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

Somewhere, over the rainbow…

I have always loved rainbows. The magical way that the light sparkles on the tiny drops of water in the air, seamlessly blending one color to the next to create one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen.

As a child, I wanted to slide down the rainbow like the cartoon characters in the shows I watched and in the books I read. As an adult, I still want to slide down the rainbow but now understand that this is simply not a possibility. Well, not a real rainbow anyway. A quick google search brings up the biggest rainbow slide, and for just $5 someone could slide down it. It is located in El Salvador though, so really, it costs a little more than just $5 once flights and hotels are figured into the equation.

Maybe one day. Until then, I will enjoy all of the rainbows I see around me here. Both the natural ones, created by light and water vapor, and the people created ones. There are a lot of people created rainbows in the world, but there needs to be more.

June brings many different types of rainbows out into the light, with the celebration of Pride Month! While the diƯerent rainbow flags do exist throughout the year, we don’t always see them or hear about them, but we should. They are creations of beauty.

I want to invite everyone to join me this month in being a rainbow in support of those we love. Wear your reds, yellows, greens, blues, indigos, violets, blacks, browns, whites, light blues, and pinks! Be a rainbow in support of our fellow humans. Be a rainbow in support of the freedom to love.

The rainbow is a natural thing. Light doesn’t choose to reflect off of the water droplet, it just reflects, creating beauty for all to appreciate.

Special Events in June

D&D!

The Dungeons and Dragons group will meet on Thursday evenings from 5:30-8pm. Parents should be at the UUFT a few minutes before 8 so that the Youth, and the adults, are able to leave on time. If you are interested in playing D&D on Thursday evenings, please let DRE Erin know! While the first group is capped, a second group is being formed. An experienced Dungeon Master will lead the group of maximum 6 players beginning in June.

The Topeka Renaissance Festival!

While not technically a UUFT event, the Topeka Renaissance Festival will be fun for the entire family! It will take place on the 3rd weekend in June, June 20- 22 at the Woodshed, 1901 N Kansas Ave. in North Topeka.

This is a new festival, and a temporary one, unlike the Kansas City Renaissance Festival, so it will look a little diƯerent. Regardless of the temporary status, it will be fun! I heard that there will be turkey legs, jousting, a friendly cow, and even a really cool lady that makes chainmail!!

The Children and Youth

Summer RE: Going Back To The Garden

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!

Now that it is summer break, the RE classes will operate a bit differently! The Nursery will continue to do what the Nursery does. The Youth will spend this month finishing up their curriculum with Ethne. Both elementary classes will begin a gardening activity to help beautify the playground. While we dig in the dirt, plant seeds, weed and water, this will not just be manual child labor! We will paint using natural pigments from flowers, plants, and clay, and create other types of art like collages, windchimes, natural weaving, and sculptures. We will also learn about the soil and the seeds, the water cycle, and more. This summer is the time for children to get dirt under their fingernail, feel the grass under their feet, and experience a solid connection with the earth.

When the Youth have finished their curriculum, they can unplug for a while to join the elementary classes outside where they will meditate on the beauty of the natural world, and delve deep into nature and find ways that they can help to protect nature.

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!

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Volunteers are 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 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 next 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 be paused until fall. Oh, but I can already smell the yummy pumpkin spice happiness wafting from the future…