WAYS TO CONNECT

MULTIGENERATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES

MULTI-GEN SERVICES

Multigenerational services (Multi-gens) are led by the Director of Religious Exploration, and are for all members of the congregation to take part in. Classes are not held when we have Multi-gens, as they are planned with the children in mind, with extra songs and movement activities. The Nursery is always provided though. Children and Youth also take part in these services, and participate by reading poetry or other special readings, performing music or skits, lighting and extinguishing the Chalice, and helping in other ways depending on the service.

We generally offer 4 Sunday morning Multi-gens, and 1 evening Christmas Eve Multi-gen each year:

The Water Communion

In August, we have our Water Communion service. This service brings closure to our summer RE programming, and prepares the children and adults for heading back out into the world: to school, work, and wherever each person’s path takes them during the week.

This is a communion specific to Unitarian Universalists, and was created by 2 UU women in the 1980’s.

The Winter Holiday Service

Our Winter Holiday service is held in mid-December, and is focused on one or more of the winter holidays from around the world. These services generally have a lot of music and have parts for all children that are interested in participating!

The Christmas Eve Service

Our Christmas Eve Service combines the reading of the Christmas Story, a secular holiday Story For All Ages, lots of holiday caroling and musicians, ending with a White Elephant gift exchange and a cookie and cider reception!

RE Sunday and Flower Communion

The RE Sunday service and the Flower Communion have been combined the past 2 years, but might be separated into 2 distinct services in the future. RE Sunday is a service that celebrates the children and youth of the RE classes, recognizes and gives thanks to the teachers and volunteers, and also includes a Bridging Ceremony for graduating seniors.

The Flower Communion is a special service that celebrates the beauty of nature, friendship and family, coming together, and sharing with one another.

This is a communion specific to Unitarian Universalists, and was first created 100 years ago!

And one more special service.

This might be a special service for a holiday or holy day like Halloween or the Spring Equinox; a UU related service about the Chalice, our UU Principles or Sources; or on something that the RE has been working on, like a social justice or environmental project.

WEEKLY RE NEWSLETTER

The Weekly RE Newsletter is sent out on Sunday afternoons, and details the events in the different classes that day, along with important information on upcoming gatherings and activities. It also offers extra activities and ideas to help continue religious exploration throughout the week, and discussion questions and prompts for families to expand on what was learned and explored in the classes that day.

THIS MONTH AT A GLANCE, THE MONTHLY UUFT NEWSLETTER

Who Is The Author?

Our Soul Matters theme for this month is Stories. I remember the first time I watched the movie, The Never Ending Story. While my 9 year old brain was already open to and accepting of the possibility of actually being a character in one of the stories I read (I have a pretty vivid imagination even now!), the idea that by reading a book I might change the outcome of the characters in the story pretty much blew my mind. The scene where Bastian, reading in the old book in the attic of his school, yelled when Morla the giant turtle rose from the Swamp of Sadness, and then Atreyu and Morla hear the distant thunderous yell echo across the sky, blew my mind with a whirlwind of new ideas!

Of course, this was just a story. I knew that even then, but I wondered.

What if….

What if we were just characters in a story that someone else wrote, or was currently writing?

I still wonder about this today. Could an outside being influence my story like Bastian did to Atreyu’s? Is my story different because it’s currently being read? I wonder if my story has already been written or if it’s still actively being written. While I now know that my story is not a short one, I’m almost 50 after all, I wonder if I’m only part way through it, or if my story is nearing its end.

I wonder if my story will be remembered when I’m gone. In a good way. I wonder what the moral of my story might be. I do wonder a great many things!

Regardless of where my story leads, I’m pretty happy with the content so far and am hoping for a fairly long and cozy trilogy for the reader to enjoy as they sip something happy by the fireplace.

January is the time of year to snuggle up with a good book by the fireplace! There is not a lot happening during this month, which is good. We all need a break after the crazy busy month of December, which followed November, which followed October, which followed September, which followed August… I do love the busy months of Harvest and Holidays, but the quiet calm of January has a beauty all its own.

Special Events in January!

The RE Bake Sale—

–will be on the first Sunday of the month, on January 5th. Please bring baked items to the Gathering Space to benefit the RE children and youth.

Community Night—

–will be on Thursday, January 9th from 6-8pm! Community Night is the new name for some of our previous events. It is encompassing Maker’s Night and Game Night, but it is also a time for our community to come together and talk. You can bring a friend, or come on your own. This is an event for all ages, but as there will not be child care, I just ask that a responsible adult keep an eye on the children or youth that they bring with them.

Bring a game, your current art or craft project, your homework (to be finished by you or the stack to be graded, I’m happy to help with either!), or just yourself. Snacks are welcome, but please be mindful to clean up if there is prep involved.

I am very excited about getting Community Night started on this new night! I am hopeful that opening Thursday up allows more people to attend! Please contact DRE Erin at erin.forstein@uuft.org for more information.

The Children and Youth

After the Time For All Ages in the sanctuary, the children parade out to their classes with their classroom leaders, following the weekly RE Lantern Carrier!

Nursery (Birth through Age 3)

Our nursery is staffed by our excellent Nursery Care Provider, Farai, along with one generous volunteer each week. Check out how Farai has rearranged the nursery to create age specific spaces, it looks very inviting!

Depending on the particular child, they might be ready to move up into the classrooms before they turn 4!

Lower Elementary (Age 4 through 2nd Grade)

Remington and a weekly volunteer will lead the children in lessons that mirror our main service, through the Soul Matters curriculum along with Spirit Play lessons, and is presented in a way that is similar to Spirit Play.

This class will spend a short period of time on the campfire carpet for their check in and lesson, and then will explore the Spirit Play centers focusing on the main idea of “Stories” this month.

Upper Elementary (3rd Grade through 6th Grade)

Our Upper Elementary class is currently meeting every other week. Richie and Bobbie have switched to Soul Matters for the curriculum, which will allow the class to mirror the ideas presented in the main service, along with coordinating art projects!

Youth Group (7th Grade through High School)

The Youth Group is led by Kimmie and a weekly volunteer, and will compare and contrast different world religions through the themes of: Harvest, Divination, Ancestors/Death, Myths, Morality, Love and Family, Spring/Nature, Resurrection/Reincarnation, and Acts of Devotion. This thought provoking class will follow the wheel of the year. For January, the Youth will finish exploring the theme of Myth, and will also learn about and discuss Morality.

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RE Volunteers Needed!

We need volunteers. In order for the classes to be covered, I would like for each family to commit to helping out 4 times in a class this year. Just 4 times. Just 1/12 of the year. This does not need to be in your child’s class, but could be in an older or a younger classroom if you would prefer. If everyone does a small part, we can keep this program running strong! Look for the sign up sheet on the RE table. I will contact you a few days before your scheduled volunteer time to remind you.

If you are interested in helping out our Religious Exploration program, please contact DRE Erin erin.forstein@uuft.org for more information! You will be sent a link to a short online form to fill out for an easy background check, which is paid for out of the RE budget. I am still looking for 1 Classroom Lead for the upcoming school year! The Upper Elementary class (grades 3-6) is in need of a regular and reliable classroom leader. This is a paid position.

The Bake Sale!

The RE Bake Sale will take place on Sunday, January 5th . If you would like to help, please bring your baked goods to the Gathering Space at the UUFT. I will have a sign-up sheet for the older children (with their families) and the youth (with or without their families) so that they can choose the Sunday that works the best for them! Funds from the bake sale will go towards RE expenses, including some off site experiences!