This Week in Religious Education: October 21-27, 2019

Hello CUUC Families and RE Volunteers!

I am experimenting with different ways to communicate with families. This month, each class and the youth group will receive a specialized newsletter via e-mail. Others can read the October 24th newsletters by clicking below:

• Nursery Families & Childcare Providers: ABC UU Values
• PreK-1st Grade Families & Teachers: World of New Friends
• 2nd-3rd Grade Families & Teachers: Passport to Spirituality
• 4th-5th Grade Families & Teachers: Bibleodeon
• 6th-7th Grade Families & Teachers: Neighboring Faiths & World Religions
• 8th-9th Grade Families & Teachers: Coming of Age
• 10th-12th Grade Families & Youth Advisors: Youth Group

REGISTER ASAP
November 3rd, we are hosting a Healthy Youth Relationships Retreat for 6th-8th grade, 9th-12th grade, and parents/supportive adults with Center Lane.  This is a wonderful opportunity for local UU families and Westchester LGBTQ families.  The event runs the risk of being canceled for low enrollment. Signup now. Click here for the flyer.  Register here.

THIS SUNDAY: OCTOBER 27TH
Classes and youth group meet this Sunday.  We begin together at 10:00am in the sanctuary. After the Time for All Ages story, we leave for classes which meet until 11:30am. Children 3rd grade and younger must be picked up at 11:30am. Those 4th grade and older will be dismissed to head to community lunch and the Halloween party.

• Childcare, ABC UU Values (room 32): Diane Keller and Hans Elsevier.
• PreK-1st Grade, World of New Friends (room 33): This week, the children meet Maria and learn about Christianity. She will share about her favorite Christian holiday. Can you guess which one it will be? Laura Goodspeed is leading and Rhonda Miller is the class assistant. 
• 2nd-3rd Grade, Passport to Spirituality (*room 24):  The class continues learning about Judaism with guest speaker, Audra Russell, who will talk about her experience growing up Jewish and share some of her favorite traditions. Norm Handelman and Deb Margoluis are assisting. [*Beginning November 3rd, this class will meet in room 44.]
• 4th-5th Grade, Bibleodeon (room 21): Janice Silverberg is leading class about the story of Abraham and his significance in three religions. Alex Zisson is the assistant. 
• 6th-7th Grade, Neighboring Faiths (room 41): The class continues learning about Hinduism. Susheela Raghavan is the guest speaker, sharing her experience growing up Hindu and some of her favorite traditions. Gail Johnston is the assistant. 
• 8th-9th Grade, Coming of Age (room 11):  This Sunday, class meets in room 43. Kate Colson continues discussion with the youth about UU beliefs and our connection to the world. Charles McNally is the assistant. 
• 10th-12th Grade, Youth Group (room 14): Youth will go straight to the red hallway at 10:00am instead of starting in worship this Sunday so they have plenty of time to set up the Halloween party. Cyndi & Danial Tillman and Imelda Cruz Avellan will be with the youth. 

Everyone is invited to wear costumes!  The youth group has planned a fun Halloween party! They are decorating the red hallway and each room will have Halloween games for children and youth: decorate pumpkins, musical chairs, mystery slime, and more!  There will be prizes.  Children and youth can stop by the community lunch then head up to the Halloween party.

Trick-or-Treat at CUUC!  Children and youth are invited to fill goodie bags around CUUC after worship this Sunday.  Look for adults wearing a colorful hat and give them your best "Trick-or-Treat!"

I have not received registration forms from all families but do know we have some with nut allergies so treats will not have nuts.  If there are other allergies we need to know about, do let me know.  The registration form is available next to the Welcome Table at CUUC and online here.

While children are at the Halloween party, K-1st grade parents will meet for Elementary Our Whole Lives orientation with David Bowen. Parent orientation is mandatory for any child participating. The class is open to friends. Please share this trifold flyer.

Following the communal meal, Halloween party and K-1st grade OWL orientation, please stay for the opening concert of this year’s Music at CUUC series in the sanctuary, featuring Music Director Adam Kent. This family-friendly event will be prefaced by short music appreciation skits with our own Kim and Christian Force and Elias VanDette.

This is the last Sunday to donate winter outerwear for Hearts & Homes for Refugees.  Gently used adult and children's winter coats; waterproof boots (especially boys'); boys' and men's hats, gloves, scarves.  New men's and children's socks, fleece throws and small blankets. Bring items to CUUC this Sunday. Contact Karen Leahy with questions.

COMING UP

• Watch for the new Family page in the monthly Journey Group packet. The theme this month is compassion.
• Sun Nov 3 – Healthy Youth Relationships Retreat for 6th-8th grade, 9th-12th grade, and parents/supportive adults (click here for the flyer; register here).
• Sun Nov 10 - 8th-12th grade youth will clean up two of the triangle gardens during RE.
• Sun Nov 17 – K-1st Our Whole Lives (OWL) begins.
• Sun Nov 24 – Stone Soup Community Meal by COA families & lunchtime discussion groups.
• Sat Dec 15 - Save the Date: Ginger Bread House Decorating at the Rockland UU congregation in Pamona, NY (click here for the flyer).

Monthly:

• 1st Friday Youth Group & Journey Group Facilitators
• 1st Saturday Journey Group Facilitators
• 2nd Sunday Journey Groups
• 3rd Friday Adult Journey Group, Youth Group, Children's Journey Group
• 2nd & 4th Sunday morning Youth Group (with some scheduling exceptions)

WELCOMING CHILDREN IN WORSHIP
Among the priorities outlined for me this year is building connection between the RE and sanctuary sides of the building. We have been inviting all adults in the congregation to serve as a classroom assistant in Sunday morning RE classes (you can sign up here). Youth Group is meeting on 3rd Fridays with other Faith Friday programs. And we are exploring with ways to make worship services more welcoming to children, especially whole congregation worship services when we are together the full hour.

In Children's Worship, Lyra and I are previewing themes and music that will be included in upcoming whole congregation worship Sundays so the children will have a deeper understanding about worship, making the sanctuary and service feel more familiar. In addition:

• The PowerPoint slides now include clip art with pictures to help young children identify which part of worship we are in (thank you, Kim!); 
• There will be a special paper order of service for children for each whole congregation worship Sunday that includes those clip art images plus puzzles on the back (click here to see an example); 
• There is a new children's area in the sanctuary where children can enjoy quiet activities while experiencing the words, music and rituals of our faith (our thanks to the Force family who donated the adorable bookshelf!). 

New Children's Area in the Sanctuary

I look forward to seeing you! Tracy