GENERAL Information -  Jan. 2009

 

·        Parents pick up their children after the service again. Leaders would appreciate your coming to the House to pick up your younger children (particularly 5^th grade and under on Sunday Morning) .  Say "Hello" to your children's group leaders and see what the group has been up to.

 

·        Help take down the trees Sunday Jan. 4^th at 4 pm  - If you can come, or will be around at this time waiting for your teenager, help take down the our trees in the Fellowship Hall.    We will save the pictures and have them available for people to take back next week.

  

·        RE MEETING THURS. JAN 8^th (from 7 to 9 p.m., in the 2^nd floor conference room) Parents and other interested adults are strongly encouraged to come.  Planning for 09-10 programming needs your input.  In particular we are examining if the current three-year cycle (all groups learning about one main topic per year  - Year 1: Jewish & Christian Heritage / some "Our Whole Lives" Sexuality and Values courses, Year 2: World Religions , Year 3: UU Identity).  Do we wish to continue or perhaps organize the program in another way? How can we meet the needs of our families best? 

 

·        11 am Story –next Sunday will be Canvass Sunday and the story in the Fellowship Hall will be about that for both services. The RE Story will be told in the house. 

 

Religious Education Plans for

JAN 4th, 2009

At 9 a.m.

Pre-school Group

Leader: Yvonne Ruddy Stein, Assisted by Anne Krieg

Chalice Children session 13 "I can Ask Questions" and introducing the story of Jesus as a young boy in the Temple.

Unitarian Universalists believe that we should keep on growing and learning (Principles 3 & 4). One of the best ways to learn is to ask questions.  Jesus as a young boy lost track of time asking questions and listening to those of the teachers in the temple.

Possible activities: magnet fishing for questions, let's pretend,  construction with straws and marshmallows.

K-2nd Group at 9 a.m.

Leader Leslie LaCroce, Assisted by Maredith Spector

Special Times session 7 "Heroes/ines – All Saints" This session will help the children become more familiar with the idea of a "saint" and learn about some of the actions of some Christian saints and All Saints Day.  Unitarian Universalists honor a wide variety of people who have shown qualities of goodness (may introduce the children to one or more of the following people from our UU heritage:  Samuel Joseph May, Elizabeth Blackwell , Whitney Young, and/or Amos Peck Seaman)

Possible activities: make a felt banner, sing "When the saints Go Marching in"

3^rd-5th Group at 9 a.m.

Leader: Nancy Tramontana, Assisted by Chris Tozzoli

Timeless Themes session 26 "Jesus and the Temple"

Today's session illustrates two stories about Jesus who valued his spiritual home (1^st story: Jesus staying at the temple as a young boy,  2^nd story:  later in his life upsetting the tables of the money lenders on the temple grounds).   The first story shows his interest in learning and discussing religion.  The second story gives us an opportunity to talk about anger.  We can choose to respond constructively to angry feelings and to combat an unjust situation. 

Possible activities: draw "The Way it was" and "A Better Way" pictures, construct a temple with tinker toys or blocks or straws, read The Hating Book by Charlotte Zolotow

6^th-8th Group at 9 a.m.

Our Whole Lives meets with

Leaders: Steve Shreve and Fern Paes

At 11 a.m.

Our Roots and Perennial Questions,session # 13 "Jesus at 12 years old – Yearning to Learn"  His parents were relieved to find him in the temple talking to the teachers there. Have you ever gotten so involved that you lost track of time? Finding what you are passionate about.  Each shares a bit of their favorite subjects, talents that interest them! 

Possible activities:

 2^nd and Under:  draw 1 to 5 things you want to learn to do in your life, Share passions, look at a variety of children's books.

Led by: Cathy Pings, assisted by Conor Collins

3^rd-5^th:  list 10 (or 20?) things you want to do in your life, share what each is interested in, 

Led by: Mary Collins, assisted by Mike Searing 

6th-8th graders:  list 20 or 100 things you want to do in your life, share a sample of their interests, look at an encyclopedia (the original search engine)

 Led by: Susan Shaner, assisted by: Chris Tozzoli

 

 

4:00 to 5:30 p.m.

 

10^th-12^th grade Our Whole Lives meets (not youth group)

Leaders: Brad and Lisa Greene

 

Waiting parents, can you please help take down the trees Sunday Jan. 4^th at 4 pm? If you can come or will be around at this time to help take down the our trees in the Fellowship Hall - would be appreciated company by the DRE!