2023-05-19

Religious Exploration: May 21, 2023

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Religious Exploration & Faith Development
Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at White Plains
May 21, 2023

View past newsletters at bit.ly/CUUCRENews
Spotlight
Community Forum
Future of RE at CUUC

This Sun, 11:30am-1:00pm at CUUC and on Zoom
Join us Sunday for a community forum to explore the future of Religious Exploration (RE) at CUUC. Hear from RE children, youth, and adults. Help identify core aspects of emerging needs for today’s families. Explore ideas for shaping RE at CUUC in these new times.

 If you will attend on Zoom, you might like to use this handout. Zoom login: https://bit.ly/CUUC-RE  |  Meeting ID: 817 388 428 · Passcode: 468468  |  Phone (audio only): 646-558-8656.

We Hope Children and Youth will Participate!
There will be an opportunity for all children and youth to share, if they like, then we'll have a small group or two just for children and youth when we do the activity. Their input is important! Children and youth will also work with the ideas generated this Sunday when we meet for June 4th RE. 
Family Input
Centering Your Needs

As we continue shaping Religious Exploration at CUUC, we will center the experiences and needs of our families. Your input is important as we consider ways forward! Please share your thoughts via this short survey: bit.ly/CUUCFamiliesThere are questions for children, youth, and your whole family. 

Celebrating Bridging
Add Notes in Their Hymnals

 
One of the gifts we give our Bridgers is a hymnal filled with words of encouragement and special memories. Please take a few minutes to write a note in the 5 Bridging hymnals that will be available in the Fireside Area Sundays through June 11th. 
Mental Health Support

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. The Child Mind Institute develops resources for supporting children and youth who are struggling with a wide range of mental health, behavior, and learning issues.
 
These four videos are highlighted in their latest newsletter: 4 Tips for Handling Social Anxiety; For Middle School Students - Understanding Feelings; Anxious Stomachaches and Headaches (Quick Watch); and For Middle School Students - Relaxation Skills. Additional resources are listed in their Family Resource Center, on their Resources for Mental Health Awareness Month page, and Video Library page. You can subscribe to their YouTube channel here.
Sunday, May 21
Childcare

Sundays, 9:45am-11:45am, Room 32, Yellow Hallway
Diane, Hans, and Willow welcome young children in childcare. We offer a safe, loving environment where our youngest build community and play outside when weather permits. 


Religious Exploration, 10:00am
1st-12th Grades PlaceKeeping
Start in Fellowship Hall, then outside
The group will end on the kitchen patio

On April 30th, the RE PlaceKeepers placed leaf packs in our stream (photos above by Eileen M). This Sunday, they will remove the leaf packs and weights from the stream, empty the leaf packs, and sort and identify the organisms they may find to understand who is living in our stream and what that might tell us about water quality. The activity will be outside. All participants should wear masks, boots or old sneakers, and long pants. Remember to do a tick check back at home. Contact Cynthia R (cynthiaVRoberts@gmail.com) and Bice W (bicewilson@gmail.com).

Worship

“Transitions” ~ Rev. Meredith Garmon
Life is change. We generally experience it, though, as long periods of relatively slow, small change punctuated by brief periods of faster, larger change. Times of transition can be disorienting – but they offer valuable lessons.

Visit our website for the Sunday order of service. We continue to wear masks for Sunday morning worship and RE in the building. Revisit past services anytime at youtube.com/TheLiberalPulpit and subscribe!

Click here to join the live-stream of our Sunday Worship or phone in (audio only): 646-876-9923 · Webinar: 761 321 991 · Passcode: 468468. Everyone live-streaming the service is invited to stay online afterward to socialize on Zoom. Log in to bit.ly/CUUC-CoffeeHour or phone: 929-436-2866. Meeting: 336 956 2210, Passcode: 468468.

Community Forum
Future of RE at CUUC

This Sun, 11:30am-1:00pm at CUUC (enhanced coffee hour and childcare available) and on Zoom 
Please join us this Sunday for a community forum to explore the future of Religious Exploration (RE) at CUUC. If you will attend on Zoom, you might like to use this handout. Zoom login: https://bit.ly/CUUC-RE  |  Meeting ID: 817 388 428 · Passcode: 468468  |  Phone (audio only): 646-558-8656.

Upcoming Schedule & Community
Religious Exploration

Sun May 21: 1st-12th grade PlaceKeeping, Collecting and Analyzing Leaf Packs; After worship: Community Forum: Future of RE at CUUC
Sat May 27: Game Night for All Ages
Sun May 28: Whole Congregation Worship
Jun 2-4: Young Adult Con (see below)
Sat Jun 3: Celebration of Rev. Meredith's Ministry
Sun Jun 4: 1st-12th Grade RE Program: Future of RE at CUUC
Fri Jun 9: Community Dance Party
Sat Jun 10: RE Families and Youth Making Meal Bags for HOPE
Sun Jun 11: Whole Congregation Worship - RE Sunday & Bridging; After worship: CUUC Annual Meeting
Young Adult Event
CONcrete Jungle
 
Fourth Universalist Society, NYC
The YAOC (UU Young Adult Organizing Committee), will host "CONcrete Jungle," a weekend long UU gathering for young adults to socialize and build community.
 
Over the past few years, YAOC has organized Garfield Con at Shelter Rock and Rom-Con at the White Plains congregation, the former of which brought about 90 young adults together in community. Read more at https://www.concretejungle.social and on  Instagram @uu.youngadults.cer.
Save the Date
RE Family Pool Party

Sat Sep 16, afternoon at the Kortlandt Home
Join us for a fun afternoon pool party September 16th at the home of Catherine and Chris Kortlandt. It's a great way for families to connect as we start a new year of worship and Religious Exploration!

Help enhance our festivities! If you have a photograph of Rev. Garmon to share, please email to Kim Force (kimforce@gmail.com). You can share your favorite memory at bit.ly/RevGarmonMemories. Contacts: Catherine K (catherinekortlandt@gmail.com), Emily E (emily.economou@gmail.com)

Summer Activities
for Families and Individuals of All Ages

There are wonderful opportunities to connect with UUs from all over the continent this summer. Most camps have opened registration and will fill quickly. Register as soon as possible. Some camps are also hiring! Click here for the list

LGBTQ+ Prom

Sat May 20, 7:30-10:30pm, Sonesta Hotel, White Plains
Youth & Allies 9th-12th Grade
WJCS Center Lane is back for 2023 LGBTQ+ Prom. This is a special night just for LGBTQ+ youth and their allies in grades 9-12 (please bring school or other ID). Come dance the night away with good food, good music, and a wonderful opportunity to celebrate YOU! Register at tinyurl.com/CLProm23. Contact Center Lane at (914) 423-0610 or centerlane@wjcs.com.

Game Night

Sat May 27, 5:00pm Early Games, 6:00pm Pizza, 7:00pm More Games
We had so much fun in April, we're doing it again in May - this time on a Saturday to make it easier for more families to join!

Grab your favorite game and join us for an evening of fun! Whether you bring Scrabble, Uno, mah jongg, Connect 4, checkers, or Hungry Hungry Hippos, come to play or just come to enjoy good company. Help us plan by clicking here to sign up for Game Night. Suggested donation for dinner: $5. Contact Audra Russell (audrar631@gmail.com).

Community Dance Party

Fri Jun 9, 6:00pm swing dance lessons, 6:30-9:00pm open dance, Fellowship Hall 
Terri K and Andrew A will be giving some basic swing dance lessons at 6:00, and then we'll dance the night away with a variety of music. All ages are welcome - feel free to invite a friend. Snacks and drinks are provided. Can't wait to dance with you! Contact: Terri Kung (madterri@gmail.com)

Weekly Newsletters
Stay up to date by receiving the weekly RE newsletter (sign up here; read past Issues here) and weekly CUUC e-Communitarian (sign up here; read past issues here).
Tracy Breneman, Director of Religious Exploration and Faith Development, cuucwptracy@gmail.com
Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at White Plains  
468 Rosedale Ave · White Plains, NY 10605-5419







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