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We had a busy December as the children and youth prepared for their intergenerational holiday service on December 16th. It was gratifying how many adults either helped out or made time in their busy schedules for their children to attend the preparations for the service. Maureen Williams with Mandy Erdei’s assistance rehearsed with kids participating in the bell choir. Todd Lloyd, Helen Dicke, Clarissa Parker and Johanna Knowles were scribes for younger children, recording their holiday reflections after which Heather Findley took the lead preparing the children for presentation of their reflections during the holiday service. And finally, a huge thanks to Libbet Downs who adapted the story Why the Chimes Rang for a Speak Chorus, which is a theatrical, spoken form of chorus. The RE children were introduced to the story via Spirit Play and then some of our youth joined our older RE children to practice the Speak Chorus for the service.
We held our first RE sleep-over for the year on December 15th, despite the forecast for a big nor’ easterly storm. Eleven children and along with Leah Offensend, Karen Leister, Beth Rice and myself were up for the adventure. (Clarissa Parker and Maureen Williams helped with dinner and breakfast). I always enjoy watching the sanctuary morph into a city of pew cushion chambers created for sleeping. The next morning we awoke to a deep blanket of snow and still more falling. The children headed outside to shovel paths for the intergenerational service that morning.
When I looked out at the wintry scene on December 16th, I must admit I had trepidations that the audience for the service would be a small handful of the parents with kids participating in the holiday service. It was heart warming to see a great turn-out, knowing that people made a concerted effort to get there. I was proud of the children’s and youth’s performance and enjoyed seeing an age spectrum of our children participating, from 4 to 14. The finishing touch was Eric Dicke’s beautifully crafted children’s pulpit setting in the altar (or technically speaking, apse).
We’re back to our regular RE schedule with Spirit Play on the 1st and 3rdSundays, Guest Artist on 2nd Sundays, and Children’s Chapel on 4th Sundays. Bineke Oort started January with a Spirit Play called Cosmic Origin. The props she created for it are spellbinding. This spring Sue Buckholz and Deb Crosby will join our Spirit Play teaching teams.
Abraham Oort was our Guest Artist in January, sharing with the children his passion for clay sculpture. The children used vegetables, fruits and other natural objects as models for their sculpture. Despite a passel of 16 children, Abraham’s calming presence and his bell of mindfulness set the tone for the class.
We were saddened that Michelle Laroque-Tipton, her husband Ben and their two children Mikail and Addie moved to Maine. Over the five years they were members of our church, she served on the RE board, was an RE teacher and youth leader, and their children were regular participants in the RE program. This year Michelle teamed with Heather Findlay to assist with the Children’s Chapel and continued as a youth group leader.
Speaking of Children’s Chapel, Karen Leister will be assisting Heather Findlay and Michael Denmeade and Clarissa Parker will be also be leading the Children’s Chapel this spring. We have a call out for children to bring in works to share during Children’s Chapel which they’ve written or are their favorite poetry and short stories. We’re looking for children’s stories which provoke thought or discussion. At the end of each Children’s Chapel, the RE teacher will ask for a volunteer child to bring in a reading (such as a poem) and a volunteer to share a story for the following month’s Children’s Chapel.
Starting in February, the older children will explore our church’s history on the 1st and 3rd Sundays. They will develop a Spirit Play story about our church history and lead an intergenerational service on June 1st. In order to create more RE classroom space, the nursery will be moved from the yurt to downstairs in the meeting hall. Clara Leister (who is in our youth group) will join Mandy Erdei for baby sitting.
Take care of yourselves, Jill Lloyd, DRE
February Calendar:
3 10:00-11:00 a.m. Spirit Play: Bineke & Johanna
10:00-11:00 a.m. History project: Jill
5:00-7:00 p.m. Youth Group at the yurt
4 12:30 p.m. RE Circle meeting at Jill’s
5 2:45 p.m. Jr. H. Youth Grp, Brick Church
10 10:00-11:00 a.m. Guest Artist: Betsy Stewart
15 7:00-11:00 a.m. Youth Grp Game night out, Brick Church
17 10:00-11:00 a.m. Spirit Play work session: Karen Tyler & Johanna
10:00-11:00 a.m. History project: Jill
24 10:00-11:00 a.m. Children’s Chapel: Heather & Karen Leister
26 2:45 p.m. Jr. H.Youth Grp , Brick Church
It feels great to be serving as the Director of Religious Education (DRE) after a three year hiatus! I considered my candidacy for the DRE position after Jane Wolfe resigned this spring, feeling it would be a privilege to work with Paul. Then a RE task force formed towards the end of the summer to launch the RE program this fall. Their commitment and enthusiasm cemented my decision to apply for the DRE position. The tremendous support people have shown me has confirmed my decision!
I want to thank the RE Task Force (Johanna Knowles, Sheila Drury, Katy Sawyer, Bineke Oort, Heather Findley, Peter Carini, Clarissa Parker, Deb Crosby, Karen Tyler, and Michelle LaRoque-Tipton) who were instrumental in making the successful launch of our RE program this year. I am looking forward to continuing to work with Sheila Drury, Katy Sawyer, Deb Crosby and Michael Denmeade who will be serving on the RE Circle as we continue to develop and nurture our program. I also want to thank our cadre of teachers who have volunteered for this year and whom makes our program possible.
On Sunday, September 16 we launched the RE program for the 2007-2008 year. We reversed roles for the day with me preaching in the pulpit, and Paul went out to the yurt teach the children “Come Sing a Song with Me” with his guitar accompaniment. They rejoined the congregation at the end of the service and then led them in singing the hymn.
This year we will be using both a new curriculum for the religious education program as well as new format geared for children in grades K-6. Spirit Play will be the 1st and 3rd Sundays of every month. It is a simple format that is a form of story telling performed by an adult which utilizes small props which can fit into a Clementine (the little oranges) box. The children’s “work” following the story telling helps them make meaning of life’s questions through wondering and art.
On the 2nd Sunday of every month, we invite a Guest Artist into the yurt to share his/her interest in fine arts or performing arts. The 4th Sunday of every month will be dedicated to Children’s Chapel out in the yurt. It is guided through chosen readings and provides an opportunity for the children to actively participate in and lead their spiritual community.
Our nursery is available for infants through age 3. We are happy that Mandy Erdei will be the child-care provider again this year. The nursery is located in the yurt. Parents are also welcome to keep their children with them during the worship service, or to listen to the service with their children via loudspeakers downstairs in the meeting hall.
We have a Youth Group which is geared for teens in grades 7-12. It offers fun, fellowship, games and exploration of our faith in new ways along with the youth from the Brick Church. They also plan service related missions such as Habitat for Humanity or local soup kitchens.
A middle school youth group lead by the Reverends Paul Sawyer and Lucia Jackson is held every other Tuesdays from 2:45-4:15 p.m. at the Brick Church. One Sunday per month, Oct. 7 from 6:00-8:00 p.m., the grade 7-12 group is held in the yurt, led by Paul and a co-leader. We also anticipate holding regular events for youth throughout the year.
Jill, DRE
RE wish list:
- a large-ish round or oval table that seats 6-8 for the yurt
- a couple more good rocking chairs for nursing and baby-rocking
"We Believe Learning and Living Our Unitarian
Universalist Principles"
I. Each and every person
is important.
II. All people should be treated fairly and kindly.
III. We should accept one another and keep on learning together.
IV. Each person must be free to search for what is right and true in life.
V. All persons should have a vote about the things that concern
them.
VI. Working for a peaceful, fair and free world.
VII. Caring for our planet earth, the home we share with all living things.