Community UU Matters: This Week in Religious Education: October 31-November 7, 2019

Hello Families and CUUC Community!

The November On The Journey includes a page for families and conversations across the generations. There are prompts for conversations over dinner or in the car, Ted Talks and films to watch together, stories, games, music and more. The theme this month is Compassion. Click here for the packet.

CLASS NEWSLETTERS

Each class receives their own weekly newsletter. You can read all of the newsletters here:

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

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Last Sunday was so fun and what a great turn out! We loved seeing all the creative Halloween costumes. Adam played Graceful Ghost Rag by William Bolcom during the children's recessional. The Youth Group put on one heck of a Halloween party decorating the hallway and setting up games in all four rooms. They played musical chairs and Halloween Twister, made masks and decorated pumpkins, opened treat cups, and identified all sorts of slimy, sticky, icky things while blindfolded. And, several adults handed out goodies to our Trick-or-Treaters. Thanks so much to everyone who made it such a fun morning! Scroll down for photos.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1st

8th-12th Grade Youth Group meets 6:30-8:30pm in the youth group room with Jason Stoff and Cyndi & Daniel Tillman for film and discussion.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2nd
Join us for Day in Place. We start at sunrise by lighting the spirit fire at the fire circle on our grounds. During the day, we walk the trails around the CUUC property, clean up the trails, springs and streams, removing invasive plants and picking up wood. We need many hands and all ages can help! Contact Terri Kung or Bice Wilson for more information.

Children's Area in the Sanctuary

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3rd

Daylight saving time ends this Sunday at 2am so remember to "fall back"! Then join us for whole congregation worship. Our Music Director, Adam Kent, invites children and youth to find a nook under the piano where they can enjoy the centering music he plays before worship, 10:00-10:10am.

During worship, a children's area is available which offers quiet activities as children experience the words, music and rituals of our faith. There will also be a special children's order of service to help them follow along, play worship bingo and other activities.

RE classes and youth group do not meet.

The 6th-7th grade Neighboring Faiths & World Religions class is visiting the Hindu Temple in Queens. Families should reply to my e-mail so we can coordinate transportation. We will leave the CUUC from the middle parking lot (bottom of the stairs) at 9:20am for a tour before services. Following services, we will enjoy lunch in the canteen and visit the gift shop.

The afternoon Healthy Youth Relationships Retreat is canceled.

AWAY FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

I will be in Baltimore November 6-10 for the Liberal Religious Educators Association (LREDA) Fall Conference. Given my background in conflict transformation, I serve as a Good Officer for Continental LREDA and will attend annual training. I am co-convener of the LREDA Small program which will offer resources for grounding our programs in affirmation and inclusion. In addition, I will be a small group facilitator for white caucus work as we continue advancing our own learning and skills around dismantling white supremacy culture and systems, and I will attend related conference programming. As described on the LREDA website, "we will explore a Unitarian Universalist Theology of Suffering and learn to better understand and embrace our Universalist Theology of Wholeness. The conference will balance going deep into these theologies while also providing concrete tools and skills for religious professionals to use when we encounter suffering and work for collective liberation." I look forward to sharing learning and resources with you.

FAITH FRIDAY DATE CHANGES
Due to scheduling considerations heading into the end of the calendar year, the previously scheduled November 15th programs will instead be Friday, November 22nd. The December 20th programs are moved to Friday, December 13th.

COMING UP

Sun Nov 10 - Multiage Activities. Children enjoy a morning of music with Lyra. Youth clean up two of the triangle gardens during RE with Steve Miller. Classes and youth group do not meet.
Sun Nov 17 – K-1st Our Whole Lives (OWL) begins. Ray Messing visits Children's Worship to make posters with the children for toiletries donations. Neighboring Faiths and Coming of Age classes meet. Youth attending the Transgender Day of Remembrance worship service. *The Neighboring Faiths class needs an assistant; sign up here (no need to log in, just enter your name and e-mail on a date then click "Submit & Sign Up.")
Fri Nov 22 - Faith Friday Adult & Children's Journey Groups, Habits of the Heart class, 8th-12th Youth Group Social.
Sun Nov 24 – Whole Congregation Worship. RE classes and Youth Group do not meet. COA families host the Stone Soup Community Meal where Rev. Kimberley and I will lead lunchtime discussion groups.
Sun Dec 1 - Deck the Halls! We are bringing holiday cheer to CUUC. Join us to make decorations.
Sat Dec 15 - Save the Date: Gingerbread House Decorating at the Rockland UU congregation in Pomona, NY (click here for the flyer)
Tues Dec 24 - We are looking for a couple children and youth to be readers for the Christmas Eve service. Contact me if you're interested.