew how to make one type of bracelet that I could teach the kids. But most of the older kids had their own techniques and before worship even started, they had taken over a table at the back and were already teaching the others how to make them. It was a wonderful thing!

It's days like that when I feel truly blessed to work with kids. And these FRS kids... may I say it? They're the best.

Our Virtual Farmer's Market

2010-11-23T12:44:00.001-05:00

Sunday, November 14 brought a first to our church: a Young Church Virtual Farmer's Market. It was the culmination of our fall term, the theme of which was "Stir the Pot: Food in Our World". The term included sessions on our connections with each other and with the natural world, world hunger (see post of Nov. 5), mindful eating, and generosity.

Here's how the market worked. Each small ministry group (grades 1-7) selected a fruit, vegetable, or grain to "market". Over the course of a couple of weeks, the groups created displays of their particular produce. They also cut out tokens for shoppers to take. During the event, which took place immediately after church, shoppers walked through the market, perusing the displays, learning much about all the wonderful produce. Shoppers could then take tokens from any or all of the booths and write dollar amounts on them to represent how much of any item they wanted to "purchase". (For instance, someone might buy $2 worth of brocolli and $5 worth of corn and $3 worth of wheat). When shoppers were through, they checked out and paid the total amount of their tokens. No actual produce was sold.

The booths looked wonderful and each truly represented a group effort. Some offered samples to eat, such as the starfruit, brocolli, and corn booths and the bean booth, which had a delicious bean dip. The wheat group baked cookies, which were still warm from the oven when shoppers came through. Kids in the apple group were dressed in costumes to illicit questions (why was one dressed as a doctor? Because an apple a day keeps the doctor away). The rice group had a display of the various kinds of rice and also had a computer set up to demonstrate a website (www.freerice.com) that gives 10 grains of rice to someone in need for every correct answer you give to its questions (try it!) And then there was the watermelon group, probably the most aggressive in marketing, with kids going directly to shoppers at other booths to hand out watermelon tokens!

The market was successful on a variety of levels. First, both those who created the booths and those who shopped learned a lot about the various fruits, vegetables, and grains--where they come from, how they're grown, how they're used around the world. Second, it helped create a sense of community--and accomplishment--both in Young Church as a whole and within each group. Working on a project together always lends itself to community building. Third, it was an opportunity for adults in church to participate in Young Church. Many of the attendees were people who do not have children in Young Church. Fourth, it was just plain fun--there was a definite joyful air about the room. And finally, it raised $570 for Oxfam.

Solidarity, Not Charity

2010-11-05T10:53:00.000-04:00

Two weeks ago, I attended a three-day conference of the Liberal Religious Educators' Association (LREDA)in New Orleans. This is an annual gathering of Unitarian Universalist religious educators that never fails to inspire and inform. This year's theme was "Transforming the Jericho Road"--really, it was about how we can approach service work as partners with those we serve, not as rescuers. Only by engaging in work where we offer solidarity, not charity, are we serving in a way that is truly meaningful for ourselves. When we engage in service work, we should be transformed by the experience. We are generally not transformed by experiences in which we are helping people we know nothing about, or who have no say in what type of assistance they are in need of.

Obviously, we can't build relationships through every type of service work that needs to be done. Canned food drives are a good example. Food drives always need a lot of volunteers and many who volunteer will never know much about those they are helping. That doesn't mean that the work isn't important and meaningful and that we shouldn't feel good about helping in this way. But I think that my big take-away from the conference is that, where possible, we should strive to provide our children and youth with service opportunities that involve some sort of respectful collaboration with the population served. And also, of course, there should always be an educational piece.

I think that this is why our sponsorship project through the UU Partner Church Council is such a good one. We are committed to sponsoring Cherryl for six years, by sending $330 a year, so that she can attend school. In addition to raising money, we send her letters and small gifts to share with her classmates. She sends letters in return. We are building a relationship across the miles. In this way, I think, we are providing our kids with a meaningful service experience.

I am always on the lookout for good service projects, for children, youth, and families. Please let me know if you have any ideas.

Hunger Banquet in Young Church

2010-10-21T09:52:00.000-04:00

This past Sunday, we had a Hunger Banquet for all children in grades 1-7. This is an experiential program developed by Oxfam America, which gives participants a graphic view of gross inequities in the world's distribution of resources.

Here's how it worked. We randomly distributed cards to each partipant, which were labeled "low", "middle" and "high". The percentage of cards for each group corresponded with the world population. Thus, 50% were given "low" income cards, 35% were given "middle" income cards and 15% were given "high" income cards. All people in the low income group sat on the floor, middle income sat in chairs, and the high income group sat at a table with place settings. After hearing some startling statistics about world hunger, and a few scenarios in which a couple of participants moved up or down between groups, we served a typical meal to each group. The low income group got a half a cup of white rice and some water. The middle income group got the same, with some beans added to the rice. The high income group had a spread that included fruit salad, rice cakes with soy nut butter, yogurt, juice, etc.

It is important to note that the "high income" group was defined as any household making $12,000 or more a year. In Newburyyport, a household making less than $17,000 a year is considered to be living in severe poverty (source: Pennies for Poverty). It's pretty shocking, isn't it?

After the meal, we had a conversation about the experience and it was heartening to hear the childrens' perspectives: they get it. Then, so that we wouldn't be left with a feeling of hopelessness, we brainstormed ideas for what we can do to help. Some ideas that the kids came up with: have a food drive, donate jackets, help individuals when we can, make meals for the Salvation Army dinner, eat less, buy local, appreciate what we have to eat.

In the coming weeks, we'll be working on a project that will raise money to support the work of Oxfam. You'll be hearing more about this "virtual farmers' market" as the time approaches. We'll also be addressing the theme of appreciating what we eat this coming Sunday, when we engage in an exercise on mindful eating. We also have an activity planned that we might not have time for: to write a family table grace to say at mealtime. What better way to express gratitude for the food that we're blessed to have? In case your child does not have a chance to engage in this exercise, I offer you the following: For the bounty laid before us, may we be thankful, and ever mindful of the needs of others. Amen.

Coming this Fall in Young Church

2010-09-23T11:30:00.001-04:00

The fall term is officially underway! We had a strong and enthusiastic turnout this past Sunday for our annual water communion worship circle... the lower meeting house and parish hall were a buzz of activity! Children brought samples of water from special summer places, which we poured together in a big bowl. Our new Young Church music director, Kristen Miller, introduced us to a new hymn--"We're Gonna Sit at the Welcome Table"--which we'll be singing each week through the fall (you can find it in the grey hymnal). And, after worship, each group created its class covenant, a promise they make about how they will treat one another.

Grades 1-5 are split into small ministry groups (small, mixed-age groups) for the fall term. Grades 6 and 7 are all meeting together as one group, as are grades 8&9. Preschool and kindergarten each meet on their own.

Grades 1 through 9 are focusing on a food justice theme for the fall term. This is in conjunction with the congregation's "Stir the Pot" initiative. Grades 8 & 9 are working on creating a video on the theme. Below is a week-by-week synopsis of what the other groups will be doing.

September 26: The Web of Life. In worship, we'll hear a Hindu story about the interconnectedness of all creatures. Small groups will reflect on the story, then either do an animal roleplay exercise, or play a web of life game.

October 3: No Young Church today. The community worship service in big church will be an animal blessing. This fits in perfectly with our theme of the week before! In addition to blessing animals, we'll honor our dearly departed animal companions.

October 10: Our Human Family (We Are All Connected)After worship, we will reflect on a story that calls on us to honor the worth and dignity of every person. Older groups will do an activity that engages them with the question, "What is a global citizen?" Younger groups will play a game on sameness/differences and will consider the concepts of rich and poor.

October 17: Introduction to World Hunger. All groups, grades 1 and up, will participate in a hunger banquet. This is an experiential program developed by Oxfam International. More information about this is forthcoming.

October 24: Mindful Eating. Where does our food come from? How can we be more aware of what we're putting into our bodies? Today, after hearing a Vietnamese folk tale about the "Treasure in the Field", we'll engage in an apple meditation and we'll each create a family grace to bring home.

October 31: Sharing Our Bounty. In worship, we'll hear the famous story, "Stone Soup", and perhaps make some stone soup of our own. We'll reflect on the idea that if everyone gives a little, we could end up with something wonderful to go around. We'll also begin working on a project to support the work of Food for Life Global, an organization that provides vegan meals to people in need.

November 7: No Young Church today. There will be a community worship service in big church.

November 14: Food for Life. We'll hear about a true Islamic hero who saved a starving village during worship, then continue our Food for Life Global project.

Please note that the above plans are for grades 1-7. Plans for p/k and kindergarten will be posted under a separate heading.

See you Sunday!

Welcome Back

2010-09-02T12:11:00.000-04:00

Early September is one of my favorite times of the year. Now, I love--LOVE--summer. I love the unstructured days, the trips to Maine, New Hampshire, and western Massachusetts that have all become rituals to my family. I love going to the beach, grilling and eating on the deck, sitting with a book by the lake. And of course, the ice cream. But by somewhere around mid-August, I am really ready to get back into a routine. Which works out great, because that's the time I come back to work at the FRS.

At this time of year, I'm planning for the year ahead, putting together Sunday morning plans for the fall, and just generally looking forward with anticipation to seeing my beloved Young Church friends.

Early September has always represented new beginnings to me, and that is certainly the case in this job. I look forward to a new church year and welcoming new people into our community. This year, I look forward to beginning a new collegial relationship--with our new Young Church music director, Kristen Miller.

I look forward to being back in our joyful Young Church community, but I know that in a sense, there will also be a newness to it. The children will have changed, in ways big and small, over the summer. They always do. And this makes me excited about our possibilities ahead.

Welcome to the new church year. I can't wait to see you!

How We Worship

2010-04-20T12:16:00.000-04:00

Every Sunday, after children report to their class space for attendance, everyone in grades K through 8 gather in the lower meeting house for worship (grades 7 and 8 do not come when they are in OWL). The practice of weekly worship all year round in Young Church is a new one. The RE Committee and I discussed the idea at our visioning retreat this past November and decided to try it. We've actually done weekly worship during the fall term for the past several years. During the winter and spring terms, however, we have traditionally held "worship circle" just once a month. We had to ask ourselves why we did this. This is church, after all. Church is about being in community. It's about ritual. It's about offering gratitude and singing joyfully and sharing our joys and sorrows. It's about reflection, and reinforcing our religious identities. Aren't these all addressed through worship?

When the children and their adult leaders enter the worship space, they see at the front a chalice sitting on a small table. They sit in a half-circle around the table, most in chairs and some on the floor. They are given an order of worship. When all are assembled, I ring a chime to signal the beginning of our sacred time together.

Our worship has most of the elements of the adult service. We have opening words, we light the chalice and sing a hymn. We say the affirmation of faith and sing the doxology. We share joys and sorrows, engage in prayer/meditation, and sometimes have a sermon, in the form of a story (generally a folk or wisdom tale). Before heading back to class, we say a unison benediction.

Personally, I love the ritual. I love being reminded that we're one community (a fact that sometimes gets lost when we're broken up into class groups). I love the comfort of the ritual. Hearing the children recite the affirmation of faith--many of them by heart--is a joy. They may not get what all the words mean, but I think they understand the overall gist. And the singing! I love the singing. It's joyful, indeed.

My favorite part of Young Church worship circle, however, is the sharing of joys and sorrows.We light a candle from the flame of our chalice for each joy or sorrow shared. The children share everything: soccer game wins and losses, upcoming birthdays, new pets, the Red Sox, sleepovers, impending vacations, ailing relatives or neighbors, deaths, new babies. All are significant because each one shared is important to the child sharing it. And they really listen to each other.

Looking out on the faces of the children I have come to love, having them share a little bit of themselves with me, witnessing them caring for each other... this is truly a blessing. It's the best way I can think of to start a week.

Choosing to Come to Church

2010-04-16T10:43:00.000-04:00

It's Sunday morning. It's a beautiful spring day. I mean, beautiful. Sunny and temps in the low 70s... perfect for gardening or yard work. But the Sunday paper sits on the front porch, next to the chair you like to sit in while you drink your coffee (which is brewing at this very moment). So maybe you should take it easy this morning and linger over your paper and coffee. Then again, the neighbors invited you to brunch. But you missed going to the gym yesterday so you really should go work out...

Your kids just want to stay in their jammies and eat pancakes.

On such a morning, why would you choose to go to church?

An excellent question. After all, for many of us, Sundays are our only day to move a little slower in the morning, the only day when we are actually given a genuine choice of what to do.

Why do people choose to go to church?

I asked this question of several Young Church faithful and got some interesting responses. More than one parent said that choosing to go to church is akin to choosing to go to the gym or for a run. You kind of don't want to go, but you know that you'll feel better afterward. And sure enough, you do. I often hear from parents that their kids complain up and down about coming on Sunday mornings, but once they actually get here, they enjoy it.

Who can't relate to this feeling? It's building up the motivation and getting oneself out the door that's tough and once that hurdle's passed, it's mostly smooth sailing. Parents who get their families here on a regular basis seem to have a knack for keeping this in perspective: that in the end, the "spiritual workout" that one gets (as one parent put it) is worth the effort it takes to get here.

Interestingly, one parent told me that he comes to church regularly because he's curious to see what it is about the place that makes his teenagers want to be here! I don't know about you, but if my kids want to come to church when they're teenagers, I'll be very happy, indeed. But this is also a parent who has come regularly from the time his kids were small, so their connection to the church is deeply-rooted.

That seems to be the general trend. Certainly, not every child who comes regularly through their earlier years ends up staying involved as teenagers. But almost every teenager who is engaged is someone who'd attended regularly over the years. (Not everyone, of course. Some teenagers come to us as teenagers when they come with a friend.) I can't imagine that as younger kids, they always wanted to be here. In fact, I can say with certainty that not all of them did. But they came anyway and eventually, I guess, the place and its people just grew on them and they came to see this as their community.

"There's never any question. Church is just what our family does on Sundays. No discussion." I recall the parent of a (happily) engaged teenager saying this a few years ago. Not may of us are so firm in our commitment. I believe that it's our very nature as Unitarian Universalists to resist such a strict stance. We like to leave our options open. We like to leave room for negotiation. Which is kind of too bad. I don't think it always serves us or our children well.

So, it's another beautiful Sunday morning. I mean, beautiful. What will you choose to do?

What Do We Teach Our Kids About the Bible?

2010-03-25T13:36:00.000-04:00

If I had to name the most common question I get from parents new to the First Religious Society, I would say that it is, "What do you teach children about the Bible?" In fact, I suspect that a number of our members and friends who have attended the FRS for many years still wonder about this.

The bulk of our Bible study takes place in the 4th and 5th grades. In the winter and spring terms of 4th grade, we teach our children some of the stories from the Hebrew scriptures (what you might know as the Old Testament), such as Adam and Eve, Noah's ark, Abraham and Isaac, Joseph and his brothers, Moses, David and Goliath, and Jonah and the whale. It is important for us to know these stories not only because of their cultural significance but also because they have Truths to tell us. The scriptures as a narrative tell a fascinating story of a people determined to survive and overcome enslavement and persecution. The stories taken individually also have something to teach us. The story of Joseph and his brothers, for instance, is a great tool for exploring the theme of forgiveness. Joseph, after all, forgave his brothers after they betrayed him. We do not teach these stories as facts, but as important stories. Each story is accomplanied by a related activity to reinforce the theme and/or make it interesting. For instance, after hearing the Creation story, the children create their own clay creatures and must determine things such as what kind of world their creatures live in and whether or not they have free-will or if their creator will control them.

When they reach 5th grade, the children learn about the life and teachings of Jesus. They learn that Jesus was a great prophet, a rebel and a radical, who was both honored and feared in his lifetime. Again, we do not teach all these stories as absolute fact, but we try to paint a portrait of Jesus as a person who preached and lived by the Golden Rule. This is how we, too, should strive to live our lives. As with the 4th grade class, each story includes a related activity. For example, after hearing the story of the Good Samaritan, the children create skits to tell the parable in contemporary times.

A total of about fourteen weeks on Bible study is not a lot, and many of the specifics will be forgotten. But my hope is that exposure in these young years will give our children an appreciation for the significance of the Bible and will at least familiarize them with some of its important figures and themes. It is important cultural knowledge. It is also important Unitarian Universalist knowledge. The Judeo-Christian heritage is our heritage. Though we don't always acknowledge it, it is precisely where Unitarianism and Universalism came from.

Thanks to YOU, Who Make Our Program What It Is

2010-03-12T10:22:00.000-05:00

Every eight weeks or so, I have the pleasure of welcoming a new crew of teachers into Young Church. Many of them are returning teachers but each term always brings in a few new ones, too. Most are parents, but some are not. This winter, we had four people teaching who are not Young Church parents. This is the highest number of "non-parents" that we have ever had in one term and I was thrilled! It is truly Beloved Community-building when we reach across the generations to minister and learn together.

We have a special community in Young Church, and our teachers help to create that. Each week, we worship together--recite our affirmation of faith, sing, and share our joys and sorrows. We have moments of silence and also, inevitably, laughter. It is a special time in my week, when I look out on the faces of the children I have come to love and the adults who walk gently with them on their spiritual journeys.

This winter, our teachers found themselves immersed in a variety of activities, including:

launching rockets made of film canisters and Alka Seltzer (relating to a lesson on the great Unitarian astronomer, Maria Mitchell)
building and crawling through a star-belly machine
leading a trust exercise that involved puncturing a bag filled with water, held over a child's head (phew! it worked!)
playing games from other countries
making little squirrels out of egg cartons
examining Islamic prayer beads and a Catholic rosary
creating modern-day Good Samaritan parables
making posters of each of the seven UU principles

It was a great term, and a pleasure to see our teachers each Sunday:

Sandy Manley, Patrice O'Brien, Ellen Foley Sheehy, Deb Steeves, Steve Amery, Brad Gile, Margaret Grimes, Karen Young, Marion Olsen, Ted Stedman, Marna Badavas, Nancy Peace, Susan Ricker, Alicia Robinson, Amy Smith, and Sandra Thaxter.

Thank you all!

Reflections on My Service Trip

2010-02-09T16:01:00.000-05:00

This was my message for all ages in the worship service on February 7, 2010:

Most of you are aware that I recently went on a two-week service trip to Central America. Specifically, I was in Panama, in a mountainous region near the Costa Rican border. Now, I think that two questions generally come to mind when people learn of my trip. The first question is: why go on a service trip? The second is: why Panama?

I chose to go on a service trip because, quite simply, I want to feel that I am having a positive impact on the world. As I’ve gotten older, this desire has grown more urgent, this desire to help ease another’s burden. I wanted to make helping others a full-time pursuit for two weeks because in my everyday life, I don’t feel, frankly, that I do enough of it. In a way, I saw this trip as a kick-start to a stronger service ethic. I imagined that through an intense service experience, I would be inspired to continue the work right here in my own community. And in turn, as a religious leader, that I might inspire others to do the same.

So why Panama? Panama! It’s a bit random. There is clearly plenty of need in our own community, so why did I not simply volunteer here for two weeks rather than taking off for a place I knew next to nothing about, aside from the Canal, the hats, and Manuel Noriega? For me, it was important that this experience nudge me out of my comfort zone. I think that when we’re in an unfamiliar land with unfamiliar people, we are challenged to grow in ways that just don’t happen in the security of our own community. For me, it was an even bigger challenge because I didn’t speak the language. And because I was traveling alone, I knew that I would have to depend upon nothing but my own wherewithal. As it turns out, I made some really wonderful friends while I was there, but going into it, I had no idea that this would be the case. The only person I knew that I’d be able to depend upon would be myself. I knew that this would be a challenge and that I would have to be tough. And in the end, I was.

There’s a lot to be said for needing to depend upon oneself. As a mom, a spouse, a neighbor, friend, daughter, sister, and as a religious professional, I am part of a large network of interdependency. Every day of my life, I count on numerous individuals to provide me with support, advice, help, things. Likewise, they depend upon me. This is all part of living in a family and community, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. But it’s good, too, to step out of those roles temporarily and to recall who I am independent of those relationships.

So let me tell you a little bit about what I did. I worked in an orphanage. I helped out in a literacy program, where children were learning to read. I painted walls and helped plant a garden for a woman in a wheelchair. I fed some animals at a wildlife refuge. I worked with disabled people at a drop-in center. I worked with both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking children in a charter school. I helped supervise activities at a daycamp. I helped pick up trash and recycling during a community cleanup day. And I taught English to Spanish-speaking adults. None of these jobs changed the world. I admittedly did not leave Panama with the pumped-up feeling of having made a huge impact, like I had imagined I would. Yet, in each of these instances, I had at least one genuinely human moment with someone whom I otherwise would not have associated with. There is much to be said for making connections with people who are different from us. For me, it was Spanish-speakers, disabled people, children, elders, poor people. I met a little baby with cleft palate. I made circles on her tummy with my fingers and stared at her face. I have seen pictures of babies with cleft palate in magazines and my reaction is always to look away. But this baby held my gaze with her beautiful smile. She had a beautiful smile, in spite of her horribly misshapen mouth. It was moments such as this, moments of human connection, which reminded me why I am a Unitarian Universalist. It’s the first of our seven principles, calling on us to honor the worth and dignity of every person.

My good experiences went beyond volunteering. I managed to bumble my way to a howler monkey refuge, where I was able to mingle with the monkeys, to hold them and serve as their climbing post. I never in my life imagined myself holding a monkey, let alone a number of them—it was quite thrilling.

I met interesting and wonderful people, and made some dear friends. The people of Panama are the warmest, friendliest people I have ever known. There was one day, for instance, when a local woman whom I had just met at the community cleanup took a friend and I off to show us some trash and ended up treating us to frozen duros and good conversation at a local café.

I lived amidst some of the most beautiful land that I can imagine: lush, green mountains, valleys, clear rivers, flowers of deep magenta and fuschia.

And I learned some Spanish! Un poquito. But enough to know that I’d like to continue to learn it and some day be able to actually converse en espanol.

As I reflect on my trip, I find that a few things stay with me as lasting impressions:
With every positive interaction I have with someone, I am making a small force for good and that is something that the world really needs.
I do not need to be of the same race, gender, ability, socioeconomic status, generation, or even speak the same language as another, to be fully present and connect meaningfully with him or her.
I am more courageous and more resourceful than I generally give myself credit for.
I genuinely enjoy being with people and hearing their stories. I think that, in the end, this is really what life is all about.

In the upcoming weeks in Young Church, we will be making small gifts to send to the children I met at the orphanage. The orphans are in real need of some toys and games, of anything that will help them feel that people care about them. This is one of the best ways I can think of to connect the FRS to my Panamanian experience.

Harold is speaking today about hope. In that spirit, I will offer up this hopeful message: Each one of us has the capacity to make a positive difference. Each one of us has the ability to reach out to and connect with someone in need. We are confronted with opportunities every day. If each of us seizes these opportunities, we can, slowly, little by little, bring more joy, more compassion, and more love to the world.

Young Church Holiday Term

2009-12-13T12:12:00.000-05:00

Wonderful things happened in Young Church during our three-week holiday term. One very busy group of children made no-sew fleece blankets to give to children in the hospital through the Linus Project. Some of them also made beautiful get well cards. Many, many thanks go out to the adult volunteers who not only worked with the children, but put in extra hours cutting fleece and overseeing various other stages of production--Carole Bisgrove, Anne Chisolm Sandt, Tina Rawson, Barb Kresge, and Scott Kresge. And thank you to Malden Mills for donating all the fleece!

Another group learned about life in the Philippines and the Unitarian student we sponsor there. They made forty very festive little boxes, each filled with a Christmas wish, to send to Cherryl and all her classmates. I know that our friends in the Philippines will really love their gifts! Thank you to Vicki Lincoln and Ted Stedman for working with this group.

Veronique Hyde and Jen Meagher led a creative writing class, which resulted in the beautiful written pieces that some of our children read in our holiday worship service on December 13. Thank you for helping them find inspiration!

The "fearless four" team of Darryl and Monica Brile, Jim Dooling and Sally Milliken led our very large combined preschool-kindergarten (with some first graders) group, which made Christmas crafts.

Our Youth Music Director, David Sheerin, led a music theatre group for those who were anxious to get their creative juices flowing. A lively time was had by all!

Finally, Sue Pursell, Anne Ganzenmuller, and Sharon Broll led a discussion group for 5th and 6th grade girls and their moms on female images in the media. Thank you to them for tackling this important subject.

Finally, thank you to Lark Madden and all the participants in the FRS People's Band, who livened up our December 13 service with their Christmas carols. It's wonderful to have a truly intergenerational endeavor happening at the First Religious Society!

My Upcoming Service Trip

2009-11-20T10:17:00.000-05:00

As part of my professional development this year, I am doing something different than the usual workshops and conferences. I am going on a service trip to Panama for two weeks, beginning on January 15. I will be working with impoverished and/or orphaned children and will be fully immersed in the culture of the Boquete valley in the western highlands of Panama.

Why have I chosen to do this and why is it professional development? The answer to both of these questions, I think, comes down to this: by taking myself out of my comfort zone, I am opening myself up to the potential for real spiritual growth. This growth will impact my work here at the First Religious Society. As a religious professional, it is essential that I find ways to feed my religious self--otherwise, what I do with our children, youth, and volunteers will start to ring hollow.

I expect to return from my trip with renewed energy, deeper spirit, and greater calling to social service, which I hope will serve the FRS well.

While I am gone, I plan to make entries to my blog (accessible from the FRS homepage) and of course will take pictures and video to share when I return. If you have other ideas for how I can share this experience directly with the FRS, please let me know!

Religious Education Visioning

2009-11-19T13:57:00.000-05:00

On Saturday, November 14, the Religious Education Committee had a visioning retreat to review the vision, mission, mission objectives, and action steps we created two years ago as part of the church's visioning process. We were encouraged to see that we had made progress in a number of areas. For instance, the creation of the senior high youth room is a direct result of this process. We also refined some of our ideas for the upcoming year. It was a productive morning, filled with energy and a sense of excitement for our program and all its possibilities. Thank you to the RE Committee: Sharon Broll, Anne Ganzenmuller, Bev Lacey, Julie Menin, Alicia Robinson, Mindy Sheehy (chair), Ellen Foley Sheehy, Colleen Werner, and Karen Young.

Religious Education Committee Vision

To create a welcoming and inclusive community for our youth which supports spiritual growth through learning and serving in a respectful, safe, and joyful environment.

Mission

The RE program is one in which UU Principles, modeled by caring and inspired adults, are taught in a joyful environment, where opportunities to practice them are given through classroom experience and service to the community. We pursue this mission in an effort to integrate UU Principles as a foundation and moral compass for life.

Mission Objectives

Provide a space and curriculum that is inspiring and engaging for both children and volunteers , and ensure a respectful, joyful and safe environment for learning.
Establish a relationship among parents, volunteers and RE staff which reinforces mutual goals, helps parents feel more connected to the RE program, and strengthens volunteerism.
Engage and empower teens by providing space, activities, connections and support so that they feel valued.
Explicitly teach and actively model UU principles in all aspects of the RE program, while consistently providing opportunities to teach them.
Instill the importance of social action and service, provide multiple service opportunities, and encourage the undertaking of individual acts of service.
Help families feel connected to the church through creation of service and social events, including opportunities for adults beyond the connections to church through their children.
Provide opportunities for meaningful intergenerational interactions.

Philippines Student Sponsorship

2009-11-05T12:42:00.000-05:00

This past spring, the Young Church began sponsorship of a Unitarian student in the Philippines. Our sponsored child's name is Cherryl and she just turned 8 years old. We will sponsor her for six years, until she is through elementary school. Our sponsorship fee, which is $330 per year, pays for her school supplies and uniform. Without these things, she would not be able to attend school.

Student sponsorships are a program of the Unitarian Universalist Partner Church Council (UUPCC). Sponsorships are available for children, youth, and young adults in the Philippines, India, and Transylvania. What I like best about this program is the relational component. We will be writing letters to Cherryl throughout the years, and she will write to us. Our children will get to know her as a person, and so their fundraising efforts will mean more to them than if they were raising money for an organization. They will learn through her own words what her life is like and what a difference her schooling is making.

Two Sundays ago, the children wrote their first letters to Cherryl. They were very enthusiastic about the project and had some great questions about it.

Families or individuals can also sponsor students through the UUPCC. This would be a great way for a family to work together and make a personal connection with someone in another part of the world while also making a difference in that person's life. Sponsors are even invited to visit their sponsored students if they are able to travel that distance.

If you're interested in learning more about the program, you can find out more at http://www.uupcc.org/ and click on Paths to Partnership.

Our Dog Manchester

2009-11-05T12:26:00.001-05:00

Here is the story I told for the Moment for All Ages in the worship service on November 1, 2009.

Our Dog Manchester

I’d like to tell you about my dog. Not my dog Bruno, who lives with us now, but our old dog, Manchester, who lived with us for ten years before she died almost three years ago.

Manchester (Mannie) was a big, peanut-colored mutt with a brown muzzle and the longest tongue you’ve ever seen. She was sweeter than anything (someone I know would say she was so sweet, she made your teeth hurt!) and if you just looked at her, she’d roll over on her back to have her tummy tickled. She was quirky. She had lots of fears… of the vacuum, air conditioners, ladders, towels. She was very, very special and brought a lot of joy to our family.

When she was ten, Mannie became sick. It came on very suddenly. One day, she started limping and about a week later she was unable to walk. We did everything we could to help her. We gave her medication, and we even took her to a pool for some aquatic therapy. But it became clear to us, as we saw how much she was suffering, that the kindest thing we could do for her was to relieve her suffering by helping her to die peacefully.

On her last morning with us, we cooked up some bacon (even though she was sick, she never lost her taste for bacon) and took her to the vet’s office. As soon as we got into the exam room, something in her eyes changed. Over the last week, when we looked in her eyes, we had seen misery and pain. Now we saw peacefulness. It was as if she knew what was about to happen. She seemed grateful to us—for helping to take her out of her suffering, and also for the life we had together. Her last moments were lovely and it was comforting to us to know that she was dying peacefully.

Still, it was one of the most difficult things I’ve had to go through. For weeks, I couldn’t really eat, couldn’t sleep, and couldn’t concentrate. We all missed her terribly. I cried a lot. And I still cry once in awhile when I think of her, I still miss her a lot, but mostly now, I feel happy when I think of her and all the happiness she gave us.

When I was most sad, right after her death, I came across a poem that helped me feel better. It was a poem that I had heard many times in my life, but never when I really needed it. This time, I needed it. And it helped a lot. Because it helped me to see that Mannie’s spirit is with us all the time. Even though we can’t tickle her tummy anymore, she is still very much a part of us.

Here’s the poem. It’s attributed to Mary Elizabeth Frye.
Do not stand at my grave and weep;
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.

What Is the Up and Coming UUs Program?

2009-10-23T10:02:00.000-04:00

Up and Coming UUs is the Coming of Age program at the First Religious Society. It is offered to youth in grades 9 and 10 (and anyone in grades 11 or 12 who has not yet been through it). It is a one-year program.

The U&CUU program is designed to engage participants in typical "big questions" that begin to surface in early adolescence: Who am I? What do I believe? What is my purpose in life?

The group meets one Sunday evening a month. Each monthly session has a theme which is addressed, such as values clarification, God, or the nature of evil. Each session includes a brief worship component (led by various participants), a theme presentation (which might include discussion, games, or art), community building games, dinner, and time in our "spiritual space" where participants retreat to reflect and write on a provocative question.

In addition to the monthly meetings, we have a church overnight that includes a movie and reflection on the "hero's journey", a social service project, and an overnight retreat at the Ferry Beach Camp and Conference Center in Saco, ME. The program culminates in a worship service for the congregation in June, in which the youth share credo statements.

Adult members of the FRS serve as mentors in the program. This year's mentors are Mike Dorsey, Alex Mezey, Walter Power, and Janet Sutherland.

The U&CUU program begins on October 25, with a session on creating a covenant, followed by a worship service with parents.

2009-09-25T10:53:00.000-04:00

The Six Sources of Our Faith
A Parent’s Supplement to the Young Church Sunday Morning Curriculum for Grades 1-8
Fall 2009

During the fall of 2009, children in grades 1-8 will be engaged in the small ministry group model of religious education, which has them meeting in groups of 8-10 children with two adult leaders. The groups are somewhat mixed in age (we have four groups of children in grades 1-3; three groups of children in grades 4-6; and two groups of children in grades 7 &8). All children attend Young Church worship at the beginning of the hour, during which we engage in rituals that are similar to the service “upstairs”: we sing hymns, say the affirmation of faith and doxology, share joys and sorrows, meditate/pray, and have a story. The story illustrates the main theme of the morning.

After worship, all children return to their classroom to engage in reflection on the morning’s theme with their small group. Reflection includes a discussion as well as a related activity which might be art, games, or social service.

The theme for this fall is “The Six Sources of Our Faith”. Unitarian Universalism draws wisdom from various sources. As UUs, we do not believe that there is only one source of truth and wisdom. We do not have a single holy book. As someone who attends worship “upstairs”, you have undoubtedly noticed that Harold shares readings from many sources: scholars, poets, scientists, theologians, among many. His sermons are not derived from a particular sacred text.

If you look at the beginning of our grey hymnbook, you’ll see a page that lists the seven UU principles, and below that, the six sources of our faith. Here is the text:

The living tradition we share draws from many sources:
Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces that create and uphold life;
Words and deeds of prophetic women and men which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love;
Wisdom from the world’s religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life;
Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God’s love by loving our neighbors as ourselves;
Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit;
Spiritual teachings of Earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.

Throughout the fall, we will be considering each of these sources as a meaningful conduit to truth. Each week, during worship circle, the children will hear a story from one of these sources, then will return to their small groups for reflection. They will make a “Sources of Our Faith” poster to add to each week, so that they will have an understanding of the connection of each lesson.

Here is a week-by-week sketch of what we are doing, so that you can continue the dialogue at home:

September 20—This is our annual Water Communion Service in Young Church. All children are encouraged to bring a small sample of water gathered over the summer. This is a ceremony commonly celebrated in UU churches across the continent on the first Sunday back from the summer hiatus. Water from various places is poured into a common vessel. It symbolizes different things to different people. I like to stress the communal aspect—that we all come back together with our own special gifts and mingle to create a holy community. (This water is later sterilized and used in our child dedication ceremonies throughout the year.) After worship, the children will return to their small groups to create a group covenant, which is a series of promises about how they will treat each other when they’re together.

September 27—Today’s source of wisdom is “Direct experience of mystery and wonder.” We start the year off with a bang by talking about God. When have the children experienced awe or mystery? Do they associate this with God? Through the story and reflection, the children will consider different ideas people have about God: God as father, as mother, as principal-type, as creator, as loving friend, etc. They will be invited to share their own ideas about God with each other. Some children will reject the idea of God altogether, and that is okay, too. We hope to get a lively discussion going in some of our groups!

October 11—Today’s source of wisdom is “Words and deeds of prophetic women and men.” The children will hear the story of Unitarian Dorothea Dix, champion of rights for people with mental illness. Dix was a 19th century reformer who was appalled to find that people with mental illness were kept in squalid conditions in prisons and treated as less than human. She worked tirelessly to educate the public and change the system. She was also a committed Unitarian. The children will reflect on Dix’s courage in standing up for what she thought was wrong. The younger groups will strategize ways to be courageous; older groups will consider issues that they think are worth standing up for.

October 18—Today’s source is “Wisdom from the world’s religions.” During worship, the children will hear the Taoist story “The Stonecutter.” The story is ultimately about recognizing one’s gifts and being thankful for what one has and is given. The theme for the morning, then, is gratitude. The children will engage in a gratitude meditation, and then will play some games that will (hopefully) foster reflection on all that one has to be grateful for.

October 25—Our source today is “Jewish and Christian teachings.” We will reflect on the Golden Rule. Younger groups will do an exercise where they literally “walk in someone else’s shoes”, while older groups will brainstorm ways of sharing random acts of kindness. The children will also learn about the Unitarian student in the Philippines whom we are sponsoring for the next six years.

November 8—The source of the day is “Humanist teachings that point us to reason and science.” Worship will focus on the curious fact that human beings are made of star-stuff. Each group will then consider the mysteries of the Milky Way and will make a “star-stuff” mural illustrating our connection to all things in the galaxy.

November 15—Our last source is “Spiritual teachings of Earth-centered traditions”. The children will hear the Native American legend of how the turtle acquired its shell and will reflect on our commitment to the planet. In their small groups, they will engage with the true story of the Parachuting Cats in Borneo.

Please note that there are no Young Church classes on Oct. 4 and Nov. 1 because these are days when we all worship together in the sanctuary upstairs.