What's happening in religious education...

All ages are participating in our holiday pageant this morning!  Special thanks go out to Pat Bianco for her wonderful script, Eric Cornetta for his inspired direction, and Kathy Frye for managing details, big and small, as our RE Committee liasion.  Please join us for a special coffee hour after the production, hosted by the RE committee.

Next week is Social Justice Sunday!  This month will feature programming for all ages that focuses on the simple pleasures of the season, and on some practical ways that we can reduce the waste associated with our holiday celebrations.  We'll conclude with a meditative walk through a special advent labyrinth.

There will be no formal RE programming on December 30th, but all are invited to participate in the annual New Year's service in Fellowship Hall.  Nursery care will be provided.

Formal RE programming will resume on January 6th.

November 11, 2007

What's happening in religious education this week:

Spirit Play children will hear the story of "The Ten Best Ways to Live."  Also known as the Ten Commandments, this is one of my favorites of the Judeo-Christian stories in Spirit Play.  The materials are so inviting, the story so engrossing (I wonder what really happened on top of that mountain??) and it all takes place in the desert box! 
Please remember that Spirit Play children begin and end their time in their classroom in Fellowship Hall...where you can drop them off at 10:20 and reclaim them when you return for coffee hour.

Grades 3 & 4 will continue exploring their Unitarian Universalist identity today with a lesson on Fannie Farmer!  I know, who knew Fannie Farmer was a UU?  This lesson will help our children understand the value of science and reason in our lives (and includes an activity using peanut butter...)

Grades 5 & 6 will also be exploring scientific thought and the use of reason as they learn a little bit about fellow UU Clarence Darrow and the famous "Scopes monkey trial."

The Gospel According to the Simpsons will feature the episode "Homer vs. Lisa," followed by a discussion of the concept of sin.  All youth in grades 7 and up are welcome to join for any or all of the episodes.

Term 1 of our religious education program ends November 18th.  There will be a brief orientation for our term II teachers that day after coffee hour.  Both term I and term II teachers are asked and encouraged to attend to share materials, information and insight into their classes.  Please see Kerrie Lirosi for more information.

CALLING ALL PLAYERS! We have a NEW pageant committee and a NEW pageant script, written especially for us by Pat Bianco, and directed by Eric Cornetta and Kathy Frye. This promises to be a very special event for people of all ages to participate in. WE NEED ADULTS! WE NEED YOUTH! WE NEED CHILDREN! WE NEED YOU! Our first rehearsal was this morning; there will be others on 11/18, 12/2, and 12/9 in Fellowship Hall from 8:45 to 10:00am...

September 16, 2007

What's happening in Religious Education this week:

Our Spirit Play children will be introduced to the Sacred Spaces area of their classroom with the story "A House for God."  Please remember that Spirit Play children begin and end their time in their classroom in Fellowship Hall...please drop them off by 10:20 and pick them up as you return for social hour.

Grades 3&4 will begin their UU Identity curriculum with a lesson on what sports can teach us about what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist.  Vicki Quinn and Steve Swindell are leading this group.

Grades 5&6 are also beginning a curriculum on UU Identity and will be making abstract sculptures that represent one (or some or all!) of our Unitarian Universalist principles with their teachers Fan Leonard and Alicia Harkness.

Sunday morning programming for youth in grades 7 and up begins this morning in the couch room with the first of 10 sessions based on the Gospel According to the Simpsons.  This morning they'll be watching an episode called "one fish, two fish, blow fish, blue fish..." in which Homer mistakenly thinks he has just 24 hours to live...Cynthia McKeon and Dave McPherson are leading the discussion.

REGISTRATIONS are required for all children, nursery through youth, that participate in programming at Old Ship.  New registrations are required every year so that we have updated health and contact information.  Forms are available on the RE bulletin board, at the new member table in Fellowship Hall, in the office, and by contacting Interim DRE Kerrie Lirosi.  PLEASE COMPLETE AND RETURN YOURS TODAY!

Meetings at the Moon!

There will be an informational/organizational meeting after church on Sunday, September 30th for those mothers and their adolescent daughters that are interested in this wonderful program.  We will form groups and set a calendar of monthly meetings.  More information on this program is available on the RE bulletin board in the hallway leading to Fellowship Hall, or see Kerrie Lirosi with any questions and if you are planning to attend.

Unplug the Christmas Machine

This workshop will take off where our spiritual parenting group ended last spring...and will offer specific exercises and activities that will help us discover ways to make more concious choices during the holidays...choices that can lead to a less stressful, more meaningful, and "greener" season.  Sunday, October 14th from 3:30 to 5:30 pm.  Childcare will be provided, but registration is required.  See Kerrie Lirosi for more information.