RE News: Sun Apr 22

Lifespan Religious Education
It is powerful to have an experience that reminds you that you are not alone, especially in the context of your hopes for the world. This Sunday is Earth Day and we are fortunate to have the opportunity to celebrate with our fellow Westchester UUs. In addressing climate reality this Sunday, we can feel the power of our combined voices. Children always find it eye-opening to realize that Unitarian Universalism is not just within our walls and there are other people in the world who share their faith. Our special Earth Day program brings us together for worship, RE, environmental justice, and racial justice. It follows on the footsteps of the high school Youth Con being hosted at CUUC. It will be quite a weekend and a wonderful reminder that we are greater together, than alone.

Please see the following six (6) announcements:

1) This Sun Apr 2 - Service starts at 10:30
Multi-congregation Earth Day Event
All ages start in sanctuary and leave for special RE program after Story for All Ages.
8th-9th graders who did not attend the Murray Grove Retreat are asked to attend the makeup class, 10:30-12

RE Earth Day Climate Reality Program: Why We Must Change; How We Can Change; Committing to Change
We will help children and youth understand what is happening to our planet and to realize that each of us has agency to do something to save it.

Pre-K-5th grade program includes:

• Green Hands: Making Seed Balls - compost, clay and water get mixed, rolled into balls with seeds, and put into paper bags
• Green Spirit: Floor map canvass to decorate and play on
• Green Minds: Videos about the soil connection and thank you letters for the Westchester compost program
• Green Hearts: Seeing the compost process with compost critters

6th-9th grade program includes:

• Climate Reality slide show
• Carbon offset game: spin the wheel and see how you do
• Recycling Relay
• Letter writing campaign for food scrap composting in the county

Youth Group program includes:

• Video about Climate Reality
• Discussion of the issues
• Letter writing campaign for food scrap composting in the county

To view the Religious Education Google calendar, CLICK HERE.
To view a spreadsheet version of the RE Calendar, CLICK HERE.

2) UU Common Read Discussion of Centering This Sun Apr 22, 11:40
After the all-county UU worship service, we will gather for an important discussion of Centering: Navigating Race, Authenticity and Power in Ministry, experiences of religious professionals of color in Unitarian Universalism.

Join your fellow UUs for this racial justice and welcoming congregation conversation. We will share our reflections on what we heard in the stories of religious professionals of color.

Facilitated by Jeff Tomlinson and Chandeerah Davis, Youth Program Coordinator.

3) Bingo Night!
April 27 at 6:30
A night of pizza and community fun!
Help us out by donating a gift to our collection of prizes.
All ages welcome! $5/adult; $3/child; $15/family max.
RSVP: cuucevents@gmail.com

4) The 6th Annual Variety Show is Coming!
Sat May 12, 5pm

(pizza for performers at 4:30pm)

Rehearsal - Fri, May 11, 4:30-7pm
(snacks provided)

Proceeds from this year's show will go to:
The New American Children’s Cultural Enrichment Fund.
This fund gives the children of refugees in Westchester County the opportunities they have not had to play sports, attend performances, or explore the arts.

DECIDE HOW YOU WILL PARTICIPATE.

• Perform - contact Liz at elizabethsuvanto@hotmail.com
• Bake - contact Erin at fosterblatt@gmail.com
• Submit Recipes – contact Irene at irene.cox@gmail.com
Include 1 recipe with your own introduction/description/story (up to 200 words) and a photo of you/your family in the kitchen or elsewhere
• Donate Raffle Prizes - contact Liz at elizabethsuvanto@hotmail.com
(previous prizes: restaurant gift certificates, bouquets of flowers, wine, movie gift cards, games for kids (new only), chocolate and many more. If you are soliciting donations from local businesses, a letter explaining the background of the show and CUUC can be FOUND HERE.)

The Variety Show is not just for children to partake in - this is for EVERYONE AND ANYONE AT CUUC, and other local UU congregations, and your friends outside of CUUC!

5) Unirondack Family & Friends Weekend May 25-28
Join other CUUC families at this Unitarian camp on Memorial Day weekend for family fun and connection.
A few of our families attended last year and had a great time.

For information and to register, CLICK HERE.
Contact Rebecca Rugg at rebeccaruggbiz@gmail.com to find out more from an attendee.

6) UU Summer Camps & Retreat Centers for Children, Youth, and Families
Unitarian Universalist retreat centers offer the opportunity to connect with UUs from around the country in fun and fellowship. Whether you are looking for a place to go as a family or somewhere for your kids to experience a fun camp, there are many amazing Unitarian Universalist summer destinations:

Ferry Beach is oceanfront in ME.

ferrybeach.org
The Mountain is atop the Blue Ridge Mountains in NC.
mountaincenters.org
The Rowe Center is in the Berkshire Mountains in MA.
rowecenter.org
Sophia Fahs RE Camp is one week in August on Shelter Island.
www.liacuu.org/Fahs
Star Island is a 46-acre island off the NH coast.
starisland.org
Unirondack is in the NY Adirondacks.
unirondack.org
Murray Grove is a Universalist retreat center nearby in NJ.
http://www.murraygrove.org/#!camping-in-the-grove/c15no
UUMAC Retreat is one week in July at DeSales University in PA.
uumac.org
The Central East Region offers a Summer Institute focused on climate change.
http://omdsi.org/
SUUSI is a weeklong multignerational event in North Carolina.
https://www.suusi.org/

Sincerely,
Perry
Director of Lifespan Religious Education and Faith Development