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A Note from Rev. Bonnie
International Conflict

How much have you decided to tell your children about the current world situation? Different responses to this question have to do with the ages and maturity of your children as well as your own feelings. If your children are school-aged, I believe it’s a good idea to talk with them about international conflict and war. They’ll be hearing about it from others, anyway. They will feel better if they’ve talked with you and feel they know something about what’s going on. War is not just in movies and video games; but when it’s in real life it’s much less glamorous.

The Religious Education Department at the Unitarian Universalist Association has sent out a list of websites and resources that they hope will help families with educating for peace and understanding conflict. I’d like to share some of these resources with you:

• UU Family Network for faith-based family resources and Family Matters Task Force endeavors.
• Institute for Peace and Justice and Parenting for Peace and Justice Network is an independent, interfaith educational organization. Their K-12 grade resources include Educating for Peace and Justice, Educating for a Just Society, Building Shalom Families, Families Against Violence Advocacy Network, and more.
• Educators for Social Responsibility offers comprehensive programs and K-12 grade resources on social and emotional learning, character education, conflict resolution, violence prevention and intergroup relations.
• Peace Games empower students to create their own safe classrooms and communities by forming partnerships with elementary schools, families, and volunteers.
• Peacework by the American Friends Service Committee is a monthly journal published since 1972 by the New England Regional Office of the AFSC. Originally it covered resistance to military conscription and war tax resistance, but after the war in Southeast Asia it branched out to coverage of other issues, from nuclear power to the freedom movement, from disarmament to economic justice, from simple living to community organizing. Today it covers the full range of "Global Thought and Local Action for Nonviolent Social Change" with a special focus on the northeastern United States.
• How Teens Prepare for War By Shepherd Smith
• Children’s Defense Fund has resources for talking with children about tragedy and violence as well as advocacy strageties for Leave No Child Behind legislation initiatives.
• Talking With Kids about Tough Issues is a web resource for parents and teachers to help facilitate communication and health around tough issues, such as the news, violence, crisis, and more.

Please let me know if you find any of these resources helpful, or if you have others to suggest.

Faithfully, Bonnie

Easter Plans

On April 20, Easter Sunday, we have a special morning planned for our children. The nursery will be open as usual at both the 9:15 and 10:45 services. Preschool aged children (Intermediate and Prekindergarten) will meet in Room 107, the Intermediate classroom, for a fun-filled Easter party that includes an Easter egg hunt on the playground. Preschool children should report directly to class and will spend the whole hour together.

Children Kindergarten and up will begin the service in the sanctuary with their families. After a story time with Bonnie, they will go to Adams Hall for discussion and to make flowers. They will process back into the sanctuary with their flowers for the end of the service. After the service is over, each child will exchange his/her paper flowers for a real one to take home. The paper flowers will be taken to a nearby retirement home to brighten up the place for the residents.

Youth 6th grade and up may either remain in the service or assist with the activities in Adams Hall. Which Leads Us To: Help wanted for the Easter morning activities

We need people to help in a variety of ways, listed below:

• 3 people each at both services to help run the preschool party. There is no advance preparation and supplies will be provided. One of the helpers can be a youth (6th grade and up.)
• 5 people each at both services to help with the flower making activities. You will be able to attend the beginning and end of the adult service. No advance preparation is necessary and supplies will be provided. Up to three of the helpers can be youth (6th grade and up.)
• 1-2 families after the 10:45 service to take the flowers to the retirement home.

Please contact Joan at 314-821-0911 or . I look forward to being inundated with phone calls and emails!

More Top Ten Reasons

Why Teaching RE is so Satisfying by Mark Unangst

10. Going to the Global Food Market for a lesson appropriate snack.

9. Getting to know the co-teachers.

8. Watching the children learn.

7. Watching the children grow.

6. Getting to know the parents of the children.

5. Learning about different cultures that I did not know about.

4. Attending Children’s Chapel.

3. Getting to know the children.

2. I have taught for the last seven years and I have enjoyed every minute of it.

1. I will continue to teach RE for years to come because I enjoy it so much.

Teacher Recruitment

Teacher recruitment for next year’s Religious Education classes officially begins on Easter, April 20. You don’t have to wait until then to sign up. Just call or email Joan to reserve a slot - we already have several people who’ve already signed on to teach next year!

Summer Camp News

Play Group News

On Friday the 18th the play group is going to Faust Park for a picnic and playground time as well as a children's play. The play starts at 10:00 a.m., and is being held at the St. Louis Carousel building. The play group will meet at the playground afterwards at 11:00 for a picnic and playtime - bring your own lunch. There is a fee for ages 2+, which includes a carousel ride ticket. Children under 2 are free. Call Jessica Rower (314-909-1240) for ticket information and reservations at least 2 weeks in advance. Also at the park is a historical village (free) and a butterfly house (entrance fee).

The play group will meet in the nursery as usual on Friday, April 4 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.

Press Release - uu&me!

You can learn and grow together with uu&me!, the only Unitarian Universalist magazine for kids. Regular features include stories about the real-life decisions kids make, holiday celebrations, famous UUs in history and today, religious beliefs around the world, nature activities that nurture good relationships with the earth, plus reproducible games, puzzles, and crafts.

This quarterly magazine targets children ages 6 to 12 but is read and enjoyed by families with children younger as well. Subscriptions are $17.95. uu&me! is published by the Church of the Larger Fellowship in Boston. To subscribe, go to uu&me! subscription , or contact Betsy Williams. Or, mail your check , along with your name and address and your child’s name to: CLF-uu&me!, 25 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108.

Still Looking for Videos

We still need videos of “The Butter Battle Book” and “Horton Hears A Who” for the Summer RE program. If you have either of these videos and are willing to loan them for a Sunday morning class, please let Joan know. Thanks!

Thank You's

Thanks to Tim Gardner & Rachel Spann for once again facilitating the OWL program for our students in grades 7 - 9.

Thanks to Lisa Dahlgren for planning, organizing, and running Abilities Awareness on February 23. The students learned a lot about differences in learning styles.

Thanks to the rest of the GATE painters who finished up the class rooms on the lower level February 23.

Child Dedication

We will perform Child Dedications during both of the Mother’s Day services, May 11. If you are interested in having your child(ren) dedicated or would like to know more about dedications, please contact Reverend Bonnie Vegiard at (314-821-0911) or at .

Lost & Found

The Lost & Found box contents were donated to charity on March 31. There are already new items in it. Be sure to check it for any lost items.

Fun and Games

See if you can unscramble the Easter words below:

Did You Know...

...that we are brimming with talented children and youth here at Eliot? You’d know it if you had attended the 6th Annual Youth Coffee House hosted by our Senior High Youth on February 22. We would like to acknowledge and thank all of this year’s participants.

April RE Calendar

April 4, Friday

9:30 - 10:30 a.m. Play group in nursery

April 6, Sunday

Children K-5 in sanctuary first 15 minutes both services
No Children's Chapel/RE Classes as usual
12:00 noon RE Committee meets in Eagle room

April 10, Thursday

5:00 p.m. Junior High service project - RATI dinner

April 13, Sunday

Classes and Children’s Chapel as usual
Children’s Chapel led by Rev Bonnie Vegiard
Prelude by Holly Mead & Maggie Rahmoeller
10:15 - 10:40 a.m. 5th grade GATE parent mtg in Eagle room
10:45 a.m. GATE adult partners in class
12:30 p.m. Intergenerational committee in Children’s Chapel
5:30 p.m. Seder dinner in Adams Hall

April 18, Friday

Play group meets at Faust Park - see articlefor details

April 20, Easter Sunday

Nursery open as usual
9:15 & 10:45 a.m. Preschool children (Intermediate & Prekindergarten) meet in Intermediate classroom (Rm 107) for Easter party
9:15 & 10:45 a.m. Children Kindergarten & up attend adult service
See article for further details

April 25 - 27

Spring Con in Rockford, Illinois

April 27, Sunday

Classes & Children’s Chapel as usual
Children’s Chapel led by Mary Meihaus with Prelude by Nancy Collis

Answers to Fun and Games:
bunny, basket, parade, egg hunt, flower, bonnet, spring, chicks

This newsletter is a product of the Eliot Chapel Religious Education Department. Please direct any articles, comments, or questions to Joan Casey (Religious Education Facilitator) at 314-821-0911. An article must be submitted no later than the 20th of each month to ensure it appearing in the next issue.

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